Nancy Lotinsky on Usborne Books

My family's Christmas card

2010-12-12T21:28:00.001-05:00

Gifted Tag Christmas

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The Museum of Mary Child

2010-10-13T12:23:00.010-04:00

Series: Not part of a series.

Subject Areas: Fiction.

Ages: 12 to adult.

Type: Fantasy, Mystery

OK, I have to be honest here - this book really creeped me out at first. It also creeped out my then-thirteen-year-old son, so much so that I told him to stop reading it. However, I did finish it myself and found it wonderfully creative and haunting. It's great for those who love an intense read. Just be careful who, and what age, you recommend it for.

The imagery is amazing, the vocabulary is stimulating, and the story unfolds with many twists and turns that keep you in suspense. As an avid reader, I would have loved this book during my pre-teen years. It's creepy and lovely at the same time: it's also very challenging to explain the story without spoiling it, so here's a one sentence summary of the plot: "It's a dramatically told story-within-a-story about Heloise, a girl whose origins are hidden from her and whose challenge is to find the truth about her godmother, her mother and herself"(from the Australian Office of the Art website). Author Cassandra Golds is a well-known Australian author of children's books. This book was selected and reviewed as a favorite book to read by the School Library Journal. Click here and scroll down if you want to read it.

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Professional Reviews: School Library Journal

Of Interest To: Pre-teens and Teens, Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers

Kane Miller - A wonderful addition to the Usborne collection

2010-10-12T08:20:00.013-04:00

Series: Kane/Miller Publishing.

Subject Areas: Character development, Bibliotherapy, Learning about other cultures, Science, Developing creativity, Just for fun.

Ages: Any.

Type: Chapter books, picture books, story books, wordless books, books in Spanish, Accelerated Reader titles.

Usborne (in the U.S., not England) acquired another publisher and their delightful books in 2009. Kane/Miller is a wonderful complement to the Usborne line - just as extraordinary in quality but refreshingly different from Usborne in just about every way. I've heard it expressed like this: "What Usborne does for the head, Kane Miller does for the heart." These books are written literally all over the world. Books from Japan, Australia, England, Canada, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Israel, Slovenia, Venezuela, France...well, you get the idea. It's a wonderful way for kids to learn from and about cultures very different from their own familiar world.

Some of the titles may already be familiar to you - Kane/Miller has earned many awards, and they've had quite a few best sellers: Everyone Poops is one example, well-known to many youngsters and their parents. But there are also books for early readers, elementary, pre-teens, teens, and quite a few books that adults dive into also. I've read almost all the Kane/Miller books myself, and they are excellent - exciting, fast-moving ones, others that are emotionally moving, some that are simply hilarious.

One additional note about Kane/Miller: These titles would be a wonderful resource for counselors. Some of the books deal with topics of friendship, loss of a loved one, relating to the elderly, mixed race families, and more.

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Awards: Notable Australian Children's Books Award, Child Magazine Best Book Award, Teacher's Choice Award, Parent's Choice Recommended, Best Children's Books of the Year, Bank Street College and many more

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

Flip Flap Farm

2009-01-13T16:28:00.007-05:00

Series: Flip Flap Board Books Series.
Subject Areas: Various.
Ages: 3 4 5 6 7 8.
Type: Flap Books, Board Books

I LOVE how Usborne Books keep kids very busy and very happy. This new title does that and more as it genuinely teaches kids about the inner workings of a farm. Expert advice was given in the book's production by a farmer from Dorset, England. The book has more than 70 flaps to peek under, some of which are double flaps-- lift one flap and there is another underneath. There's a wheel to turn on one page so kids can view the various stages of harvesting wheat. Lots of new vocabulary to learn too -- words like silage, trough, udder, bacteria, cultivator. The pictures are detailed and gorgeous (of course), with loads of animals and machines. At the very end is a special niche with a tiny book called Farm Animals to Spot, which would have made me the happiest child on earth when I was in this stage of life.

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

Little Book of Flowers

2008-05-21T11:46:00.004-04:00

Series: Miniature Editions, Internet-Linked Series.
Subject Areas: Gardening, Hobbies, Science.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 adult.
Type: Internet-Linked, Handbook

Absolutely perfect for this time of year! This beautiful little volume is packed with gorgeous photos and drawings, projects to do, lovely art ideas, and science to learn. There are also pages about myths and legends connected with flowers, the language of flowers, and users can go to the internet links for even more ideas and information.

The cover of this book is one of Usborne's slightly squeezy smooth ones -- I love the feel of these books! It makes anyone want to pick it up and read.

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

How Big Is a Million?

2008-02-27T17:20:00.014-05:00

Series: Picture Books Series.
Subject Areas: Math, Counting, Picture Book, Storybook, Nature.
Ages: 2,3,4,5,6,7.
Type: Picture Books, Math Concept Book

Wow. Wow! This is my new all-time favorite Usborne book -- and that's hard to imagine since I've been an Usborne rep for 15 years now! The illustrations are adorable (who doesn't love penguins, especially baby penguins?), the story is fun, the vocabulary is simple, and the book is fabulous for teaching large number concepts. I love that at the beginning of the book it says: "From a brilliant idea by Jenny Tyler."

Years ago Usborne had a book that pictured one hundred crows, and then you would turn the page to see one thousand crows, and I thought that made an incredible impact. Well, this book contains a large poster that you unfold, to show kids what one million looks like. It's way more mind-boggling than I could have ever imagined. To learn more about the author of the book, and how they made a poster of EXACTLY one million stars, click here.

The books in this series are slightly oversized, just a bit over 10 inches square, and each has a smooth, puffy feel which makes them fun to hold. The large format and simple illustrations are perfect for reading and showing to a group of children. Loads of other books in this series are really nice -- to read about them you can click here.

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

Animals at War

2007-03-07T13:55:00.002-05:00

Series: Young Reading Series 3.
Subject Areas: History, Animals.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13.
Type: Young Reader, Chapter Books

What do elephants, dogs, cats, horses, dolphins, birds, and even monkeys and pigs have in common? Strangely, they were all used to help people in wartime. Animals at War gives us a glimpse into the part animals have played in men's battles over the years, and the incredible loyalty and courage of these creatures. In the book you'll see a photo of the "Animals in War" memorial and sculptures in Park Lane, London.

This small volume contains loads of history, especially the events and unusual situations in WW I and II. The reader meets Murphy, a little donkey who became an ambulance, carrying wounded to safety. Ambulance dogs are believed to have saved the lives of around 10,000 men during WW II. "Para-pups" jumped from airplanes with special parachutes and went into enemy territory along with soldiers to detect danger. In May of 1944 at Monte Cassino in Italy, a bear named Voytek picked up dozens of crates of ammunition that were too heavy for Polish soldiers to lift. I think any animal lover or history buff will thoroughly enjoy this book.

Animals at War was published in association with the Imperial War Museum in London. The address of their website is given in the book so the reader can visit to learn more.

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

The Revealing Story of Underwear - Yikes!

2007-03-05T16:31:00.002-05:00

Series: Young Reading Series 2.
Subject Areas: History, Fashions.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13.
Type: Young Reader, Chapter Books

This is quite an unusual book. Very interesting reading and lots of facts I had never heard before. Girls may be particularly keen on reading this. My 11 year old son was NOT interested, but I loved it, for the history and the look at fashions. Not just the fashions themselves keep changing, but the preferred shape for people's bodies goes in and out of style. Are you familiar with panniers, crinoline, bum rolls, corsets, and stays? Did you know that even men wore corsets to make their waists smaller?

One heads-up about content is the section on how women made their bustline appear larger, and the whole subject of bras. It's actually quite amusing but factual, too. There is a "technically modest" drawing of a woman nude from the waist up (her hair is discreetly arranged). Overall it's quite a fun and informative book - just not your everyday topic!

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

The Stinking Story of Garbage

2007-03-01T15:26:00.000-05:00

Series: Young Reading Series 2.
Subject Areas: Ecology, History, Environmental Science
Ages: 7 8 9 10 11.
Type: Young Reader, Chapter Book

Have you wondered why trash has become such a huge problem? Despite the disgusting topic, this is an entertaining book to squish your way through! The illustrations are hilarious and the history is quite accurate. The young reader will discover why the system of garbage collection/disposal had to become an organized effort, how garbage has become big business, and why recycling is so important now. I learned a number of facts that I hadn't heard before.

Usborne's Young Reading Series has an extensive vocabulary for this age group, but the high-interest topics, along with detailed explanations, and the use of words in context will encourage readers to dive in and learn larger words/meanings that may be unfamiliar to them - words like incinerator, manufacturers, campaigning and methane. This series is interesting enough for older kids who are late readers, too.

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

Fountas and Pinnell Level K (Mid to late 2nd grade level)

Illustrated Dictionary of Math

2006-10-25T10:14:00.000-04:00

Subject Areas: Math.
Ages: 12 13 14 15 16 to adult.
Type: Handbook, Internet-Linked, Study Guide

Wow, has this book been helpful in our house! If you're like me you may have forgotten many of the specific math concepts you learned in Geometry, Algebra 1 and 2, Trig, and the sciences, yet you have to help your children with their homework and test preparation. Or maybe you never did learn them. Don't worry! This study guide has very easy to learn, illustrated explanations. The book is extremely well laid out too, and it's simple to find the section you need. It's also Internet-Linked and recommends websites for further study if you want it. Use the book and websites to strengthen skills for exams or SAT's.

