Do Frogs Drink Hot Chocolate? How Animals Keep Warm Book Review

Do Frogs Drink Hot Chocolate? 

How Animals Keep Warm

 

Etta Kaner (Author)

John Martz (Illustrator)

Owlkids

Children’s Nonfiction, Picture Book

Publication Date: September 14, 2018

Animals that live in cold environments need to stay warm, but how? Author Etta Kaner poses humorous (and sometimes true) questions about how animals stay warm like “Do penguins snuggle with a friend,” and then reveals interesting tidbits how these animals actually survive during winter.

Great illustrations paired with amusing yet informative text makes Do Frogs Drink Hot Chocolate? a fun, fact-filled read kids will love!

If you’re interested in reading Do Frogs Drink Hot Chocolate? How Animals Keep Warm, you can purchase a copy here onAmazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Coding from Scratch Book Review

Coding from Scratch

Rachel Ziter

Capstone

Children’s Nonfiction, Middle Grades, Coding

Publication Date: August 1, 2018

Coding From Scratch is a very thorough, step-by-step guide for using Scratch to code. The book has clear illustrations, pictures, and diagrams to help readers navigate Scratch and develop their coding skills. It walks kids through how to make their own games, how to use the drawing tools to make animations, creating presentations, using the sound tools, and more! If you’re looking for a detailed guide to Scratch that dives in deep, then this is it!

If you’re interested in reading Coding from Scratch, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Code Your Own Adventure Book Review

Code Your Own Adventure

Max Wainewright (Authors)

Henry Smith (Illustrator)

QEB Publishing

Children’s Nonfiction, Middle grades, Coding

Publication Date: July 19, 2018

Colorful, engaging, and informative - Code Your Own Adventure provides step-by-step instructions in a comic-book format for kids to code their own game using Scratch. Kids will learn how to draw characters and shapes, animate plot lines, and create games all while learning how to code. A fun way to gain useful knowledge and coding skills!

If you’re interested in reading Code Your Own Adventure, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Outside: Discovering Animals Book Review

Outside: Discovering Animals

Maria Ana Peixe Dias & Ines Teixeira do Rosario (Authors)

Bernardo P. Carvalho (Illustrator)

Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Children’s Nonfiction, Outdoors

Publication Date: July 5, 2018

If you’re looking for a fun read that will make your kids want to get outside this summer, then check out Outside: Discovering Animals. The book walks kids through all of the clues they can look for (like feathers, footprints, tracks, chewed on pine cones, etc.) to find all sorts of animals whether you live in a city or in the country!

If you’re interested in reading Outside: Discovering Animals, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Bug Lab for Kids Book Review

Bug Lab for Kids

Family-Friendly Activities for Exploring the Amazing World of Beetles, Butterflies, Spiders, and Other Arthropods

John W. Guyton

Quarry Books

Children's Book, Middle Grades, Non-Fiction

Publication Date: June 12, 2018

If you have a kid who is interested in bugs, then Bug Lab for Kids is for you!

This book will walk even a novice bug-collector parent or teacher through learning where to start to more advanced techniques on collecting insects to how to preserve them. The book is set up as forty-three labs that kids can complete. The labs start with learning where to look, using sketching as a tool, and the scientific method. Later labs include photographing insects, making papier-mâché nests, creating a pollinator habitat, and more.

Bug Lab for Kids offers a variety of insect-centered activities and will keep kids busy and engaged! Perfect for summer!

If you’re interested in reading Bug Lab for Kids, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Amazing World: Bugs Get To Know 20 Crazy Bugs Book Review

Amazing World: Bugs Get To Know 20 Crazy Bugs

L.J. Tracosas

becker&mayer! kids

Children's Book, Middle Grades, Non-Fiction

Publication Date: June 5, 2018

Bold, bright, and informative! Kids will love learning about these twenty crazy and fascinating bugs. From the spiny flower mantis to glowing cockroach, kids are sure to be captivated by the crazy and cool things bugs can do!

If you’re interested in reading Amazing World: Bugs Get To Know 20 Crazy Bugs, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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National Parks of the USA Book Review

National Parks of the USA

Kate Siber (Author)

Chris Turnham (Illustrator)

Wide Eyed Editions

Children’s Nonfiction, Picture Book

Publication Date: July 3, 2018

Fact-filled and beautifully illustrated! National Parks of the USA takes you on a tour of the National Parks throughout the country. If you can't visit the parks in person, then this book is a great introduction to the wide range of beauty the United States’ offers.

If you’re interested in reading National Parks of the USA, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Ranger Rick Kids' Guide to Paddling and Ranger Rick Kids' Guide to Hiking Book Reviews

Ranger Rick Kids' Guide to Paddling

All you need to know about having fun while paddling

Tom Watson

Walter Foster Jr

Children’s Books, Middle Grades, Nonfiction

Publication Date: May 1, 2018

Ranger Rick Kids' Guide to Hiking

All you need to know about having fun while hiking

Helen Olsson

Walter Foster Jr

Children’s Books, Middle Grades, Nonfiction

Publication Date: May 1, 2018

Informative, colorful, and kid-friendly: Ranger Rick’s Guide to Paddling will get kids (and their parents) ready for fun on the water! The book covers topics from the gear and skills you need to learning how to prepare for a trip and where to go and more!

