Review: National Geographic Home Learning Essentials

 

National Geographic

Home Learning Essentials

Beginner's United States Atlas, Third Edition: (ages 7-10) The fully updated edition of this popular atlas introduces young readers to the wonders of all of America's states and territories, with maps, fun facts, geographical features, and more. It’s accessible design showcases what's unique about each state and territory and every profile starts with a colorful map and essay and includes capital cities; population; important land and water features; state birds, flowers, and flags. It's all packaged in a bigger format, with a refreshed design, and bold, bright photos and illustrations.

United States Atlas, 6th Edition: (ages 8-12) Current, authoritative, and produced by the expert cartographers at National Geographic, this best-selling United States atlas is newly updated with all the latest info and is packed with maps, stats, facts, and pictures. National Geographic's world-renowned cartographers have paired up with education experts to create maps of all 50 states, U.S. territories, and Washington, D.C., that pinpoint the physical features, capitals, and other towns and cities. Discover the latest data along with colorful photography of each state and the people who live there. Key points reflect the latest information about land and water, people, and places. Essays cover each region of the country while eight specially themed maps on nature, population, economy, energy, climate, and more delve deeper into key issues. State birds and state flags add to the high visual interest.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2021: (ages 8-12) - The latest installment of the New York Times best-selling almanac is edutainment at its best. With features like Homework Help and STEM related topics, and deep dives into history, geography and cultures from the world, combined with facts, crafts and activities, this is the go-to reference for both the school day and down time. This new edition also includes the Almanac Challenge 2021 — which inspires kids to reduce their plastic waste and encourage others to do the same — and also highlights the winner of the 2020 Almanac Challenge.

You can purchase these books from ShopDisney, Amazon. and other major retailers.

My Thoughts

As many people probably are doing right now, we find ourselves in the position of distance learning for school and began to throw in unofficial homeschooling. These National Geographic books for kids are awesome - my son loves all the detail in the United States Atlas, 6th Edition. Our current lesson is learning about the Midwest, where we live. The atlases are divvied up by region, making it even easier to explore. There are facts about the USA itself, each region, and each individual state plus information on our territories. A glossary and index are at the back.

The Beginner's United States Atlas, Third Edition edition has a little less of the same great details which is great for younger learners. You can see in the photo above the detail comparison for the state of Minnesota.

My son is very into nature and often asks to learn about specific animals so we are supplementing his education with the National Geographic Kids Almanac 2021 as well as the National Geographic Ultimate Weird But True book. After utilizing National Geographic Kids and other websites, we then turn to these two books for added fun facts. 

I'm sure we'll be adding more National Geographic books to our collection in the future! What a great way to make learning fun!

The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson - #Giveaway

 This beautifully bound edition of the classic tales of Hans Christian Anderson has a lovely foil enhanced cover and holds within eleven of Anderson s most beloved stories.
Included in this edition are:
* The Emperors New Clothes
* The Fir Tree
* The Little Mermaid
* The Nightingale
* The Princess and the Pea
* The Snow Queen
* The Steadfast Tin Soldier
* The Swineherd
* Thumbelina
* The Ugly Duckling
* The Wild Swans
This book will be a beautiful edition to add to your family library and cherished by generations to come.

My Thoughts

This is a wonderful collection of stories by Han Christian Anderson.   The illustrations are stunning and detailed, and really help to bring the stories to life.  Reading this book was as fun for me as it was for the kids because it brought memories of my own mother reading these stories to me.


My children were thrilled with this book and we have read through all the stories twice already. This is a classic collection that everyone should have in their library.




The Giveaway
One lucky winner is going to receive a copy of The Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Anderson.  To enter just fill out the giveaway tools  form below. Open to the US only. Giveaway will end 11/7/15. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Parragon for offering this fantastic prize.

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Father's Day Gift Guide - All the Little Fathers #Giveaway

Animals have fathers, just like you. Fathers that play with them, care for them, and love them. All the fathers are looking after their children in this fun and playful story by Margaret Wise Brown, author of the children's classics Goodnight Moon and Runaway Bunny.

My Thoughts

All The Little Fathers is a great book for kids and dads to read together for Father's Day. It's a beautifully illustrated tale of the forest animals and the things they do with their children.  The bears go fishing, lions roar, and monkey's hang out to give just a few examples.  Though there really isn't any action or detailed adventures, what this book lacks in storyline, it makes up for in illustrations. Each picture is beautifully detailed and lifelike. My children enjoyed the story. It's very short so perfect for young children, perhaps between 2 and 4.




