Books | Page 67 of 82

Indestructibles by Workman Publishing takes board books to the next level

To parents who read to newborns and toddlers board books can be their go-to solace. However, all board books are not created equal. They might have spines that are thinner than others or content that just doesn’t appeal to the audience. Granted, the later is a preference thing, however, given that you’re reading to infants or babies who are between birth and two they probably won’t be too picky. To that end, Workman Publishing has a series of books on their Indestructibles line that truly live up to their name.

Indestructibles is a book imprint from Workman Publishing whose books are durable, rip-proof, colorful and perfect for newborns through two.

weak baby books these are not

The Derby Daredevils, delivers for some girls aged 9-13

The Derby Daredevils is an ongoing series of books by Kit Rosewater with illustrations by Sophie Escabasse. There is a lot to like about the first book in the series that focus on Kenzie and Shelly. They’re two best friends who love to skate, have dreams, secret handshakes and all of the things that close friends have. Girls in upper elementary through middle school will find something to relate to and enjoy about this comfort read. The subtitle to the first entry is Kenzie Kickstarts a Team and given that Kenzie is one of our two main characters she’s out to start something bit.

Built for middle school girls in a roller derby and growing up mindset

Science Comics: Crows, Genius Birds is much more than a flight of fancy

True story: when I was a child I had a pet crow. Its name was Big Bird. I was about nine or ten and my parents wouldn’t let me have a cat or a dog, so they got me a crow. I don’t know where they got a crow from, it’s not like there’s a crow store down the street. But for a very short period of time, it was my pet. Crows do not make good pets. Before Science Comics Crows: Genius Birds came out I would’ve bet that one couldn’t make an entertaining, much less educational book about crows. To that, author/illustrator Kyla Vanderklugt says hold my magpie and has delivered a corvid graphic novel that’s really something to crow about.

non-fiction for ages 9 and up doesn’t get much better than this

Solar Story a book that straddles entertainment/education for kids 4 and up

Author/illustrator Allan Drummond has a way with children’s books. They’re geared for those young children aged 4-8, but they aren’t babyish. Our 10-year old reader was looking over my shoulder as I was reading Solar Story. He said, “I like the art-and it’s a book about solar power, cool”. As he left the room he commented that he should read that sometime. His eight-year old brother squealed when Solar Story arrived in the mail. Mind you, he wasn’t expecting the book; it’s just that the book has that vibe that makes children want to open and read it.

This book has something for everyone aged four and up

American as Paneer Pie, cultural, realistic fiction for ages 9-13

Prior to reading American as Paneer Pie I didn’t know what paneer was. Actually, after reading the book I still didn’t know what paneer is. That’s not the important part. Most people are able to surmise from the front cover that it’s a story about adapting to where you live and managing to hold onto what makes you, you. Like Arnold’s, Bruce Springsteen or a Ford truck, it’s as American as that, except the shrinking world impacts whose experience is more authentic-and does that even matter?

Paneer, cheese and growing up for girls 9-13

The Great Pet Heist, a tail worth reading for ages 9-13

There are some books that elementary aged students like to read that demo up. For one reason or another, they’re accessible to older ages through their humor or heart. The Great Pet Heist is a book that mid-elementary through lower middle school readers will really enjoy. Will it demo up to those older readers?

Far from ruff, this book is fun for ages 9 and up

Hop Little Bunnies, quality the lift-the-flap with cuteness aplomb

When is a board book not a board book? When the book is much bigger than those whom it might be compared to and its pages are just a bit thinner. That sounds like a riddle and by could fit almost any book by that definition. However, some books have the same vibe, similar footprint and will be magnetically attractive to those late crawlers through pre-K kids. Hop Little Bunnies is this kind of book and it’s based on the song that you’re probably humming right now. The content is aimed at ages 3-6, but those ages are too big for board books. Granted, they’d benefit by reading them, but their pre-k pride knows that the aforementioned books are for babies and they’re big kids.

Hop on young reader, they’ll love this book

Peter & Ernesto Sloths in the Night, caps this all age series with a grin

A kid’s first graphic novel is a great thing. We include the all age graphic novels in our run down of the week’s new all age comic books. Early through upper elementary school-aged kids want to have a graphic novel that they can read and appreciate. This is something that is their jam. The older kids might like it too, but this the kind of graphic novel that they can enjoy without any assistance from mom, dad or their older sibling. Peter & Ernesto is one of two elementary school based graphic novels that pop up in my mind. The third and final entry in the series, Peter & Ernesto: Sloths in the Night is out and caps the series in a perfectly happy and friendly manner that will leave ages 6-10 grinning from ear to ear.

If you’re looking for a great graphic novel series for elementary school ages this is the sign