Let’s begin with pop-up and interactive books. Super Science:  Feel the Force!  Full of Pop-up Physics Fun!, by Tom Adams, and ingeniously illustrated by Thomas Flintham, is packed with inventive and interesting facts that are sure to spark even the most reluctant scientist in your family. Learn about basic science elements and principles which include electricity, gravity and friction. There are also pull-tabs, small booklets and open flaps included.

Amazing Pop-Up Trucks, by Robert Crowther, is an over-sized book with five fascinating trucks that seem to explode off the page as you open each double page. Each truck includes interesting facts and a photograph of the vehicle.

The Great Global Puzzle Challenge with Google Earth, by Clive Gifford, and packed with in-credible detailed illustrations by William Ings, teaches you how to navigate through google to find coordinates on maps by combining both book and google to locate destinations. These destinations are somehow connected to the next search and each page is also filled with details of that city/area which the reader needs to discover to continue the search. This book is great fun through the various discoveries!

Puppies and Kittens and Other Pop-Up Pets, by one of my favorite paper engineers: Matthew Reinhart, is one in a series of pop-up books that are finally constructed for tiny hands. The pop ups are made of thicker and simpler construction enabling young children to enjoy them.

Razzle-Dazzle Ruby, by Masha Dyans, is an interactive story full of wheels to turn, tabs to pull or open and pop-ups.  Also, Ruby is surrounded with glistening snow that turns her day into magic.

Now for some classic reissues, and featured compilations, check out these outstanding books. The Chronicles of Harris Burdick (14 Amazing Authors Tell the Tale) based on the story by Chris Van Allsburg, has some of the best children’s authors incorporating Allsburg’s wordless and mysterious story into their own tales. Some of these renowned authors include Lois Lowry and Jon Scieszka. This book just may spark the author in you.

The Family Storybook Treasury:  Tales of Laughter, Curiosity and Fun, compiled by Hough-ton Mifflin Harcourt, is a compilation of beloved classic children’s stories and poems. This over-sized and colorful picture book includes stories from “Curious George”, “Martha Speaks” and “Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel”.

The Giver:  The Gift Edition, by Lois Lowry, has been reissued and packaged into this special edition along with thirteen new extraordinary illustrations by famed Bagram Ibatoulline.  Also in-cluded in this Newbery winner is an introduction and her 1994 acceptance speech for this coveted award.

The Annotated Phantom Tollbooth and The Phantom Tollbooth, by Norton Juster, and illustrated by Jules Feiffer, are two books celebrating the 50th-anniversary of this classic story. The annotated version has notes and an introduction by Leonard S. Marcus and brilliantly expresses a commentary alongside the story.  Both books are perfect gifts for an avid reader this Christmas.

The rest of the books are activity books that involve arts and crafts and are great fun to make and create. The following books are published by Klutz.

The Marvelous Book of Magical Horses, by Eva Steele-Saccio, includes six paper horses that you can decorate with colorful wings, stickers and more.

Brilliant Bead Rings, by Anne Avers Johnson, has simple instructions, beads of many colors and sizes and flexible wire to make easy, pretty rings.

Pom-Pom Monster Salon, by April Chorba, includes bright yarn, easy to follow instructions and decorations to make fun and funny pom-pom monsters.

Friendship Pixies, by Karen Phillips, includes bendable wire, colorful raffia for clothing and sparkly yarn hair to make your magical pixies.

Ribbon Bangles, by Eva Steele-Saccio, includes plain plastic bracelets along with bright ribbon and beads to make pretty bangles.

Kids Cooking is a perfect introduction of simple recipes for the youngest kitchen helper. In-cluded are colorful plastic measuring spoons.

Twisted Critters: The Pipe Cleaner Book shows fast and easy twisting and curling to make all kinds of animals, bracelets and more. There are dozens of brilliant pipe cleaners included.

The last two books are published by Simon & Schuster:  Green & Groovy Crafts: Fairy Crafts, by Pam Abrams and Jenny Wilson, has everything you need to make a fairy life. “Fairy Fashion”, “Fairy Furniture” and “Crowns & Headdresses” are just a few chapters. Included are ribbon, glitter, felt and more.

Pink Princess Party Cookbook, by Barbara Beery, includes six different types of princess parties along with recipes that go right along with the themes which are : “Snowflake”, “Spa”, “Garden”, “Mermaid”, “Enchanted Pony” and “Pink Princess” parties.

Miss Smith Under the Ocean, by Michael Garland, is an adventure that takes reading to a level that actually becomes real.  When Miss Smith reads out loud to her class, her stories take them to parts of famous books and the students are caught completely up in the story.  As the class goes on a field trip to an aquarium, Miss Smith begins to read adventures “on the high seas.” Her stories, such as “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea” and “Swiss Family Robinson”, are just a few of the exciting books the children experience. Check out more books about Miss Smith’s great reading adventures.

