One of my favorite things to do for the kids for Christmas and their birthdays is to find a bunch of great books on sale and wrap them up individually. They enjoy seeing the pile of presents and since they are little bookworms they get so excited to open each and every book. Over the years they’ve grown quite a library and have read all kinds of great books over and over again.
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I look for ways to add more to their bookshelves all year round and that’s why I was excited to be sent the following books for this must have children’s books list. As a blogger I receive lots of emails to review books and so I picked the best of the best to share with you These are all fantastic books that would make any booklover smile (young or old!) and you just may be surprised what you and the kids in your life learn along the way.
Zen Pig
In today’s fast paced, always connected world it’s important to teach children how to slow down and live in the moment. Zen Pig does this and more. In a beautifully written poem-like format we learn of the mindful little Zen Pig who teaches others how to be happy, grateful and compassionate. The illustrations are simple and lovely, which correlates well with the book’s message. This lyrical nature of this story makes the message easy to remember and one that will stick with children and serve them well over the years.
Monday At Jelly Roll Dog Park
Unfortunately bullying is an epidemic crisis our children are dealing with these days and Monday At Jelly Roll Dog Park aims to teach kids how to face a bully the Muttley way. A group of dog friends gather every day at the dog park and one day a new dog arrives. The dogs ostracize the new dog, Muttley because he isn’t purebred. Daisy Mae, the bulldog, consoles and mentors him and soon he is able to rise above the bullying by recognizing his own strengths. The illustrations are impressive, detailed, and capture the personalities of each of the dogs well. This book will be available in September.
Chizi’s Tale
This touching story tells the tale of an orphaned black rhino who is taken in by the family of a national park ranger. Chizi’s Tale is his story, about how he grew up with a human family who cared for him enough to help him get on his feet and eventually out on his own. It’s a heartwarming story with touches of playfulness and humor. It’s well written and the illustrations are full of detail and draw you right into the story. Kids and families will love the actual photos of Chizi and his human family in the back of the book and the fact that the author is a senior in high school who is donating 100% of his proceeds to TUSK towards its work to save the black rhino.
Jack Hanna’s Big Book Of Why
If you have a child that is always asking “Why?” this is the book for them. Jack Hanna’s Big Book Of Why is full of amazing animal facts and captivating photos and illustrations. The book is organized by habitat including: The Grasslands, The Desert, The Forest, The Rainforest, The Ocean, and The Poles. Along with answers to questions and quizzes there are also sections that help kids sound out the big words and offer kid-friendly definitions. Throughout the book there is even a cute baby Emperor penguin named Pepe hiding in habitats where he doesn’t belong encouraging kids to seek him out and dive further into the book. Children will enjoy the eye-catching style of the book, the beautiful and amazing images, as well as surprising their family and friends with all of the fun facts they learn along the way.
National Geographic Kids Guide To Photography
Do you have little bookworms and shutterbugs in your life? Then the National Geographic Kids Guide To Photography will have them engrossed for hours. This guide book for kids aged 8-12 by legendary National Geographic Photographer Annie Griffiths and children’s author Nancy Honovich is packed full of info, tips, and tricks to help kids improve their photography. The book includes sections on how a camera works, lens types, details about the different types of cameras (point-and-shoot, DSLR, smartphone, underwater, and more), camera care, photo editing, depth of field, shutter speed, light quality, composition, framing, and more all presented in a kid-friendly way. Annie’s Assignments are challenges scattered throughout the book encouraging kids not just to read but to apply what they’ve learned in fun, exciting, and educational ways.
These books are all wonderful gift ideas for the little bookworms in your life. They are full of wonderful lessons whether it’s living in the moment, how to recognize your strengths and rise above bullies, the importance of care & compassion for animals, learning fun and important animal facts, or studying tips on how to take better photographs. These books are all impactful, interesting, and enjoyable – the perfect combination to make them must have children’s books for years to come.
If you liked this post, you may also enjoy:
Great Books For Kids Who Are Always Asking “Why?” “Where?” and “How?”
These are really great Children’s books and I know my niece would love to read some of these. I like the book Jack Hanna’s Big book of Why. I even want to read it. I will have to look for some of these books.
I love all these books! I lived many years in Columbus, Ohio, when Jack Hanna was Director there at the Columbus Zoo, and have followed his career for years. I would love to get his book.
These all sound like great choices for my grandkids. I will have to look for these on my next trip to the bookstore.
My daughter would love Monday At Jelly Roll Dog Park! She loves dogs! Thanks for sharing.
Another one for this list could be Bert’s upcoming book:
“Bert Abroad – Adventures in London”
Bert is the big orange crocheted bird who’s here to share poems and photos from his adventures around the world!
https://www.inkshares.com/projects/bert-abroad-adventures-in-london-9606
Cool list – the Zen Pig book sounds right up our alley – I’ll have to check that one out! :)