Similarly, Ranger Rick’s Guide to Hiking covers where to hike, when to hike, what you should wear and pack, and more! Both books are great for introducing kids to what to expect and how to be safe while having fun in the outdoors!

Perfect for summer and perfect for inspiring kids to get outside and explore!

If you’re interested in reading Ranger Rick Kids'Guide to Paddling or Ranger Rick Kids' Guide to Hiking, you can purchase a copy on Amazon: Paddling, Hiking.

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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STEAM Play & Learn 20 fun step-by-step preschool projects about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math! Book Review

STEAM Play & Learn

20 fun step-by-step preschool projects about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math!

Ana Dziengel

Walter Foster Jr

Children’s Nonfiction, STEAM

Publication Date: June 5, 2018

STEAM Play & Learn is filled with engaging projects perfect for preschool and early-school aged children. One of my favorite parts of this book is that it is simply broken down into three sections: easy projects (put out the materials and let kids work), medium projects (some adult assistance will be needed), and difficult projects (adult-led). As a parent and a teacher, I love that I can quickly choose what will work best for me and my kiddos. The images and illustrations are colorful and attention grabbing and each project has clear, easy-to-follow directions. From Frozen Goop to Salty Circuits kids are sure to have a blast learning and exploring!

If you’re interested in reading STEAM Play & Learn: 20 fun step-by-step preschool projects about science, technology, engineering, arts, and math!, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Harriet Tubman Little People, Big Dreams Series Book Review

Harriet Tubman

Little People, Big Dreams Series

Isabel Sanchez Vegara (Author)

Pili Aguado (Illustrator)

Frances Lincoln Children's Books

Children’s Nonfiction, Biography

Publication Date: June 5, 2018

The Little People, Big Dreams Series celebrates the lives of important and influential people. Each book is filled with interesting illustrations and extra biographical information in the back of the book.

Harriet Tubman obviously explores the life of Harriet Tubman, from her childhood in slavery in Maryland to her escape and her bravery to repeatedly helping others escape slavery and more. This book (and all others in the series) is a great and rather thorough introduction to Harriet Tubman and her inspiring life.

Other famous women highlighted in the Little People, Big Dreams series include:

• Frida Kahlo
• Amelia Earhart
• Maya Angelou

If you’re interested in reading Harriet Tubman, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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Mason Jar Science 40 Slimy, Squishy, Super-Cool Experiments; Capture Big Discoveries in a Jar, from the Magic of Chemistry and Physics to the Amazing Worlds of Earth Science and Biology Book Review

Mason Jar Science

40 Slimy, Squishy, Super-Cool Experiments; 

Capture Big Discoveries in a Jar, from the Magic of Chemistry and Physics to the Amazing Worlds of Earth Science and Biology

Jonathan Adolph

Storey Publishing

Children's Book, Middle Grades, Non-Fiction

Publication Date: May 29, 2018

Mason Jar Science has fun ideas for kids to get hands-on with science. Broken into sections (Chemistry, Earth Science, Botany, Biology, Physics), kids can easily navigate the book and select which projects to undertake. From Fireworks in a Jar or Cornstarch Quicksand to Very Berry Ink or Light Bending kids are sure to find a variety of projects that interest them. Each project includes subsections like materials, instructions, what to watch for, what's going on, tell me more, or take it further so kids (and adults) know exactly what steps to take.

Mason Jar Science is full of great ideas that will keep kids busy, learning, and engaged. It's prefect for summers at home or for adventurous teachers looking for fun classroom projects!

If you’re interested in reading Mason Jar Science, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

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How to Be a Big Kid Book Review

How to Be a Big Kid

DK

DK Children

Children’s Nonfiction

Publication Date: May 15, 2018

A great book for preschoolers!

How to Be a Big Kid explores subjects from potty training and hygiene to staying safe, going to school, and much more. It is a great conversation starter for parents and kids and provides fun ideas to enrich curiosities and expand children's knowledge of themselves and the world.

I highly recommend it for any parent of preschool age children.

If you’re interested in reading How to Be a Big Kid, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Howl like a Wolf! Learn to Think, Move, and Act Like 15 Amazing Animals Book Review

Howl like a Wolf! 

Learn to Think, Move, and Act Like 15 Amazing Animals

Kathleen Yale (Author)

Kaley McKean (Illustrator)

Storey Publishing

Children’s Nonfiction

Publication Date: April 17, 2018

Kids will learn a whole lot more than just how to howl in Howl like a Wolf!. From sliding like a penguin to transforming like a frog, kids will learn all about a variety of animals and how to realistically pretend to be them. The book is informative and encourages kids to get up, get moving, and try out these animal characteristics for themselves. A great book for imaginative play!