Josias, Hold the Book, by Jennifer Riesmeyer Elvgren, and beautifully painted with soft water-colors by Nicole Tadgell, is a fascinating look inside the life of a Haitian boy, Josia, as he works in his family’s garden.  He can’t seem to get his beans to grow and he asks a friend who gets to “hold the book”, which means in Haitian that the friend is able to attend school, to help him. If Josia can’t grow his beans, he worries what his family will eat. His friend convinces him that he can find the answers at school where books will be helpful to him. This book showcases life in a third world country and the difficulties of life for the many children who aren’t able to go to school. The author’s note found in the back discusses further what Haitian school children do at school and what they eat while there.

Homer The Library Cat, by Reeve Lindbergh, and perfectly painted with a combination of water-color and collage by Anne Wilsdorf, has Homer curled up in his quiet house after his owner leaves for work. But when loud noises from outside drives him in search for a quiet peaceful place, he finally arrives where his owner works: the library. The rhyming text makes for a delight-ful read.

Miss Dorothy and Her Bookmobile, by Gloria Houston, and painted with soft pastel hues by Susan Condie Lamb, is a story based on the author’s own librarian who travelled all over the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina delivering books to families who were always waiting anxiously for her arrival. This book takes many of us back to our childhood days where book-mobiles were used where libraries were hard to reach. Be sure to read the author’s note at the back telling more about her years growing up with this experience.

Book Speak!  Poems About Books, by Laura Purdie Salas, and brilliantly illustrated with a unique blend of mixed media by Josee Bisaillon, is full of magic, the kind of magic that only words blended on paper and brewed with majestic illustrated wonder. “Paper Sky” has pens falling off of branches of a tree along with paper words. The poem: “My Limbs wrote on the sky with orange leaf pens. / Now I will be your sky. / Are you ready?” This book is exquisite in both poem and picture and celebrates the beauty of our language!

The Adventures of Mark Twain, by Huckleberry Finn, and with considerable help from Robert Burleigh, and painted with ink and watercolor by Barry Blitt, is a fun and humorous account of one of America’s most renowned authors. It’s told through Huck’s accounts and is hilarious and full of the twang so that you can almost hear Twain himself in the dialogue. This book is best when read aloud!

Story County Here We Come!, by Derek Anderson, is an imaginative and brightly painted story that demonstrates how clever and ingenious stories can be. A farmer and his crew (a chicken, pig, cow and dog) are getting ready to create their farm in one day.  What they use and how they paint the barn will have kids smiling and most likely desiring to create their own interesting story.

I Will Not Read This Book, by Cece Meng, and digitally illustrated by Joy Ang, is aimed at the reluctant reader as a youngster tells his parents he needs to do everything he can think of before reading his book. Finally, time is running out and he tells his parents all the many ways he won’t read the book. But, alas, it all works out and the chance to read with support is accepted willingly.

Five Little Monkeys Reading in Bed, by Eileen Christelow, has the same characteristics of the cute little monkeys we’ve grown to love from the author’s previous books. The book has the same iambic pentameter rhythm that begs to not only be read out loud – but sung as well!  Mama is tired and reads them stories then turns off the light.  But the little monkeys want more, so they read to themselves.  The story is fun and funny to read out loud but maybe not before bedtime or the little ones might become wide awake!

Inkblot:  Drip, Splat, and Squish Your Way to Creativity, by Margaret Peot, is one of the most remarkable books of delving into ways to motivate and achieve uniqueness!  There are many amazing ways demonstrated and indicated in this book that will surely create some unique stories that are just on the ridge waiting to be discovered.  The book is written for ages ten and up, but would be especially effective for parents to help their children write their own masterpieces!

The Bravest Woman in America, by Marissa Moss, and painted by Andrea U’Ren, is a picture book that celebrates the life of Ida Lewis who helped save over two dozen lives off the coast of Rhode Island. Her father was the lighthouse keeper during the mid-1900’s and he taught her all of the important aspects of keeping the harbor safe. She was only sixteen when she saved four young boys’ lives by rowing her small boat out through stormy seas and rescuing them. After her father died, she became the official lighthouse keeper helping guide many small boats and large ships to safety.  She was recognized by the press, Congress and the American Red Cross as the “bravest woman in America”. The paintings of the white-crested waves evoke the tumultuous difficulty of the rescues. Be sure to check out the author’s note about more of this hero’s life as well as a photo of her.  This book is good for ages seven and up.

Levi Strauss Gets a Bright Idea: A Fairly Fabricated Story of a Pair of Pants, by Tony Johnston, and brilliantly illustrated by Stacy Innerst, is a hilariously tall tale picture book about the possibilities of how this denim pant came to be. The text begs to be read aloud and reading it out loud will enable you to pronounce the western accent that dangles on every page! The full page spreads flow with color and Innerst even used old denim pants to paint on. This book is great fun to read to all ages.