Listen to what one woman said on an Usborne message board recently:
"This book is so necessary for parents to help their kids.On Friday I heard that my eldest son got only 56% on a Math quiz and had flunked "completing the square" in Algebra 3. I was able to look up what this meant and communicate to my husband who was with this son at an away Hockey tournament in another state. The problem was fixed by the end of the weekend! I was also able to review all about quadratic equations (stuff you really wanted to forget forever) and help him. He just reported that the test today was easy. Thank you to the Illustrated Dictionary of Math."

One other wonderful feature -- it's in a flex binding that makes it hold up really well, at the same price it had when it was only available in paperback!

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

Dot-to-Dot Books

2006-10-16T10:37:00.000-04:00

Series: Dot to Dot Series.
Subject Areas: Numbers.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8.
Type: Activity book

Since I wrote about the First Learning Series, the next logical follow-up is Usborne's bright and colorful Dot-to-Dots. These workbooks give kids a simple and entertaining way to learn number recognition and counting, with the added bonus of questions to answer on each page. Each workbook features a topic such as Nature, Animals, Dinosaurs, Farms and more.

Usborne's Dot-to-Dots have a feature I love -- there is a number line at the bottom of each page so if kids get stuck, they can figure out the next step themselves. As with the First Learning Series workbooks, you could cut these apart and slip them into vinyl page protectors for repeated use. There is a combined volume of 7 separate titles available also -- a great bargain!

Look inside Dot-to-Dot Nature

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Of Interest To: Parents, Teachers, Preschools

First Learning Series - Great workbooks!

2006-10-13T16:32:00.000-04:00

Series: First Learning Series.
Subject Areas: Reading, writing, numbers, shapes, arithmetic, time, colors, counting.
Ages: 3 4 5 6.
Type: Workbooks

Fourteen years ago when I first discovered Usborne Books I fell in love with this series -- they've since been updated and made even more colorful and fun. These very popular consumable activity books teach skills that children need for the years ahead.

My kids loved them so much that I made them into nonconsumables - by taking the pages apart and inserting them into clear vinyl page protectors, then used wipe-off markers or crayons. We used them many times over in the car, in waiting rooms, and more. You'll find ones that teach colors, numbers, counting, letters, opposites, shapes, basic addition, telling time, matching, getting ready to write, getting ready to read, and some other subjects. One I like immensely is Odd One Out (a British expression I think!) which helps kids learn to match pairs of items, and figure out which one doesn't go with the others. The workbook called Time is available as the Time Kid Kit, too, with a sturdy manipulative clock.

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Of Interest To: Parents, Teachers, Preschools

Children's Book of Art - Internet-Linked

2006-10-02T09:09:00.000-04:00

Subject Areas: Art. Ages: 9 10 11 12 13 14.
Type: Internet-Linked

I've always wanted my children to love and appreciate art. Like books, art adds enjoyment to every area of life. This book highlights various media, artists, styles, and periods in art history. You'll find both familiar and unusual works of art. This particular book was written by Rosie Dickens, who studied art in Paris and has authored several children's art books, including Usborne's Introduction to Art.

Some of the artists highlighted include Michelangelo, da Vinci, Monet, van Gogh, O'Keeffe, Warhol, Picasso and others. Biographical details are provided as well as information about how the artist created his particular style. Landscapes, portraits, still-lifes and more fill the pages with lovely large illustrations. The book concludes with a glossary and page on using the Internet safely.

I checked out some of the suggested Internet Links -- they were great! I loved this one: "artists can make us believe that stone sculptures feel as soft as flesh and that painted canvases are as cool as water. How do they do this?" and "portrait detectives", as well as a site where you could choose a painting, add sound, and send it as an e-card! These links get kids looking at loads of art examples. There is some nudity in paintings by Michelangelo and Botticelli.

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

Sorry for the gap!

2006-10-02T09:06:00.000-04:00

I apologize for the gap in posting. We just had a wildly busy month in Usborne with recruiting over 3000 new consultants all over the USA! Today I hope to get back to a more normal pace.

Sam the Chef and Frank the Farmer

2006-09-14T22:27:00.000-04:00

Series: Jobs People Do Series.
Subject Areas: Career Choices.
Ages: 2 3 4 5 6 7.
Type: Picture Books

Sam the Chef is my favorite out of this series -- I think it's the food! The teeny tiny carrots, tomatoes and eggs are delightful to look at, the miniature pots, pans, and other kitchen accessories are adorable, and Chef Sam and his staff of helpers are busily scurrying around preparing a feast. The book definitely captures the pressures of the restaurant business, as well as the humor and excitement in pulling off a successful meal. The last page in the book is a list of "Chef Words" -- words like dicing. sorbet, risotto, broth, etc.

The main attraction of Frank the Farmer is the animals --dogs, chickens, donkeys, goats, cows, sheep, dogs, birds, horses, cats, mice. You'll get to look at all the aspects of Hillfield Farm and see the day to day operations. One of the children visiting the farm wanders off and everyone joins in the search till they locate her enjoying the new baby chicks. The book wraps up with a section of "Farm Words" and definitions, and a farm quiz. Very fun!

Usborne also has a wonderful book called Things People Do, which covers a broad range of careers. It's every bit as fun as this series, and has loads of humor in it.

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

Jobs People Do Series

2006-09-13T14:58:00.000-04:00

Series: Jobs People Do Series.
Subject Areas: Career Choices.
Ages: 2 3 4 5 6 7.
Type: Picture Books

Kids love to think and talk about "what I want to be when I grow up." The beautiful picture books in the Jobs People Do Series will help them learn about the lives of professionals, along with captivating characters and humorous story lines. Look Inside a Book from this Series.

The characters in these six titles are adorable clay models by Jo Litchfield which show up in a number of Usborne series. The people and their belongings are so fun and so cute that you'll want to examine the details as much as children do. One thing I love about Ms. Litchfield's art is the portrayal of children and adults from various ethnic groups. I've had my kids try to make models like these from clay, and it's very entertaining. All the titles (except one) end with a full page of vocabulary words; the doctor title also has tips for staying healthy.

Daisy the Doctor has a very full day at the medical center where she works. You're introduced to her receptionist (who is confined to a wheelchair), the nurse (who is male) and another doctor who practices medicine with her. I appreciate the correct terminology used throughout, which helps kids understand the vocabulary in context-- words like otoscope, prescription, infection, antibiotics, and more. The reader observes some of the treatments and exams Doctor Daisy and the nurse give their patients, and the book captures the busyness that is typical in most physicians' offices.

Tomorrow I'll give details on some of the other books in this series.
If you like, you can purchase a full set of these titles in a special library binding!

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

Medieval World

2006-09-06T09:21:00.000-04:00

Series: World History Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Combined volumes (C/V), Internet-Linked

Medieval World is the only other section of the Encyclopedia of World History which is available as a separate book. The Middle Ages were a time of tremendous change, much of it tied in with religion, and displayed in an incredible variety of artwork and architecture.

Usually when we hear "medieval" we tend to think of knights, castles, etc., but in this volume, you'll learn about medieval Europe, Northern Africa and the Arab world, the Vikings, Anglo-Saxon England, the Hundred Years War, the Feudal system, all about castle life and life in villages and towns, the far-reaching effects of the Christian church, the Plague, the Celts, the Mongols, the Turks, Eastern Europe, India, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Australia, native North Americans, South and Central America, the Renaissance and world exploration. All of it is packed with illustrations, photos when appropriate, and maps.

Once again, Internet-Links are very helpful: Take part in an archery contest, learn more about medieval weapons, see collections of art from museum's medieval collections, gorgeous manuscripts, hear music written in this time period, look inside an Inca city, visit the pueblo towns in Southwest USA, and many, many other great sites.

Pair up this book with other Usborne titles: Knights and Armor, Time Traveler, or build a castle to round out the experience.

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Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products Award, Lifeworks Magazine Real Life Award
Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers

Ancient World

2006-09-01T17:17:00.000-04:00

Series: World History Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Combined volumes (C/V), Internet-Linked

Ancient World is available as a separate volume, or as part of the Encyclopedia of World History which I reviewed yesterday. This period encompasses the birth of farming, towns and cities, the growth of trade and crafts, and all sorts of empires. It was also the time of the birth of most of the world's religions. Your student will learn about the Minoans, the Mycenaeans, the Babylonians, the early Egyptians, the Canaanites, the Hebrews, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians, the Persians, the early Greeks, the Scythians, the early Chinese, the Japanese, Arabs, Africans, India, the Americas, the Celts, the Romans, the early Christians, and the barbarians who helped bring an end to the vast Roman Empire. Whew! That's a lot of ground to cover. This section ends at 500 A.D.

The maps on every page or two help the reader to orient themselves to the current area of study. Loads of "cutaway" illustrations show the inside of buildings, tents, boats, igloos, and more. Some of the most striking illustrations are of: the Colosseum with the sea of humanity seated there, the Pyramid of the Sun in Central America, and the Great Wall of China being built.

Information is presented in chunks that are easily digested and there is a wonderful flow to the whole story of mankind's growth during this time. I like the section at the beginning that explains how we know so much about this time period and its people -- archaeology and the objects discovered. Usborne's Internet-Linked Archaeology is a natural fit with the Encyclopedia of World History or its component titles.

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Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products Award, Lifeworks Magazine Real Life Award
Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers

Encyclopedia of World History

2006-08-31T13:01:00.000-04:00

Series: World History Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Combined volumes (C/V), Internet-Linked

This history volume is a fabulous addition to any school or home library, and can save you and your students many hours of time with its consecutive coverage of civilizations and events, accompanied by gorgeous photos and illustrations. We have used this book over and over again for school at home AND for school classes and reports. It's also just plain fun to read.

