Children’s Books
- Why Do Cats Have Whiskers?
- The Uglified Ducky
- Wild Cards - Who's Hiding?
- The Ghost Catcher
- The Owl and the Pussycat
- Rain Forest Animals
- Face to Face with Dolphins
- Looking Closely Through the Forest
- Who Lives Here?
- Looking Closely Along the Shore
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
With cats being the most popular pet in North America, it’s no wonder that kids love Elizabeth Macleod’s latest book!
With exciting facts and gorgeous pictures of cats, Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? by Elizabeth Macleod (Kids Can Press, ISBN: 978-1-55453-196-7) is packed full of ohs and ahs. Kids, ages 8 to 12, will love to read to read and share this book with their friends and family.
Questions and Facts
So, why do cats have whiskers? Why do they meow and purr? There are so many questions children ask about cats that adults have to stop and wonder what the answers truly are. Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? answers all the common and not so common questions kids can come up with about cats.
Kids will learn how cats seem to see in the dark and how cats became pets in the first place. They’ll learn fascinating tidbits to wow their friends, such as the name of Isaac Newton’s cat (Spithead).
Speak Cat
Besides facts, kids will learn to understand cat body language. They’ll learn how to read cat whiskers, ears positions, and tail twitches.
When kids learn to read cat language, they’ll also be able to let their favorite cat know how much its loved by practicing a blinking exercise.
Gorgeous Photos
The photos of cats are beautiful. Kids will get to see many types of cats, from common tabbies to the ocicats. There are also photos of Persians, Siamese, Abyssinians, and other pedigree cats.
Oodles of Fun
Kids love to learn about their pets. Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? teaches kids how exciting their kitty cat is and why cats are such a fascinating and popular pet.
Questions and Facts
So, why do cats have whiskers? Why do they meow and purr? There are so many questions children ask about cats that adults have to stop and wonder what the answers truly are. Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? answers all the common and not so common questions kids can come up with about cats.
Kids will learn how cats seem to see in the dark and how cats became pets in the first place. They’ll learn fascinating tidbits to wow their friends, such as the name of Isaac Newton’s cat (Spithead).
Speak Cat
Besides facts, kids will learn to understand cat body language. They’ll learn how to read cat whiskers, ears positions, and tail twitches.
When kids learn to read cat language, they’ll also be able to let their favorite cat know how much its loved by practicing a blinking exercise.
Gorgeous Photos
The photos of cats are beautiful. Kids will get to see many types of cats, from common tabbies to the ocicats. There are also photos of Persians, Siamese, Abyssinians, and other pedigree cats.
Oodles of Fun
Kids love to learn about their pets. Why Do Cats Have Whiskers? teaches kids how exciting their kitty cat is and why cats are such a fascinating and popular pet.
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
Willy Claflin brings new life and a new twist to the Ugly Duckling tale in his newest story about a young moose being raised by a family of ducks.
Feeling like you don’t belong is a common theme in many children’s stories, but it’s never been more adeptly written about than in The Uglified Ducky by Willy Claflin (August House, ISBN 0-87483-858-4).
The story begins with a young moose that’s wandered off from his little moose nest. He finds a snug place to rest by a pond, right next to a duck nest, and, upon waking, discovers that he is now a duck.
The mother duck is not pleased with having an “uglified ducky” in her brood but settles to teaching the moose and her offspring how to be all ducky.
First, mother duck teaches moose and his five new siblings how to waddle, but all moose can do is stumble and trip. Things get worse when mother duck attempts to teach him how to quack and swim.
Both the mother duck and the young moose are fed up. Mother duck can’t figure out why the uglified duckling can’t do ducky things and the moose feels as though he doesn’t belong to this family.
The Uglified Ducky is an adorable story that will be loved by children as well as adults. The story is told in “Moose Speech” (a glossary is at the front of the book) which adds to the charm of the tale.
The is a great book for reading out loud to groups and for discussion.
The story begins with a young moose that’s wandered off from his little moose nest. He finds a snug place to rest by a pond, right next to a duck nest, and, upon waking, discovers that he is now a duck.
The mother duck is not pleased with having an “uglified ducky” in her brood but settles to teaching the moose and her offspring how to be all ducky.
