For some kids, getting a book in their Christmas stocking is about as exciting as receiving underwear, a toothbrush, or an apple. Fortunately, it doesn’t have to be this way. Shatter the myth this holiday season by gifting your good guy or gal with the following super reads that pit bad blood against legendary super heroes: Superman Classic: Attack of the Toyman Don’t let the name fool you. Toyman is no Santa Claus. In fact, the diabolical villain is trying to play all of Metropolis. His first move: Unleash an attack by attaching explosives to remote-control cars. Toyman’s evil plan … Continue reading →

Believe it or not, 100 Grand Bars, Laffy Taffy and candy corn are not the only treats that scream, “Halloween!” If you are looking for a sugar-free/fat-free/calorie-free/peanut-free/gluten-free goodie to give kids on All Hallows’ Eve, consider Mia: Time to Trick or Treat! The adorable and affordable children’s book (it retails for less than $5) is an amazing alternative to candy and can be passed out as a Halloween party favor, a prize for a costume contest, or used to spice up your kid’s bedtime story collection. There’s nothing like a little seasonal spice to get youngsters excited about reading, and … Continue reading →

If you give a mouse a pumpkin… he’s going to make pie? Pancakes? Donuts? Cookies? Wrong, wrong, wrong, and wrong. Wrong book, right series. The oh-so right collection of If You Give A… books is growing, just in time for Halloween. It’s Pumpkin Day, Mouse! features the same feisty rodent from the award-winning children’s classic, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie; however, the story doesn’t employ the same trademark circular format used in the popular series. Not that young readers will miss it. The colorful board book has its own Halloween-themed hook that will keep your kids at the … Continue reading →

There’s nothing quite like a package full of pink to beat the summer blues. Enter Pinkalicious: Pink-a-Rama. The new box set filled with five fabulous Pinkalicious titles is the perfect addition to a family vacation. Whether you are traveling by air, land or sea, the collection of Level One, I Can Read stories by Victoria Kann couldn’t be easier to tote. Not only can your pretty princess escape to the world of Pinkalicious during a family getaway, she can do so in style. Pink-a-Rama comes packaged in a sturdy box with Velcro closures and a hot pink handle. Inside the … Continue reading →

Some book title, huh? It takes guts to bestow such a lofty label on your debut work, but there seems to be a method behind Dallas Clayton’s madness. Clayton penned and illustrated the psychedelic children’s picture book about dreaming big, and there’s no doubt he has equally high expectations for its future. At first glance, An Awesome Book! appears to be a sweet bedtime story, which encourages young readers to never stop dreaming, or perhaps, more importantly, never allow anyone to limit their visions. However, as pint-sized bookworms dig deeper into the 64-page explosion of colorful images and whimsical wording, … Continue reading →

Looking for a way to rev up your kid’s summer vacation? Have him go along for the ride when a burly blue freight train challenges a hot little red sports car to a cross-country race. The high-octane adventure is detailed in Kate and Jim McMullan’s colorful literary creation: I’m Fast! The race begins in Sacramento, California, and ends in Chicago, Illinois. In between young readers are treated to a series of twists and turns through the desert the mountains, urban jungles and country passes where herds of cattle aren’t keen about moo-ving off of train tracks. Despite having to haul … Continue reading →

Summer and learning. For most kids, the two don’t go hand in hand. Fortunately, if you disguise the lessons with a fun-filled feline adventure, you can likely avoid summer brain drain. That’s where Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons comes in handy. The eye-popping picture book written by Eric Litwin and illustrated by James Dean combines reading, math, music and slew of helpful life skills in a delightful tale featuring a laid-back cat with a passion for wearing button-down shirts. Thanks to Pete’s panache for crafting catchy tunes your kids won’t even realize they are getting schooled in … Continue reading →

Talk about middle child syndrome. And you thought the Duggar family had issues. Chloe Bunny was born smack in the middle of 10 older brothers and sisters and 10 younger ones. Don’t worry; the carrot-loving clan is not making their debut on “21 Bunnies and Counting;” rather, they’re fodder for a funny bunny tale, Chloe, by New York Times bestselling author Peter McCarty. In McCarty’s latest literary venture, Daddy Bunny surprises his bustling brood with a new TV. The entire Bunny clan makes a beeline for the electronic entertainment option, save for Chloe and baby Bridget. Young Chloe is not … Continue reading →

Have you ever considered swapping out your kid for a dinosaur? Surprisingly, you might not notice a huge difference between the two if the preposterous proposition became reality. Dig into Dini Dinosaur and you’ll see why. The new children’s book by penned by Karen Beaumont gives young readers a sneak peek into the daily routine of a dinosaur Mommy and her mischievous offspring. Thanks to playful, eye-popping pictures masterfully crafted by illustrator Daniel Roode, kids of all ages will find themselves drawn to this delightful dinosaur family complete with young Dini who loves to dig in the dirt. After successfully … Continue reading →

Where do your kids think pancakes come from? A box? Your pantry? A non-stick griddle? IHOP? Thanks to Food Network chef Tyler Florence your pancake-loving preschoolers–and the rest of the family–can now get a crash course on the true origins of the humble flapjack. The celebrity chef recently added children’s book author to his resume with his debut page-turner, Tyler Makes Pancakes! The perfectly penned picture book is a delicious read with its age appropriate dialogue and kid-friendly illustrations. However, more than just making you hungry for a stack of piping hot pancakes, the book teaches young readers where popular … Continue reading →