Unfold a world of discovery.

Small, Speckled Egg takes young readers from the small and familiar to new areas of knowledge where they really have to think big!

It starts with an egg that hatches into one of the most impressive birds on the planet - an Arctic tern. Watch her grow, learn to fly, and start her long migration from the Arctic to Antarctica and back again. A journey she does every year of her life.

Her lifecycle is turned into this easy-to-read story and the beautiful illustrations transport you to chilly polar landscapes. Additional captions are packed with information for able readers to expand on new areas of knowledge. The book touches on KS1 primary science topics: the lifecycle of a bird, food chains, migration, seasons and polar regions.

At the back of the book there is a giant fold-out map that includes a fun I-Spy game to take children back into the book to find the polar animals.

A brilliant addition to any home or school library with lots of detail that will be returned to again and again.

Look out for more science-based picture books in the Start Small, Think Big series including Little, Brown Nut.

About the Author

Mary Auld is an award-winning writer of children's information books, most notably How To Build an Orchestra with the London Symphony Orchestra. Mary Auld is a pen name for Rachel Cooke, former Editorial Director at Hachette and an honorary fellow of the English Association in recognition of her work in children's non-fiction. Anna Terreros-Martin is a young British illustrator and Masters graduate of the Cambridge School of Art. Her first books When Mummy/Daddy Goes to Work (Templar) were published in 2021, followed by her first picture book The Friendly Mammoth (DFB) in 2022.

Reviews

A thrilling and innovative book from exciting, young and independent children's publisher Mama Makes Books... With its blend of fascinating facts about the lifecycle of a bird, food chains, migration, seasons and polar regions, and the stunning artwork of Anna Terreros-Martin to bring the tern and her chilly world to life, this is a dazzling addition to any home, school or library.

-- Pam Norfolk * Lancashire Post *

With a cut-out cover and clever fold-out map at the end, this attractively illustrated book tells young children all about the Arctic tern. Not only do we learn about terns but we see the some of the other animals, birds and sea creatures they pass on their long journeys. The tern's voice is friendly and direct, explanations are perfectly pitched for young children and the illustrations convey extra information. A carefully-thought-out and very appealing information story book.

-- Andrea Reece * LoveReading4Kids *

Beautifully written informative and gorgeously illustrated, this book is truly unique, featuring a giant fold-out map in the end and is filled with interesting facts about this incredible bird.

* @thekidsbookstagrammer *

Each page is jam-packed with detailed information and mind-boggling facts about what we can expect to occur at each life stage. The illustrations are serenely stunning.

* @lightsoutwithlouise *

Written as a narrative to support Science topics of KS1 Science, this also includes lots of extra facts to dig into on each page and a huge fold our map inside the back cover!

* @mini.midnight.reads *

Ideal for reading aloud or independently, with an I-spy game and fold-out map.

* Chris Routh, @writeaboutbooks *

Small, Speckled Egg would work perfectly for classrooms who are covering polar regions or habitats as a theme or topic. It would also fit in well with KS1 science or geography areas of learning. This is also a perfect book for sharing at home, using the text to open up discussions and questions, as well as being fantastic for learning specific vocabulary and names of polar animals.

-- Claire Tidy * Just Imagine *

The book takes on both a story and factual element. You can follow the story in bold at the top of each page as well as finding out extra factual information on every page, a feature I really liked and have read both ways. The book is beautifully laid out with exquisite illustrations from Anna Terreros-Martin and easy to follow information. I particularly liked the compass at the top of each page showing which month we are in following the egg's journey.

-- Lauren Maidman, Teacher * ReadingZone *



Book Information
ISBN 9781739774875
Author Mary Auld
Format Hardback
Page Count 28
Imprint Mama Makes Books
Publisher Mama Makes Books
Weight(grams) 337g
Dimensions(mm) 230mm * 230mm * 10mm