Which are the biggest and smallest animals? Which are the most dangerous? Why do dogs love people so much? What animals can live in the heat of the desert, or deep below the oceans? Sarah Webb is animal crazy and has put the answers to all these questions and more in Animal Crackers, a book bursting with information about animals of all types!

Crammed full of pictures, cartoons and more from Alan Nolan this is the perfect book for children who want to know more about our furry, feathered (and scaly!) friends.

With a special section on Irish wildlife, and the 'Irish Animal Detective' activities, children will want to explore their gardens, parks and beaches to seek out all kinds of native animals. Animal Crackers also provides fun facts and engaging activities that kids will love - from how to draw your favourite animals to suggestions on how you can help save the planet!

About the Author
Sarah Webb is an award-winning children's writer. She won Irish Book awards for Blazing a Trail: Irish Women who Changed the World (illustrated by Lauren O'Neill) and A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea: Favourite Rhymes from an Irish Childhood (illustrated by Steve McCarthy). Sarah runs creative writing clubs for young writers, reviews children's books for the Irish Independent, programmes many children's and family events and works part-time in a children's bookshop. Passionate about bringing children and books together, Sarah was awarded the Children's Books Ireland Award for Outstanding Contribution to Children's Books in Ireland. www.sarahwebb.ie ALAN NOLAN grew up in Windy Arbour, Dublin and now lives in Bray, Co. Wicklow with his wife and three children. Alan is the author of the Molly Malone and Bram Stoker series. He is also the author and illustrator of Fintan's Fifteen, Conor's Caveman and the Sam Hannigan series, and is the illustrator of Animal Crackers: Fantastic Facts About Your Favourite Animals, written by Sarah Webb. Alan runs illustration and writing workshops for children, and you may see him lugging his drawing board and pencils around your school or local library. www.alannolan.ie Twitter: @AlNolan Instagram: @alannolan_author

Reviews

a mini encyclopaedia about animals, domestic and wild, laced with humour and hilarious illustrations

* Irish Examiner *

great craic ... Sarah Webb and Alan Nolan have sought out some of the most weird and wonderful creatures on the planet ... manages to cover an immense amount of ground for one small paperback book

* Evening Echo *

'Animal Crackers has a striking purple cover. It is light-weight and easy to bring with you to pass the time on long journeys ... Alan Nolan's black & white illustrations are excellent and make the book fun and approachable, even for younger readers. There are some sections where the book gives step by step instructions for drawing animals yourself. These are super. We also really liked the drawings of Sarah and Alan at the start of the book which made us really think about the author and illustrator behind the book. The book covers a wide variety of different animals and contains some breathtaking facts and awesome puzzles and jokes. This is *not* just a list of animals. It's a really well-researched book covering everything from dinosaurs, fossils and evolution to native Irish animals, types of habitats and protecting endangered species...We would recommend this book for Primary School aged children, 4-12. Younger children would enjoy having this book read to them. Older children would find this book very interesting and could learn a lot (e.g. the lifecycle of a ladybird)...We scored this book 9.8 out of 10.' Book Review by the Cullen children, age range 4 -11, Dublin

* SeomraRanga *

just some of thousands of facts compiled by Sarah Webb and Alan Nolan for Animal Crackers ... which takes an engaging and wide-ranging approach to the animal world, providing a potted history of evolution, a guide to habitats, and practical suggestions for how young animal lovers can help endangered species. The graphic presentational style is very appealing, while the puzzles and draw-along sections provide an encouraging interactive engagement with the facts. Animal Crackers is funny too and works as a brilliant conversation starter with trivia-lovers

-- Irish Times

Fantastic and fascinating facts about animal life abound in this collaboration from animal lovers Sarah Webb and Alan Nolan. Covering a frankly breathtaking amount of information about animals from just about everywhere in the world, the duo take readers on a whirlwind tour of the history, geography and biology of animals of all kinds. Alongside this wealth of knowledge are drawing tips, fun games and jokes that are sure to keep readers entertained, as well as joyful comic illustrations and pun-filled asides. Great stuff altogether!

* Children's Books Ireland *

These two really do love animals as much as their intended readers, so the whole thing works as a joyful and enlightening read that kids of all ages will surely enjoy

* Children's Books Ireland *

Sarah Webb teams up with illustrator Alan Nolan for this great graphically attractive compilation of fantastic facts about favourite animals. Expect your young reader to tell you all about the defecatory habits of cats or the slow evolution of wolves into dogs. There are drawing prompts and puzzles too, and a practical guide to get children involved in protecting wildlife as well

* Business Post *

Super stocking filler

* RTE Guide *

THIS book is all about facts for people who are Animal Crackers! ... this book has it all - which animal is the biggest, the smallest, or the most dangerous, and there is also lots of Irish wildlife mentioned. I loved the way that there is a fact for everyone's favourite animal ... I would recommend this book for ages seven to 99 Daire hAodha of Scoil Chuil Aodha/Barr d'Inse

* Evening Echo *

really, really good book

* RTE Radio 1 Mooney Goes Wild *

This gem of a book would suit class libraries from 1st to 6th. It could also be a useful time-filler for teachers or a go-to book for early finishers. But beware, there is a danger you may want to find out more about our furry, hairy, feathered, scaly friends!

-- InTouch Magazine



Book Information
ISBN 9781788490658
Author Sarah Webb
Format Paperback
Page Count 176
Imprint O'Brien Press Ltd
Publisher O'Brien Press Ltd
Weight(grams) 224g
Dimensions(mm) 190mm * 153mm * 11mm