There’s something unintentionally funny about a book called Get the Wiggles Out. Your silly adult brain envisions a toddler showdown with dancing and singing that involves non-Australian-based intellectual property, fending off other colored characters. Once you see it with your mind’s eye, you can’t unsee it. Thankfully, Get the Wiggles Out: Playful Ways to Embrace Every Feeling (Everyday Feelings with Sesame Street) stars the team who live where the air is sweet.
Toddlers! (and your parents..) listen up.Category: Elementary school
Awe!, a picture book that shows young audiences there’s wonder everywhere
I like big books and I cannot lie. The size of a picture book doesn’t matter. I know, you know, it’s about the quality or interest level of what’s inside. However, kids might be swayed when they see a picture book that’s larger than others. It puts a stamp on the bookshelf. It’s a physical declaration that dares young audiences not to open it. Books of that ilk have an awe about them. To wit, Awe! is a picture book that celebrates the wonders that live around everyone everywhere.

Mushrooms and Company sets the reference STEM mold to fun for ages 8 and up
My pseudo-critical thinking lessons to high school students sometimes challenge them. I do provide answers, but I prefer to have students find the path or the solution, themselves. Jokes, stories and raw enthusiasm can lead people to learn in a manner where they want to, as opposed to they have to. Mushrooms and Company takes the former road. Educators, parents and some students will recognize the look of Mushrooms and Company.
Smart, without using the fungi homophoneAround the Spider-Verse, a graphic novel collection spins great yarns
Oh Multiverse, you vex us so. The premise of the Multiverse is awesome. Its execution has been sketchy and inconsistent, with some characters and worlds being much more enjoyable than others. By far, the best job at establishing multiple protagonists in the same or different timelines is Spider-Man. It’s so effective at it that you can simply call it the Spider-Verse. Around the Spider-Verse: An Original Graphic Novel Collection is a new collection stories within that world that grabs your attention regardless of where your knowledge is about Spider lore.
Doing whatever a spider can, and very well yoTrial and Error, educational/funny, animal borne attorney fun
Every book aimed at elementary school-aged youth has its core audience. There is also the unknown crowd whom parents and educators hope find the book. Trial and Error is a graphic novel whose Venn Diagram bleeds into many fields. As an educator, you hope the longest leg option takes root but know that this avenue usually has the smallest entrance. However, you’re thankful for clever, unique books that speak to niche audiences, even though you want them to be more successful than they are.

Melodies of the Weary Blues, illustrated Hughes poetry for elementary ages
“Why are you reading a book of poems?”, asked the high school senior. Well, that’s a fair question, brother. I had taught this student in various classes over the years. In my typical way of teaching, I turned our conversation into a critical thinking exercise. This left our teenage dude mentally slipping into the hedges of his mind. He probably also wanted to get away from me and towards someone talking about something in his area of expertise. However, much to my surprise, he kept asking me questions about Langston Hughes Melodies of the Weary Blues: Classic Poems Illustrated for Young People.
A bridge, illustrated book to poetry for young agesWild About Capybaras! packs a lot of fun in its early-elementary package.
Wild About Capybaras! What the heck is a capybara? Do capybaras, sloths and quokkas belong to a slow-moving club that secretly meets south of the Equator? Is it really possible to Giggle and Learn? Giggle and Learn Series are Toon Books by Kevin McCloskey that are smarter than they look and more fun than they seem. Wild About Capybaras! is a fun book to read, which raises the question, can early-elementary ages really have fun reading? So many questions, let’s unpack them. However, in case you’ve got to split, the answer is “yes”.

What Makes A Bird?, timeless STEM that crosses into enjoyment
Quite often, we’ll talk about all-age comic books. These are comic books that can be enjoyed by any age; but have the ability to serve as entertainment for young ages. Is there such a thing as an all-age reference book? There is, but to call them a ‘reference book’ could be a disservice to how entertaining some of them are. What Makes A Bird? An Illustrated Guide to the Bird World is a fun, entertaining ‘reference book’ that belies the dreaded boring label young ages might apply to something that’s not brain rot. The book has a classic, timeless vibe that can be attributed to its illustrations and presentation.






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