Busy People Books

Right at the start of the year (gosh can it really be that long ago?!) the children and I covered a bit of a ‘people who help us‘ topic based on a trip to the vet with one of our cats.

Since then the children have been fascinated with doctors and vets and emergency service workers. Helped no doubt by their discovery of Fireman Sam. We were recently sent two books by Quarto from their Busy People series, the astronaut and vet one.

These books are BRILLIANT and I wish I had had them back in January – they so perfectly bring to life the role of the vet and astronaut and Mr D refers to the books as ‘mummy can we read about Mike again?’. He is endlessly fascinated with this book and likes to tell me about the things that Mike the vet uses during his visit to the farm to check the animals.

The books are well pitched to younger children – both Mr D and Miss E are enthralled by the story of Mike’s day and there is enough information to extend the story for slightly older children to get them thinking about other ways the vet might help them, or to think about how the story matches our experience of taking one of the cats to the vet.

The astronaut book is equally good – and when we revisit the space topic later in the year I am sure it is one we will look at alongside some of the information around Tim Peake. It very simply gives an over view of the work that astronauts do and, again, is pitched at a perfect level for young children. There is enough information in the story and the pictures for Miss E to enjoy and plenty to extend Mr D’s learning (as he is that little bit older).

Like a lot of books from Quarto pitched at young children, there is a fabulous ‘next steps’ page which gives some really good ideas and prompts for discussion with children. I am always impressed with what Mr D tells me, and increasingly, Miss E is able to join in with this chats too.

I can’t speak highly enough of these books and I’m going to be looking to get the firefighter and Doctor one for the children for when we re-visit the topic of ‘people who help us’ over the summer months.