reading | Page 6 of 53

The Bigfoot Seek and Find series is more than its parts

Hey look it’s Bigfoot in a Where’s Waldo type book! That’s what I thought when I saw the cover to Bigfoot Goes on Vacation and Bigfoot Visits the Big Cities of the World by D. L. Miller. To a small extent that is correct. Each book takes a look certain places and what makes them special or unique in a real world way. We see real pictures of the farm, where someone might vacation, as well as the activities that actually happen on a farm. There is also some instructional text that tells about what happens there, interesting facts and lots of figures that kids can take away from it.

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The Big Umbrella, a teachable moment for any age

The Big Umbrella is a book by Amy June Bates that’s co-written by her daughter Juniper Bates. It’s the simple story of a red umbrella that’s big enough for anyone. That premise-and the whole ‘big tent’ parallel that it brings up might irk some parents who don’t want their children reading anything that’s even pseudo-political. The Big Umbrella is not political. It doesn’t try to sway opinions one way or the other, nor is it presented in a way that promotes one over the other. I’s a children’s illustrated book, with lovely, soft illustrations that any kid or parent, on the right or left can agree with.

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They Lost Their Heads, middle school non-fiction fun with humor

When I was a kid I loved reading books like this. Now that I’m an adult I still enjoy reading books like They Lost Their Head, What Happened to Washington’s Teeth, Einstein’s Brain and other Famous Body Parts. Author Carlyn Beccia blends a surprising amount of wit and humor into a book that alternately entertains and educates at every turn. It does this all while respecting, as much as one can, the fact that every story in the book revolves around someone’s death.

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Dino-Dancing is elementary school gold

If you’ve been to an elementary school library or have seen the books that your kids bring home then you’ve run across a book by Lisa Wheeler. From Dino-Baseball through Dino-Basketball and now Dino-Dancing her series of books; with illustrations from Barry Gott, illustrate anthropomorphic dinosaurs doing what kids 5 and up do, or either want to do.

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New Shoes, the all age graphic novel that wants to be your friend

There was something I couldn’t pinpoint during my first read of New Shoes by Sara Varon and it kept changing as I turned each page. This graphic novel is too simple for a 9 year old or it’s too difficult for a 6 year old, in hindsight I think I was just crabby for the first couple of pages because by the ninth page I was grinning and drinking what Francis was selling. It’s set in Guyana, in northern South America and New Shoes is his story; one that’s irrepressibly optimistic and curious, with a side of wanderlust and a penchant for meeting new animal friends.

By the time readers get to the tenth page they already like Francis and realize that he’s a shoe craftsman that uses only finest materials. Twelve pages later we see that he’s been given the job of making shoes for the world famous singer Miss Manatee. “She looks like a walrus” our 8 year old said at this point.

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In Real Life, where avatars meet real-world consequences

Video games when I was a kid were simple on so many levels. It was just me and a friend, at his house, because he had an Atari and my parents wouldn’t let me have one. It’s a whole new world now and In Real Life is a graphic novel by Cory Doctorow with art by Jen Wang that examines the relationships and economics that takes place in-and out of video games. It’s the trinkets, jobs or vehicles that players can purchase with real money whilst playing the game. In Real Life takes a look at the sub-culture of those that sell things in games who are usually in impoverished conditions in emerging markets; as well as the different levels of players who take part in the game.

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The Ambrose Deception is middle school, entertainment reading gold

The Ambrose Deception is the kind of book that middle school students will effortlessly enjoy. It’s the story of three middle school students who have nothing in common, but are randomly chosen to compete for a $10,000 scholarship. Getting middle school students to read for fun can be challenging. If you ask them, some will respond that they read enough in school and where’s the closest video game I’m bored? To that end, The Ambrose Deception is a very fast paced book that’s smart without being (too) smarmy that has something for every kid to latch onto.

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Hammy and Gerbee, Mummies at the Museum, a kids 1st graphic novel

A kid’s first graphic novel is a cool thing. Hammy and Gerbee, Mummies at the Museum by Wong Herbert Yee is an original graphic novel that knows exactly how early elementary school kids behave. This is a book that our second grader can read with ease, our kindergarten student laughs at-and both of them can relate to the friendships and adventures the two friends have.

Hammy and Gerbee are best friends, one’s a hamster and one’s a gerbil. The school year has just started and they’re relieved to find out that they’re in the same class. Unfortunately for them, Hanna and Anna, the twin girls who live in their neighborhood are too. They tease each other, make up stories, have spelling competitions and generally antagonize each other.

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