it's that book

dragon post

11/1/2018

"Goodness me - A BABY DRAGON?!?! IN YOUR HOUSE? CRIKEY!" So begins a letter from Henry Drant, Chief Firefighter, to Alex, who found a dragon in his house and wrote to the Fire Brigade to figure out what to do with it.

Emma Yarlett has made a name for herself in the Usborne Books & More community for her oh-so-popular Nibbles books, and she's back! Dragon Post has the familiar humor and art style of the Nibbles books, but it comes with an extra fun element: letters!

After Alex finds a dragon in his house, he writes to all sorts of people for advice. And with each request comes a response in the form of a letter: The Fire Brigade suggests he keep the dragon wet, a butcher offers some food recommendations, the Director of World Animal Welfare suggests how to exercise a dragon. Alex even gets an (unsolicited) letter from a lawyer after discovering how loud dragons can be.

Through these letters, Alex learns that, although he loves his dragon, living in a house might not be the best situation for him. With a little help from his best friend, Alex decides to let the dragon go into the wild... and a little while later, gets the best letter of all: dragon post!

Besides offering a sweet story, Dragon Post is a great way to get your kiddos excited about letter writing! The letters Alex receives demonstrate a variety of writing styles and purposes - I even used the book in my high school class for a lesson on writing styles and voices. It's hard to read this book without wanting to pick up an actual pen and an actual piece of stationary and send a letter of your own. So what are you waiting for? Go send some post!

It's that book dragon lovers and letter-writing lovers alike will want to cuddle up with.

Book benefits:

Story offers a sweet lesson on friendship (and letting go when needed)
Illustrations are bright and comical
Real letters you can pull out and read add an extra element of interaction
This is a book about letters, not e-mails! It's a nod to real mail, which everyone loves :)

Buy Dragon Post here (hardcover with removable letters, $14.99)

Click on the photos for a close-up:

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billy and the mini monsters (series)

6/3/2018

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"Mom, can we read this one?" These days, whenever I hear that question, there's a pretty good chance one of my boys is holding up one of the books from the Billy and the Mini Monsters series, Usborne books written by Zanna Davidson and illustrated by Melanie Williamson. My boys were captivated as soon as I pulled the books out of the box they arrived in, and their love has only grown since then.

Billy is a boy (I would guess around 10 years old) who finds five tiny monsters living in his sock drawer. He winds up saving their life in the first book when they get trapped in the washing machine, and they swear their allegiance to him for life. Captain Snott, Fang Face, Trumpet, Gloop, and Peep may be monsters, but they're actually pretty cute, more so than scary - and Billy takes to them instantly.

Each book in the series focuses on a different adventure Billy has with these mini monsters. Wherever they end up, trouble seems to follow - at school, during swim lessons, moving house, at a party, even at the airport. The monsters and Billy work together to ultimately sort out their problem, and life continues.

Although the monsters tend to complicate Billy's life, they also help him grow and learn important lessons. At school, Billy learns to not be intimidated by a bully. At a birthday party, Billy realizes his sister isn't actually that bad, and they can have fun together. At his swim lessons, the monsters help Billy overcome his fear of heights and diving off the diving board. The situations may seems silly on the surface, but the bigger lessons are meaningful and relevant to kids.

One reason my boys - who are 3 and 5, not yet reading - can't put these books down is that the illustrations are so fun and enticing! The stories are told through a combination of narrative with illustrations and comic strip/graphic novel panels. The illustrations are goofy, colorful, and full of narrative themselves... so kids of all ages can appreciate them! Your kids will love the funny characters and the tense moments, and you'll love listening to endless giggles as you read with them over and over.

It's that book series you will wind up reading again and again, and loving each time.

Book benefits:

Engaging stories, characters, and illustrations will keep your kids coming back for more
Although it helps to start with Monsters in the Dark, subsequent books include a quick recap of how Billy and the monsters met, so you can read books in any order (though I've listed them below in my suggested order)
Abundance of illustrations will help kids connect with the stories before they can even read
Stories include important lessons, though they aren't preachy
It's really fun to come up with voices for each of the mini monsters :)
Each book contains 6 chapters - great to split into multiple readings for young readers but not overwhelming to read in one go

Buy Billy and the Mini Monsters books individually or as a set and save 20%!

Monsters in the Dark (paperback, $4.99)
Monsters on the Loose (paperback, $4.99)
Monsters to the Rescue (paperback, $4.99)
Monsters on a Plane (paperback, $4.99)
Monsters go Party! (paperback, $4.99)
Monsters on the Move (paperback, $4.99)
Billy and the Mini Monsters Complete Set (paperback, $24.99)

A preview from Monsters in the Dark (click to enlarge) -

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my mommy is a hero

5/28/2018

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"My mommy is a hero; courageous, strong, inspired. She keeps the peace and protects us; for this she is admired." The picture book My Mommy is a Hero (written by Isabel Otter-Barry Ross and illustrated by Hannah Tolson) is a beautiful salute to the brave and selfless service women in our country.

