School is back in session! Whether your kids are in the classroom virtually, in-person, or a little bit of both, these products will get them pumped and prepped to grow into the geniuses they are. Set you and your gang up for success with products to encourage healthy eating, sleeping well, organization, innovative learning and more. Read on for our favorite finds for the Pre-K to Elementary set!
Osmo's hands-on learning kits are award-winning for a reason: they encourage creativity and critical thinking with activities hosted by loveable characters—meaning a tablet game that both you and your kids can agree on!
The Osmo Coding Starter Kit transforms your kid's tablet into a hands-on coding adventure. Designed for ages 5–10, this kit builds coding skills in progression with three hands-on learning games, and BOOM: now they have the superpower of the 21st century.
With the Osmo Genius Starter Kit + Family Game Night, kids can learn with Osmo on their own, or focus on collaborative play with friends and family. This kit includes seven games focusing on core skills and creative expression, problem-solving and visual-thinking through interactive STEM learning. The best part: Osmo sees and reacts to every live movement!
Losing your voice screaming "wake up!" all morning long? You’ve got a sleepyhead on your hands and we've got your backup. Once the alarm sounds, this nutty clock jumps from their nightstand, rattles and rolls, beeping and buzzing until your kid gets up and turns him off. Now you can lose the snooze and start your mornings off right, with a few giggles along the way.
For some mystical reason, food just tastes better when it’s organized in five little compartments. Kids love choices and you can fill this bento-inspired lunch box with a variety of foods–there’s even a spot for a dip! Each section individually seals once you lock it, so your yogurt won’t end up on your chicky nuggies–genius. This box is portable, sturdy, leak-proof, easy to clean and just plain fun!
What is sweeter than finding a handwritten note in your lunch bag? These notes have taken this simple joy to the next level: write your handwritten message on the card, cover it with the scratch-off sticker and toss it in their bag. Whether it's pumping them up for a test, the soccer field, or just to let them know how loved they are, it's sure to put a smile on their face.
Whether your kids are learning in the classroom or living room, getting them up and moving is key to keeping them engaged. We love this set to work on their balance, coordination and concentration. Kids can create their own obstacle course with these sturdy shells. Activity cards, a spinner and additional game suggestions are included so there is tons of fun to be had, indoors or out.
Where have you been all our lives? Highlighters are not only useful, but just fun to use, and these have a see-through tip so you can light up your page with precision. They also have smear guard, so no more messy letters–one less thing to clean!
ABC’s, 123’s, science facts and multiplication tables–these cards are goof-proof with a built-in loss prevention system: a binder ring. You won’t run out anytime soon, either, since this pack comes with 1,100 cards. A simple yet brilliant idea, not to mention an essential study tool for any kid on the block!
Because there are so many more skin tones that just beige and brown, now your kids can color their world to include everyone. Big enough for smaller hands, these crayons are perfect for your little portrait artist.
Get them in the habit of making a plan and sticking to it. This handy planner includes a bookmark, tons of stickers to help nail down plans, resource pages for their studies including times tables, fractions, measurements, tips of the week, vocab words and more.
Do your kids have more screens than you do? Probably. But either way, you need this non-toxic and highly effective screen cleaner. Not only is it a hygiene necessity these days, but it also makes your screens shine like new and helps keep sticky fingerprints from collecting.
In spite of what we’re facing with the COVID-19 crisis, as parents, we still must look forward and make life as normal as possible for our kids. That includes birthday celebrations! We are doing our best to monitor any changes, and encourage you to speak directly to the business owners to make a plan that works best for your family. We want to continue to support our local small businesses including these entertainers who strive to make our kids feel special!
The list of birthday party venues is growing at warp speed, but sometimes the best parties are those at home. And, good thing, because right now you don’t have many other options! We checked in with our favorite in-home birthday party entertainers to see what they’re offering now and when they’ll be back up and running as normal. Many are at a standstill until groups can congregate again, but some have virtual options to keep the party going. Scroll through to find the perfect party option for your kiddo, order a cake and you’ll be making wishes come true in no time!
For Carnival Enthusiasts: Smarty Pants
Smarty Pants Balloon Show
Smarty Pants (yep, that’s his name) and his wife, Miss Dena, offer various balloon show and face painting options. But the one we wish we were young enough to star in is The Big Balloon Show. This ultimate performance art ends with a larger-than-life balloon creation made on the spot for the birthday star. We’re talking a giant kid-sized balloon airplane that stays inflated for an entire week. Parties are great for kids ages 3-8 years old. Plan hosting the show indoors because one little breeze can blow the whole show to bits.
Balloon Twisting starts at $399, balloon show packages start at $699, additional pricing and packages are available at smartypantsworld.com with full booking details on the website!
Covid-19 update: Smarty Pants is offering a Big Balloon package that features a 10-minute Zoom mini balloon show with Smarty Pants in his virtual balloon studio that ends with a big reveal of a balloon installation in your front yard. Check out this adorable installation he did for a 7yo's birthday in May. The cost is $299, plus any applicable travel fees for balloon setup.
Scott Green is an absolute legend in his industry, having written a best-selling book for magicians about performing magic for family audiences, and it's pretty epic that he's right here in Chicago. He's the only family magician in the world to have appeared on the Penn & Teller: Fool Us television show. If you want examples of his performance, visit his youtube channel, youtube.com/scottgreenmagic, to see for yourselves.
Party packages start at $495 for a 50-minute show, however, prices may vary depending on age, location and number of guests. Book your party by calling 847-361-0924. Get more info online at thegreatscott.com.
Covid-19 Update: During this period of sheltering-in-place, families everywhere can experience Scott Green's interactive show via Zoom. When you schedule a Zoom birthday party, the guest of honor will receive a box they don't open until showtime that will allow the magic to literally happen in their hands. If you want examples of his performance, visit his youtube channel, youtube.com/scottgreenmagic, to see for yourselves.
For Soon-to-Be American Idols: Miss Jamie's Farm
Miss Jamie
If your birthday star just can’t stop the music, a party with Miss Jamie's Farm is a must! Miss Jamie is known throughout the area for her original barnyard tunes and magical puppet friends that she shares with the audience during her interactive sing-along, dance-along performance. Perfect for ages 1-6, each birthday party is completely customizable, so if go ahead and pitch Miss Jamie your birthday boy or girl’s theme-of-the-moment. She can totally handle it!
Prices start around $300 for 30 minutes of music. Book your party by calling 773-609-5054 get more info online at miss-jamie.com.
Covid-19 update: Miss Jamie is offering virtual playdate birthday parties because she believes just because you have to be distant, doesn't mean you can't be social!
Who doesn’t want a pony for their birthday? Turn that dream into a reality—at least for a few hours—with pony rides. The kind people at Sarah’s travel just about anywhere around the state to bring maned beauties to little cowboys and cowgirls. They can also fill up an on-site petting zoo with ducks, chickens, lambs, llamas and more. You get your bang for your bucks: They’ve done the per guest/per hour/per pony math so your guests get as many rides as possible.
Prices start at $225 plus travel for 1 pony/1-hour; $300 plus travel for 1-hour petting zoo without ponies; additional pricing info is available at sarahsponyrides.com. Book your party by calling 630-802-1316.
Covid-19 update: While their pony parties are on hold, the trails are open for horseback riding, trail rides and pony rides. Small private groups following safety guidelines are allowed. You'll find beautiful trails, amazing horses and wonderful trail guides.
For Wiz Kids: Mad Science
Mad Science
Science is fun and these party people prove it. Pick a theme — Air Blast, Made About Foam or Reactions in Actions — and let the Mad Scientists take care of set-up and clean-up so that you can enjoy the demonstrations along with your child. They even offer add-ons like an awesome rocket launch, a dry ice demo, or the tastiest science project of all, cotton candy making. Perfect for 5-12-year-olds, each 1-hour party is lead by one or two instructors based on the number of guests.
Party packages start at $365; additional pricing information is also available at chicago.madscience.org.
Covid-19 update: While parties as we know it have come to a screeching halt, Wiz Kids has put together online resources to plan a day of science-y fun with your birthday star. They will also be putting links up to virtual summer camps on the website in the next week to keep STEM learning going this summer.
For Dancing Queens (& Kings): Chicago Loves Dance
Turn your house into a dance club with hip-hop or break dancing instructors that will get your party peeps up and moving. With add-ons like yoga parties, cupcake decorating and princess appearances, CLD is a one-stop party shop. Expect icebreakers like freeze dance, and pump up the fun with a choreographed dance-off. The friendly competition continues with more games until it’s time to hop aboard the people train to the dining room for cake.
Prices vary based on number of kids and add-ons selected. Book your party by calling 773-485-0777. More info at chicagolovesdance.com.
Covid-19 update: No need to hang up your dancing shoes, follow Chicago Loves Dance's Facebook page to find out about virtual classes (yoga, breakdancing, cheerleading, hip hop, theatre and more!), weekly challenges and Zoom birthday parties for kids (even Zoom Zumba parties for adults!). Birthday parties are $90 for up to 25 people and run 40 minutes in length and everyone sings Happy Birthday at the end.
For Adorable Divas: Rock Candy Salon & Spa
Rock Candy’s stylists will bring all of their salon and spa services to you. From hair chalking to pedicures (even green slime manis), every guest gets pampered.
Party packages start at $300, plus $150 in travel fees. Book your party by calling 773-883-3000 or get more info online at rockcandysalonandspa.com.
Covid-19 update: Mobile salon and spa parties are on hold until restrictions are lifted by the state.
If your kiddo spends his or her days solving riddles, then a Mobile Room Escape party is perfect. Kids 7 and older will be challenged to escape from this mobile chemistry lab before the end of a 60-minute time limit. If you have 45 feet of space, let this lab on wheels pull up to get the party started.
They also launched Mobile Ax Throwing. They have a mobile trailer with lighting and fans to keep you cool during the hot summer months.
Call 773-219-2922 to book your party and get more details at mobileroomescape.com.
Covid-19 update: Mobile Room Escape and Mobile Ax Throwing are open for business with strict restrictions on the size of your parties and the number of parties they allow per day, so they can clean thoroughly between sessions.
If you have a screen-addicted kid, hiring these guys for his party is going to score you some major parental points. They’ll delivery a truck overflowing with video games that’ll pull up in front of your house and the birthday boy and his friends can play until their fingers go numb. Might sound painful to you but they’ll be in gamer-heaven. You are responsible for arranging street parking and permits but the trailers aren’t much wider than a landscaper’s vehicle (about 6 car lengths of space), so the neighbors shouldn’t be too put out.
Pricing varies based on day and time. Book your party by calling 866-253-3191 or grab details at gametruckparty.com.
Covid-19 update: For gamers, the party never has to end. GameTruck created a new hour-long virtual party experience that allows all the party attendees to stay in their own homes and a GameCoach facilitates the fun.
Give the birthday star the royal treatment by inviting a princess or prince over to entertain your queen and her court with a dress-up party, storytime, games and dancing. If the guest of honor is less than interested in royalty, you can also invite villains, superheroes to the bash.
Pricing starts at $235 for a one-hour party. Parties can be booked online by visiting magicmusicmorechicago.com or by calling 773-564-0783.
Covid-19 update: In-person parties are on hold, but you can schedule a 20-minute princess chat that includes storytime, singing, a royalty promise and a Q&A session for $40.
For Gym-tastic Adventures: George’s Gym
George's Gym
Avoid a mini-Lord of the Flies experience at your next at-home shindig by giving the folks at George’s Gym a holler for an organized yet fun-packed party. They’ll create customized birthday party packages for kids that includes awesome games, group activities and creative craft based on whatever theme you’ve dreamed up. Snap pics and relax because they’ll even deal with serving the food and cake.
Geared toward kids ages 2.5 & up, George's pricing ranges from $175-$350. Their newest party option, Carnival Party, has become quite popular. More info at georgesgymllc.com.
Covid-19 Update: George's Gym launched a free YouTube channel with fun, short workouts to take care of the wiggles, as well as fun activities and games the whole family can do together (which could be used for an at-home small family party). For adults, they launched a Facebook group, The Hope Space, as a resource guide/support group with helpful information, inspiration and ways to find hope for people from all walks of life. As we move past phase 3 of reopening the state, they will then offer small, no contact parties and fitness classes.
Great Wolf Lodge has been delivering howlin’ good times to Chicago since they opened two years ago, after more than a year of extensive renovations on a pre-existing structure in Gurnee. To ensure the safety of their pack and community during Covid-19, Great Wolf Lodge has shuttered their lodges until May 19, and have made it easy for families to cancel or adjust reservations. While they aren’t able to entertain your family in the hands-on way they’re accustomed to for now, they created tools to address the emotional and physical well-being of families who are sheltering-in-place. Read on for kitchen challenges, arts and crafts projects, science experiments and more!
Logic may lead you to believe the tranquil nature of yoga isn't a match for the ants-in-their-pants lifestyle of a toddler. However, getting kids started in the calming practice of yoga early on is a great way to promote mindfulness and a healthy lifestyle. Great Wolf Lodge will take you through 14 different beginner poses you can do from the comfort of home utilizing a step-by-step video, along with a cute printable poster illustrating the poses.
You don't need to go beyond your own backyard or the block you live on to create a scavenger hunt for kids. Make a list specific to your home, neighborhood, family memories or favorite spots and start the hunt! Great Wolf Lodge has created a how-to with ideas for things to add to your list.
Do eggs bounce? You're likely to immediately say, "Uh, no." But a kid? Well, they'd want to think on that for a minute and maybe even test it out. Great Wolf Lodge is tapping their inner kid and saying, "Let's just see." And they're giving you a step-by-step guide to have science-y fun with eggs with your kids.
Do you remember making puppets as a kid using lunch-sized brown paper bags? Oh, the fun! Crafting with kids doesn't have to be complicated, and the supplies needed don't have to break the bank. Great Wolf Lodge is reminding you that everything required is already in your home, just take a look! Empty toilet paper rolls, construction paper, cereal boxes are all just masterpieces in waiting.
Tap into your kid's natural curiosity and encourage them to ask questions, seek answers, and build confidence along the way. Using items you have around the house, you can race boats in the bathtub and gather science knowledge as you play!
There's just about no kid who doesn't love a good grilled cheese sandwich, and everyone's mom makes it best! Great Wolf Lodge is giving a twist on this favorite finger food with their grilled cheese shooter recipe. Enjoy the warm, gooey center and perfectly golden buttered bread dipped in tomato soup.
Fill your tummy with deliciousness after you click here.
Wolf Paw Origami
Great Wolf Lodge
Visiting a zoo won't be happening anytime soon, but get your animal fix and an imagination boost by making Great Wolf Lodge-inspired wolf paw origami or monkey. They also give ideas for a sailboat to get your excited about summer travel (fingers crossed).
Oh, boy. This one might have your kids mentally running circles around you. A game of memory. Memory games can improve concentration, short-term memory and attention to detail—who couldn't use a little of that? Great Wolf Lodge created a printable memory game for some low-key educational fun at home.
Who says pumpkins are only for autumn? Not us! Great Wolf Lodge's culinary team created their own special no-bake cheesecake recipe with pumpkin as the star!
Say see-ya to the oven and no-bake your cheesecake by starting here.
Kitchen Science Experiements
Great Wolf Lodge
Kids cannot get enough STEM! They love it, it's good for them and most of the time, they don't even realize they're actually learning. You don't need a home lab to encourage the budding scientist you have on your hands. Great Wolf Lodge created three mini science lessons you can do in 30 minutes or less.
Encourage STEM learning early and often by clicking here.
It’s always the perfect time of year to plan a weekend in the San Francisco Bay Area. With the beach, the mountains and wine country all just a short drive from each other, you are bound to pack a ton of adventure into your next family vacation. Book your hotel and leave the planning to us as we researched the best options for every interest. Read on and get inspired!
Where is your adventure going to take you today? Choose your destination and check out all of the iconic Bay Area hot spots while you're there.
Downtown SF Fisherman's Wharf is the place to be if you want to play tourist for the day in the City by the Bay. Make this your hub for the day's adventures. Walk along the water and follow your ears to find the world-famous Pier 39 sea lions. Swing by the sea lion center to learn more about these creatures and why they made their way to Pier 39 after the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989. No visit to Pier 39 is complete without a ride on the San Francisco Carousel. See if you can spot the local landmarks carved into its design. For additional recs of what to do when you visit Pier 39, click here.
Don't leave San Francisco without a ride on a cable car! The cable car turntable at Beach and Hyde near Ghirardelli Square will get you on the Powell/Hyde line. This will take you up Hyde Street to Lombard where you can hop off and explore the most crooked street in the city. Pedestrians can walk down the stairs on the side of the street to get the full view. When you are done exploring Lombard Street, get back on the cable car and continue to Powell and California. Walk a few blocks, and you will be in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown. Grab some dim sum and then head to the Willie "Woo Woo" Wong Playground to give the kids time to run and climb.
End your night with a walk to Ghirardelli Square to try one of the city's most iconic desserts. Grab a sundae at the chocolate factory that has been in business since 1852.
Pssst...Hoping to stay downtown? Check into the Park Central Hotel San Francisco, which is offering a great family package. The package includes grab and go breakfasts for two adults (kids 12 and under eat free) and up to four complimentary bike rentals from Blazing Saddles.
Wine Country Just because the kids are along for the ride doesn't mean that wine country should be crossed off your list. There are tons of family-friendly wineries that offer tastings for the adults and grassy areas for kids to run around. The gondola at Sterling Vineyards is an adventure for all ages, or visit the farm animals at wineries like Frog's Leap and Preston Farm and Winery.
Got a little train lover in your crew? Kids will love visiting TrainTown in Sonoma and riding the quarter-scale railroad.
East Bay To hit the iconic spots in the East Bay, all you need to do is pick a neighborhood and go explore. For a sweet hike, book it to the Ice Cream Trail (yep, you read that right!) in the Tri-Valley region. Simply download your passport and hit up one of the participating ice cream shops. Get a stamp at each and if you get five stamps and mail your passport in, $5 will be donated to Valley Humane Society!
If you're looking for an interactive museum experience, beeline it to Oakland Museum of California, or OMCA for short. Their rotating exhibits bring together art, history and natural sciences. Psst...for our full list of the best kid-friendly museums in the East Bay click here. To get the wiggles out, visit Frog Park in Oakland's Temescal neighborhood. This local hot spot was built by over 1,300 volunteers and features a creek, playground and areas perfect for imaginative play—all set amongst towering redwood trees.
The quirky town of Berkeley is often on visitors' must-visit lists and, good news, it offers lots of activities for kids. Check out UC Berkeley and get a bird's-eye view of the happenings below when you visit the Campanile, or bell tower, in the middle of campus. A long elevator ride followed by 38 steps to the top (no strollers allowed) gets you to the epic view. The UC Botanical Garden is a gorgeous spot to spend the day out in nature.
One of the most lively spots in Berkeley is Fourth Street where you can shop, nosh and make art all in one afternoon. Our faves for your Berkeley visit: lemon ricotta pancakes at Bette's Oceanview Diner and a cup of hand-crafted tea from Teance.
Silicon Valley Go back in time to see what life was like in Silicon Valley before all of the tech giants took over. At Moffett Federal Airfield you'll be amazed to see the massive size of Hangar 1, built during the Depression to house blimps. Stop by the Moffett Field Museum to see artifacts from the property's use as a naval air station and a collection of vintage air craft outside. Nearby NASA Ames Research Center also welcomes visitors to tour its visitor center and learn about the research center's involvement in space discovery.
Stay: No matter which part of the Bay Area you choose to stay for the night, we recommend a Marriott International hotel. They offer over 40 properties and 15 brands to choose from just in the Bay Area, which means there is an experience for everyone. Click here to learn more.
Day Two: Get Outdoors
One of the major things that draws visitors (and residents) to the Bay Area is its gorgeous landscape. You can get big city, ocean waves, redwood forests, mountains and the San Francisco Bay, all within a few hours drive of the city center. Pick your spot and get ready to breathe the fresh air!
San Francisco Even if you had a full week to explore only Golden Gate Park you still would be left with items on your agenda. This 1,017-acre park right in the middle of the city will make you feel like you are worlds away from the hustle, bustle and traffic of the big city. You can travel to Japan when you visit the historical Japanese Tea Gardens and then head to the Netherlands when you swing by the tulip garden and windmill located on the western section of the park. Kids will love the recently-renovated Koret Children's Quarter (a massive playground with carousel) and also spotting the bison in the paddock.
Pssst...Don't forget the Park Central Hotel San Francisco's newest deal, which is offering a great family package. The package includes grab and go breakfasts for two adults (kids 12 and under eat free) and up to four complimentary bike rentals from Blazing Saddles.
Wine Country If your weekend home base is in wine country, you are right in the middle of some of the most gorgeous land in all of California. Beyond the miles and miles of picturesque vineyards, you can spend a day exploring other unique features of the area like Calistoga's Petrified Forest. Be a witness to redwood trees that once grew in abundance here and were turned to stone 3.4 million years ago by a local volcano. Just down the road from the petrified forest you can find another geological marvel—Old Faithful Geyser of Calistoga. Learn about why the geyser erupts at regular intervals and is a good predictor of earthquakes. Another curious find on the same property as the geyser are the Tennessee fainting goats. Find out why they "faint" when you meet them up close.
East Bay One of our favorite things about Northern California is its generally temperate year-round weather. Hiking and biking in the fall and winter? Yes and yes! Grab your bikes, trikes and helmets, and head to Danville or Pleasanton/Dublin. Each locale offers a self-guided biking tour. Experience historic sites and stop for lunch along the way.
A day at Berkeley's Tilden Park is not one that the kids will soon forget. This larger-than-life spot has more opportunities for adventure than you could imagine. Start off by visiting Tilden's Little Farm. This working farm and petting zoo is home to cows, goats, sheep, chickens, geese, rabbits, pigs and more—and it’s totally free to visit. After meeting all the animals take a ride on the steam train and merry-go-round (both open only on the weekends).
For kid-friendly eats, we love Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe in Emeryville. Here you'll find diner menu options and tables decorated with vintage toys.
Silicon Valley If your Bay Area visit just isn't complete without a beach day, head to Half Moon Bay. After the morning fog burns off, you can spend your day splashing in the waves and flying your kites at one of the many beaches along Highway 1. Half Moon Bay is home to the James Fitzgerald Marine Reserve where you can find some of the area's best tide pools (check for the timing of low tide before you visit). Spend some time exploring the quaint downtown and the many farms in this area.
Day Three: Make It a Museum Day
Kate Loweth
With literally hundreds of museums and science centers making the Bay Area their home, you can learn about everything under the sun from textiles to cable cars to model trains to earthquakes. You can find all of the ones that offer free days here, or check out some of our faves below. (Note for out-of-town visitors: If you are a member of your own local children's museum, check to see if they offer reciprocal memberships to these Bay Area museums. Many will offer free or heavy-discounted admission to other network museums.)
San Francisco Located right on the SF Bay at Pier 15, the Exploratorium is a mecca of hands-on exhibits that promises to teach you something. With six galleries to choose from, you'll be able to learn about everything from human behavior to weather. Another great spot for scientific discovery is the California Academy of Sciences in Golden Gate Park. Part aquarium, part planetarium and part natural history museum, the Cal Academy will have you seeing the world around you in all new ways. Make some time to swing by and visit Clyde, the Academy's resident albino alligator.
Wine Country Charlie Brown and Snoopy fans flock to the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa to learn all about the famous comic strip.
East Bay If art is your jam, head to the East Bay and explore one of the many kid-friendly museums. Arts and culture abound in the Tri-Valley area. Dublin's Heritage Park & Museums is a 10-acre park offering up preserved buildings from the 1850s. There are two museums on site, which are free during during regular hours. Don't forget to pack a picnic!
Wee ones will especially enjoy a visit to Habitot, a children's museum in Berkeley that promotes imaginative play through art, pretend play and more. MOCHA (Museum of Children's Arts) provides an environment where families can create, share and connect through art.
Silicon Valley It's a no brainer that Silicon Valley is full of STEM-focused museums that are perfect for kids of all ages. The Intel Museum will give you a glimpse inside an ultra-clean, highly automated silicon chip factory and teach you how technologies give us new ways to work, learn, play and communicate. Downtown San Jose is home to the Tech Museum of Innovation and the Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose, both great spots for scientific learning. For more STEM-learning opportunities, check out this post.
Stay: After so much exploring you'll want a welcoming and comfortable place to return to. We recommend one of the many family-friendly Marriott International hotels located in the Bay Area. Many offer on-site restaurants, kid-friendly pools, double beds and cribs to make your stay enjoyable for everyone. Click here to learn more.
With Marriott Bonvoy™, members can enjoy special rates, free in-room Wifi, mobile check-in and the ability to earn and redeem points at Marriott’s thousands of hotels. Not a Marriott Bonvoy member? Join for free when you book! Save up to 20% on your trip to San Francisco here!
We’ve been reading like madwomen (and children) to keep up with all the amazing books that came out in 2019. From bilingual board books to books that help kids deal with tough subjects like racism, cancer and more, this year showed a celebration of diversity, resilience and hope. We read every one of the books on this list (or our kids did) so this curated collection may not be all about the bestsellers, but it’s definitely a list to keep for years to come.
All Ages/Activity Books
1. Cakes for Kids: 40 Easy Recipes That Will Wow!
Gibbs Smith
Paris-based baker, food artist and cookbook author Juliette Lalbaltry's latest book starts with teaching kids (and their grown-ups) four basic cake recipes (lemon, yogurt, chocolate and rolled sponge). From these four bases she offers dozens of ideas for clever, totally doable decorations that will guarantee you'll never need to order another party cake.
Where's the Llama: An Around-the-World Adventure Book is a wonderfully illustrated, seek-and-find activity book that is not only fun, it helps build a child’s visual and cultural vocabulary. Follow the llamas as they travel around the world to a Dia de los Muertos parade in Mexico, the world-famous tulip festival in the Netherlands, explore jungles in Cambodia and so much more. By Paul Moran & Gergely Forizs.
3. Snackable Science Experiments: 60 Edible Tests to Try and Taste
Page Street Publishing
Scientist, educator, mom and Chief Experimenter Science Sparks, Emma Vanstone's new book will delight kitchen helpers and bored kids everywhere! From chemistry to structural engineering, kids can play with their food and learn new concepts all at once. The perfect antidote to winter break brain drain!
Ages: All ages, recommended for ages 6-11 but younger kids can get in on the fun with a little more help. Some adult supervision required.
4. Plantology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Plants
Chicago Review Press
Budding botanists and curious collectors alike will adore Plantology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Plants by science educator and author Michael Elsohn Ross. From plant skeletons to prop roots and all the mosses in between, this super cool book will have your kids looking at the natural world in a whole new way.
Ages: 7 and up (but younger kids may enjoy activities with parents/older siblings)
5. Easy Paper Projects: 60 Crafts You Can Wear, Gift, Use and Admire
Page Street Publishing
London-based Maggy Woodley, the imagination behind the popular craft blog Red Ted Art, has created a clever collection of paper craft projects that any kid can do. Use printer paper, construction paper or even old homework to make cute, exciting, adorable, silly and delightful projects, all by following easy step-by-step instructions with ots ofo photos to show you the way.
Ages: 4-11 (some grown-up help may be necessary for younger kids).
Looking for bilingual board books that stand out in a crowd? These two charmers, Lejos/Far and Cerca/Close, both by author Juan Felipe Herrera and illustrated by Blanca Gómez, definitely fit the bill. Clear, bold illustrations go beyond just words to include beautiful, poetic phrases that will embed themselves in your child's brain while helping them to learn the concept of "far" and "close."
El árbol de limones está lejos de mi casa. The lemon tree is far from my house.
Seven Van Gogh Geckos, 3 Lichtenstein Llamas...learn to count with animals reimagined in iconic artist's style with this adorable board book from Grace Helmer. From Warhol's warthogs to Kandinsky's kangaroos and more, you'll love reading this one to bébé!
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.
It's never too early to teach kids about empathy, kindness and acceptance. This board book by Chana Ginelle Ewing, the Founder and CEO of Geenie, a women's empowerment platform, makes learning about concepts like gender, immigration and ability accessible to even the youngest of readers. Flip through the colorful pages to find letters like D is for difference or J is for justice explained in a way anyone can grasp. For any parent hoping to teach their child about multiculturalism and acceptance, this book is for you.
Ages: 3+ (as recommended on Amazon but this book is suited for any reader)
This month's Be Bold, Baby series releases include spotlights on Sonia Sotomayor and J.K. Rowling. These board books will teach your kids resilience, patience and fairness like these female leaders. Each book ends with a special message (and cool mirror): just be you.
Anyone with a toddler knows that they experience some big feelings, sometimes all in a span of five minutes! Turn to this book by Alice Le Henand and illustrated by Thierry Bedouet to explore all the emotions and feelings toddlers experience. They'll identify with Little Crocodile's sadness and Little Bear's fearfulness, as your kids pull the tabs in and out to bring these animals to life.
Babies put everything in their mouths and even the most sturdy board books can fall prey to a toddler's destruction. New this month is three titles from the popular Indestructibles series: The Itsy Bitsy Spider, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Row, Row, Row Your Boatall by Amy Pixton and illustrated by Maddie Frost. All of these books are chew proof, rip proof, nontoxic, 100% washable and are super thin and light so they make for great reads to throw in your diaper bag.
Each book in this charming board book series follows a vehicle on its journey, introducing new readers to a host of words. Die-cut pages mean there's an interactive component, engaging those chubby little fingers in the story. This charming board book and its companion,Look, There's a Tractor (both out this April) are wonderfully illustrated by Dutch artist, Esther Arts.
We love this book for its innovative way of introducing colors to tots. Author Jacques Duquennoy uses die-cut pages and printed acetate to engage young readers as friends Zoe and Zack paint different colors and shapes. Find out what they're creating by turning each acetate page.
This new series from Mr. Boddington's Studio—a vibrant stationary store in Brooklyn—now includes San Francisco (the first one was NYC ABCs, released in May of this year). We love this clever way to teach kids the alphabet and explore a city in an off-the-beaten path way.
For kiddos into everything dump truck, demolition and building, this book is a real winner. Each page focuses on one aspect of construction like setting up, building a road and demolition. The book explains what happens during each stage and it's peppered with cool tactile experiences like raised bumpy rubble and sticky surfaces where paint is "drying."
This adorable lift-the-flap board book teaches kids all about shapes in the context of a vibrant food truck. Illustrator Lucia Gaggiotti's images are reminiscent of Richard Scarry books and bring life to the page.
Classics are reimagined in this new series of board books that take famous books and re-tell them with inclusive and charming illustrations. Two of these sweet books are available now, and there's more to come in 2020.
This book is part counting books, part funny tale about worms. Written in the same vein as The Book with No Pictures, the simple but brightly colored illustrations follow the adventures of 10 worms, And, although author/illustrator Will Mabbitt claims he can only draw worms, you'll still feel like it was a story about so much more. On sale March, 19th 2019.
How far will one mother shrew go just to help her sick son? She'll go to the moon, and back. This beautifully illustrated book by amazingly self-taught author/illustrator Kenneth Kraegel is as touching and moving as it is visually pleasing.
This gorgeous picture book from celebrated illustrator and artist Oliver Jeffers (of The Day the Crayons Quit fame) is a tale of a greedy man named Fausto and his journey to claim everything belonged to him. From claiming a flower to facing the sea, this simple but important story reminds us all of the power of kindness. Illustrated in traditional lithographic printmaking techniques, the images alone make this a must-have addition to your bookshelf.
Kids will learn the history of one of America's most celebrated band from A to Z in this gorgeously illustrated book. Young fans and adults will enjoy this fantastic journey of Metallica and with each purchase a portion of the proceeds will benefit Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation, "which is dedicated to creating sustainable communities by supporting workforce education, the fight against hunger, and other critical local services."
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.
Oh, Hey Grandude! The adventurous new tale from musician Paul McCartney followers a super cool grandpa as he takes his four grandkids on the trip of a lifetime. Told with beautiful illustrations, the whimsical story is great for your little wayfarers.
Dave Eggers is at it again with his newest release for kiddos ages 3-5, Tomorrow Most Likely. Publishing this month from Chronicle Books, this new read illustrated by Lane Smith reinvents the classic bedtime book. Instead of focusing on what happened that day, the little boy protagonist focuses on the future and imagines all the fun, dreamy and whimsical things that might happen tomorrow.
One dad faces the ultimate challenge: convincing his daughter that the weed on his perfectly manicured lawn must go. From trying to snip the dandelion at naptime to sneaking behind his daughter's back when he thinks she's not looking, Dad does everything to try to convince his daughter, Sweetie that the dandelion (which she lovingly names Charlotte) is not fit for his perfect yard. Find out what happens in this endearing and funny tale from Ame Dyckman and illustrator Charles Santoso in this book debuting this month.
In this endearing and funny picture book by Mike Boldt, find out what happens when a little girl REALLY wants a dog but ends up with a pet cat instead. Her pet "dog" Rocky doesn't behave like other dogs so what's a girl to do? Join along as she discovers that maybe a pet dog isn't all that it's cracked up to be.
This quirky but fabulous tale features a donkey, yam and ewe. Follow along as hilarious homonyms take center stage as the animals try to discern who is "ewe" and who is "you." Grammarians and little kids alike will laugh out loud at this hilarious story by Cece Bell.
For your non-fiction lover, this new book from author and photographer Walter Wick is just the thing. In A Ray of Light, Wick's stunning images are combined with easy-to-understand text. Kids will learn all about the speed, color, the spectrum and all the other complex secrets to light.
We're not sure what is the best part of this amazing new book; the original story based on mythology from the artists' native Mombai or the stunning illustrations created by Hari & Deepti, two paper-cut artists who bring the words to life. Both elements combine to make hands-down one of the most beautiful and unique books of 2019. The story about two children who learn that Silver Fox and Fire Wolf are anything but myths.
36. The End of Something Wonderful: A Practical Guide to a Backyard Funeral
Dealing with the death of a family pet can be a hard topic to get right when it comes to kids. This new book from author Stephanie V. W. Lucianovic is a practical guide to burying something wonderful that is now something dead. What could be an awkward topic turns into something delightfully empathetic with Lucianovic's prose and the charming illustrations of artist George Ermos.
Kiki Prottsman doesn't just know all about coding, she knows how to encourage, teach and get kids excited about learning to code...by reading. No small feat, getting kids to learn about greats like computer science pioneers Katherine Johnson and Alan Turing along with gleaning new skills, this impressive (and very colorful) book from DK is sure to be a hit.
This new picture book by Cedella Marley, inspired by one of Bob Marley's most loved songs, will inspire your kids (and you) to stand up for their rights and the rights of others. "When you meet someone talking big and thinking small...and their stinging words push your back against the wall...When their words bite, STAND UP for what's right." Beautifully illustrated by John Jay Cabuay, it's a perfect antidote in a bully-ish world.
This endearing little picture book is about love, acceptance and understanding that one sister, Piper the crow, has for her brother Otto. Otto is on the autism spectrum and this book is a beautifully-illustrated and thoughtfully-written way to teach children about differences and acceptance. Otto does some things and likes some of the same things his sister does. But he also does some things differently, and other kids don't always understand this. The author, Meg Raby,holds a master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology with a certification in Autism Spectrum Disorders from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities and has several years of experience working with children ages 2–17 on the autism spectrum.
Everyone has a bad day once in a while, kids and grown-ups alike. So when you're feeling overwhelmed, grab this book. When you have a bad day even small things seem like a big deal, and that's just what's happening for little Hennie in Ruby Roth's newest book, Bad Day. But guess what? With a little time to take deep breaths and a little space to oneself, anyone can change their bad day to good. A great story of resilience, validation of feelings and how normal it is to not always feel great.
Five minutes can fly by (when you're having fun) and it can be an eternity (when you're waiting in line). This adorable book, by Audrey Vernick and Liz Garton Scanlon, and illustrated by Olivier Tallec, will be as relatable to parents as it is for the kids.
Tiny T. Rex is well, tiny. So, what will Tiny T. Rex do when his friend, Pointy needs cheering up and a hug? Follow along Tiny's adventure in this sweet book written by Jonathan Stutzman and illustrated by Jay Fleck.
Written by Kenyan-born actress Lupita Nyong'O, this is as much her personal story as it the story of young Sulwe, a girl whose skin is the color of midnight. The stunningly gorgeous illustrations by Vashti Harrison are reason enough alone to want this book in your library, but the story itself is beautifully told; it's about differences, acceptance of oneself no matter how we think others see us, it's about wanting to fit in and yet being unique. A vital message for every kid out there, regardless of race or gender. Read it today with your kids.
Did you know that 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in NYC? Despite the passage of time, there's still much progress to be made for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Take a step to be a part of the solution and empower your kids with knowledge with this book by M.L. Webb. Each page features vocabulary and poems like "A is for Ally" and "N is for Non-Binary." Educational and informative, this book will teach your kids all about inclusivity.
When author-illustrator Sara Olsher was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 34, she struggled to find a way to tell her then 6-year-old daughter about it in a way that was true but not scary. Since she couldn't find the resource she need, Olsher wrote and illustrated Cancer Party—for her daughter and for all the parents out there struggling to explain cancer in a scientifically accurate but not-too-terrifying way. The illustrations are bright and colorful and the entire book strikes the right balance between the facts and the feelings. Buy this book right now for anyone who you know who is struggling with cancer, or as a resource for your school library. Our resident 8-year-old book reviewer read this book again and again, even though he doesn't know anyone with cancer right now, and his mom says it has made him more aware and empathetic to cancer in general.
This hilarious but also touching story by Max Amato about a Type-A Eraser and his goofy nemesis, Pencil, will garner plenty of giggles (Eraser gets tossed away in a tornado, gets smudgy, etc.) but it'll also spotlight why imperfection is actually the best way to find the truly amazing in the world. Kids will also see a pair of opposites learn to work together in order to create something even better than what was there before.
Written by Parker Curry (age 4) and her mama, Jessica Curry, with an afterword by Michelle Obama. Illustrated by Brittany Jackson. This is the sweet story of Parker Curry, a young girl, who went to the National Portrait Gallery one afternoon with her mom. She saw prancing horse, blooming flowers, a bushy mustache...but before she went twirling off toward home, Parker Curry looked up. There on the wall she saw the magnificent portrait (by Amy Sherald) of Michelle Obama. Parker didn't just see the First Lady of the United States. She saw a queen, a woman with regality, beauty, truth and self-assurance, a woman who looked like her. This moving story will delight any young dreamer. A great addition to any home library or classroom.
This hilarious book written by Joh Lieb and illustrated by Kevin Cornell, invites the reader into the story to help solve a mystery. You see, Detective Irene McGarringan is busy preparing for the release of her book only to discover that (you guessed it) chapter two is missing. There's also other strange things afoot: a bunch of Ms hiding in Chapter 5 and there's a Chapter 45 that doesn't seem to belong to this book at all. Help her solve the mystery!
This sweet and funny story about a little polar bear with his shoe untied is the perfect pick-me-up for when you are having one of those days. And it’s a great lesson, sure to invoke grins, for kids learning that it’s okay to ask for help. Because, like Bear, we all need a little help sometimes!
Fans of Richard Scarry will appreciate the lively details of this Mexican-American story by award-winning illustration Raúl the Third. This bilingual book teaches kids new words in Spanish while traveling through the bustling, border-town marketplace. Inspired by the author-illustrator's own life growing up between El Paso, Texas and Cuidad Juarez, Mexico, this exciting new book is a must-read for April and beyond.
Written by Newbery Medal winner Susan Cooper and illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner Carson Ellis, this magnificent book based on Cooper's "The Shortest Day" a poem written for John Langstaff's Christmas Revels. It is the story of the shortest day, of the Solstice, and how our Yuletide traditions have evolved from the desire to burn against the impending darkness of winter. Absolutely gorgeous.
For an uplifting, positive bedtime read turn to this book by artists and illustrator Jessica Hische. Now in board book form, this popular title will motivate your kids to see the bright side of their day. Turn each page to find hand-lettered inspiring words, all with a reminder that tomorrow is a new day full of opportunity.
Written in allegory form by Zoë Tucker with gorgeous illustrations by Zoe Persico, this picture book retells the story of Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greta Thunberg and her global movement to raise awareness about the climate crisis. Greta lives in a beautiful forest, threatened by Giants who chop down trees to make their homes. Then they chop down more trees, to make bigger houses, leaving little forest left. But Greta has an idea...
Includes a back section that helps kids learn how they can help Greta in her fight. Printed sustainably on 100% recycled paper.
Hospitals can be scary for kids, especially when they are the patients. This book helps to reassure children who are suffering from cancer as they navigate the road ahead of them, from medicine and treatments to side-effects, written from the point of view of a sweet black lab who is joining a young boy going through cancer treatment. It's also an excellent resource for parents to know how to talk to kids about tough issues like this. Written and illustrated by Ulrike Szalay, founder of the nonprofit Canines-N-Kids Foundation, aimed to help fund research and treatments for cancer in both children and dogs.
Andrea Zuill (author illustrator of Wolf Camp) has done it again with this wonderful story about Sweety, the naked mole rat who is not like all the other naked mole rats. She's very unique, and is even called "a square peg." She's awkward, likes collecting fungi and is a passionate young mole rat—sometimes her peers look at her like she's another kind of creature altogether. But with the help of her cool Aunt Ruth, Sweety learns to be herself and that one day she will find her people. And they will want to do a secret handshake. A great story about acceptance, diversity and love of self.
56. Let's Learn Japanese: First Words for Everyone
Chronicle Books
Aspiring Japanese speakers will love this thoughtfully-designed book by Aurora Cacciapuoti. Flip through to pair words and characters with fun illustrations. The book covers the three main Japanese writing systems: Kanji, Hiragana and Katakana.
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.
Join a Haitian grandma and her granddaughter in the kitchen as they make their traditional New Year's Soup, aka Freedom Soup, and learn the story of Haiti's independence. Includes a delicious recipe for you to try at home. Author Tami Charles pays homage to her heritage while Jacqueline Alcántara highlights the joy and richness of the culture with her gorgeous illustrations.
Beloved author Lemony Snicket teams up with Rilla Alexander for a brightly illustrated romp through one little boy's town as he mischievously chucks tomatoes and is followed by a swarm of bees. In spite of the funny, colorful tale it's really about feeling anger and other emotions, and figuring out where to put it.
Miranda Paul's Little Libraries, Big Heroes tells the backstory of an ordinary hero: Todd Bol, one of the founders of the Little Free Library movements. John Parra's beautiful illustrations celebrate the diversity of Little Free Libraries everywhere, and the many people who have come together to improve their neighborhoods, one little library at a time. We loved the author's note at the back telling her own story as it relates to Little Free Libraries.
The Reader is an ode to joy for young bookworms, celebrating the thrill of diving into a good book—especially when you really should be asleep. It is the story of a gender-neutral reader who chooses adventure over naptime, and you get to go along for the ride as the reader swims with whales, chases jaguars, and climbs dinosaurs as big as mountains.
Author-illustrator Simon James delights with this sweet story about a boy named Jim and a shelter dog named Mr. Scruff. All the other dogs have human companions whose names fit just right: Berry and Terry, Eric and Derek, Molly and Polly. But Jim and Mr. Scruff, although an unlikely pair, are made for each other. A sweet story you'll feel good reading to your kids again and again.
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.
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-editor who reviewed this book said it made her cry a little.
Meet Georgia. She’s a budding scientist in a family of artists, and they all have an idea of how she can conduct her experiments. At first, Georgia doesn’t want their “silly imaginative ideas,” but after an afternoon spent trying to discover something new (and failing to re-create things that have already been proven as true), she realizes that sometimes, in order to be a scientist, you must think creatively. Accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by author Zoe Persico, this book is a perfect fit for any spunky kid who’s creatively curious.
A brand-new illustrated early chapter book by Newbery Honor Winner Cece Bell (El Deafo). In the vein of Elephant & Piggie, Chick and Brain's adventures will make your littles laugh out loud while learning a few manners along the way.
67. Women in Art: 50 Fearless Creatives Who Inspired the World
Ten Speed Press
This beautifully illustrated anthology of women artists from Rachel Ignotofsky, author of the New York Times bestseller Women in Science, features 50 pioneering female artists; some you'll recognize (Frida Kahlo, Georgia O'Keefe) and some you'll never want to forget (19th-century African American quilter Harriet Powers and Hopi-Tewa ceramic artist Nampeyo). For any kid out there with a love of art or history or both, this book is a gorgeous addition to any shelf. Makes a great classroom gift too!
68. Thanku: Poems of Gratitude, Ed. by Miranda Paul
Amazon
Edited by Miranda Paul (whose book Little Libraries, Big Heroes you'll also find on this list) these are poems from a diverse group of authors from around the world, on a diverse array of topics, utilizing many different forms of poetry, making it an excellent way to introduce kids to poetry as well as the beauty of being grateful. Beautiful illustrations from Marlena Myles make it a pleasure to read to your kids.
A portion of the proceeds from this anthology will be donated to We Need Diverse Books.
69. 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.
70. Marie Curie : A Graphic History of the World's Most Famous Female Scientist
B.E.S. Publishing
Part of the Great Lives series from B.E.S. publishing, this year brought us both the Marie Curie edition along with Albert Einstein, as well as Martin Luther King Jr. and Leonardo DiVinici. We loved this well-written account by Agnieszka Biskup illustrated by Sonia Leong, that recounts the key events in Curie's life, the challenges she faced being a woman in a male-dominated field, how she discovered two radioactive elements and ultimately became revered by her peers. Such a cool way for kids to learn history!
71. Becoming RBG: Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Journey to Justice
Simon & Schuster
This graphic novel will enlighten tween, teen and grown-up alike with the story of how RBG grew from a shy little girl to the Supreme Court. Written by NY Times bestselling author Debbie Levy, and illustrated by Whitney Gardner (Fake Blood).
Dog Man is back in Dav Pilkey's latest in the popular elementary series, and this time, he is working with the Supa Buddies to overcome his bad habits. But, when things don't go exactly as planned, Dog Man becomes the target of a brand-new villian. All the while, Petey the Cat is out of jail and trying to start over with Li'l Petey. Petey also manages to learn the difference between right and wrong when his father comes to call.
This graphic novel is filled with vivid illustrations that follow the mischievous Hermes: messenger of the Gods. Illustrated by Caldecott Medal-winner Mordicai Gerstein, read all about how Hermes steals his brother Apollo’s cows, tricks a turtle into giving up his shell and even gives humans common sense. A delightful way to introduce kids to Greek Mythology.
Acclaimed author R.J. Palacio is back with a new graphic novel based on the character Grandmere (introduced in Auggie & Me as Julian's grandmother). Palacio tells the story of how Grandmere, as a young Jewish girl, was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village during WWII. It's a story of triumph, kindness and true friendship, too, told in Palacio's unforgettable voice.
This middle grade comic follow-up Georgia Dunn's Breaking Cat News will have your kiddos giggling and smiling while they read up on the adventures of cat reporters Lupin, Elvis and Puck. They're breaking headlines on subjects that really matter to cats, and kids who love cats. We also love the "More to Explore" section which shows kids how to draw the BCN crew, expressions, your own pet as reporters and more. Available Mar. 5.
77. It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers
Quirk Books
From 1968 to 2001, Fred Rogers sang songs and taught valuable lessons of kindness and compassion to generations of kids. Now, you can hold those sentiments and lyrics in your own hand and heart with this collection with four-color illustrations by Luke Flowers. With topics like Caring; Curious; Imaginative and Reflective, the songs are written here for generations more to appreciate.
Find out how four different kids kids are helping the environment, inventing incredible medical devices, aiding the homeless, designing apps to make sure kids don't eat alone in the school cafeteria, and more. Your kids will be inspired to pursue their own best inventions after reading this easy-to-follow illustrated text by Sheila Sweeny Higginson (Author) and Alyssa Petersen (Illustrator). Available Feb. 12.
Number five in the popular series by Max Brallier (look for the Netflix show!) has Jack and his friends coming out of the first winter after the Monster Apocalypse. He’ll learn about the new powers of his Louisville Slicer and fight plenty of zombies, all while trying to help his friend Dirk deal with his issues related to the zombies. There’ll be a new villain to deal with too, and the question remains: will Jack and his friends be able to save the rest of the world?
Alice lives with her Aunt Patience, living a relatively quiet life since the death of Alice's mom when Alice was just seven-years-old. But when Aunt Patience sends Alice off to a boarding school in the Scottish Highlands, Alice embarks on an adventure of a lifetime. Alice makes two good friends at school who help her plot a way to find Alice's biological father, whom she's never met, and who lives on a remote Scottish island. Natasha Farrant's mischievous adventure story has a Harry Potter-ish element to the friendship and problem solving with the trio that includes meeting her biological father who lives on a remote Scottish island. Alice makes friends at school.
This middle-grade novel, by debut author and former software engineer Aimee Lucido, brings together STEM concepts with music for an enticing adventure for Emmy, a 12-year-old who is about to start a new school, in a new city. When Emmy takes her first coding class, she connects to the concepts and connects to a new friend. But when her beloved teacher delivers some bad news, Emmy's world seems upside down. For kids who love coding, music and can relate to the struggles of middle school friendships, this is a real gem.
Courtney Sheinmel introduces readers to a dynamic new duo in chapter books: a girl named Piper Maclane and her soon-to-be sidekick, Cosmo (her pet slime). When she's faced with a class assignment, petless Piper concocts some slime to bring to school. And through a strange turn of events, Cosmo comes to life. Take that slime craze to the next level. Illustrated throughout by Renée Kurilla.
Written by Gina Loveless with spot illustrations by Andrea Bell, this chapter book follows the adventures of ten-year-old Robin, who is about to start the 5th Grade at Nottingham Elementary. Her quest? Win back the friendship of her bestie, Mary Ann. To do this, she has to stand up to a bully and become a legendary outlaw of Nottingham. We can't wait to see more books in this series.
Celebrate the life and voice of poet Gwendolyn Brooks with this thoughtful story that combines both Brooks' legacy with her life story. Known for being one of the most foremost poets on the Black experience and the role of women in society, Gwendolyn Brooks went from a young child writing all the time to becoming the first Black author to win the Pulitzer Prize and authoring 20 books of poetry, two autobiographies and one novel. Celebrated author and children's librarian Alice Faye Duncan makes Brooks come to life on the page for the young reader.
86. The Math Kids: A Sequence of Events (Volume 2)
David Cole's second book in the Math Kids chapter book series is just as lively and entertaining as the first. The Math Kids Club is back and this time they're entering the district Math Olympics. But they need one key thing to win: the quiet, math genius in class Catherine Duchesne. But when Catherine's dad goes missing, her new math friends spring into action to use math to solve the mystery. For any kid who loves math, buy this book. And any kid who doesn't? Buy it to show them math is fun!
The third volume in these adventures just hit the stands in October and our kiddos were overjoyed to read it. Written by David Cole, a writer and math teacher, each volume follows the adventures of the Math Kids Klub—Jordan, Justin, and Stephanie as they work to crack the case of a bank robbery using a cryptic poem. Think Encyclopedia Brown meets STEM learning, your kids will have so much fun reading these adventures they won't even notice they're learning important math concepts!
This awesome series, which includes other books like From an Idea to Google, and From an Idea to Disney, is basically like a "How I Built This" for kids, in book form. We learned so many amazing things about LEGO including the beginning concepts and hardships, fun facts and so much more. The perfect book for little LEGO lovers who want to go beyond sticking bricks. In short, Lowey Bundy Sichol's books are brilliant and inspiring for inventors and innovators everywhere.
Another great book from Raina Telgemeier, our editor first noticed this book at her son's schools book fair. It sold out: every day multiple kids (boys and girls) were buying it and sharing it with one another. The tale of a Raina facing her fears--this time they manifest in the form of a stomach ache. For every kid that has dread or worries about school, friends, and more, this one is relatable and as well-written as Telgemeier's many other books.
A true story from Raina Telgemeier, the #1 New York Times bestselling, multiple Eisner Award-winning author of Smile, Sisters, Drama, and Ghosts!
Ages: 8-12
Find your copy here, just $7.99 for the paperback.
90. & 91. Two New Amelia Fang Books
This summer brought us not one but two new Amelia Fang books: Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball(in which our heroine reluctantly attends her parents annual ball only to embark on an adventure to save her pet pumpkin, Squashy, from the evil clutches of a spoiled prince) andAmelia Fang and the Unicorns of Glitteropolis, where we find Amelia and her friends on a quest to rescue Queen Fairyweather from the terrifying Kingdom of Light. Both make a great read from author/illustrator Laura Ellen Anderson, the perfect celebration of the dark side in all of us.
Allan Woodrow's just-released, The Curse of the Werepenguin not only gets the summer award for best book title ever, it also gets kudos for creativity, humor and engaging writing. Oprhan Bolt Wattle's life takes a dramatic turn when he is sent for by a mysterious baron in far-off Brugaria. Baron Chordata seems a little odd—he wears tuxedos and refuses to answer any questions. Things get a lot worse when the Baron bites Bolt and turns him into a half-boy, half-penguin. For fans of humor and adventure, you can't go wrong with this middle-grade chapter book.
This debut novel from fifth-grade teacher and award-winning poet Sandy Stark-McGinnis tells the story of an eleven-year-old foster girl named December who is placed in a home with a woman who cares for injured birds. The story of heartbreak, hope and an unlikely home is one parents will love reading with the kids, too. Available Apr. 30.
Sam Wu is back in the third book in the series by Katie & Kevin Tsang. This time Sam Wu is most definitely not afraid of anything....not sharks...not ghosts....and not the dark! Actually, Sam is afraid of a lot of things (including ghosts and sharks) and when he goes camping in the woods with is friends and his cousin Stanley, his fear of the dark becomes pretty real. Find out what happens in this latest adventure!
Love the Story Pirates podcast? Then you’ll likely be as excited as we are to discover the new book in their written collection—The Story Pirates Present: Digging Up Danger. This new chapter book, inspired by a real kid’s idea, is both a spooky mystery and a creative writing guide for young writers. There’s a ghost hunting girl, a scientist mom who studies weird plants and the sudden disappearance of one of these plants...all the backdrop for a colorful romp in reading.
The adventures never end with 12-year-old Kassy O'Roarke, a wonderful character who is smart, thoughtful, clever and has real feelings that kids can relate to. Kassy is the class reporter and an investigator, and in this story she's trying to solve the case of a missing cougar cub. Written by bestselling author Kelly Oliver.
Written by Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author Brenda Woods, The Unsung Hero of Birdsong, USA tells the story of a unique friendship between a young white boy and a black WWII veteran. Mr. Meriwether Hunter returns to Jim Crow South in 1946. When he saves little Gabriel’s life during a bike accident, Gabriel’s father offers Meriwether a job as a mechanic at their family garage. Gabriel and Meriwether form a friendship that endures in spite of the extreme prejudices in the world around them. A beautiful read.
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.
The third installment of the Magic Misfits has arrived! Neil Patrick Harris' beloved character, Theo Stein-Meyer is back with his trusty pals and in this adventure where they're chosen to combat the evil Emerald Ring. The magic-themed tale reinforces the power of friendship and adventure.
This historical novel by J. Albert Mann is based on the life of Margaret Sanger, a young activist for women's health and the founder of Planned Parenthood. The novel explores the early years of Sanger's life as she dealt with adversity to forge her own path: she grew up poor at a time when women had the choice of being wives and mothers, whose career choice was teacher (and that was usually just until you got married). But Sanger did none of the above and this spirited imaging of what her life was like will encourage children of all genders to go their own way.
What goes best with a PSL or warm cider? An awesome new kid’s book. We’ve read through stacks and stacks of books hot-off-the presses and found our favorite new releases in children’s book for the month of October. Scroll on to see our picks.
Baby Loves: A First Book of Favorites
Babies and tots love looking and observing other babies and tots, which is why this book will be an instant with the younger set. Each page of this board book features a baby and different objects. Can your babe find the banana? How about the sippy cup? This book will help your kiddo learn to point and help with vocabulary building, matching and play.
The traditional board book is taken to a whole new level with this book by Christopher Franceschelli with art by Peskimo. Pages expand out, fold down and lift up as your kids discover what life on the farm is like. From planting crops to harvesting veggies to baking pies and more, go from season to season on the farm with favorite farm animals tagging along the way.
These two new titles from Chronicle Books bring everyday concepts to life for babies and toddlers. Turn each page and you'll find one action word in raised letters like "Play" or "Garden." Colorful illustrations of the word, along with vocabulary related to that word (like flowers, shovel, seeds) will help build your child's language skills. Touch, learn, repeat!
This adorable lift-the-flap board book teaches kids all about shapes in the context of a vibrant food truck. Illustrator Lucia Gaggiotti's images are reminiscent of Richard Scarry books and bring life to the page.
This colorful lift-the-flap book teaches the alphabet through funny rhyming text and the adventures of the sweetly drawn animals who live and work along Alphabet Street. The book folds out and has a play scene on the back for even more imaginative fun. The detailed artwork and interesting stores can inspire lots of conversations and gives kids new things to discover each time they open the book.
Classics are reimagined in this new series of board books that take famous books and re-tell them with inclusive and charming illustrations. Two of these sweet books are availble now, and there's more to come in 2020.
Nina is a homeless cat who lives in a big city in a house made of cardboard. Luckily for her, she has a nice red sweater to keep her warm, until one day it unravels. Following its yarn through the town, readers enjoy a delightful look at life in a city populated by animals. When Nina comes to the end of her yarn, she finds that her sweaters is completely gone, but she gains a friend who offers her the perfect Christmas present.
With a Seuss-like rhyme and detailed, original illustrations, The Favorite Book by Bethanie Deeney Murguia will become a fast favorite in your house. Not only is it full of a seek-and-find like quality, it also contains a valuable reminder about individuality and open-mindedness.
Rhyming text and a silly cat; pretty much a winning combo in the children's book department. This adorable book by Judy Schachner tells the "tail" of Stretchy's day about town.
Meet Kevin the unicorn—he's perfect. When he wakes one day, and things aren't quite the same, he'll keep up with the optimism unicorns are known to have, because well, unicorns are perfect. From a thunderstorm to sold-out glitter soda, kids will be giggling along as Kevin's day goes from bad to worse, and they'll learn that everyone, even unicorns, has bad days.
Your favorite Grumpy Monkey is back in Grumpy Monkeuy Party Time written by Suzanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang. This time Jim Panzee is invited to a party where there's...dancing! But what happens when Jim doesn't feel like dancing? This book is all about listening to your true feelings and managing social anxiety. It's a sequel to Grumpy Monkey, you definitely won't want to miss.
If your family attracts the sort of mischievous elves that leave trails of Hershey kisses or M&M minis from the bathroom, you'll adore this page-turning test designed to check if your kiddo is naughty or nice with silly instructions that will have your kid singing, clapping and.... burping?! Spoiler Alert: Every reader ends up on the Nice List!
For an uplifting, positive bedtime read turn to this book by artists and illustrator Jessica Hische. Now in board book form, this popular title will motivate your kids to see the bright side of their day. Turn each page to find hand-lettered inspiring words, all with a reminder that tomorrow is a new day full of opportunity.
The Reader is an ode to joy for young bookworms, celebrating the thrill of diving into a good book—especially when you really should be asleep. It is the story of a gender-neutral reader who chooses adventure over naptime, and you get to go along for the ride as the reader swims with whales, chases jaguars, and climbs dinosaurs as big as mountains.
This hilarious book written by Joh Lieb and illustrated by Kevin Cornell, invites the reader into the story to help solve a mystery. You see, Detective Irene McGarringan is busy preparing for the release of her book only to discover that (you guessed it) chapter two is missing. There's also other strange things afoot: a bunch of Ms hiding in Chapter 5 and there's a Chapter 45 that doesn't seem to belong to this book at all. Help her solve the mystery!
Ages: 4-6
Find it on amazon fir pre-order (out Oct. 29). $17.99
Monsters Are Afraid of Babies
Everybody knows....monsters are afraid of babies! From the way babies howl to how sticky and stinky they are, monsters have great fear of these crawling little creatures. Adorable, funny, rhyming prose will delight your kids as you reassure them not to fear (babies OR monsters). Written by Nicholas Tana and illustrated by Elise Leutwyler and Jessica Abbott.
Perfect as a gift (for your kiddo or friends this holiday season) is this boxed set of three Jon Klassen books: This Is Not My Hat, We Found a Hat and I Want My Hat Back. These witty, best-selling books are about some sly animals and their hats. If you haven't yet read these books, now's your chance to own all three.
Written by Parker Curry (age 4) and her mama, Jessica Curry, with an afterword by Michelle Obama. Illustrated by Brittany Jackson. This is the sweet story of Parker Curry, a young girl, who went to the National Portrait Gallery one afternoon with her mom. She saw prancing horse, blooming flowers, a bushy mustache...but before she went twirling off toward home, Parker Curry looked up. There on the wall she saw the magnificent portrait (by Amy Sherald) of Michelle Obama. Parker didn't just see the First Lady of the United States. She saw a queen, a woman with regality, beauty, truth and self-assurance, a woman who looked like her. This moving story will delight any young dreamer. A great addition to any home library or classroom.
Written by Kenyan-born actress Lupita Nyong'O, this is as much her personal story as it the story of young Sulwe, a girl whose skin is the color of midnight. The stunningly gorgeous illustrations by Vashti Harrison are reason enough alone to want this book in your library, but the story itself is beautifully told; it's about differences, acceptance of oneself no matter how we think others see us, it's about wanting to fit in and yet being unique. A vital message for every kid out there, regardless of race or gender. Read it today with your kids.
Did you know that 2019 marks the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots in NYC? Despite the passage of time, there's still much progress to be made for equal rights for the LGBTQ+ community. Take a step to be a part of the solution and empower your kids with knowledge with this book by M.L. Webb. Each page features vocabulary and poems like "A is for Ally" and "N is for Non-Binary." Educational and informative, this book will teach your kids all about inclusivity.
Little Snow gets a big bed, but he can't seem to resist jumping on it. Every time he jumps, feathers fall out...this beautiful story from Caldecott Honor winner Grace Lin pairs the natural mischief of a sweet young child with the magic of winter for a story you'll want to read every cozy night or snowy day.
Travel to the Himalayas and embark on a trek in search of the elusive gray ghost (aka the snow leopard) in this beautifully illustrated picture book. Written by Justin Anderson (a zoologist and filmmaker) and illustrated by Patrick Benson, an acclaimed children's book illustrator.
This wonderfully illustrated book by author Eliza Wheeler tells the story of Marvel and her seven siblings, who are forced to find a new home after the death of their father. Follow the family through the seasons as they make something out of nothing, from saving berries, hunting wild game, planting a garden and using nothing but their imaginations for entertainment. Inspired by the true-life Great Depression experiences of Wheeler's grandmother Marvel, this book will simultaneously warm your heart and serve as a strong reminder of the challenges that once faced our nation.
Caspian lives by himself in a lighthouse surrounded by the ocean. Every day he wishes a friend would show up but nobody does so he takes matters into his own hands. With beautiful illustrations and a positive message to reach out to others, this book by Jacqueline Veissid and illustrated by Merrilees Brown will become a favorite bedtime read.
Courtney Sheinmel introduces readers to a dynamic new duo in chapter books: a girl named Piper Maclane and her soon-to-be sidekick, Cosmo (her pet slime). When she's faced with a class assignment, petless Piper concocts some slime to bring to school. And through a strange turn of events, Cosmo comes to life. Take that slime craze to the next level. Illustrated throughout by Renée Kurilla.
Everything Awesome About Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Beasts!
For kiddos obsessed with dinosaurs who already have their basic knowledge about these pre-historic beasts down, it's time to take their love of dinos to the next level with this book written and illustrated by Mike Lowery. Part encyclopedic nonfiction and part hand-drawn pictures and illustrations, this book is colorful, engaging and educational all at once.
Harry Potter: Exploring Hogwarts: A Illustrated Guide
Harry Potter fans will want this fun illustrated guide to Hogwart's castle. From the extremely detailed illustrations to the little known facts about the movie series, it's a must-have for muggles.
The third volume in these adventures just hit the stands in October and our kiddos were overjoyed to read it. Written by David Cole, a writer and math teacher, each volume follows the adventures of the Math Kids Klub—Jordan, Justin, and Stephanie as they work to crack the case of a bank robbery using a cryptic poem. Think Encyclopedia Brown meets STEM learning, your kids will have so much fun reading these adventures they won't even notice they're learning important math concepts!
Acclaimed author R.J. Palacio is back with a new graphic novel based on the character Grandmere (introduced in Auggie & Me as Julian's grandmother). Palacio tells the story of how Grandmere, as a young Jewish girl, was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village during WWII. It's a story of triumph, kindness and true friendship, too, told in Palacio's unforgettable voice.
For Russell Weinwright, being in middle school is complicated enough. Add in that he's from the swamp, has one large arm and can shoot vines, and it's a whole new ball game. Done in a similar vein to the Wimpy Kid series, read Russell's spiral notebook, and follow him as he tries to find out more about what happened to his parents, avoid his suspicious science teacher and make friends along the way.
Turn idle technology time into active learning by introducing your kids to the wonders of coding. Teaching kids to code helps them develop critical thinking, problem solving and STEAM-related skills, gives them the pride of creating their own content, and is a skill that might just come in handy later in their lives. Luckily, this is a great time for children interested in how their favorite apps work under the hood: New York City has a great selection of coding classes for kids. Below are some of our favorites.
Pixel Academy
Pixel Academy
Pixel Academy wants kids to get creative with how they look at technology. Students are encouraged to ask questions and stay focused on projects, all with a safe and encouraging environment. The afterschool program teaches kids to code through games they love, like Roblox, Minecraft, and Fortnite, or even through modern-day tech like Alexa and Virtual Reality.
Along with the actual coding lessons, Pixel Academy will also instruct students in 3D model creation, video-game media and marketing, and how to be respectful to other players (and each other) — in other words, all the skills they'd need to make their own games from start to finish.
Kids ages 7-14 can enroll in an afterschool program, join the seasonal camps, or visit during the one-day camps, which take place during nearly every public school closing — though these mini-camps are oriented more around the actual playing of video-games, not making them. There's also the option to book a birthday party at the space.
The Coding Space is directed at kids ages 8-14 and uses kid-oriented programs to move up to rea-world languages. Coding is taught using the Socratic Method: by allowing students to ask meaningful questions, instead of lecturing them on what to do. Kids start coding from Scratch (literally — a program designed for kids at MIT), then branch off to specialize in more focused areas of coding. Classes are kept small (four kids per instructor) and lessons are project-oriented and self-paced.
Along with seasonal camps and an afterschool program, The Coding Space has programs that last from 14-17 weeks. You can also enroll your child in a single class to try it out if you're not sure it's right for you.
Although most classes are co-ed, the GirlCode classes specifically cater to girls and young women, aiming to encourage and empower them in the field.
Yes, that Apple. The company's been offering Hour of Code programs and other coding opportunities for kids for years, usually for free. Every summer, kids can participate in Apple Camp, a free three-session program that takes place in local Apple stores. As you can imagine, spots fill up quickly, so sign up to be notified of when registration opens here.
In addition to the camp, Apple also hosts workshops throughout the year where kids can dip their feet into coding. These workshops teach kids 12 or older to code for Apple products, and introduce 6- to 12-year-olds to programming using programmable Sphero robots.
Best of all, if you own an iPad, you can turn your own home into a coding academy using the free Swift Playground app. This kid-friendly app teaches Swift, the programming language used by iOS developers, in a way that's approachable for kids.
If your child thrives in a more school-like environment, Sylvan might be the right choice for them. Here, kids in elementary through middle school meet for an hour per week and work on a predetermined project. Classes are less self-directed and more instruction-based, teaching an assortment of skills that align with school curriculums as well as Common Core.
Kids learn to code using the child-friendly Tynker system. Although there's no shift to real-world languages, the program serves as an excellent starting point for thinking through coding problems and scenarios. In addition, kids are taught world-building and character creation, audio and special effect application, and problem solving. The end goal of the full session is to create a playable game.
Visit the Sylvan website to choose your location or click on the link above for a course description.
Robofun
Robofun
Although Robofun offers many types of STEM learning like, of course, robot making and programming, kids can also take coding classes here. In fact, Robofun uses MIT-developed Scratch to instruct kids, Robofun boasts having Dr. Mitchel Resnick — who created the language along with his associates — as a board member.
In the coding program, which is intended for kids in 3rd-6th grade, students will learn how to make different types of games, including adventure, maze, and platforming games. Instruction is highly personal as Robofun knows that everyone learns differently, and instructors will personalize their teaching to fit every child's needs.
Children can sign up for a full afterschool program or attend a one-off drop-in class or workshop. As an added bonus, if you decide to bring your child back for lessons again after completing the afterschool program once, you're assured that they'll learn brand new things and will never have to repeat material. There are also other interesting options here, like learning how electricity works through Minecraft and stop-motion animation.
Developed by actual professionals from the game industry, Game-U provides comprehensive, project-driven instruction on making games and everything that goes into that. In addition to coding in languages like C++ and Javascript, the program also teaches level design, animation, 3D printing, and even robotics.
Classes, afterschool programs, and camp are all available for kids ages 6 and up, or you can drop in on a lesson online via the live-stream service.
Did you know that your local college may have coding classes for kids? And chances are, if it does, it's through iD Tech. The program over 50 different courses running at various college campuses, including NYU, Pace University, Queens College, and more.
Classes are available for kids starting at 7 years old and include fun offerings like Scratch learning, Java coding with Minecraft, Python with Cozmo, game design, Roblox world building, and much, much more. Kids can even enroll in a course that'll allow them to build their own laptop (and take it home!).
Instruction is less self-paced here than in other programs, and drives kids to learn and complete specific tasks in each class, leading up to the completion of their predetermined projects. Many classes also let kids take home their creations along with useful extras like course transcripts, a certificate of completion, and sometimes even the tech they were working with.
This well-known nonprofit organization aims to close the gender gap in STEM fields by giving girls the opportunity to learn coding and related skills. The organization brings free coding classes to libraries and other community locations across NYC for girls from 3rd through 12th grade.
Classes are led by "Clubs" — in fact, parents, teachers and librarians are able to start their own Club if they have the means and want to contribute to the movement and community. The program also offers paid courses and a summer immersion program if your little one(s) get into it and want to take their learning further. Girls in grades 3-5 learn on and off the computer, honing their thinking skills to prepare them to think like a programmer, while 6th-12th graders get hands-on with the tech.
You can find a class near you on the website but not all programs run year-long so contact the location to see what's available at the time.
Winter’s not always easy, especially when you’ve stir-crazy kids on your hands. The next time cabin fever sets in, escape to an amazing museum that caters to kids. You’ll spend the day cozy and warm inside while also learning about science, history and art: a win-win! These children’s museums are totally worth a visit—read on to get all the details about the best one in every single state.
1. Alabama: McWane Science Center, Birmingham Since opening its doors in 1998, McWane Science Center has welcomed millions of visitors to learn about all things STEM through exciting hands-on experiences. Permanent indoor exhibits include Itty Bitty Magic City (a play area perfect for kindergarteners and younger tots), Alabama Dinosaurs (featuring fossils discovered in the state) and NatureScope (discover birds and creepy crawly things).
2. Alaska: Fairbanks Children’s Museum, Fairbanks The Fairbanks Children’s Museum is all about play-based learning, and kids have a blast with all the awesome hands-on experiences and programs. You can get messy with hands-on art programs, mingle with other parents and tots during special meetups and scale a rock wall, just to name a few.
3. Arizona: Children’s Museum of Phoenix, Phoenix With over 48,000 square feet of play space, there’s enough to do at the Children’s Museum of Phoenix to keep your tots busy all day long. There are more than 300 play experiences spread over three floors, in addition to a range of classes about everything from fossils to art. Be sure to check out the Schuff-Perini Climber, a tree-like sculpture that gives kids a bird’s-eye view of the museum’s atrium.
4. Arkansas: Scott Family Amazeum, Bentonville Your crew will love the Amazeum, an awesome interactive museum with a focus on art, science and Arkansas culture. Be sure to check out the climbable tree canopy, indoor cave and tinkering hub, in addition to daily activities like DIY workshops, day camps, and playgroups. There’s even a Cloud Theater that gives you space to relax with calming music and time-lapse images of clouds.
5. California: Exploratorium, San Francisco With more than 650 exhibits, you need at least a day or two in order to see and try everything at San Francisco’s Exploratorium. Truly a hands-on interactive experience for ages 4 to 12, kids can take a sensory-loaded trip through a tactile dome, experiment in a tinkering studio and play in an eye-catching shadow box, and that’s just scratching the surface. The hundreds of exhibits are built in-house and are constantly evolving, which makes every trip unique.
6. Colorado: Children’s Museum of Denver at Marsico Campus, Denver The Children’s Museum of Denver offers a nine-acre campus for kids of all ages to explore. Highlights include Altitude, where mini mountain climbers will make their way up and around over three levels of Colorado heritage to reach the lookout at the tippy top, and Box Canyon, an indoor mountain range for the small set. Don’t miss out on The Teaching Kitchen, Fire Station No. 1 and Art Studio, too.
7. Connecticut: Kidcity Children’s Museum, Middletown Kids ages 1 to 7 will have a blast exploring Kidcity’s one-of-a-kind, hands-on exhibits, all of which are built by in-house artists. There’s a Fishery, where you’ll use conveyors to bring in the catch of the day; a Space Age Roadtrip, where friendly aliens take a trip on Route 66; and a medieval village called Middleshire, where kids can build a castle and keep watch for Vikings. Be sure to block out a good chunk of time for your visit—they’ll be entertained for hours!
8. Delaware: Delaware Children’s Museum, Wilmington Your little explorers will have the chance to discover the worlds of science, math and technology at the Delaware Children’s Museum. Monkey around in the Stratosphere, a cool climbing structure that overlooks the museum’s lobby; learn what an architect does and how buildings take shape, and let your tiniest tots play on a model train in the transportation-themed area.
9. Florida: Glazer Children’s Museum, Tampa During your visit to Glazer Children’s Museum, kids will have the chance to set sail on a cruise ship, become a firefighter for the day, build a pillow fort and explore an indoor playground. Psst ... they offer free admission on the first Tuesday of every month, along with bimonthly events for kids with special needs.
10. Georgia: Atlanta Children’s Museum, Atlanta You’re bound to have a blast at Atlanta’s go-to destination for little learners. Gateway to the World invites mini explorers to climb through the layers of the earth and enter a one-of-a-kind, child-powered, rotating globe, while Step up to Science hosts a permanent lab with experiments conducted on a daily basis. Babies and toddlers can cast a line, enter a magical forest and even climb a tree house in Leaping into Learning, while older kids can work the farm, flip burgers in the diner and shop till they drop in Fundamentally Food. Don’t forget to look for the art studio in Let Your Creativity Flow, too!
11. Hawaii: Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center, Honolulu Whether you’re an island dweller or just on Oahu for vacation, the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center is definitely worth a visit. Kids are encouraged to use their senses of touch, sight, hearing and smell to gain a better understanding of the world around them. Highlights include Tot Spot (a special play zone for your tiniest ones), Fantastic You (an up-close and personal look at the human body) and Rainforest Adventures (an exploration of rainforests and our precious natural resources).
12. Idaho: Museum of Clean, Pocatello For a seriously unique experience, you’ve got to check out the Museum of Clean. There’s not just one focus here—everything from clean air to clean water to clean language is covered. Kids will love exploring the museum’s play areas and interactive features (and looking at a massive collection of vacuum cleaners is pretty fun, too!).
13. Illinois: Kohl Children’s Museum, Glenview To folks living or vacationing in the greater Chicago area, Kohl Children’s Museum is just what the doctor ordered for beating back the winter blues. With 17 permanent exhibits, kids are able to expend tons of extra energy when they become veterinarians, nature explorers, chefs, mechanics and even Whole Foods employees, all in one day! It does get busy when the wind chill drops, but seeing your littles get in a full day of imaginary play is worth the crowds. Don't want to leave for lunch? Stop off at the Cosi in the museum’s entryway for food and drinks.
14. Indiana: Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Worthy of a vacation in itself, lucky families who visit the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis are in for five floors of energy-zapping activities and fun. The granddaddy of all children’s museums has almost 500,000 square feet of exhibition space, 11 permanent exhibits and over 120,000 real artifacts in the museum collections. Kids can discover prehistoric beasts in Dinosphere, visit the International Space Station, travel far and wide in Treasures of the Earth, or take a virtual ride on the steam engine designed to tackle the steepest railroad grade in the country in All Aboard!
15. Iowa: Iowa Children’s Museum, Coralville The Iowa Children’s Museum is all about inspiring kids to learn and grow through play, and their multi-sensory exhibits hit it out of the park. Aspiring chefs get to work in a pretend pizzeria; tots can learn basic physics lessons with race cars, tracks, and mazes; and train-obsessed kids will have the chance to play with model trains weaving their way through Iowa. In case that’s not enough to tire them out, there are also special events for art-making, STEM learning and more.
16. Kansas: Cosmosphere, Hutchinson Go on a space odyssey at the coolest museum in Kansas, a 105,000-square-foot space and science center that’ll keep your whole crew entertained for hours. Watch a jaw-dropping show in their state-of-the-art planetarium (you can even get a preview of what the sky will look like that very night), browse the largest combined collection of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world and watch live demonstrations of science experiments.
17. Kentucky: Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory, Louisville A visit to the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory is sure to be a home run, especially if you’ve got sports fans in your family. You’ll get to see how baseball bats are made (and you’ll get a miniature bat to take home), crawl through a giant glove, try your hand at a simulated pitching experience and hold bats that were used by baseball legends.
18. Louisiana: Louisiana Children’s Museum, New Orleans With a visit to the Louisiana Children’s Museum, little ones will have the chance to learn about everything from reading and math to architectural ideas and the nuances of grocery shopping—all through super fun, hands-on activities and exhibits. Find out how to use a fulcrum or a pulley with the Simple Machines exhibit, head to Art Trek to explore a range of different media and techniques and go back in time to check out the recreated courtyard of one of New Orleans’ oldest buildings. With a fun mix of science, art and Louisiana-inspired activities, there’s really something for everyone.
19. Maine: Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, Portland Kids 10 and under will love spending the day playing and learning at this gem of a museum in Portland. The hands-on exhibits range from an exploration of the camera obscura to a kiddie-style farmers market (complete with bakery and fish market) to a special area that’s perfect for your tiniest tots. And since this is Maine, after all, there’s even a replica lobster boat where kids can learn about the state’s working waterfronts.
20. Maryland: Port Discovery Children’s Museum, Baltimore With loads of options for purposeful play, Port Discovery Children’s Museum is undoubtedly one of the best indoor spaces in the Mid-Atlantic region for kids ages 0 to 10. It’s currently under construction, with new exhibits due to open in spring 2019, but in the meantime, you can still get your play on in their Construction Zone exhibit. Little ones can design their own robots, build with giant blocks and launch rockets toward a mini-moon.
21. Massachusetts: Boston Children’s Museum, Boston There are 88,000 square feet of hands-on engagement at the Boston Children’s Museum. The focus on science, culture, health & fitness and the arts make this an ideal destination when it’s just too cold to be outdoors (or anytime, really!). Locals and tourists alike benefit from the scores of programs and activities developed by museum educators, and a few attempts to make it to the top of The Climb, the three-story climbing structure in the center of the museum, will leave your kids tired and happy.
22. Michigan: Impression 5 Science Center, Lansing In 1972, Impression 5 became one of the first hands-on science centers in the country, and they’ve been a Michigan favorite ever since. With a focus on dynamic, interactive activities that encourage kids of all ages to play, create and challenge their understanding of science, it’s well worth the trip. Learn about oral health with giant dental tools, step into a full-size body bubble, become a naturalist for the day and more.
23. Minnesota: Minnesota Children’s Museum, St. Paul The Minnesota Children’s Museum’s mission is to spark learning through play, and you’ll see what they mean after one visit. Kids will love exploring The Scramble, a four-story vertical adventure with a spiral slide and a netted catwalk. Let them get creative making their own stories at Imaginopolis, and spend some time in Our World, a mini-city with everything from a post office to a farmers market.
24. Mississippi: Mississippi Children’s Museum, Jackson Kiddos will have a blast playing the day away at this Jackson gem. The 40,000-square-foot museum houses five galleries of educational, interactive exhibits and weekly programs that focus on everything from literacy to science to Mississippi heritage. Learn about healthy eating in a cute kitchen, make a masterpiece in the art studio and find out about the state’s agriculture.
25. Missouri: City Museum, St. Louis We recommend wearing comfy clothes for your day at the City Museum because you’ll definitely be crawling, sliding and climbing. With lots of interesting architectural features like old chimneys and salvaged bridges, it’s captivating for kids and adults alike. Venture through hidden tunnels, monkey around on fun jungle gyms and zoom down indoor slides—your little explorers will love it all.
26. Montana: Children’s Museum of Bozeman, Bozeman Offering hands-on exhibits, summer science camps, after-school activities, and educational programs, the Children’s Museum of Bozeman is a cultural hub. Kids can make slime in the science lab, collect eggs from chickens on the farm, tinker with electric circuits and more. Even your tiniest tots will love their special zone that offers plenty of space for rolling, crawling and climbing.
27. Nebraska: Lincoln Children’s Museum, Lincoln Spend the day exploring the Lincoln Children’s Museum’s three floors and 23,300 square feet of hands-on exhibits and imaginative programs. Check out Cuckoo Construction, the museum’s largest exhibit yet, which gives kids a chance to help build walls and watch foam bricks fall. Chill out in the Grow Zone, an interactive indoor garden perfect for tiny tots. Cruise over to the water exhibit, where you can watch the rain fall from the clouds above and build dams to hold the water back.
28. Nevada: DISCOVERY Children’s Museum, Las Vegas The three-story DISCOVERY Children’s Museum opened in 2013 and is home to nine themed exhibition halls totaling 26,000 square feet of interactive hands-on core exhibits. It’s hard to miss The Summit, a 70-foot tower covering 22,000 square feet with 12 levels of engaging, hands-on play. Kids can lift a car with a lever and (if they make it!) take a peek at the amazing roof at the very tippy top. Check out a mini Hoover Dam in Water World, walk into a Dr. Seuss book in Young at Art or watch your crawling cuties wander around Toddler Town—a desert-themed space complete with trains, tunnels and an art zone.
29. New Hampshire: Children’s Museum of New Hampshire, Dover The Children’s Museum of New Hampshire is all about hands-on discovery, and you’ll get what they mean when you see their amazing exhibits. Engineer a flying machine and launch it from a 30-foot tower, venture into a cave to read glow-in-the-dark books and find secret paintings, dig for Triceratops fossils and more. Between the exhibits, STEAM Lab drop-in sessions and junior science classes, there’s enough to keep you coming back for more all year long.
30. New Jersey: Liberty Science Center, Jersey City Inspire your budding scientists and engineers with a visit to Liberty Science Center, home to 12 museum exhibition halls, a live animal collection with 110 species, giant aquariums, a 3D theater and lots more. Catch a planetarium show, check out views from the Hubble Space Telescope and meet some of the animals that live in the Hudson River. Young learners can even don a white coat and perform checkups in the Doc McStuffins exhibit.
31. New Mexico: Explora Science Museum & Children’s Museum, Albuquerque Spend the day learning about science, technology, engineering, art and math through fun hands-on activities at Explora. Experiment with balls and ramps to slow down the effects of gravity, make a masterpiece out of recycled materials and discover the unique characteristics of water. Be sure to check out their events calendar, offering everything from music jams to adults-only evenings.
32. New York: The Strong Museum of Play, Rochester With roots dating back to wealthy Rochesterian Margaret Woodbury Strong's extensive doll and toy collection, the museum has grown into an impressive 100,000-square-foot destination. While the entire facility is worth exploring, stellar permanent exhibits include Can You Tell Me How to Get To Sesame Street? (featuring all of the series' popular characters, as well as a 123 Sesame stoop for sitting and photo ops); the Wegmans Super Kid Market, a hyper-realistic replica of a grocery store sponsored by the boffo hometown chain; American Comic Book Heroes: The Battle of Good vs. Evil; and Reading Adventureland. The museum is also home to the National Toy Hall of Fame, and when you add on-site restaurants, a carousel and easy-as-pie parking, it's a destination worthy of a family road trip!
33. North Carolina: Discovery Place Science, Charlotte A visit to Discovery Place is a must for opening little eyes to the wonders of science. From World Alive, where guests can wander through a rainforest and an aquarium, to Think it Up, a “thought studio” of multisensory colors, sights and sounds and back to Project Build, where anyone can be an architect for a day, every inch of Discovery Place is dedicated to making learning fun and interesting. The tiniest family members have their own special place for discovery in Kid Science, and the Discovery 3D theater screens family-friendly movies and short films perfect for all ages.
34. North Dakota: Dickinson Museum Center, Dickinson Science-loving kiddos will enjoy learning about dinosaurs and more at the Dickinson Museum Center. Check out fossils that were discovered in the area, see their collection of rocks and minerals and play in an augmented reality sandbox. You can even peek inside the fossil laboratory to watch paleontologists at work preparing recently discovered fossils for research and display.
35. Ohio: COSI: Center of Science and Industry, Columbus With over 300 interactive exhibitions, a seven-story extreme theater, the country’s only high-wire unicycle, and Little Kidspace, created just for kiddos ages 0 to 5, there’s enough educational fun to keep the entire family entertained for days at COSI. Encounter Poseidon at Ocean, the playground depicting the mysteries of the sea. Check out the Energy Explorers exhibit, which teaches families about energy and making smart choices, or get up close and personal with a T. rex in the Dinosaur Gallery. With their range of traveling exhibits and classic features, every COSI visit can be a different adventure.
36. Oklahoma: Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum, Seminole Since 1993, the Jasmine Moran Children’s Museum has been a favorite destination for Oklahoma families. The museum is based on an imaginary town, where kids can explore many careers, all from a pint-sized vantage point—they can become a judge, doctor, artist, news anchor, meteorologist, actor, pilot, EMT or firefighter for the day. Plus, you can get lost in the 12,000-square-foot Castle Maze, see aquatic life native to the state and take a ride on a miniature train.
37. Oregon: OMSI: Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, Portland OMSI is a can’t-miss museum in Portland, where kids and adults alike can immerse themselves in all things science and technology. Use “human power” to take a virtual trip through Portland, craft your own world using an augmented reality sandbox and experience the sights and smells of the world’s only permafrost research tunnel. Be sure to check out their cool camps and classes too, on topics ranging from kitchen chemistry to web design.
38. Pennsylvania: Please Touch Museum, Philadelphia The name says it all. What other place has the singular mission of encouraging young visitors to touch everything? Start a visit to the Please Touch Museum in Hamilton Hall, at the huge “monument to play”— a 40-foot replica of the Statue of Liberty’s Arm and Torch (made out of toys). Move toward Roadside Attractions, where engineers can repair cars, collect tolls, and take a trip to the future. Be sure to say hello to the Please Touch puppets: Pinky, Pickle, Melita, Dr. Penny and many more, who pop up and perform daily.
39. Rhode Island: Providence Children’s Museum, Providence Kick cabin fever to the curb with a visit to the Providence Children’s Museum, home to hands-on, play-based exhibits and programs that explore culture and all things STEAM. Check out Play Power, where you can send objects soaring through air tubes and construct magnetic mazes; The Climber, a kid-favorite two-story-high climbing maze; and Coming to Rhode Island, an interactive time-traveling adventure that introduces kids to people who immigrated to the state. Their events calendar also has loads more fun in store, including live theater and art sessions.
40. South Carolina: The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, Greenville Spark your kiddo’s curiosity with a visit to The Children’s Museum of the Upstate. With 19 interactive exhibits, there’s enough to keep any kid entertained for hours. Build dams and learn about water in Reedy River Bend, report the news or weather in the 7 News Studio and monkey around on a multi-story climbing structure. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, grab a tasty meal at the museum’s in-house cafe.
41. South Dakota: Children’s Museum of South Dakota, Brookings Make a day of it with your whole crew at the Children’s Museum of South Dakota. In the exhibit Our Prairie, kids can learn about the region’s past and role-play the daily tasks of living on the land over one hundred years ago. Head to Sensations to experiment with patterns, textures, shapes, and colors and collaborate on hands-on activities. Then cruise over to KidStreet to pick up your mail, tune up your car and make sandwiches and ice cream sundaes. There’s also a cozy MiniExplorers area that’s perfect for your tiniest tots.
42. Tennessee: Creative Discovery Museum, Chattanooga Located in the heart of downtown Chattanooga, the Creative Discovery Museum is totally worth a visit. Their permanent exhibits include Corner Clinic (become a doctor for the day), Culinary Corner (make healthy snacks using ingredients from the museum’s rooftop garden), Little Yellow House (let your tiniest tots exercise their imaginations) and Excavation Station (grab a shovel and get digging in the sand). Be sure to check out their events calendar for the latest goings-on, from a snow day celebration to a honey harvest.
43. Texas: Children’s Museum of Houston, Houston With 14 permanent galleries and exhibits along with a cafe, library and family learning center, we are bowled over by the 90,000 square feet of play available at the Children’s Museum of Houston. Start at Kidtropolis, a play city built and run by kids from the ground up on a daily basis, and move on to How Does it Work?, where your budding scientists have access to a ton of hands-on experiments, like creating a roller coaster and sending messages via fiber optics. If there's still time, go undercover in the S.E.C.R.E.T. spy experience.
44. Utah: Treehouse Children’s Museum, Ogden Since 1992, Treehouse Children’s Museum has been a favorite for kids ages 1 to 12 (and their families, too). The exhibits encourage playing imaginatively and making new stories—there’s the Big Red Barn where you can “milk” a cow and collect eggs from chickens, plus areas based on different countries so you can dream up an international journey. There’s even an Oval Office where tots can pretend to be the president.
45. Vermont: Montshire Museum of Science, Norwich Founded in 1974, the Montshire is now one of the busiest museums in northern New England, and for good reason. It’s dedicated to teaching visitors about natural and physical sciences, ecology and technology through its 140 hands-on exhibits. Kids will love getting a look at the inner workings of toys; examining seeds, bones, and plants under a microscope; experimenting with different types of instruments; and playing with different types of bubbles. This one’s sure to be a hit with adults and kids alike.
46. Virginia: Amazement Square, Lynchburg With four floors and nine galleries of hands-on, interactive exhibits, Amazement Square is (fittingly) an amazing place to spend the day. Start off by exploring Amazement Tower, a climbing structure with slides, ladders, tunnels and a zip line that spans all four of the museum’s floor. Then get creative in the Kaleidoscope Gallery, where kids can paint on the walls and rock out on stage. Toddlers will also love playing in Shipwreck Cove, a special under-three area with a pirate ship and a coral reef.
47. Washington: Washington: Hands On Children’s Museum, Olympia The most visited children’s museum in Washington, it’s our go-to for hands-on science and art learning. With more than 150 exhibits, you’ll never run out of things to do—kids can shop in a mini farmers market, send scarves through a 25-foot AirWays Maze, make and float their own boats and lots more. Be sure to check out their events, too, including free first Friday nights and art studio sessions.
48. Washington D.C.: National Building Museum, Washington D.C. Go on an architectural adventure at the National Building Museum. Kiddos can learn about design, construction and engineering through the museum’s two distinct areas. The Building Zone (for ages 2 to 6) lets them stack and balance faux bricks, drive a miniaturized bulldozer and romp around a “green” playhouse, while the other area, Play Work Build, has foam blocks of varying sizes, allowing adults and children alike to build and demolish their own creations. Click here to find out more (plus get the scoop on more of our favorite kid-friendly museums in the DMV).
49. West Virginia: Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum, Wheeling Located in beautiful Wheeling, kids of all ages will love exploring the Kruger Street Toy & Train Museum. You’ll find interactive, operating model train layouts, along with toys you’ll remember from your childhood—dolls, dollhouses, toy soldiers, playsets, trains, planes, and ships, just to name a few. Kids will have a blast taking a peek into the past (and seeing how far toys have come!).
50. Wisconsin: Building for Kids Children’s Museum, Appleton Foster your kids’ curiosity with a visit to the Building for Kids Children’s Museum. They’ll have the chance to climb into a 10-foot human heart, make a masterpiece using blocks, become a firefighter for the day, build boats and lots more. Check out the events calendar for more fun activities, like toddler playtime sessions, STEM workshops and story times.
51. Wyoming: Jackson Hole Children’s Museum, Jackson The Jackson Hole Children’s Museum is all about fostering a love of learning through collaborative play and creative problem solving, and with their interactive exhibits and exciting programs, the littles will definitely be on board. Become a pilot for the day, go shopping in the Mountain Market, build a cool creation on the Magnet Wall and snuggle up for some quiet time in the Book Nook.
Did you know that studies show that travel has a positive impact on your kids’ personal development? Expand your family’s horizons and make a real impact on your next family vacation. We suggest a trip to Washington D.C. where there’s something for everyone, whether you have a nature enthusiast or a history buff. Read on for five ways a family vacation to D.C. will educate, inform and create life-long memories for your entire crew.
For Your History Buff
Jomar on Unsplash
D.C. is one of the best places to inspire your kid's love of history. From the monuments to walking tours, the area has it all. Whatever your family indulges in during their visit, we know it'll make a life-long impact on the future generation of leaders.
An educational outing that also tires them out? It's a win-win on a walking tour of some of DC's most fun and popular sites. So lace up those walking shoes and take one of these seven family-friendly walking tours, which is a unique and personal way to get acquainted with the city.
Not sure about taking your kids to a museum? Think again. D.C. is full of family-friendly museum experiences that will influence how your kids see history, art and more. We found nine museum tours that will actually keep them engaged. Find the one best suited to your kiddo's interest by clicking here.
A trip to DC would be incomplete without checking out at least one monument. Get your kids excited about checking out monuments with our handy guide you can see here.
There are over 30 Marriott hotels in Greater Washington, D.C., all of which allow visitors to enjoy D.C. and Arlington, VA and the surrounding suburb cities during one trip. All hotels are located in prime locations near top attractions, or near convenient transportation such as Metro, Bike Share or Bird Scooters, so you can play all day and then have the best rest. Stay at any participating Marriott brand hotel in the Greater D.C. area to enjoy the beauty of the Capital City during this time of year. Bonus: Many of the Marriott brand hotels will be featuring complimentary kids meals with the purchase of an adult entree during the spring and summer months!
KIDS EAT FREE w/ purchase of adult entrée. Up to 4 kids, 12 years and younger. Use promo code ZJL.
Exhausted your home city's science museums and centers? Put on that lab coat because the D.C. area is home to some of the most memorable science experiences around. Perfect for curious kids looking to expand their scientific and inquisitive minds, here are three must-visit spots that your kids will be talking about for ages.
Designed to foster a love of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (aka STEM) learning, kiddos won’t know which Children’s Science Center Lab station to stop at first. At this Fairfax, Virginia hot spot, they’ll learn all about friction, drag, chemical reaction, wind energy—and they won’t have any idea they’re being schooled because it’s so much fun. For our full review of this scientific learning center for kids click here.
Think you have the next Edison, Graham Bell, or Tesla on your hands? Let them get their tinkering fix at Bethesda’s new KID Museum, a hot spot to be that works to foster curiosity and compassion while empowering young ones to create and imagine new ideas. The best part? The “museum” is 100 percent hands-on—visitors do everything from experiment with wind tunnels and build robots to program computer games and construct cardboard skyscrapers. Check out the full run-down of this amazing new spot here.
You may jump at a spider but your kiddo is all about everything insects. Inspire her love of the creepy crawlies at one of 10 (yes, you heard that right!) awesome places for insect lovers to visit. From a butterfly pavilion to a regional park to a real insect zoo, check out these 10 places where your kids can examine insects in their natural habitat. They'll be bugging out in all the best ways possible.
For the Creative
Hilary Riedemann
Whether it's banging on tupperware with your toddler or hosting afternoon craft sessions, you make it a point to feed your kid's creative outlet. Keep inspiring her artsy and creative side on your family vacation to D.C. Here are our top picks that'll make a huge impact on your child's creativity:
Creating art out of play-dough is one thing, but seeing sculptures in real life is another. Check out these sweet sculpture gardens that will inspire your kid's creative side. Bonus: they are all outdoors and the perfect way to get some fresh air and those little legs moving.
If you want to mix it up on your trip to D.C., do as the locals do with a drop-in art class. They'll get messy (not in your hotel room or home!) and the creative juices flowing. Here are our picks for the best drop-in art classes in the area.
There's a little bit of something for everyone at the National Gallery of Art. From adult-sized mobiles to the largest blue rooster you've ever seen (seriously), this spot is a must-visit for any local or tourist. You'll be colored impressed and your kids will be chatting about their visit to the National Gallery of Art for ages. Find our guide to this artsy hot spot here.
If your kiddo is all about the flora and fauna, get in touch with Mother Earth on your trip to D.C. The area has a wide a variety of nature-themed activities for all ages and stages. Here are our picks that will make a big impact on your nature-loving crew:
You don't have to book it to a National Park to take a memorable hike. There are tons of kid-friendly trails right in D.C. There's Burke Lake Park in Fairfax Station, Virginia, a 218 acre lake where you can rent rowboats and go fishing. Or, if waterfalls are more your thing, head to Great Falls Park, which offers up a special view of the Potomac River with its cascading waterfalls nestled in the forest. Click here for 5 more kid-friendly trails in and around D.C.
Spring and summer are the perfect seasons to pack a picnic and enjoy nature. From the US National Arboretum to Theodore Roosevelt Island, your kids have never picnicked like this before. Find out where to spread out your blanket and bask under the sun by clicking here.
Bonus: Get a unique, only-in-DC perspective of all of those Cherry Blossoms this spring by packing a picnic and paddling your way around the Tidal Basin. It's also a fun way to give your quads a workout as you and your energetic crew make your way around the Tidal Basin. Wave hello to Thomas Jefferson and soak up the sun whether you choose a two- or four-passenger regular boat or a two-person swan boat made for photo ops!
For a super memorable, nature-filled outing why not try your hand at fishing? From reservoirs to man-made lakes, the D.C. area is full of places to cast a line. Here are our top fishing holes any local or visitor must check out.
Sometimes it's the quiet, low-key moments that make the biggest impact on kids. Suburban neighborhoods and gardens around the beltway offer quiet strolls and blossom photo ops for families, minus the big crowds. Try the ancient art of Sumi-e brush painting at Green Spring Garden, or relax by the Japanese pagoda at Wheaton’s Brookside Gardens, home to 30 cherry trees. Other recommended blossom respites include the National Arboretum or theBishops Garden at the National Cathedral, and Bon Air Rose Park in Arlington, or Kenwood in Chevy Chase, where there is also a playground and small picnicking area.
If you love the fresh outdoors and are looking to soak up the sun while you chow down, the areas around D.C. and Arlington have loads of open air options for your fam. From pizza to pastelitos, below are some of the funnest and yummiest places to dine al fresco.
Millie’s Spring Valley The restaurantpays homage to the stress-free, beachy Nantucket vibe and their menu isfresh California baja-style. There’s plenty of room on the patio and, after dinner, kids will LOVE going to the ice cream window and getting their fave Gifford’s flavor with fun toppings.
Union Market Appease the whole family’s appetite for indie bites at the continuously expanding Union Market, where you can stroll the 100 (and counting) stalls of this hip food-lovers haven.
Los Tios Grill Bright, colorful umbrellas shield little ones from the squelching D.C. sun during the day, while the playground across the street is a great way to burn off some energy after the niños pequeños have scarfed down their delicious Tres Leches dessert.
2615 Mount Vernon Ave. (Alexandria, VA) Online: lostiosgrill.com
Vola’s Dockside Grill Located on the Waterfront in Old Town (just steps away from the Torpedo Factory Art Center), Vola’s offers seating next to the marina slips. Little ones will enjoy watching the boats come and go and seeing the airplanes make their decent into Reagan National.
101 N Union St. (Alexandria, VA) 703-935-8890 Online: volasdockside.com
Pavilion Cafe You’ll find this cafe nestled beside a reflecting pool in the National Gallery of Art’s Sculpture Garden. It’s a scenic spot to stop and enjoy a meal while visiting the Smithsonian Museums.
7th Street and Constitution Ave. 202-289-3360 Online: pavilioncafe.com
Zen Bistro & Wine Bar
They keep it simple and delish here—Asian tapas and sushi overlooking the plaza.
1301 South Joyce St. (Arlington, VA) Online: zen-bistro.com
Cactus Cantina The outdoor patio is the perfect place for your kids to nosh on chips while you sip on a frozen margarita! Before you leave, make a pit stop inside so the kids can check out the tortilla maker.
Bonus: The Cherry Blossoms Are Coming! And with them sprouts a whole host of special family-friendly happenings around Washington, D.C. and Arlington, VA. But, wait! Where did all of those trees come from? A gift to the district from the Mayor of Tokyo in 1912, roughly three thousand cherry treessurround the National Mall’s Tidal Basin,a gorgeous backdrop for your next family selfie. Coincidingwith the National Park Service’s peak bloom prediction, the month-longNational Cherry Blossom Festival opens Mar. 20.Celebrate the littlesakuras in your life with freedaily performances at the Tidal Basin plus an array of other awesome activities that will make a lifetime impact on your kids. Here are our picks.
Cherry Blossom Festival Opening Ceremony
S Pakhrin via flickr
Kick-off the 2019 National Cherry Blossom Festival at the historic Warner Theatre, where you can check out world-renowned performers celebrating springtime and the anniversary of the gift of trees from Japan to the United States. The event showcases great American and Japanese talent, including Ikuko Kawai Ensemble, Yusaku Mochizuki (Mochi), and The 6821 Quintet. This is an only-in-DC event so plan your trip around this can't-miss opening celebration.
From the National Museum of African American Culture and the Hirshhorn to the National Air and Space Museum and the National Portrait Gallery, it goes without saying that D.C. is a contender for the museum capital of the world (many of them are free). While you're in town visit as many as possible, or spend all day at one, learning about the world around you. During the Cherry Blossom Festival the Smithsonian American Art Museum will host a celebration of Japanese culture. A taiko drumming performance kicks off the day, followed by Japanese music and performances. Enjoy face painting, cherry blossom crafts, and a spring-themed scavenger hunt.
The National Cherry Blossom Parade, featuring performances, giant balloons, and maybe a famous face or two, marching down Constitution Ave.,marks the end of the Festival. Little ones will appreciate the up-close look at the decorated floats, marching bands, clowns, horses, antique cars, dance teams, and more! Other than grand stand seating which costs $20, the parade is free to attend.
You have one more chance to bid farewell to D.C.'s beloved Cherry Blossoms on Apr. 14. At the Anacostia River Fest, you can take a canoe out to explore the river, ride in a bike parade, or sit back and enjoy the park while listening to local musicians. The festival marks the (second) official closing of the 2018 National Cherry Blossom Festival.
Harness the wind on the Family Fieldat the Blossom Kite Festival where you will also find music and magic performances along with flying competitions for youths and adults, Rokkaku Battles, a Hot Tricks Showdown and more, featuringfliers from the United States and other countries. Pack your own kite, or make one at the festival!
The Cherry Blossom Festival coins a new word, Petalpalooza,a new-ish event at one of D.C.‘s growing outdoor venues, The Wharf. With kid –friendly activities like T-shirt painting, performances on multiple stages throughout the day, and wait for it—a roller rink with free skating, topped off by a fireworks display (at 8:30 p.m.), we say bring it on.
Ack! Not in town for Petalpalooza? Swing by The Wharf anyways! There's always something fun happening. Check out their calendar for details.
Got an avid little reader in your house? We’ve got you covered. From the newest book releases for toddlers to the hottest grade school books (Hello, brand-new Diary of a Wimpy Kid!) here are our editors’ picks for the best kids books of 2018. These are the stories that our own kids read again and again (or begged us to read to them one. more. time.). And we think your kids will love them just as much.
Books for Babies and Toddlers
My First Book of Feminism (for Boys)
"Play dress-up or wrestle. Make art. Play with toys! Games are not made for just girls or just boys." This board book with rhyming text and sweet illustrations cover topics of essential equality that we promise you will enjoy reading to your tots, and we think older kids will benefit from this message too. From "no means no," to "women's rights are human rights," important, grownup ideas are made clear and fun for young, impressionable minds. This is the book every parent should read to her son.
Fun fact: Get ready for everything holiday with the newest release, Construction Site on Christmas Night, slated for hardcover release October 2018.
Little Scientist Board Book Set
STEM learning has never been so fun! This colorful new board book set by Mudpuppy features real women who have made history in their scientific fields. Little readers will learn about trailblazers in astronomy, physics, chemistry and earth and life science. The set includes four mini board books, each with eight chunky pages, packaged in a slipcase box.
Poor Mouse tries everything to move Bear out of his favorite chair. But nothing seems to work. Once Mouse has gone, Bear gets up and walks home. But what happens when the Bear spots a mouse at his house?
Have you ever seen a banana in a bikini? Or a tangerine in trunks? What about grapes in goggles? Jared Chapman uses colorful illustrations of fruit to teach kids there are suits for everything, from swimming to scuba diving. In this funny story, kids learn the importance of holding onto their suits when jumping in the water.
When Mama leaves her young penguin Kipling, he knows she'll return home soon―yet he still can't help but miss her. This beautifully illustrated picture book is a perfect book to read anytime a kiddo needs to be reminded of the strength of a mother's love.
For any kid (or grownup) who doesn't feel like they're enough, who wishes they were a little bit taller or had different color hair, this book about body positivity will make a deep impression. Written from the perspective of a tiny version of the author and illustrator (Samantha Berger) it's a beautiful, rhythmic told story about learning to love who you are and rock it!
From award-winning lettering artist Jessica Hische comes her debut children's book, Tomorrow I'll Be Brave. Inspired after the birth of her own daughter, Hische wanted to give kids an opportunity to reflect on their day, to understand that tomorrow is a new beginning and that self-forgiveness is the best gift you can give yourself. Filled with strong words like Brave, Confident, Creative, Smart and Curious and complimented by gorgeous illustrations, Hische's first foray into children's literature is a success.
Written by legendary thriller author James Patterson and his wife Susan, this follow-up to their best-selling first book (Big Words for Little Geniuses) takes kids on an animal journey that leaves the cows, chickens and sheep in the barnyard. From swimmers to flyers and beyond, kids will discover the sloth, the wombat, the tarsier and much more. Charming illustrations from Hsingping Pan complete the equation, making this book a must-have bookshelf addition.
Not only is JuliánIs a Mermaid beautifully illustrated by author Jessica Love, it is one of the most important picture books of the year. When Julián, riding the subway home with his abuela, sees three lavishly dressed women with mermaid-like fishtailed gowns he tells his grandma he wants to be like them. He makes a mess of grandma's house, trying to dress like those lovely ladies he saw...but what does his grandmother do when she sees the mess he's made? And what does she think of a little boy who wants to dress like a woman? The answer is beautiful in picture and in message: love is love. Acceptance is what is normal. A powerful message in a gorgeous package. For anyone who wants to raise a woke kid, and maybe influence a few family members to do the same!
Anna Dewdney may no longer be with us, but her spirit lives on. Fans will be overjoyed to learn that her first posthumous book, Llama Llama Loves to Read was released in May 2018. The book features all of the beloved rhymes and storytelling you've come to know and love from the Llama Llama series. Follow along as Llama Llama goes to school and learns to read. Your kids will be inspired to learn their ABCs and open this book time and again.
Elmore by Holly Hobbie is an endearing read with beautiful illustrations. Elmore, a porcupine, is lonely and is in search of new friends. But, all his potential friends are deterred by Elmore's spikes. Find out how the creative and kind Elmore seeks out companionship in his community of forest critters.
Pat Zietlow Miller's thoughtful book explores the question: What does it mean to be kind? Through the story of Tanisha spilling grape juice on a classmate at school, this story explores how simple words and small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the world.
If you're looking for a book about feelings, Grumpy Monkey written by Suzanne Lang and illustrated by Max Lang is a must read. Follow along as Jim, the chimpanzee, is in a no-good, grumpy mood. All of his friends tell Jim to cheer up and just be happy, but the fact is: Jim just feels grumpy. Find out what happens to Jim, the grumpy monkey and how he sorts through his feelings.
This book teaches kids what makes different animals unique and what they have in common. Diane Lang writes the story in rhyming verse with facts alongside beautiful illustrations that will lead young readers to want to learn more about the creatures around us.
As Annie prepares for career day at her school, she talks to her family about their hopes for her future as she plans her future career as an astronaut. Suzanne Slade's book includes lots of bonus material about famous female astronauts and facts about the moon.
Pearl is trying to build the perfect sandcastle, but she is not having any luck with fellow beach-goers ruining her efforts. That's when Pearl turns to a robot named Pascal to teach her computer coding concepts to build a foolproof sand castle.
Islandborn Lola is an immigrant who enlists the help of family and friends to learn about the country she came from and the culture she left behind. Junot Díaz's book teaches kids about cultural differences and how we all learn from each other.
My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing
This interactive picture book by mindfulness experts Nick Ortner and Alison Taylor will help kids process their emotions and consciously breathe through the moment to help find calm. With a read-along-breathe-along element, this illustrated story provides prompts to inspire conversation between parent and child of how they feel.
Miles and Fargo are two turtles who usually spend their days arguing in the aquarium on a New York high rise apartment. But one day they see a little girl's violin being stolen outside their window. These two turtles must put aside their differences in order to solve the crime and bring the thief to justice.
Who Am I? I Am Me: A Book to Explore Gender Equality, Gender Stereotyping, Acceptance and Diversity follows the story of Frankie, a lively child who likes to dress up, play soccer, bake and so much more. Frankie chooses what Frankie loves and this book helps children understand that being themselves is 100% okay. And letting others be who they choose is, too. Through Frankie’s active and fun encounters, readers soon learn that in Frankie’s world there are no gendered roles — kids are just kids! Also included are Discussion Questions for parents, caregivers and educators, and extra tips on how to reduce gender stereotyping.
Order it at amazon, $15.95 hardcover or $9.95 paperback.
Edison: The Mystery of the Missing Mouse Treasure
Simon & Schuster
Torben Kuhlmann’s third mouse-adventure book just might be his best one yet. The author-illustrator of Armstrong and Lindbergh has done it again Edison, an epic novella of the prettiest kind. Young mouse Pete stumbles upon an old diary which tells of a missing treasure, and Pete embarks on an amazing journey all the way to the bottom of the sea to find the treasure. Inspired by Thomas Edison, the book includes an about-Edison fact page. This book is not to be missed.
The first book in a new travel series, The Adventures of Lily Huckleberry in Scandinavia by Audrey Smit and Jackie Knapp,combines beautiful illustrations with the magic of travel. A curious little girl named Lily Huckleberry finds herself in possession of a magic globe and is inducted into a secret adventure society. She heads to Scandinavia for a Midsummer party and is immersed in a strawberry mystery as she travels around Denmark, Norway and Sweden trying to solve it. Fans of Moomin will appreciate the rich artwork and Nordic aesthetic. All parents will appreciate the message: bravery and creativity for the win!
Winner of the 2018 Moonbeam Book Award in Gold for Children’s Picture Books, Just Bee is a delightful, rhyming book written by Shannon Nataf, with wonderful illustrations by Echo Li. It’s the story of a boy who decides he doesn’t want to “be” himself. He always gets picked last for games and feels left out. But soon he meets a bee who teaches him that being who you are is the best thing in the world. The book is full of a positivity in a way that kids can totally relate to and parents will feel good about reading. The perfect antidote to an anxious day.
She Made a Monster: How Mary Shelley Created Frankenstein
Written by Lynn Fulton with fab illustrations by Felicita Sala, She Made a Monster pays tribute to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley, the literary genius who brought the world Frankenstein. It was 200 years ago when Shelley gave birth to this infamous monster, and this book will let the young audience know not only the significance of writing it, but how important it is to follow one’s own dream.
The Girl with a Mind for Math: The Story of Raye Montague
This story introduces readers to Raye Montague, a hidden mastermind who made a huge impact in the U.S. Navy. When she was growing up in the 1940s, Raye decided to become an engineer. A culture of sexism and racial inequality challenged her plans but never deterred her from accomplishing her dream.
The latest in the Destroy This Book series is a totally interactive workbook that really does invite kids to tear it apart: pop-out models, step-by-step science experiments and lessons in everything from the theory of relativity to optical illusion to the discovery of radium (includes making a mini Marie Curie!). The black and white pages also call for a creative side: kids can color to their heart's content while learning tons of useful facts. Endless hours of entertainment, but don't be surprised when your kid starts correcting his teacher.
Otis and Will Discover the Deep: The Record-Setting Dive of the Bathysphere
Amazon
Our editors have a soft spot for beautifully illustrated kids books that hold a history lesson, and Otis & Will Discover the Deep definitely checks all of our boxes! This gorgeous picture book is written by Katherine Roy and illustrated with stunning images throughout, tells the story of the creation of the Bathysphere, the world’s first diving machine, created by Otis Barton and Will Beebe. Sure to foster a sense of adventure and perseverance in anyone reading, this is definitely a must-read.
There’s one surefire way to get kids to eat a greater variety in their diet, including more fruits and veggies. Get them in on the cooking process! And The Help Yourself Cookbook for Kids: 60 Easy Plant-Based Recipes Kids Can Make to Stay Healthy and Save the Earth by Ruby Roth does just that. From snacks (Life Boats), to sandwiches (Leprechaun Tracks) to yummy drinks (Tickled Pink) the kids will find easy-to-follow recipes that will get them exciting about food.
The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Global Reefs
Amazon
If you like the kind of book that makes you want to literally dive into its pages, this is the book for you. With dreamy illustrations by Matthew Forsythe, the powerful story of Ken Nedimyer’s quest to rescue the world’s coral reefs. This book written by Kate Messner reminds kids everywhere that “it starts with one.” Not only will you be enchanted by the layout of the book, but you’ll also be inspired by Ken. Includes a coral-reef glossary and ways kids can help.
Get ready to learn all about one of the hardest-working creatures out there: the honeybee. Kids will learn how bees talk to one another, the life of a queen bee, and what a worker bee actually does. Discover how much bees matter, why they're declining, and what everyone can do to help the bee population.
When eight-year-old Zach’s prized signed baseball goes missing, he and his twin sister swing into sleuthing action. This story is the first in a new mystery series for young readers.
Peanut Butter and Jelly (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #3)
Narwhal and Jelly are back together, and Narwhal is obsessed with peanut butter. In fact, he's so in love with peanut butter that he's ready to change his name. Jelly tries to talk him out of this idea in this fun book about accepting who we are with two of the newest lovable literary pals.
Got a marine biologist in your midst? You will once you hand them Squidtoons, written by Garfield Kwan,a PhD candidate at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego with digital illustrations by Dana Song. This book explores everything from sea dragons to the life cycle of salmon to the anatomy of a coral polyp, all with pictures that help kids visualize the beauty, mystery and diversity of ocean life.
Max's mom has surprised him with some big news: they're going on a road trip! But this is one of the first family trips they'll be heading on without Dad, and not only that, they're going to a family reunion to meet people Max has barely even heard of. Linda Urban artfully navigates the world and mind of a kid whose parents are divorced, with the distinct ability to look at it from the child's point of view. Not only that, but her clever storytelling, accompanied by occasional illustrations from Katie Kath make this book a pleasure to read. Whether you're looking for something to help relate with your child after divorce, or you just want a good bedtime story, this book is one of the best of the year, competing only with Weekends with Max and His Dad, Urban's other book. A great reminder about the power of a family, no matter what.
Meet Jordan and Justin, two besties who are the only two kids in their grade’s advanced math class. That is, until Stephanie Lewis arrives. Soon the three kids are united as the crime solving after-school sleuths, The Math Kids. They must use their math skills to make sense of the mysterious burglaries that are plaguing their neighborhood. And they even use math to learn to how to handle the class bully. We have a feeling that author David Cole has more of these exciting math-based adventures to come. (Available Dec. 3.)
This cute chapter book out just in time for that spooky feel, features a diverse cast of characters and an adventure any kid can appreciate. After an embarrassing incident at the Space Museum, Sam is on a mission to prove to his friends and the school bully that he’s not actually afraid of everything, or anything. Does this include the ghost that seems to live in the walls of Sam’s own house? By Katie & Kevin Tsang.
What kid can't relate to a bunch of misfits trying to fit in at summer camp? This story centers around a group of troubled boys, and it also tackles issues such as the social pecking order with humor and honesty.
How to Draw a Unicorn and Other Cute Animals with Simple Shapes in 5 Steps
Andrews McMeel
Keep those little minds (and hands) busy all winter long with this super cute book by illustrator Lulu May. Step-by-step instructions on how to draw creatures from anteaters to piglets to llamas and more, all using simple basic shapes like triangles, rectangles and circle. This makes it a book that allows kids to master their creatures in no time.
This brand-new chapter book will take your children to a world of magical realism alongside the sea. Alberto the widower and coffin maker, lives alone in the town of Allora, where fish fly from the glittering sea below. And then one day a little bird—followed by a little boy—arrive at Alberto’s doorstep and everyone’s lives change. With whimsical illustrations by Anuska Allepuz, this first book from author Matilda Woods reads a bit like an Isabel Allende novel for young readers. A beautiful reading experience for kids ages 8-12 (and their parents).
We can't think of anything more magical than being inspired by unicorns when cooking. This cookbook is full of brightly-colored, beautiful photos, easy to follow recipes and a decorating guide. Many of the recipes can be made in 20 minutes or less. Young chefs will love cooking up Unicorn Hot Chocolate, Slumber Party Unicorn Balls, Rainbow Cake Nirvana, No-Bake Mermaid Cheesecake, Peeps Pizza, and Dirt Worm Pie.
Escape From Shudder Mansion (Goosebumps SlappyWorld #5)
The latest in the popular Goosebumps series features twins Riley and Scarlett as they create a documentary video about their adventure being trapped in a haunted house. Can the kids make an "A" grade for staying in the haunted house overnight?
The Book of Ingeniously Daring Chemistry: 24 Experiments for Young Scientists
Workman
Take a trip through the periodic table with the ultimate STEM book from Sean Connolly. With 24 hands-on experiments (which you can try again and again) and easy-to-follow instructions, kids can learn about chemistry by doing things like using ultraviolet light to locate bad cat smells, making “hot ice” by crystallizing vinegar and baking soda and so much more. (Available Oct. 30)
Stanley Fortinbras has a lot of anxiety about signing up for a trivia treasure hunt at the famous San Diego Comicon comic book festival. But the thought of actually winning and getting VIP tickets to the event pushes him to overcome his fears and try something new, all with the help of his neighbor, Liberty, and a superhero.
Dork Diaries 13: Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday
Fans of the Dork Diaries series should mark their calendars for Oct. 16, 2018. That's when the latest book in the series—Tales from a Not-So-Happy Birthday—is released. In this story, it's Nikki Maxwell's birthday, but will the day be amazing or a total bust?
This fantasy story takes place in Nedarra, a kingdom plagued by war. Byx is a dairne, a doglike creature with opposable thumbs and the ability to walk on two legs. Her pack members are the latest casualties of the fighting, so she sets off on a journey to find shelter and meets two unique creatures along the way. The story tackles complex themes while rooting for brave and lovable characters.
In 1947 India, 12-year-old Nisha is not sure where she belongs as a half-Muslim, half-Hindu in her country. When her father decides to leave Pakistan, Nisha and her family become refugees and embark on a long and challenging journey to find a new home. The hopeful and personal story of this family is told through Nisha's letters to her mother.
Wimpy Kid fans are in luck! The latest story in this series comes out Oct. 30, 2018. When middle school is closed for a snow day, the neighborhood quickly transforms into a winter battlefield. Snow forts are built and snowball fights ensue, and in the middle, is Greg and Rowley. But will their friendship survive the snow meltdown? Ages: 8 - 12 Available at amazon.com, $9.90.
— Leah R. Singer with Erin Lem, Gabby Cullen & Amber Guetebier