Mr. Sam:  How Sam Walton built Wal-Mart and Became America’s Richest Man, by Karen Blumenthal, is an interesting chapter book geared for ages ten and up about how Mr. Walton built a retail empire with hard work, determination and ingenuity.  There are graphs, photos and charts that go right along with the book.

Marco Polo:  History’s Great Adventurer, by Clint Twist, is a very inventive look back at this great explorer with flaps, items in envelopes and maps aplenty!  The oversized book opens creatively with the cover opening in the middle.  There’s even a map included that shows how the Europeans viewed the flat world back in Polo’s time.  Kids of all ages will likely pour over this book again and again and it just might spark the explorer in your child.  And in this same format, William Shakespeare:  His Life and Times, by Kristen McDermott, Ph D and Ari Berk, Ph D, is one of the best introductions for kids to begin to understand this brilliant writer by seeing, reading and smiling at the many different elements of Shakespeare’s writing. There is much information found on the pages, on flaps and inside envelopes. This is a must for serious writers and both books are good for ages nine and up.

The Extraordinary Mark Twain (According to Suzy), by Barbara Kerley, and illustrated with digital media by Edwin Fotheringham, is an autobiography picture book with the help of Twain’s thirteen-year-old daughter, Susy, along with Kerley’s liberal interpretation of events that took place during Twain’s life. There are many journal entries inside flaps found throughout the book and the pictures fill both pages. There are also insightful directions of how to write a biography as well as a timeline found in the back. This book is good for ages nine and up.

Lost Boy: The Story of the Man Who Created Peter Pan, by Jane Yolen, and beautifully painted by Steve Adams, is a picture book that showcases J. M. Barrie and the many comparisons to his classic story about Peter Pan.  This biography tells about Barrie’s life as a child and as an adult.  There are some wonderful quotes from Barrie that are found at the bottom of several pages that correlate his life, experiences, friends and the storyline.  There’s a list of all the books written by Barrie found at the back of the book. This book is good for ages seven and up.

The Crossing:  Lewis & Clark’s Historic Journey Seen Through a Brand-New Pair of Eyes, by Donna Jo Napoli, and illustrated by Jim Madsen, is told through the eyes of the baby on the back of a cradleboard of his mother, Sacagawea. This beautifully painted picture book was rendered with digital media. The soft hues of golden browns, rich lavenders, vibrant blues and grassy greens fill the pages as you observe the wilderness, wildlife and skyline as these explorers crossed the country. The text is simple, yet powerful, in exclaiming all that surrounds young baby. And it’s also interesting to note time passing as baby grows. The author’s note, found at the back, makes this book good for all ages.

Creepy Monsters, Sleepy Monsters:  A Lullaby, by Jane Yolen, and brilliantly painted from top to bottom of every page by Kelly Murphy, is a most creative story about the most unique-looking monsters waiting for school to end so they can rush home and begin their nightly routine of eating, bathing and finally getting ready for bed. The hilarious antics they display as they go through their evening’s events are great fun and just might make your little monsters better ready for bedtime. These unusual creatures are akin to the bizarre and fun characters in the movie “Monster’s, Inc”.

The 13 Nights of Halloween, by Guy Vasilovich, is a take-off from the holiday version: “The 13 Days of Christmas”. This version has an eclectic slant and a bit of the aura of Tim Burton’s art from “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. But don’t be dissuaded; it’s fun and clever, if a bit dark. A little girl, with over-size eyes and bats wrapped around her pigtails, says “On the first night of Halloween my mummy gave to me: a bright, shiny Skeleton Key.” Her mummy appears to be a skeleton wrapped in a mummy’s sheath. And on it goes. On the third night, the little girl is given 3 baseball bats which are actually bats flying with baseball caps on their heads.

Frangoline and the Midnight Dream, by Clemency Pearce, and painted with mixed media by Rebecca Elliott, is a rhyming story about nice young Frangoline by day, but when nighttime comes she don’s her black cape and leaves her bed and scares animal and the moon alike. The texturized pictures fill the pages and reflect the going’s-on for a spooky nighty adventure.

The Sleepless Little Vampire, by Richard Eglielski, has a young vampire attempting to figure out why he can’t go to sleep. Throughout the story, the climax builds as the water colored scene begin to extend to both pages. Upon further investigation, and by returning to the story and gleaning more clues, the answer will become obvious.  Onomatopoeias and alliterations make this a perfect read-aloud for bedtime.

Gibbus Moony Wants to Bite You!, by Leslie Muir, and delightfully painted with watercolors and acrylic by Jen Corace, has young Gibbus losing his baby fangs and finally getting his real ones. He’s ready to bite something. But his grandpa reminds him that his family members are fruit suckers “and proud of it.” But when he meets his new “normal” neighbor, he’s about to discover why his bite will never be the same again.  This story’s de-bite-ful!

