5 wonderfully wild nature books

Get inspired by fascinating wildlife and discover the secrets of the natural world.

The Secret Life of Birds

by Moira Butterfield. Illustrated by Vivian Mineker (Quarto)

Learn about birds from around the globe with the help of Speedy the Swift. You’ll read about nest-building, flying journeys, bird calls, how to spot birds and how to look after them. The book also includes stories about birds from all over the world.

Everything You Know About Minibeasts Is Wrong

by Dr Nick Crumpton. Illustrated by Gavin Scott (Nosy Crow)

If you think that bees die when they sting, centipedes have 100 legs and cockroaches are indestructible, this book will prove you wrong. Investigating everything from insect architects to whether we eat spiders in our sleep, it will turn you into a creepy-crawly expert.

The World’s Wildest Places

by Lily Dyu (Dorling Kindersley)

Discover some of the wildest locations on the planet and meet some of the amazing people who are looking after them. With lots of beautiful artwork, this book will transport you to 20 places to find out about the animals living there and give you ideas about how you can help to protect them.

The Secret Signs of Nature

by Craig Caudill.

Illustrated by Carrie Shryock (Magic Cat)

Join two young adventurers as they learn to uncover clues in the natural world – from animals, plants, the sky, water and weather. This fun book will teach you how to read a full Moon, decode the colour of the sea and forecast the weather using a rainbow.

Powered by Plants

by Clive Gifford.

Illustrated by Gosia Herba (Wide Eyed Editions)

Find out all about the world’s most fascinating plants and how they have helped to inspire all sorts of developments in design, engineering, science and technology. Packed with illustrations, this fabulous fact-filled book shows just how much we can learn from studying the natural world.