 The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a copy of all The Little Father's! To enter just fill out the giveaway tools  form below. Open to the US only. Giveaway will end 7/3/15. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Parragon for offering this fantastic prize.

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Book Review : Night Buddies Go Sky High

Young John Degraffenreidt and his red crocodile buddy, Crosley, show up at the Pineapple Cheesecake Factory and find Big Foot Mae lying on the floor, staring up at her Great Star Puzzle on the ceiling. Crosley only wants a new supply of pineapple cheesecakes, but what Mae points to on her ceiling will start the Night Buddies on a totally new fantasy adventure. A suspicious white dot has passed through the Corkscrew Constellation and is now moving underneath the Hound Dog Stars. Across the Borough, Crosley s brother Crenwinkle sees the same curious speck in the sky. It looks to be a long night for sleepyhead John, but thanks to the time spreader dingus with its sleep retardant setting, he gets right into their next escapade. Join the Night Buddies as they embark on another Program, this time taking them all the way into the stratosphere in their racing blimp.

My thoughts:

My eight year old son and I read this together.  I only wish we would have read the first two books first.  

In the beginning of this story, Lizard is in John Grassinreeds room.  It was very funny to read the dialogue of these two characters.  Had my son laughing as I read.  Just before things got to crazy, John's mom knocked on the door to see what all the noise was.  John told her he had to go to the bathroom.  

So John and his Crosley, his red crocodile friend, who rescued him from the Lizard, begin their adventurer as they would call it another program.   And quite an adventure it is for them.  But as they begin  John and Crosley  are hungry for Pineapple Cheesecake and head to the factory, where the owner Big Foot Mae is. Mae was laying and staring at the great star puzzle on the ceiling.  But there is a suspicious white dot passing through Corkscrew Constellation.  So John and Crosley want to find out what that white dot is. 

This is really a cute book for the young. The black sketched drawings through this book are cute also.  I will definitely be reading book one and two, and than this one again, and wait for the fourth to come out.

DISNEY GO GREEN : A Family Guide To A Sustainable Lifestyle

                                           
LEARN FROM MICKEY AND FRIENDS HOW TO GO GREEN

With Fun Arts And Crafts Activities As Well as Tips and Tricks, DISNEY GO GREEN Shows How To Live A More Sustainable Lifestyle

Many children are interested in sustainability and learning how their actions impact the planet.  Now everyone can join Mickey and friends in living greener with DISNEY GO GREEN: A Family Guide To A Sustainable Lifestyle (Edda USA; $12.95/hardcover).  The book explains how to create a more sustainable lifestyle in a simple, understandable way by exploring the Three R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle – and discussing our ecological footprint – a measure of how much we take from the earth’s resources to produce the things we use.  DISNEY GO GREEN includes interesting facts and great tips for sustainable living, and has lots of fun activities to try at home and school.

The purpose of the craft activities is to show children how to be artistic using items found in nature or reusing items, to reduce the impact on the planet.  For instance, instead of going to the store to buy paint, children can make their own watercolors by boiling plants in water to release their natural dyes.  Here are a few options:

red onion peels: crimson red & burgundy
pokeberries: deep red
orange pekoe tea: brown
black walnuts: black
Queen Anne’s Lace: green
marigolds: green
blueberries: blue
cayenne pepper: rust red
yellow onion peels: yellow & tan
coffee beans: brown & tan
dandelions: mossy greens

Some suggestions for other projects that reuse materials are:
·     turn an orange juice carton into a bird feeder
·     use different tube-shaped materials to make a marble run
·     notch old paper towel and toilet paper rolls to make Lincoln log structures

DISNEY GO GREEN also emphasizes making better food choices to reduce our ecological footprint.  This includes planting container gardens and composting.  There are also recipes for using locally grown ingredients.  Here’s one for apples picked from a local orchard:

Easy applesauce
Peel, quarter, and core apples to remove the seeds.  Cut into small chunks, place in a saucepan, and pour enough water to barely cover the apples. Squeeze a bit of lemon juice and as much raw sugar as you would like, but not too much.  Simmer for about 20 minutes on low heat.  When cooled, mash up your sauce with a fork and pour into a sterilized glass jar.

In the book, readers are reminded, “Sometimes making green choices takes us out of our comfort zone.  It takes us away from the things we usually do and what’s comfortable to us.  At these times, it’s good to remember that we’re doing what’s best for us, and what’s best for the environment.”  For children looking for fun activities and great advice about sustainability, DISNEY GO GREEN is the perfect resource.