First, mother duck teaches moose and his five new siblings how to waddle, but all moose can do is stumble and trip. Things get worse when mother duck attempts to teach him how to quack and swim.
Both the mother duck and the young moose are fed up. Mother duck can’t figure out why the uglified duckling can’t do ducky things and the moose feels as though he doesn’t belong to this family.
The Uglified Ducky is an adorable story that will be loved by children as well as adults. The story is told in “Moose Speech” (a glossary is at the front of the book) which adds to the charm of the tale.
The is a great book for reading out loud to groups and for discussion.
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
Looking for something fun and educational for the kids to do during rainy days? This card pack is great for keeping the young ones busy.
Wild Cards: Who's Hiding? is a deck of 48 animal cards put out by Birdcage Press (ISBN 978-1559960039-0). Each card features a critter that is camouflaged in its natural environment. Some of the animals are easy to spot in the picture, such as the saw whet owl, but other critters are more difficult to find, like the yellow pygmy seahorse that looks just like the coral.
The animals are divided into goups. In the birds group there are black skimmers, ostriches, saw whet owls, and willow ptarmigans. For sea creatures there's the clownfish, moray eel, pygmy seahorse, and scorpionfish. Insects include the false leaf katydid, leaf insect, one-eyed sphinx, and orchid mantis. For amphibians there's the eyelash leaf frog, fowler's toad, Panamanian golden frog, and red spotted newt. The reptiles are Elliot's chameleons, green snakes, spectacled caimans, and thorny devils. Finally, for mammals there are cheetahs, ermines, night monkeys, and zebras.
Aside from spotting each animal on its card, Wild Cards: Who's Hiding? can also be used to play three different card games: Old Toad (played like Old Maid), Memory, and Go Fish.
Wild Cards: Who's Hiding? is a fun, educational, and versatile deck of cards that children will love to look at, play with, and collect.
The animals are divided into goups. In the birds group there are black skimmers, ostriches, saw whet owls, and willow ptarmigans. For sea creatures there's the clownfish, moray eel, pygmy seahorse, and scorpionfish. Insects include the false leaf katydid, leaf insect, one-eyed sphinx, and orchid mantis. For amphibians there's the eyelash leaf frog, fowler's toad, Panamanian golden frog, and red spotted newt. The reptiles are Elliot's chameleons, green snakes, spectacled caimans, and thorny devils. Finally, for mammals there are cheetahs, ermines, night monkeys, and zebras.
Aside from spotting each animal on its card, Wild Cards: Who's Hiding? can also be used to play three different card games: Old Toad (played like Old Maid), Memory, and Go Fish.
Wild Cards: Who's Hiding? is a fun, educational, and versatile deck of cards that children will love to look at, play with, and collect.
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
When presented with a challenge and a hungry ghost, this barber uses his brains to find a solution to his situation.
The Ghost Catcher by Martha Hamilton and Mitch Weiss (August House, ISBN: 0-87483-835-5) is a charming folktale from India. Written for young children, ages 4 to 8, The Ghost Catcher entertains and fires up the imagination.
A barber in Bengal loves to cut hair and trim beards, and for each story a customer tells, he gives a free haircut. But while the barber’s heart is filled with goodness, his home hasn’t enough food to feed his family.
One day his wife tells him that she can no longer live so poorly. The barber must leave and not return home until he has food and money to feed their family. So off the barber goes.
The barber decides to travel to the next town because he believes he would feel more comfortable taking the money for haircuts from strangers instead of his regular customers.
When night falls, the barber stretches out under a banyan to rest until morning. As he starts to drift off to sleep, a ghost appears and decides the barber would make a tasty meal.
Quickly, the barber gets to his feet and tells the ghost that he is a ghost catcher. He shows the ghost its reflection in the mirror as proof that he has already caught an ugly ghost.
Terrified, the not-so-smart ghost promises to do whatever the barber asks of it.
As a story of wit and charm, The Ghost Hunter is a favorite folktale that children will want to hear over and over again. The simplicity of the folk tale, as well as the cunning barber who quickly outthinks his predicament, plays itself over and over again in the imagination.
