Ack! It’s into October! And I was so busy getting my awesome Hallowe’en contest together that I haven’t done this yet! (But seriously, you should go enter. And then come back for help picking books.)
Without further delay, I’ll toss you right into my monthly picks now…
Elf
Llama Llama Pack – These books are, to be honest, not my very favourite, but are a perfect pick for toddlers. Llama’s overwhelming emotions resonate with them strongly, and they have been a huge hit with my Boy 3.
Monster Things to Make and Do – I love these activity books, and so does Girl 7. They are clear, fun to peruse, and generally simple enough to do even with a group. I’m loving the monster theme lately, so I am totally buying this one. Perfect for Hallowe’en, too!
Klutz Face Painting – In time for Hallowe’en, this guide to face painting comes with paints and everything you need to get great results, including nice, simple instructions and images. This one, I’m buying for our next street fair booth!
You Read To Me, I’ll Read To You: Fairy Tales – I love these read-together books. Short, simple sentences read back and forth make reading aloud less intimidating for kids, and the stories are well-told in punchy, uncomplicated rhyme. This is what convinced my shy girl to start reading out loud to us!
Panda Bear, Panda Bear Pack – If your child loves the rhythm of these books, this version is about endangered animals, 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, but this certainly has its charm – and wonderful animals to look over.
David Shannon Library – David is always getting into trouble… These have been huge hits for the past decade, spawning three regular books, plus a Christmas book and the “Diaper David” board books. The original three are in this pack – and they are the best of the lot. You really don’t need more than these. These are funny and and on a sweet note, so while some parents don’t like the wild child in them, kids do!
SeeSaw
Scaredy Collection – Scaredy squirrel is very funny, a huge hit with kids, and Canadian, to boot. If you don’t have some scaredy in your life yet, this is a good set to pick up.
Petrifying Parody Pack – If your child is familiar with the originals (Goodnight Moon, Runaway Bunny) by Margaret Wise Brown, these are very funny and very well done spooky parodies, perfect for the month of Hallowe’en!
Interrupting Chicken – This is a big favourite of mine. Original, silly, great to read aloud, and hits the funny bone with kids. The Caldecott honour it won was well-earned!
The Kissing Hand – A classic for the child who hates separation, so if your kid still balks at goodbyes, this may be for you.
You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Scary Stories – I love these shared read-alouds, as I mentioned above, and these scary stories are a great pick for this month. .
1001 Things To Spot Pack – Lots of kids love these books for object hunt puzzles – they are perfect for those times when you need an easily portable time-waster, too. (Doctor’s appointment coming soon? Check.)
Jan Brett Family Library – Jan Brett is a kid standard, and beloved of teachers everywhere, who often do author studies on her work. her illustrations are incredibly detailed, and her stories always work well for kids. It’s a good buy if you’re looking to build a serious library for your kiddo.
Klutz Pom Pom Monster Salon and Thumb Doodles Book – 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.
Biscuit Library – Biscuit books are for beginning readers, so they aren’t great literature, for sure. But for an emerging reader, they are cute, predictable, and hit the right level. I include these because my kid loved them for beginning, when she was reluctant to read out loud to me.
First Encyclopedia of Space – if your kid is curious about the stars and planets, this is a nice,. simple-yet-thorough look at space. I’m thinking I’m going to get this one for my Girl 7.
From Seed to Pumpkin – It’s tough to find good, simple science books for young kids with big curiousity, but this series really works well. This plant life cycle book ties in to curriculum for kinders and works well for this time of year, with it’s harvest fests and pumpkin-centric holidays.
Children’s Cookbook Pack – cooking is great for kids. it teaches basic math and measurement skills, and the following of instructions is its own particular literacy skill. That, and it’s great together time. If you’re likely to share some kitchen experiences with your child, these books will give them instructions they can follow, cooking that’s within reach, and a few warnings about safety along the way.
Lucky
Magic Tree House #42: A Good Night for Ghosts and Boxed Set Books #33-40 – This series is a monthly offering in one form or another, but it’s a series that I really like. It features a brother and sister who go on adventures together to different times and places, meaning that not only do they have to cooperate, but the reader is introduced to some really interesting stuff without ever feeling like they are busy “learning.” #42 is a newer one, while I haven’t seen this set of later books as a box set before.
