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Kahlo’s Koalas, 1, 2, 3, Count Art with Me is board book art

Our children don’t know art per se. They’ve been to the High Museum of Art many times and know what art is, they just don’t know the key players. I don’t even know a majority of the classic artists. I might recognize their style, but their catalog and finer points will fall between my mental sofa cushion. However, I know animals and I know to count. It’s only because of the fact that I’m an adult and have experienced pop culture that I know some of the artist referenced in this children’s board book.

Kahlo’s Koalas, 1, 2, 3 Count Art with Me stand and the intersection of art and counting board book for those crawlers through pre-K to gnaw upon.

Kahlo’s Koalas, 1, 2, 3, Count Art with Me, is a board book for those crawlers to toddlers (and the adults who are reading to them) who want to shake up the palette of their counting books. Each page has a number with its respective number of animals who are presented in the style of the artist that it’s referencing. We see 4 Matisse Monkeys, 6 Kandinsky Kangaroos, 8 Seurat Sloths and seven other counting lessons that are done whilst channeling classic artists.

I had to mention those three artists because two of them I hadn’t heard of. Even the title of the book, Kahlo’s Koalas, 1, 2, and 3 is referencing an artist and not the author of the book. The actual author of the book is Grace Helmer, a London-based illustrator who has quite the career ahead of her as a forger, should she want to go on the other side of the law.

The colors and patterns in the book are fabulous and will draw in your eyes. Factor in that Kahlo’s Koalas isn’t even intended for adults and you’ve got a book that crawlers through pre-K will gnaw on for ages. This board book was originally published by LOM ART in England last year. However, it’s not off putting or inaccessible at all. This is a counting, board book with great art that just might happen to inspire kids or parents about the masters. Kahlo’s Koalas, 1, 2, 3, Count Art with Me is available in the United States by Andrews McMeel Publishing for $8.99.

Marvel Alpha Block is letter learning fun for the MCU set

It’s quite shocking that this is the first book featuring characters from Marvel Comics to help teach the A, B, C’s. Granted there might be others, but the Abrams Block Books are our favorite. From the first time we saw Alpha Block when our now 9 year-old was learning the alphabet; to when his brother read Dino Block two years later, this series has never disappointed us. Moreover, the quality of this series stands out so much that we still have all of the books and they’ve held up nicely.

Marvel Alpha Block from the Abrams Block Books continues the best A, B, C book series around with this entry starring dozens of MCU characters.

The difference in construction is what makes these block books so sturdy. They’re square books that fit nicely in small hands and the spine is about three times as thick as an individual page. This is a strong series of books that have been through two children and countless visits to elementary schools when I was the guest reader.

Marvel AlphaBlock has select heroes from the MCU taking center stage as they present letters of the alphabet. A is for Ant-Man.V is for Valkyrie. S is for Spider-Man and so on. Of course, there are many heroes that share letters in the alphabet, what about them?

The final two pages of the book are gatefold and open up to show approximately 50 more characters from the MCU that are shown in Marvel Alpha Block. Essentially, it’s a Where’s Marvel Waldo that invites younger readers to go back again and find each character. I say ‘younger readers’ with air quotes because even those who have mastered the alphabet will be sucked into the book quicker than a Peter Quill dance off irritates Gamora.

This is a great, entertaining book that ages 18 months and older will love. The colors bring everything over the rainbow and the characters are those that will make up their entertainment for decades to come.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020 review and giveaway,

We’ve had our copy of National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020 for a couple of weeks. It’s something we meant to write, but every time we open the book up for inspiration we get sucked down the knowledge (or lack thereof) hole. Every year since 2010 this almanac has provided stunning illustrations, deep dive facts and surfaced based knowledge for those who know a little about a lot.

This is the 10^th Anniversary Edition and it’s aged in all the right places. For instance, look at the brown bear on the cover. It’s embossed so that the bear looks like he’s running off of the page. Kids will immediately notice this, touch the 3D bear and start flipping through the book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

In theory, any age is OK looking through National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020. In practice the book will be best enjoyed by those readers who are 9 and up, but way up, because it’ll be read by adults when not being used by younger readers. The book is great because it manages to have the complex and the simple, with a side of pop culture or puzzles that will entertain kids for hours. It has subject matter that those in middle elementary through high school will be studying.

To celebrate the 10^th Anniversary Edition they’re giving away a GoPro camera, it’s a $315 value and will help deliver the NatGeo-esque photos that you’ve always wanted to take.

We’re also giving away a copy of National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020. It’s a $14.99 value and will provide hours upon hours of entertainment for those 9 or older. Do you have a summer car trip coming up? This book is mandatory so that you can A. Do less screen time and B. Not have them say “are we there yet?” every 10 minutes. To enter our giveaway for the book only just leave a comment below.

