This is one weird summer. Some playgrounds are still closed, few splash pads are turned on, and physical distancing is still the norm. Recently I’ve noticed my mind is stuck bemoaning all the things I can’t do with my kids this summer. It’s not a fun brain-space to be, I can tell you that. To help myself feel better (and maybe you too) I’ve made a huge list of things we can do this summer, even if we’re hanging out with friends a lot less than we wish to be.
Make circles in your park (hula hoops will work) and invite a few friends to have a dance-off. Bring good music and stay in your circle!
Give your neighborhood the popsicle test! It’s a rating that urban planners use to determine how good a city is for children. Can a child safely walk to a store, buy a popsicle, and return home before it melts?
Host a lemonade stand. Or a popsicle stand, if you’ve discovered your neighborhood has a shortage.
Watch MOTHERLOAD. It’s a documentary about one mom’s fight against isolation and disconnection using a cargo bike and the rich community of families on bikes. If you’ve ever been curious about family biking, this is for you.
Go camping! Or just pitch a tent in your living room or backyard.
Make a donation to your little free library or make your own! Be sure to add it to the world map of libraries.
Turn your balcony into an oasis with plants and twinkle lights. Add pillows or chairs for max chill.
Go on a bike ride. Can you hit a 30-day streak of rides?
Go on a hike, urban or nature. Find a trail near you on the Hiking Project (a great source for bike trails too).
Calculate the distance between fire hydrants, manholes, access pipes, telephone poles, bus stops, and other infrastructure in the area surrounding your house. Are they all spaced the same distance apart?
Grab a camera and take photos of the best parts of your ‘hood. Print and display at your local coffee shop or another public place.
Buy a new micro-transit option: a scooter, skateboard, rollerblades, etc.
Ask your kid to guide you to a neighborhood spot. Can they lead you there with little to no guidance?
Be trash ninjas: pick up litter in your neighborhood. Gloves and ninja masks required.
Learn 25 new words in another language spoken frequently around your home.
Design a boat and test it for floatation in the park, your kiddie pool, or even the bathtub.
Make a stick family and leave them on your friend’s stoop as an anonymous gift.
Make stilts with tin cans and string and take a walk around the block. Or try this beginner woodworking option with blocks of wood.
Tally each fire hydrant, bus, manhole cover, street sweeper, crossing guard, bike, etc. you see on your walk.
Make a fairy door for a tree on your block and see if any fairies move in next to you.
Take up weaving. Use fabric scraps or even bits of nature to make your weaving. Take it to the next level by asking your neighborhood park if you can make a community loom.
Challenge your family to walk everywhere for a week. Better yet, map out a two-mile circle around your house and commit to always walking to those places!
Paint silly faces on rocks and leave them around your neighborhood to make people smile.
Make a neighborhood scavenger hunt for a friend and then ask them to make one for you.
Paint a tic tac toe board on a piece of wood (like a stump) and use rocks for the Xs and Os. Leave in a community area for everyone to enjoy.
Improve your park. Use this guide to help you get started; it’s made for NYC but the ideas are universal.
Get a small solar panel and figure out how to generate power for something like twinkle lights.
Yarn bomb a tree! Or a bench, or a fence. (If it’s not your tree, you should probably ask permission.) Be responsible and watch your yarn bomb for signs of decay and clean it up when you notice it getting soggy or gross.
Eyebomb! Anthropomorphize different objects in your city using ping-pong eyeballs or google eyes.
Seed bomb! Launch some seed bombs in an empty lot or a spot that needs more plant life.
Try your hand at graffiti with washable spray chalk. Spray it on the sidewalk so it’s easily washed off with rain.
Make a bench and place it in a spot that needs a seat. If you can’t build it, offer to purchase one for a small business with sidewalk space.
Know of some community improvements in the works? Take the kids to a city council meeting and speak up—socially distancing of course.
Search the night skies for the ISS or hubble or your favorite constellation.
I'm a boy mom, urbanite, and optimist who loves to encourage fellow city parents as they navigate urban life with kids. I founded The Sidewalk Club to do just that! City family solidarity is our thing. 💙🏙
Keep your whole troop entertained this summer. Shake Shack just launched Shack Camp, an interactive experience. Starting today families can purchase a Shack Camp Box which includes six weeks worth of activities that you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.
