Kids

Kids Health
Back-to-school tips for kids.

Kaboose
Check out these back-to-school craft ideas.

DLTK
More back-to-school crafts and other fun activities.

Family Fun
Back-to-school recipe ideas for lunches and snacks.

CELEBRATIONS

Shaun White was born on September 3, 1986.
The official website of the Olympic snowboarder.

Roald Dahl was born on September 13, 1916.
The official website of the famous children's author.

Milton Hershey was born on September 13, 1857.
Learn all about the inventor of the Hershey's chocolate bar here.

DID YOU KNOW

Monday, September 6 is Labor Day.

http://tinyurl.com/2w8mc4m
Find out what Labor Day is and why we celebrate it at this website.

JUST FOR FUN

What are the two shortest camp letters ever written?

Q. What do you do if a teacher rolls her eyes at you?
A. Pick them up and roll them back to her!
More back-to-school jokes and riddles here.

BOOKS AND BOOKLISTS

Back-to-school books for young readers!

First Food Fight This Fall and Other School Poems by Marilyn Singer
(Grades 1-4) Twelve students from various cultural backgrounds who are in Ms. Mundy's classroom compose 29 poems covering school-year activities from the beginning of the year to the end. In various styles of poetry, topics include classes ("Spelling," "The Class I Love"), school activities ("Cleaning Erasers," "Field Trip," "Class Picture") and, as the titles indicates, good-natured fights ("Pen Fight," "First Food Fight This Fall," "Water Fight'). There is much with which to identify: trouble with math, students with various strengths and weaknesses. The exuberant acrylic, pastel, and collage illustrations with swirls of activity on each page match the upbeat poems. The irreverence of a free-for-all food fight is counterbalanced by the pure joy expressed for the more endorsed school activities. The poem following the food fight is somber, seeming to indicate that the students realize things got out of hand, and showing a few of them cleaning up with a very angry principal. Children will enjoy the poetry and find comparisons and contrasts to situations in their daily routines.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)

Pinky Dinky Doo: Back to School is Cool by Jim Jinkins
(Grades K-2) Pinky's brother is worried about starting first grade so she uses her big imagination to think up a wacky story to help him feel better. In it, Pinky is nervous about picture day. She gets even more nervous when she wakes up with crazy hair. After battling unsuccessfully with it, she goes to school and finds that all the other kids are having a bad hair day, too. When the class finally decides to get over it, the result is the craziest school picture ever. This book is full of kid-pleasing fun. Readers are invited to choose the best response from silly multiple-choice questions. Side comments, including the definition and pronunciation of difficult words, appear in conversation bubbles. The cartoonlike, mixed-media illustrations are as fresh as the text. Kids will enjoy the broccoli- and star-shaped hairdos and the busy layout. This book is as cool as its name and will be a hit in any beginning-reader collection.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)

Back to School, Mallory by Laurie B. Friedman
(Grades 1-3) In this sequel to Mallory on the Move, Mallory McDonald starts third grade at a new school in a new town, away from her best friend and her old life. To make matters worse, her mother is the new music teacher. To top it all off, Mallory goes to school on the first day with nail polish stuck to her face; then she gets the part of an eggplant in her mother's Fall Festival. The eight-year-old cleverly pins blame for the nail polish on her cat; but when she pretends to break a leg onstage to avoid performing, she sets up a dramatic, emotional episode that will leave kids holding their breaths to see the repercussions of her actions. This beginning chapter book has large, friendly print and fun, accessible illustrations showing easily identifiable emotions and situations. Friedman's engaging writing style makes for enjoyable reading and, despite Mallory's problems, there is a foundation of happiness within the novel that encourages readers and makes them want to hear more of the child's story.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)

Liberty News
An educational website about Colonial times.

Kaboose
Fourth of July crafts, party ideas, activities and more

Just4Kids
Learn about the history of July 4th and other patriotic symbols.

DLTK
More Fourth of July crafts, games, recipes, and more.

Summer camp season is here!

