June 17, 2017
3 Important Books for Kids
Summer’s approaching. Kids love playing outside, visiting friends–and reading! To encourage that last activity, here are three great books that will entertain, motivate, and educate–all in one fun experience.
- Sir Chocolate and the Sugar Dough Bees Story and Cookbook — a clever blend of baking and reading. This is one of several Robby Cheadle and family have written
- Why are There Bullies and What Can You Do About Them — an interactive Q&A about bullying and its solutions
- The Piper Morgan Series — addresses issues youngsters are curious about, told in first person through the eyes of delightful Piper Morgan
Sir Chocolate and the sugar dough bees story and cookbook
by Robbie Cheadle
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Who could not pick up Robbie and Michael Cheadle’s story-and-baking book, Sir Chocolate and the Sugar Dough Bees Story and Cookbook (TSL Publications 2017) after reading this blurb:
“A greedy snail damages the flower fields and the fondant bees are in danger of starving. Join Sir Chocolate on an adventure to find the fruit drop fairies who have magic healing powers and discover how to make some of his favourite foods on the way.”
This is a fun poetic story about the adventures of Sir Chocolate interspersed with wonderful recipes parents and kids create together–like Cheesy Bread and Butter Biscuits–accompanied by cute real-life pictures of the sugar dough creations, I have never seen a book that blended recipes and reading. How clever is that! Kids love cooking with parents, and now they can blend that with a favorite pastime: reading.
One note: Robbie and Michael are mother-and-son. Not only will kids be inspired to cook with parents, but write and publish a book.
Why Are There Bullies and What Can You Do About Them
by Rich Linville
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Rich Linville, the author of several humorous child-oriented books (such as one about unicorn jokes), takes a serious look at bullying in his latest publication, Why Are There Bullies and What Can You Do About It (Amazon Digital Services 2016). This is a delightful, interactive, easy-to-read book aimed at all stakeholders in the national epidemic of bullying. He organizes the topic into seven big questions such as What is bullying? and Why do people bully? Then, Linville, a long-time teacher who’s probably seen more examples of the bullying kids inflict on each other than he ever wanted to, answers each question with a quick useful list of solutions that vary depending upon circumstances.
As a teacher for over 35 years, I highly recommend this book to fellow educators.
The Piper Morgan Series
by Stephanie Faris
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I love this book as well as the entire Piper Morgan series. Written for young readers and told in first person through the eyes of the pugnacious curious Piper Morgan, Stephanie Faris successfully discusses topics kids are curious about in a way that makes them want to listen. Our youngest readers have the opportunity to face issues and resolve them as though they were part of the adventure. Each story includes fun drawings that add depth and detail to the story.
This is highly recommended for parents, elementary school librarians, and primary school teachers.
Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-8 technology for 20 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-8 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, CSG Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice reviewer, CAEP reviewer, CSTA presentation reviewer, freelance journalist on tech ed topics, and a weekly contributor to TeachHUB. You can find her resources at Structured Learning. Read Jacqui’s tech thriller series, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days.
