Scholastic Decoder: December Edition

A Porcupine in a Pine Tree – this Candian twist on the
Twelve Days of Christmas is actually not stunning literature, but is
just. so. Canadian. It makes me laugh, and makes for a great gift.
Jillian Jiggs Library – Jillian is a wildly imaginative girl who always has a new plan that she leads everyone in, and it’s always fun. Great Canadian material for spunky kids!
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? – If your child loves the rhythm of these books, this version is about animals and their sounds, and comes with a CD, so that they can listen and
look at the same time. Brown Bear and Polar Bear are still the best in
the series, and feature wonderful animals to
look over.
Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush – Jane Cabrera has a bold, simple style that works for preschoolers and toddlers, and this wintry version of the traditional song would be a nice pick for a younger kid.
Jan Brett Winter Favourites – Jan Brett is a favourite, and these are perhaps her best two titles. The Mitten is a Ukrainian folk tale about a host of animals crowding into one mitten in the cold, while The Hat is a silly story about animals stealing clothing off a line to wear as hats. Great picks!
Chester Pack – Chester is a cheeky, obnoxious cat who won’t let
his author get on with her work and keeps inserting himself in the book,
with ridiculous results. Melanie Watt is a funny lady, and a major hit
with kids, making this a good pick.
My Little Stella Library – I love Stella and her little brother Sam! The two go on adventures, and big sis Stella answers Sam’s many questions with whimsy rather than fact. This set is in a small format, good for taking along on outings, but if you’re looking for bigger bedtime storybooks, they may not work for you.
A Paddling of Ducks – this book is a combination of things – an alphabet, a book of amusing plural forms, and a delightful book of animals. It was a Forest of Reading nominee, and is an unusual treat to share.
Barbara Reid Pack – I’ve said it before, Barbara Reid is a national treasure. her plasticine art is incredibly detailed, and her way with a story is wonderful. i would never pass up the chance to have more of her work on my shelf.
Stone Soup – Stone Soup is a wonderful tale of tricking people into cooperation, and this Jon Muth version is set in a rural Chinese town and made magical with his beautiful paintings. This is by far my favourite version. You should have this.
Mini Munsch Library – this set of mini-sized Munsch classics is great for stocking stuffers, loot bags, or to tuck in your purse for waiting room outings. Again, they aren’t great for every night’s story times, but I do love the mini format for portability.
Best Loved Stories on DVD Pack – I don’t often recommend DVDs, but these are seriously great picture books brought to life in animation that is faithful to the original text and images. They are originally from Weston Woods, who wins awards for their work all the time, and come with great pedigree. Really great stuff, but it is worth keeping in mind that the full set with something like 30 DVDs will likely show up over the year at some point, so if you really want to invest in these, it’s worth thinking about whether this set is the one you want.

SeeSaw

It’s Christmas, David! – by now, kids know the David formula – he’s always getting into mischief, and it’s pretty funny stuff, but the books always end on a sweet note of acceptance. Christmas is rife with temptation for any kid, so as you can imagine, David finds a few things to get into here…
Snow Day! – this is a fairly typical winter snowy day story about outdoor activities. There are a lot of books in this vein, and really, any of them are fun picks to share, though I wouldn’t suggest that you need all of them!
Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas – I’m not generally a huge Fancy Nancy fan, but I enjoyed this Christmas story. Nancy here is less obnoxious and more gracious, and I was finding myself enjoying her “fancy” words. believe me, no one was more surprised by this than me, since I rarely enjoy holiday versions of franchises, too!
Hockey Superstars 2011-2012 – a lot of kids – boys, especially, also love to read non-fiction, and for
a hockey lover, this is a good pick, one that they can browse through
at will. This is often the sort of thing that appeals to a reluctant
reader, as well.
Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes, Klutz Fingerprint Fabulous – I love Klutz books for their fun, kid-oriented activities, their very
clear and easy-to-follow instructions, and the fact that they come with everything
you need to get started. These two are good solid choices for grades
1-3. I like buying these for gifts, so the cheaper price is a nice
bonus.
Scaredy and Friends Super Set – AScaredy is the book that made Melanie Watt a household name. He’s a major hit with kids, and this super est includes 4 books about him, a DVD, and a puppet, as well as two of her other, unrelated (but also good) titles. it’s a great set, but
Scaredy also shows up in packs often, so if you think you’re going to want less
of him , you might want to wait for a set to come
around again.

