Spring is in the air – and in the flyers, too! On top of the regular monthlies, we’ve got a spring gift flyer – and a summer one so you can stock up for two months of extra free time.
Here are my picks:
Elf
The Kissing Hand – this sweet classic about learning to be apart from your mother is still lovely – and useful after all these years. I know teachers of young kids who use it every September.
You Are My Sunshine – a board book of that old wistful love song. I love books of songs – they are great for reminding you of the words, as well as helping integrate them into storytime.
I Am Canada – this is a great look at places and people across Canada, highlighting what an enormous range of people and landscapes our country holds.
Usborne Summer Activities – I recommend these Usborne books every month because I hae found some
great little projects in them, and they have also gained the stamp of
approval from Girl 6, but I will caution that if you have a handful,
there is some repetition.
Klutz Kids Cooking – Cooking is a great activity for kids – not only is it together time, but it’s also a great reinforcer for reading and math skills. I always appreciate Klutz’s way with super-simple directions that are easy to follow, too – especially when it’s unfamiliar territory, like a kitchen.
*Scaredy Squirrel Pack – Scaredy Squirrel is a major hit with kids, and he is really very funny.
Love these books, and totally recommend this pack if you don’t have any
Melanie Watt yet.
SeeSaw
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.
*Ladybug Girl at the Beach – I love Ladybug Girl. I love her imaginative play, and that she plays with boys and girls alike, appealing to both. I love her spunk and independence. I would happily recommend her and fully expect her to find new fans.
*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.
A to Z Mysteries Collection – the A to Z mystery series is a popular one, though this is a big pack, so be sure your kid is really into that much mystery!
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.
Scholastic Children’s Atlas – atlases are great reference tools for school, but also a nice
introduction to the rest of the world. Having one aimed at children
makes it more user-friendly, which is appealing. If you also got the
math and science flyer, it includes a National Geographic atlas as well,
which I am inclined to suggest is even better and more comprehensive,
with photos and maps, as well as being in a cheaper paperback format.
Children’s Cookbook – I’m not much of a cook. Actually, I don’t cook. But I do know that cooking and baking is great
for kids. It
teaches following instructions and reinforces rudimentary math skills.
It’s
great together time, and this publisher is great for being pleasantly clear
and simple, for less frustration and more sweet results. Yum.
*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. See my longer review here.
Lucky
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.
Magic School Bus DVD 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.
*Usborne Complete Book of Art Ideas – I am slowly buying all these Usborne art books, because I really like
their interesting range of ideas, their very simple and clear
directions, and the images of what is happening that make them even
easier to follow. This book is particularly interesting because it doesn’t have projects per se, but different ways to use art materials, so it’s a little more open-ended than some of their stuff. If you like to make art with your kid, you are sure to
find some inspiration in here.
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.
*Clementine Pack – I love Clementine. I like that she has all the spunk and smarts of those other precocious girls, but isn’t obnoxious or rude. Instead, she is bursting with ideas and has a great heart, but simply lacks self-control – and she knows it. The result is both funny and endearing, and much more like her predecessor, Ramona Quimby, than like some of her cheekier contemporaries.
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.
Chester Pack – funny, funny stuff here, with a book character who refuses to conform to
what his author is trying to draw. Though they are tough for sharing
with a crowd, kids really enjoy them, and Melanie Watt is also known for
her Scaredy Squirrel books.
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.
*The Story of Ferdinand – this is an oldie
but goodie that was a favourite of mine growing up, and still. Ferdinand
is a bull who has no interest in fighting, he just likes to sit and
smell flowers, so when he ends up in a bull ring, things do not go as
planned. The black-and-white ink drawings in this are old-school, but
still charming and funny. Love this.
*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.
Arrow
This Can’t Be Happening at McDonald Hall! – see set below in this flyer – this is a good starter for the set, if you just want a taste.
Mythbusters Science Fair Book – I love the Mythbusters show, and they have fans in all age ranges. This team has a lot of totally contagious fun, so the fact that they have put together a science book for kids makes me really, really happy, because it puts the cool factor back in what is really pretty awesome to begin with, at the same time as it informs.
