Real Friends by Shannon Hale is really wonderful for 8 and up

Sometimes on the podcast we’ll talk about examples of the graphic novel as art form. To listeners that don’t read many graphic novels or comic books that might seem like hyperbole, but it’s not. Graphic novels are designed to entertain, while a very others make you think, teach lessons or possibly change your behavior-while at the same time being entertaining. Real Friends, an original graphic novel by Shannon Hale, with illustrations by LeUyen Pham manages to do that in one of the most surprising books that you’ll pick up this year.

Real friends, Shannon hale, leuyen pham, graphic novel,

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Bulldozer Helps Out works its magic on ages 7 and younger

Every kid needs a good construction book just like every woman needs a black dress. If you’ve got a child who is between two and six you know that they loved big machines. Bulldozer Helps Out is the second book in the Bulldozer series by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann. Heavy equipment can’t really be described as anthropomorphic. However, in Bulldozer Helps Out we see a group of construction vehicles being as human as possible and in the end doing something that will appeal to every small human.

The first thing adults will notice about Bulldozer Helps Out is its heart and soul. The illustrations by Eric Rohmann make the book feel like something they’ve been friends with for a while. Digger, Scraper, Grader and the others have enough detail to let readers immediately know who they are and the big building work that they do. However, the characters are not presented in a babyish manner; rather, it’s more of a classic appeal to the machines.

Bulldozer, bulldozer helps out, Candace fleming, eric rohmann, young reader, construction book

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Win an autographed copy of Brown Bear to celebrate its 50th anniversary

Has it really been 50 years since Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle was released? It’s a children’s classic book whose simple rhymes, distinctive art and perfect length make it one of the first books that children will have read to them. We’re giving away an autographed copy of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, as well as a handful of other Brown Bear swag to celebrate its landmark 50th anniversary.

This is a giveaway for an autographed 50th anniversary edition of Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Bill Martin Jr. and Eric Carle and swag.

This special edition of the book is different for some because it’s the proper, full size release, instead of the board book version that some of us are accustomed to. That was our jam for three straight years. When we had a three and one year old in the house it was one that the younger could laugh at the older one could point to the words. From there we went to Panda Bear and Polar Bear, all of which we’ve also saved for the future library, should our children need it in 25 years.

To celebrate this momentous occasion, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group has a giveaway for a copy of  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See, autographed by illustrator Eric Carle, as well as a bag of Brown Bear swag. This is a giveaway that you’ll keep forever. The new 50th anniversary copy of Brown Bear features the complete story of the book on CD that is read by Gwyneth Paltrow.

Win an autographed copy of Brown Bear to celebrate its 50th anniversary

We Are The Dinosaurs is picture book magic for 6 and under

Do you or the kids watch Dinotrux? Its transition from solely being a book to also include television was seamless. Of course a show about trucks as dinosaurs going about their life is entertaining you say now. It might not have thought like that initially though. This is much like the classic song from Laurie Berkner, We Are The Dinosaurs. Unless you’ve had a child go through pre-K in the past 20 years that song doesn’t mean anything to you. However, if you’ve seen your kids stomp, march and roar then it’s probably one of your favorite memories of their school play. Whaddaya think of that?

We Are The Dinosaurs is now a book by Laurie Berkner with illustrations by Ben Clanton and it has a lot going for it. For starters it’s got a built in audience of young readers who know the words and love dinosaurs.

Laurie Berkner, We Are the Dinosaurs, book, whadday think of that, Ben clanton

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Big Nate, What’s A Little Noogie Between Friends review

I’m laughing to myself in a coffee house. There are men and women in suits talking about insurance, retirement homes, closing loans and talking technology. And I’m reading a comic strip that makes our 7 year old laugh-and laughing as much as he does. Big Nate, What’s a Little Noogie Between Friends collects previously released comic strips from this seminal series and it’s hilarious.

Big nate, what’s a little noogie between friends, monopoly, comic strip,

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The Boxcar Children: Journey on a Runaway Train, 75 years and more

“You’ve never heard of The Boxcar Children? They’ve been around for 75 year, have been translated into dozen of languages, are one of the best early chapter books and loved by elementary school aged children everywhere”, she said. Granted, she worked for the publishing company, but she was clearly enthusiastic about finding someone who had never heard of The Boxcar Children. Journey on a Runaway Train celebrates the 75 anniversary with a new five-book miniseries.

The Boxcar Children: Journey on a Runaway Train, 75 years and more

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PJ Masks-Here to save the DVD day

We stream all of our television. Because of that our children have little patience with commercials and want their programming now. Hear the hoards of children 8 and younger scream with delight as they discover PJ MasksLet’s Go PJ Masks as they’re favorite pajama wearing heroes arrive on DVD for the first time!

Pj masks, pj masks save the day, television

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Toilet paper rolls fly high at Launch Party for National Geographic Kids

One thing that most kids do well is collect things. Even our 5 year old has little stacks of ‘prizes’ that pop up around his room like lemmings. Kids are also great at wanting to be the greatest at things. National Geographic Kids and Toyota Highlander are teaming up to set a Guinness World Record that you-and your kids can be a part of.

To make things even cooler this Guinness World Record attempt allows kids to collect something that you’re already using in your house, toilet paper rolls! National Geographic Kids wants to make the world’s largest toilet-paper-roll sculpture and they need your help to make it happen. To make things more symmetrical to the shape of a toilet-paper-roll, the sculpture will be in the shape of a rocket.

Rocket, toilet paper, toilet paper rolls, national geographic kids, Guinness World Record,

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