Once campers receive their Shake Camp Box they can follow along on Shake Shack’s social channels. The box includes everything you need for six weeks’ worth of activities and programming for the family plus exclusive offers and promotions.
Campers can expect to participate in many fun activities including, making your own lemonade stand, telling scary stories around the campfire, whipping up frozen custard sundaes, getting involved in your community, creating arts and crafts and competing in Field Day. Plus, every Monday, starting Jul. 13 Shake Shack will debut an IGTV that demonstrates that week’s activity so families can follow along.
As part of Shake Shack’s mission to Stand for Something Good, the campaign will be supporting Fresh Air Fund’s virtual summer program. To help the thousands of NYC inner city kids whose summer camp was impacted by COVID, Shake Shack and their partners, Uber Eats, OREO Cookies and Goldbelly are collectively pledging $75,000 to the Fresh Air Fund’s “Fresh Air Everywhere” 2020 virtual summer program for children ages 7 through 13.
The boxes officially go on sale on Jul. 8 at 12 p.m. ET at camp.shakeshack.com for $79 plus shipping (only available for shipping within the continental U.S.) and the first week of the camp kicks off on July 13th on Instagram.
As children become exposed to reading at an early age, they may advance quickly and be ready to enjoy more challenging books to read. Finding the right books that are both age-appropriate and captivating to young readers may be a growing challenge for some parents.
At Stratford School, we have found that helping students craft a reading list—one that will challenge them and provide interesting topics to enjoy—all while avoiding subjects they may not be emotionally mature enough to handle, can be a delicate balance. Many such books are written with young children in mind, but with vocabulary and literary complexities typically associated with older readers.
Below is a curated list of books specially designed with young readers in mind. These great books will make them want to read more while fulfilling their desires for heftier literature. Enjoy and happy reading!
Preschool and Kindergarten
I Can Read! Series (Various Levels): With titles like Amazing Snakes! and Beyond the Dinosaurs, your preschooler will love the fun pictures, and the pronunciation guides will help them learn new words. Start with level 1, then as your child progresses introduce some of the level 2 titles. Arthur’s Loose Tooth is a great way to get your reader ready for the inevitable day when that tooth will come out. There are also favorite characters like Batman, Flat Stanley and Marley. These colorful books are lots of fun and will have your child reading them again and again.
First to Third Graders
Who Was (Is) Series by Various Authors: This exciting, illustrated biography series is perfect for children who are beyond easy-to-read books about famous people, but not quite ready for thick, lengthy biographies. The books cover sports heroes, presidents, musicians, authors, and scientists. The books will give young readers a good sense of who these people were (or are). There are little blurbs on what else was going on in the world at certain moments in history, which helps put the subject in context.
Fourth to Fifth Graders
The Doughnut Fix (Series) by Jessie Janowitz: Tristan’s family has always loved living in New York City, but all that is about to change. His dad announces that they are moving to a dilapidated, purple house on a hill on the outskirts of the very small town of Petersville in upstate New York. Tristan is devastated because he is a city kid through and through. They won’t be starting school for several months, and Tristan’s parents tell him that he must complete a project. Tristan, who loves to cook like his chef mom, decides to start a business making and selling the supposedly mind-blowing chocolate-cream doughnuts once famous in Petersville but now no longer made. His business plan leads to adventures, new friends and a sense of acceptance. Tristan’s doughnut endeavor will hold wide appeal as a pleasure read and may inspire young foodies or entrepreneurs to think beyond the lemonade stand.
The Inquisitor’s Tale: Or, the Three Magical Children and Their Holy Dogby Adam Gidwitz: Join William, an oblate on a mission from his monastery; Jacob, a Jewish boy who has fled his burning village; and Jeanne, a peasant girl who hides her prophetic visions. They are accompanied by Jeanne’s loyal greyhound, Gwenforte . . . recently brought back from the dead. Told in multiple voices, in a style reminiscent of The Canterbury Tales, the narrator collects their stories, and the saga of these three unlikely allies begins to come together. A fantastic story set in the middle ages with beautiful characters, fast-moving action and creative artwork in the marginalia. This book transmits a strong set of values. Enjoy this author’s Grimm series as well.
