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...?

Space...the final frontier! We love delving into any new books that deal with space travel and exploration, and we're always looking for a new wrinkle on non-fiction titles that offer tons of brilliant details and facts.

QED Publishing has a brilliant new range of books that examine in fine detail the many ways we've devised to get around our planet - and off it too!

In the first title, "Legendary Journeys: Space" by Dr Mike Goldsmith and Sebastian Quigley we take a look at the history of space travel, right back as far as the first time humans looked up at the stars and asked themselves "What if we could go THERE!"

Though space history has been fantastically well documented in a whole range of children's titles, this is a really fabulous addition to their numbers, thanks to some innovative uses of flaps (YAY! Lift the flaps for OLDER kids really does work as a book mechanic, we've been saying so for ever!) and also some truly stunning pull-out pages, that really allow you to gauge the sheer scale of some of the rockets we've launched into space.

For example, the mighty Saturn V, the pinnacle of NASA's technology during the space race in the 1960s and 1970s, unfolds to show you all the various stages of the rocket. It's a majestic sight!

"Legendary Journeys: Space" by Dr Mike Goldsmith and Sebastian Quigley is out now, published by QED Publishing. 

Of course we're not just rocketing off into the inky blackness, how about something for those of you who prefer your transport a bit more down to earth?

"Legendary Journeys: Trains" by Philip Steele and Sebastian Quigley offers just as much detail as the space-going book, this time showing the history of the locomotive - from the very first chuffings of Stephenson's Rocket, forward in time to the mighty bullet train that can propel folk around Japan at speeds of up to 280 KM/H.

Again, the book features lots of flaps to lift and those same brilliant giant-sized pull out pages so you can see the WHOLE train, not just the engine!

It's a fabulous idea, and this book is so packed with intricate detail that any rail enthusiast should definitely add it to their collections.

I think the only minus point we found with both titles was that the pull-out pages take some care in handling, so these books wouldn't be suitable for younger age groups but 7 years up should be fine, and once you work out why the pages get a bit 'stuck' sometimes, you'll know to take a bit more care with them.

Both books are brilliantly written and gorgeously illustrated, and definitely show that there's plenty of scope for children's non-fiction titles to push the envelope just that little bit further to offer up books that really bring their subjects to life.

"Legendary Journeys: Trains" by Philip Steele and Sebastian Quigley is out now, published by QED Publishing. 

(Both books kindly supplied for review). 

We're quite literally shoehorning Book of the Week winners into the blog, there are just too many fantastic books around to ignore at the moment...

Kids absolutely LOVE coding, it's the thrill of seeing something unfold before your eyes that you've had a hand in making.

Kids also really love the Scratch programming language, developed as a really user friendly way of beginning your coding journey by MIT Laboratories, and available as a free download for most PCs and tablets (you can find out more at scratch.mit.edu and get set up in no time at all).

Max Wainewright's books on coding are always fantastic fun, and he uses Scratch as the basis for a whole new set of coding adventures where YOU can be the hero.

In "Code Your Own Space Adventure" Max guides you through a superb set of challenges along with Major Kate, in order to save the Planet Zyskinar from certain doom.

You'll need all your wits about you, but there's tons of help in the book's fantastic and brilliantly laid out page spreads, with superbly zippy retro-style cartoon artwork from Henry Smith.

Uh oh, can you survive an asteroid attack? Major Kate is depending on you so get typing, shorty!

Theres more "Code your Own" adventure fun with a fantastic "Jungle" edition too!

This time you will crack codes and embark on a thrilling amazonian quest with Captain Maria - the quest to find the mythical Lost City of Gold.

The books are gorgeously presented, and superb for kids who are just beginning to want to write their own fun games and routines.

In fact there are so many different topics in the series (including "Knights" and "Pirates") that kids are bound to find one amongst the range that they'll enjoy.

"Code your Own Adventure" series books by Max Wainewright and Henry Smith are out now, published by QED Publishing (kindly supplied for review)

Here at ReadItDaddy we like to concern ourselves with the really important questions from history. How indeed DO astronauts wee in space? Do Dinosaurs make good pets? Let's explore a new paperback history range with Dr Dino!

Our second book of the week is something we've been hopping up and down in anticipation of seeing and here it is! The amazing "The Usborne Official Astronaut's Handbook" by Louie Stowell, Roger Simo and Tim Peake!