Start Small, Think Big is a series that sets readers on a journey of discovery, beginning from the small and familiar to new areas of knowledge where you really have to think big! Fluffy, Flying Seed starts small, with a tiny dandelion seed being carried by the wind and landing safely in a meadow, the perfect place to grow. This is its story, how it grows, protects itself from frost, reproduces and becomes a food source for many creatures. There are facts about germination, photosynthesis, seed dispersal, parts of a plant, and food chains. The narrative progresses in a way that builds understanding and the illustrations bring the story and the science to life. Thinking big, the book shows why this much maligned wildflower is important for animals in the spring, and why it is so successful at surviving and spreading. A big fold-out has a world map showing the temperate regions where it thrives, an illustrated life cycle, and a Meadow I-Spy to take children back into the book. AGES: 4 to 8 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. Dawn Cooper is a talented British illustrator with a passion for nature. Her recent books include Thirty Trillion Cells (Welbeck), Insect Emporium and Ocean Emporium (Egmont) and Up Close (Wren & Rook). She lives in Bristol, England. SELLING POINTS: . Clear narrative text about the life story of a dandelion plant from a seed carried by the wind to parent plant, an important food source in early spring. . Primary science: the lifecycle and structure of a plant; germination; photosynthesis and other life processes; seed dispersal; seasons etc . Textured, die-cut cover with fold-out map and I-Spy Game . Beautiful illustrations: a blend of non-fiction realism and picture-book beauty . A new non-fiction series carefully written for emergent readers 4 to 8. . Free activity sheets and classroom resources online