Pumpkin Cat, by Anne Mortimer, is a sweet and simple story about mouse showing cat how to grow a pumpkin and then what he does with the pumpkin once it grows to maturity. The painted pictures are bright and perfectly matched to the story.

Here are two level two books for early readers perfect for this holiday. Inside a House That is Haunted, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, and brightly painted by Tedd Arnold, is a story that’s been refurbished with Arnold’s delightful trade-mark: oversized eyes. This accumulative tale begins with a house that is haunted, a hand that knocks on the door that is haunted, a spider that falls to the floor in the house that is haunted and so on. This is an easy read, but frightfully fun to read and enjoy the hauntingly funny pictures throughout.

Never Kick A Ghost and Other Silly Chillers, from the I Can Read! series, by Judy Sierra, and painted by Pascale Constantin, encompasses five different quick tales that are a blend of surprise and humor. The title tale is about a man who comes across something small and possibly a ghost-like animal and he kicks it. Each time he kicks it, it morphs into something bigger and more frightening.

The last three books are unique with flaps that lift and with designs to build. What’s in the Witch’s Kitchen?, by Nick Sharratt, is a very clever and inventive flap display of two rhyming choices by either opening to the left or to the right. One will show a nice choice and the other – not so good. For instance, one choice is “biscuits and cakes”. Or the other choice is “spiders and snakes”.

The Monstrous Book of Monsters, by Dr. Thomas Jelly (alias Libby Hamilton with illustrations by Aleksei Bitsko and Jonny Duddle) is an inventive over-sized book full of spritely-looking creatures and information of how to avoid or capture each one. The pages are filled with monster friendly (or not-so-friendly) pictures along with pup-ups, flaps and smaller pages. But, beware, not of the werewolf, but of the werefish, for they do exist…or subsist!

Make a Mummy, Shrink a Head and Other Useful Skills, by Pat Murphy, begins with a warning. Don’t go any further in this book for you “could find yourself up the Nile without a paddler outing the jungle surrounded by hungry mosquitoes”. Be ready for learning how to understand hieroglyphs, Mayan caverns and building a sarcophagus.  This book is great fun!

The Rabbit Problem, by Emily Gravett, is actually based on a math problem posed by thirteenth century Fibonacci.  The inside cover displays the story problem that asks if a pair of rabbits are put into a field, how many pairs will there be by the end of each month and at the end of the year? Upon turning the page, you will begin a most creative journey through the year with the book set on its side and the looks of a monthly calendar appears. With the turn of each month, the parent rabbits are presented with new problems which help teach the reader weather related problems. There are die-cut holes, small booklets and a pop-up at the end. The watercolors, oil-based pencil and carrots used make this a very clever read!

This Plus That: Life’s Little Equations, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, and painted with simple watercolors, pen and ink illustrations by Jen Corace, will definitely teach that addition adds up to much more than just numbers. Some of the equations are whimsical (”chalk + sitting = school” but “chalk + jumping = hopscotch”) and others have a serious undertone(”blaming + eye rolling does not = sincere apology” but “I’m sorry + hug = sincere apology.”) The simple watercolors, pen and ink combination + the simple text = a great life learning book.

Balancing Act, by Ellen Stoll Walsh, is all about balance when two mice put together a rock and a stick making a teeter-totter. But the balance is about to become unbalanced when a larger salamander joins in.  Balance is achieved once again when another salamander joins the opposite end.  And so it continues with more animals in the balancing fun. There’s much more going on in this simple book than meets the eye such as colors and animal types.  In fact, the cut-paper collage and acrylic paints make a perfect balance.

Let’s Count Goats!, by Mem Fox, and digitally illustrated by Jan Thomas, is a fun and funny counting book by one of the best early-literacy authors.  Ms. Fox hits the mark here with catchy, humorous phrases concerning these hilarious goats. The bright bold colors and laughable goat expressions are endearingly fun.

One Drowsy Dragon, by Ethan Long, has one larger dragon experiencing one long sleepless night as many smaller dragons (count them) appear to not be ready for bed.  The noisy, restless night makes the small dragons tired, but what happens to that one drowsy dragon? The digitally illustrated colors of muted blues, purples and greens make for a sleepy or sleepless night.

Bunny Money, by Stephen Krensky, and painted by Emily Bolam, is a story about four little bunnies going to the store to buy their mother a hat for her birthday.  As they empty their pockets to see if all their change can equal the dollar required for the hat, the bear clerk begins a money lesson to show what pennies, nickels, dimes and quarters add up to.  There are also small change stickers and a store scene to practice buying items in the store.

