Today on the blog we're taking a look at a selection of titles from the truly gigantic range of amazing non-fiction books from Norfolk-based independent publishers Booklife Publishing.

Booklife got in touch with us to see if we'd like a look at some of their new books for 2019, and we jumped at the chance as their range ticks all of the boxes for features we look for in quality non-fiction, covering a huge age range and a truly diverse set of topics to suit all tastes and curiosities.

Kids love non-fiction books that not only work in school, but are equally fun to read through at home and the first we looked at in the range definitely qualifies.

"Plastic Panic: Polluted Planet" by Robin Twiddy, designed by Drue Rintoul is a fascinating and quite horrifying look at the rise in use of single-use plastics, and the terrible impact they are having on our planet.

Using a really neat mix of fiction and non-fiction, Robin tells the story of a time-travelling hacker who manages to contact a kid from the present-day to warn them of the horrific impact our love affair with plastics has had, and continues to have as we struggle to cope with the vast quantities of lethal toxins leaking into our ecosystem from the use of them.

Beginning with a history lesson of how we came to use the first plastics, through to some pretty mind-bending facts and figures about how big this problem has become, the emphasis is on giving kids the vital information they need about the issue itself, and what they themselves can do to help out Terry, the future time-traveller whose world is in ruins because of our folly.

Designed for KS2 Science (Text Level 7-11) this is a thoroughly absorbing and impactive title that's absolutely timely for issues that kids today are not only facing, but are beginning to protest about and do something about themselves. This really is absolutely brilliant stuff.

"Plastic Panic! (Polluted Planet)" by Robin Twiddy and Drue Rintoul is out now.

We love books about space, so our next two titles are absolutely cosmic!

"Sty in the Sky Guide to Space Shuttles" is piggin' brilliant, a humorous yet informative look at our innovations in space travel, presented by a charismatic astro-pig!

Designed to enhance Science subjects for KS1 stage (Text level 5-7) you'll find out tons of interesting information about NASA's innovative reusable Space Shuttle as well as interesting snippets of info about today's spacecraft, and how huge powerful rockets are helping us explore beyond our own home planet.

We loved the mix of fun and non-fiction in this title, with excellent discussion points to stimulate classroom activities around space science and just great fun to read at home too.

"Sty in the Sky Guide to Space Shuttles" by Kirsty Holmes and Danielle Rippengill is out now.

More astronauty antics in our next title, again heading out into the inky blackness of space...

"STEM in our World: Space Technology: Landers, Space Tourism and More" is another fantastic and informative look at how science is assisting our quest to explore our Solar System and beyond.

Again using a mix of fiction and non fiction, our guide for our journey around space science is Professor Tess Tube (I know, I know, right?) and joining her STEM school, you'll find out tons about all aspects of space exploration, science and even space tourism!

Find out what it's like to live in zero gravity, or what it cost the first space tourist to take a jaunt on a Russian rocket.

With a great mix of informative text, fab illustrations and stock photographs, this is another brilliant title for KS2 (Text level 7-11) to compliment lessons based around technology, science and of course space.

"Space Technology: Landers, Space Tourism and More" by John Wood and Dan Scase in the "Stem in our World" range is out now.

Last, but by no means least, who can resist a scatological science book! Well, no one really, not even C!

"Why do I Poo?" is a fun and somewhat stomach-churning yet informative look at our bodily functions as part of the "Why do I...?" range.

From smelly poos to dribbly goos, bloody squirts to growing spurts: bodies are amazing - and disgusting!

Nothing to do with cartoon dogs, this one - but how would you feel if you found yourself suddenly downgraded in the intergalactic importance stakes...?

Today's ReadItTorial was partially inspired by Abby Hutty, and her hugely inspirational speech about finding new STEM role models for kids to look up to - and partially by coming across the same problems again and again when it comes to how society deals with shyness and introversion.

Abby Hutty, one of the senior engineers responsible for the hugely successful Mars Rover project, is a self-confessed introvert, and though she rather bravely took to a public forum to put forward her cause, her words rang loudly in our ears.

For a long time, it's felt like there has been a none-too-subtle shift in the way the world enjoys pushing people to believe that success only comes through being wildly extrovert, pushy, sharp elbowed,  shoving your ideas, and your social media feeds on anyone and everyone until they damned. well. like. them (or at least follow you / fave you).

Abby's speech talked about the common STEM role models identifiable today. For each and every Elon Musk (who seems to love any talk about him being a "real life Tony Stark") or Bill Gates, or for that matter Mark Zuckerberg, there are more introverted folk who shun the public gaze and just flipping well get on with things. Quite often the real innovators, the real folk developing amazing technology, ground-breaking medicines or pushing the boundaries of science ever forward are not doing so while shouting "LOOK AT ME! LOOK AT ME!" through a megaphone.

One of the main reasons for today's blog is because this has parallels with what often happens at Charlotte's school.

Since she joined in Reception class, it's always been clear that the pushier parents with the shoutier kids are often favoured over those of us who like to hang back a little bit, let the teachers do their thing while we do our thing, and let the kids learn and enjoy learning at their own pace.

It sometimes feels like the school detests introversion to the point where they're doing the exact logical opposite of what you'd hope they would do.

Take as an example anything where the kids are expected to read out loud to their classmates (or even as part of school plays or nativities, to parents and other adults). You would expect that teachers and heads would work to encourage the quieter kids to take part, and allow them to try and overcome their shyness and introversion by being given roles in plays where they do get to read lines out, do get to perform, and do get to work on their introversion with a ton of encouragement.

It never really feels like this to us. It always feels like the school takes the easy way out, and just shoves the shoutier noisier more extrovert kids up there, letting them blare out their lines with no skill or finesse purely because these kids have taken cues from their parents, and never miss an opportunity to bray loudly at their peers wherever possible.

Sorry, getting into personal rant mode there for a moment.

Back to this idea that we need more positive (and perhaps not quite so showy) STEM role models, Abby's thoughts are well worth a listen. Looking at her talk, obviously passionate about her expertise and subjects, obviously a hugely inspirational person that you'd really hope your son or daughter would take cues from, but with that obvious 'ill at ease' look that all us introverts fix to our fizzogs whenever we have to do this kind of stuff, who could help but agree with her.

This week's first Book of the Week makes science fun, and engages children in a whole stack of groovy experiments using ordinary household objects. Steve Mould's awesome "How to Be a Scientist"...