Each page of this book focuses on a different post in the armed service, from parachuters to medics to dog handlers and pilots. Written in first person from a child's perspective, it highlights how strong and smart women are, what good leaders they are, what dedication they give to their posts.

The narrative also acknowledges the special and unique relationship service women have with their kids. One page reads, "My mommy is a hero, leading others every day. I know she's always with me, even when she's far away". The illustration shows a woman directing an army boat, along with a cut-out of a little girl writing a letter to her.

Of course, the book's counterpart, My Daddy is a Hero, is equally powerful, showing roles men play in the armed forces. This book includes different roles and responsibilities but the same pride and recognition for jobs well done.

It's that book that honors the selfless dedication our service women (and men) give to our country.

Book benefits:

Text highlights a variety of military jobs and responsibilities - including some children may be unfamiliar with
Narrative acknowledges unique relationship children have with military parents in a meaningful and important way
Short sentences with lyrical rhymes are ideal for young readers
Full-page illustrations with rich colors are highly engaging

Buy My Mommy is a Hero and My Daddy is a Hero here! (hardcover, $12.99 each)

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americanly

3/17/2018

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"I love you endlessly like the Cape Cod sands. I love you dramatically like the bare Badlands. I love you intensely like Niagara Falls. I love you immensely like the Grand Canyon's Walls." For those of you who love Animally, this is another winner for your shelves!

Americanly, written by Lynn Parrish Sutton and illustrated by Melanie Hope Greenberg, celebrates love through the bounty of America's famous landmarks and landscapes. Sutton's sing-song rhyming couplets paired with Greenberg's whimsical illustrations create an instant winner that is both sweet and educational.

Redwoods, the Texas Big Bend, Denali, the Continental Divide, and the Outer Bank are just a handful of the locales introduced through this book that is bound to spark curiosity with your readers as they learn about impressive sites around the country. You'll find yourself reading it again and again... and then looking up the various locations in reference books and online to learn more about them! And, with a map at the back that links each illustration to its geographic location, it's easy to start asking questions and looking up answers.

It's that book that blends love of reading with love of country in a timeless fashion.

Book benefits:

Simple story introduces a variety of famous spots around the United States
Fun and whimsical illustrations will engage littlest readers
Text cleverly rhymes words like Divide and tide, Highway and flyway - geography and poetry combined!
Map at the back connects locations with geography
Hardover book and card stock pages will weather many readings

Buy your copy of Americanly today! (hardcover, $11.99)

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understanding politics and government

2/18/2018

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"Am I a citizen?" "Who decides what is legal?" "Can you trust the media?" "How can one person change the world?" These are just a few of the questions Usborne's new book Understanding Politics & Government sets out to answer.

In over 100 pages, the book sets out to explain what government is, how governments are run, how political systems have evolved, what different political ideologies stand for, and how to approach big questions - immigration, terrorism, feminism, war, freedom of speech. It provides context on how countries have ended up with the political systems they follow, breaks down difficult processes like elections, and offers different opinions on major topics.

Politics has never been a straightforward topic to introduce to kids, and I think it's safe to say the topic is getting more complicated now that information, mis-information, and endless perspectives are right at our fingertips 24/7. This book is a must-have for kids and adults alike!

For parents and teachers, it provides a jumping off point to start discussions, along with topics worthy of further research - and a collection of online resources to build that research. For kids, the book breaks down difficult topics into easy-to-digest nuggets and, most importantly, raises questions kids should be thinking about.

One of my favorite aspects of this book is the variety of perspectives it offers on difficult topics. It presents the good and bad side of media, of prisons, of free speech. It models debates about the environment, under-representation, immigration, and more. And, the book offers pointers on how to debate and argue effectively. Because yes, it's possible! These are conversations we need to be having - and we need to be teaching kids to ask questions, then search out various perspectives and sources to make informed decisions.

It's that book that makes you curious and excited about politics, rather than apprehensive or confused.

Book benefits:

The book combines history, civics, and debate with relevant facts in manageable chunks
Illustrations and graphics engage readers instead - no overwhelming pages full of tiny print!
Big questions are presented from multiple perspectives
Glossary defines important terms for easy reference
Internet quicklinks bring a whole new layer of information with quality websites and videos

Buy Usborne's Understanding Politics & Government here! ($12.99, flexi-binding, which is not quite hardcover but stronger than regular paperback)