There are four detailed sections, each approximately 100 pages in length -- Prehistoric World, Ancient World, Medieval World, and The Last 500 Years. Each section begins with an overview of that time period, and an explanation of the Internet Links which can be utilized for even more information. At the top of each 2-page spread you'll see the subject and the dates being covered, and lots of maps are sprinkled throughout. The sections on Ancient World (10,000 B.C. to 500 A.D.) and Medieval World (500 A.D. to 1500 A.D.) are available as separate volumes too, if you wish to have them that way; both received the Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products Award. Shortly after this book came out, Usborne/EDC was named History Publisher Company of the Year by Lifeworks Magazine.

There's a presentation of the theory of evolution and Darwin on one of the pages of the Prehistoric section; you'll also see a small section on the big bang theory, and the usual references are made to millions of years ago - you may or may not agree with these items. I found this section to be the most helpful in learning facts about fossil life, the different categories of dinosaurs, the vast variety of life on earth, and the ideas about how very early civilizations survived.

One internet-link we really enjoyed is from the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago -- you get to meet "Sue" -- the largest, and best preserved Tyrannosaurus rex fossil, and a permanent feature at The Field Museum. This one's not a composite of several animals, it's the fossilized bones of the single largest, most complete, and best preserved T. rex fossil yet discovered. The whole story of the discovery, preservation and assembly of this dinosaur is very well done.

Once you get to the Ancient World section of the book, much more is based on actual historical records, and this is where photos begin to abound. Tomorrow I'll go into more detail about the Ancient World section.

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Awards: Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products Award, Lifeworks Magazine Real Life Award
Of Interest To: Teachers, Parents, Librarians and Media Specialists

Knights and Armor -- another new title!

2006-08-21T08:21:00.000-04:00

Series: English Heritage Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14.
Type: Internet-Linked

Knights and Armor is Usborne's glorious new title about the Middle Ages, and it is spectacular. Five sections of this book neatly piece together all the details of the age of knights - these include Knight's Battle Gear, Knights at War, Knights at Peace, Knights and Chivalry, and a Knight's "Fact File." Photos of real horsemen and armor are abundant, as well as detailed drawings, maps, and famous legends connected with this fascinating period.

The vocabulary is rich with terms that the student can learn in context -- words like lethal, manor, fief, peasant, destrier, regard, flail, hauberk, coif, and more. These would make a challenging spelling word list, too. Many of the words weren't familiar to me but I learned them as I went.

Short writing assignment ideas leap out of this book too -- What was the attitude of the Englishmen toward archery? How did armor change over the years of the Middle Ages? How was chain mail made, and how did it protect the knights? What various uses did shields have? What characterized the "perfect knight"? How important were horses to the knights? Describe the battle tactics knights used.

Then there is the potential to add a vast array of experiences thru the internet links: Pretend to be a squire and prepare a knight for battle. Build a trebuchet and destroy a castle, Design your own coat-of-arms, try medieval recipes, examine illuminated manuscripts, learn about hunting with birds, famous battles and many other activities.

This book is the perfect follow-up to Knights and Castles from the Time Traveler Series. It would be great fun to pair it up with the Knight's Handbook and See Inside Castles. For hands-on learning, have your student build a medieval castle from the Cutout Series. Medieval World from the World History Series (which I will begin blogging on next week) adds even more detail to this important historic era.

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

In the Castle

2006-08-11T12:10:00.000-04:00

Series: Picture Books Series, English Heritage Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 2 3 4 5 6 7 8.
Type: Picture Book

Since I reviewed See Inside Castles earlier this week, I want to look at a similar title for younger kids. This one is not a flap book, and it's written more in storybook style, In the Castle from the Picture Books series is just as fun and educational as all the other Usborne picture books. Dr. Abigail Wheatley, an expert on castles, helped with this one also. This one is part of the English Heritage group of books that Usborne has produced -- English Heritage is an organization that takes care of castles all over England.

The book begins with the question: Have you ever visited an old, tumbledown castle... and wondered what it was like to live there, long, long ago? Well, honestly, unless you live in the UK, you probably haven't visited one, but most kids seem utterly fascinated by castles and knights anyway. Kings, queens, knights, ladies-in-waiting, horses, blacksmiths, cooks, fighting, castles, jousting and more are illustrated and explained. I love the tone of these books, very simple and peaceful, and at the same time you learn a surprising amount of information.

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

"See Inside" Books - Beautiful and Full of History

2006-08-08T11:00:00.000-04:00

Series: See Inside Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Type: Flap Books

This series in the Usborne line reminds me of Time Traveler in style and content, minus the characters. These books are meant to be enjoyed over and over again, and kids who love to "do things" will certainly like the flaps to open and discover new facts. The drawings are really lovely. These books are incredibly sturdy, from board-like pages to heavy flaps, and a thick, slightly slippery cover.

How did the Romans really live? See Inside Ancient Rome provides overviews of life in the city of Rome -- on the streets, at the port, at the Roman baths (be forewarned that these tiny figures are nude but discreetly posed!), sections on how the rich citizens live, what it was like in the army, the gruesome games at the Colosseum, and a final section about Rome as it appears today. The inside back page explains the various classes of Roman culture. The book was written with the help of history expert Dr. Anne Millard. (Dr Millard wrote a nonUsborne book called A Street Through Time that looks great for 9-14 year olds, which takes kids through fourteen key periods in history.)

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Another in this series, See Inside Castles is equally gorgeous. Kids learn all the parts of the castle and the vocabulary -- baileys, moats, keeps, etc. as well as info about jousts, banquets and castles today. Abigail Wheatley, Ph.D, a castle expert, assisted with the writing of this book.

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

Time Traveler - An Usborne Classic

2006-08-04T09:37:00.000-04:00

Series: Time Traveler Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11.
Type: Combined volume(C/V)

I'm taking a break from new titles to highlight an Usborne history classic. Homeschoolers discovered this book long ago and have integrated it into lots of curriculum plans, but schools use it, too. Our county library system has had Time Traveler in each of its branches and I'm told it's extremely popular. This was the first Usborne book I ever laid eyes on and I knew instantly my kids would LOVE it. Based on research and archaeological finds, Usborne transports the reader back in time to join the native people in their everyday life. Kids love this detailed look at how people lived. The drawings, mostly by Stephen Cartwright, are captivating and humor abounds.

Four areas are studied in detail -- Viking times, Knights and Castles, Pharoahs and Pyramids, and Rome and the Romans. (The sections on Rome and the section on Knights are both available as a separate book if you prefer.) Each title has been awarded the Dr. Toy "Best Classic Toys" Award.

When we used Time Traveler for school, my children accompanied the study by making a model castle, writing a journal of a typical day they might have had, and added in several Usborne books from the Starting Point History series -- What Were Castles For? for example. If I remember correctly, my son Nathan went thru the entire Time Traveler book four times, just because he loved it so much!

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Awards: Dr. Toy Best Classic Toys Award
Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Teachers

Princess Handbook

2006-08-01T17:45:00.000-04:00

Series: English Heritage Series.
Subject Areas: History, Humor.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.

This hilarious book was written with the help of a REAL princess -- Princess Beatrice von Preussen, a great-great-great-great granddaughter of Queen Victoria and a descendent of the Prussian royal family. Would you like to see her? The handbook is a tongue-in-cheek look at royalty and although some of it may be true, it's definitely meant to be silly.

You'll begin with a quiz to see if you have what it takes to be a princess, learn all the rules and regulations, how to relate to servants, fashion do's and don't's, become talented at choosing jewels, and learn to perform your public duties. Then there's the royal etiquette! Curtseying, waving, behaving at banquets and such, then you'll finish making your way thru a maze of questions to see if you're really princess or peasant. I appreciated the page with place settings at a banquet and how to select the right fork, knife, spoon and glass. (This was accurate as far as I could tell.)

The book is fun, feminine(with a pink ribbon to mark your spot) and most girls will love it. This is a companion to the Knight's Handbook I reviewed earlier this year. I would add this to any study of the Medieval Age just for fun, and encourage a writing assignment on what it might be like to be a member of a royal family. If you want to read something on the more serious side about royalty, check out Usborne's Victorians or Kings and Queens .

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

Puzzle Pirates!

2006-07-28T11:39:00.000-04:00

Series: Young Puzzles Series.
Subject Areas: Brain Stretchers.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.
Type: Puzzle Story Books

These are some of the most popular Usborne books, and most kids want all of them once they've finished the first one -- my kids wanted each one as soon as they showed up in the catalog. There are lots of clues to look for and puzzles to solve, either alone or with a helper. Children learn thru deductive reasoning, elimination, matching, mazes and more. There is a humorous story line in each title, too.

Pirates are extremely popular right now, so this new Usborne title is perfectly timed. A pirate schoolboy named Joe is the main character, and he's been learning to be a pirate at school, but before he can be a REAL pirate he has to earn his cutlass. So you'll have to help him find a whole slew of hidden items, decipher treasure maps, find the way thru reefs, fight off skeletons, sail past monsters and mermaids, and discover treasure. Answers to puzzles and mazes are found in the back of the book.