Lucky

A Porcupine in a Pine Tree – this Candian twist on the
Twelve Days of Christmas is actually not stunning literature, but is
just. so. Canadian. It makes me laugh, and makes for a great gift.
Magic Tree House – I really like the Magic Tree House series, one of the few series that I
really enjoy despite the formula. These are all from the new series of “Merlin Missions,” and
good picks for Tree House readers, who will want to get their hands on
the latest.
Can You See What I See? Toyland Express – for the younger end of this flyer’s audience, this is the next evolution of the I Spy series, by the same photographer. Kids love perusing these, especially the reluctant reader who doesn’t want to deal with very much text.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Collection and Cabin Fever –
this series has been a mega-hit for a few years now, especially with
boys and even reluctant readers, who like the graphic elements that
break up its text. The series is going strong, with the first five
offered in a pack, plus the new sixth book up for grabs on its own.
Big Nate – Big Nate is the most obvious read-alike for The kid who’s read the Wimpy
Kid series and wants more, and here, the flyer delivers
the new one. We’re talking about
something that is on frequent offer, so if you’re not sure your kid is
in need of this right now or want the whole series, don’t sweat it. You can always pick it up
again another month.
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia – These massive DK compendiums are gorgeous visual feasts, and perfect for
browsing. The big fans love them for their level of detail and the
thorough coverage of every aspect and character, while the reluctant and
less-than-strong readers love them for their chunking of text and
information. A great pick for a fan, and a good gift, too.
Klutz How to Make Pompom Animals – I love Klutz books for their fun, kid-oriented activities, their very
clear and easy-to-follow instructions, and the fact that they come with everything
you need to get started. These two are good solid choices for grades
1-3. I like buying these for gifts, so the cheaper price is a nice
bonus.
The Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas – I always love Usborne’s art books, as does Girl 7, but I especially like that this is ideas for different ways to use various media, rather than prescribed projects. Perfect for the young artist!
The Chronicles of Narnia Boxed Set – This classic fantasy series has been a frequent flyer in the book clubs
the last few years, with the movies being made. It’s a great set to have
for a grade 5-6, even grade 4 if you are reading it together. But if
your cart is full already, it will appear again.
Little House Collection – I never loved this like so many do, but it is solid classic fare for reading aloud, and this set gives you the whole series, so you can follow Laura and her family from start to finish.
Klutz Invasion of the Bristlebots – Again with the Klutz kits, this time for making bristlebots, essentially simplified, homemade HexBugs. Awesome way to get kids involved in beginner electronics.
Stuart Little – now this is a classic that I love! This little mouse has big adventures, complete with love, friendship, and peril. No kid should miss the chance to read or listen to this one.

Arrow

Wayside School is Falling Down – these are silly little stories by the Newbery-winning author of Holes. Kids love them for simple reading and lots of fun. They are great for the not-so-strong reader, but maybe not meaty enough for a real bibliovore.
The Throne of Fire (Heroes of Olympus, bk 2) – This series takes place in the same world as the Percy Jackson series,
with Camp Halfblood figuring prominently, and so on, but does not
include Percy himself. Riordan is a fantastic action/adventure writer,
so kids are gobbling these up just as fast as they did the original
series.
Amulet Pack – I’ve read the first 3, and can’t wait to get my paws on book 4. These are beautiful and full of adventure and fantasy. I reviewed them not long ago here, if you’d like more detail on them.
Best Animal Stories Pack – Incredible Journey is a classic story of a pair of animal friends and their long trip home, while Mine For Keeps is by Canadian legend Jean Little. if you’ve got an animal lover, you can’t go far wrong with this pair!
Sock Monkey & Friends Kit – this looks adorable, and I have a zillion outgrown socks. Going to buy this for a holiday project with my Girl 7.
Owls in the Family – Farley Mowat recounting the ridiculous stories of his family’s pet owls is the stuff of truly classic Canadian greatness. If you’re familiar with The Dog Who Wouldn’t Be, you’ll want this one for more of the same mayhem.
The Science Kit – I love science for kids, and this looks like it has enough in it to keep them busy for a while trying out new stuff while they (shh!) learn something, too.
Horrible Histories Pack – kids – especially boys – love these goofy takes on the worst of history. If you want the past to come to gruesome, disgusting life for your kid, or s/he is a non-fiction fan, these are a great choice.
Titanic Trilogy – this trilogy by Gordon Korman follows in the pattern
of his other popular survival trilogies, setting this newest story
during the sinking of the Titanic. There’s a lot on the sinking out this
year, with the anniversary coming in 2012, and Korman is a strong
writer, so this is a rare case of my recommending something I haven’t
read myself yet. In this case, I feel pretty confident!
Dear Canada Pack – these diary-format books highlight major events n Canadian history from
the perspective of someone involved or affected, bringing history to
life. They are written by top-shelf names in kidslit, too, so it is a case where being a series does not mean being banged out by just anyone.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not!® – from the fascinating to the bizarre, Ripley’s has been riveting kids for decades, and kids from reluctant readers to hardcore book fiends love perusing these pages.
The 39 Clues Pack and 39 Clues Cahills vs. Vespers, Book One: The Medusa Plot – This series is written by some of the top names in adventurous kidslit,
and keep kids guessing and following along. If you get started with
these, be prepared to have an obsessed kid, but these are another
often-featured set, so you can always put this on the back burner and
know you can order later, too.
Guinness Worlds Records 2012 – These books have been
favourites for browsing for decades, and appeal to nearly every kid out
there. There is a new one every year, though you don’t need to replace
them annually, really. They are also offered fairly often, as they truly
are popular. They also make for great gift material!
Every Thing on It – New Shel Silverstein! Hey, didn’t I just review this?
Star Wars: The Clone Wars Character Encyclopedia – as above
How to Cartoon – both kids who like to draw and kids who love to read cartoons seem to love trying their hand at drawing some themselves. This book gives them a step-by-step guide to getting it right. Good choice for comic fans!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Collection and Cabin Fever –
this series has been a mega-hit for a few years now, especially with
boys and even reluctant readers, who like the graphic elements that
break up its text. The series is going strong, with the first five
offered in a pack, plus the new sixth book up for grabs on its own.