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Best Children's Books on House & Home

Kitchen Science Lab for Kids: 52 Family Friendly Experiments from the Pantry (Lab Series)
Hands-On Family: Kitchen Science Lab for Kids offers 52 fun science activities for families to do together. Soon she found herself sharing her love of science with her three kids as they grew, journaling their science adventures on her KitchenPantryScientist website. Her desire to spread her enthusiasm for science to others soon led to a regular segment on her local NBC affiliate, an opportunity to serve as an Earth Ambassador for NASA, and the creation of an iPhone app, with the goal of making it simple for parents to do science with kids of all ages, and for kids to experiment safely on their own.
Reviews
"Here is a list of the sections: Unit 1-Carbonated Chemical Reactions. Unit 2 Crystal Creations. Unit 3 Physics in Motion. Unit 4 Life Science. Unit 5 Astonishing Liquids. Unit 6 Polymers, Colloids & Misbehaving Materials. Unit 7 Acids & Basis. Unit 8 Marvelous Microbiology. Unit 9 Shocking Science. Unit 10 Bodacious Botany. Unit 11 Sunny Science. Unit 12 Rocket Science. The projects are so much fun."
"This is the neatest book."
"Gave this as a gift to a very inquisitive kid."
"Gave as gift."
"Item arrived on time and as described."
"Love this book."
"My 4 1/2 year old daughter is obsessed with this book."
"It looks like it has a lot of fun ideas/activities!!"
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PLEASE DON'T SNEEZE: Teaching Your Child Stay Healthy And Safe (Children's Animal Bedtime Books Book 3)
Review By Jean Glasser: This is a delightful book for young children. Sigal Adler is an Israeli children's author with a refreshing, rhythmic writing style. The combination of catchy rhymes spiced with humor and an ethical message appeals to the hearts of children.
Reviews
"And this poem was well done both as a story and as a rhyme. I read this poem to my granddaughter, and she drew pictures of the story as I read it."
"Sometimes life’s lesson’s can simply be put into short, easy-to-read picture books simple enough for a kindergartener to read and understand."
"I believe that Please Don't Sneeze is a wonderful story for beginning readers with its easy to follow rhymes.The beautiful lyrical quality coupled with the fun plot will keep young minds engaged and also help to learn valuable lessons."
"This book is great, but short and my children wanted to find more."
"Best book ever."
"They befriend the dragon and he becomes a good friend, but one day he plays in the rain and gets sick and when his temperature rises he sneezes FIRE."
"This is an adorable story that caught my attention and kept me smiling."
"Cute enough, I suppose."
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The Sky: A Complete Post-Apocalyptic Series with Twists and Turns (The Sky Series, Books 1-4)
Eighteen-year-old Seven and her best friend, Ten, live where all is peaceful ... except for the violent war raging above the sky. Lifelike humanoid robots and self-operated drones tend to everyone's needs, leaving people free to spend their time stimulating their minds and enjoying life's pleasures. The rules force everyone to accept their fates, but Seven decides to do something unprecedented: to go against the Decision Makers' wishes. "Every time I thought I had figured something out, the story took yet another twist and I was left re-thinking everything I had come to believe! If you like romantic action-packed novels with adventure, mystery, and strong male and female leads, don't miss this gripping fast-paced read! THE SKY is a collection of all four books in a young adult science fiction series that tells the story of a teen girl and boy coming of age in a post-apocalyptic futuristic society founded on secrets and lies. Lynne delivers an exhilarating cinematic experience filled with thrilling suspense, shocking twists and turns, forbidden romance, imaginative adventure, and thought-provoking philosophy. THE SKY has captured the hearts of both teens and adults who enjoyed THE HUNGER GAMES (by Suzanne Collins), DIVERGENT (by Veronica Roth), THE GENDER GAME (by Bella Forrest), SLAVE (by Laura Frances), CONFIGURED (by Jenetta Penner), THE MAZE RUNNER (by James Dashner), and THE GIVER (by Lois Lowry). Amazon Prime members who own a Kindle e-reader, Fire tablet, or Fire phone: Borrow THE SKY (The Sky Series, Books 1-4) ebook for FREE from the Kindle Owners' Lending Library. -- Megan, i fall in love book blog ★★★★★. "It's been years since I read a story that kept me begging for more . "Every time I thought I had figured something out, the story took yet another twist and I was left re-thinking everything I had come to believe! "It is rare and special when you come across an author who writes like Lynne. An excerpt from THE SKY: Ten throws his arm around me and shoves me against the wall. A huge, black, shiny, box-like terrestrial drone is coming out of--not a doorway, but--the middle of a wall, through an opening that shouldn't be there. I take small, shallow breaths, even though my lungs are begging for more air. I feel the heat of Ten's controlled breaths against my face. As we stand there, it feels as if an electric charge is growing between us, so powerful that it would shock us if we moved even a millimeter closer together.
Reviews
"Each book became more intense, more creative and the further I delved in, so many secrets were coming out. Jenny Lynne did such a fantastic job at describing what was going on, the descriptive surroundings and the people came alive for me. The characters were an array of individuals with different feelings, thought process and the way they handled their life as it basically was not as it seemed."
"Usually trilogies start strong and I am disappointed in the final book, the author has no idea how to end the series, its predictable, or I simply become bored."
"Ryan was an awesome character, the ladies were each so strong, love how murphys twin changed over time and the way the mom of the twins was once the two came of age."
"I'm a huge fan of dystopian type stories, so that aspect of this book was super great, and even though dystopian is a popular story to write at this time, I still felt that this book was unique enough that I didn't feel like I have read it before. I'm not super crazy about what happens towards the end, and I'm not thrilled that I have to wait to find out what happens until the next book, but I highly recommend this book. My review for the second book: Return to the Sky: Return to the Sky is the sequel for Above the Sky, and I loved both books! This book picks right up where the first book ended, so I definitely recommend reading the first book before this one. *There will be spoilers for the first book in this review*. In the first book, Seven took Six's place as a warrior, so Seven had to leave home and fight to protect her home community and Six stayed at home and was assigned a mate, and since they are twins, they assumed each other's identities without most people knowing the difference. I'm hoping in the next book, the characters start to question the governments actions more, happiness for the side characters, and more of Ten and Seven together!"
"The characters were so well written, I felt like I was part of the book."
"I’d give this series 10 stars if I could."
"I read A LOT, and I've learned how to pick books that I will almost certainly enjoy, but I was completely blown away by how much I loved this trilogy."
"I reviewed each book seperatly if you want my opinion perbook but overall it's a great read and worth checking out."
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Best Children's Philosophy Books

