kids book reviews

Get Kids Dreaming of Adventure with Travel Books from Lonely Planet Kids-Giveaway

April 23, 2018 by Kathryn 47 Comments

My family is a wee bit travel obsessed. In fact, on one occasion, we managed to fit eleven different trips into a single year! So, it goes without saying that we’re always daydreaming about our next vacation.

That’s why I’m so excited about getting to review some of the new children’s book titles from Lonely Planet Kids, distributed in Canada by Raincoast Books! These kids travel books are perfect for introducing children to the wonders of other countries, languages and ways of travel.

First Words: Japanese

I thought this would be a great book for introducing my older boys to some first words in another language, but it ended up being even better for Baby Cormac! The book features sturdy poster board pages and the proper pronunciation for a variety of basic words in Japanese. I like reading it out loud to Cormac so that he can develop an ear for other languages. And he loves looking at the simple, vibrant pictures on every page! [Read more…]

The M is for Money Book Series Helps Teach Kids Basic Money Management-Giveaway

March 28, 2016 by Kathryn 37 Comments

With tax season in full swing, money is something on the minds of a lot of adults right now. Good money management is one of those essential life skills that helps create future success but sadly, it’s a skill that most people never learn. Ideally, I think that money management should be taught in schools. But since that’s not currently done, I do want to make sure that my boys understand money so that they can be responsible with their finances both now and in the future.

That’s why I love the M is for Money book series and website! I had the chance to review the first three books in the series when they debuted last year, and I loved the way that these books used simple, kid-friendly concepts to explain money and its uses to kids. Now, the series has a total of nine books available and I couldn’t wait to see what my boys thought of the newer titles. I received books four, five and six to review and sat down to read them with my boys.

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Help Your Child Develop Crucial Financial Literacy Skills with M is for Money Books and Resources

October 27, 2015 by Kathryn 40 Comments

Sometimes it amazes me to think about just how much there is for me to teach my children. From basic, everyday skills like tying shoes to more complex concepts like social responsibility, the school system just scratches the surface. And one of the things that I’m most determined to teach my boys is financial literacy. With approximately three-quarters of Canadians living in debt, I know just how important money management skills are for my boys to learn. But how do I start teaching them, at just nine and six, the basics of finances?

A new book series has the answer, and for any Canadian parent that wants to teach their child financial literacy, it’s a great kid-friendly way to introduce the topic. M is for Money has one simple goal…to teach the basics of money management in a fun, kid-friendly way. The book series’ two main characters, Tessa and Benji, share their own experience making and saving money. As they get their first payment for helping with chores, learn about saving for special things and open their first bank accounts, kids can follow along with the journey to learn about money!

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Father’s Day Books for Dads and their Kids from Scholastic Canada

June 13, 2014 by Kathryn 22 Comments

Father’s Day is this weekend and Scholastic Canada is celebrating with some great books that illustrate that special bond between a dad and his kids. I received a few of Scholastic Canada’s newest books featuring dear old dad to review and they are a great choice for little ones this Father’s Day!

Mighty Dads by Joan Holub is a great choice for boys since it features loveable construction vehicle characters. Illustrated by James Dean, the creator of Pete the Cat, this book’s inspirational story about the ways fathers share life lessons with their children is sure to make Dad smile. And kids will love the message that no matter where their talents lie, their dads are proud of them! [Read more…]

Help Your Child Gain Kitchen Confidence with OwlKids Books Starting from Scratch by Sarah Elton-Giveaway

March 3, 2014 by Kathryn 47 Comments

I started helping my parents in the kitchen when I was about five years old. From baking cookies with my mom to making pancakes with my dad, if there was something tasty getting made, I was there lending a hand. As soon as I learned to read, I started reading recipes and cooking on my own. And by the time I was about twelve years old I was making pies and fudge by myself. Now my oldest son is getting to the age that he can start working in the kitchen too and I can’t wait to help him learn how to cook his own culinary creations!

So when I was recently offered the chance to review a new cooking book for kids, Starting from Scratch: What You Should Know About Food and Cooking by Sarah Elton and published by OwlKids Books, the timing couldn’t have been better. This book is no simple compilation of kid-friendly recipes…it is a complete and incredibly detailed guide to cooking that breaks down the process piece by piece so that children can feel confident in the kitchen even without a recipe. I sat down to read through it before giving it to Zackary and I was so impressed by how much information the book contained.

The book starts off with a chapter on taste, followed by a chapter that explains different cuisines. From there, the book explores the science behind cooking, the math concepts needed for recipes and the preparation process. I loved the idea of broadening a child’s mind about what food can be through explanations that included a look at the science behind food as well as an exploration of food geography and basic health and safety concepts. [Read more…]