Series: Make This Model Series.
Subject Areas: History, Art, Architecture.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14.
Type: Cut-out Models.

Many children retain information more easily when they've been actively involved rather than learning passively - perhaps Peter Usborne had that in mind for these model kits. It’s also important to develop fine muscle skills (fine motor control) and this type of work can do that nicely. We’ve had each of our children make one or more of these kits as they were growing up, and afterwards we’ve noticed significant improvement in their coordination and ability to work on small items, and in their handwriting. I've even heard about one young man who worked on these models, who went on to become an architect!

Consider this article I came across: “...children need to be able to control the smaller movements of their hands and fingers. Control of these small muscles is important for children's handwriting skill development. Children are using fine muscle skills when they grasp, touch and feel objects of different sizes, textures and weights. Artistic play helps children develop both creative and fine muscle skills. These skills develop best when adults allow children to try things without being pressured to do them a certain way.” written by Ellen Abell, Extension Family and Child Development Specialist, and Muriel Azria, Extension Graduate Assistant, Auburn University, Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

Architecture has changed greatly through the ages and each particular era has its own distinctive building styles to identify it. Modern architecture is always borrowing from the past. If you pair one of these models with the appropriate period of history you are interested in researching, you'll have a lasting visual record of the era you studied. Here’s one idea: select one of the Usborne history titles and take turns reading aloud while two or more work on the model. . For example, to complement the Make This Medieval Castle model, read aloud from the Usborne Official Knight’s Handbook. It is hilarious with typical British dry humor, yet teaches loads of facts about living in that time period You could also use Knights and Castles from the Time Traveler Series, The Story of Castles, Castles (internet-linked), Beginners Castles (internet-referenced), Medieval World, and See Inside Castles ...

These beautiful, historically accurate kits are OO/HO compatible scale models, and each is very detailed. Included are figures of people, so children can see how citizens dressed and went about their everyday activities. The models can take a while to complete, but the results are very pleasing. Usborne model kits are frequently found in museum shops because of their fine quality. All that is needed for assembly is a pair of scissors or craft knife, and glue. The castle pictured above was made by my ten-year-old, all by himself. There are roofs that can be lifted off, nooks and crannies to see, and figures of people. Very fun!

The following are available:
Make this Model Medieval Castle
Make this Model Egyptian Mummy
Make this Model Wizard’s Castle
Make this Model Trojan Horse
Make this Model Apple Tree Farm (for young children)

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Of Interest To: Media Specialists, Parents, History and Art Teachers

Series: Touchy-Feely Series.
Subject Areas: First Reading Experiences, Tactile Experience.
Ages: 6 months 1 2 3.
Type: Board Books, Touchy-feely Books.

Today I want to introduce a set of books for a much younger crowd. Usborne has almost 30 Touchy-Feely books in their collection. They're perfect for young children, with thick, colorful, sturdy pages; each page has a unique sample of texture to feel. These books are a tactile learners’ delight. The stories are easily memorized, so you’ll find even very young children “reading” it over and over to themselves. But more importantly, these books serve a very specific purpose in a child's development, a skill called Sensory Integration.

"Sensory integration is the ability to take in information through senses (touch, movement, smell, taste, vision, and hearing) to put it together with prior information, memories, and knowledge stored in the brain, and to make a meaningful response." In her book, Sensory Integration and the Child, Dr. Ayres describes sensory information as food for the brain similar to the food which nourishes our physical bodies. Another analogy compares the brain to a large city with traffic consisting of the neural impulses. She states: "Good sensory processing enables all the impulses to flow easily and reach their destination quickly. Sensory integrative dysfunction is a sort of `traffic jam' in the brain. Some bits of sensory information get `tied up in traffic,' and certain parts of the brain do not get the sensory information they need to do their jobs." (Ayres, p. 51) Excerpt taken from See/Hear Newsletter

Early Childhood.com states: "Developmentally, young children learn and understand best from what they can see, touch, feel, and manipulate. Providing safe, readily available materials that children can experiment with is one of the most important steps towards effective hands-on science investigations."

You'll find titles in this series that are "girly" such as That's Not My Fairy; some seem more boyish- That's Not My Tractor - but any of them can be enjoyed by both sexes. Several come in a Spanish version also. There are some touchy-feely titles that feature characters from Usborne's popular Farmyard Tales, others that come in a larger format called Luxury Touchy-Feely, and then my personal favorites - the Ultimate Touchy-Feely Books - Diggers and Trucks. These last two were snapped up by our county library system and have been well-used by patrons of all 17 branches. You should also check out the series of Snuggletime Board Books featuring a comforting, soft baby's blanket to feel and lift.