This is a great book for reading out loud to groups and for class discussion.
A barber in Bengal loves to cut hair and trim beards, and for each story a customer tells, he gives a free haircut. But while the barber’s heart is filled with goodness, his home hasn’t enough food to feed his family.
One day his wife tells him that she can no longer live so poorly. The barber must leave and not return home until he has food and money to feed their family. So off the barber goes.
The barber decides to travel to the next town because he believes he would feel more comfortable taking the money for haircuts from strangers instead of his regular customers.
When night falls, the barber stretches out under a banyan to rest until morning. As he starts to drift off to sleep, a ghost appears and decides the barber would make a tasty meal.
Quickly, the barber gets to his feet and tells the ghost that he is a ghost catcher. He shows the ghost its reflection in the mirror as proof that he has already caught an ugly ghost.
Terrified, the not-so-smart ghost promises to do whatever the barber asks of it.
As a story of wit and charm, The Ghost Hunter is a favorite folktale that children will want to hear over and over again. The simplicity of the folk tale, as well as the cunning barber who quickly outthinks his predicament, plays itself over and over again in the imagination.
This is a great book for reading out loud to groups and for class discussion.
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
This classic poem is one that many of us fondly remember from childhood.
The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear (Kids Can Press, ISBN: 1-55337-828-8) tells a story about an owl and pussycat who wish to marry. They sail off together and, after a year and a day, come to a place where they buy a ring from a pig and are wedded by a turkey.
The Owl and the Pussycat has long been taught as a nonsense poem, but illustrator Stephane Jorisch brings new life and meaning to this well-loved poem. In the new interpretation, the owl is portrayed as a wealthy gentleman and the pussycat is shown as being from the "other side of the tracks." They fall in love and are forced to escape the prying, unapproving eyes of their rigid society so that they can be wed in a place that accepts them for who they are, without judgement.
Part of the Visions in Poetry series, The Owl and the Pussycat is a beautiful addition to a child's or adult's poetry collection. The hardbound book is illustrated throughout, letting Stephane Jorisch retell the story with his fascinating artwork.
The poem's new interpretation also lends itself well in classroom settings and can be used to open the door to discussing social norms, differences, and acceptance.
The Owl and the Pussycat has long been taught as a nonsense poem, but illustrator Stephane Jorisch brings new life and meaning to this well-loved poem. In the new interpretation, the owl is portrayed as a wealthy gentleman and the pussycat is shown as being from the "other side of the tracks." They fall in love and are forced to escape the prying, unapproving eyes of their rigid society so that they can be wed in a place that accepts them for who they are, without judgement.
Part of the Visions in Poetry series, The Owl and the Pussycat is a beautiful addition to a child's or adult's poetry collection. The hardbound book is illustrated throughout, letting Stephane Jorisch retell the story with his fascinating artwork.
The poem's new interpretation also lends itself well in classroom settings and can be used to open the door to discussing social norms, differences, and acceptance.
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
Kids will learn about the animals that live in a rain forest in Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals.
To children, rain forests are fantastical, faraway places where Nature’s imagination has run wild. Strange and delightful animals hang from the trees, and there’s danger around every corner.
Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals by Deborah Hodge (Kids Can Press, ISBN 978-1-55453-041-0) gives young children, ages 4 to 7, an introduction to rain forest animals.
Kids will get to learn about some of the interesting creatures that live in the rain forest, such as the orangutan that swings through the trees with its powerful arms and the sloth that slowly travels from tree to tree in search of food.
There are also dangerous animals, such as the jaguar that hunts on ground, in trees, and in the water. Another predator is the emerald tree boa that hangs by its tail so that its head can quickly move to catch its prey.
Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals is a great rain forest introduction book for kids. It can be used in school settings to enhance a unit on rain forests or animals. At home, Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals is an enjoyable book that will get kids thinking about what lives in the rain forests and how each animal is connected with its environment.
Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals by Deborah Hodge (Kids Can Press, ISBN 978-1-55453-041-0) gives young children, ages 4 to 7, an introduction to rain forest animals.
Kids will get to learn about some of the interesting creatures that live in the rain forest, such as the orangutan that swings through the trees with its powerful arms and the sloth that slowly travels from tree to tree in search of food.
