March! March Break is here, with the promise of time for leisure reading… Need some material? Let’s see what we’ve got here…
Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash – A fun, silly little rhyme perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, who thrive on rhymes.
I’m Fast! – Any fan of trains and things that go is likely to enjoy this. it’s the latest in a series, and while some in the series are better than others, they are great fun to read aloud if you’re willing to get a little ridiculous. Kids loooove these!
Don’t Worry Bear – these are sweet, reassuring stories for toddlers about a bear and his friends. In this story, his caterpillar friend disappears for a while inside a cocoon, and bear gets concerned, but of course, things turn out just fine in the end! Cute with being saccharine, these are perfect toddler fare.
Lio Lionni Pack – Lio Lionni is solid gold if you ask me. He is one of those rare authors who manages to teach little life lessons that are completely hidden in his wonderful stories, and his distinctive art makes them uniquely his. Swimmy is a favourite.
Elephant & Piggie Set – These books. Oh, I love these so very
much. Mo Willems at his cartoonish best, these little episodes between
two friends are perfect beginning readers, and not only fulfill my need
for friendship stories, but crack me right up every time.
Corduroy Pack – Coruduroy. I mean, does it get more classic than this? These two stories of a bear who finds a friend, and of getting lost and found again. The illustrations in these are wonderful, and the theme of friendship timeless. I adore these so much that I just may own a little Corduroy bear of my own… Okay, also a T-shirt.
The Going to Bed Book – Sandra Boynton is a board book wizard, creating rhyming, bouncing little stories and songs populated with piggies, penguins, and farm animals that dance and sing. I love her books, and they should be on every toddler’s shelf.
Seesaw
The Easter Bunny’s Assistant – I’ll be honest, this is one I haven’t had the chance to see yet, but Jan Thomas rarely misses on silly books that hit kids right on the funny bone every time. I’m going to say this is worth the gamble, and I’m buying it myself.
Poetry of Shel Silverstein – I’m a huge fan of Silverstein’s poetry, though not so much of his
stories. This pair contains the best of his work, and are enduring favourites of mine and many others, being packed full of fun, silly, a occasionally wise verses that make
for great reading together now, and something they can read on their own
as they get older.
***Interrupting Chicken – this very silly Caldecott honour book is great fun for a read-aloud and
sharing, and a hit whenever I’ve read it. A little chicken keeps
interrupting his dad, who tries to read him a bedtime story, until the
tables are turned. Definitely a top pick!
Crosby’s Golden Goal – Mike Leonetti is the current go-to guy for
hockey writing, and has told a host of famous stories for a younger
audience. This moment in Canadian hockey history is a proud one, and
Crosby being a current superstar is likely to resonate with
sports-loving kids.
Magic School Bus Pack – These are great books, and kids love them. They mesh factual
information with fun adventures that a class goes on with their wacky
teacher and her magic bus. The kids are consistent characters, and each
has a personality that you come to know. There are lots of little extra
bits with factoids, little jokes, and so on that makes it fun for kids
to peruse. these do show up in various different packs often enough, as well.
a note on non-fiction:
Lucky
Charlotte’s Web – This children’s classic is a tearjerker, but a wonderful story. A
really good choice for reading together, or for a stronger reader’s own
reading. Either way, every kid should read this.
Seeing Symmetry – Loreen Leedy is great at writing math books that are actually interesting and engaging while they explain. This is a good pick for a math lover or a kid with an artistic bent.
Where The Sidewalk Ends – I’m a huge fan of Silverstein’s poetry, though not so much of his
stories. This particular book is packed full of enduring
favourites of mine and many others, being packed full of fun, silly, a
occasionally wise verses that make for great reading together now, and
something they can read on their own as they get older.
Amelia Bedelia Pack – Who doesn’t love Amelia Bedelia? These books are classics that you
might remember yourself, in which the loopy housekeeper follows
instructions to the literal letter, always misinterpreting things based
on homophones or idioms. These are actually also a great exercise in
language, and work well for the sense of humour of most kids.
Beverley Cleary Pack – Cleary’s work is showing up more often now, but this pack contains an unusual group of titles that you don’t see too often. For fans of Cleary or those who want some stories about girls of their own age, this makes a great little group.
Star Wars Visual Dictionary – DK are excellent at creating visually appealing, nicely chunked information that works well for browsers and the reluctant, and any fan of Star Wars will be very happy to see this. Makes a great gift, as well.
Repeaters: These one show up often, so if not this month, all is not lost
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – This series has been wildly popular with kids from about grade 2 up to
grade 6, even among the most reluctant of readers, who appreciate its
humour and its half-graphic format. It’s an easy read, and his school
troubles resonate with kids. The pack is on frequent offer.
Big Nate – This series is the natural successor to the Wimpy Kids books, having a
similar half-graphic format, school setting, and kid who gets into
scrapes. They are, perhaps, a little brattier, but the same kids who
love Wimpy Kid are eating these up, so if it’s all your kid wants to
read, it may be worth picking up this month or pretty much any other
month.