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Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers, Daycare Providers

Series: Beginners Series.
Subject Areas: Science, Nature, History, Environment, Space, Ballet.
Ages: 5 6 7 8 9 10.
Type: General Readers.

One morning last June I arrived at the Tulsa airport to catch a plane home from the Usborne National Convention. Two Usborne consultants, Cathie MacKenzie-Carey and Mindy Martin, were just sitting down to have breakfast with publisher Peter Usborne, and they asked me to join them. What a coincidence that all of us were waiting for flights at nearby gates!

Wondering what he is like? Conversation with Peter is fast-paced – he asks most of the questions. Do we think the market is saturated here? (No!) How can we tell? He wants details about how we approach the school and library market. What does it mean to “list” a school? At one point he expresses some disappointment that the Beginners series hasn’t sold very well in the U.S., and begins to grill us for any buzz words that are popular among educators right now. When he heard one of us mention “reading” and “readers,” he latched on to that concept. “Of course, they should have been called Beginning Readers, not Beginners!” He jots down various thoughts on a tablet he carries. Perhaps we’ll see a change in the name of that series sometime ...

You can tell his mind is racing and he constantly applies what he hears and sees to the Usborne book business that has become such a phenomenon.
To those of us who love Usborne books, he’s a celebrity, yet he seems quite down to earth – no one chauffeurs him around, he doesn’t appear to have lofty opinions about himself, and he’s mystified as to why we want him to autograph our Usborne books! After all, he says, I’m not the author, just the publisher. (Just the brains behind the whole company!). Peter Usborne pays for everyone’s breakfast just before he leaves to catch his plane - a brilliant man, but also generous!

The Beginners Series that he was talking about is a large collection of books on
an incredibly diverse set of topics. The idea behind the books is to draw young readers into topics that are attractive to them -- Bears, Birds, Castles, Ancient Greeks, Egyptians, Fire Fighters, Farm Animals, Spiders, Caterpillars & Butterflies, Horses and Ponies, Knights, Living in Space ... and the natural interest kids have in these subjects encourages them to grow in their reading skills. Each of these titles is also Internet-Referenced (IR) which means that the child is directed to visit kid-friendly websites for more information and fun activities. As I mentioned yesterday, this series is not babyish, making it perfect for older children or English as a Second Language (ESL) students that need a lower reading level.
You can also purchase these books in sets and save on the combined price.

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Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers.

Series: Kid Kits, Beginners Series.
Subject Areas: Archaeology, Science.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Type: Hands-on Activities, Beginning Reader.

“Oh Wow! Cool!” These were the first words blurted out by my son when I showed him the new Dinosaurs Kid Kit.

You’ve got to get one of these, or maybe a few –- I helped chisel out and brush the dinosaur bones myself. The bones are then put together to make a sturdy dinosaur skeleton model. Nathan kept telling me he felt like a real paleontologist -– a word he added to his vocabulary by doing this kit. The small book that comes with this kit is from the Beginners Series, which is a wonderful series of books for those who are learning to read on their own. They probably should have been called Beginning Readers (Peter Usborne himself said this at a breakfast I attended -- more on that tomorrow!) because the vocabulary is simple yet pushes kids to learn other words in context. They are not babyish, so they’re also great for older kids who may need lower reading levels. Dinosaurs is packed with names and descriptions, loads of interesting dinosaur facts, explanations about fossils, a glossary of dinosaur terms, websites to visit and more.

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I highly recommend any of the Usborne Kid Kits. They provoke children to read by pairing a book with an activity they’ll love. You can find loads of other kid kits by clicking on the "About Usborne Books" link in the sidebar, and typing kid kits in the search box.

Of Interest To: Archaeology classes, Parents, Teachers

Series: Complete Books (Science related).
Subject Area: Science.
Ages: 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14.
Type: Complete one-volume study book, Internet-Linked.

These are complete, condensed study books, and they all include beautiful large illustrations and photos as well as suggested internet sites to visit.

Book of Astronomy and Space
The book on astronomy begins with a look at the universe, followed by a study of our solar system, the stars and constellations, and astronomy facts and lists. Maps of constellations and the moon’s surface are large and easy to use. Sections are included on home astronomy and taking photos of stars, along with explanations of telescopes and binoculars. A two-page chart highlights important events in astronomy using a timeline format. Next are two pages of questions and answers, followed by a glossary. When my son studied Saturn, he went to the website to view pictures of Saturn and its rings; when he read about stars, he then took an online astronomy tour and viewed breathtaking photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. My daughter, who's in her second year of college, uses this book along with her college level astronomy textbook to make sure she understands the concepts she's learning. Astronomy and Space received the Parents’ Choice Approved award and the ”Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council” award.

