Scholastic Decoder: June Edition

It’s the last month of school, and last flyer until the fall. Let’s take a look, shall we?

Elf
pre-K – K

Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach – kids love Scaredy Squirrel, and enjoy the predictability that comes with
knowing the character well. There’s always a little twist to keep it
from getting dull, and this Beach title, his newest, is a great pick for
summer.
David Goes to School – Kids love David books. I don’t love every one that’s come along, but the first couple held just the right mix of funny naughtiness and sweet ending, and this is one of those.
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed the Sea – There are a series of Old Woman Who Swallowed books that cover nearly everything and look like a stretch more often than not – this is not one of those. This publisher makes on of my favourite versions of the original song, with simple, bold colours and die-cuts that show you what’s in her tummy, so I trust that this seaside adaptation will work well and look good doing it. I’m buying this one for myself.
If You Give a … Pack – these books are great for younger kids, who love the consistent pattern, as well as the adorable star characters.
*Pigeon Read & Watch Pack – a major crowd-pleaser, these are a massive hit with anyone who loves the
silly and interactive. They pretty much made Mo Willems, and he has
only built on that to be a household name. The DVD is a Weston Woods animation, and they do an excellent job of making high-quality shorts that stay true to the original.
*My Little Stella Library – I love, love, love Stella and her little brother Sam, by Canadian treasure Marie-Louise Gay. The pair explore the sea, snow,
forest, and sky,  weaving imagination and adventure together with a dash
of wonder. This little library packs all four Stella books into one
little case, great for travel or for keeping this bundle of goodies all
in one place.
*The Very Hungry Caterpillar – You want to talk classic picture books, this is a top ten list standard. If you don’t own this, you really, really should. See next for more on Carle’s genius!
Eric Carle Board Book Set – Eric Carle is great, classic stuff. Wonderful stories that sneak in
learning about weekdays, months, and much more are accompanied by his
signature collage art. This is a great pack of Carle favourites in board book format. His board books aren’t cheap, either, so if you have a kid small enough to still want the board format, this is a great pick at a substantial savings. (Also a very good baby/toddler gift.)
Big Bear Hug – This author is emerging as a new favourite in Candian picture books for younhg kids. His very simple, bold illustrations work, and he manages to be a little sweet and a little funny even while tucking in a bit of a lesson.
Magic School Bus DVD Library – the Magic School Bus books, which I love, come to life in these animated
versions. I just bought my girl a bunch of these, and find them consistently good at
retaining the feel of the books and the mix of learning and adventure
that make them so fun.
Five Little Monkeys Pack – These are super-fun, and though some of the later ones are a bit of a stretch, these three work well, and the CDs not only make for good car trip listening, but also mean you may not have to read them over and over. Add in actual monkeys for retelling on their own, and it’s a little pricey, but tons of good times.
Cat in the Hat: Show Me The Honey – I’m really enjoying these non-fiction titles written in Seuss’ verse
style. They are a really well-done blend of fact and fun, and perfect
for feeding curious minds. I bought Girl 7 a bunch for her birthday –
and talked about them over here.
Jillian Jiggs – Jillian Jiggs is a girl with a big, creative imagination and big plans that leave her room in a state, along with her mother. These are fun books, by one of Canada’s other treasures, Phoebe Gilman.

SeeSaw
grades K – 2

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean – This simple, cartoon-y book is very funny, and a big hit in our house. The twist at the end has even become an in-joke, and it is simple enough to appeal to a pretty good range of ages, from toddler to about grade 1 or 2.
365 Things to Do with Paper & Cardboard – I recommend these Usborne books every month because I have found some really fun, successful projects in them, and they have also gained the stamp of
approval from Girl 7, but I will caution that if you have a handful,
there is some repetition.
*The Lion & The Mouse – this is a gorgeous, nearly wordless rendition of the Aesop tale by phenomenal watercolour artist Jerry Pinkney, and won last year’s Caldecott medal. This is a top pick for me. 
Munsch Favourites Pack – love him or hate him, Munsch is a serious force in kidslit, and kids love
his silliness. I like his older books better, when it felt like he didn’t have
pressure to turn out as many stories, and they seemed more original. This pack
has 5 of his earliest and best, with less annoying and more awesome.
Magic Tree House Super Pack – This is a giant set, with the first 28 books! I still really enjoy these, and put them head and
shoulders above most series, especially once they have grown to this
size. These continue to be interesting, magical, and informative,
all at once, and they make a good bridge to fiction for readers who
usually prefer non-fiction.
Ready to Read Animal Pack –

