Activity/How-To

3 Picture Books about “How”: The Dictionary Story, The Shape of Things, and How to Make a Picture Book

Three new picture books give readers insight into words, maps, and stories. The Dictionary Story by Oliver Jeffers and Sam Winston. Candlewick, 2024, 56 pages. ...
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The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson

The Observologist is a fun and fascinating introduction to wonders of creation available for viewing in your own back yard. The Observologist: A Handbook for ...
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What It’s Like to Be a Bird by David Allen Sibley

What It’s Like to Be a Bird is an endlessly browsable resource for budding birdwatchers by a well-known authority in the field. What It’s Like ...
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Chinese Menu by Grace Lin

Chinese Menu traces the origin of everybody’s favorite Chinese dishes, from wonton soup to rice fortune cookies. Chinese Menu: The History, Myths, and Legends behind ...
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Maps, by Eleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski

Maps is an oversize and endlessly browseable collection of hand-drawn maps of most of the world. Maps by Eleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski. Candlewick, 2013, ...
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SmART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain by Amy E. Herman

SmART, a young-reader version of the best-seller Visual Intelligence, employs art as a way of teaching observation and interpretation. SmART: Use Your Eyes to Boost ...
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A Kid’s Guide to Backyard Bugs by Eliza Berkowitz

Fascinating, familiar specimens of insects AND arachnids are found in this lovely guide for young naturalists. A Kid's Guide to Backyard Bugs by Eliza Berkowitz, ...
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Comics: Whys, Hows, and Wherefores

(Originally published at Redeemed Reader on November 27, 2013) Most kids enjoy comics or their upscale cousins, graphic novels.  Of those who enjoy them, many ...
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Noticing by Kobi Yomada

Noticing, a picture book for tweens and older, beautifully illustrates the point that “One of the best things you can be is interested.” Noticing by ...
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reformation day traditions

Reformation Day Holiday Traditions

Inventing a Celebration I’ve never had much use for Halloween. We didn’t celebrate it when I was growing up, substituting other family fun that day, ...
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The Homework Squad’s ADHD Guide to School Success by Joshua Shifrin

The “Homework Squad” shows attention-challenged students how to study smarter. The Homework Squad’s ADHD Guide to School Success by Joshua Shifrin, PhD, illustrated by Tracy ...
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A Jesus Easter by Barbara Reaoch

Explore the story of Easter with A Jesus Easter, a family devotional for Lent with interactive questions and journaling prompts. A Jesus Easter: Explore God's ...
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cover of the double dangerous book for boys

*The Double Dangerous Book for Boys

The Double Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn, Arthur, and Cameron Iggulden is a clean, engaging, fascinating, and robust book for boys, just like the ...
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cover image of J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids

J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids by Simonetta Carr

An interactive biographical introduction to Tolkien with 21 activities, J. R. R. Tolkien for Kids is perfect for middle grade Tolkien enthusiasts. J. R. R. ...
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Outdoor School: Hiking and Camping by David and Blevins

The Outdoor School series offers interactive guides to experiencing, understanding, and appreciating nature. Outdoor School: Hiking and Camping by Jannifer Pharr Davis and Haley Blevins, ...
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*10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity by Rebecca McLaughlin

With Christianity increasingly under fire, apologist Rebecca McLaughlin answers 10 questions every young Christian will have to confront. *10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and ...
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Bee Fearless by Mikaila Ullmer

In Bee Fearless, Mikaila Ulmer tells how she grew a multimillion-dollar business out of a lemonade stand--but not by herself. Bee Fearless: Dream Like a ...
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Picture Books for Young Writers: My Pencil and Me and How to Write a Story

My Pencil and Me by Sara Varon. First Second, 2020, 34 pages. Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8 Recommended for: ages 5-7 Every writer knows ...
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Ancient Romans, Alphamaniacs, and Incredible Jobs

Three illustrated non-fiction books share fascinating information about ancient cultures, unusual wordsmiths, and careers you might not have considered. Ancient Romans and Their Neighbors: An ...
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A Better Than Anything Christmas by Barbara Reaoch

Dig in to the Christmas story a bit more intentionally this year with A Better Than Anything Christmas, a family Advent devotional with interactive questions ...
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Comics: Easy as ABC! by Ivan Brunetti

Comics: Easy as ABC! is an accessible introduction to drawing for young artists, but the content includes one big misstep. Comics: Easy as ABC! An ...
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How to Be a Person by Catherine Newman