Middle School
How To: Absurd Scientific Advice for Common Real-World Problems by Randall Munroe: Former NASA robotics scientist Randall Munroe considers unlikely solutions to common problems. The book is written in a question and answer method. Questions are presented and followed by scientific answers. The book covers subjects such as forces, properties and natural phenomena, with the aim of encouraging readers to reach for revolutionary ideas by considering unusual and fun approaches. Calculating how thick a wall of cheddar cheese would need to be to support an above-ground pool leads to a discussion of nuclear weapons testing and the engineering disaster that formed California’s Salton Sea. If your child loves this book, there are more by this author. Munroe also wrote the following books: What if?: Serious Scientific Answers to Absurd Hypothetical Questions and Thing Explainer: Complicated Stuff in Simple Words.
Keira Pride is the Head Librarian at Stratford School, the leading independent private school founded with a vision of creating a unique, multi-dimensional, educational foundation for children. As Stratford's Head Librarian, she manages the library services department across campuses throughout Northern and Southern California.
Disney’s Frozen 2 hits theaters Nov.22—but that doesn’t mean your kiddo has to wait until the debut date to act out imaginative Anna and Elsa-filled scenes. At least not if they have the KidKraft Disney Frozen 2 Arendelle Wooden Playhouse.
The KidKraft playhouse is available on Costco.com for $369.99. So if you’re pint-sized princesses would pretend play their fave Frozen role all day long if they could, read on for more info on this must-have holiday gift!
photo: Costco
The playhouse includes a serving window with an icy awning, two window planters, two chalkboard panels, ice-sculpted windows and plenty of Frozen-themed interior design.
Use this cute castle-like playhouse for hours of indoor or outdoor play. The serving window is perfect for a “Frozen” lemonade stand and the chalkboard panels are ideal for hours of artsy adventures.
Visit Costco’s website here for more details or to order your own.
Brrr! Long, cold, wintry nights mean soft, warm, breathable pajamas are a must. It’s time to step up your baby PJ game. If you’re looking for seasonal styles, or options for easy diaper changes and temperature control, then you’ve come to the right place. Here are 15 pairs of pajamas for your sleeping beauty.
Snowman Baby & Toddler Bamboo Viscose Zippy from Little Sleepies
This may be the most versatile sleeper we’ve seen. It’s made with soft and stretchy fabric that helps little ones regulate body temperature and is easy on sensitive skin. The PJs are designed with a double zipper for easy diaper changes and fold-over hand and foot cuffs for keeping babes warm and cozy (and free from scratches!). Plus, the sizing is super flexible given extra long arms and legs. A portion of each sale is donated to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer.
Royal Blue Polka Dot Footie from Pineapple Sunshine
Made with 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, this ultra-soft footie by Pineapple Sunshine is like a ray of warm sunshine on any cold winter day. The zip-front styles all come in custom prints, many with a contrast hand crochet trim like the beautiful royal blue polka dot style. And it wouldn’t look out of place at a fancy restaurant or family gathering.
Here's how your baby can sleep seamlessly from car seat to stroller to crib all winter long. The ergoPouch converts from sleep bag to sleep suit with a smart four-way zipper. Made with 100% organic cotton filling, stretchy side panels, long jersey cotton sleeves with fold-down mitts, and grip pads on the feet, this can be worn in place of traditional jammies until spring thaw!
A deep, lovely mauve with a winter harvest design, the Inverse Parsnip pajamas epitomize timeless sleep style. The top and bottom pair are made with 100% organic interlocking knit cotton, which is soft for both slumber and play. These PJs are pretty enough to eat, and perhaps you’ll inspire an interest in root veggies!
Your baby will look like a holiday gift warmly wrapped up in this knotted gown. It’s made with a rayon-spandex blend so baby can stretch and grow and breathe while the gown design keeps them semi-swaddled. Simply untie the bottom for quick diaper changes and fold over the wrist cuffs to protect baby’s hands when needed. A matching cap and bow are perfect for photo opps too!
The brand that makes those amazing fleece baby booties also has some pretty great pajama options. The new Lost in Space sleeper is made with GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton and comes in a great color palette for hiding breakfast spills and stains! Rib cuffs on the arms and legs and a zip up the front mean this style is practical and comfortable too.
