Scholastic Decoder: November 2011 Edition

Now that we’re done with Hallowe’en, that can only mean one thing – it’s time for the November decoder!

Elf

Eric Carle’s Dream Snow Pop-Up Advent Calendar – Gorgeous pop-ups by a favourite children’s illustrator? If you’re not one for calendars full of chocolate or toys, this is a lovely way to make a simple paper calendar one full of nice surprises.
***Red is Best – quite simply, one of the best picture books ever. I’d call this a must-but if you don’t have it on your shelf yet. A hands-down favourite!
***The Snowy Day – this is the perfect book about playing in the snow. Keats just gets kids so well, and the illustrations are wonderful. A solid classic that definitely earned its Caldecott medal, this is another must-have for your bookshelf.
Magic School Bus DVD Super Pack – I don’t recommend DVDs often, but I do really love the Magic School Bus for its well-done blend of fun story and solid facts, and most kdis I know love them, too, so there, I am willing to suggest as a good pick.
Franklin Classics Library – these stories are the original Franklin books, from Paulette Bourgeois, rather than the later TV spinoffs. They are better written, the illustrations are the real Franklin, the way we got to know him. A good pick for growing up with.
Pigeon Pack – I love Mo. Seriously, everyone loves the pigeon books, and they are so much fun for sharing. These are definitely worth picking up if you don’t have them.
Someday – I’m not much for sappy books written for parents, generally. But I find this one less saccharine, and I like the mom’s vision for her daughter here. This would make a really nice gift for a mom with a new girl, and is an interesting one to share with your own daughter, too.
Favourite Board Book Collection – this is a really good collection of titles. Of you are looking for some more board books, it’s not only great value, but contains some great, classic stuff for young kids, too. I would recommend this for someone whose child is still going to be in board books for a while yet.
Silent Night – I love books of songs – not only because my mind is going and they help me remember the words, but also because they make for nice sharing. Silent Night is a beautiful carol, and if Christmas music is going to be on your radar in the next couple of months, this could be a very nice way to share it with your kdi at bedtime.

SeeSaw

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.
Cat in the Hat: Now You See Me...
– I am loving these Cat in the Hat science books. They are done in
Seussian rhyme, of course, and are a pretty nice, simple explanation and
introduction.
Christmas Baking for Children – I’ve
said it before – I am better off just kept out of the kitchen. But kids?
Kids should totally be in the kitchen learning to follow instructions
and measure things out, and this book has some good recipes you can make
together for your holiday baking, which, by the way, makes for great
teacher gifts and so on, too.
Sleep, Big Bear, Sleep –
this silly book hinges on the idea that Big Bear doesn’t hear very
well, so when Old Man Winter tells him it’s time to sleep, he keeps
mistaking this for other instructions, and finds himself sweeping,
driving a jeep, and more before he sorts it out. I love a good winter
book, and this one is cute and fun, a good combination!
Hockey Legends Pack
– Mike Leonetti has become the go-to guy for books about hockey and the
greats who played the game. This pack pulls together a couple of more
modern hockey heroes as well as a couple from way back. Great for the
fan of our game.
You Read To Me, I’ll Read To You Pack – I
love these books for shared reading, and getting 3 together for a good
price is not something you should pass up if you have an emerging
reader. They were, in fact, the only way I could get my shy reader to
read aloud to me until she found her comfort zone, and they are fun
reading, too!
The Gingerbread Girl – Twists on classic
tales don’t always work – they need a deft touch, especially when they
bill themselves as sequels, and this one has it. having learned
something from the sad end that befell her brother, this smart cookie
escapes everyone who is after her, outfoxes the fox, and makes friends
of the entire cast. That’s one smart cookie!
The Farm Team
– Linda Bailey and Bill Slavin are the phenomenal team behind the
Stanley series, and they are a dream team for truly funny books. In this
case, the book centres around a hockey game – a grudge match between
the Farm team and the Bush league. Of course, there’s mayhem, and plenty
of laughs.

Lucky

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.
The Usborne Big Book of Science Things to Make and Do – I love kids messing around with science – while they have this natural curiosity, I say, we harness it for learning! Books like this are packed with fun ideas and simple, clearly-explained instructions. Fun for both you and them!
Magic School Bus 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.
Every Thing On It – New Shel Silverstein! Hey, didn’t I just review this?
Christmas Baking – I’ve
said it before – I am better off just kept out of the kitchen. But kids?
Kids should totally be in the kitchen learning to follow instructions
and measure things out, and this book has some good recipes you can make
together for your holiday baking, which, by the way, makes for great
teacher gifts and so on, too.
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.
Klutz Twisted Critters – I llike the Klutz books for their very simple and easy-to-follow instructions and pictures, and the fact that they come with everything you need to get started. I especially like that this one is a good starting place, but a creative kid could take the idea, practice on the projects they show, and then branch out into different stuff with the same method.
Scaredy Squirrel – another Melanie Watt title, and the one that made her a household name. Scaredy is a major hit with kids, but also shows up in packs often, so if you think you’re going to want more of him than just this title, you might want to wait for a set to come around again.
Hockey Superstars: All-Time Greats Volume 1 – 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.
The Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes – Again, Klutz kits make for good fun and great gifts, and this one is just the thing for the kid who wants to perfect his or her paper plane skills.
Tales from the Odyssey: Part One –  Mary Pope Osborne is the author of the Magic Tree House series, and in this newer series, she retells stories from the Odyssey for easy chapter readers. I love that classical Greek mythology and epics are becoming hot – this is great stuff for kids to be exposed to, and the incredible tales of adventure, monsters, and survival have huge appeal.
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.
Magic Tree House Audio Collection and Dogs in the Dead of Night – I really like the Magic Tree House series, one of the few series that I really enjoy despite the formula. This audio collection is huge, and a great idea for anyone who travels or has kids who love to listen to stories. Dogs in the newest in the new series of “Merlin Missions,” and a good pick for Tree House readers, who will want to get their hands on the latest.

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