Writing teachers and homeschoolers! Use a picture book as writing prompts to inspire creative writing. Use snippets of the story, the illustrations, the style, or the format and see what wonderful stories emerge. Writing prompt books are different from mentor texts, whose writing is so outstanding or interesting, that you want your students to emulate it for improvement. Instead, these can … [Read more...]
Big Hit For Kids: PlayWell LEGO Engineering Party
PlayWell gave us an afternoon of FUN with a LEGO-inspired engineering party. Designed for kids ages 5 - 14, we took advantage of the age range, inviting both boys and girl friends that were 9-, 10-, and 12- years old to join my daughters who are 12 and 15. I loved the instructor, how well the class was organized, the trial and error involved in the kids' projects, the engineering and design … [Read more...]
Beautiful New Science Magazine for Girls: SMORE
Smore is a new STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) focused magazine for girls (and boys) ages 7 - 12. It's goal is to make science learning fun with an ad-free bi-monthly magazine. It's beautiful, interesting, and sure to be a big hit with tween girls! Visually the design is appealing -- easy to read fonts, clean design, and eye-catching visuals. What's more, the visuals help … [Read more...]
Vampirina at the Beach Book & Prize Pack #VampirinaBallerina
Get ready for summer with Vampirina At The Beach (Vampirina Ballerina Series) by Ann Marie Pace, illustrated by LeUyen Pham for ages 2 - 6. Thanks to Disney for providing me the book as well as the Vampirina prize pack for a lucky winner. (Scroll down for how to enter.) Vampirina at the Beach Book & Prize Pack Vampirina and her monster friends and family travel to spend a fun night at the … [Read more...]
Engrossing What If You Had NonFiction Book Series
Get up close and very personal by imagining animal parts (noses, teeth, feet, hair, and ears) on YOU! Scholastic's What If You Had series by Sandra Markle, illustrated by Howard McWilliam, presents an irresistible combination of factual information and whimsical imagining in this series of engrossing nonfiction books. I love that the specific science information sticks because readers get to … [Read more...]
Books That Help Children Learn About Friendship
It's always lovely to see a new batch of picture books that help model friendship for children. Because friendship is a skill, just like any other; an important emotional intelligence skill. And books about friendship can help. Books That Help Children Learn About Friendship Triangle by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen Quirky humor plus shapes galore! Triangle leaves his house to go play a sneaky … [Read more...]
Exciting Adventure Chapter Books for Kids
If your kids like exciting and action-packed adventure chapter books, then these new releases might be perfect for their next reading binge. Adventure Chapter Books for Kids Press Start! Game Over, Super Rabbit Boy! by Thomas Flintham ADVENTURE (ages 5 - 7) Attention gamers! You're going to love this adventure about a boy who is playing a game where evil King Viking and his robot army are … [Read more...]
New in Board Games: Hive Mind
Your goal in Hive Mind, an exciting new board game for 3 to 12 players ages 8 and up, is to think like the other "bees" or . . . get kicked out of the hive. My family had a blast playing this party game! We love playing games together so it's awesome to find a game like Hive Mind that is both easy to play and spans a wide age range. Tabletop game fans will be interested to know that Hive Mind, … [Read more...]
New Stories for the Readers on Your Lap
Emilie Buchwald famously said, "Children are made readers on the laps of their parents." Here are newly published stories to share with your children in that pursuit. New Stories for the Readers on Your Lap We Are the Dinosaurs by Laurie Berkner, illustrated by Ben Clanton Laurie Berkner's popular song (we LOVE her music and this is a favorite song!) is now a super cute picture book. As … [Read more...]
Captivating True Life Stories of Wild Animal Rescues
The Born Free True - Life Stories about wild animal rescues are about the dramatic rescue of animals in horrible situations. They're captivating, well-written, and informative and perfect for animal-loving 8 - 12 year old kids. In fact, I read 3 of the books in one night, I loved them that much! (And they're pretty short, less than 100 pages.) The books tell the true stories of animals … [Read more...]
New Spring Books for Kids About Nature and Animals
If you're wondering, the first day of spring was yesterday, March 21. Happy spring!! In celebration of the season, you can read these new released, wonderful picture books with your kids; they're all about nature and animals. New Spring Books for Kids About Nature and Animals Touch Think Learn: Fly by Xavier Deneux (ages 1 - 4) Little fingers get to move the 9 removable pieces in this … [Read more...]
Nighty Night! Bedtime Stories About Going to Bed
If you're a bedtime book reader, and I think you are, you know that going to bed stories are fun to include in the mix. Consider one of these recently published (2017) choices. Bedtime Stories About Going to Bed Good Night Owl by Greg Pizzoli SO FUNNY! Owl tears up his house to find the "noise" that is preventing his sleep which we see is a cute little squeaky mouse. Soon the roof is off, the … [Read more...]