Lola Dutch When I Grow Up beautifully reminds kids of what they can be

Lola Dutch, you are indeed much too much. Except you aren’t really, we just like repeating the catch phrase that you uttered in your first book and referenced one time in Lola Dutch When I Grow Up. Size does not matter in a children’s book, yet these books by Kenneth and Sarah Jane Wright soak up every inch of their pages and would be comfortable with more. One of our kids is past the illustrated book phase, but I still find myself looking at this book, getting lost in the artwork and reading it his 7 year old brother who hasn’t quite discovered the love of books yet.

Lola Dutch is awash in imagination based play. She’s reading books with Bear, Crane, Gator and Pig when she has a rush of ideas as to what she wants to do when she grows up. She could be an inventor where she experiments, improvises, researches and discovers things. Maybe she could be a botanist, a judge in the highest court or an Egyptologist. All the while her anthropomorphic friends are accompanying her as willing subjects, helpful assistants or dubious onlookers.

What makes Lola Dutch When I Grow Up a fabulous book, and a great good-night book is its combination of art and words. The art in the book has soft, water colored images with edges in its drawings that mute it just a little bit. When you look at some of the illustrations they will have clear, defined markings, with some elements having just bit of white, uneven space between the edges that the paint or crayons left. Our kids and I love this style of art. It has a fun, whimsical appearance to it that confirms that it’s an illustrated book great for ages 3-6.

Its loose, carefree spirit is infectious for girls slightly more than boys, but not by much. There are rhyming elements, but for the most part the text is simply enough to where there are some sight words that allow young readers to get in on the game. For the most part this is read-along fun for small ones and those who are reading to them from this great good-night book.

The Little Rabbit, a dreamy, optimistic bunny tail for spring (and kids 4 & up)

Nicola Killen warms the heart. At least that’s the case with her two most recent children’s illustrated books that we’ve received. The Little Reindeer was a book that we loved due to its old soul, rabbit-hole illustrations and desolate winter vibe. I know that ‘desolate’ isn’t exactly an adjective the springs to mind when one says a great children’s book. The Little Rabbit is the spiritual (and actual) sibling to that book. It shares many of its characteristics, the cut-away pages, two color schemes with the occasional third color to punctuate characters and illustrations that fill up each page.

The little rabbit, young reader, elementary school, young readers, Nicola Killen, the little reindeer

Ollie is the main human character in The Little Rabbit and she’s dressed up in a rabbit costume. She’s got her rain boots on and is waiting for the storm to end while Bunny, her rabbit doll is dressed in a yellow scarf beside her. When the rain ends Ollie carries Bunny out in her basket as the wind blows flower petals past them. As that happens Bunny starts to move her ears, or does she?

What follows is a magical, dream pop of a children’s illustrated book that effortlessly engages pre-K and early elementary school ages. Ollie follows Bunny as she joins in the rabbit hop that the forest bunnies are doing. Distinguished by her yellow scarf, the two are reunited, but still have a couple more adventures to get through in order to get back home.

As their journey in the forest continues we see distinct gold pops in the flower petals that float around some pages. Older readers will alternate between the dreamy illustrations, perfect colors and economy of words as to what they like best about The Little Rabbit. It’s a children’s illustrated book, yet between the well chosen words and the big scope illustrations it tells a big story. Large aspects of the story are filled in with our imagination. We think about what the rabbits are doing when they’re underground and what other animals we could meet during the trip.

Younger readers will also let their imaginations do most of the work with The Little Rabbit Ages 4-8 have a lovey, stuffed doll or action figure that comes to life and does stuff. Those young readers will immediately understand the energy and hidden story that The Little Rabbit is bring out. Every night when we put our 7 YO to bed he tells us about the adventures that his stuffed animals get up to while he’s asleep.

The Little Rabbit gets into that particular spirit that young readers have and put it in a gorgeously illustrated book. The text is such that a second grader will be able to read most of it. Ages much younger than that will love the pictures and marvel at how one page immediately blends into the next. This book is a keeper, it’s one that your kids will want to read and will remain in the children’s library for the next generation.

Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster is an elementary school go-to

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Inspector Flytrap approves. For that matter, so do Princess Labelmaker, Emperor Pickeltine, Origami Yoda and many others. Tom Angleberger is the author that lives in your child’s library. The Strange Case of Origami Yoda and its series is what your middle school student knows the best. That series of books has sold more than four million copies. The elementary school reader knows Inspector Flytrap and laughed along the way with this very enjoyable series. Now, from the pages of Inspector Flytrap comes Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster. This is the first in a three-book mini-series about a spy who is also a dodo and your first through fourth grade readers will love this book.

Our fourth grade student took the book from my office and promptly misplaced it. Coincidentally, he lost it after he read it, so he was able to tell me that it was great, very funny and much like Inspector Flytrap. I asked him to go into detail about the book and all he could remember was that it was about Didi Dodo and a stolen brownie recipe. “Oh, but you’ll love it”, he reassured me.

Sure enough, after finding the book he was right. Didi Dodo, Future Spy: Recipe for Disaster is just the sort of book that kids in fist through fourth grade will love. Those on the younger side of that range will need to read it with someone older, but those third graders will be able to breeze through the book and enjoy every moment.