Calvin & Hobbes Pack – these are funny – you might remember them from a good 20-25 years ago?
They still appeal. Readers and reluctant readers alike enjoy cartoons, so if your kid won’t
gravitate to a full-on novel just yet, these might grab his/her
attention in the meantime, not to mention that you can share some good
belly laughs reading them together!
Magic Tree House Library – I’m not always a fan of big series for kids, although they very
definitely serve a purpose. They are by nature formulaic, and often not
well-written. These definitely follow a formula, but the writing is
better than it has to be, and the various times and places visited give
kids a nice little taste of history and different cultures, which I
like. This giant library includes books #1-43, so it is nearly up to current, and while $90 is a lot at once, if your kid is getting into these and you are likely to buy them, it is certainly a good price.
Klutz Kits – I love these kits for really clear, simple instructions, good results,
and containing everything you need to do the projects. These also make
great gifts, so I grab them for a little less here. This month offers Friendship bracelets
A note about non-fiction: there is lots of great non-fiction here, so if your kid is passionate about something, consider buying a book about it. Not only are you making reading appealing, but kids will often read at a significantly higher level on topics they know well.
Arrow
The Little Prince – the philosophical and much-beloved classic has turned up here, to my surprise. If you’d want to share this one with your kids, it would be worth grabbing it now – I’ve never seen it in the flyers before, though now that it’s here, there’s every chance we’ll see it again some day.
Guardians of Ga’Hoole Collection – this animal fantasy series has been fairly popular, though it is starting to wane after the spike of kids reading it when the movie came out. There are a good many books here, so if you have a voracious fantasy reader, this could keep them going for a while!
The Fourth Stall Pack – this has met with lots of strong reviews and interest
– a sort of Godfather of the school story, revolving around a bathroom
stall and the school-age boss who lurks there. Funny, employing some
gangster conventions, and a good read. I reviewed it here last year, and loved it.
Gordon Korman Hilarious Stories Pack – Gordon Korman always gives good hijinx, and these books are not over-sold when they call them hilarious. This pack has a range of his slightly older, materials, including his first, famously written when he was merely 12.
Bone Complete Collection – Pretty much the Cadillac of kids graphic novels, Bone is popular with
kids and adults alike. Funny, with a serious, epic storyline spanning
nine books, and drawn with a wonderful attention to detail and obvious
cartoon influences, it’s a masterpiece that was originally
self-published, and later picked up for publishing in full colour. I’ve
heard Jeff Smith speak about what he was doing, and was even more
impressed by the level of planning and detail he put into these. Even
reluctant readers are eating these up, and I can’t say I’m surprised,
they are really, really good.
Smile – one of the better “graphic novels for girls” out there, it’s relatable, but not too ickily chicklit.
National Geographic Everything Dogs – National Geo has gotten right into the informational books market, and there are a few each month now. They are great reluctant reader material, being arranged in digestible chunks and liberally illustrated, but the info is solid. Great pick for a dog lover.
Joan Bauer Pack – Joan Bauer is always good for stories with both a sense of humour and a big dose of heart. I reviewed Close to Famous here, if you’d like a little better idea. She’s also something of a crossover author, at the older end of this range.
Usborne Art Treasury – A book of introduction to art, looking at styles and media, rather than
a how-to book, this is a wonderful start on art appreciation for the
kid who is leaning toward the artsy.
Horrible Histories Pack – these are a light-hearted, kid-approved way of looking at history – you get the basic story, but there is a good amount of focus on the gross and nasty parts that make it fun reading for kids. These are also great hits with reluctant readers, and boys tend to love them, but be prepared to hear parts retold with glee.
Repeaters: Frequently Found, so if you’re not sure this month, they’ll be back
Big Nate – This series is the natural successor to the Wimpy Kids books, having a
similar half-graphic format, school setting, and kid who gets into
scrapes. They are, perhaps, a little brattier, but the same kids who
love Wimpy Kid are eating these up, so if it’s all your kid wants to
read, it may be worth picking up this month or pretty much any other
month.
Amulet #5 – I’ve read the first three of these graphic novels, and can’t wait to
get around to the last two now. These are beautiful and full of
adventure and fantasy. I reviewed them not long ago here, if you’d like more detail on them.
Percy Jackson & The Olympians Collection – I love this series. The writing moves quickly, the quests are studded
with many mythological monsters, and the overarching storyline is the
stuff of archetype. I highly recommend this series, which grabs readers
and carries along so masterfully that even a lot of reluctant boys at
work have chewed through them.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Boxed Set – This series has been wildly popular with kids from about grade 2 up to
grade 6, even among the most reluctant of readers, who appreciate its
humour and its half-graphic format. It’s an easy read, and his school
troubles resonate with kids. The pack is on frequent offer.
Klutz Kits – I love these kits for really clear, simple instructions, good results, and containing everything you need to do the projects. These also make great gifts, so I grab them for a little less here.This month features Beaded Bands (bracelets) and Paper Airplanes, as well as Cat’s Cradle, which would be my pick for its classic string games.