Two Good Books

C is really enjoying Smart-Opedia Junior right now.  This is a book for young readers ages 5-8, and it is full of information about things kids find interesting.  From the human skeleton to the Amazon rainforest to a day at the fire station to dinosaurs and royal life, this book has it all.  There is just enough information for young readers to enjoy the book on their own, and I think the table of contents and the index are both great for children just learning how to use these tools.  

C also loves My Beastly Book of Silly Things illustrated by Vincent Boudgourd.  While C loves to draw his own creations, he also loves books like this one that provide a starting point for creativity.  He has a few drawing books along this idea, but this one is full of silly humor that he just loves.  For example, there is a page that instructs the artist to color the dentist's teeth black, a page that instructs the child to trace his foot and then cover the traced foot with warts, and a page with a cup that instructs you to draw something gross in the drink.  C thinks the instructions are pretty funny!  I do have to warn that there is some potty humor in the book, but from what I have seen so far, most of the directions are silly enough to entertain kids without going over the top with the grossness factor.  One more WONDERFUL thing about this book (and other books like this) is that it encourages reading without the child realizing he or she is reading.  You have to read the instructions on each page to figure out what to do, and some of the words are challenging.  C must have read twenty-five pages without the reading aspect being presented as something he "has to do".  C and R sat together and worked on drawings in this book for over an hour today!  So, don't think this is just a book for boys - R thinks it is hysterical too!

Both books were provided free of charge from Owl Kids Books in exchange for my honest review.  The free books did not influence my opinion.  C certainly doesn't care if the books are free, and he thoroughly enjoys both books!  R hasn't had a chance to look at the first book yet, but she is really enjoying drawing in the second book with C!