Kids Camps
KidsCamps.com has been the destination website for finding summer camps and summer programs in the United States, Canada and worldwide since 1995. Start your search for camps!

My Summer Camps
MySummerCamps.com is a comprehensive, easy to use summer camp directory for kids, teens and youth.

PBS Kids-Summer Camp, Making Friends
Some helpful tips on how to make friends at summer camp.

CELEBRATIONS

Thurgood Marshall was born on July 2, 1908.
Find out about America’s first African-American Supreme Court Justice here.

Beatrix Potter was born on July 28, 1866.
The official site of the beloved Beatrix Potter characters.

J.K. Rowling was born on July 31, 1965.
The official site for J.K. Rowling, author of the bestselling Harry Potter series.

DID YOU KNOW

The ice cream cone was introduced on July 23, 1904.

http://tinyurl.com/f5qjy
Learn more about the history and development of the ice cream cone.

JUST FOR FUN

What are the two shortest camp letters ever written?

Dear Dad,
No fun.
Your son.

Dear Son,
Too bad.
Your dad.

More jokes about camping, summer camp, camp counselors and more.

BOOKS AND BOOKLISTS

Fourth of July books for preschoolers!

Fourth of July Mice by Bethany Roberts
(Pre-K-K) This seventh rhyming book about those sweet holiday mice--among them, Halloween Mice (1995) and Thanksgiving Mice (2001)--just about gushes red, white, and blue--from the colors of the clothing the family wears to the all-American activities that form the backbone of the book. The family members (mother, father, big and little brothers) first form their own Revolutionary soldier/Betsy Ross parade. Then they picnic and play baseball. A sack race, a trip to the old swimming hole, and fireworks complete the roundup. There's even a bit of suspense early on, when the little mouse, too scared to swim, overcomes his fear to save his toy mouse. Deeply hued watercolor illustrations, full of humorous details, enhance the story; especially effective are the vibrant bursts of fireworks.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)

Happy Birthday, America by Mary Pope Osborne
(Pre-K-K) This sparkling tribute to the Fourth of July depicts how a family of eight living in a small town celebrates this favorite holiday. Catalanotto's familiar, softly colored artwork stages the scenario: a pet parade; popcorn, pizza, and raffle tickets for sale; face painting; antique cars, penny pitching; a nighttime concert, a reading of the Declaration of Independence, and fireworks. The day is made up of little things, while the celebration is about big ones--community, freedom, and pride. Catalanotto's watercolor palette lends a candlelike glow to scenes as the expressive faces of kids and adults enjoy the occasion.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)

Summer books for elementary schoolers!

Jemma Hartman, Camper Extraordinaire by Brenda A. Ferber
(Grades 4-6) Jemma can't wait for summer camp, where she will be reunited with Tammy, who moved away at the beginning of fifth grade. Then Tammy arrives with her cousin in tow, and Jemma's hopes for a fun-filled summer are dashed. She dislikes Brooke, whose eyes seem to roll whenever Jemma talks, and who insists on partnering with Tammy during sailing instruction. Jemma is at a loss to understand why her best friend has suddenly deserted her. Any child who has ever lost a friend will relate to her inner turmoil. Ferber has drawn a realistic main character that experiences pain and discomfort when Tammy continually rejects her. The plot moves along swiftly, and Jemma's first-person narrative rings true, as do the issues and the camp experience.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)

Garmann’s Summer by Stian Hole
(Grades K-2) Garmann's summer is ending, marked by seasonal changes to the natural world, and by the similarly dependable visit from his three elderly aunts. As he readies for first grade, he interviews the members of his extended family about their own journeys and apprehensions. In their responses, he glimpses the immutable nature of the passage of time and the simple glory to be had along the way. As Michael Rosen's Sad Book did with grief, this poignant picture book, originally published in Norway, looks at uncertainty from the inside out, not as the by-product of the first day of school but as an organic thread in the fabric of life. Rather than simply tackling the worries that come with change, this rare book plumbs the underneath, capturing the abstract feelings that reside in a child's heart and reflecting them back. The arc of the story is totally original, with elements unfurled in an authentically childlike arrangement of skips and imaginings, ending at the beginning. And the illustrations, spacious, quirky mosaic collages comprising photos, old-fashioned etchings, and wallpaper samples are utterly compelling as they depict the whole of life's array without a trace of sentimentality. In a feat of deceptive simplicity, Hole has crafted an elegant, fanciful, wholly poetic exploration of the nature of fear and the strength and hope required to conquer it.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)

