Helping you find "Just Right Books" for you and your family
Keeping the kids busy during spring break can be a challenge. Here is a fun-filled activity book the whole family will enjoy.
It is divided into seven categories listed as "fun...with" and there are step-by-step instructions for over 40 different activities you can try. For example; having fun with fresh air you can make an easy-peasy kite or having fun with crafts you can paint a rock. You could also have fun with imagination and make race cars out of cardboard boxes. By just using simple materials, easy-to-follow instructions and a little imagination, this book will keep everyone entertained for an afternoon. You could even take the ideas and expand on ones yourself. It also does not limit adults to just parents but includes extended family members such as grandparents as well. This book will create wonderful moments of bonding time together for young and old. The illustrations are bright and colorful. Seeing the characters having fun will inspire everyone to use the check list in the back of the book to see how many activities they can do. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 3-8.~
Easter is right around the corner and this book would be a fun addition to the kids baskets. Readers will search and find items while the Easter Bunny travels around town delivering special treats. Kids will count, learn shapes, match objects and find various items throughout the story. The text is rhyming and the illustrations are in bold Easter colors. Older kids would be able to do this book on their own but younger ones may need help as the pages do seem a little busy with a lot to look at. Some of the items were a bit tricky to find, so kids will need their thinking caps on for a few of them. All-in-all, it is a fun holiday interactive book which also sneaks in some educational opportunity without them realizing. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 4-7.~
Bear and his friends are out in the forest spotting different types of eggs in their nests. Suddenly, they hear Mama Meadowlark calling out and in need of help to find her missing eggs. Bear and his friends search high and low in hopes of finding them. When each egg is found, they decide to paint it so they will not get lost again. But after the last two are found, Bear hears a cracking sound and to his surprise new baby chicks arrive.
A street smart stray dog named Mr. Whiskers teams up with Misty and Zelda Nanigan to help solve a big mystery. The girls dad goes missing after he is questioned by an FBI Agent who then unexpectedly takes him away. As clues unravel, they think he was actually kidnapped. But Mr. Whiskers and the sisters are hot on the trail as they piece together the mystery in order to save him.
This is a fun and fast paced story for the middle grade reader who likes mystery and adventure. Told from Mr. Whisker's point-of-view, there are many dog puns and funny moments. There are riddles, suspicious FBI agents, secret rooms and passageways, possible pirate treasure and problem solving. Scattered throughout the book were several illustrations that added good visualization to the many characters and adventures they encounter. Mr. Whiskers is quite the charismatic character and Misty and Zelda are very resourceful making them a likeable sleuthing team. The story is a page turner and full of suspense but is also heartwarming. It has a good family feel to it as well and I hope there will be many more Mr. Whisker stories to follow. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 8-11.~
A simple story about a cat who is happy being flat. He can go anywhere or do anything he pleases and likes it this way. But when he falls into the washer and dryer by accident, he comes out all big, cute and fluffy. Everyone takes notice (just what he doesn't like) and gives him hugs, squeezes and squishes. He eventually turns back to a flat cat but realizes that he might be missing all the extra attention he was getting.
Flat Cat has learned that he likes the best of both worlds in this silly and funny story. The sentences are short and flow nicely for a fun read-aloud. The whimsical illustrations are large and in eye pleasing colors of purple, pink and teals. Flat cat has many different expressions throughout that are cute and amusing. I noticed the author has put a note on the first page about not harming cats and they don't belong in laundry machines. A good discussion point for a younger audience. All-in-all, it is a silly and humorous book to break up the day. I think this is a "just right book" for ages 5-7.~