Children's Books for Parents and Teachers - book reviews and suggestions for parents and teachers.
Family

Books about family life.

The Secret Knowledge of Grown-ups
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Parents are always spouting these rules. Do they really care about nutrients and mattresses, or are they hiding something? Luckily, one fearless grown-up will risk his neck and his dignity to find out. Disguised as everything from a chocolate milk scuba diver to a giant nose, this counterspy uncovers the disturbing truth. And what he learns will shock you like nothing before. Startling suckface emergencies! Dangerous digit gangs! Powerful sumo cells! Those are just some of the secrets revealed in this book by Caldecott medalist David Wisniewski. But don’t let …


The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater. That Grandma Knit

Cameron loves his grandmother. She knows just what makes him tick. That’s why he can’t figure out why Grandma would send him a sweater—a truly terribly horrible sweater—for his birthday.Cameron pours mustard on his sweater. He puts it on his dog (in the rain). He even tries to send it to the thrift shop. But nothing works.Now Grandma is coming for the holidays, and Cameron has to wear her gift to him. But what’s he going to say when she asks what he thinks about the sweater she made?With a …


The Truly Terribly Horrible Sweater… That Grandma Knit
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Cameron loves his grandmother. She knows just what makes him tick. That’s why he can’t figure out why Grandma would send him a sweater—a truly terribly horrible sweater—for his birthday. Cameron pours mustard on his sweater. He puts it on his dog (in the rain). He even tries to send it to the thrift shop. But nothing works. Now Grandma is coming for the holidays, and Cameron has to wear her gift to him. But what’s he going to say when she asks what he thinks about the sweater she …


The Turnip

Two half brothers led parallel lives in a village. The mean brother lived in a large home full of fine things. The cheerful brother — a humble farmer — was a man of meager means. When the farmer finds a giant turnip growing among his crops, he gives it to the royal family. As a reward, the king makes him a royal gardener. Upon learning this, his greedy brother brings the king an enormous ruby. Instead of earning a royal position, he earns his just reward — a giant-sized slice …


Three Cheers for Catherine the Great!

Sarah’s Russian grandmother, Catherine, immigrated to America a long time ago with two suitcases and not a word of English. When she insists on no gifts for her next birthday, her guests begin planning the perfect “no presents” to give “Catherine the Great.” At the party, one guest performs a song, another does a dance, and still another styles her hair. But Sarah gives her a “no gift” from the heart when she offers to teach her English.


Umbrella Summer

Annie Richards knows there are a million things to look out for—bicycle accidents, food poisoning, chicken pox, smallpox, typhoid fever, runaway zoo animals, and poison oak. That’s why being careful is so important, even if it does mean giving up some of her favorite things, like bike races with her best friend, Rebecca, and hot dogs on the Fourth of July. Everyone keeps telling Annie not to worry so much, that she’s just fine. But they thought her brother, Jared, was just fine too, and Jared died.


What Dads Can’t Do

There are lots of things that regular people can do but dads can’t.  Dads can’t cross the street without holding hands. They can push, but can’t swing.  When dads play hide-and-seek they always get found, but they have a hard time finding you.  Dads really need to be kissed good night at bedtime. It’s a wonder they make it through life at all!


What to Do when You Worry Too Much: A Kid’s Guide to Overcoming Anxiety
Publisher: American Psychological Association

What to Do When You Worry Too Much is an interactive self-help book designed to guide 6-12 year olds and their parents through the techniques most often used in the treatment of generalized anxiety. Metaphors and humorous illustrations make difficult concepts easy to understand, while prompts to draw and write help children to master new skills related to reducing anxiety. Engaging, encouraging, and easy to follow, this book educates, motivates, and empowers children to work towards change. Includes a note to parents by psychologist and author Dawn Huebner, Ph.D.


Where the Wild Things Are

Max is being so terrible that his mother sends him to his room without supper. But Max doesn’t care — he sails off to the land of the Wild Things, and they make him his king. There, Max can be as terrible as he pleases, and the Wild Things join in the rumpus. Finally, Max is tired of being wild, and yearns to go home. Marvelous pictures and the superb story combine to make this a quintessential picture book. In it, readers will recognize their own wild side.