Lyle Walks the Dogs: A Counting Book, by Bernard Waber, and painted with watercolor, ink and pencil by Paulis Waber, is another story about this favorite crocodile.  Lyle loves to walk and he loves dogs. Each day he adds a new dog to his walk and the reader gets to help Lyle keep track of the rambunctious dogs, especially when a squirrel hypes things up. There’s even a fun counting exercise located on the back cover.

Curious George:  Learns to Count From 1 to 100 (Counting, Grouping, Mapping and More!), illustrated in the style of H. A. Rey by Ann Grossnickle Hines, is filled with mind challenging activities, besides counting such as grouping, mapping and sorting questions. And check out the last page where you can count all the way to 100!

Double Play!  Monkeying Around With Addition, by Betsy Franco, and illustrated with full-page watercolors by Doug Cushman, is all about applying math into real life. These fun-loving monkeys add up friends, knots in ropes and more during recess making addition come alive. Check out the math equations in the beginning and end pages.

Happy 100th Day!, by Susan Milord, and brightly illustrated by Mary Newell DePalma, is one of the best 100 day celebratory books on the market!  Graham isn’t thrilled to be back in school and  now he has to celebrate the 100th day coming up. He gets into the spirit of counting and so will you. Check out the back page of more items to count.

And here are two books that have many concepts, which include math, to help little ones get ready for school concepts:  Maisy’s Amazing Big Book of Learning, (More than Forty Flaps and Tons of Fun!) by Lucy Cousins, and Everything I Need to Know Before I’m Five by Valorie Fisher.

And lastly, two small books for toddlers to learn about amounts: One, Two, Buckle My Shoe: A Counting Nursery Rhyme by Salina Yoon and Five Little Chicks by Nancy Tafuri.

I Can Say Please and I Can Say Thank You, both by Tamsin Ainslie, are both sweet little books that project these two kind gestures without being too preachy or saccharine.  The same youngster is present, along with her bunny friends, and the courtesy displayed shines through with an expression of ambiance.  Soft pastels reflect soft hues that go perfectly with the theme.

Bandit’s Surprise, by Karen Rostoker-Gruber, and illustrated with a combination of pencil, watercolor, ink and Photoshop by Vincent Nguyen, deals with the difficulties of sharing. When Bandit’s owner brings another cat home, he isn’t about to share his toys, his food dish or his life with her. There’s a good lesson here that families and classrooms can learn from.

Dirtball Pete, by Eileen Brennan, is a great illustration of “don’t judge others”. Dirtball Pete is always a filthy mess but when it comes time to give his speech in the special school performance, he changes many opinions about him. He portrays self confidence and intelligence. The painted pictures, especially of Dirtball Pete, are especially effective.

Six Crows, by Leo Lionni, is a reissue that was first published back in 1988. The message in this classic tale is about how to resolve conflict, which seems to be an ongoing problem in schools and families.  A farmer in India builds a scarecrow to scare away six gregarious crows from his wheat field.  But this doesn’t deter the crows when they build a very large bird to scare away the farmer. The resolution in this matter is simple, yet brilliant.  And so is the collage of cut paper and mixed media surrounded by white.

What if Everybody Did That?, by Ellen Javernick, and illustrated with mixed media by Colleen M. Madden, has a boy attempting to make bad decisions and adults intervening by asking the title of the book. This question brings a vision of the possibility to the boy’s mind which makes for some delightfully teachable moments. One moment is when he interrupts story time and the librarian asks “what if everybody did that?” His vision of what would happen is funny and teaches the consequence of this action!

The rest of the books deal with friendship, which is an integral part of school relationships and life. The Tortoise or the Hare, by Toni & Slade Morrison, and beautifully painted with full-page spreads by Joe Cepeda, is not the typical story because this ending is a surprise. The tortoise and the hare – who have some personal issues to overcome – overcome them and become friends in the process.

If I Never Forever Endeavor, by Holly Meade, is a delightful rhyming tale with a simplistic theme and poetry, but with a powerful message. “If in all of forever, / I Never endeavor / to fly, I won’t now if I can. / I won’t know if I can’t.” How will this little bird ever discover all that life offers, which includes making friends, if he doesn’t even try. The blend of watercolor blue sky that covers the pages includes block prints of trees. So go out on a limb and attempt life!

The Next Door Bear, by Mary Kuryla, and painted with vibrant colors by Eugene Yelchin, is all about fitting in. Emma is new to the neighborhood and she is upset that the kids don’t ask her to join in the fun. “They should know I’m new here”, she says, and proceeds to wait to be invited. The lessons learned here are perfect for the beginning of the school year when kids of all ages worry about fitting in. And Emma soon discovers that she needs to put forth some effort.

Poindexter Makes a Friend, by Mike Twohy, deals with shyness and how being reserved keeps kids from making new friends. Poindexter has this problem and doesn’t seek others to play with, instead reads to himself in the library. But his life changes when he meets shy Shelby and both their world’s change when they discover a book to help both overcome their shyness.  The ink and watercolor are a nice match with the story.