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Awards: Puzzle Ocean from this series won the Lifeworks Magazine Real Life Award
Of Interest To: Parents, Teachers, Librarians and Media Specialists,

Telling the Time Flashcards

2006-07-19T08:45:00.000-04:00

Series: Farmyard Tales Flashcards Series.
Subject Areas: Math, Reading.
Ages: 3 4 5 6 7 8.
Type: Flashcards

I wish I'd had these when my children were learning to tell time -- they're fun, very cute, and easy to understand. The first card gives complete directions on how to make the best use of the FIFTY different wipe-clean(hooray!) cards, and how to make time-telling part of your everyday routine.

On approximately two-thirds of the cards, Sam and Poppy - the kids from Farmyard Tales - are involved in various activities throughout their day. A small clock in the right top corner shows the time of that activity. After the child has looked at these and read thru them a few times, practice begins. Look at the activity and clock, turn the card over and use the enclosed pen to write the correct time, and draw hands on the clock. The remaining cards feature an analog clock showing a particular time, and the child writes in the corresponding digital time -- the flipside is the opposite -- it gives the digital and they write the analog.

One final card is a clock without any hands and you simply say a time, they draw the hands. Reverse the card and it's a digital clock with no numbers -- you give a time, they write it in. Lots of practice which is very necessary for time-telling, and the bonus of reading too. I love these! Every card practices both digital and analog time. They will learn the hour, half-hour, quarter hour and ten minute increments.

Make sure to check out all the Farmyard Tales items -- they are adorable.

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

Totally Off Topic - books on Women's Health

2006-07-14T17:17:00.000-04:00

All right, I know this is totally off the topic of Usborne Books, but I've had numerous discussions this week with other women about how to stay healthy as we age. (I'm 51 this year.)

I'd like to suggest some books my sister and I have been reading. Our family is prone to several challenging health issues -- ovarian cancer, osteoporosis, a tendency to gain extra weight -- so we both try to eat well and get the right kind of exercise to help fight off disease. If you really want to improve your quality of life later on, you need to start NOW. It's encouraging to read a book with someone else so you can discuss it and get each other motivated.

Check out:
Breaking the Rules of Aging
The Real Age Makeover
French Women Don't Get Fat This one is my younger-by-3-years sister's current favorite. She has gradually changed her way of life and lost 19 lbs so far.

Take advantage of these summer months to read a little more than usual! It's good for your brain and a great role model for your kids.

Of Interest To: Women

Under the Ground

2006-07-13T17:39:00.000-04:00

Series: Picture Books Series.
Subject Areas: Science, Nature.
Ages: 2 3 4 5 6 7.
Type: Picture Books, Nature Books

This latest addition to the Picture Books Series (which I adore), answers more questions that youngsters ask. The unseen kingdom beneath our feet holds all kinds of surprises and Usborne has done a superb job showing how animals and plants carry on their everyday activities in secret where we can't see them, as well as helping kids understand the myriad of manmade systems found underground, like electricity, plumbing, subways and more.

Next, children get to see caves, fossils, mines, and even the layers of the inner earth, then they imagine what would happen if they tunneled all the way to the other side of the earth, and what child has never wondered about that?

Take a look at all the books in this series if you want to give your student a well-rounded look at many topics about nature. Each of these books reads almost like a story but conveys lots of facts and information kids like.

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Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Preschools

First Picture Action Rhymes

2006-07-10T10:24:00.000-04:00

Series: First Picture Board Books Series.
Subject Areas: Rhymes, Songs, Fingerplays.
Ages: 9 months 1 2 3 4.
Type: Picture Book, Adult/child interaction

This is a brand new title added to a delightful series of books for the very young. All the covers have a smooth, slightly squeezable feel that makes them fun to touch; the book is large, bright, filled with Jo Litchfield's clay models, and has a variety of fingerplays or songs/rhymes to act out.

I was familiar with most of them from childhood (I'm a little teapot, The wheels on the bus go round and round, Itsy Bitsy Spider, etc.) but a few were new to me. If you don't know them already, the directions for the actions are given in smaller typeface. My favorite, probably because it was one of my childrens' favorites, will always be Five Little Monkeys, jumping on the bed.

Books like this are wonderful for creating special moments with children. They love to see us acting like kids, and the use of actions plus words and songs provides an experience that connects all the senses.

By using the Usborne Quicklinks, you and your child can hear the sound files for many of the songs in this collection. The music is charming, peaceful and light.

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Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Day Care Providers, Preschool Teachers

Spider Bites and Parasites

2006-07-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

No, this is not the title of a new Usborne book --- just a couple of the many strange things that have been going on with our family the past week or so that have kept me from blogging. I'll try to make up for lost time ...

One of our boys had a noteable reaction to what the doctor thinks was a spider bite, and my poor husband ended up with a memento of the missions trip he took recently. Hasn't been one of the most productive weeks at our house!

First Picture French (or Spanish) - a brand new title!

2006-06-29T13:49:00.000-04:00

Series: First Picture Flap Books.
Subject Areas: French, Vocabulary.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8.
Type: Picture Book, Flap Book

This delightful new hardback title was given to each of us that attended the Usborne National Convention in Tulsa last week -- it's beautiful, illustrated with the gorgeous clay models of Usborne's Jo Litchfield. A side note: I love the multicultural look of Jo Litchfield's models -- children of all races and color!

Each two-page spread is a setting that would be familiar to children, such as a birthday party, a schoolyard, a public park, a classroom, a cafe, and several other places. On each page you'll see one large and several smaller flaps to lift. The larger flap shows various objects found on those two pages, and the translation, in English, is hidden until you lift it and look. My very favorite large flap has all kinds of sweet little farm animals -- you also get a counting lesson in French on this flap. On each of the smaller flaps throughout the book are French expressions or questions, and under the flap is written the English equivalent.

The back cover gives directions to Usborne's quicklinks where your child can hear the correct pronunciations, if you need them. This book, together with the links, provides a friendly, fun introduction to the beautiful French language. (It's also available in Spanish!) If you enjoy this book, you could move on to First Hundred Words in French or The Usborne Picture Dictionary in French, First Words Flashcards in French, and then check out other Usborne French titles intended for older kids.

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

I'll be gone all week!

2006-06-20T17:26:00.000-04:00

I'll be in Tulsa, Oklahoma this week for the Usborne National Convention until Sunday evening -- Can't wait to see brand new titles and hear Peter Usborne speak again!

I'll be reviewing some of the new titles when I get back -- have a great week.

Adolph Hitler

2006-06-19T12:32:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Famous Lives Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Biography, Non-fiction Readers

Reading this Usborne title along with the one I reviewed last week (Anne Frank), will give your student a better understanding of the Holocaust and what led up to the horrors of that time period. One by one, all of my children have picked up this book to read it, and have all felt the darkness that characterizes Hitler's life. This book was written by Joachim Fest, a former prisoner of war and authority on Adolf Hitler. (He wrote Inside Hitler's Bunker which was also made into a film, Downfall.)

Much of Hitler's early history was new to me; I wondered how different his life might have been if his father had been a different type of man, if his mother hadn't indulged his laziness and selfishness, or what might have changed if he had been accepted into art school instead of being rejected.

It appears that he was easily influenced by the ideas of others, and had no good relationships with people. His hatred for the Jewish people grew steadily and ominously, with no basis or reason for it, and was helped along by other extremists. His skill at public speaking thrust him into the limelight, and he worked and connived his way to the top of the Nazi Party. It's chilling to read about his poisoned plans and the circumstances that brought him to power, and finally to his violent end. A timeline of his life is presented at the end of the book.

I would urge caution with this title about who reads it. Also, the websites may be disturbing for some children, but they are very appropriate selections -- there are photos of concentration camp prisoners, speeches by Hitler that you can listen to, another website shows how wicked leaders were able to "achieve political ends through propaganda," and perhaps most disturbing (for me) was Hitler shown with the youth of Germany that he pulled into his horrible agenda. Look at this quote of Hitler's from 1933: "I want a brutal, domineering, fearless, cruel youth. Youth must be all that. It must bear pain. There must be nothing weak and gentle about it. The free, splendid beast of prey must once again flash from its eyes...That is how I will eradicate thousands of years of human domestication...That is how I will create the New Order." Yuk! No wonder he shot himself.

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

Anne Frank

2006-06-14T10:45:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Famous Lives Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Biography, Non-fiction Readers

I read Anne Frank's diary in middle school, and the unedited version a few years ago, but for some reason this Usborne title had much more of an impact on me emotionally. Perhaps it's because it's shorter and everything changes so quickly for Anne and her family. Usborne's version was written with the advice of Anne's stepsister, a concentration camp survivor, and author of Eva's Story: A Survivor's Tale by the Stepsister of Anne Frank.

The book opens with Anne as happy and lively as any other child her age, then gives the reader the background of what's been happening in Europe, as Hitler and the Nazis invade and begin persecuting Jewish men, women and children. The entire book is riveting -- photos throughout, Anne's thoughts as they are forced to hide for two years, her family's capture and the horror of the camps; this book is intense, sad, and provoking. It's hard to imagine the evil that prevailed at that time. Please use caution in deciding what age to allow kids to read it, and follow up with discussion. I found myself wondering why I have it so good, and feeling very grateful for the freedoms we have.

The "Quicklinks" explained at the front of the book are a must for this title-- You can read the story of Miep, who hid the Frank family, see close-ups of Anne's diary in her own handwriting, and view movie clips of her house and hiding place. There are also links to organizations that "work to educate young people to reject prejudice and injustice, in memory of Anne Frank." I was encouraged to read that good has come out of the tragedies of that time period.

