Smart-opedia and Send Harry to the Moon

Fiction and Non Fiction to Gift Children this Holiday Season

Nov 1, 2008

A collection of true facts to delight primary grade readers and a clever picture story for children with a new baby sibling. Reviews for before Christmas shopping.

Smart-opedia Junior

Smart-Opedia is not a large encyclopedia but it's packed full of value by virtue of the wealth of entertaining info inside. Produced for ages 5-9, it will hold the interest of kids older and younger. With good paper stock, bright, true color and pleasing illustrations, it has the right stuff to be a go-to volume at home or in the classroom.

The publishers demonstrated a real sense of familiarity with what kind of information makes kids stick around for more - this volume is written in a sort of printed sound bite style just right for the 21st Century questor who has a need for knowledge, but no desire to pour over boring diatribes.

This review was researched, in part by trying the book out on a group of kids whose ages ranged from pre-K to middle school. The coolest part of the experiment was that the short articles spurred lots of conversation and lots of questions. That seems to be the point of kids books, yes?

Subject matter incorporates familiar settings like home, the earth, school and the neighborhood to teach palatable lessons about ecology, education, clothing, manufacturing and other topics. If there is a criticism, it might be that some text is printed small enough to be a struggle for readers old and young.

Mail Harry to the Moon

The title might call Ralph Cramden to mind, admonishing Alice, "To da moon, Alice...to da moon." But only grandparents reading aloud would be aware of that, of course. For kids, Harris's story resonates a deep personal tone with anyone (yes, adults, too) who ever had a sibling. Don't lie, everyone at some time, considered the nicety of one's sibling being removed to another galaxy, far away.

This is a good-quality book - an important consideration in children's reading material. Good fonts, good color and illustrations. Michael Emberley's engaging cartoony style puts the mood and emotions right there on the page with a sense of wry amusement.

The simple story sees an older brother confused about changes at home when a new baby scarfs up the spotlight in every family scene. Little by little, without heavy-handedness, author and illustrator show readers the other side of being a sibling - it can be fun and a source of pride.

With no down-talking to the audience, feelings are acknowledged and validated by this simple picture book, and all is well at the end, without a hint of gratuitous violence. The lesson learned is secondary to the fun of the story.

The copyright of the article Smart-opedia and Send Harry to the Moon in Children’s Books is owned by Maryan Pelland. Permission to republish Smart-opedia and Send Harry to the Moon in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.