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Complete Book of the Microscope
Complete Book of the Microscope includes incredible photos to give students a glimpse into miniature worlds they’ve never seen or imagined. Kids especially like the chapter on creepy crawlies -- you'll be amazed at the close-up of a mosquito, or of the creatures that live on our bodies! This title is packed with information that is easily absorbed, and includes lots of hands-on projects to familiarize students with the use and care of microscopes. It also explains the latest uses of microscopes for medicine and technology. You can visit websites that detail the latest in microsurgery, or swim into the depths of a virtual ocean and watch microscopic creatures, or view detailed animation of cell division! Complete Book of the Microscope received the Learning Magazine Teachers’ Choice award and the ”Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council” award. This title is also available in Spanish.

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Complete Book of the Human Body
The third book, Complete Book of the Human Body, starts with the idea that our bodies are absolutely amazing, and then sets out to prove it! Each system of the body is explained in detail and with incredible photos and illustrations. I love the additional bite-sized blurbs about things kids want to know, such as "Zits","Throwing up" and more. You can add to your knowledge by checking out the recommended links -- for scans of the inside of the body, another to find out what constitutes a good diet, visit another to find games and quizzes that have to do with blood. It's a fascinating book! You should be aware that there is a section on reproduction, in case a parent wants to know this ahead of time.

Learning Magazine recently reviewed the Complete Book of the Human Body (Internet-Linked):
"With the right educational resources, you can turn a good lesson into a great one! Here's a look at products that can help. They're arranged by category: cross-curricular, arts and crafts, language arts, math, science, social studies, and professional. Take a look! Reveal the inner workings of the human body through the photos, scans, X-rays, microscopic images, and detailed diagrams in this book. Includes activities showing students how to take their pulses, test their reaction times, and fool their brains with optical illusions."

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Awards: Complete Book of the Microscope received the Learning Magazine Teachers’ Choice award and the ”Selected as Outstanding by Parent Council” award
Professional Reviews: Learning Magazine (see above)
Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers

Series: English Heritage Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 5 6 7 8 9 10.

Let me give you a crash course on using Usborne Books – you can select almost any Usborne title and do this, but this particular new title is perfect for it!

Whenever a child is fascinated by a particular subject (like knights) or a time period (like Medieval times) use that fascination for all it’s worth. Here are some typical assignments I might give for The Official Knight’s Handbook:
-- Read one chapter a day.
-- Write down new vocabulary words that are in that day’s reading and add the definitions; for example: “courageous”, “swoon”, “crucial” from chapter one. In chapter three you could use “trebuchet”, “perilous”, and “crusade”.
-- Choose one topic in each chapter to write a few sentences about, so that the student practices writing skills. In chapter one this could be “Tell me about the two main parts of chivalry.” In other chapters you could have the student describe types of castles, or write about the kinds of weapons knights use.
-- Review the meaning of homonyms (words that have the same sound, and often the same spelling, but differ in meaning) and look at “night” and “knight”.
-- Look for other rhyming words in the book, such as horses and courses. Talk about how they are spelled and practice spelling out loud.
-- Make your own coat of arms (ideas are given in the book).

By using the book this way, you just covered reading, history, vocabulary, spelling, writing, and art! And children enjoy the process of learning because it’s an area they want to know about. Children love to learn when it’s fun, and this is why I love Usborne books! By the way, this book is hilarious, full of dry humor.

After this book, you can move on to other great Usborne titles: Knights and Castles from the Time Traveler Series, See Inside Castles, Knights (Internet Referenced), Knights (Internet Linked), Stories of Knights and more. There is even a 10 week course on this time period called Ten Terrific Weeks - Adventures of Knighthood Set.

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Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Homeschoolers, Parents, Teachers

Series: Mysteries and Marvels Series.
Subject Areas: Nature, Science, Animals.
Ages: 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14.
Type: Internet-Linked.

Mysteries and Marvels of Science
Gorgeous photography, fascinating facts, incredible inventions. This book is Usborne at its finest. It’s packed full of the latest inventions and research to help your child understand a myriad of science concepts, and I love that the universe is described as a place of beautiful and awesome mystery.