365 Things to do with Paper and Cardboard – I recommend these Usborne books every month because I hae found some
great little projects in them, and they have also gained the stamp of
approval from Girl 6, but I will caution that if you have a handful,
there is some repetition.
39 clues boxed 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!
Icefire Collection / Fireworld – 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.
d’Aulaire’s Book of Greek Myths – How fantastic is it that Percy Jackson has put Greek mythology back on the radar of kids? Feed that curiosity about the origins of the monsters and stories with a classic collection like this – they’ll only do better in lit class later!
Percy Jackson boxed set – 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.
Ripley’s Believe it or Not – like Guinness, but focussing more closely on the bizarre and freakish,
this is another fun-to-browse tome that rivets even the most
bibliophobic.
Horrible Histories pack – speaking of bringing istory to life – this series has won fans by
focusing on the grotesque and horrifying aspects of history, and there
are plenty to go around. The great thing is that kids tend to remember
this stuff, although they might insist on reading some of the more
gruesome parts aloud to you to watch your face. Still, they are a good
way to sell history to the academics-averse.
When You Reach Me – This recent Newbery winner is not for the kid who needs an action-packed read, but is a quietly odd little mystery with a resolution that is not completely spelled out, leaving the reader’s brain with a little something to chew on. I was surprised by it, and quite enjoyed it.
McDonald Hall pack – this is the set that made Gordon Korman a household name, beginning when he was still a teen. They are at heart what happens when a madcap plans spins a little out of control – and always a great ride.
Swindle pack – Zoobreak (which I quite enjoyed) is on the Silver Birch Awards
list this year, so lots of kids will be reading it, and then following
up with the other titles. Likely to be a good buy for any kids who likes
some adventure and some silly mixed in together, Korman’s specialty.
The Giver – This is another classic Newbery Award title and dystopian standard for older kids. Lois Lowry is an outstanding writer, and if you have a kid who reads fantasies or sci-fi, you can’t go wrong here. (It’s also likely to be found on reading lists from school.)
The Outsiders – you may have read this as a kid yourself – it’s an old standby for the tween or teen wanting to read about a rebel, and still stands today.
Spring Gift Books
*First the Egg – I love this interesting book that shows simple pairs like “first the word, then the story” with bold illustrations and interesting die-cuts. For a younger child, this would make a charming gift. (Too bad Easter is over – that would have been total perfection.)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – another monthly offering, Wimpy Kid is a bona fide hit with kids, and a definitely a fun, light read. I can’t keep them on the shelf at work, and am ordering more, in fact.
*Hunger Games boxed set – excellent for older (grades
5 and up, even teens) readers with a fantasy/adventure craving. Highly
acclaimed and widely read.
*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.
Percy Jackson boxed set – 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 boxed 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!
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!
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.
Summer Reading
Scaredy Squirrel – Scaredy Squirrel is a major hit with kids, and he is really very funny.
Love these books, and totally recommend this pack if you don’t have any
Melanie Watt yet – or the beach title alone, if you do.
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. Girl 7 is obsessed with these right now, too.
365 Things to do with Paper – I recommend these Usborne books every month because I hae found some
great little projects in them, and they have also gained the stamp of
approval from Girl 6, but I will caution that if you have a handful,
there is some repetition.
*Holes – this
Newbery Medal winner is one of those books that is beloved of both teachers and children. Kids even ask for it and
tell me it’s one of their favourites! The movie has given it wider exposure,
which is, honestly, a great thing when you are talking about a book as good as
this one.
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. Paper airplanes are a perfect summer activity, too.
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.
I Spy Spectacular – kids love these finding books, and they can draw in a real non-reader for quite a while. This is a nice hefty collection of them in one volume, so at least a good chunk of a rainy day of boredom could be whiled away inside here.
*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.
Titanic, book 1: Unsinkable – 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. Speaking of which… his other trilogies
are on this flyer, further down.
Haunted Canada pack – lots of kids love to give themselves the creeps, and what is better
than “true-life” ghost stories from your very own country? It could be
in your back yard!