How to Be a Person humorously introduces middle-graders to life skills both practical and thoughtful. How to Be a Person: 65 Hugely Useful Super-Important Skills ...
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Road Trip USA

The sensible way to plan a vacation would be to decide months in advance where you want to go and how you want to get ...
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Everybody Counts by Kristin Roskifte

Everybody Counts is more than a counting book: it includes big numbers and big thoughts. Everybody Counts: a Counting Story from 0 to 7.5 Billion ...
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Exploring the Bible Together by David Murray

Exploring the Bible Together launches families on a year-long journey through Scripture in a way that’s both practical and effective. Exploring the Bible Together: a ...
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Everything Awesome about Dinosaurs by Mike Lowery

A fact-packed and tongue-in-cheek resource for dinosaur fans, with a distinct evolutionary slant. Everything Awesome about Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Beasts by Mike Lowery.  Orchard ...
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How to Raise a Reader by Pamela Paul and Maria Russo

How to Raise a Reader focuses less on the “Why” and more on the “How” of fostering a love of literature in your own children. ...
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Go Build Something! Engineering Books for Boys (and Girls)

STEM is big in schools and publishing today, and many educators add an A to make STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. Engineering ties ...
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World Atlas: Essential Student Reference

Does your student have a world atlas at home to reference? Is your classroom or school library stocked with several? Do we even need a ...
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Explorer Academy: Code-Breaking Activity Adventure

Learn to break codes like a professional sleuth in Explorer Academy: Code-Breaking Activity Adventure for middle grades. Explorer Academy: Code-Breaking Activity Adventure by Dr. Gareth ...
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Look! I Wrote a Book! by Sally Lloyd Jones

Sally Lloyd Jones shares the basics of book-writing with simple advice that works for any age. Look! I Wrote a Book (and You Can Too) ...
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The Delights of Childcraft, part 2

Yesterday I introduced a set of books that impressed me as a child, and I appreciate them more now as a parent and home educator. ...
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The Delights of Childcraft, part 1

I remember the first book that taught me to love poetry as a child. "Antonio, Antonio," by Laura E. Richards, was in the second volume ...
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STEM Girls: a Roundup

The range of fields encompassed by Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) are the new educational Holy Grail, replacing history, social science, and the humanities. ...
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The Survival Guide to Money Smarts by Eric Braun

Practical worksheets and relevant concerns make this “Survival Guide” a useful money primer for middle graders. The Survival Guide to Money Smarts by Eric Braun ...
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The Money-Smart Family System by Steve Economides

"Money smarts" begin at home in this family-oriented guide to teaching wise management. The Money Smart Family System by Steve and Annette Economides.  Thomas Nelson, ...
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Shakespeare Fun and Frivolity

Shakespeare fans who have room on their shelves and a box of freshly sharpened colored pencils will find good application for both with three fun ...
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Sign Here: Twenty-Two Unofficially Official Pull-Out Forms

Perfect activity for your list-loving child on a cold winter’s day. Sign Here by Gabrielle Djanogly & Adele Mildred.  Prestel Junior, 2018.  48 pages.   Reading Level: Ages ...
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A Colorful Past by William Boekestein

A coloring book for elementary through middle grades offers a sweeping view of church history, from the first century to the twentieth. A Colorful Past: ...
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Science Ideas in 30 Seconds by Mike Goldsmith

In spite of some outdated ideas about science and faith, these 30-second explanations form an interesting tour of science history.  Ages 8-15 Science Ideas in ...
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Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt for Kids by Simonetta Carr

Christian biographer Simonetta Carr explores the life of Cleopatra, one of the most fascinating and mysterious women in history.  Ages 10-16 Cleopatra and Ancient Egypt ...
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Summer Fun Booklist: Full of Activities and Things to Do!