Dinosaurs: A Visual Encyclopedia – DK is well-known for visually stunning non-fiction that appeals to even reluctant readers with its browsable format. At 304 pages, this should also contain enough info to satisfy even the serious dinophile.
Rubber Band Science – I love science books for kids, and these simple but smart projects look like a great way to get kids started doing their own experiements. Definitely want this one for Girl 7 – and myself!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – even if you already have the pack of the first five, fans of the funny series are chomping at the bit for book 6 already. You can preorder here – or rest easy, knowing it will be on every flyer this year!
Big Nate – the natural follow-up to Wimpy Kid, so if your kid is casting about for something else to read, this could be it, with much the same irreverant semi-graphic, first-person style.
Star Wars – there are a few things here for the Star Wars fan, and the franchise is still going strong, believe me. For the hands-on, type, there’s LEGO Brickmaster: Star Wars, which is more toy than book, but a good buy if it’s right for your kid or as a gift. For the Clone Wars enthusiast, there’s two of DK’s big, well-illustrated guides, one Official Guide to the Virtual World, and one Character Encyclopedia.
A to Z Mysteries Mega Library – all 26 books in the series, for the mystery fan! These are a fun series, and quite p
opular with kids who like a puzzle to work on as they read.
Calvin and Hobbes Pack – these are funny – you might remember them from a good 20-25 years ago? They still appeal. I know a friend’s kid who is a major fan, in fact. Readers and reluctant readers alike enjoy cartoons, so if your kid won’t gravitate to a full-on novel just yet, these might grab his/her attention in the meantime, not to mention that you can share some good belly laughs reading them together!
Fudge Boxed Set: A Box of Fudge – Judy Blume for boys – and girls. These tales of Fudge are classics by now, and still find their fans among the grade 2-4 set.
Klutz Face Painting – In time for Hallowe’en, this guide
to face painting comes with paints and everything you need to get great
results, including nice, simple instructions and images. This one, I’m
buying for our next street fair booth!
Arrow
Rick Riordan -there are three big Riordan offerings here, and every one a monster hit with kids: The Heroes of Olympus, Book Two: The Son of Neptune, The Kane Chronicles, Book One: The Red Pyramid, and Percy Jackson & the Olympians Boxed Set . The fact is, Riordan is a stunningly engaging writer, propelling plot along at breakneck speed, and making for a great, fast read. I love that he uses mythology along the way, and am fully loving his stuff. He is, though, another constant presence in the book club flyers, so if you’re not sure, or have a few things marked, this one will show up again – probably in November!
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler – If you don’t have this and buy only one novel for your kid? Buy. This. It’s one of those classic-for-a-reason books, one that 70s kids were delighted by, because it was thrilling, not improving, and yet, it’s excellent. A great read-aloud, too, so you can share the adventures as well!
I Am Canada: Deadly Voyage – these diary-format books highlight major events n Canadian history from the perspective of someone involved or affected, bringing history to life. With 2012 being the anniversary of the Titanic’s sinking, there are a handful of new titles on the topic, this being one of them. It will no doubt be talked about, and the quality of these books in gerenally quite high.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid – as above
Haunted Canada Pack – If you have a kid who loves scary stories, this set of Canadian ghost stories is a sure bet. There’s plenty of creepy tales to keep them busy – and set the mood for Hallowe’en.
The 39 Clues Paperback Boxed Set and Book 11: Vespers Rising – 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.
Amulet, Books 1-3 Pack and Book Four: The Last Council – 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.
Bone #4-9 Pack – The first three of the series are available in a single volume for a good price now, so if you want to pick up the rest, this is a good pack. Bone is a graphic novel with serious kid appeal – it’s funny, adventurous, and occasionally scary, everything you want. That, and kids ask for them all the time. Having read them and heard the author speak, I am solidly behind these!
Schooled – Gordon Korman is a standard suggestion for kids looking for a funny but well-written novel, most of which are set in or around school. This one about adapting to a new environbment is no exception – he’s been a Canadian favourite for a good 30 years now, and is still going strong!
Home Reference Library – Starting out the school year and finding that perhaps a dictionary and thesaurus are in order? This set has both, at a decent price for two hardcovers that will last them into high school, for most kids.
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.
Star Wars – as above
Calvin & Hobbes – as above