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discover that book

a blog about usborne books & more

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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4 Comments

usborne my first reading library

1/6/2018

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"It is a map." Let me tell you, that humble sentence is an exciting one. It's exciting because my son read it all by himself! As a confirmed book addict, I have been waiting, waiting for the day my kids can read because I know how empowering it is to lose yourself in a story. And, thanks to the First Reading Library, that day is on the horizon!

The Usborne My First Reading Library is a collection of 50 - yes, 50! - leveled books that will lay the foundation for literacy with your kids. The first 22 books are leveled very intentionally. They start with "dual reader" books with some text on the page for you to read and a very simple phrase or sentence for your young reader to practice. From there, you progress over 15 levels to books your kids can practice reading independently, still with simple sentence structure and vocabulary.

The next 12 books are designed for kids to practice reading on their own, and the final 16 books get a little more complex to build stamina and confidence. With a variety of topics and illustration styles, this set will keep you and your young readers engaged and entertained as your young reader becomes familiar with the art of reading!

An added bonus with this series is the downloadable parents' guide, an 18-page PDF filled with resources, questions and answers, and insights about the words introduced in each book. 
It's that book (after book after book) that will gently guide your little one from recognizing basic words to being an independent, confident reader!
Book benefits (so many!):
  • Books in the series were developed based on research, supporting development with phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension
  • ​First seven levels of books are "dual readers" you read with your child to model and encourage reading
  • Each book contains puzzles and questions at the back to check comprehension and reinforce keyword recognition
  • Books address a variety of topics and characters to engage readers with all sorts of interests
  • Series includes multiple illustration styles to keep reading fresh
  • Books are lightweight and small, perfect for little hands - and for taking with you on the go
  • At $80 for 50 books, you're paying less than $2.00 for each book!

What's more, online resources are available to support you from the British Usborne site:
  • Downloadable Parent Guide for the series
  • Very First Reading parent and teacher resource site
  • Websites to support parents
  • Activities for young children
  • Guide to phoneme pronunciation​
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Buy the Usborne My First Reading Library here! (paperback in cardboard case, $79.99)

Other reading series to consider:
  • Very First Reading Boxed Set ($69.99, hardcover with cardboard case)
    • includes the first 15 books from the reading library in hardcover
  • Read with Usborne books ($3.99 each, paperback)
    • new series of leveled books - buy individually, 4 levels available
  • Phonics books
    • Phonics Readers Boxed Set (20 paperback books for $69.99 with cardboard case)
    • individual phonics books ($6.99 each, paperback)
    • Ted and Friends ($19.99, hardcover with CD)
      • bound collection of 12 phonics stories, including audio versions on CD
    • Cow Takes a Bow and Other Stories ($14.99, hardcover)
      • bound collection of 6 phonics stories
    • Raccoon on the Moon and Other Tales ($14.99, hardcover)
      • bound collection of 6 phonics stories
My short video review of the series:
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blue whale blues

12/31/2017

1 Comment

 
"I've got the Blue Whale Blues, I've got the Blue Whale, Blue Whale Blues." Have you ever seen a sad blue whale? How about a blue whale riding a bike? ... How about a blue whale who thinks he's riding a bike, but actually he's riding a shopping cart?

The premise of Peter Carnavas' whimsical Blue Whale Blues is just that: Blue Whale is trying to ride his bike, but it's not working, and that's making him sad. His friend Penguin is there to help, and together, they try to solve the problem. But something's still not quite right, and Blue Whale gets sad all over again. 

When Blue Whale and Penguin finally realize that what Blue Whale has been trying to ride wasn't a bike all along, this breaks the sadness, and they both explode in laughter. This is a simple book of friendship, problem solving, and getting out of a funk. 

Besides the content of the story - and the visual humor as the two animals try to ride a shopping cart, dry it off (under the ocean, that is), and attach helmets that are actually cooking pans - this is a delightful story to read because of the clever, mixed-media illustrations. It adds another layer of whimsy to objects that aren't what you think they are but are doing just fine in their new roles. 

Oh, and also, your kids will love hearing you sing the blues as you portray Blue Whale's laments!

It's that book that illustrates the power of whimsy and friendship in a dull situation. 

Book benefits: 
  • Lighthearted story reinforces the power of friendship to pull you out of a slump
  • Story gives voice to a fresh musical genre: the blues!
  • Illustrations are playful and highlight the beauty of mixed media (and would be a fun project to imitate!)

Buy Blue Whale Blues here! ($11.99, hardcover)
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1 Comment

love you hoo

11/26/2017

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"Mom, can I look at that one again?" You know you have a winning book in your hands when your toddlers want to read it again as soon as you've finished. And that's the case with Robin Bright's Love You Hoo, a picture book from Kane Miller.

A parent or guardian owl is speaking to its baby in this sweet story - telling the little owl how special it is, how it has changed the big owl's life, and what the big owl is excited to teach the little one as it grows. It is an ode to parenting, to loving and being loved. And beautifully, there are no genders or labels assigned to these sweet owls, so it works for any mentor/mentee, or parent/child dynamic. 

This is a simple but powerful book in the way it addresses the benefits and challenges of raising a little one, as well as the promise of adventures to come. You can't help but want to snuggle closer to your little charge as you read the parting words: "Whoever you are going to be... Whatever you may do... Wherever you may choose to fly... I'll ALWAYS love you - hooooo!"

It's that book that celebrates the special bond between a parent or guardian and their child.

Book benefits:
  • Enduring narrative reinforces the unique love between a parent or guardian and child
  • Lyrical rhythm and rhyme help early readers predict words
  • Enchanting full-color illustrations draw you in

Buy Love You Hoo here! (hardcover, $12.99)

Quick video review:
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a tale of two beasts

10/31/2017

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"I was walking home from Grandma's house, through the deep dark woods, when I spied a strangle little beast. He was stuck up in a tree, and whining sadly... so I decided to rescue him."

"I was hanging from my favorite tree, singing happily to the birds, when... I was ambushed by a terrible beast!"

If you've ever walked in on two little kids arguing, or watched the news, or gone on social media, or - well, you get the picture - you know that most stories have two (or more) sides to them. Fiona Roberton's A Tale of Two Beasts illustrates this concept beautifully by showing the same scenario from two perspectives. 

In Part 1, a little girl describes "rescuing" an animal from the woods and taking care of him at her house. From her perspective, she is doing a great thing for this little guy... but he runs away as soon as she opens a window. In Part 2, the little animal describes being abducted by the girl and being trapped inside (which, of course, is why he runs away at his first opportunity). In the end, they both realize there are benefits to each other's company, even though they have different needs.

This picture book is a great conversation starter. It opens the door to talking about different viewpoints and why it's important to consider what someone else might be thinking - a tool that doesn't come naturally to young children! But, because of the subject of the story, it's also a great way to talk with kids about why we shouldn't try to adopt animals from the wild or feed them... it's a simple way to introduce the "leave no trace" concept when you're in the outdoors.

It's that book that reminds us to look at a story or situation from all perspectives.
Book benefits:
  • Story is fun to read and a little different, with two separate parts
  • The book shares an important message and opens conversations about perspective
  • Illustrations are playful and captivating

Buy A Tale of Two Beasts here! (hardcover, $12.99)

My quick video review:
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A couple scenes from the girl's perspective:
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And the same scenes from the animal's viewpoint:
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    Hi there! I'm Christine - Usborne Books & More independent consultant, kids' book fan, English teacher, mom of two boys. 


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