Babies and tots will find comfort in a set of feathery Pima cotton pajamas with tons of color options to choose from. The color "thicket" feels particularly festive and evergreen. Best of all, the PJs come in men’s and women’s sizes too, so you can all cuddle up with coordinating styles.
MerinoSilk Infant Loungewear Set from Nui Organics
Invest in a merino silk sleep set for your baby and you may be paid back in restful nights. This crew and leggings combo helps little ones regulate body temperature while staying breathable against their delicate skin all night long. Throw a sweater, maybe some pants, and some socks on the next morning for ultra-warm layering as winter gets underway!
Can’t you just smell the pine trees and freshly fallen snow? The retro vibe of this ski-inspired PJ is perfect for baby’s first winter. Made with 100% Peruvian Pima cotton, the onesie is pre-washed and pre-shrunk so you can be sure it will last all season.
Happy Holly Organic Sleep & Play Pajamas from Burt's Bees Baby
Not only does Burt’s Bees have the best skincare products, but Burt's Bees Baby makes wonderful pajamas too. The Happy Holly Organic Sleep & Play Pajamas are just roomy enough to take your babe from crib to playroom floor, and for every little wiggle in between! The footie has no-slip grips for safe cruising and convertible mitts with fold-over cuff for the littlest ones. The PJs are made with 100% organic, GOTS-certified cotton.
Finn + Emma is known for its heirloom quality clothing, which is why these tree-print pajamas are an easy choice for long winter nights. Made with 100% organic cotton, the PJs have a wide elastic waistband for fitting around growing tummies. And the goods are GOTS-certified and ethically made in India with non-toxic, eco-friendly dyes.
If you shop Primary for basics, then you’ll appreciate this rainbow star pajama that also comes in solids. Zip up your kiddo in this multicolored wonder, sing a few verses of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” and send them sweetly to dreamland in 100% combed cotton rib.
If you’re looking for something beyond traditional baby jammies, look to nununu. The spiral loungewear is utterly unisex and great for families who lean edgy. With a soft waistband and shell fabric cuffs, this long-sleeve-and-leggings combo is made out of 100% cotton and comfortable enough to spend an entire winter vacation lounging around in.
The magic in this footie is the silky, soft bamboo rayon. Babies can sleep soundly because the fabric stretches and breathes as well as comforts all night long. We love the teal hue, along with the coordinating sleep bag for cold nights, but babies will be happy in any of the earthy-bold color options.
Certified Organic 2-Way Zip Sleep & Play from Carter's
Didn't think innovation in PJs was possible? Think again. Carter's just released a new two-way, inverted zip sleeper that zips up or down to keep baby's body covered during diaper changes. The 100% organic cotton rib style is simple, cozy and the most affordable option we've seen.
Sizes: Preemie-9M
Available at carters.com, $12.
Holiday Safari Pajama Set from Sammy + Nat
The more your baby wears these PJs, the comfier they get! Made out of 100% Pima cotton, the two-piece pajama set is hypo-allergenic and a solid choice when the weather starts to cool. Each time they go through the wash, they'll further soften, like snow in the morning sunshine!
When Hillary Weidner posted a pic of her kiddos’ lemonade stand, the mom to three never expected what would happen next.
Weidner, and best friend Amanda Zerbe, have a combined six children. Zerbe’s five-year-old son Jack set up the stand over Labor Day weekend, and Weidner’s kids joined in on the fun. In 45 minutes the Weidner-Zerbe lemonade stand made a whopping $148.
Instead of using the money on toys and candy, the families decided to donate the earnings to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital—where Weidner’s oldest daughter Beatrice received a liver transplant. Born with a rare liver disease, Beatrice needed a transplant to thrive and survive. Luckily, her mom was a perfect match. Weidner told Good Morning America, “It was a crazy, traumatic, amazing experience.” She went on to add, “We owe so much to the hospital.”
The two moms decided to take a pic of their combined families with an over-sized check for the $148 donation. Weidner posted the photo on Instagram with a request for matching donations to the hospital via Venmo.
The photo, and request, went viral—with the donation total climbing to over $125,000!
Parents have little time, but they always have plenty of responsibility. As a parent, it’s up to you to stimulate the curiosity of your child. By leveraging online resources, even a busy parent can find the time to promote your child’s cognitive development and provide them with skills that will come in handy for the rest of their lives.