BRUCE THE MOOSE & BO
Unfortunately Bo did not keep her promise and invited many friends over to her nest. This is a delightful book for children ages 2 - 9 and P - 4.
Reviews
"One day, Bo comes up with the idea to build a nest in the antlers of a moose named Bruce. Will Bo and Bruce find a way to make things right again."
"She also enjoyed the illustrations, they really created a good image of the story in her head."
"My granddaughter loves this books and the others in this series."
"Nice story and nice illustrations."
"Colorful artwork & cute story make this a fun and educational bedtime book."
"It's not terrible."
"I am always looking for books for my granddaughter to read - she is just learning to read and knows a lot of sight words."
"Really cute story. Great illustrations."
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Best Children's Books on Country Life

Little House in the Big Woods
Pioneer life is sometimes hard for the family, but it is also exciting as they celebrate Christmas with homemade toys and treats, do the spring planting, bring in the harvest, and make their first trip into town. Any boy or girl who has fantasized about running off to live in the woods will find ample information in these pages to manage a Wisconsin snowstorm, a panther attack, or a wild sled ride with a pig as an uninvited guest. Every chapter divulges fascinatingly intricate, yet easy-to-read, details about pioneer life in the Midwest in the late 1800s, from bear-meat curing to maple-tree sapping to homemade bullet making.
Reviews
"I wouldn't recommend these volumes to those who remember the classic hardcovers with all the quaint drawings from Garth William which are NOT included here."
"I love that my children (7 years old, 4 years old and 14 months) are getting literature instead of just popular music and news in the morning before school."
"Also appreciating the strength and unity of people pulling together to survive and make a better life instead of constant division of class and race seeking to tear humanity apart for power and greed."
"Great value for the complete Little house collection!"
"I recently read this book aloud to my 7 year old daughter and she just loved it."
"The woman brilliantly describes true pioneer life in a manner that is suitable for all ages."
"I bought this set for my 8 year old niece and she is able to read and understand them well, and loves them!"
"These books brought back memories of my childhood."
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Best Children's Books on Farm Life

Charlotte's Web (Trophy Newbery)
They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. White's Newbery Honor Book is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come. The handsome volume sports a clothbound cover framing original jacket art; inside, Rosemary Wells adds country color to Garth Williams's original b&w illustrations. An afterword by Peter F. Neumeyer illuminates White's life and work, including photographs of the author on his farm in Maine as well as pages from the seminal manuscript.
Reviews
"He enjoyed the story and the few little pictures in the book."
"Nice classic novel requested by my 8 year old and it came hardback and good quality cover."
"Very pleased with quality and price."
"I'm a new and beginning reader for the English book, I picked this book after highly recommended by one of website for ESL."
"My daughter loves this story."
"I loved this book when I was a kid, so I gave this book to my niece for Christmas and i hope she loves it too."
"The book exceeded my expectations; in practically "brand-new" shape."
"It was recommended to me, I loved the movie, now I enjoy reading it."
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Best Children's Books on City Life