It has the same vibe as Inspector Flytrap and that’s because Angleberger wanted this character to live in the same world as her erstwhile bug eating friend. He’s creating his own elementary school, early chapter book universe where they can cross over, ever so briefly for a cameo, guest spot or assistance solving crimes. There is a little crossover in this book, but for the most part it’s all Didi Dodo, plus Koko Dodo-who is a great baker, Cousin Yuk Yuk, Penguini and a couple others.

The chapters in the book are short enough for struggling readers to read one and feel accomplished. They’re also short enough for. The book is also complimented with illustrations by Jared Chapman. Chapman has a way of drawing characters that perfectly capture the chaos and mayhem that they’re thinking. You’re looking for an angry yak that looks like Slim Pickens mixed with a James Bond villain? No problem he’s in the book and provides horsepower of energy to keep our future spy hero on the run towards success.

Didi Dodo: Future Spy, Recipe for Disaster is great. Kids will reread it a couple of times and then ask when the next one comes out. This is where you can recommend Inspector Flytrap if they’re in elementary school or age them up a bit for the Origami Yoda series. Either way they’ll have a hoot of a time while they wait for the next one.

Rosie and Rasumus is an old soul, book that 4 and up will love

Normally I’m not a fan of any children’s illustrated book that has lots of white space on its pages. I feel that it’s a cop out and that they’re leaving me out of some of the show. For the record, I’m also not a fan of the sound of crinkling potato chip bags and drinking orange juice after I brush my teeth. Every once in a while a children’s book will come around and utterly demolish my silly pet peeve. Rosie and Rasmus is the latest Trojan Horse to charm me, and other kids, who discover this lovely illustrated book for ages 4-8.

Rosie and rasmus, serena geddes, childrens book, children’s illustrated book

From the first four pages it’s obvious what the Achilles Heel is and that is its artwork. We meet Rosie, who’s a shy young girl who lives in a picturesque, coastal town. She sees all of the kids playing, laughing or having fun and simply wants someone to see her. The next page starts out just like the first two pages, except this time we see Rasmus, a dinosaur who lives in a big tree that overlooks the town where Rosie lives.

One day Rosie goes for a walk, where she’s given a flower by Rasmus. The two become friends, despite their obvious differences, but what Rasmus really wants to do is fly. Rosie plants and schemes, like only a 6 year-old can, in order to help her much larger friend with thagomizers* down his back and tail.

Soul is a characteristic that few children’s illustrated books have. Most of them are entertaining and enjoyed by children, but very few of them have soul. I don’t mean the get-up-and-dance James Brown kind of soul. I mean, at some instance in reading the book, or looking at the art, the book pierces your soul, stays there for a moment and asks you to remember when you felt how the characters in the book feel. Rosie and Rasmus has that kind of soul.

Ironically, it’s the combination of the pages that are not fully colored, the economy of words and the illustrations that make the book remind parents of childhood. Rosie and Rasmus will resonate as much with children. Sometimes kids want to play by themselves. However, some kids are shy and want other kids to say hello first. This book is great for either camp of kids. It’s written and illustrated by Serena Geddes and it’s the illustrations that will make you feel like this book is written just for you. Moreover, Rosie and Rasmus deals with the difficult subject of good-byes, but it does it with a smile and the promise that even though things change, they can also get better.

The World’s Best Jokes for Kids is timeless fun for 7 and up

The day we received The World’s Best Jokes for Kids in the mail our 9 year-old wasn’t expecting much. Part of that was due to the fact that he, his younger brother and I were about to embark on an afternoon full of errands. For the next two hours, every time we got back in the car from the store he was regaling us with jokes from the book. When we got home he continued to read from the book until mom got home, then he reread his favorite jokes. Then mom was so tickled with laughter over how much he was enjoying it that we got his grandfather on the phone.

Jokes for kids, the worlds best jokes for kids, swerling & lazar, elementary school

The World’s Best Jokes for Kids, Volume 1 and 2 by Swerling & Lazar are out and it’s the stuff of elementary school legend. If you’ve eaten lunch at an elementary school lately you’ll notice that many of the kids will try to throw you a joke curve ball. It’s a clever pun or simple joke that, if it were said by a dad it would be a dad joke and gotten eggs or rolling eyes directed at me. However, since they’re said by a kid who is under 10, it’s cute and down-right laugh out loudable.

This book has hundreds of those jokes, most of which I had never heard before.

For example: Why can you never trust atoms?

Because they make up everything.

Each joke is accompanied by an illustration that helps drive the joke home. That atom joke has a grinning atom with molecules rotating around it. Granted our 7 year-old would not get that joke. However, his older brother got it and was howling with laughter. We were grinning too.

Many of the jokes have that same borderline highbrow appeal to them. They’re puns that are smarter than what you see on a milk carton and this book will provide hours, upon hours of entertainment. For parents it’s also a great value because each book is only $6.99. The text is such that those in second grade and higher will be able to read them by themselves. This is fun stuff that will entertain kids on a rainy day, lazy summer afternoon or running errands around town.