Preparing Kids for the World We Live In
In today’s world of connectivity and digital citizenship, parents continue to play an integral role in the education of children. It seems that each generation is more technically savvy than the next. Because of this, educators increasingly recognize the importance of staying in front of the tech teaching curve.
It’s essential that parents are part of their children’s digital life to ensure their safety. Today, kids spent a lot of time online learning and playing. At the same time, open access to information and entertainment is a gateway to the outside world. Parents must know how to keep kids safe in a world where physical barriers aren’t necessarily enough to protect their children from the outside world.
Getting a Leg up on the Future
Programming is one of the fastest-growing occupations in the world. Many people may think of website development when they hear the word “coding.” However, coding, or computer programming, is necessary for much more than webpages.
In the future, labor demand will shift significantly toward technical skills. In anticipation of that shift, you can make sure your kids are ready for the new work environment by taking advantage of convenient online learning resources. Udemy, for instance, offers coding courses for kids. There are beginning courses as well as courses that kids can take to learn languages such as HTML, CSS or Python.
Tapping Into Kids’ Creativity
Even in an increasingly technological world, it’s important to nurture children’s creativity. You can encourage your child’s self-expression by giving them straightforward instructions on how to create crafts using simple materials.
Not all kids are into technology, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t use technology to encourage their creativity. For instance, Udemy offers plenty of beginner art courses for kids. The Udemy learning platform features afterschool drawing lessons and other art activities.
Simple art courses that teach kids how to draw can help to build confidence. If your child enjoys the beginning courses, there also advanced classes where kids can learn how to work with various mediums such as watercolors.
Helping Kids Learn the Basics of Business
Often, there are signs that a child will grow up to become an entrepreneur. It’s usually the kid that sets up a lemonade stand or washes cars for spending money that ends up starting a business later in life. And even if your child doesn’t exhibit the entrepreneurial spirit, you can teach them valuable financial lessons with an allowance. Rather than merely giving them spending money for good behavior, use their allowance to teach them lessons, such as how to earn and how to budget.
For budding entrepreneurs—or parents who want to instill the skill in their children—there are also kid entrepreneurship courses online. Young business learners can start with basic concepts, like learning the qualities of an entrepreneur and how businesspeople come up with ideas. There are also story-based lessons that teach kids how to survive in business. After kids learn the basics of entrepreneurship, they can move on to advanced lessons about business, such as marketing strategy, pricing, and business structure.
When parents take an interest in their children’s academic performance, kids exhibit better learning outcomes. By engaging your child in learning outside of the classroom, you’ll help them develop an attitude that will help them succeed in school, work and life.
Sarah Daren has been a consultant for startups in industries including health and wellness, wearable technology, and education. She implements her health knowledge into every aspect of her life, including her position as a yoga instructor and raising her children. Sarah enjoys watching baseball and reading on the beach.
Eleven-year-old Seth Parker is a mini marketer in the making. The Brigham City, Utah sixth grader recently made news with his “Ice Cold Beer” sign, and if you’re wondering why (or how) a child could sell beer from a street-side stand—that’s the totally genius part!
Even though Parker’s sign may have given locals pause, all you need to do is read the fine print to understand. Look closely above the bold black lettering of the word “Beer” and you’ll see see a much smaller “Root” written in green.
The entrepreneurial 11-year-old, who set up a stand outside his home, used the attention-grabbing sign to draw customers in. And it worked! Not only did neighbors notice Parker’s sign, but so did the Brigham City Police Department. The PD posted a pic of the boy on its Facebook page, writing, “This young man, in the area of 600 South 200 East, has a twist on a lemonade stand. Yep, he’s selling beer … ROOT BEER, that is.”
The Brigham PD also added, “His marketing strategy has resulted in several calls to the BCPD, but apparently its paid off as business has been good.” Based on the Facebook comments, it looks like Brigham has a mogul in the making!
Volunteering has to be fun for kids as well as meaningful, so we have a few simple ideas to inspire your mini philanthropists in San Diego
Kids of all ages know how great it feels to help others and volunteering fosters a charitable attitude and awareness of the world beyond them. We’ve rounded up gestures both big and small that you can do as a family to benefit rescue animals, sick children, the homeless, the hungry, the environment, and more.
