Grow: Secrets of Our DNA
Age 5+
Science & Technology: General Interest
From the award-winning team behind Tiny and Lots comes a new book exploring another fascinating area of biology: growth.
A beautifully illustrated introduction to the concept of DNA for younger readers. All living things grow – every plant and every animal, including human beings. Some things grow fast and others grow slow; some things grow by tiny degrees, while others grow to be enormous. Yet there's something about the way we grow that links us all together. Ever since you were the size of a dot, your body has been following a set of instructions: a code, which connects you with every creature on the planet... With words from Nicola Davies and exquisite artwork by Emily Sutton, this groundbreaking book is certain to enchant and inspire children.
"Clear, direct, involving text, coupled with vivid, delicate illustrations, make for a truly special work of non-fiction." – Guardian on Lots
Creators
Nicola Davies is an award-winning author, whose many books for children include A First Book of Nature, A First Book of the Sea, Tiny, Lots, The Promise, King of the Sky, Ice Bear, Big Blue Whale and the Ariki series. She graduated in zoology, studied whales and bats and then worked for the BBC Natural History Unit. In 2017, she became the first ever recipient of the SLA’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to Information Books. She lives in Wales. Visit Nicola at her website www.nicola-davies.com.
Emily Sutton graduated from Edinburgh College of Art with a degree in illustration; as well as illustrating picture books, she paints, sculpts and designs prints. Emily's previous titles for Walker include Tiny, The Christmas Eve Tree, Lots and the highly acclaimed A First Book of the Sea. Visit her at her website: emillustrates.com.
Reviews
Featured in Mums & Tots.
Mums & Tots
Grow: Secrets of Our DNA carries the most important message of all; that we share some parts of our genetic code with all living things, so no matter who you are, you country or species we are all part of life’s big family. Life has always been written in one language.
Parent Talk
I really enjoyed this book. The subject of DNA is very complicated, especially for someone my age, but with this book you wouldn’t need an adult to help you understand it. It includes some complicated words that would help if you were being tested on DNA. I thought this book was extremely detailed and is probably suitable for 7-9-year-olds but my daddy enjoyed it and he learnt things from this book too — like the fact that he’s related to a tyrannosaurus rex!
Sherbornne Times
This picturebook is richly informative about animals, plants and people, making for an engaging science lesson. Meanwhile, Davies has a series of YouTube videos in which she reads some of her other picturebooks about science and nature, including Tiny: The Invisible World of Microbes, which is handy for putting coronavirus in the context of benevolent microbes.
The Sunday Times and The Sunday Times Ireland
Written in easy-to-follow language, this book explains clearly the complex concept of DNA as a story. Wrapping the reader in a smooth, flowing text with it’s lively, intricate illustrations, it is both fascinating and enchanting, taking us on the magical journey that is simply life. Both a lovely, gentle work of art and an insightful, factual nonfiction book, this is bound to educate, inspire and delight readers of any age.
Fallen Star Stories
Explaining the concept of DNA to young children sounds like a tall order but Grow does exactly that. This beautiful volume uses simple, crystal-clear text and exquisite illustrations to describe the way our bodies follow a set of instructions – a code that connects us to every creature on the planet. “…we share some parts of our genetic code with all living things,” says the book. ”Those that are alive now, and all those that have ever lived on earth.” A remarkable and very special work of non-fiction.
The Independent
Featured in The Daily Mirror.
The Daily Mirror
Explaining the concept of DNA to young children sounds an impossible task but Grow: Secrets Of Our DNA succeeds beautifully.
Sunday Express (S Magazine)
Vibrantly illustrated, this is a fascinating and accessible introduction to the concept of DNA for five- to eight-year-olds.
The Guardian
This time, the subject is human DNA, but Davies’s gentle prose and Sutton’s languid drawings give the book a similarly dreamy quality, which will appeal equally to children and nostalgic parents.
The Telegraph
Featured in The School Librarian’s ‘8-12 Information’ section.
The School Librarian
