Scholastic Decoder: January

It’s a new year! And as sure as school starts up again this week, Scholastic flyers are on their way. Here are my top picks for January.

Elf
Penguins – simple, cute story of a group of penguins who get hold of a camera, with some pretty amusing results. We’re penguin fans around here, so it was a hit.
Jan Brett family library – Jan Brett is one of those authors that are widely beloved, and a favourite with teachers. Her illustrations are richly detailed and beautiful, she’s a good storyteller, and if you are a fan, you should also check out her website for great interactive extras and acitivity ideas! This is not a cheap set, to be sure, but it’s a lot of good books packed into one bundle.
Llama Llama trio – if you have a toddler, these are pretty sure to work with them – they are pitched just right and address the sort of outbursts that characterize the age (The Bun loves these). For an older kid, though, they are likely to be too young.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom – on the off chance that you do not have this and want to spend the extra for the sturdier board format, this is a book that should probably be in most young kids’ houses. It’s a really good alphabet book with a strong, contagious rhythm, and shows lower-case letters, which is far less common.
We’re Going on a Bear Hunt – this is solidly in modern classic territory, and a fun, action-driven game to play together. Highly recommended for active kids and groups!
Everyone Poops – I know, I know, but here’s the thing – kids love this book. They think it’s both funny and fascinating and yes, it’s age-appropriate for the little ones, and even functions as potty-learning encouragement. So yes, I still pick this, even though… well, you know. Poop.
David Pack – David is a favourite with kids – funny, slightly naughty, but always ending on a sweet positive, these are always a hit and good for a laugh.
Franklin Classics Library – these are the better Franklins, back from when the original author was still writing them, so if you have a Franklin fan, it’s a worthwhile set, if you don’t have some already. it is a lot of them at once, though, so if you are not so into Franklin yourself, well, your call! 

SeeSaw
Polar Bear, Polar Bear – a wonderful classic in this series, but if you don’t want to pay extra for the CD, hold out – it will come around again in other formats.
Black History Read-Together Pack – three books that are great reads with or without the “black history month” theming they are putting on them here. Amazing Grace is a lovely story of a young girl who wants to be in the school play, Zomo is a folk tale from Africa, and Martin’s Big Words is a gorgeous and touching look at the civil rights leader’s message. I’m buying this pack and highly recommend it.
Bringing in the New Year – a simple look at Chinese New Year celebrations as told by a young girl. Not a wonderful story like Sam’s Lucky Money, but a solid, informative picture book on the holiday.
You Read To Me, I’ll Read To You – I love this book for letting an emerging reader show off their new skills – we’ve just worked our way through it with Miss Grade One, and she loves taking turns, which is less daunting, and a lot of fun.There are a few in this series, I can’t wait to bring home another.
Scholastic Home Reference Set – this dictionary & thesaurus pair are good enough to carry them for a good few years as they gain independence in doing their work and learn to “look it up” themselves. If you are in the market for this kind of reference book, the price is right for the pair.
Usborne Children’s Picture Atlas – Miss Grade One loves geography, so I’m always looking at children’s atlases, and quite like this one for it’s combination of strong facts and simple, kid-friendly illustrations and maps. This is a good place to start learning about the wider world, though not one that will carry them through school.
Tangram Puzzles – I love tangrams, and the math benefits make this even better as an activity. It would be great for travel, with its reusable stickers, as well as a snow-day puzzle to stretch your kid’s solving abilities.
Chester – Melanie Watt (of Scaredy Squirrel fame as well) is one funny Canadian, and Chester is a cat with an attitude who challenges her authority as she tries to write a story. The results crack kids up, although i will say this is better for one-on-one reading that for a group.
My Little Stella Library – I love, love, love Stella and her little brother Sam, by another 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.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus – an instant favourite with kids all over, this interactive book draws them right into the story and made Mo Willems a household name. You can see his Sesame Street animating background bringing this one to life as you read it, and it is another book that everyone should know.