Weird? (Me, Too!) Let’s be Friends, poems by Sara Holbrook, and the digital illustrations by Karen Sandstrom, has some wonderful poems about friendship and getting along. The nice blend of different types of poems beg for them to be read aloud and in many instances read with group participation.

This School Year Will Be The BEST!, by Kay Winters, and brightly painted by Renee Andriani, is the perfect book for first day jitters.  Several different children express their hopes for the new school year.  Some are blissful and others are wistful.  One hopes for a chocolate water fountain; another hopes for new friends.  But the teacher’s wish brings the great joy of a bonded classroom when she wishes to get to know each child.

The Gingerbread Man is Loose in the School, by Laura Murray, and drawn and colored by Mike Lowery, is an indescribably delicious story about this cool cookie who seems to have lost the students after being made. As he runs, runs, as fast as he can, he tries to catch up with the class. This yummy story can introduce kindergarteners to the many parts of the school as the Gingerbread Man runs throughout the building. The cartoonlike panels and different size fonts make for a perfect recipe of a book!

Hornbooks and Inkwells, by Verla Kay, and painted with watercolor and gouache by S. D. Schindler, is a wonderful book to showcase to kids to see the similarities and differences of kids attending school back in the 18th century. The rhyming is brief on every page, but the impact is great with the information it provides. This book will really open children’s eyes to the daily schedules of learning how to read and write, and what was used to write with. This book would be good for all ages.

Peanut Butter and Homework Sandwiches, by Lisa Broadie Cook, and drawn and painted with bright acrylic by Jack E. Davis, is a hilarious book with many of the homework excuses that kids use placed into this story.  Martin goes to school on Monday and sees that he has a substitute for the week.  She gives homework and when he attempts to work on it his dog licks the peanut butter and jam off the paper it had just spilled on. Then the dog eats his homework paper.  The next day, he misses recess to makeup for the loss. And on his week goes. (As a retired teacher, I’ve heard many creative excuses, but Martin is truly having a bad week.) The story ends happily when his real teacher finally comes back.

Follow the Line to School, by Laura Ljungkvist, continues the author’s trademark series of following a simple line as it swirls and twists from the cover to the back. In this book, you get to explore the school from front to back and all in between. All along, the colorful and variety of fonts ask three questions on each page about the area the line has just entered. This book very cleverly introduces school to children!

Louise the Big Cheese and the Back-to-School Smarty-Pants, by Elise Primavera, and painted with watercolor by Diane Goode, is another story in this series but this time Louise is determined to get straight A’s. The problem is that her teacher doesn’t give A’s.  But that doesn’t stop Louise to work very hard to get an A. This excellent story demonstrates the importance of a strong work ethic and determination, as well as the importance of an understanding teacher who expects the best from her students!  I love this book!

Pete the Cat:  Rocking in My School Shoes, by Eric Litwin, and brightly painted with color that fills each page by James Dean, has Pete the Cat sitting at his desk, going to the library and going outside for recess all in his vibrant red shoes. The rhyming text reads like a song.  In fact, you can download the song from the link found in the book.

Pirates Go To School, by Corinne Demas, and painted by John Manders, shows what would happen if adult pirates went to school with kids. This funny book takes you through their day, along with their parrots, and how they learn to read and write, (”x” marks the spot) and much more.  But beware, these buccaneers may tickle your funny bone.

Dino Pets Go To School, by Lynn Plourde, and wonderfully painted by Gideon Kendall, has a young boy trying to decide which pet he should bring to school for “show-’n-tell”. He decides to bring all of his dinosaurs because each has different attributes he wants to show. This laughable story has more information found at the back about each of his “pets”.

There are two outstanding historical fiction books that take place in war-torn Afghanistan.  Words in the Dust, by Trent Reedy, will take you deep inside this country where 13-year-old Zulaikha is struggling to survive among kids her age.  Her uncaring stepmother, the Taliban and the terrible injustices girls and women have to continually deal with are taking their toll. They aren’t allowed to go to school or learn to read.  Since she was born with a cleft palate, kids make fun of her and call her “donkey-face”. But Zalaikha’s life is about to change for the better when a friend secretly teaches her how to read and American doctors are about to surgically correct her face. The beautiful Persian poetry sprinkled throughout the book emphasizes the great traditions and the importance of words and reading of the past. The author spent a tour of duty in Afghanistan before writing this first book for kids. There’s much background information found at the back, including a pronunciation guide.

Shooting Kabul, by N. A. Senzai, begins with a family’s flight from Afghanistan in July 2001. As they board a truck that’s about to flee the area, with the Taliban close behind, they somehow leave 6-year-old Mariam behind. They can’t jump out of the truck or they’ll be killed so they end up in America without her. This book is a fascinating look at how this family begins their adjustments in this new country.  It centers on 12-year-old Fadi as he is adjusting to a new American school when the September 11 attacks occur. The entire story also centers around how the family struggles to locate Mariam and bring her to America.

