March! And the break is coming… Not to mention spring and Easter, which are well-covered in this month’s flyers.
Elf
Counting Critters Spring Pack – The Very Hungry Caterpillar, two fun, classic counting songs, and one more counting book? A fun pack for sharing and singing with your kids.
Show Me The Honey – I really like these Cat in the hat science books, which manage to open up topics and teach a few good solid facts in a really fresh and engaging way.
Diary of a … Pack – Didn’t think spiders and worms were funny? Me neither, until these came along! Amusing takes on what it might be like to live the life of creepy crawlies, these are favourites for many.
The Little Gardeners’ Guide – I love non-fiction guides that help kids do things with their parents. Not only do they learn about following instructions, but it lets them really feel like part of the action, and teaches them about the world around them. if you’re going to head into a garden this spring, it’s a great way to include your child.
Penny and Her Song – Brand! New! Kevin Henkes! I am a major fan, so I could not be more excited, especially as this marks something of a return to his earlier style. In this simple story, Penny has invented a song, and can’t wait to share it with her family. Once she finds the right time, a great time is had by all.
Kevin Henkes Mouse Pack – did I mention I love Kevin Henkes? I really, really do, and these three are total gems. In them, Chrysanthemum learns about confidence, Lilly learns about controlling herself, and Owen learns about finding an appropriate way to do what he wants. They have wonderful language, warm, loving families, and a good dose of humour. Perfection.
How Do Dinosaurs Mega Pack – These dinosaur books teach kids about manners, tidying, counting, and more, all with a warm, silly mood that reads more as gentle reminders than as preaching. Mark Teague’s paintings add even more humour, and I love his bold, retro style.
Five Little Monkeys Collection – Fans of bouncy rhymes and silliness love these monkeys, and can’t get enugh, as they move from jumping on the bed to getting into other mischief. An included CD reads the stories aloud, as well, for read-along fun.
Children’s Cookbook Pack – Bringing kids into the kitchen may be a recipe for a mess, but it’s also a great learning opportunity for them. These cookbooks offer simple things that kids can make to ensure successful cooking for both of you!
Classic Mini Munsch Pack – These are tiny, pockeet-sized versions of Munsch’s classic (and funniest) stuff. They are great for trips, waiting rooms, and party loot bag contents, though not as great for bedtime sharing.
Scaredy Squirrel at Night – Scaredy Squirrel is neurotic, and totally hilarious – kids love him. In this book, nighttime brings new fears to conquer, and the rattled rodent learns something new.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom – This is a great alphabet book, which treats the letters as characters in a fun rhyme about scaling a tree with disastrous results. Truly a modern classic.
Duck Collection – these books are ridiculous, and very, very funny. Max the duck gets into all sorts of mischief in these books, and kids love them. Great for read-alouds!
Leap Back Home To Me – this sweet little book about letting a little one go is a wonderful bedtime read. In our house, I sing it to the tune of Sally Go Over the Ocean, which works like it was written for it. Cute and reassuring with being sappy.
SeeSaw
The Sandwich Swap – this charming little book by Queen Rania of Jordan pits friends against each other when one says something impolite about the others’ sandwich. Soon the whole school is involved, and the friends see a solution that brings everyone back together. It’s clever, and the illustrations keep it light and just a little sweet. A great title to use for talking about multiculturalism, too, teachers!
Every Thing On It – a posthumous collection of Shel Silverstein poems that I reviewed here. it’s not an essential, but if you have his other books and adore his work, you may want to add this one.
Puff the Magic Dragon – I love books of songs, and this one is a favourite of my kids. If you
like to sing yourself, it gives you the words and illustrates them for
sharing, or if you are not so much the singing type, it comes with a
handy CD to do the job.
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, 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.
Ramona’s Family Pack – Ramona Quimby is the original precocious girl, and her adventures may
have been written decades ago, but she is just as wonderful and as
perfectly mischievous today. These were favourites of mine, and of many
others, as well. Total classics.
Star 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.
Cat in the Hat: How Wet Can You Get? – I really like these Cat in the hat science books, which manage to open
up topics and teach a few good solid facts in a really fresh and
engaging way.
Magic School Bus DVD Super Pack – 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.
Home Reference Set – halfway through the school year and finding that perhaps a dictionary and atlas are in order? This set has both, not to mention a short French-English dictionary, at a decent price for three
hardcovers that will last them into high school, for most kids. This bilingual dictionary will likely not cut it for immersion kids, though, to give fair warning.
Lucky
Magic Tree House #43: Leprechaun in Late Winter – I 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 one is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!
The Trouble with Chickens – this great little mystery is a spoof on noir, with animals. My daughter declared it the best book ever when I read it to her, and I enjoyed it, too. A great one to share. My review of it is here.
Fudge Boxed Set: A Box of Fudge – This good old Judy Blume chestnut has acquired classic status, and is
still much-requested by kids in grades 2-4. A good book for boys and
girls alike, kids very much relate to Fudge, it seems!
Chester’s Masterpiece – see above, in SeeSaw
Magic School Bus Chapter Book Pack – As I’ve often said, I really like these books and the way they combine
fun and learning. I’m not alone, either – I know LOTS of kids who ask
for them often, including both of my own.
National Geographic Kids World Atlas – atlases are great reference tools for school, but also a nice
introduction to the rest of the world. This one from National Geo is
packed with photos and maps, at a great price.
Usborne 1000 Things to Make and Do – I am always recommending theese usborne activity books because they have
lots of great projects, and kids love looking through them and finding
ideas, as I do, too. There is some repetition between books, so if you
have a bunch already, you may not need this one too, but if not, it’s a
super starter!
Big Nate Comics Pack – Big Nate is a great 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!
Klutz Friendship Bracelets – 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. I like buying these for gifts, so the cheaper price is a nice
bonus.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Pack and Cabin Fever (separately) – 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, but is another frequent
flyer, so you can count on being able to pick it up another month, too. For those who have the first run of books, the newest is also avaiilable on its own.
Arrow
Old Yeller – this is an old classic tale about a faithful dog. It is very much the tearjerker, however, for – fair warning – at the end, the dog becomes rabid and must be put down. An excellent book, but I may have used the better part of a box of kleenex on it as a kid myself.
Big Nate and Friends – see above, in Lucky
The 39 Clues® Paperback Boxed Set: Books 1-11 – 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.
Scary Stories Pack – Lots of kids like the thrill of scary stories, and these books are
classic collections of ghostie stories. Wonderful flashlight reading for
the child of sturdy constitution!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Collection – see above, in Lucky
Klutz Cat’s Cradle – I’m glad to see string games making a comeback, and these are a lot of
fun. The best part is that klutz are masters at making their directions
easy-to-follow, so even the truly klutzy, like myself, can manage this
without getting tied up in a knot.
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, 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!
Hatchet – this classic is a Newbery Honor book by the excellent,
multi-award-winning Gary Paulsen. This is a story of survival and
redemption, and a good choice any child who enjoys the wilderness.
Icefire Pack – this series about a dragon is a hefty read, but enjoyed by
fans of the equally weighty Eragon saga.
Sideways Stories from Wayside School – this is a collection of silly stories about a school where nothing makes sense from the award-winning author of Holes. It’s a really fun read for grade 3 and up, or for reluctant readers.
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.
The Ear, the Eye, and the Arm – this is a newbery Honor, and an excellent read, though definitely denser, and for a strong reader.
The Hunger Games Trilogy Boxed Set – these are truly teen books, but for the sophisticated grade 6, they should be accessible, and of course are red-hot this spring, with the movie coming out very shortly!