Back to school time is just around the corner and I have a fantastic list of books, for all ages, to share today...
From National Geographic Kids
Weird but True! Daily Planner: 365 Days to Fill with School, Sports, Friends and Fun (ages 8-12, $12.99) - Nat Geo Kids has made getting organized for school FUN and injects some creative thinking into the process, too! In the planner, each day of the school year is peppered with weird-but-true facts. Turn the pages and write the class schedule for the year, record school work, keep track of activities, and plan social time, all while learning wild things about the world around them. Fun writing prompts invite students to celebrate weirdness and hone their writing skills at the same time. Plus there are homework help sections, useful distance, volume, weight and multiplication charts and tons of space to write or doodle their daily schedule any way they wish. With beautiful full-color artwork and engaging information and activities, this is the must-have planner for the 2017/2018 school year. Spiral bound and durable, it will last until the final school bell rings in June.
National Geographic Kids United States Atlas, 5th Edition (ages 8-12, $12.99) - This is THE gold standard of atlases and a must-have reference for home or school. Featuring more than 75 maps, over 350 color images, lively photo essays, and an easy-to-use place-name index, National Geographic ’s world-renowned cartographers have paired up with education experts to create an unparalleled resource of information about the United States. Kids will discover the latest data and trends regarding land and water, people and places and eight socially themed maps on nature, population, energy and fire delve deeper into key issues.
Picture Books
Kim Krans’s stunning picture book WHOSE MOON IS THAT? addresses the question: do any of us “own” nature?
When a curious cat asks the question, "Whose moon is that?", a panoply of animals try to stake their claim. The wolf, the owl, and the starry sky all have their reasons, but the moon ultimately answers for herself -- her light is meant to be shared by everyone. The stunning ink-and-watercolor illustrations beautifully illuminate this simple exploration of our relationship to the world around us and our place in it.
(Random House BFYR | Ages 3-7 | On sale August 1, 2017)
Veteran children’s author Margery Cuyler and illustrator Will Terry deliver a true bone-ified friendship story in BONAPARTE FALLS APART.
Young skeleton Bonaparte was having a tough time just hanging loose when he couldn't keep hold of himself. When he plays catch, his throwing arm literally takes a flyer. Eating lunch can be a real jaw-dropping occasion. How can he start school when he has so many screws loose? Friends Franky Stein, Black Widow, and Mummicula all have some bone-headed ideas to help, but it takes a skeleton's best friend—a dog named Mandible—to retrieve Bonaparte's missing confidence.
(Crown BFYR | Ages 3-7 | On sale August 15, 2017).
Penny Parker Klostermann and Ben Mantle offer a fun fractured fairy tale about an aspiring chef who mistakenly turns story ingredients into delectable dishes in A COOKED-UP FAIRY TALE.
William doesn't quite fit in in the magical land of fairy tales. He'd rather poach pears than pursue princesses, and values gnocchi over knighthood. When he stumbles on a delivery of food destined for Fairy Tale Headquarters, (a pumpkin, an apple, and a few measly beans), he decides to spice things up and whips the paltry ingredients into delectable dishes. But as you might have guessed, Snow White doesn't exactly need her magic apple baked and drizzled with caramel. The team that brought you There Was an Old Dragon Who Swallowed a Knight delivers a hilarious fractured, whipped, and souffled fairy tale that is chock-full of delicious details and jokes to satisfy every appetite!
(Random House BFYR | Ages 3-7 | On sale September 5, 2017).
Acclaimed illustrator Bob Staake brings us an emotionally rich picture book about a character who discovers that the search for knowledge is more important than knowledge itself in THE BOOK OF GOLD.
Young Isaac Gutenberg isn't a curious boy . . . that is, until he meets an old shopkeeper who tells him about The Book of Gold, a special book, hidden somewhere in the world, that turns to solid gold when opened. Isaac is determined to find the book—it will make him rich! He opens many books in his search, and quickly closes them when they don't turn to gold. But when a glance at a page makes a question pop into his mind, everything changes, and he begins reading every word. This sweeping picture book asks important questions: Is searching for knowledge better than having it? How important is curiosity? And what makes a life meaningful?
(Schwartz & Wade | Ages 4-8 years | On sale September 12, 2017)
Shake, wiggle, and tickle the monster out of this book--an interactive bedtime read-aloud by a YouTube star, musician, and children's book author!