If you’re interested in reading Howl like a Wolf! Learn to Think, Move, and Act Like 15 Amazing Animals, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Fossil by Fossil Comparing Dinosaur Bones Book Review

Fossil by Fossil 

Comparing Dinosaur Bones

Sara Levine

T.S Spookytooth

Millbrook Press

Children’s Nonfiction, Dinosaurs

Publication Date: January 1, 2018

Kids who love dinosaurs will greatly enjoy exploring Fossil by Fossil! It's packed full of interesting dinosaur facts about how dinosaurs skeletons are different than humans, but the most fun part is when the author and illustrator imagine what kids would look like with those extra dinosaur bones. Which dinosaur would you be if you had three horns coming out of your head? Or really small arms compared to your legs? Or flat, diamond shaped bones above your spine?

My dino-loving preschooler adored it!

If you’re interested in reading Fossil by Fossil: Comparing Dinosaur Bones, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

The Bee Book Book Review

The Bee Book

Charlotte Milner

DK Children

Children’s Books, Nonfiction

Publication Date: February 6, 2018

Informative and colorful! Kids will learn a lot from The Bee Book: from how bees make honey to how they pollinate to their life cycle and more! The Bee Book is a great nonfiction read for any inquisitive little mind!

If you’re interested in reading The Bee Book, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

What Do Animals Do All Day? Book Review

What Do Animals Do All Day?

Wendy Hunt (Author)

Studio Muti (Illustrator)

Wide Eyed Editions

Children’s Nonfiction, Picture Book

Publication Date: February 1, 2018

Children who love animals will love this book! What Do Animals Do All Day? explores animals grouped by their habitat and the jobs they do within their natural environment. From a coral reef to a desert to the North Pole to your own backyard and more, kids will learn a lot about a variety of animals!

If you’re interested in reading What Do Animals Do All Day?, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

50 Wacky Things Humans Do Weird & amazing facts about humans! Book Review

50 Wacky Things Humans Do

Weird & amazing facts about humans!

Walter Foster Jr. Creative Team

Lisa Perrett (Illustrator)

Walter Foster Jr.

Children’s Nonfiction

Publication Date: December 1, 2017

Kids love to learn about the body. It does so many weird and crazy things and 50 Wacky Things Humans Do will introduce them to many of these wonders. From glowing to wiggly ears to stomach acid that can eat through a wooden table, kids will find something new and wacky about human bodies.

If you’re interested in reading 50 Wacky Things Humans Do, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

ABC Color Apricot, Burgundy & Chartreuse, 26 brand new colors are out on the loose! Book Review

ABC Color Apricot, Burgundy & Chartreuse, 26 brand new colors are out on the loose!

Little Concepts Series

Ingela Peterson Arrhenius

Quarto Publishing Group – Walter Foster, Jr.

Children’s Book, Nonfiction, Board Book

Publication Date: November 1, 2017

Most kids learn your standard red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple, but what about all of those other colors out in the world?

ABC Color Apricot, Burgundy & Chartreuse has fantastic illustrations that take kids on a color-filled journey through the alphabet. From apricot to jade, umber to zomp you're sure to learn a few new colors alongside your kids.

If you’re interested in reading ABC Color Apricot, Burgundy & Chartreuse, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Programming Games and Animation Kids Get Coding Series Book Review

Programming Games and Animation 

Kids Get Coding Series

Heather Lyons (Author)

Alex Westgate (Illustrator)

Lerner Publications

Children’s Nonfiction, Upper Elementary

Publication Date: August 1, 2017

I love finding coding books that appeal to different age groups and that get kids interested in coding. I had a lot of hope for Programming Games and Animation from the Kids Get Coding series, but this book fell flat.

First, the web address in the book takes you to a page where the links associated with this book say, "Sorry... There's nothing here!" so any of the activities the book describes can't actually be completed. If I was a kid, I would be devastated.

Second, the book does do a good job of helping kids plan out a maze-type game and thinking through different scenarios, but the "coding" they show doesn't translate into other commonly used types of coding I've seen. Perhaps it is exactly what kids need for the maze-building website that has a broken link and is thus inaccessible? But as it currently is, if kids read this book, they would not be able to apply their knowledge to other coding formats.

Last, the book covers several coding topics but uses a rubber duck called "Data Duck" as its mascot. Even when the duck wears sunglasses, it's still too juvenile for the target audience. Upper Elementary kids who are excited to learn to code want to be challenged, not infantilized. Again, I had a lot of hope for this book, but your money would be better spent elsewhere.

If you’re still interested in reading Programming Games and Animation from the Kids Get Coding Series, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.

Everybody's Somewhere Book Review

Everybody's Somewhere

Cornelia Maude Spelman (Author)

Alea Marley (Illustrator)

Seagrass Press

Children’s Books, Picture Books

Publication Date: October 17, 2017

Everybody's Somewhere has colorful illustrations and good rhythm and rhyme. If you have a little one with separation anxiety, Everybody's Somewhere is a great read aloud. Even if you can't see someone, they are still somewhere!

If you’re interested in reading Everybody's Somewhere, you can purchase a copy here on Amazon. 

*A copy of this book was provided free of charge for an honest review.