Summer Days Ahead The glorious weeks of summer are upon us (if you live in the Southeast) or soon to be (if you live in ...
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Stuck in the Stone Age by Geoff Rodkey

Stuck in the Stone Age offers a short course in story writing as well as a wacky time-travel adventure.  Ages 8-12 Stuck in the Stone ...
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With My Hands by Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

With My Hands, a poetry collection for ages 5-10, celebrates the endless creativity of humans from the earliest ages. With My Hands: Poems about Making ...
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It’s National Poetry Month – Let’s Write a Poem! (Free Download)

In honor of National poetry month, here's a sample lesson from Wordsmith Apprentice to help reluctant writers produce original verse. "Poetry" is a scary word ...
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Bible Review: NIV Kids’ Quiz Bible

The NIV Quiz Bible challenges readers with over 1000 questions to answer from the text. NIV Kids’ Quiz Bible.  Zonderkidz, 2018, 1795 pages Recommended for: ...
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*Big Picture Bible Crafts by Gail Schoonmaker

A great resource for Sunday school or art class, these Bible crafts will help kids learn while they create.  All ages *Big Picture Bible Crafts: ...
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The Wonder of the Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp

The Wonder of the Greatest Gift offers a complete Jesse Tree experience with devotional and ornaments for the whole family to enjoy. The Wonder of ...
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The Coloring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Christmas

A whimsical collection of 24 cards and coordinating envelopes to color and share this Christmas! The Coloring Book of Cards and Envelopes: Christmas by Nosy ...
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*The Radical Book for Kids by Champ Thornton

This fun and friendly compendium of Bible facts, everyday knowledge, history, how-to, wise counsel, apologetics, and doctrine is a terrific resource for every Christian kid. ...
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The Kids’ Book of Simple Machines by Kelly Doudna

A perfect instruction manual for young tinkerers who want to know how things work and how to leverage the six simple machines to build cool ...
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The 101 Coolest Simple Science Experiments by Miller, Homer, and Harrington

There's no excuse to be bored with this book lying around: chemistry, physics, the natural world, and even the human body are just a page ...
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Science Experiments You Can Eat by Vicki Cobb

Kids will love getting to eat their science projects in this clever, well organized book all about science. Science Experiments You Can Eat, Revised and ...
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5 Ways to Connect Legos and Literature

What do you do when spring is shining and the kids are squirming? If you have a child who is enthusiastic about Legos, enrich their time ...
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Brick Flicks by Sarah Herman

Brick Flicks: A comprehensive guide to making your own stop-motion Lego movies by Sarah Herman. Skyhorse Publishing, 2014. 206 pages. Reading Level: Young Adult, Ages ...
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20 Ways to Draw a…: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers and Doodlers [series] by various authors

20 Ways to Draw a…: A Sketchbook for Artists, Designers and Doodlers by various authors. Quarry Books. 95 pages. Reading Level: Ages 4-8 and up Recommended ...
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McSweeney's The Goods, vol. 1

McSweeney’s The Goods, vol. 1

The Goods, vol. 1 by McSweeney's. Big Picture Press, 2013. 96 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12 Recommended For: Ages 8 and up Bottom ...
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*Daily Bible Reading Program for Children: 7/52 Bible Study

*Unfortunately, it looks like this program is no longer available. Consider this review a source of inspiration! If you create something like this, be sure ...
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Keeping Your Cool by Lou Priolo

Keeping Your Cool: A Teen’s Survival Guide by Lou Priolo. P&R, capsule 2014 (new edition). 251 pages, unhealthy including appendices. Reading Level: Young Adults, ages ...
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cover of Hosanna, Loud Hosannas

*Hosanna, Loud Hosannas by Barbara and David Leeman

*Hosanna, Loud Hosannas: Essential Hymns Every Child Should Sing compiled and written by Barbara and David Leeman, 2014. 300 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-12Recommended ...
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cover of eye benders

Eye Benders: The Science of Seeing and Believing by Clive Gifford

Eye Benders: The Science of Seeing and Believing by Clive Gifford. Ivy Press, 2013 (U.K.) and 2014 (U.S.A.). 64 pages. Reading Level: Middle grades, 8-12 ...
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It’s Party Time! How to wish Will a happy 450th

What better way to celebrate Shakespeare's birthday than to throw a party!  With ten or more guests and liberal use of the suggestions below, it ...
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Mission Work for Kids: Sewing School and Crafts for Hope

In our Summer Reading Challenge, we've just read the story of Nate Saint, one of the men who entered glory alongside Jim Elliot trying to ...
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What’s on the Menu? Literary Cookbooks!

Food occupies our minds a lot this time of year—to gather around, to give away, to serve to strangers at the Salvation Army, to stuff ...
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*Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen

Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen. Random House (Wendy Lamb Books), 2007. 88 pages. Reading Level: Middle Grades, ages 8-10 Maturity Level: 4 (Ages 10-12) Bottom ...
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