Lucky
grades 2-3

*Mr. Popper’s Penguins – this one is an old, old classics, and is being brought to the attention
of a whole new generation by this summer’s upcoming movie adaptation.
Makes for a great shared read – Mr. Candy remembers it being a favourite
from his own childhood!
Guinness World Records 2011 – from the bizarre to the heroic, there are amazing
things in this for everyone. I haven’t met a child yet who doesn’t find these
thrilling – you might remember poring over them yourself? An excellent choice
for a reluctant reader.
Scaredy Squirrel at the Beach – kids love Scaredy Squirrel, and enjoy the predictability that comes with
knowing the character well. There’s always a little twist to keep it
from getting dull, and this Beach title, his newest, is a great pick for
summer.
*Ramona and her Father – I *LOVE* Ramona. I would wear it on a T-shirt.  If you’ve got a girl between 5 and 10 and she does not know
Ramona yet, I am here to tell you it is your duty to get them
acquainted. This is not the first in the series, but it’s not essential to start at the start, either.
Magic School Bus Pack – this nice little pack is from the original series of MSB books in a more picture-book format. I love the fun approach to teaching kids about scientific stuff, and kids love them, too. They aren’t class-project materials, but wonderful food for growing brains.
Magic Tree House – I still really enjoy these, and put them head and
shoulders above most series, especially once they have grown to this
size. These continue to be interesting, magical, and informative,
all at once, and they make a good bridge to fiction for readers who
usually prefer non-fiction. This set (#1-12) is smaller than the set in SeeSaw, for those who want less.
Diary of a Spider – These are a funny look at what it might be like to be a spider. Doreen Cronin is also the brain behind Click, Clack, Moo, so you know she can bring the funny.
365 Things to Draw and Paint – I recommend these Usborne books every month because I have found some
great little projects in them, and they have also gained the stamp of
approval from Girl 7, but I will caution that if you have a handful,
there is some repetition, and this one may be more scripted than some because of the limitations in media, though it’s good for getting started with.

Arrow
grades 4-6

Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid (#1) & Throne of Fire (#2) – The Next Big Thing from the author of the Percy Jackson series, this Egypt-themed set has fans lining up to read it already. Myself included.
Guinness World Records 2011 – from the bizarre to the heroic, there are amazing
things in this for everyone. I haven’t met a child yet who doesn’t find these
thrilling – you might remember poring over them yourself? An excellent choice
for a reluctant reader.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins – this one is an old, old classics, and is being brought to the attention of a whole new generation by this summer’s upcoming movie adaptation. Makes for a great shared read – Mr. Candy remembers it being a favourite from his own childhood!
Books Into Movies Pack – This pack features the first books of three series, each of which was popular enough to be turned into a movie. (The first Percy Jackson book, the first Guardians of Ga’Hoole book, and the first How to Train a Dragon book.) It’s a nice way to get a taste of each series and start your kid off, and would appeal to those kids who won’t grab just anything, though I will guarantee anyone who gets into Percy Jackson will want all five.
Fire World / Icefire Collection – this series about a dragon is a hefty read, but enjoyed by
fans of the equally weighty Eragon saga. These get requested a lot, and it’s rare to find more than one on the shelf, despite being impressively large tomes.
Titanic Book One – I don’t often recommend without reading, but Gordon Korman is a solid
writer, and his previous adventures trilogies have gone over really well
with kids, so I think it’s worth it to pick this up for a kid who loves
a tale of danger and suspense. I’ve bought multiples for my library.
*Chronicles of Narnia – these have been showing up regularly this year, as the movies have
brought them to a whole new crop of kids, but they have a good sixty
years of classic status behind them, and are well worth it for any kid
likely to read a fantasy series.
*Percy Jackson and the Olympians – these books are worth the hype, truly. Based on greek mythology, they
follow the familiar quest archetype (cough*HarryPotter*cough) through
five books in which Percy becomes quite the hero. No surprise that they
turned the first one into a movie – these are so full of action, you can
see it happening as you read.
39 Clues – this series of mysteries builds suspense with clues over several books,
each written by a different top-shelf children’s author like Gordon
Korman and Rick Riordan. If you have a kid who likes to solve things and
get well-immersed, this should keep them busy for a little while!
Kids Campfire Book – I’m always on the hunt for new songs and games, and this title promises
some fun stuff to do with kids. Even if it weren’t my day job to
entertain kids, I’d want this for some ideas for my own pair.
*Bone, books 1-3 – The Bone series of graphic novels are funny and adventurous, and pitched
just right for grades 4-6. I got to see author Jeff Smith speak in February and am even more impressed by them having heard him talk about all that went into making them.
Calvin & Hobbes – you remember this crazy duo? Not a must-buy, but if hours of
laugh-filled reading can possibly be wrong, I don’t want to be right.
(Yes, I read these a LOT as a younger person and they still crack me
up.)
Guardians of Ga’Hoole – Another fantasy series, this time with animals – a
perfect pick for fans of the Warriors or
Redwall series. The author has a good
name for herself, and the release of the movie brought
a whole new audience, so any fantasy reader is likely to be interested.
Big Nate – Big Nate is a natural next read for lovers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
They are funny and irreverant, but not as outright rude as, say,
Captain Underpants. Nate manages to walk a nice balance between totally
amusing kids and not grossing out parents! I really enjoyed these when I
devoured them recently.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – These books
are funny, and a monster hit with kids, spawning a movie last year that
only made them bigger. They are only in hardcover in stores, while these paperbacks are priced
slightly below the hardcover price.
Klutz Scoubidou – Klutz kits show up fairly often, but I like them. They are good
fun for kids, come with everything you need to do the projects, and have
super clear instructions to follow. These also make really good gifts – this plastic lace for making jewelry and lanyards is a classic older-kid activity.
I Am Canada Pack – like the Dear Canada series is its diary format, this series is aimed
at boys, and contains more action than the others, but is
equally compelling and well-written. A terrific way to build an interest
in history.

Have a great summer of reading, everyone!
I’ll see you in the fall…