When You Reach Me
This Newbery Medal winner that has a fantastic puzzle at its heart has been called “smart and mesmerizing,” ( The New York Times ), “superb” ( The Wall Street Journal ), and “incandescent” ( The Washington Post ). Amazon Best of the Month, July 2009: Shortly after sixth-grader Miranda and her best friend Sal part ways, for some inexplicable reason her once familiar world turns upside down. Rebecca Stead's poignant novel, When You Reach Me , captures the interior monologue and observations of kids who are starting to recognize and negotiate the complexities of friendship and family, class and identity. Set in New York City in 1979, the story takes its cue from beloved Manhattan tales for middle graders like E.L. Konigsburg's From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler , Louise Fitzhugh's Harriet the Spy , and Norma Klein's Mom the Wolfman and Me . Like those earlier novels, When You Reach Me will stir the imaginations of young readers curious about day-to-day life in a big city. Here’s what Rebecca had to say about growing up in New York City, meeting Madeleine L’Engle, and how writing a novel is a lot like solving a puzzle. What I love about L’Engle’s book now is how it deals with so much fragile inner-human stuff at the same time that it takes on life’s big questions. It started out as a small detail in Miranda’s story, a sort of talisman, and one I thought I would eventually jettison, because you can’t just toss A Wrinkle in Time in there casually. So I went back to A Wrinkle in Time and read it again and again, trying to see it as different characters in my own story might (sounds crazy, but it’s possible!). Amazon.com: I love the way you incorporate hints of science fiction into the ordinary events of Miranda’s life. When I started writing my first novel, First Light , a lot of the raw material was also fragmented, and I had to sort of develop them into traditional chapters, which was what worked best for that story. But When You Reach Me is a little like a puzzle, and I loved the challenge of smoothing these small pieces until the whole thing fit together just right. Amazon.com: At the very beginning of the novel, we learn that Miranda’s mom is going to be a contestant on the 1970’s TV game show The $20,000 Pyramid . Rebecca Stead: They have a pretty nice system, which starts with their neighbor, Louisa, who scribbles down each day’s Pyramid clues at her nursing job because she’s the only one with access to a television at lunchtime. Amazon.com: Why do Miranda and her friends Annemarie and Colin like working in Jimmy’s sandwich shop during lunch hour? Rebecca Stead: I’m now raising two kids of my own in New York City, and I think a lot about the differences between today’s "preteen experience" and the one I had. Grade 5-8–Sixth-grader Miranda lives in 1978 New York City with her mother, and her life compass is Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time . Miranda spends considerable time observing a raving vagrant who her mother calls the laughing man and trying to find the connection between the notes and her everyday life. Discerning readers will realize the ties between Miranda's mystery and L'Engle's plot, but will enjoy hints of fantasy and descriptions of middle school dynamics.
Reviews
"I do remember the $20,00 Pyramid Game Show, and the author does a deft job of weaving this sub-plot through the book, while handling important topics of friendship, judging on first impressions, kindness towards strangers and coming of age."
"This book is not a book I chose, I had to read it for my graduate class but I believe in fate and I believe this book was on the list for a reason."
"This book has all of the elements I typically enjoy: great interaction between the characters, a splash of sci-fi and a concept to keep you thinking long after you read the last page!"
"I liked when you reach me because it talked about a wrinkle in time and time travel."
"I also love realism: kids (or adults) in common situations, learning how to act, taking steps that shape them into the people they become. The realism comes from the basic story premise: 11-year-old Miranda lives in New York during the 1970s. Her mother is obsessed with becoming a contestant on a tv show, The $20,000 Pyramid, and spends meal times studying and practicing. Miranda witnesses some seemingly weird actions on the sidewalk: she keeps encountering one particular homeless person who acts strangely."
"Because so many of them are a coming of age story, focusing on a young or boy learning to deal with whatever hardships life has dealt them, some of the details begin to merge together creating a giant Newbery read instead of the individual books. Too many times in stories where plot lines overlap and characters connect in unexpected ways, the coincidences become too much and too unrealistic for the necessary suspension of disbelief, and it lessens the enjoyment of the story, because I can't believe any of that would actually happen. One of the complaints I had with this book the first time I read it was the desire to know more about some of the periphery characters. Knowing too much about this book the first time you read it ruins some of its magic. Those are what make it such a magnificent first time read, but allows you to enjoy the story more each time you read it. I re-read this book just the other day, about two months after my first read through, and I found myself noticing much that I missed the first time through, and enjoying it just that much more."
"I teach 6th grade ELA, and I enjoy finding new books for my classroom library. My fellow ELA teachers downloaded it and within a day we were discussing our thoughts on the ending."
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