Lucky
Usborne Big Book of Experiments – this book has all sort of interesting and not-too-complex science tricks to try at home. I’m hoping this might keep Miss Grade One busy on some chilly Sundays this winter.
National Geographic Kids World Atlas – if you want a more serious and scholarly atlas than the Usborne one in the SeeSaw flyer, this one has National Geo cred, maps, and lots of photos that are sure to be amazing. This would be my pick for an older kid than Miss Grade One.
Beezus and Ramona – if you haven’t started reading Ramona books to your girl yet, start now, and start with this one. Never mind the movie, this is the real deal, and a lifelong fave of mine.
Ripley’s Believe It or Not – these are fascinating to any kid, even the most reluctant of readers, so if they won’t read anything else? Try this. Kids pore over these at the library all the time, and I remember reading them with some very wide eyes as a kid myself.
Voyage of the Dawn Treader / Chronicles of Narnia – these have been showing up pretty much every month, 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.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – these have also been a monthly feature, as they are so wildly popular. I think this is the first time I have seen all five in one pack, though, so if your kid is a fan and you’ve been thinking about getting them, I would snap that up.
Big Nate – a natural successor (and imitator) to Wimpy kid, these share the same sort of text/graphic mashup format and much the same sense of humour. if you’re looking for something similar, this would fit the bill!
Thumb Doodles Book – fingerprint drawings were an Ed Emberley specialty way back when, and are being introduced to a new generation in this klutz book that comes complete with ink pads. I like the creative possibilities here, since what you can do with this is wide open – the kit is not just parts to assemble.

Arrow
Bone – The Bone series of graphic novels are funny and adventurous, and pitched just right for grades 4-6. This first of a trilogy returns, and this is one of those rare cases where I
trust an author enough to pick this without having read it yet, largely because it is in the same world as the original series.
Chronicles of Narnia boxed set – these have been showing up pretty much every month, 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.
Dear Canada / I Am Canada – these series are historical fiction that is well-researched and written in diary format by solid authors to illuminate some really interesting episodes in Canadian history, with the full human drama brought to life. They are good books, and really place the kids right in the middle of what it might have been like, as well as being sneakily educational.
Percy Jackson Box Set – this is the first time I’ve seen this full set together, so while this
is another series that has been featured repeatedly and is very popular,
I pick it again because this would make it worth grabbing if you don’t
have it yet.These really are fantastic books!
Big Nate – a natural successor (and imitator) to Wimpy kid, these share the same
sort of text/graphic mashup format and much the same sense of humour. if
you’re looking for something similar, this would fit the bill!
Number the Stars – a Newbery book, and a wonderful one, at that. Lois Lowry is a fantastic author, and this book about one family hiding a jewish girl in World War II is touching, dramatic, and wonderfully told. Highly recommended.
Fudge Collection – Judy Blume is known for her girls’ books, but this younger and funnier
collection about a boy nicknamed Fudge has always gone over well with
grade 3-4 girls and boys alike.
Complete Harry Potter Collection – this is an expensive set, for sure, but it is one of those cases where
the book club actually offers some pretty substantial savings over the
list price ($75!), so if you are in the market for the full set in
hardcover, it would be worth considering.
The 39 Clues box set – 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!
Scary Stories pack –  these oldies but goodies are still going strong, with kids asking for scary ghost stories every year. For the kid who loves that little bit of shiver in their bedtime reading, these are a good buy.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – these have also been a monthly feature, as they are so wildly popular. I
think this is the first time I have seen all five in one pack, though,
so if your kid is a fan and you’ve been thinking about getting them, I
would snap that up.

Some of you may also get:

Classroom Favourites flyer
Interrupting Chicken – Little chicken can’t quite pipe down and listen to the story at bedtime… It’s funny, this one, and fun to read aloud, too.
The Incredible Journey – this is one of those epic journeys that make for serious classic literature, as this is. As in, my mom read it as a kid, even! But the story of pets trying to make their way home will still hook the right kid.
Fairy Tale pack – James Marshall can put the goofy into pretty much anything, even your classic fairy tales, and the results are pure entertainment. They’re not so wild as to be fractured fairy tales, just silly versions of the standards. I’m buying this for the two goofy kids I live with. (And, er, myself, too.)
Percy Jackson boxed set – this is the first time I’ve seen this full set together, so while this is another series that has been featured repeatedly and is very popular, I pick it again because this would make it worth grabbing if you don’t have it yet.These really are fantastic books!
Complete Harry Potter hardcover set – this is an expensive set, for sure, but it is one of those cases where the book club actually offers some pretty substantial savings over the list price ($75!), so if you are in the market for the full set in hardcover, it would be worth considering.
Scaredy Squirrel at Night – Scaredy is a current favourite of tons of kids, and this nocturnal adventure is a surefire hit for a kid who loves the neurotic, tree-bound rodent.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid pack – these have also been a monthly feature, as they are so wildly popular. I
think this is the first time I have seen all five in one pack, though,
so if your kid is a fan and you’ve been thinking about getting them, I
would snap that up.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not – these are fascinating to any kid, even the most reluctant of readers, so
if they won’t read anything else? Try this. Kids pore over these at the
library all the time, and I remember reading them with some very wide
eyes as a kid myself.
Home Reference Library – this dictionary & thesaurus pair are good enough to carry them for a
good few years as they gain independence in doing their work and learn
to “look it up” themselves. If you are in the market for this kind of
reference book, the price is right for the pair.
Henry’s Freedom Box – this story of a young slave’s bid for freedom is Caldecott honoured and an amazing illustration of the powerful need for freedom. Fantastic, but be prepared to talk about slavery – it’s the kind of book I recommend for opening those kinds of discussions.
Caldecott winners pack – these three hardcovers are well worth the $30 price tag here – the Lion & The Mouse is a gorgeous, nearly wordless rendition of the Aesop tale by Jerry Pinkney (amazing), I love All the World (my Shelf Candy review is here), and Red Sings From the Trees is a lovely seasonal book. I’m almost disappointed that I already own two of the three so it’s not worth buying!
The Story of Ferdinand – this wonderful old story about a bull who just wants to be left alone to smell the flowers (but gets dragged into a fighting ring anyhow) is still one I love. Munro Leaf’s ink drawings are so expressive that it barely ages, and the story is both funny and sweet. LOVE.
Ramona and her Family pack – I can’t say enough about how much I adore Ramona and think every little girl should hear some of her stories. The predecessor to Clementine, Junie B., and all those other spunky little girls, she’s been popular for simply forever.
Fudge collection – Judy Blume is known for her girls’ books, but this younger and funnier collection about a boy nicknamed Fudge has always gone over well with grade 3-4 girls and boys alike.
Chronicles of Narnia set – these have been showing up pretty much every month, 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.
Puff the Magic Dragon – this book and CD show up often, and will again, without doubt. The book and song are a hit with kids, who sit riveted every time I sing it. (My Shelf Candy review on this is here.)
Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics on DVD – I am not one to recommend non-book items – except these DVDs, which are animated versions of really good storybooks, utterly faithful to the text and illustrations, and multi-award-winning. These? Are what you want to put on if you don’t want your kid to watch TV, but need to give in to some screen time. They are solidly good content.
A Light in the Attic – Shel Silverstein is hilarious, and the kind of poet, like Dennis Lee, that every child should be exposed to so that they learn how fun poetry can be before they are taught otherwise. I don’t tend to love his story books, but his poetry collections are wonderful, and this one is every bit as good as his classic title Where the Sidewalk Ends.
Magic Treehouse #9-16 – iI am not a huge fan of series, though they do have their place nad purpose, but this is one series that I really love and totally recommend. Both boys and girls, from grades 1-4 love them, and though they are formulaic, they also open doors to lots of worlds and times, which is really interesting and keeps each one new.
Guardians of Ga’Hoole – this fantasy series is for the serious fantasy reader, as it has grown quite sizable. The world of animals and magic is written by Kathryn Lasky, who has a solid reputation in kids lit, and is gaining even wider popularity now that the first movie has come out. This is a big set, so you’ll want to be sure your kid will want it, but if they do, it could keep them in reading for a while!
Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes – I do love a lot of these klutz kits for being really good at giving simple, clear instructions on how to do lots of great kid activities, and this one is no exception.
Star Wars Character Encyclopedia – this is meant for the serious Star Wars enthusiast – the one who knows and cares about every character. For that kid? This is gold.
Charlotte’s Web – Do I even need to talk about this one? It’s been read by generations, made into movies, and Newbery honoured. It’s wonderful, though sad, and makes a perfect read-aloud for a somewhat older child. If it’s not on your shelf, it really ought to be.

Yes, that favourites flyer sure lives up to its name! Lots of good stuff in there.

Happy reading in 2011, everyone!