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

Marie Antoinette

2006-06-09T15:15:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Famous Lives Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Type: Biography, Non-fiction Readers

I don't want to reveal too much about Marie Antoinette's story here, because most of it was unfamiliar to me, or at least very different from the impression I had gotten over the years. For instance, you know that line we always heard about "Let them eat cake" ? Not quite accurate, it turns out!

You'll get a glimpse of what a mother's (frightening) ambitions can lead to when you read this book, and learn about the unrest and revolution taking place in France during the late 1700's. It ties in very nicely with Captain Cook and Nelson which I reviewed yesterday.

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

Lord Horatio Nelson and Captain Cook

2006-06-08T08:33:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Famous Lives Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Type: Biography, Non-fiction Readers

Explorers and sea captains of the 1700's -- do you know much about them? These two titles will give you a good picture of what life was like on the high seas, and how exciting, brutal and dangerous it was to be a sailor. Internet Links are included in both of these titles for those who want to discover more.

Captain Cook opens with the English boy James Cook and his intense longing to live the sailing life. You'll follow him on his first job transporting coal, then volunteering for the Navy when war is looming between France and England. Each voyage he takes presents unique dangers and unique opportunities to learn. He is probably best known for his incredible mapmaking skills, a gift he providentially developed as he sailed to new destinations. His maps were vital to the explorations taking place, from Canada to New Zealand to Hawaii. His maps were used for nearly two hundred years after his death.

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The other book, Nelson, is equally exciting. Horatio Nelson also had the same longing to go to sea, and at age 12 goes to join his uncle's warship. (Let's see, what were my boys doing at age 12?) This book describes what life onboard a sea-going vessel was really like, from climbing the rigging, to the diet they had, to the beatings which took place for those who disobeyed their leaders.

Nelson endured malaria, came face-to-face with a polar bear, and became a captain in the Royal Navy, all before turning 21. He married a widow who had a young child soon after. There's a lot of history shared in the next chapters -- the revolution in France, the threat of Napolean, Britain at war with Spain and France. Nelson loses an arm during this time period, and his hair goes white, his right eye almost blind. His wife, who certainly hasn't seen much of him, nurses him back to health. You should be aware that that he becomes unfaithful to his wife and fathers a child out of wedlock, precipitating a scandal and eventually ending his marriage, so you'll want to decide if this is age-appropriate for your student.

Horatio had several very important victories, each one accompanied by more titles and honor (he is eventually known as Vice Admiral Lord Viscount Nelson!) and loses his life at the end of a brilliant victory. All of Britain mourns the loss of their hero.

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

Martin Luther King, Jr.

2006-06-06T15:13:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Famous Lives Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Type: Biography, Non-fiction Readers

This book is an excellent combination of the story of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the very serious challenge the United States has had with racism and desegregation. Some of the stories, and a couple of the photos, are chilling but age-appropriate. I'm old enough to remember the disturbing feelings I had about separate facilities and the disrespectful way in which African Americans were treated, when we'd visit my relatives in the South. My children, growing up in a very racially mixed area, have no clue what it was like even as recently as 30 years ago. This book has helped them to understand, and want to live differently, than the previous generations.

Chapter One gives us a glimpse of Martin's parents and their hopes and prayers for his life. Chapter Two lets us look into Martin's young world, with both humorous and painful experiences. The next two chapters show a dedicated and motivated young man working hard to discern his place in fighting racism. He was a very hard worker -- I love this example for young people to emulate. He chose well when he decided to ask Coretta Scott to marry him, and she supported his decision to go back to the South for a purpose, even though she knew it was the difficult thing to do.

The rest of the book shares in detail the triumphs and the defeats Martin experienced, as well as his tragic death. I appreciate that the overall tone of the book is one of hope and change. The last page is a timeline of the important years of Martin Luther King's life. Like the others, this book has Internet Links for more info.

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

Inspiring Biographies! The first is Winston Churchill

2006-06-05T15:26:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Famous Lives Series.
Subject Areas: History.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Type: Biography, Non-fiction Readers

So sorry for the silence this past week! I was busy with finishing up homeschool for this school year, driver's ed. classes for my 16 year-old, and getting my two oldest sons off to Costa Rica (a graduation trip; one received his four year degree, the other his Master's!) I hope to make up for it by reviewing one or more titles from the Famous Lives Series each day this week. Several of us in our family are reading thru these books. They are delightful and keep your attention throughout the entire book.

There are wonderful side-benefits to reading biographies --
--absorbing the details of history and the flavor of the time period in which the character lives
--the ability to place the famous person in the overall timeline of history
--identifying character qualities, either good or bad, and the eventual outcome of a person's choices

When your student reads thru this series, they'll be able to identify and better understand cultures from ancient Egypt up thru and including our modern age. This series is a group of compact hardbound chapter books, with lots of photos and/or drawings included. THey are also very reasonably priced.

Since Usborne Books originate in England, (and because I love to read about British history) what better place to begin than with Winston Churchill! This is one of several Usborne biographies by the author Katie Daynes, and she is very gifted at this type of writing.

Winston Churchill opens with a scene of Winston at age five -- hiding from his nanny as he attempts to escape from the new governess sent to teach him! He
liked learning letters and words but had challenges with arithmetic, "numbers seemed to get tangled up in terrible knots." Kids will instantly identify with him in a variety of ways.

As his story continues, you'll be fascinated to see his strengths and weaknesses, the events he endures that prepare him for his life's calling, wise decisions he makes, mistakes he stumbles into, and the way he applies himself when he finally discovers his passion for leading his country thru a difficult period of history. He earned the respect of people all over the world. At the end of the book is a timeline of his most important moments. To see photos of where he lived, hear his speeches, and to view film from World War II, visit the recommended Internet Links; these are explained just after the Table of Contents.

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

Book of Knowledge - Internet Linked

2006-05-27T07:57:00.000-04:00

Series: Book of Knowledge.
Subject Areas: Science, Astronomy, Geography, Physiology,Technology, History.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Reference, Combined Volume (c/v)

Usborne's Book of Knowledge is one of the oldest and most familiar of the publisher's titles, but it's been thoroughly updated, additional information added, and Internet Links are now included. It was first published in 1979, expanded in 1988, and now we have the new version which is virtually a brand new book. You can purchase it in full size or a mini-version if you prefer, at a lower price. It's a gorgeous reference type book, but is equally useful just to read through to gain a broad understanding of many subjects. This one volume is ideal for summer reading and review. Once you finish this one, you may want to purchase the Internet Linked Science Encyclopedia which is expanded and for a slightly older age group. Younger kids would use the Children's Encyclopedia(also Internet Linked and comes in a reduced size too).

The first section is Astronomy and Space. It covers the universe, the solar system, the sun, moon, earth, eclipses, stars, maps of the night sky to use for star-gazing, famous constellations and a map of the moon. (If you just want this one section, purchase Complete Book of Astronomy and Space instead - it's virtually the same material.) The Internet Links are very helpful - for example, we took a virtual journey thru the solar system on one of the sites.

The second section is Planet Earth, examining earth's physical characteristics, bodies of water, the atmosphere, weather, and climate. Next is Plants and Animals, which includes ecosystems, life cycles, evolution and classification. The Human Body follows; it's a beautiful, detailed look at the various systems and senses. Be aware that there is a two-page spread on human reproduction! Science and Technology follows this section, which dives into the elements, energy, states of matter, color, electricity, magnetism, flight, TV, radio, telephones,computers, and the Internet. Again, there are loads of great Internet Links to explore.

The book finishes with sections on Maps, Countries and their Flags, World History Dates, and all kinds of Facts and Lists. Excellent summer reading, but also a great resource for a broad base of understanding. The photos and drawings are lavishly spread throughout the whole book.

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Awards: Today's Books named this title as a "Must Read".

Professional Reviews: 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. Book of Knowledge is a terrific, all-encompassing reference that touches on everything from “Astronomy and Space” to “The Human Body.” Vivid photographs and varied subjects have made it a family favorite. 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.

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

Nathan's Green-Haired Creature!

2006-05-26T09:35:00.000-04:00

Thought you'd like to see how Nathan's green-haired creature turned out -- we've been calling him Wilson, since he reminds us of the "friend" of Tom Hanks in the movie Castaway.

Nate made him using the instructions in What Shall I Grow? If you'd like to find out more about the book, click here.

All sorts of "Girly" Activities to Do!

2006-05-24T08:51:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Activities Series.
Subject Areas: Art, Crafts.
Ages: 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13.
Type: Activity Books, Hands-on Projects, Art Projects

After two graduations this past weekend, I'm back to wrap up a series of blogs on summer activities. This time I want to review a whole group of books made especially for girls. I have one sweet daughter in the middle of four very masculine sons, so I think that's why I loved doing these types of activities with her, and also enjoyed watching her experiment with art projects, designs, crafts, etc. As far as she was concerned, the more glittery and sparkly a craft could be, the better! Now she's in college studying Interior Design, so probably all the practice with Usborne influenced her career decision.

Usborne has three "Make and Do" titles that are delightful; each one is loaded with sparkly silvery stickers, too --
Princess Things to Make and Do -- everything from tiaras, dainty slippers and princess headdresses to chandeliers, swish bags and lacy fans. It's also available in a Kid Kit version, which includes supplies.
Sparkly Things to Make and Do -- party masks, glitter bugs, spangly butterflies and more.
Fairy Things to Make and Do -- fairy pop-up cards, fairy palaces, fairy tiaras, fairy collages, sparkly fairy wings,and loads of other ideas. This title can be purchased in a Kid Kit version, with supplies included. These make wonderful gifts. Take a Look Inside this Book

If you have a young girl in your life who loves mermaids, you'll want to check out Mermaid Things to Make and Do, which comes in a Kid Kit also.