With the irresistible pull of Herve Tullet's Press Here and the charm of The Monster at the End of This Book, Tom Fletcher's inviting interactive read-aloud will have kids tilting, spinning, and shaking the book to get the adorable little monster out! That's right! He's out of the book . . . and in their room somewhere. Uh-oh!!
The co-author of the Dinosaur That Pooped series has created a monster that readers will fall in love with--and want to play with--again and again! It will get your own little monster tuckered out and snuggled in!
Tom Fletcher has a huge social-media presence, with over a million followers on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. His videos "Buzz and the Dandelions" and "My Wedding Speech" went viral and have been viewed tens of millions of times all over the world.
(Random House BFYR | Ages 3-7 years | On sale September 5, 2017)
A beautifully illustrated picture book about Barbie--the most famous doll in the world--and her visionary creator, Ruth Handler.
After noticing how her daughter played with "grown-up" paper dolls, Ruth Handler wanted to create a doll that would inspire little girls to use their huge imaginations and big dreams about their futures. While others told her it wasn't possible, Ruth Handler proved them all wrong by creating the most famous doll ever. This beautiful hardcover picture book will inspire children ages 3 to 7 to believe that anything is possible--especially with Barbie!
Since 1959, Barbie has shown girls that they can live their dreams. From an astronaut to a chef to a president, she knows that girls can do anything!
(Random House BFYR | Ages 4-8 years | On sale September 5, 2017)
Goodnight moon,
goodnight sun.
Goodnight, goodnight,
to everyone
Every child is getting ready for bed. But children aren't the only ones who go to sleep at night--so do plants, animals, and everything else. It's time to say goodnight to the world!
This gentle, rhyming book with soft, beautiful illustrations is perfect for snuggling up with at bedtime.
(Bloomsbury USA Children’s | Ages 3-7 years | On sale August 15, 2017)
When the news reports are flooded with tales of hatred and fear, a girl asks her papa what she can do to make the world a better place. "Come with me," he says. Hand-in-hand, they walk to the subway, tipping their hats to those they meet. The next day, the girl asks her mama what she can do--her mama says, "Come with me," and together they set out for the grocery, because one person doesn't represent an entire race or the people of a land. After dinner that night, the little girl asks if she can do something of her own--walk the dog . . . and her parents let her go. "Come with me," the girl tells the boy across the hall. Walking together, one step at a time, the girl and the boy begin to see that as small and insignificant as their part may seem, it matters to the world.
(G.P. Putnam’s | Ages 5-8 years | On sale September 5, 2017)
Middle-Grade
Think fast with A.J. and Andrea from My Weird School!
Did you know that the planet Jupiter has at least fifty moons? Did you know that Albert Einstein’s brain was stolen after he died?!
Learn more weird-but-true science facts with A.J. and Andrea from Dan Gutman’s bestselling My Weird School series. This all-new series of nonfiction books features hundreds of hysterical facts, plus lots of photos and illustrations.
Whether you’re a kid who wants to learn more about science or simply someone who wants to know how many million times the earth could fit into the sun, this is the book for you!
With more than 11 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!
(Harper Collins | Ages 6-10 years | On sale July 20, 2017)
Think fast with A.J. and Andrea from My Weird School!
Did you know that the word “independence” never appears in the Declaration of Independence? Did you know that soldiers in World War I collected thousands of glowworms in jars to help them see at night?!
Learn more weird-but-true U.S. history facts with A.J. and Andrea from Dan Gutman’s bestselling My Weird School series. This all-new series of nonfiction books features hundreds of hysterical facts, plus lots of photos and illustrations.
Whether you're a kid who wants to learn more about our country's history or simply someone who wants to know how many Americans are involved in toilet-related injuries each year, this is the book for you!
With more than 11 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!
(Harper Collins | Ages 6-10 years | On sale July 20, 2017)
With more than 11 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!
In this eighth book in the new My Weirdest School series, it s Grandparents Day at Ella Mentry School! Alexia s grandmother Mrs. Master makes weird inventions for a living, but A.J. and the gang come up with the weirdest invention of all. And they re going to make a bazillion dollars from it! Will they succeed? Or will their great big idea be flushed down the drain?
Perfect for reluctant readers and word lovers alike, Dan Gutman s hugely popular My Weird School chapter book series has something for everyone. Don t miss the hilarious adventures of A.J. and the gang!
(Harper Collins | Ages 6-10 years | On sale June 20, 2017)
*I received copies of the books above for review and promo purposes. All reviews, thoughts, and opinions are my own.
