Doodled Cats/ Doodled Dogs by Gemma Correll are interactive art books that encourage the reader to draw in them. Each is divided into four parts. Part 1 is all about the animal in question, including humourous factoids, signs you are a cat/dog person, and types of cats/dogs. Part 2 teaches how do doodle specific breeds. Part 3 is about doodling anthropomorphic animals and animals with clothes or costumes. The fourth and final section gives templates and prompts for getting creative.

Overall, I enjoyed these books. My cubs enjoyed them moreso. I wasn’t a particularly huge fan of this art style. It isn’t bad, just not my cuppa. My cubs adored them though! I wish there had been more step-by-step selections. Nicky and a few of the others have great free-hand and can use the completed picture to go by. I liked the cat one most, being the cat person that I am. I loved the sleeping cat, and the cats in boxes.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Do Kids Have Too Much To Do? by Jennifer Joline Anderson, and Do Kids Need Video Game Ratings? / Do Kids Need Year-round School? by Carolyn Williams-Noren are part of a series that teaches elementary age students about opinions and debates using topics relevant to them. Each short book asks three questions related to the topic at hand, and provides evidence for and against. At the very end is a section walking students through writing their own opinion essays. The importance of facts and research is stressed, as is thinking for oneself, and keeping an open mind. I read these books with my cubs. We had fun discussing the topics and the art of forensics/ debate itself. While devil’s advocate wasn’t specifically discussed or mentioned, I appreciated the attention to both sides of an argument. That teaches kids to be more receptive to other people’s points of view. Highly recommended!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Norwood House Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

 

Periods Say “Stop” by Michael Dahl

Periods Say “Stop” by Michael Dahl is a cute little book that teaches children all about how periods work in grammar. Periods are busy punctuation! Among other things, they end sentences, and enable abbreviation. At the end, there is a section bullet pointing the lessons, followed by some critical thinking questions. A perfect classroom teaching book!

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Capstone/ Picture Window Books for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.