My favorite among this series (probably because my mom used projects like this to teach me the beginning basics of sewing) is Fairy Things to Stitch and Sew. I was fascinated with miniatures, too, so I would have adored the tiny tooth fairy purse, the fairy pillows and fancy stuffed hearts. Directions are very easy to follow, and the last section of the book goes into great detail about how to do all the pretty types of stitching and how to sew on buttons -- very practical stuff.

Another beautiful title is How to Draw Princesses and Ballerinas. There are step-by-step instructions for a wonderful collection of lovely, graceful figures, using all kinds on media -- pastels, pens, pencils, paint, tissue paper for collage type pictures, and as with the others, stickers (this time of various shapes and colors) are included in the book. There is one project called Swan Lake which is especially floaty, and looks like a fantasy picture.

Finally, there is Fairy Cooking. It's gorgeous and yummy, perfect food for little girls' get-togethers, or moms and daughters tea times. Mini meringues, tiny fairy cakes, pink confetti cookies, and darling marzipan toadstools. You will want to try them all. Working with recipes helps children to learn fractions and measurements, too.

Purchase

You can purchase any of these titles and more (including ones for boys like Pirate Things to Make and Do) by going to my Usborne website and using the Search feature.

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

A Really Cool Product! (not Usborne)

2006-05-20T08:57:00.000-04:00

Subject Areas: Arts and Crafts.
Ages: 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 adult.

I want to interrupt myself to make sure you know about a product that my kids, and our friends' children have LOVED to play with. If you haven't already discovered it, you need to try Crayola's Model Magic -- it's a very lightweight modelling compound that has a delightful feel and texture -- very different from Playdoh. One of my friends uses it to keep her her children's hands busy while she reads to them. She says it makes them "hear" better! Our family fell in love with it when we tried it, and it's easy to make all kinds of fun creatures or people. It will air dry and can be painted also. I thought it only came in white, but have since discovered that there are colors too.
Click here to see Crayola Model Magic.

I'll be back next week with more Usborne ideas-- We're graduating two of our children this weekend!

Things to Make for Dads!

2006-05-16T09:01:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Activities Series.
Subject Areas: Art, Crafts.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Type: Activity Books, Hands-on Projects, Art Projects

Here is a very useful and unique book. At our house, creative ways to bless Dad, and especially ones that don't break the bank, are always a dilemma. With Mom, it's always easy: chocolate, nice soap or lotion, a scented candle, flowers, (and did I mention chocolate... ?)

Recently, for my husband's May 10 birthday, the entire family did 10 days of surprises. One of his favorites? A card from our youngest with all the reasons he loves his Dad written inside. Amazing how these little things mean so much, especially as we get older.

Father's Day is coming up June 18th, too. Get this book now and you'll have a variety of creative things for the kids to make; both boys and girls will enjoy making these projects that have a more masculine look to them. One of my good friends and a fellow Usborne consultant, Cathie MacKenzie-Carey, e-mailed me excitedly when she received this book, and she especially noted the idea called "Dad Heads". It's very funny -- you use foil, tissue, glue and paint to make your own version of Dad's head and face, complete with glasses, beard or balding head if applicable. There's a great set of containers for the top of his dresser or work bench, a couple of collages, a photo frame, a do not disturb sign, pop-up cards, coin box and more. 200 stickers come with the book, too.

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Awards: American Bookseller's Pick of the List Award for What Shall I Paint? in this series, Lifeworks Real Life Award given for Christmas Activities from this series

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

What Shall I Paint?

2006-05-11T10:48:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Activities Series.
Subject Areas: Art, Crafts.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.
Type: Activity Books, Hands-on Projects, Art Projects

Children always seem eager to paint, but then when everything is out and ready to go, they freeze! This book is the solution to the question of what exactly to paint, and the ideas lead to lots of further experimentation.

Like the other books in the series, you'll find step-by-step instructions that produce very nice finished projects. At the bottom of each page is a suggestion for another similar painting idea, so they get to use what they've already learned plus some imagination to do another type of painting. There are creative ideas about adding texture to your paintings (using clingwrap, crumpled paper, sponges, blowing paint thru a straw); I like all the sensory experiences included in this book.

My favorites are "sheep in a field", "penguins on ice", and "fish in a waterfall". The book concludes with other ways to make special patterns with paint.

Take a Look Inside a Book from This Series

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If you like this book or the one I reviewed (below) on drawing, take a quick look at Usborne's activity deck called 50 Things to Draw and Paint. The projects are easy and fabulous!

Awards: American Bookseller's Pick of the List Award
Of Interest To: Art Teachers, Parents, Librarians and Media Specialists

What Shall I Grow?

2006-05-09T12:37:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Activities Series.
Subject Areas: Crafts, Art, Science, Botany.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10.
Type: Activity Books, Hands-on Projects, Science Experiments

It seems like all children want to grow things once the spring season arrives. Over the years, our five kids have each done projects found in What Shall I Grow?, and have really enjoyed doing them. This book is a natural lead-in for learning about plants, seeds, propagation, and photosynthesis, and we regularly integrate these types of activities into science class. (I've used these growing projects along with the plant section of First Book of Nature.) As with all the other titles in this series, the items you will need are probably lying around your home; you might have to buy some specific seeds or small plants for a few of the activities.

I love the way Usborne books walk a child through the steps of a project. The instructions are very easy to understand but not too simple -- expands their vocabulary. The photos and drawings are a perfect complement to the directions. I've said it before, but will say it again -- learning to follow directions is great for improving reading comprehension. If you do it right, it works! If not, you'll know why.

Here are a few of the fun projects included:
- Grow a green-haired creature (we are starting one of these today -- I'll let you see in a week or two how it turns out! Go see Nathan's Green-Haired Creature)
- Grow a giant sunflower -- we love doing this and we use the results to attract birds
- Make a miniature yard, add tiny furniture and animals -- adorable!
- Grow potatoes in a bucket - very cool
- Propagate new plants from stems or leaves
- Sprout bean seeds for salad
- Grow herbs on a windowsill to use for cooking
- Grow an ivy "tower" in a pot, decorate it for holidays

We love them all!

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Awards: Lifeworks Real Life Award given for Christmas Activities from this series
Of Interest To: Librarians and Media Specialists, Parents, Science Teachers

More Summer Activities

2006-05-04T17:15:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Activities Series.
Subject Areas: Arts, Crafts, Drawing. Ages: 5 6 7 8 9 10.
Type: Activity Books, Hands-on projects

Every time my one son sees Usborne's What Shall I Draw?, he says "I love this book." Two of my older children felt the same way about it.

This is a book that gives your child confidence by making even their first drawings successful. Each drawing project is broken down into step-by-step illustrating and that makes it manageable. The end results are quite nice, and even very young children get the hang of it quite easily. It's mostly cartoon-style drawing, and includes various animals, space rockets, submarines, helicopters, circles, clowns, ballerinas, castles and trucks.

I like the shading, blending of colors, and the suggestions of things to do with your drawings when they are finished. My children went through it multiple times and still pull it out when they are in the drawing mood, or to entertain young children that visit us. You can also purchase this book in a Kid Kit version, which includes a batch of materials - nice for a gift.

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Awards: Book with Kid Kit received the Dr. Toy 100 Best Children's Products Award; Lifeworks Real Life Award was given for Christmas Activitiesfrom this series.

Of Interest To: Parents, Teachers, Art Teachers, Librarians and Media Specialists, Activity coordinators

Need Ideas For Summer? Part 2

2006-05-03T10:31:00.000-04:00

Series: Usborne Activities Series.
Subject Areas: Art, Crafts, Drawing.
Ages: 5 6 7 8 9 10.
Type: Activity Books, Hands-On projects

The Usborne Activities Series is a large and varied collection of fun things to try. We've been testing some of them and plan to highlight a number of them over the next week or so. First, we'll look at Amazing Magic Tricks, which is also available in a Spanish version or in a Kid Kit version. (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.)

Most of the tricks are done with ordinary items found in your home -- paper, tape, coins, cards, string, etc. My 10-year-old likes the card tricks the most, and I love having him do them because of what it accomplishes aside from keeping him busy! Learning to follow step-by-step instructions improves reading comprehension skills, since you have to understand what you are reading to make the tricks work, and learning to follow directions in an orderly fashion builds test-taking skills too. I have him read through all the steps first, practice by himself until he feels comfortable with the trick, then he tries it out -- usually on me, his dad, and his older brothers and sister. After it's perfected, he'll do it for friends. I have found it's valuable to do activities like these to help kids get over being shy and learn not to take themselves too seriously when they make a mistake!

There are many other sleight of hand tricks in the book, some are easy and some are more challenging. My favorites are: the banana that is already sliced when you peel it, the jumping rubber band, and the finger in a matchbox trick (sort of gross!). At the bottom of each page is a silly joke, too, which kids in this age range love.

The book includes 180 stickers that can be used on projects. The last page gives a few tips for putting on a show. If you purchase the Kid Kit version, you'll also get a wand, deck of cards, matchboxes, string, balloons, paper clips and rubber bands. This would make a great birthday gift!

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Awards: Lifeworks Real Life Award was given for Christmas Activities from this series.