There are also dangerous animals, such as the jaguar that hunts on ground, in trees, and in the water. Another predator is the emerald tree boa that hangs by its tail so that its head can quickly move to catch its prey.
Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals is a great rain forest introduction book for kids. It can be used in school settings to enhance a unit on rain forests or animals. At home, Who Lives Here? Rain Forest Animals is an enjoyable book that will get kids thinking about what lives in the rain forests and how each animal is connected with its environment.
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
A photographic children’s book about dolphins.
Ever wonder what life is like for dolphins? Ever try to act like a dolphin? Face to Face with Dolphins by Flip and Linda Nicklin (National Geographic, ISBN: 978-1-4263-0141-4) brings readers into the exciting world of dolphins.
Dolphins
In Face to Face with Dolphins, kids ages 9 to 12 will get to learn about all sorts of different kinds of dolphins, from bottlenose dolphins to orcas. Each page has at least one photograph of a dolphin, introducing kids to the differences and similarities between different species of dolphins. They’ll learn about how smart dolphins really are.
Activities
Learn about dolphin behavior through play-acting. Dolphin activities include learning how to swim like a dolphin, how to speak dolphin, and mimic how dolphins play.
Get Involved
The lives of dolphins depend upon people: children and adults. At the end of the book, kids learn how they can act responsibly and help save dolphins from the hazards of pollution.
Fun for Dolphin Lovers
Face to Face with Dolphins is a great picture book for kids who love to look at dolphins. However, I would recommend the book for younger children, ages 6 to 10, instead of the publisher recommended age group because the activities are too childish for some tweens. The text in this book is also of an introductory nature. If your child or student is looking for a more in-depth look at dolphins, Face to Face with Dolphins will not provide enough factual information for a research report.
Dolphins
In Face to Face with Dolphins, kids ages 9 to 12 will get to learn about all sorts of different kinds of dolphins, from bottlenose dolphins to orcas. Each page has at least one photograph of a dolphin, introducing kids to the differences and similarities between different species of dolphins. They’ll learn about how smart dolphins really are.
Activities
Learn about dolphin behavior through play-acting. Dolphin activities include learning how to swim like a dolphin, how to speak dolphin, and mimic how dolphins play.
Get Involved
The lives of dolphins depend upon people: children and adults. At the end of the book, kids learn how they can act responsibly and help save dolphins from the hazards of pollution.
Fun for Dolphin Lovers
Face to Face with Dolphins is a great picture book for kids who love to look at dolphins. However, I would recommend the book for younger children, ages 6 to 10, instead of the publisher recommended age group because the activities are too childish for some tweens. The text in this book is also of an introductory nature. If your child or student is looking for a more in-depth look at dolphins, Face to Face with Dolphins will not provide enough factual information for a research report.
Looking Closely Through the Forest
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
Looking Closely Through the Forest is an educational children's picture book that gets kids looking closer at the things around them.
You can go through life without ever looking closely at the things that surround you. However, you'll be missing the beauty and wonder that surrounds you at every step. Looking Closely Through the Forest by Frank Serafini (Kids Can Press, ISBN: 1-55453-212-4) gets young children, ages 4 to 7, looking closely at the beauty of the forest.
At each step and turn, you might find colorful leaves, unusual mushrooms, or strange looking bugs. In Looking Closely Through the Forest, kids will first see each wonder as a closeup photo. They then take a guess at what the photo is showing. Turn the page, and the object of the closeup photograph is revealed along with facts about the item.
Children will get to learn about the sugar maple leaf, the sego lily, spotted toadstools, Aspen trees, the yellow-spotted millipede, turkey tail fungus, frost, pinecones, and green frogs.
The photographs by Frank Serafini are absolutely stunning and beckon the reader to venture out into the forest. The text that accompanies the photographs is equally interesting, with facts about the forest that even adults can enjoy.
Looking Closely Through the Forest makes a great book to read before or after a nature walk and it makes a good science book for young readers.
At each step and turn, you might find colorful leaves, unusual mushrooms, or strange looking bugs. In Looking Closely Through the Forest, kids will first see each wonder as a closeup photo. They then take a guess at what the photo is showing. Turn the page, and the object of the closeup photograph is revealed along with facts about the item.