Minn and Jake’s Almost Terrible Summer by Janet S. Wong
(Grades 2-4) Minn and Jake are back in this new free-verse installment. This time the 10-year-old pals are spending the summer apart. Jake is visiting his old neighborhood in Los Angeles and is excited to have no plans. No science camp. No swimming lessons. But he soon discovers that it isn't much fun to wake up every day at 6 a.m. to his little brother, Soup, jumping all over him or have his Korean grandmother stuffing him with food to "make him grow." Jake misses Minn, but he hasn't done a great job of keeping in touch this summer. But when she and her parents make a surprise visit, things start to heat up. On a trip to Disneyland, the friends have a fight and end up not speaking. All is resolved when they both acknowledge their mistakes. Whimsical ink sketches enhance the storytelling in this creative early chapter book that features smart, endearing characters and humorous antics.

(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)

 

Celebrate Mother's Day!

Kaboose
Mother's Day gifts, cards, recipes, and more.

DLTK
Mother's Day cards, coloring pages, and crafts.

Kids Turn Central
Special activities you can do with mom.

Billy Bear 4 Kids
All sorts of gifts and games for Mother's Day.

CELEBRATIONS

Tony Hawk was born on May 12, 1968.
Learn about the champion skateboarder here.


L. Frank Baum was born on May 15, 1856.
Learn about the author of the Wizard of Oz here.


Margaret Wise Brown was born on May 23, 1910.
Learn about the author of Goodnight Moon here.

DID YOU KNOW

May 31 is Memorial Day.
Learn about the meaning behind Memorial Day here.

JUST FOR FUN

Q. What flowers grow on faces?
A. Tulips (Two-lips)!


More springtime jokes here.

BOOKS AND BOOKLISTS

Mother's Day books for young readers.



Max and the Dumb Flower Picture by Martha Alexander
(Pre-K-K) Published posthumously, this small, timeless book will resonate with children and pays a lovely tribute to Alexander. Faced with his teacher's assignment to color in a picture of a flower for Mother's Day, Max feels increasingly frustrated. He knows his mother would prefer his own drawing. While the other children obediently stay in the lines, Max finally grabs his paper and crayons and runs out of the classroom. Safely in hiding, he makes his own picture of a flower. In the end, the children (not to mention the teacher and policeman) are relieved to find Max-and so inspired by his picture that they create their own unique flowers, too. The book is respectful of Alexander's quiet but expressive style, and the illustrations work well with the text to bring Max's internal struggle to life. Interesting endpapers featuring flowers designed by Alexander's friends and family beautifully frame the theme of creative individuality. (Review courtesy of School Library Journal)


Mama's Day by Linda Ashman
(Pre-K-K) This sweet, singsong rhyming book celebrates the bond between a mother and her child. Somewhere there's a mama bathing baby's tiny toes,/Splashing water, blowing bubbles,/Wiping suds from baby's nose. With merely 170 words, the story is heavily dependent on the pencil-and-wash illustrations that depict families of different races. The focus of each large spread is a boxed illustration of a mother and child engaged in an activity, such as snuggling, watching seagulls, or preparing for sleep, with the text centered on the opposite page. Surrounding these are depictions of adorable infants and toddlers dancing, crying, crawling, etc., and a tiny orange-striped kitten. A gentle, appealing addition.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)



My Mother's Voice by Joanne Ryder
(Pre-K-K) A young girl thinks about the close relationship she has with her mother during good times and bad, and how it is all echoed through the reassuring inflections of the woman's voice. She loves her mother's contagious spirit as she sends her off to school and the thoughtful questions about her day that welcome her home. She appreciates how her mom cheers her on at her softball games and how she comforts her when she is not feeling well, or when things go wrong. Autumn-colored illustrations add warmth to this feel-good story about a parent's significance in a child's daily life.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)

Spring is here!