Murder Afloat, by Jane Leslie Conly, has 14-year-old Ben being kidnapped with several other young men off the streets of Baltimore back in 1868. He’s forced into labor on an oyster ship and his rich life before fades into a distant memory.  What he has to go through and how he finally gets back to his home will keep the reader tense throughout.

Now for some great new mysteries – John Grisham has a new series called the “Theodore Boone” mysteries that are geared for kids. His latest book is The Abduction and it will grab you on the first page and not let go until the end. The story begins when Theodore’s best friend, April, has suddenly disappeared and he is quickly involved as he follows leads to locate her and solve this mystery.

Something Upstairs, by Avi, is a bit frightening when 12-year-old Kenny moves with his family to a new town and an old house. He notices a spot in a small room off his bedroom. What he discovers with the spot and what he learns that took place over a hundred years ago in this house will keep you reading to the end.

The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall, by Mary Downing Hahn, will have you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the end in this atmospheric tale.  Florence is twelve years old and has been living in an orphanage. But now, she is moving to her great uncle’s huge country estate where she discovers his kindness. But that’s not the case of her great aunt and that’s about the time she also discovers there’s a ghost living in this old mansion. Make sure you read this book with the lights on!  Hahn is one of the best at writing chilling mysteries.

The next book deals with loss and death. My Dad’s a Birdman, by David Almond, has young Lizzie taking on parent responsibilities with her newly widowed dad. She has to force him to eat and can’t seem to get him out of his pajamas. But he has decided to enter the “Great Human Bird Competition” and has begun to build wings and he ultimately realizes family is really “all that matters.” There are wonderfully colored illustrations sprinkled throughout by Polly Dunbar. This book would be a good read-aloud.

Cheesie Mack is Not a Genius or Anything, by Steve Cotler, and with hilarious illustrations sprinkled throughout by Adam McCauley, is great fun as you read about Ronald Mack (Cheesie) and all the escapades he and his buddy experience once school’s out and summer is finally here.

The first group of books deals with building and creating. They are all part of Klutz Publishing, which promotes “hands-on” experiences.

The Solar Car Book:  A Complete Build-it-Yourself Kit, by Doug Stillinger, is ready and waiting for assembling with wheels, axles, motors and even a one-volt solar cell. This may be the beginning of vehicle rebuilding and inventing!

The Klutz Book of Animation, by John Cassidy and Nicholas Berger, is an eye-opening book dealing with the creation of animated videos. This book includes the basics of stop-motion animation and clay to create claymation videos. Move over Pixar!

Safety Pin Bracelets, by Kaitlyn Nichols, offers the ingenuity of those who love fashion and jewelry. Included is a vast variety of beads, safety pins and instructions. All you need is your own genius and imagination.

The next group of books offers the ingenuity of ways to use your pen and paper or computer to create your own story.

Fantasy:  An Artist’s Realm, by Ben Boos, is actually a celebration to the imagination. Boos has the most amazing imagination and his exclusive and vivid illustrations fill pages and souls with a life of their own. There is no doubt that once navigating through these pages, which include a double-page fold-out of an intricate map, your mind will become invigorated to write and draw a magical land of your own.

Alienology, by Allen Gray, is part of the ongoing “ology” series. Now we’ll jump from fantasy to science fiction and enter into the alien world. This large book is filled with lift-the-flaps, fold-outs and much more as you enter a galaxy of imagination.

Story World:  Legends of the Sea, by John and Caitlin Matthews, is a Create-A-Story Kit which is designed to help kids get their story moving into an interesting tale. This kit is actually a pack of 28 cards with an amazingly colorful and rich illustration on one side, and a list of ideas to get your creative juices going on the other side. This is one of several kits recently published. “Fairy Magic” is another recent publication.

This next group is rich with investigation and research to help understand the subjects addressed. There are two new books that deal with planets.

The Klutz Guide to the Galaxy, by Pat Murphy and The Scientists of Klutz Labs, is a hands-on book full of items to assemble that have to do with astronomy. Included are a build-it-yourself telescope and sundial, and star maps to help you locate constellations.

Explorers:  Stars and Planets, by Carole Stott, is kid-friendly with a lay-out full of interesting facts. Between the photos and colorful illustrations and engrossing information, there’s much to

learn here!

Now for earth exploration – Into The Unknown:  How Great Explorers Found Their Way by Land, Sea, and Air, by Stewart Ross, and illustrated by the ingenious Stephen Biesty, won this year’s Boston Globe-Horn Non-Fiction Honor award. It takes 14 of history’s greatest explorers and deals with the background that led up to the event, the conditions and weather of the day, and the techniques utilized at the time. The text is fascinating but what will surely draw the reader in are the incredible unfolding cross sections of each expedition. This wide book could just inspire a future explorer!