It's worm-wrangling time! Every third Saturday of each month volunteers can head to the Solana Center to help care for earthworms. A vital part of the composting process, the worms need feeding and new worm beds. All experience levels are welcome. So dig in and get a little dirty.
Solana Center for Environmental Innovation 137 N. El Camino Real Encinitas Online:solanacenter.org
Kids can create their own fundraiser (at home!) to support the Helen Woodward Animal Shelter. Whether it's a dog wash, lemonade stand, or bake sale, little helpers can use their imagination. Everyone wins. Little fundraisers gain experience and it helps the animals too. Young entrepreneurs can also organize a food or blanket drive to donate much-needed items to the shelter or they can start a neighborhood dog walking service and donate some of the proceeds.
Dig in and help a real working farm in San Diego. From animal feedings and composting to digging and pulling, your crew is sure to get dirty and have fun. If little ones aren't yet up to being farm hands, they are welcome to walk around (supervised) and observe farm happenings and meet the animals. When done volunteering, take a nature walk on the nearby trail and have a picnic!
Sign up for a countywide or community clean-up to help beautify America’s Finest City. I Love a Clean San Diego’s mission is to make the city zero waste and litter free and to develop and inspire an environmentally engaged region. Volunteers clear half a million pounds of debris from San Diego’s neighborhoods, creeks, canyons, and coastlines every year.
Want to help out furry friends? Any day is a great day to give to the San Diego Humane Society. Their wish list provides an easy opportunity to give from the comfort of home. Or get out into the community with a creative project to benefit animals in need of a ‘fur’ever home. You can also instill awareness and compassion in your kids via the Pet Pals program. Once a month, kids ages 6-11 can head to the San Diego Humane Society to interact with and learn more about animals.
Create joy for a child in the hospital anytime throughout the year. Donate a new toy, book, or video that will cheer up a child who isn’t able to go out and play. Top choices include matchbox cars and new-release movies. Stuffed animals and used toys are not accepted. Having your kiddo choose the donation allows them to take ownership of the project and feel good about helping too.
According to Feeding San Diego, 1 in 8 San Diegans face hunger and food insecurity. A meaningful, memorable way to show you care is to volunteer with Feeding San Diego. Each Saturday, volunteers ages 6 and older get hands-on with food that is distributed to needy families throughout the county. You’ll spend 2 hours sorting produce or dry goods. The hard work creates a great talking point about not taking simple things for granted and being aware that people all around us are in need.
This service project is great for families and groups like Girl Scouts. Meals on Wheels serves meals to thousands of local home-bound seniors. But, did you know you can create a care package for these older neighbors and teach kids to honor their elders at the same time? Meals on Wheels loves donations that can be delivered alongside meals as a holiday or birthday present. Drop off care packages in gift bags or clear plastic Tupperware containers so they can be properly distributed by staff. Add joy by creating a special loving message for a senior. Donations can be dropped off at any of the four regional Meals on Wheels offices.
There are plenty of ways to lend a hand with San Diego River clean-up and habitat restoration. You can connect with nature and give back to the community by gardening, beautifying the environment, and clearing it of trash. Check their event calendar for a plethora of volunteer opportunities from garden work parties to clean and green events.
If you love to spend time together in nature, help keep our parks clean by volunteering your time at The Tecolote Nature Center. Their ongoing conservation efforts give families a great opportunity to help pull weeds, dispose of trash and gather recyclables. Many volunteer opportunities are available––so get in touch and find out how your clan can lend a hand.
From the Oceanside Pier to Sunset Cliffs, our beaches are sacred places to many of us––places to play, watch a beautiful sunset and ride the waves. Help preserve the beauty of local beaches and teach kids to do their part to keep the ocean healthy by participating in a weekend beach cleanup. The Surfrider Foundation of San Diego County hosts beach cleanups most Saturdays along many local shores. Bring gloves, hats, and sunscreen. Trash grabbers and bags will be provided.
San Diego has the fourth largest homeless population in the nation. Father Joe’s Villages is the largest rehabilitation program for our city’s homeless. Kids age 10 and older can volunteer to serve meals and help at events. Read their list of volunteer FAQs for more information and to sign up to volunteer.