Skunk's Spring Surprise by Leslea Newman
(Pre-K-K) Waking from her winter's sleep, ready for fun, Skunk eagerly looks for her friends. She finally finds them by the lake, waiting with a special treat--a talent show, just for her. Turtle, in leaf skirt, dances; Chipmunk juggles; Snake and Ladybug sing a song. At the end of the show, Skunk contributes a surprise of her own: an ode to spring and to her beloved friends. With bouncy rhymes and a cheery animal cast, this companion to Where Is Bear? (2004) is sure to be a lively read-aloud. The colorful watercolor-and-ink art has some clever details (while Bear snoozes away underground, Skunk passes overhead), and the bubbly prose incorporates occasional witty references to skunk traits, though hibernation isn't directly explained. Little ones will find this merry animal celebration hard to resist.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)


Kitten's Spring by Eugenie Fernandes
(Pre-K-K) It s a bright spring day in the farmyard and Kitten is meeting all sorts of animals and their young, including frogs and tadpoles, owls and owlets and many more. In this first book in the Kitten series, rhyming couplets capture the animal sounds and actions, making it a fantastic interactive read-aloud. Young readers will enjoy mimicking animal sounds, picking out seasonal details in the exquisite mixed-media art and searching for and finding Kitten on every page. The Kitten series follows a lovable feline around the farmyard over the course of one day as she encounters different animals. Each title in the four-book series is set in a different season.



Hooray for Spring! By Kazuo Iwamura
(Pre-K-K) It's springtime, and young squirrels Mick, Mack, and Molly are exploring treetops around their tree-trunk home. As they climb excitedly through the branches, they discover a caterpillar eating leaves, bees "sucking the nectar from the blossoms," and then a hungry baby bird-but what does it want to eat? Not the pinecones or cherry blossoms that the squirrel trio kindly offers. Then mama bird returns with a worm, and the squirrels watch in amazement as the baby bird opens wide. Back home, the squirrels retell the story to Mama and Papa during their own mealtime. The charming color illustrations, filled with cute, cartoonish animal characters, convey the wonder and beauty of spring. Children will enjoy the entertaining details in the intricately rendered pictures, from the squirrel family's clothing to their walnut-shell dishes, and the lively dialogue among the characters will make this an upbeat story hour choice.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)

Happy Easter!

Kaboose
Crafts, recipes, coloring pages and more.

DLTK
Games, puzzles, and directions for dying Easter eggs.

Billy Bear 4 Kids
Online games, puzzles, and more.

Online game-Whomp!
Help Buddy the Easter Bunny protect his chocolate eggs from pesky gophers!

CELEBRATIONS

Hans Christian Andersen was born on April 2, 1805.
Featuring cartoons, e-learning, biography of Hans Christian Andersen, and links to the fairy tales.


Kristen Stewart was born on April 9, 1990
Get the latest news about the star of the Twilight movies series.

DID YOU KNOW

April 22 is Earth Day.
KidsDomain Family Resource - Celebrate Earth Day, Every Day
Links to crafts, songs, games and more.

JUST FOR FUN

April 1 is April Fool's Day.


Plenty of fun ideas for April Fool's Day practical jokes and pranks.

BOOKS AND BOOKLISTS

Easter and spring-themed books for pre-schoolers and young readers.



