Catnip ISBN 9781910611081 £6.99
An informative adventure story set in Cambridgeshire in 1860. Bill is curious about the world around him. One of his experiments causes his father to lose his job. We feel his father’s pain and shame. Bill tries to help his family by selling fossils he has found, but he does not make much money. Then he makes an amazing discovery of a crocodile head. This is an exciting story that provides insight into life in Victorian days – a time when Darwin and dinosaurs were changing people’s perspective on the world. The subject matter is a mix of historical fact and fiction. We learn about coprolites and why they were mined, Mary Anning, Adam Sedgwick and ichthyosaurs. An excellent introduction to natural history, and an enjoyable read for children aged 9 upwards.
Brenda Marshall, SATIPS Council