Children will get to learn about the sugar maple leaf, the sego lily, spotted toadstools, Aspen trees, the yellow-spotted millipede, turkey tail fungus, frost, pinecones, and green frogs.
The photographs by Frank Serafini are absolutely stunning and beckon the reader to venture out into the forest. The text that accompanies the photographs is equally interesting, with facts about the forest that even adults can enjoy.
Looking Closely Through the Forest makes a great book to read before or after a nature walk and it makes a good science book for young readers.
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
Get kids learning about polar animals in this fun and educational children’s book.
When it comes to polar animals, such as polar bears and penguins, kids want to learn everything there is to know about them. There is just something so fascinating about these animals that rough it out in the cold that kids will actively seek to learn more about them and their environment.
Polar Animals
Who Lives Here? Polar Animals by Deborah Hodge (Kids Can Press, ISBN 978-1-55453-043-4) is an incredible learning experience for young children ages 4 to 7. Kids will learn about different kinds animals and how they live in their cold environment.
There’s the majestic emperor penguin with its waterproof feathers, the artic fox and its fur covered paw, and the lovable seal with its unique flippers. There’re also snowy owls, musk ox, beluga whales, polar bears, the walrus, and caribou.
Educational and Entertaining
For it’s targeted age group, Polar Animals has just the right amount of information about each animal. Kids get to see how each animals lives in its uniquely cold environment, whether it’s using its tail as a scarf or huddling for warmth. It’s easy to identify with each animal as it struggles to stay warm, care for its young, and hunts for green food under the snow, which is why this book is great for both teaching about animal habitats and reading for enjoyment.
Polar Animals
Who Lives Here? Polar Animals by Deborah Hodge (Kids Can Press, ISBN 978-1-55453-043-4) is an incredible learning experience for young children ages 4 to 7. Kids will learn about different kinds animals and how they live in their cold environment.
There’s the majestic emperor penguin with its waterproof feathers, the artic fox and its fur covered paw, and the lovable seal with its unique flippers. There’re also snowy owls, musk ox, beluga whales, polar bears, the walrus, and caribou.
Educational and Entertaining
For it’s targeted age group, Polar Animals has just the right amount of information about each animal. Kids get to see how each animals lives in its uniquely cold environment, whether it’s using its tail as a scarf or huddling for warmth. It’s easy to identify with each animal as it struggles to stay warm, care for its young, and hunts for green food under the snow, which is why this book is great for both teaching about animal habitats and reading for enjoyment.
Looking Closely Along the Shore
Posted by
Elizabeth Yetter
Elizabeth Yetter
A stunning book that features educational photographs of the shore.
Looking Closely Along the Shore by Frank Serafini (Kids Can Press, ISBN 978-1-55453-141-7) is a beautiful picture book that teaches young children to take a closer look at their surroundings.
Look and Learn
Author and photographer Frank Serafini invites young children, ages 4 to 7, to take a closer look at nature along the shore. The book features close-up pictures of things one might find along the shore and asks children to guess what it might be. Turn the page and the child discovers the answer. For each picture, children get to learn about what is in the photograph, how it lives, what it does, and how it got that way.
Children will learn about barnacles, crabs, palm trees, shells, and more.
Lots of Fun
Children love to play games and will love taking a guess at what each close-up photo looks like and discovering what it really is. The great part about this guessing game is that young kids are learning about nature and are encouraged to take a closer look at their surroundings.
Look and Learn
Author and photographer Frank Serafini invites young children, ages 4 to 7, to take a closer look at nature along the shore. The book features close-up pictures of things one might find along the shore and asks children to guess what it might be. Turn the page and the child discovers the answer. For each picture, children get to learn about what is in the photograph, how it lives, what it does, and how it got that way.
Children will learn about barnacles, crabs, palm trees, shells, and more.
Lots of Fun
Children love to play games and will love taking a guess at what each close-up photo looks like and discovering what it really is. The great part about this guessing game is that young kids are learning about nature and are encouraged to take a closer look at their surroundings.
Pages 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18