The Easter Egg by Jan Brett
(Pre-K-K) Hoppi, a small but industrious bunny, takes a tour of the woods and sees how other rabbits are preparing fancily decorated eggs in the hopes of being chosen to assist the official Easter Rabbit. He collects ideas, tools, and accoutrements from the artistic-and obviously older-bunnies, including flowers, paints, wood to carve, and chocolate. As soon as he decides that he will need to limit his own production to match his capabilities, he suddenly becomes the foster parent to a fallen robin's egg. Brett's large watercolors include a few visual puns (one rabbit is painting a silhouette of Lewis Carroll's March Hare on an egg, for instance) and lots of woodland detail. The story of the robins and their fallen egg unfolds in the top border of the page spreads. A satisfying, gentle tale.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)


Ollie's Easter Eggs by Olivier Dunrea
(Pre-K-K) Gossie and her friends are back, dyeing Easter eggs. Donning bunny ears little Ollie shouts that he wants some, too. After each of the other geese hides a brightly colored egg somewhere on the farm, Ollie stealthily removes it. Soon the others begin searching for their stashes, while Ollie is preparing a surprise. As in the other "Gossie and Friends" books, the illustrations are bright watercolors against a white background. Fans and newcomers alike will be delighted with this latest installment.
Review courtesy of School Library Journal)


Max Counts His Chickens by Rosemary Wells
(Pre-K-K) Max has always liked to do things his own way, and his search for marshmallow chicks is no exception. The Easter Bunny has hidden 10 pink chicks for the indomitable bunny and his sister to find, and the ways they go about their search illustrate their very different personalities. Ruby does a methodical, traditional search and finds the candy every place she looks. Max searches through the bath beads and the toothpaste tube, and finds none. The drawings of the search are boxed in the middle of a solid pastel-colored page. However, elements of some pictures (such as Max's unsuccessful search through the coffee can) spill out over the page. To assist with children's counting skills, there are large numbers on each page, as well as a visual count of the marshmallow chicks Ruby has discovered. As usual for Max, even though he has not discovered any of the confections (and Ruby has taken all of the chicks they were intended to share), things turn out just fine for him in the end. The fun of counting, along with the humor in the little rabbit's search strategies, will entertain listeners whether they find this book at Easter or in the counting section.
(Review courtesy of School Library Journal)


Skunk's Spring Surprise by Leslea Newman
(Pre-K-K) Waking from her winter's sleep, ready for fun, Skunk eagerly looks for her friends. She finally finds them by the lake, waiting with a special treat--a talent show, just for her. Turtle, in leaf skirt, dances; Chipmunk juggles; Snake and Ladybug sing a song. At the end of the show, Skunk contributes a surprise of her own: an ode to spring and to her beloved friends. With bouncy rhymes and a cheery animal cast, this companion to Where Is Bear? (2004) is sure to be a lively read-aloud. The colorful watercolor-and-ink art has some clever details (while Bear snoozes away underground, Skunk passes overhead), and the bubbly prose incorporates occasional witty references to skunk traits, though hibernation isn't directly explained. Little ones will find this merry animal celebration hard to resist.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)


Kitten's Spring by Eugenie Fernandes
(Pre-K-K) It s a bright spring day in the farmyard and Kitten is meeting all sorts of animals and their young, including frogs and tadpoles, owls and owlets and many more. In this first book in the Kitten series, rhyming couplets capture the animal sounds and actions, making it a fantastic interactive read-aloud. Young readers will enjoy mimicking animal sounds, picking out seasonal details in the exquisite mixed-media art and searching for and finding Kitten on every page. The Kitten series follows a lovable feline around the farmyard over the course of one day as she encounters different animals. Each title in the four-book series is set in a different season.



Hooray for Spring! By Kazuo Iwamura
(Pre-K-K) It's springtime, and young squirrels Mick, Mack, and Molly are exploring treetops around their tree-trunk home. As they climb excitedly through the branches, they discover a caterpillar eating leaves, bees "sucking the nectar from the blossoms," and then a hungry baby bird-but what does it want to eat? Not the pinecones or cherry blossoms that the squirrel trio kindly offers. Then mama bird returns with a worm, and the squirrels watch in amazement as the baby bird opens wide. Back home, the squirrels retell the story to Mama and Papa during their own mealtime. The charming color illustrations, filled with cute, cartoonish animal characters, convey the wonder and beauty of spring. Children will enjoy the entertaining details in the intricately rendered pictures, from the squirrel family's clothing to their walnut-shell dishes, and the lively dialogue among the characters will make this an upbeat story hour choice.
(Review courtesy of Booklist)