Of Interest To: Parents, Teachers, Spanish Teachers, Librarians and Media Specialists, Activity coordinators

Need Ideas for Summer? Part 1

2006-04-27T07:14:00.000-04:00

Series: Ten Terrific Weeks Reading Adventure Programs.
Subject Areas: History, Science, Literature, Fantasy, the Arts, Geography, Anatomy/Physiology.
Ages: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12.
Type: Curriculum Guide

With the approach of summer vacation, and all those hours begging to be filled, you should take a look at our Ten Terrific Weeks Reading Adventure Programs, based on groupings of Usborne titles. The authors of these guides tell us that “each one is designed to keep your child active, learning, and thinking. These programs are designed to help you learn more about your child’s thoughts and personality.” You'll need to purchase the guide AND the books that go along with that guide.

The preparations needed for these programs are generally simple and easy to do a day or so ahead of time. In each guide you’ll find a list of topics to be covered, any materials needed for hands-on activities (these are all simple items, and inexpensive.) Next is a day-by-day outline of the assignments to be done, and at the end is a certificate that you present to the student when the course is completed to recognize their achievement.

Each day, specific short reading assignments are given. Thought-provoking questions follow, which are to be used for discussion and/or journaling. The various hands-on activities are described, internet explorations are suggested, and some easy field trips are recommended for additional experience and information. It's a varied and interesting approach to learning which could also work well for curriculum during the regular school year. These assignments could be done with a single student or a group of students; I've heard of small neighborhood groups doing these together so the kids enjoy the company, as well as the added advantage of seeing and hearing peer thoughts and ideas. I do really advocate the journaling part! We have required this of our children beginning in elementary school. It's a low pressure way to teach them to express themselves on paper -- a very important skill, even more so now that the College Boards require writing!

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Of Interest To: Parents, Home Schoolers, Day Care Providers, Camp directors, Librarians and Media Specialists, Teachers

Why We Should Love Reading --- and Turn Off the TV

2006-04-24T07:30:00.000-04:00

This week is officially TV Turn-Off Week. If you love televison, you just might not want to read today's post, because I don't find much about TV watching that's very beneficial. There are lots of educators and physicians who agree.

The average U.S. household has the television on more than 7 hours a day; almost 50 hours a week! In contrast, what's the average amount of time per day that a child 6 or under will read or be read to? 41 minutes. TV Turnoff Network tells us: "On average, children in the US will spend more time in front of the television (1,023 hours) than in school this year (900 hours)."

My personal opinion is that TV slowly destroys the desire to read. It has a numbing effect because it requires no interaction, no activity, no imagination, and no communication; yet at the same time it demands our attention. It replaces people. You can't plan, strategize or fulfill responsibilities while watching tv. TV robs families of basic communication. It can create an environment of laziness. Have you ever really thought about the strangeness of this habit -- sitting in front of a box, escaping from your real life by living thru others' experiences, all the while exposing yourself to violence, sexual innuendo and more? You'd never invite someone into your home to do these things, yet daily we invite TV to affect us this way. Not a very pretty picture.

Then there are the physical implications:
US Surgeon General Dr. David Satcher said at the Kick Off of TV-Turnoff Week 2001, "We are raising the most overweight generation of youngsters in American history...This week is about saving lives."

Look at this article by Sherrie Le Masurier, co-owner of Family Sanity Savers, a site offering smart solutions for busy parents:

"Research shows children who consistently spend more than ten hours per week watching TV are more likely to be overweight. Okay, so maybe you don’t have an overweight child, but consider the fact that most children get a great deal of information about health from television. Much of this comes in the form of an ad. Typically, ads don’t give true or balanced views about healthy lifestyles and food choices. Many TV ads encourage unhealthy eating habits. Two-thirds of the 20,000 TV ads the average child sees in a given year are for food and in particular, foods with high-sugar counts.
And just think of how television shows, even educational, non-commercial ones, replace physical activity in your child’s life. TV-viewing takes away from participating in sports, music, art and other activities. Regular viewing encourages a sedentary lifestyle which in turn, can lead to poor physical fitness down the road. Further it decreases time spent in social interactions with family and peers.
Research also suggests that television viewing may be associated with decreased attention spans in children. A recent study from Dimitri Christakis, a researcher at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center in Seattle, indicates that pre-school aged children who watch television face increased risks of attention deficit problems by the time they reach school age. The study was published in the April 2005 issue of Pediatrics:
'For many years, teachers and doctors have told us that, in their experience, many of the children who have the most difficulty focusing and paying attention are also the heaviest TV-watchers. This study provides scientific data confirming their belief, says TV-Turnoff Network Executive Director Frank Vespe. The network sponsors TV Turn Off Week which is held each year at the end of April. In 2006, families are encouraged to turn their televisions off April 24 to 30th. This report underscores that the early years of a child's life are absolutely crucial to the development of a healthy brain. It makes clear that each hour of daily television-viewing in very young children is associated with a 10 percent increase in their risk of suffering attention deficit problems.'
TV also influences children’s attitudes toward themselves and others. After seeing the stereotypes represented on television over and over, children begin to take them at face value."

So, what are YOU going to do about it? This week is the perfect time to start. When we've had TV free weeks at our house, we rediscovered the excitement and fun of reading and lots of other activities. We talked more, lingered at the dinner table longer to talk, and spent more time outside or simply relaxing. You could start by choosing a good book or two to read with your kids this week. Usborne has hundreds of them! Peter Usborne specifically created his books to grab a child's attention and wrestle them away from the lure of televison. Happy Reading ... and enjoy real life this week! I hope it will be the beginning of a permanent change in your home.

If you want to know more about TV and kicking the habit, here are a few good books (for both you and your children) on this topic:

Alternatives to TV Handbook

Unclutter Your Life: Transforming Your Physical, Mental and Emotional Space

52 Alternatives to TV

The Berenstain Bears and Too Much TV

Encyclopedia of World Religions Internet-Linked

2006-04-18T11:01:00.000-04:00

Series: World Cultures Series.
Subject Areas: Religion, World Cultures, Geography.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Encyclopedia, Internet-Linked

Since the Washington, D.C. area where we live is multi-cultural, we’ve found this book very helpful in understanding and reaching out to neighbors and other people we meet. There is a beautiful impish child on the cover, and the book is packed with photos and drawings of people and the places they worship. Usborne Encyclopedias are totally unlike any encyclopedias I used as a child! Usually I sit down to look at one of these and lose all track of time with them. The Internet Links are a great addition to this title because you need to see and hear from those who actually practice the religions to get a feel for what their culture is like.

The book begins with “What is Religion?,” defines worship, prayer, meditation and scriptures, then goes on to explain what sacred places are, the many functions of religion, and a section on the various viewpoints people take on religion. I found the section on the future of religion fascinating, especially these two quotes:

“Over the world as a whole, religions are growing … some experts predict that there will be a swing away from a materialistic outlook and that people will turn back to the more spiritual values of religion.” and

“Since the discovery of DNA, much more is known about how living things reproduce. This does not stop people from feeling that the creation of new life is miraculous.”

Each of the major religions is subdivided into sections on the founding of the religion, who or what their God or gods are, sacred writings, birth and death rituals, wedding customs, places of worship, festivals, and popular sayings. The book covers Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Shinto, Jainism, Chinese Religions, the Baha’i faith, Zoroastrianism, Rastafarianism, a myriad of local religions and some now defunct religions. There are no opinions given as to the validity of the practices or beliefs; it's "just the facts".

The Encyclopedia is filled with history and geography moments too! There’s a particularly interesting section on ancient religions that have mostly died out. Keep a globe or world map nearby, especially if you choose to use this book with its perfect companion book, Peoples of the World.

Here are a few of the many websites we found intriguing:
- One that takes you around the world to view holy places.
- An archaeological site
- Learn Hebrew online
- A guided tour of a Buddhist temple
- Muslim wedding rituals
- Aboriginal and Maori cultures

You'll want to try these sites and explore others, too. The book concludes with maps and a time chart.

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

A Quick Note on Some Resources

2006-04-17T17:57:00.000-04:00

Readers have asked me about resources I use to find out more about education, learning styles, and curriculum. Here is a very short list of books that have been helpful to me while working with children (along with the links to view them):

How to Read a Book,
The Well-Trained Mind,
The Well-Educated Mind,
The Ultimate Guide to Homeschooling
The Core Knowledge Series.

I'll be back tomorrow with a book review!

Two New Spotter's Guides Part 2

2006-04-14T09:46:00.000-04:00

Series: Spotter's Guides Series.
Subject Areas: Science, Weather.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Guide books, Pocket books

Can you look at the sky and tell the difference between high level, medium level and low level clouds? How about rain, snow, hail, and sleet -- do you know how each is formed and what the differences are? What's an anticyclone? What exactly are tornadoes, and their lookalikes -- dust devils, waterspouts and funnel clouds? The Weather Spotter's Guide answers all these questions (and many others) with loads of photos and drawings mixed in. The reader will look for and learn to identify 24 different cloud formations, identify various forms of dew, frost, and rime (I never even knew this existed), learn about thermometers and hygrometers, barometric pressure, thunder and lightning, wind and its effect on weather, air masses, jet streams, depressions, frontal weather and tropical storms. Several pages explain weather forecasting and how to read weather maps and weather symbols.

