I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. This is one of the most beautiful books I have ever seen. Amazing illustrations, not a ton of text and, lots to learn make this a great book for kids and adults.

Beautifully illustrated book for children to adults. A real treasure.
Informative and well written.
This book would make a lovely gift for your favorite nature lover.

“Secret stories are everywhere in nature, just waiting for you to find them.”

Secret Stories of Nature: A Field Guide to Uncover Our Planet's Past is a fascinating and visually stunning collection of facts and information focused on the natural world. With topics ranging from the ocean, forest, mountains, sky, and more, it is a book that will appeal to readers both young and old. Exquisitely curated, the pages are filled with short, engaging passages. The text is accompanied by phenomenal artwork reminiscent of vintage nature illustrations.

Secret Stories of Nature is intriguing, captivating, and it would be a beautiful addition to any book collection.

Kind thanks to Quarto Publishing Group – Wide Eyed Editions and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy of this marvellous book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review: Secret Stories of Nature by Saskia Gwinn

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ out of 5 stars

The cover of Secret Stories of Nature immediately caught my attention with its vibrant and captivating design. This eye-catching appeal extends throughout the book, thanks to the stunning and dramatic illustrations by Vasilisa Romanenko. The liberal use of black as a background color adds a unique touch, making the artwork truly pop with vibrancy.

But this book is not just visually appealing; it is also a treasure trove of fascinating information about nature. Saskia Gwinn takes readers on a journey around the world, exploring various environments and uncovering the secret stories hidden within them. From wild forests to the depths of our oceans, each chapter delves into the mysteries and histories of the animals, plants, and natural phenomena found in these habitats.

The author seamlessly weaves together scientific research, observation, fossil records, and modern techniques like carbon dating to unlock the secrets of nature. Readers will learn about the incredible ways in which resin, rock, coral skeletons, seabed layers, and ice can reveal important information about our planet’s past. These secrets not only shed light on bygone weather patterns but also offer insights into the evolution of species and past mass extinctions.

What I particularly enjoyed about this book is how it encourages readers to search for secrets in nature close to home. The spreads at the back of the book provide ideas for exploration and offer ways in which we can all contribute to the protection of our environment and its inhabitants.

Although the text is informative and engaging, I found the font size to be a bit small, which might pose some challenges for younger readers or those with visual impairments. However, this minor drawback is overshadowed by the overall value and appeal of the book.

In conclusion, Secret Stories of Nature is a captivating field guide that will enchant readers of all ages. It educates and entertains with its wealth of knowledge and beautifully illustrated pages. This book would make an excellent addition to any young nature lover’s library, sparking curiosity and inspiring a lifelong love for the natural world.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Unfortunately, this title disappeared from my NetGalley shelf before I could read it but it looks like such a beautiful non-fiction book. We love non-fiction books published by Quarto and learning about how to interpret and understand clues we can find in nature to inform our understanding of history and science is a topic that would fascinate my son and which I would love to learn more about. When watching nature or history programmes, I often wonder how scientists discover these things and how we can be certain of whether they are true facts. I felt this book would have unlocked a lot of these answers and we will definitely look to purchase a copy.

This book is a peek into the wonders of our natural world for ever-curious kids. Short reading passages and detailed illustrations make this otherwise daunting text more approachable. Glossary helps young readers with some of the more advanced science vocabulary. A definite winner for budding scientists with something to everyone in this children's book best suited for readers ages 9 and above.

This is a beautiful book offering short paragraphs on many different animals and plants and the "secrets" they are hiding. The illustrations are lovely and I really love the use of the black background - it really makes the colors pop.

The text is very small and the font is hard to read - it's designed to look "old-timey" which is pretty but it impacts the readability and accessibility of the text. As someone whose vision isn't the greatest, I had a very difficult time reading the words. Kids will have similar problems.

There is also not that much actual information presented in the short paragraphs of text. The majority of the space on each page is taken up by the (admittedly gorgeous) illustrations. I think it would feel more balanced if there was a little bit more information provided about each animal and plant.

