The SLA Information Book Award 2017

Earlier this year the School Library Association announced the shortlist for the 7th annual SLA Information Book Award.  The award is designed to support junior and school libraries and to reinforce the importance of non-fiction whilst highlighting the high standard of titles available.

The winners are being announced later this month but let’s have a look at some of the titles shortlisted for their age range:

Under 7

A First Book of Animals by Nicola Davies, illustrated by Petr Horacek

Nicola Davies is a passionate advocate of the natural world and delights in introducing children to all its glories. Over fifty different animals, birds, insects and marine creatures are brought vividly to life through her words and the accompanying illustrations.

The Big Book of Bugs by Yuval Zommer

This engaging large format picture book is ideal for just dipping into or reading from cover to cover. More than an information book, it challenges the reader to spot the hidden fly fifteen times, while searching for other bugs along the way.

7-12

Hello World by Jonathan Litton, illustrated by L’Atelier Cartographik

Make friendships across the world by learning basic greetings in around 150 languages from Moroccan Arabic to Ukranian and many others too.  Lifting the language flap reveals transliterations and interesting details; captions highlight information about aspects of life and history and simple maps show basic geographical information. 

Ada’s Ideas: The Story of Ada Lovelace, the World’s First Computer Programmer by Fiona Robinson

This is an inspirational story of female achievement which also highlights the importance of the imagination when it comes to scientific invention. Published two years after the 200th anniversary of the mathematician’s birth, this beautifully designed picture-book biography introduces the reader to Ada’s world and her pioneering work with Charles Babbage.

12+

Mind Your Head by Juno Dawson and Dr Olivia Hewitt, illustrated by Gemma Correll

Straightforward advice mixed with a healthy dose of humour make this an excellent book that all teenagers would do well to read. It approaches mental health issues and sources of help in a sensible, non-sensational way with plenty of detail.

Who are Refugees and Migrants? What makes people leave their homes? And other big questions by Michael Rosen and Annnemarie Young

Equipped with all the organisational features of a traditional information book, this also has a distinctive authorial voice which makes it highly readable. This timely book is designed to explain and inform, but also to challenge preconceptions and encourage the reader to develop their own opinions.

Yn gynharach eleni cyhoeddodd Cymdeithas Llyfrgelloedd Ysgol y rhestr fer ar gyfer y 7fed Gwobr Lyfrau Gwybodaeth flynyddol.  Nod y wobr yw cefnogi llyfrgelloedd mewn ysgolion cynradd ac uwchradd ac i ategu pwysigrwydd llyfrau ffeithiol a phwysleisio safon uchel y llyfrau sydd ar gael.

Bydd yr enillwyr yn cael eu cyhoeddi yn ddiweddarach y mis yma ond gadewch i ni edrych ar rai o’r llyfrau sydd ar y rhestr fer ar gyfer yr ystod oedran:

Dan 7 oed

A First Book of Animals gan Nicola Davies, darluniau gan Petr Horacek

Mae Nicola Davies yn frwd iawn dros y byd naturiol ac mae’n ymhyfrydu mewn cyflwyno plant i’w ryfeddodau.  Daw â thros hanner cant o wahanol anifeiliaid, adar, pryfed a chreaduriaid y môr yn fyw trwy ei geiriau a’r darluniau sy’n gwmni.

The Big Book of Bugs gan Yuval Zommer

Mae’r llyfr lluniau fformat mawr yma’n ddelfrydol ar gyfer pori’n achlysurol neu ddarllen o glawr i glawr.  Mae’n fwy na llyfr ffeithiol, mae’n herio’r darllenydd i sylwi pymtheg gwaith ar y gleren sy’n cuddio, ac i chwilio am bryfed eraill ar hyd y ffordd.

7-12

Hello World gan Jonathan Litton, darluniau gan L’Atelier Cartographik

Gwnewch gyfeillion ar draws y byd trwy ddysgu cyfarchion syml mewn dros 150 o ieithoedd o  Arabeg Morocaidd i Wcreineg a nifer fawr o rai eraill hefyd.  Wrth godi’r clawr iaith the byddwch yn datgelu trawslythreniadau a manylion diddorol; mae penawdau’n amlygu gwybodaeth am agweddau o fywyd a hanes ac mae mapiau syml yn dangos gwybodaeth ddaearyddol sylfaenol.

Ada’s Ideas: The Story of Ada Lovelace, the World’s First Computer Programmer gan Fiona Robinson

Stori ysbrydoledig o lwyddiant benywaidd sydd hefyd yn pwysleisio pwysigrwydd y dychymyg pan ddaw at ddyfeisio gwyddonol. Cyhoeddwyd dwy flynedd ar ôl 200fed pen-blwydd geni’r mathemategydd, ac mae’r llyfr deniadol yma ar ffurf bywgraffiad â lluniau yn cyflwyno’r darllenydd i fyd Ada a’i gwaith arloesol gyda Charles Babbage.

12+

Mind Your Head gan Juno Dawson a Dr Olivia Hewitt, darluniau gan Gemma Correll

Cyngor di-flewyn ar dafod gyda hiwmor iach sy’n gwneud y llyfr ardderchog yma’n un y dylai pob un  yn ei arddegau ddarllen. Mae’n trin materion iechyd meddwl a ble i gael help mewn ffordd synhwyrol gyda digon o fanylion.

Who are Refugees and Migrants? What makes people leave their homes? And other big questions gan Michael Rosen ac Annnemarie Young

Yn llawn o’r agweddau trefniadol a ddisgwylir gan lyfr ffeithiol traddodiadol, mae gan y llyfr hwn lais nodweddiadol gan yr awdur hefyd sy’n ei wneud yn ddarllenadwy iawn.  Amcan y llyfr amserol hwn yw esbonio a chyflwyno gwybodaeth, ond hefyd herio rhagdybiaethau ac annog y darllenydd i ddatblygu ei syniadau ei hun.