Stephanie Meyer Talks About Twilight
The 39 Clues ® Global Reading Adventure Heats Up Today with Release of “Book 7: The Viper’s Nest”
Press Release: Scholastic
Published: February 2, 2010
NEW YORK, NY (February 2, 2010) – The global hunt for The 39 Clues®, the New York Times bestselling multi-media adventure series that combines books, collectible cards and an online game, continues with the release of “Book 7: The Viper’s Nest” by Peter Lerangis, in stores today. With the publication of this new installment, one of the key mysteries in the series—which branch of the Cahill family Amy and Dan belong to—will finally be revealed. Also today, Scholastic releases “The 39 Clues Card Pack 3: The Rise of the Madrigals,” a new wave of randomly assorted collectible game cards, to span Books 7 and 8, plus the simultaneous audiobook edition of “The Viper’s Nest” which includes exclusive bonus material. With the release of “The Viper’s Nest” and “Card Pack 3: The Rise of the Madrigals,” six new Clues will be revealed, bringing a total of 28 Clues unveiled to date. Read more
Jerry Pinkney discusses his picture book, The Lion & the Mouse—2010 Caldecott Winner
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The Giving Tree: Shel Silverstein: A story about giving and taking
By Luisa LaFleur, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 21, 2009
by Shel Silverstein (Author)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Paperback: 64 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (October 7, 1964)
Source of book: Bookstore
What to expect: Relationships, giving and taking
Not so long ago, I bought The Giving Tree on a visit to a great NY bookstore. I’d seen it before but never read it and thought it might be nice to read to my children. I based my decision to buy it on two things–I had a notion that it was an important book in the canon of children’s literature and I really liked the cover: a simple line drawing of a boy and a tree on a bright green background. Fast forward a few months and it has become one of the three or four books that *must* be read before bedtime. So I’ve now read it some 60-70 times, but here’s the strange thing: I’m still not quite sure what the moral of the story is. I realize that in this Internet age with sites like Wikipedia and Amazon and any number of blogs and review sites, I *should* be able to figure it out. But I haven’t yet and this makes writing a review a little more difficult than usual.
The Mom’s Choice Award, Gold Medal Winner: The Belly Button Fairy
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 15, 2009
Congratulations to Bobbie Hinman and Mark Wayne Adams for your Gold Medal win in the Mom’s Choice Awards! We love your book The Belly Button Fairy, along with The Knot Fairy and The Sock Fairy (both illustrated by Kristi Bridgeman). We look forward to your next offering.
by Bobbie Hinman (Author), Mark Wayne Adams (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 0-6
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Best Fairy Books; Har/Com edition (September 1, 2009)
Source: Author
What to expect: Children, Fairies, Belly buttons
Using enchanting rhyme, Bobbie Hinman has created an imaginative and whimsical take on how belly buttons end up in the middle of our tummies. The illustrations are bright and delightful! A sweet book that is perfect for a calming story time. The lovely story reading and music on the CD—included with the book—just add to the appeal.
Star Wars Books for Kids
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 14, 2009
Star Wars is everywhere: t-shirts, Legos, figurines, table sets, bedding, posters … the list goes on … babies are dressed-up as Yoda for Halloween, and 4-year-old kids (sometimes younger, often older) are waving their pretend light sabers in a pretend battle in the yard at preschool. The commercialization of Star Wars can not be escaped; sooner or later your kids are going to ask that all important question, “Can I watch Star Wars?”
Now comes the hard part: how old should your kids be before you let them watch the movie? There are so many things to consider, including: violence and adult concepts. Some parents say 10-years-old, others are more lenient with 8- or even 6-years-old. No matter what you decide is right for your family—I do recommend reading this article by Daniel Donahoo, Geek Dad—reading some Star Wars books may be a good way to delay a viewing of the movies; it will also allow for some thoughtful discussions on good vs. bad, before the onslaught of the visual impact.
Here is a list of books and their synopsis’, starting at the youngest reader and ending in books for older readers:
What’s Hot in December, 2009? Kids Book Trends, Kids Book Events, Best Selling Kids Books and more …
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 10, 2009
Here
is the scoop on the most popular destinations on The Children’s Book
Review site, the most coveted new releases, and, of course, the bestsellers.
THE TRENDS
And so this is Christmas … Hanukkah … Kwanzaa …
A party here, a Christmas card there, and still a little lot of shopping to do. These are our most popular pages, of late—hopefully we’ve provided you with some holiday gift ideas:
20 of the Best Kids Christmas Books
Holiday Gift Guide: Best Children’s Books & Toys
Christmas Gifts for Kids: Book Collections & Box Sets
2 Coffee Table Books that Encourage Family Reading
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 7, 2009
Two of the simplest ways to encourage children to read—the fundamental skill behind all learning—is to let your children see you reading and to keep books around the house where they are visible. Coffee table books are perfect for both scenarios.
What makes a good coffee table book?
If it’s going to be out on show they need to look good. Usually a hard cover with great great illustrations, or a color scheme that fits with your furnishings—it needs to look decorative. However, once you get past the aesthetics, it needs to be able to hold the attention of the reader and have the power to become a topic of conversation.
Typically, most coffee table books will only hold the attention of adults—and often not even past the first couple of pages. That is why I like the following two books. They’re both attractive, entertaining, and have true family appeal. Perfect for the coffee table in the playroom … and they also make good gifts!
Ivy + Bean: Doomed to Dance (Book 6): Annie Barrows
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: December 2, 2009
Ivy + Bean – Doomed to Dance (Book 6)
by Annie Barrows (Author), Sophie Blackall (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 6-10
Hardcover: 122 pages
Publisher: Chronicle Books (October 14, 2009)
What to expect: Ballet, Best friends, Friendship
Hooray! I can finally say that I have read an Ivy and Bean book. And let me tell you, I thought it was fantastic.