And lastly, here’s a train book. Legendary Journeys – Trains, by Philip Steele, is an exploration of trains throughout history. This wonderfully packaged book has five pull-out pages which reveals longer train cars and informs the reader of details attributed to this mode of transportation.

The first three books are geared more for teens and adults – but be warned:  they are so good that you’d better make time because you won’t want to stop reading them! The Miracle of Freedom: 7 Tipping Points that Saved the World, by Chris and Ted Stewart, is another inspiring book that recounts the “string that runs through history, a common thread that ties it all together.” But unlike their best selling “Seven Miracles That Saved America”, this book goes back in time to other great historical events that led up to the making of America and the freedoms that have prevailed since then. This thread becomes the amazing 7 points that changed the world when America developed its constitution and kept it intact during World War II. The exhausting research that the Stewarts obtained for the accuracy of the history is found in the notes at the back of each chapter. “The Roman Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity” and “The discovery of the New World” are two of the tipping points.

The Original Argument: The Federalists’ Case for the Constitution, Adapted for the 21st Century, by Glenn Beck and Joshua Charles, along with Kevin Bale, Wynton Hall, David Harsanyi and Peter Schweizer, is a most insightful look into “The Federalist Papers” that were originally written as correspondence between Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John Jay. These papers were written in the late 1780’s and laid the groundwork for our Constitutional law and rights. However, they are very difficult to understand and that’s where this book becomes extremely valuable!  Mr. Beck and Mr. Charles have outlined many of the papers and what the message is, the original quote, and the relevance of it today. This message is clear, easy to understand and employs a greater reverence and respect for what our Founding Fathers intended.

Father Abraham:  Lincoln and His Sons, by Harold Holzer, is an enriching account of Lincoln’s love of his family. You’ll read about Lincoln’s career in his law practice and in politics, but the real emphasis is his great love of his wife and 4 sons. There is tragedy in his life as his two youngest sons, Eddie and Willie, died as young children and Tad died at age 18. Only the oldest, Robert, survived. He went on to serve on Grant’s staff at the end of the Civil War and became a successful lawyer in Chicago.  Robert had one son whom he named after his father but he died as well, sadly leaving no descendants. But the book tells many heart-warming and humorous stories about Lincoln and his sons.

The Capital Kids series has three new books that are part of the Kennedy Center: Chasing George Washington, Teddy Roosevelt and the Treasure of Ursa Major and The Lives of White House Pets Unleashed. All three books are adapted from plays by Ronald Kidd, and are illustrated by Ard Hoyt. This is an excellent series, geared for ages seven to ten, which brings history to life by using modern day kids and applying historical figures to their everyday lives. These books are great fun to read as well as informative! And pencil etchings are sprinkled throughout.

The Dear America series are always excellent with keeping kids, ages eight to twelve, engaged as well as informed. The newest editions include: Standing in the Light, Delaware Valley, Pennsylvania, 1763, Cannons at Dawn, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1779, A Picture of Freedom, Belmont Plantation, Virginia, 1859, A Light in the Storm, Fenwick Island, Delaware, 1861, When Will This Cruel War Be Over?, Gordonsville, Virginia, 1864 and I Thought My Soul Would Rise and Fly, Mars Bluff, South Carolina, 1865. These books are all written in a diary format but are very rich in story form.

The Slightly Odd United States of America: Wacky Facts Great Country, by the editors of Klutz, is full of interesting facts about each state. The design is definitely kid-friendly as each page has one state and the artwork and layout is fun and easy to read. There are also games, puzzles and more to enjoy! This book is perfect for a summer trip for ages seven and up.

Paul Revere’s Ride, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and illustrated by Monica Vachula, is a revitalization of the classic poem by the renowned poet in this beautifully painted picture book. Vachula has tirelessly researched this subject to enlighten and bring this poem to life. You’ll find her details intriguing and edifying. If Longfellow hadn’t written this poem, Paul Revere might have remained unknown.

All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel, by Dan Yaccarino, is a wonderful celebration of the immigrants that made up America. This picture book shows the personal history of the author and is rich in hues of greens and oranges throughout. The gauge used to show the passage of time is a shovel used differently by each generation. Check out the inside covers!

What Does the President Look Like?, by Jane Hampton Cook, and illustrated by Adam Ziskie, is a fascinating picture book that looks back in history and how Americans “knew” what their president looked like. Before there was the invention of photography they depended on portraitures and political cartoons from newspapers There are interesting facts, found on each president, highlighted as well.

Lady Liberty:  A Biography, by Doreen Rappaport, and illustrated by Matt Tavares, is a picture book that tells the story about the statue’s beginnings and its construction. Told entirely through voices of imagined people, the history is valid and strong as is the remarkable full page watercolor pictures. Check out the historical notes found at the back of the book.