My ten-year-old and I visited one of the recommended websites to watch snow crystals forming. On another site, we learned about amazing improvements in man-made materials, and then took a quiz. There are loads of other sites that are just as helpful and educational and kids love them.

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Mysteries and Marvels of Nature
The companion book to this is Mysteries and Marvels of Nature, which is every bit as good. Every page of this title is brimming with weird creatures, unusual facts, incredible photos – my boys pore over the entries and especially like the gross stuff, like the male anglerfish that attach themselves to a female and eventually are fused to her (by the teeth) for life. Go to a suggested website to find out all about male seahorses who care for their babies. Or try the website that tells about the world’s largest (and stinkiest) flower. Kids will read this entire book simply because it’s entertaining and interesting, and that’s a good thing!

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Reviews of this book
The Bloomsbury Review - September/October 2004
"Usborne books are the brainchild of Peter Usborne, who wanted to make educational nonfiction children’s books that would be appealing enough to compete with television and comics. Borrowing ideas from both these media and working with educational consultants, Usborne has done just that. Since 1973, his titles have covered a wide range of subjects, including hobbies, history, science, nature, geography, and more. Rich illustrations, creative layouts, and oodles of information are hallmarks of these books. And many are now Internet linked, so children can easily log on to websites that will help them delve further into specific subjects. Mysteries and Marvels of Nature is a marvel in and of itself. It vibrantly sheds light on subjects such as animal-eating plants, ocean partners, animal impersonators, and the life-cycle of humpback whales. Peter Usborne’s concept has given birth to an impressive body of children’s literature. The books tap into imagination, fascination, and reality; they demonstrate how these values intersect."

Today’s Books - July 2004
...A Must Read!...

Professional Reviews: The Bloomsbury Review, Today's Books (see above)
Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Homeschoolers, Parents, Teachers

From the moment you and your children or students discover Usborne Books, you'll fall in love with them – but like others, you may find yourself dizzied by more than 1200 titles from which you can choose! Each chapter in my book, Teaching with Usborne Books, focuses on a specific subject area (Art, Science, History, and others). The Usborne titles or series for that subject are listed, and the contents described. Suggestions are then given for using that title for education. Ideas are also provided for books or other products that could be used in conjunction with, or to follow up on, that particular title. Numerous awards have been won by Usborne products. They are indicated in Teaching with Usborne Books, and the specific award is then listed in the write-up. At the end of each chapter is a bar graph indicating which ages each title or series is intended to reach.

You can also find out who uses or recommends Usborne titles, such as the authors of The Well-Trained Mind, The Well-Educated Mind, KONOS Character Curriculum, The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling or The Core Knowledge Series.

Teaching With Usborne Books is in its 3rd edition and is available in limited supply. Buy your own copy today.

(A few sample pages are available.)

Why Usborne Books? After teaching my own five children to read, and discovering how diverse kids’ learning styles can be, along with almost fourteen years helping parents, teachers and librarians to find material suitable for their students, I regard Usborne as the finest kids’ books available.

Child-size bites of information paired with fabulous illustrations and gorgeous photos make these books unique; they grab a child’s attention and keep them reading long after they lose interest in other books. Usborne makes non-fiction riveting, too. Usborne stretches vocabulary as the reader dives into each new two-page spread. Even adults love them – you’ll discover things you never knew, and a bonus is that humor abounds. The number of subject areas that Usborne covers is staggering, and each subject is usually available at various reading/age levels.

You may wonder why I decided to do a blog on Usborne Books. Thirteen years ago when I discovered Usborne books, I considered them some of the best children’s book available. Since then I’ve been sharing my excitement with others; these books capture the attention of children and whet their appetite for learning.

Over the years I’ve heard the following from parents, teachers, librarians, and media specialists: “I love these books-- How do you know which ones to choose?” Over ten years ago I wrote Teaching with Usborne Books to help others sort through the hundreds of Usborne titles available at the time. The book is in its 3rd edition.

Because of Usborne’s prolific release schedule there are now over 1200 titles! It’s become nearly impossible to keep up with revised editions of my book. So this blog was created to provide up-to-the-minute information on both new and classic titles. And I’ll share imaginative ways to use them in education, too.

How to use this blog

You can simply read the entries of the day, or you can search by title, subject area, age, series, etc, or browse the archives.

Most of the entries will feature new or recent Usborne titles, and give ideas for using them in education. But sometimes I’ll pull out a favorite from my book (see above) to remind you about a classic Usborne gem that is still available. You can also subscribe to blog feeds through Atom and RSS so that you get new entries automatically as they become available.