Just like the guide I reviewed yesterday, The Night Sky, this one has circles where you add your mark once you've seen the weather phenomenon firsthand. And of course this book has Internet-Links also -- links for weather forecasts, links for satellite images, maps, activities, information about how weather forecasters predict what's coming, links to find out more about cloud identification. One of the websites is an interactive way to "make" your own hurricane, earthquake, tornado or volcano in various parts of the world. Very interesting. On this same website we watched a terrifying up-close video taken by tornado chasers. This storm was WAY too close to the cameraman. On another website is a list of weather disasters (hurricanes, sandstorms, fires, etc) from 1960 to the present -- choose one and see the satellite images taken. Once again we realized how massive Hurricane Katrina was. A glossary and index complete this book.

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There are lots of other Spotter's Guides available from Usborne. We've enjoyed all of them. They are very inexpensive and loaded with information. After using this guidebook, if your student wants more about weather, try Weather and Climate Changes.

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

Two New Spotter's Guides Part 1

2006-04-13T09:06:00.000-04:00

Series: Spotter's Guides Series.
Subject Areas: Science, Astronomy, Meteorology.
Ages: 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16.
Type: Guidebooks, Pocketbooks

Two newly-released Spotter's Guides have grabbed my attention recently. I gravitate to these books, probably because I’m one of those odd people who likes everything to be neat and orderly, especially when life with a large family is somewhat chaotic. I adore lists, and checking(ticking) items off, so that I feel like I’ve accomplished something. These two guides are The Night Sky Spotter's Guide and Weather Spotter's Guide.

Have I mentioned how likable these and some of the other new Usborne book covers are? Smooth, slightly slippery, matte finish, probably water-resistant; very sturdy yet lightweight for carrying around in a pocket or backpack; children are drawn to them. The first time I picked up a book with one of these new covers, I played with it for a few minutes – flipping through it, feeling the texture and enjoying the uniqueness. My children did the same thing!

All right, I must digress for a moment. Usborne books already appeal to children because of the way all of their senses get involved. And here they’ve discovered yet another dimension to add to the experience of reading – playing with texture, using an intriguing variety in the covers they select, and loads of books like the Touchy-Feely series. Did you know that Peter Usborne says children’s books should be good enough to eat? That’s the effect they have on young readers. They gobble them up. Peter's vision is evident in the entire Usborne approach, and the brilliant staff he has working for him.

Ok, back to these two titles.

The Night Sky is a mini-Astronomy course in one small volume. It’s made to be carried with you when you go out at night. It may take up to a year to see all the items that are presented. As you view them, make a mark in the circle next to each item. (You may want to put a date also in your entries.) Over the years, night watches have been a regular event in our backyard or out in our court. My children and I take blankets, chairs, hot drinks and our guidebook, and make a memory of it. Occasionally it turns into a night to sleep outside. We’ve also done late night watches with neighbors – one group as large as 12 or 15 at about 1 a.m. – and that has been really fun. We’ve watched meteor showers, looked for satellites, learned constellations, studied the surface of the moon, watched lunar eclipses and more. The book explains that you can do all of this with a good pair of binoculars; no need for an expensive telescope. Instructions are given for how to do night watching; there are maps of constellations for both Northern and Southern hemispheres, detailed information on individual constellations, galaxies, nebula, star clusters, dying stars, planets and charts of where to look for them, comets, asteroids, all kinds of info about the moon and its phases, meteor showers, satellites, and other sky sights like the aurora borealis. You can see it’s packed with information, and lovely photos are in each section, too.

There is even a helpful section on photographing the night sky, followed by a glossary, and finally a scorecard for all you’ve seen in your watches. If you want to go on in your studies, check out the Complete Book of Astronomy and Space or some of the other Usborne titles on space.

Then there are also the Internet Links. When we’ve studied astronomy, these have been a fruitful addition to what we see at night. They are very quick and easy to use -- Get into www.usborne-quicklinks.com, choose your country, then enter Night Sky in the search box. Wait till you see what is available; gorgeous photos, live shots from space, recordings, video footage, puzzles, quizzes, a 3-D solar system fly-through of the planets, satellite tracking, the Hubble Space telescope, and on and on.

This is probably quite long enough for one day, so tomorrow I’ll fill you in on the new Weather Spotter’s Guide. It’s just as fascinating!

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

Imagine Being Five Years Old

2006-04-10T10:39:00.000-04:00

Series: Picture Books Series.
Subject Areas: Picture Books, Science, Nature.
Ages: 2 3 4 5 6 7.
Type: Picture Books, Nature Books

Imagine for a moment that you’re a five-year-old. That’s what the Usborne Picture Book Series, my current favorite for young children, reminds those of us who have forgotten what it’s like! These titles teach important science and nature ideas or history from a child’s viewpoint, and they do it in a very appealing style – almost, but not quite, like a story. The series includes: On the Seashore, The Butterfly, The Rainy Day, The Snowy Day, In the Nest, The Dinosaur, In the Castle, and two others I mention below that are fictional. The Rainy Day is also available in Spanish. All the books in the series are written by the same author, and although similar in style, each has a different artist.

Each of these books contains one basic question, typical of what a young child might ask:
Have you ever wondered what clouds are made of?
What do you think it would be like to go to the moon?
Have you ever wondered what makes it snow?
Have you ever been to the seashore to look for treasures
the sea has left behind?
What do you think the little stripy caterpillar has been doing all day?
A little bird flies to and fro – What do you think she’s doing?
What would it be like if dinosaurs were still alive?

The rest of the book is then devoted to answering the question, and this style prompts many discussions. I classify these as conversational books because when I’ve read them with children, they end up asking even more questions, and imagining other scenarios. The language is quite visual also: “On the moon you feel very light and floaty. When you walk around you take big, bouncing strides.” “The baby birds grow fluffy feathers…they grow bigger and bigger until they are much too squashed in the little nest.” “…if you watch very closely you might see two shiny eyes peering out of a small, grubby shell.”

The books in this series are slightly oversized, just a bit over 10 inches square, and each has a smooth, puffy feel which makes them fun to hold. The large format and simple illustrations are perfect for reading and showing to a group.

You could use these books as a well-rounded introduction to nature for preschoolers. There are countless other Usborne titles to use for follow-up: First Book of Nature, Pocket Nature, Living World Encyclopedia, Mysteries and Marvels of Nature, What’s Under the Sea?, Birds (Internet-Linked). From On the Moon, you could make the jump to First Encyclopedia of Space, or Space(Internet-Linked).

For hands-on activities, try Seashore Sticker Book, Butterflies Mobile Kid Kit, Seas and Oceans Kid Kit, Dinosaurs Sticker Book, Dinosaur Stencil Book, Dinosaur Jigsaw Book, Dinosaur Snap, all kinds of Dinosaur Kid Kits including Dinosaur Excavation Kid Kit, Box of Dinosaurs Puzzles, or Dinosaur Sticker Atlas.

For some reason, there are two other titles included with this series that are children’s classic stories, Pinocchio and The Snow Queen. Aside from the lovely format and cool covers which make the books appealing, I’m not sure why these were added to the nature ones. Both of these stories are bold and quite unusual, as you probably know if you ever read either of these growing up!

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

Peoples of the World Internet-Linked

2006-04-04T09:05:00.000-04:00

Series: World Cultures Series.
Subject Areas: World Cultures, Geography.
Ages: 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15.
Type: Internet-Linked

My children and I are exploring the world by using this book and the recommended websites. The introductory pages help the reader to consider the vast diversity -- the different lifestyles, languages, ethnic groups and religions -- that make up our world. After the intro begins the world tour, starting with North America. You'll visit each of the continents in turn, learning about history, customs, popular foods, currency, clothing and more that characterize each area. Like the other books in this series, it's loaded with beautiful photos, and we're especially drawn to the photos of children throughout the book. The cover alone is worth the purchase price -- three delightful, mischievous-looking youngsters that make me want to laugh every time I look at them!

This morning we went to a website where we saw the World Population Clock adding approximately 3 people per second, which lead to a discussion of birth rates, death rates, migration and other related subjects. Next stop was a website that tells what the current time is anywhere in the world -- we compared our time to that in the UK, Alaska, Hawaii, Uganda, viewing each location on the world map that was shown next to the time. Of course we also had to go see the website that features Insect Snacks around the world. Blecch! Every two-page spread lists sites to visit that relate to the current topic you are studying. They are all fascinating and most are created for kids.

There are maps featured throughout the book too, so that the reader is always aware which part of the world is being discussed. When using a book like this, try some recipes from the country you're studying, listen to music from that culture, and find art work that is native to that area. It's always helpful to pull out a globe or large world map to find and review the various areas discussed.

This book is also one component of the combined volume known as the Internet-Linked Encyclopedia of World Geography, a much more in-depth study book. Usborne's Combined Volumes (C/V) are a fabulous bargain, with several books combined into one volume at just a portion of the individual prices.

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

Cut-Out Model Kits

2006-03-31T07:30:00.000-05:00

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

Touchy-Feely Books and Why They are So Important

2006-03-27T08:20:00.000-05:00

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

A Breakfast with Peter Usborne -- and the Usborne Beginners Series

2006-03-23T09:53:00.000-05:00

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.

Dinosaur Excavation Kid Kit

2006-03-22T09:03:00.000-05:00

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

Complete Books -- Science Related

2006-03-21T08:53:00.000-05:00

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

The Official Knight's Handbook -- Be a Knight Overnight

2006-03-14T09:18:00.000-05:00

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

Mysteries and Marvels

2006-03-13T11:02:00.000-05:00

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

Teaching with Usborne Books

2006-03-10T09:39:00.000-05:00

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.)

About the Usborne Book Collection

2006-03-09T07:32:00.000-05:00

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.

Why a blog on Usborne Books?

2006-03-08T07:19:00.000-05:00

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.