All summer I’ll be sharing books for kids of all ages on topics that will interest them or offer them a new interest to learn about. Most of the time these will be nonfiction books, but sometimes we can learn from fictional stories too. I frequently learn from books sent during a historical period because usually the fictional story is based on real events.
So, I hope you will stay tuned to these posts. They will always have Summer Read-to-Learn in the title and in the tags. There will be books from some of my favorite publishers like National Geographic, Phaidon, Chronicle Kids, Prestel, and many others.
To see all the posts from my Summer Read-to-Learn series, click HERE.
Last June, I shared the first in a series perfect for curious kids, WHAT ABOUT: SCIENCE. Today I’m sharing the next two books in the series, WHAT ABOUT: THE UNIVERSE and WHAT ABOUT: PHILOSOPHY. Curious kids like to know about the world and how it works and these books will help answer the questions that maybe you can’t answer.
WHAT ABOUT: THE UNIVERSE
An Illustrated Q&A Book for Kids
By: Bertrand Fichou
Illustrated by: Pascal Lemaître
Published: November 8, 2022
Publisher: Twirl
Non-Fiction
Did you know black holes really aren’t holes? Who was the first to go to space? Hint, it wasn’t a human. These questions and thirty-six others are answered in this illustrated question-and-answer book all about our Universe and Space.
Beginning with a glossary of space terms and brief facts about the universe, the authors begin with some of the bigger and more popular questions about our Universe. Explaining how the moon revolves around the Earth with an illustration of kicking a rock, teaches kids about gravity in an understandable way and makes it fun. Along with answering the burning question, the authors often include other fun facts about that particular topic like while learning about the International Space Station, kids will learn Peggy Whitson holds the record for the most time spent in space – 665 days!
I love that the information given is enough to satisfy the question but also might encourage kids to want to know more. For example, in What is a Constellation?, kids will learn about how the constellations tell a story from ancient history and the names of the shapes the stars make. If they haven’t already, they will definitely want to go outside at night and see if they can spot the Big Dipper, or Leo, or Cygnus.
Keep your kids learning this summer with books that teach, engage, and encourage them to want to know more.
WHAT ABOUT PHILOSOPHY
An Illustrated Q&A Book for Kids
By: Gwénëlle Boulet and Anne-Sophie Chilard
Illustrated by: Pascal Lemaître
Published: May 9, 2023
Publisher: Twirl
Non-Fiction
If you have a child that likes to ask philosophical questions, this is the book to have on hand. What does it mean to be in love? What does it mean to be free? Do I always have to share? Why are there wars? These are just a few of the sixteen philosophical questions answered. The best part is they are answered with funny comic-book-style illustrations and explanations that kids can understand.
In answering a question about love, the authors first share the love that we feel for parents and siblings. Then explain that there is a very strong emotion that someday will be felt for another person including feelings of happiness and sadness and how to express it to someone else. Do we always have to share? Well, we need to learn to share, but it isn’t as simple as that. With brief, simple, and sometimes funny but also realistic explanations, kids will learn some basic philosophical answers to life’s biggest questions.
Bertrand Fichou is the editor-in-chief of Youpi and Images Doc, magazines dedicated to the development of scientific awareness in children. He lives in Paris, France.
Anne-Sophie Chilard is the editor-in-chief of the children’s magazine J’aime lire. She is the co-author of several books of activities and recipes for children and lives in Paris. Jean-Charles Pettier taught philosophy in high school and is now a doctoral candidate in philosophy. He introduces the subject to young children through a column in the children’s magazine, Pomme d’api, He lives near Paris.
Pascal Lemaitre is the illustrator of numerous children’s books, including bestselling picture books, Come with Me, Do Not Open This Book!, and many more. During the year, he splits his time between Brussels, Belgium, and Brooklyn, New York.
To purchase a copy of WHAT ABOUT THE UNIVERSE and WHAT ABOUT PHILOSOPHY, click the photos below:
