Library of Clean Reads: Claudia Davila

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Kid Konnection: Magic up Your Sleeve by Helaine Becker

Magic up Your Sleeve: Amazing Illusions, Tricks, and Science Facts You'll Never Believe by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Claudia Davila (Rated: C)
Maple Tree Press
ISBN: 978-1897349762
Published Feb 15, 2010
Paperback, 64 pages

Another fantastic boredom buster book from author Helaine Becker filled with the colorful eye-catching illustrations of Claudia Davila. Who doesn't like magic tricks, illusions and quirky science facts? I loved books like this when I was a kid and my kids do to.

This book is divided into six sections: Optical Illusions, Read Their Minds, Science Stunners, Math Magic, Show-Stopping Science and Magician's Survival Guide where a kid can prepare a stellar show . The tricks are really cool, like The Levitating Ice Cubes, Flower Power, I've Got Your Number and The Force is With You.

Every time my kids pick up this book they can spend hours doing the tricks. It even inspired my daughter to put on a magic show, replete with the magician's kit--hat, magic wand, cape and table. Not only does the book show you how to do the tricks, but it also explains how or why the tricks work. |It equips a kid to wow their friends. As I watch my kids having fun doing the tricks, that is, assembling all the supplies they need (yes, my kitchen table can look messy afterwards!) it relieves me that they are learning and discovering new things, and keeping busy rather than watching TV, which I try to keep to a minimum.

Interspersed throughout the book are fun facts about the topic that makes up the magic trick. For example, for Flower Power, which is a trick that makes flowers grow, there is a fun fact about bamboos, stating that they grow so quickly you can actually hear it getting taller! Certain species can grow as much as 121 cm in one day.

As you can see, kids will learn many new things while having fun doing their tricks. An excellent book for the kid who likes to keep busy doing super fun stuff. Highly recommended!

Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

Disclosure: Thanks to Kendal Gerard from Owlkids Book for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.

Saturday, September 4, 2010

Kid Konnection: Boredom Blasters: Brain Bogglers, Awesome Activities, Cool Comics, Tasty Treats and More... by Helaine Becker

Boredom Blasters: Brain Bogglers, Awesome Activities, Cool Comics, Tasty Treats and More... by Helaine Becker, illustrated by Claudia Davila (Rated: C)
Maple Tree Press
ISBN: 978-1897066034
Published Sept 15, 2004
Trade Paperback, 160 pages, Ages: 8-12

I hear my kids giggling and talking in the living room, and for over an hour they are occupied without … fighting, whining, complaining or tears… Mmmm… seems too good to be true. I peek in. Ah yes, I see the Boredom Blasters book in their hands. How many times have my kids told me they LOVE this book? Every time I asked what they thought of it!

Being 6 and 9, my kids love exploring, doing arts and crafts, telling jokes, playing games, learning new things, doing puzzles and cooking with me. Well, this book has it all. It's ideal for them. Even though my 6 year-old can't read it, he does the activities with his sister, so the added advantage is that they cooperate and play together.

This paperback book (fits well into a purse or small backpack) is divided into four sections: Awesome Activities, Yummy Things to Make and Eat, Brain Bogglers and Games, Games, Games. The pages are visually stimulating with wacky illustrations and colourful designs. My kids loved the Silly Kid Tricks, the Opticklers, the Cool Comics, the Slapstick Story Time and so much more; 160 pages filled with entertaining, cool stuff.

I found this book unique and got caught up with the kids in exploring it. Most of the brain bogglers and activities were new to me; actually I found them innovative. This is not your typical activity book. It teaches children various things while having fun. It makes children use their brains (math, logic, decoding, language and science games) in ways they probably haven’t before. Are you stuck in finding ideas for your kid’s next party? Do you have a reluctant reader? This is the perfect book to get kids reading and having fun together.

Now, if I see boredom creeping up, I tell the kids to grab their Boredom Blasters book and try out a new activity. Before long, I hear laughter and then, “Hey Mom, look at this!” Highly recommended!

Every Saturday, Booking Mama hosts a feature called Kid Konnection—a regular weekend feature about anything related to children's books. If you'd like to participate in Kid Konnection and share a post about anything related to children's books (picture, middle grade, or young adult) from the past week, visit Booking Mama.

Disclosure: Thanks to Kendal Gerard from Maple Tree Press for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.