Mount Vesuvius: Europe's Mighty Volcano of Smoke and Ash

Another volcano book my 11-yo read.  He never gets tired of reading these!

Tornado (Wild Weather)

My 11-yo just LOVES reading about tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, etc.  This is just one more added to his list of tornado books he's read.  Maybe he'll be one of those stormchaser dudes when he grows up?  Or at least he'll have lots of tornado knowledge to spice up those stories he's writing.

** from me, Mom

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Another charmer from the Jim Aylesworth/Barbara McClintock duo.  Don't miss the "Porridge Cookies" recipe on the back of the book! - Mom

Holi

A Read About Holiday book about India's Holi.  Very interesting, especially the part where people throw paint on each other.  Maybe the precursor of paintball?

The Milliner

Chock-full of illustrations and pictures telling you about the milliner's art, especially the way it was in the 18th century.

Flower Fairies of the Summer

Here you'll find:  the Buttercup Fairy, the Herb Robert Fairy (new to me!), the Forget-me-not Fairy, the Poppy Fairy, the Foxglove Fairy (a favorite), and loads more, several of which I had never heard of before.  Use this book when planning your flower gardens!

Flower Fairies of the Autumn

Another Cicely Mary Barker winner.  See my post on the winter compilation.

DK Superguides: Ballet

Little ballerinas and ballerina wannabes (and even moms who wanted to become ballerinas but didn't) will love this book!  As with most DK books I like the way the information is organized and presented.  The book is informative but since it's packed with pictures and chunks of descriptive paragraphs here and there, it doesn't get overwhelming and doesn't take away from the beauty and artistry of the dance.  Most of the pictures are of girls, but there are lots of pictures of boys as well. :)

One Morning in Maine

Sigh.  We miss you, Robert McCloskey!  I'm sooo glad he didn't title his books "The Adventures of Sal" or that would have been totally unimaginative -- *I* would do that, but not Robert McCloskey.  One Morning in Maine is the perfect title for this book!  I love this book as a read aloud, and as an idea book for what to do with kids if you ever find yourself near the sea.  I have never gone clamming and this book is one of the reasons clamming is still on my list of "things to do before I die".  Love the sweet parent-child relationship depicted here.  And love how Mr. McCloskey could take such simplicity, and highlight it in this elegant vignette of family life, as it could and should be.

Flower Fairies of the Winter

Now who doesn't like fairies?  And who doesn't like flowers?  Well, okay, maybe not my boys.  But this is -- as all Cicely Mary Barker books are -- magnificently illustrated, and such a delight to read.  Ideal for nature journal copywork, art, and to accompany plant/flower identification lessons.  I love this book, especially in the wintertime when everything outside is grey and dreary.  This book helps to put things in the right perspective! - Mom

I love this book! - Yena, 8

Betsy-Tacy

Wonderful book on girls' friendships.  Like the simplicity (and at the same time, complexity) of their play.  Excellent introduction to chapter books for young readers.  Yena loves these books!

The thing i love about these books is the adventures and fun Betsy and Tacy have.-- Yena