*Thanks to NetGalley, Quarto, and Wide Eyed Editions for providing an early copy for review.

The artwork in this book is stunning. It is worth purchasing for that fact alone. I was in awe of the various artwork, and the dense information that was clearly tailored to upper elementary school students. This is the exact type of book I look for while homeschooling my lower elementary school child.

It's well written, well compiles, exceptionally well illustrated, and I would consider it to be an invaluable resource for any family, but especially homeschoolers.

I received a temporary free copy of this book (wish it was permanent!) in exchange for an honest review through net galley.

Illustrations were stunning. This will be a great middle-grade book - I think the font may bring some kiddos some trouble reading it. However, still recommend.

The star of this book is the way the words and the illustrations weave together to bring nature to life. Beautiful.

An interesting nature book. I particularly liked the illustrations on the black background - the forest, moths, shells - it made them extra vivid and beautiful. Nature is amazing 🌿 🐚🦋

This book is packed with beautiful animals and nature to explore. Paired with descriptions and written in a field guide style, there is plenty to learn and see on each page. These secret stories engage a sense of wonder and while we read a lot of nonfiction animal books, I definitely felt like we were learning new information here. The book is gorgeous and the illustrations are so well done. It is a lot of information on each page broken into factoids.

Secret Stories of Nature by Saskia Gwinn is a wonderful children's nonfiction book.

The author managed to explain natural habitats, and animals who inhabit them, in a fascinating way. The feeling of discovering nature and its secrets make for a great educational experience, which is made even better by accompanying illustrations painted by Vasilisa Romanenko.
I read this in pdf form and I think the physical version must be even better with all the details in illustration and graphics. It surely would be a good gift.

side note:
The book is a great read and while I enjoyed it, its pdf form can be hard to read at times, due to constant zooming in & out (i read it on pc and couldn't image reading on a phone or a tablet).

This book is a delightful present for any young explorer in your life. The illustrations within are nothing short of magnificent, ensuring that both you and your young reader will be thoroughly captivated. As I delved into its pages, I found myself uncovering a treasure trove of fascinating facts that I had never known before! Did you know that ants can hear through their feet? Or that whales have ears and once walked the land? I was so engrossed in these intriguing tidbits that I couldn't resist sharing them with my husband. Now, all I'm waiting for is someone to ask me about the moon..."

a cosy read for anyone who loves the nature. loved the writing and the choice of words in the book! a perfect read for nature lovers!

A beautifully illustrated book exploring some of the world's most ancient creatures, and what they can tell us about the history of our planet.

Taking the reader across the globe through a wide range of habitats, getting to know the animals, plants, fungi and geology that can be found on Earth.

This is a treasure trove full of nature's wonders. A perfect book for any child interested in ecology & natural history.

If this book is stunning on the computer, I can't wait to see the actual book. This book has just enough information to explain the beautiful artwork that is going to capture a child's eye. I also appreciate the author spending time describing the endangered species. I thank NetGalley and Quarto Publishing Group Wide Eyed Editions for the sneak peek.

If you like reading all of the signs and plaques at the zoo or natural history museum, then this book is for you!

Adults and kids alike will learn fascinating facts while viewing brilliant images!

There’s nothing more intriguing then being in on a secret, so why not be in on the secrets of nature!

So fun to read with my son!

This book was educational and informative.
The pictures kept my child attention as he pointed along with me interested to learn about each topic. The book was interesting and overall a great little read.

This gorgeous keepsake explores hidden histories and mysteries of the wild.

Publishing in OCTOBER, readers will enjoy vintage-style illustrations and uncover magical secrets of the natural world.

I enjoyed diving into this treasure of a book which appeals to naturalists of all-ages. It was a fascinating reminder of the wonder and history of our beautiful planet.

Thank you @NetGalley and @wideeyededitions for the eARC!