Feature Friday is a new series I’ll be running on Fridays. I have so many great books to tell you about and they are piling up in my reading room. Unfortunately, there is not enough time in my day to share them all. I’m starting a new feature on my social media channels where I’ll share a quick video review of a few books including children’s, middle-grade, young adult, or adult fiction and nonfiction.
Clicking the photo of the book or item will take you to its Amazon listing. I may receive a small commission if you purchase through any links.
Thanks for the free products, Z Kids and Penguin Random House.
FUN WITH NATIONAL PARKS
A Big Activity Book for Kids about American’s Natural Wonders
By: Nicole Claesen
Illustrated by: Candela Ferrańdez
Published: March 21, 2023
Publisher: Z Kids
Non-Fiction/Activity Books
Kids can learn about all 63 National Parks through various puzzles and activities. Each park has two activities plus a paragraph of facts. A tab in the corner shows what state is home to that particular park. Kids will find word puzzles, dot-to-dots, word searches, coloring pages, mazes, and search-and-find pages. But, my favorites are the ones that teach kids how to draw an erupting volcano, a seal, a snake, or an eagle.
If you were a kid from the Highlights era, these books remind me of their puzzles. As a kid, this is exactly the kind of activity book I would have loved. These are great for road trips, to enhance homeschool learning, or to prepare for your own National Park trip this summer. Explore the National Parks through the pages of this book.
Nicole Claesen has always loved to travel, especially with her husband and two sons. They visit as many national parks as possible. After several years of traveling as a family, she wanted to share their adventures, trip itinerary suggestions, and lessons learned through their travels, and that’s when her website and blog, Suitcase and a Map, was born. It lets her write about family travel and share the magic of seeing the world through the eyes of children. Her ultimate goal is to visit all 50 states as a family before her youngest son graduates from high school. She is thrilled to share the states and territories with you! Find her online at www.suitcaseandamap.com.
Click HERE to purchase FUN WITH NATIONAL PARKS
Also available: FUN WITH 50 STATES by Nicole Claesen
FUN WITH OCEANS & SEAS
A Big Activity Book for Kids about Our Wonderful Waters
By: Emily Greenhalgh
Illustrated by: Candela Ferrańdez
Published: September 19, 2023
Publisher: Z Kids
Non-Fiction/Activity Book
I previously shared Greenhalgh’s FUN WITH OUTER SPACE and this book follows the same format. From covering all five oceans to the twenty seas connected to the oceans, kids will learn about these major bodies of water. Then the book moves into learning about the mammals, birds, ocean life, and plants that are critical to the ocean’s ecosystem.
Each page spread offers two activities about the specific topic. Kids will crack a code to learn what is the smallest marine animal and then mimic each step to draw a killer whale. From word puzzles to spot-the-difference puzzles to dot-to-dots, unscrambling letters, word searches, matching games, crossword puzzles, coloring pages, and more kids will have fun while learning. An answer key is available if kids get stuck.
Kids who love the ocean or like having fun while learning will love this book. It is perfect for enhancing an ocean unit or for getting them excited about your next trip to the ocean.
Emily Greenhalgh is a marine biologist-turned-science communicator and the author of FUN WITH OCEANS AND SEAS and FUN WITH OUTER SPACE. She grew up staring into tidepools, flipping over logs to look at bugs, and counting shooting stars in the sky. Now, she helps scientists tell their stories. Emily loves discovering what makes research exciting, turning complex science into easy-to-understand stories, and helping scientists share their passions. She hopes her books help inspire a whole new generation of science lovers. In her spare time, she writes speculative fiction and enjoys crafting, puzzles, and putting cheese on things. She lives on Cape Cod with her husband, their very good dog, and one semi-tolerant cat.
Candela Ferrández is a freelance illustrator based in Barcelona, Spain. After studying fine arts at Salamanca University, she earned a postgraduate degree in illustration at EINA (Barcelona). When she was a child, she loved looking for bugs and little animals around gardens. Now she draws them. Children, flowers, plants, and animals define her personal universe, which she also expresses in ceramic pieces. Her illustrations have been published by, among others, Milan Presse, Éditions Larousse, Fleurus, and Penguin Random House, including Fun with 50 States and Fun with National Parks. Visit Candela online at candelaferrandez.com.
Click HERE to purchase FUN WITH OCEANS & SEAS
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Posted Under activity book, Book Review, Candela Ferrández, Children's books, Emily Greenhalgh, National Parks, Nicole Claesen, ocean