My Thoughts

The Mickey & Friends Go Green book is a great way to have fun with your family and teach them how to live a sustainable life style at the same time. Their favorite characters walk them through pages of fun activities suitable for all the changing seasons. 

The book begins by explaining to kids why we need to go green, and how it will effect their lives in the future. This is handled very well. It's not scary or too complex for small kids to understand, but gets the point across. It explains the circle of life, the importance of being active, and how to make good choices. It goes on to explain how recycling works, and how to reduce and reuse items.  These are only a few of the topics mentioned. The second half of the book gives you craft ideas for each of the four seasons. Make soil paint in the spring, watercolors in the summer,  play dough in the fall, and birdseed mosaics out of ice in the winter.

This is a great book that touches on a lot of important topics, but it is very long. You can't sit down and read this is one sitting, and if your kids are very young, a lot of it will be over their heads. I would recommend it to kids around 8-12. Smaller kids will enjoy some of the crafts, but most will lose interest if you try to read it to them. Overall, a great book with a lot of fun ideas.

Book Review & #Giveaway - The Nose That Knows

When Milo's knowing nose finds a scent it likes, nothing will stop it. Nose to the ground, Milo is led anywhere and everywhere- out the door, through the park, up a skyscraper, and even to outer space! But will Milo's nose ever lead him home? Follow Milo the dog as he follows his NOSE in this funny yet sweet rhyme illustrated by artist Barroux.

 My Thoughts

The Nose that Knows is an adorable story about a dog named Milo and his owner Molly. Milo loves Molly, but he also loves food. He follows his nose whenever the scent of food takes him, and he winds up in some pretty fantastic places, from scaling an office building to landing on the moon! But in the end, his nose takes him back to the little girl he loves.

My children really liked this book. It's beautifully illustrated with adorable characters and bright colors. The story is just long enough to hold their attention without them getting bored. Best of all, it teaches a valuable lesson. Home is where the heart is!



The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a copy of  The Nose That Knows! To enter just fill out the giveaway tools  form below. Open to the US only. Giveaway will end 5/2/15. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to Parragon for offering this fantastic prize.

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Book Review: When I’m Feeling Kind

Helping people, listening to your friends, feeling good about yourself—feeling kind is all of these things and more.When I’m Feeling Kind  teaches young children about being kind and how to develop skills to identify and understand their feelings.

My thoughts:

This is a cute book.  I read it with my four year old niece.  She really enjoyed the book, but also loved all of the illustrated colorful pictures.  She even asked questions, and said that she likes to be kind and nice to her friends.  That being kind makes everyone feel good inside.  

This book has a great message.  It puts out there to children that it's good to be kind to others, but also it is really important to be kind to yourself.

This book isn't very long, but long enough to keep a child's attention through out it.  The pages are hard, so they will not bend easily or tear.  

Easter Gift Guide - Personalized Gifts from I See Me - #Giveaway

Books open up a whole new world of imagination.  Even now as an adult, I still get lost in the pages of a good book. I put myself in the place of the heroine, and imagine what it would be like to be her. When I read books to my children, I always see their eyes open with wonder. But imagine how much more amazing it would be if your child really was the hero in the story?  At I See Me, that is exactly what happens. They make story telling that much more magical by adding in your child's name and even their picture. There are tons of books at I See Me, but here are some of the newest additions. They would make a great addition to any Easter basket or the perfect way to commemorate spring break!

We already have a whole collection of books from I See Me,but out newest addition is 1.2.3, Blast Off with Me. This book is just adorable, and creating it is super easy. You simply answer a few questions in order to create your personalization. The book includes their name and  photo. You can even add a dedication in the front.  Once you order, it only takes about a week for your customized book to arrive.

This particular story allows your child to go on a wide range of adventures, from blasting off into outer space to traveling to the deepest recesses of the ocean. On each page, they get to see their face, so it looks like they are piloting the helicopter or driving the tractor. In addition to the cute story, each page also gives the child a task, like counting to ten, finding their name, or locating certain shapes. This is a great, educational book that children will really enjoy. 

If you need some other cool items to help fill up your Easter Basket,   there are several other fun extras that go along with book. You can order a coloring book, stickers, place-mats and more, all with your child's name on them.  

These are only a few examples of the fun stories available for children of all ages at I See Me. They can interact with all their favorite fairytale characters like fairies, owls, pirates and more. Collect them all and have a truly personal collection. They even have books for special occasions like holidays and becoming a big brother or sister.  Gift certificates are also available if you aren't sure which book to get. I See Me books would make a wonderful and unique gift for all the children in your life.

The Giveaway

 One lucky winner is going to receive a 1..2.3, Blast Off with Me book of their own. To enter just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. Open to the US only. Giveaway will end 4/12/15. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to I See Me for offering this fantastic prize.

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Celebrate National Fairy Tale Day with I See Me - Review & #Giveaway

National Fairy Tale Day is February 26 and I See Me has a fabulous new book, plus some fairy favorites, that you might be interested in!

ISeeMe.com is launching Sweet Dreams, Fairy – in this personalized book the main character–your little one–is a busy forest fairy who tends to her garden, eats dinner with her family, gets ready for bed, and lets a magical bedtime story float her off to sleep. Children will delight in seeing her name alongside this adorable little fairy and her charming pet, the glowworm, who acts as a nightlight when she's ready for sleep.

My Thoughts

 
Books open up a whole new world of imagination.  Even now as an adult, I still get lost in the pages of a good book. I put myself in the place of the heroine, and imagine what it would be like to be her. When I read books to my children, I always see their eyes open with wonder. But imagine how much more amazing it would be if your child really was the hero in the story?  At I See Me, that is exactly what happens. They make story telling that much more magical by adding in your child's name and even their picture. There are tons of books at I See Me, but here are some of the newest additions.

We have tons of books from I See Me, but Sweet Dreams, Fairy is now one of our favorites. My daughter, Willow, just loves fairies, so having a book all about a fairy with her name was a big thrill for her. Creating the book is super easy. You simply answer a few questions in order to create your personalization. The book includes their name, photo, and town. You can even add a dedication.  Once you order, it only takes about a week for your customized book to arrive.

In addition to the book, there are several other fun extras that go along with the Sweet Dreams, Fairy collection. You can order a coloring book, stickers, place-mats and more, all with your child's name on them.  

 These are only a few examples of the fun stories available for children of all ages at I See Me. They can interact with all their favorite fairy tale characters like fairies, owls, pirates and more. Collect them all and have a truly personal collection. They even have books for special occasions like holidays and becoming a big brother or sister.  Gift certificates are also available if you aren't sure which book to get. I See Me books would make a wonderful and unique gift for all the children in your life.

The Giveaway

One lucky winner is going to receive a Sweet Dreams, Fairy Book of their own. To enter just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. Open to the US only. Giveaway will end 3/18/15. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to I See Me for offering this fantastic prize.

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National Geographic Kids Fashion Book: Why'd They Wear That

This winter, best-selling author Sarah Albee and National Geographic will take readers on a walk down history’s runway in WHY’D THEY WEAR THAT?: Fashion as the Mirror of History (on sale Feb. 10, 2015; $19.99; ages 10 and up). From the invention of needles made from woolly mammoth tusks in 10,000 B.C., to the evolution of armor from chain mail to modern-day bulletproof vests, to the controversy surrounding contemporary outsourcing, Albee looks at history through the lens of fashion as a way to engage young readers.
 
Each chapter focuses on a major period of world history, from the Neolithic era to the present day, and explores the evolution of fashion as a reflection of the politics, class hierarchies, religion and economics of the time. This highly visual collection is full of colorful sidebars that answer questions that are not usually addressed in the classroom: How did people keep their clothes on before zippers or buttons were invented? How did soldiers go to the bathroom when wearing their heavy armor? Pictures, paintings and artifacts further illustrate the concepts discussed in each chapter, while funny anecdotes and a focus on cultures of interest, such as the Vikings, will keep even the most reluctant readers hooked.

 Our Thoughts

This book is fascinating. I love history and throughout life have always wondered how people lived with their clothing. How did it keep them cool in the summer and warm in the winter. How on earth did they go to the bathroom with THAT on? Where did these fashions start? How did they die? The cultural, religious influences etc... This book explains it all. 

I never realized how influential and important clothing was to our social structure until I read this book. The story of how silk became available to all was amazing. I had no idea, and I assume many people do not know the hardships that entailed.

Being able to sit with my daughter and go through this book, it's interesting and keeps her wanting to learn more. I homeschool and use this book as one of my options for history lessons. It is so much fun she doesn't feel like she's doing "school work" but just sitting with mom and hanging out.

The pictures and setup of the book are eye catching and keep you turning the next page. All the little blurbs on the pages are quick fact snippets if you want a quick glance. This is a book for any and all, I really really love it.

Buy yours on Amazon and don't forget to check out Nat Geo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!




Reviewed by Jackie