Kirkus Reviews, Best Middle Grade Books for 2016

And here's what Kirkus finds to be the best middle grade for the past year.

Kirkus Reviews, Best Picture Books for 2016

              

Kirkus, as writers know, reviews books throughout the year. Here are their recommendations for top-notch picture books for the year.

Delightful Picture Book Classic for Election Season

Duck for President by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin puts the election down to a child's needs. Very clever and lots of laughs for the adult reading it aloud!

Here's a You Tube reading.

An Outdoor Kindergarten in Germany or Letting-the-Children-Learn-Naturally

This video shows us how much little ones need to be interacting with their environment around them. Mainly they need to play. Parents, once your child comes home, outside (or with their toys) is where they should be. They learn letters and math and logic and perspectives and science and so much by this informal learning.

Environment As Part of the Novel

    Carl Hiaasen incorporates the natural world in his novels for middle/YA readers. His Skink -- No Surrender opens with Skink on the beach, completely submerged in the sand but with small tube to the surface (so he can breath), waiting to catch someone who is stealing turtle eggs. The story twists to Richard, the 14-year old protagonist, who must search for his female friend who has been abducted. Richard uses his knowledge of birds to help him locate her.
    What appears unusual in Hiaasen's novels is how naturally he weaves the environment both into his settings as well as his plot. He reminds us that nature is very much a part of the human experience.



                                                   


                       

Climate Change - Solutions?

Children need to see how we humans can deal with climate change, and National Geographic has created this thought-provoking video for them. 

As with other videos, this is only meant to start the conversation. Searches on the internet, at school, and in libraries help to expand a child's understanding as well as his/her own ideas for the future. (They may need to be reminded that they will be part of planning the solution.)


A Way Forward


                                   

Science Book To Keep Child Busy for Weeks

It's one of those reference books where each photo is more amazing that the next. Animal Earth: The Amazing Diversity of Living Creatures by Ross Piper will keep your children busy exploring. It's not as expensive as one would think for its size ($25 for 300 pages of beautiful color photography), but many libraries may have it. But it will keep discussions -- and further research -- going.