Kids ages 11 and older can volunteer at the San Diego Food Bank doing a variety of projects throughout a three-hour shift: cleaning and packaging produce, sorting, boxing and labeling food donations, and assembling food packages for various programs. The San Diego Food Bank serves an astounding 370,000 people per month in San Diego County.
Raising a reader? From board books to chapter books, we’ve got some of the hottest new kids books to read with the kids or for the kids to explore on their own. Read on for our top picks.
I Am Kind & I Am Unstoppable
Two board book versions of Brad Meltzer's best-selling Ordinary People Change the World series are now available for toddlers and preschool kids. I Am Kind, about Abe Lincoln and I Am Unstoppable, about Amelia Earhart, are a lovely addition to your child's first library.
Written by two sisters, Maggie Cordish and Lizzie Schaul, Maggie May and Lizzie Loo is a whimsical and rhythmic story inspired by their sets of daughters and their own sisterly dynamic. The beautifully illustrated tale will quickly become a favorite for your little ones.
From the Brooklyn stationary store, Mr. Boddington's Studio comes a beautiful board book for your early learner. Discover NYC's nooks and crannies from A to Z, with iconic landmarks like Central Park Zoo, Rockefeller Center and Yellow taxis all making an appearance.
Award winning author-illustrator Stephen Savage's latest book (May 7 pub date) Sign Off offers kids of varying ages bright illustrations and a wordless story, perfect for budding or reluctant readers. Spark their imagination as you turn the pages to discover what happens to all those road signs and street signs under cover of night. Iconic figures come to life and kids can narrate their own story as they go.
Uncle Otto has no idea how to sell a car to a dinosaur, but he better learn fast! It's a good thing he's got Ava and Mickey there to help him figure out what kind of car best fits prehistoric characters like a Stegosaurus and of course, a T-Rex. This book by author Mark Lee combines preschool favorites like dinosaurs and cars with fun images from illustrator Brian Bigs to create a fun bedtime story that's bound to be a classic.
From Ezra Keats award-winning author/illustrator Micha Archer comes the next adventure for a young boy named Daniel. This time, as Daniel makes his way to grandma's, he ponders what makes it a "good day," and stops to ask various members of his community to find out. For his friend Emma, a steady wind for her kite makes it a good day, for the gardener it's bees on flowers, for the crossing guard, it's everyone home safe. Follow this charming tale to find out what makes a good, or better yet, a perfect day for Daniel.
Author F. Anthony Falcon had these thoughts when he first held his son: "Be brave, be brave, be brave." He and his wife were in the middle of Hurricane Harvey's landfall in Corpus Cristi Texas when she went into labor. This book, a meditation on what it means to be brave, is also the author's reconnection with his Lakota roots. It is both the story of little Lakota's perilous arrival into the world as it is about Falcon describing what it is to be a Native American man today. Beautifully illustrated by Trisha Mason. Out May 7.
Stuck sideways on the pages of this new book by Dave Eggers and illustrated by Laura Park, Abner and Ian need YOUR help to get turned the right way. With a fear of heights and dizziness from being sideways, Ian is relying on his buddy, Abner and the readers to shake them all right side up. This book will have your kids reading, shaking and laughing throughout all 80 pages.
Teach your kids about gender expression, kindness and inclusion in this new book from Sarah and Ian Hoffman. Jacob, the central character in this story, wears a dress. But, when he enters the boys bathroom the older kids make fun of him and tell him he isn't allowed. Jacob's friend, Sophie has a similar experience in the girl's bathroom. Discover what Jacob and Sophie—along with their teachers and classmates—do to teach inclusion and respect to others and how they shape their school's perception about gender expression. With colorful illustrations, a storyline kids and adults can follow and a positive, inclusive message both parents and kids can get behind, this new book is a must read.
Everyone has their favorite food and for one lady it's baked potatoes. So, of course, she names her new adopted dog "Baked Potato" because why not?! In this funny book by Elise Primavera with art by Juana Medina, you'll find out what happens to this dog who thinks he's a baked potato. The story is funny, endearing and light-hearted, and will also make your kids consider the importance of what a name actually means.
Some days are just hard. From the wrong hairstyle to an extra loud bus ride to school, disappointments on the playground, and feeling like no one—not even her mom—understands, Edie has a hard day. Using her imagination to escape the doldrums, she pretends to hide in her cubby like a bat, or blend in like a chameleon, but ultimately, she must face her emotions before she feels better.
Children of the '80s rejoice: The Karate Kid is now an illustrated book you can read with your kids! Kim Smith's vibrant illustrations bring this martial arts tale of patience, inner strength and redemption to life. Wax on, wax off! Available May 7.
A family trip to South Africa ended up changing the life of nine-year-old Kate Gilman Williams in ways she couldn’t imagine. When she learned about the many threats that wildlife face like poaching, Williams returned home with a passion to help animals that come to harm at the hands of humans. With the help of South African professional wildlife guide, Michelle Campbell, Williams turned her passion into a children’s book, Let’s Go On Safari. The book encourages children all over the globe to be an advocate for wild animals. Available May 6. Read more about her story here.
Jasper is as fast as can be, but Ollie is slower than molasses. This book proves that no matter your style, being a friend doesn't mean you have to be the same—it's really more about appreciating those differences. Written and illustrated by Alex Willan. Out May 28.
Pulitzer-prize finalist Susan Choi has written her first picture book and it's a must-read for parents and kids alike. When a young boy goes camping at the end of the summer with his family, like they do every year, he's unsure that he's ready to stop being a kindergartner. All summer things his mom used to do for him, he's now doing for himself. When a tiger comes out of the woods and starts to talk to the boy, he helps the boy struggling with the changes to come. The illustrations by John Rocco are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, and we're not going to lie: our mom-reader who reviewed this book said it made her cry a little. The perfect summer read as one school year ends and another is coming. Released May 21.
Brian Weisfield founded The Startup Squad to inspire young girls to become entrepreneurs and this book is the first in a series that all featured strong female characters creating their own companies. In the first one, released May 7, Brian Weisfeld and co-author Nicole C. Kear introduce readers to Theresa ("Resa" for short) and her entry into the lemonade stand competition. While the main characters are girls, our editor's 8-year-old son read this and was inspired to start his own store—so we encourage parents of both genders to give this cool new series a try.
Ages: 8-11
Order it now for $7.99 paperback, $9.99 hardcover.
National Geographic Kids Almanac 2020
National Geographic is celebrating the 10th anniversary of its Kids Almanac by releasing an all-new edition for 2019. Filled with facts, crafts, activities, featured about animals, science, conservation, technology and more, it's the perfect go-to book for curious kids.
Girls can be Eagle Scouts, too! This charming and extremely informative guide to the wild is filled with important information—everything from reading maps to what to do when you need to ... you know ... go. There are also recipes perfect for a campfire, inspiring true-life stories of girl adventurers like Laura Ingalls Wilder and Claire Marie Hodges and more. For those days you can't get to the forest? There are everyday activities, science experiments and even plant, animal and geological identification tables.
Spend the summer with Delsie on Cape Cod as she comes to terms with the fact that change is inevitable but not always a bad thing. Written by author Lynda Mullaly Hunt (Fish In a Tree), this lovely middle-grade read is a coming of age tale that touches on things all kids grapple with: unusual family dynamics, old friendships fading as new ones take their place, emotions of all sorts, and of course, an adventure or two.
We Are the Change: Words of Inspiration from Civil Rights Leaders
Chronicle Books
"In diversity there is beauty and there is strength."—Maya Angelou This collection from Chronicle Books consists of sixteen award-winning children's book artists who have created stunning illustrations inspired by quotes from civil rights leaders and activists. Each artist also reflects on the artist they chose and what the quote means to them. Illustrator Selina Alko says, "I have always intuitively felt beauty and strength in representing different cultures, perspectives, and points of view. Life would be really bland if we only knew and told our own stories." Would make a beautiful graduation gift and a great read for young activists, artists or any kid (or grown up) looking for a little inspiration in a weary world. Includes an introduction by Harry Belafonte.
Cynthia Kadohata, author of the Newberry Medal-winning Kira-Kira, takes young readers back to the end of WWII in the US and Japan. The 12-year-old protagonist, Hanako, is forced to move from the only home she's ever known in America to her parent's native Japan. This story is a reality check for anyone who thinks of WWII as being on foreign soil: Japanese people were rounded up and imprisoned right in the US. And modern kids will relate to the pressure Hanako feels as a young kid giving up everything known for something entirely different. Beautifully written. Publishes May 14.