Bloomsbury Children’s Books | Page 2 of 3

Wolfboy is clay-made magic in book form that kids want to see

Claymation scared the bejesus out of me when I was a kid. That and puppets. It’s ironic that as an adult I really enjoy both stop-motion/claymation, as well as, puppets. It’s the love and time that go into each that makes me enjoy it. To an extent, my thought process is that if they loved it this much to spend this much time creating it, then it must be great. I completely credit The Nightmare Before Christmas with part of this thinking. Wolfboy is another great example, but in this case, it’s somewhat of a combination of my old foibles.

Clay+ precision crafting + fun story = good times

What Breathes Through Its Butt? is fresh air for curious kids

Our family has lots of non-fiction books on animals, nature, and science in the house. A reference book is a great thing to have around because you never know when school-age children will need something in it. Granted there is that whole internet thing, but a book allows for that random sense of discovery that online searching simply doesn’t satisfy. However, odds are that all of, or almost all of your non-fiction animal reference books are encyclopedic, or listing in the presentation. That certainly leads to discover and learn about new creatures, but might not motivate kids to read it page to page. What Breathes Through Its Butt? is a non-fiction book on animals, but it’s unlike any critter book you or your kids have seen.

A Stem book for elementary kids that asks questions

Revver, The Speedway Squirrel is a great mid-elementary read

Getting an elementary-aged or early middle-grade child to want to read can be tricky. We all know that they need to read. We also know that later elementary ages and up, are most likely at a point where they’re reading to learn, instead of learning to read. If those students are in the former category but should be in the latter, then their schooling will be much harder than it needs to be. Our youngest child could be in that category, so we’re full-on trying to find books that speak to mid/upper-elementary readers. For some kids, Revver, The Speedway Squirrel is that fast racing vehicle that combines chapter book sensibilities, with the fun, goofy, surreal laughs that some kids want to read.

Revver the speedway squirrel is great mid-elementary laughs

Send A Girl!, non-fiction for agenda girls that wants to be loved

As a rule, I recommend children’s non-fiction books to young readers. I work in elementary schools, know the librarians who run their libraries and try to weave in real stories whenever possible. Based on that criteria, Send A Girl! by Jessica M. Rinker, with illustrations by Med Hunt is an illustrated book that will be reading candy for some niche audiences, but that’s it. Send A Girl! The True Story of How Women Joined the FDNY is about the first crew of firefighters, which included Brenda Berkman, who became the first women to join the FDNY.

It means well, but comes off as stale and preachy

The Torchbearers satisfyingly finishes the Darkdeep mglit trilogy series

That headline sounds likes like a backhanded compliment. It isn’t meant to be but does require a little history. The Darkdeep, the first book in the series was a perfect example of mglit escapism. It set up a world where the kids felt real and the dangers they eventually discovered were equally as scary. The Beast was good but was muddled at times. There was so much happening that the broader world that the kids and the Darkdeep created was confusing and felt like too much. Ironically, in The Torchbearers, authors Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs say hold my drink; amp up the action, widen the book’s scope and end the series in a way that’s fun to read for ages eleven and up.

The TOrchbearers rounds the Darkeep series with ooomph

Who Gives A Poop?, STEM, fun, edutainment for 10 and up

Regardless of your stance on books, STEM, mglit, or chocolate chip cookies, we can all agree that Who Gives A Poop?, Surprising Science From One End To The Other is one of the cleverest book titles you’ll ever run across. The book is a story of things that we see every day. Sometimes it’s hiding in plain sight and other times it smacks us on the shoulder while we’re sitting at the pool. It’s worth noting that actually did happen to our son this summer from a passing seagull. Now that I’ve read this book I know that so many things could’ve been gleaned by taking a look at that white splotch that splattered from him onto our stuff.

It’s science. Stem. funny. readable. and makes ages 10 and up curious

A Way With Wild Things is much more than a garden book

A Way With Wild Things is not a children’s illustrated book that’s specifically for spring. It may seem that way, what with the countless flowers, insects, animals and overall happiness. Instead, the book gives the kids who don’t seek the spotlight their time in the limelight, even if they don’t think that they deserve it. It does this with a combination of seek-and-find, a child’s natural curiosity and her grandmother’s 100^th birthday. How does a girl who is usually more comfortable act when there’s a giant party happening in the park?

When is a book about a gardening girl not about a gardening girl?

The Girl and the Dinosaur, a soft, dreamy good-night book

The moon sucks you in. Then, when you’re looking at the moon you pay attention to the red-haired girl who is sitting on the back of a dinosaur. It’s then when notice the tagline for The Girl and the Dinosaur, believe in the impossible. The only thing that’s missing from the book’s cover is a message from Steven Spielberg saying that he’ll be turning it into a major motion picture.

The Girl and the dinosaur is great good-night reading