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Best Children's Encyclopedias

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)
The third title in National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, this book is for kids 4- to 8-years-old who LOVE dinos! Catherine D. Hughes is the author of several books in the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, including Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs , Little Kids First Big Book of Space , and Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean .
Reviews
"This book was clearly designed for younger kids, because it has large print, pronunciation guides for all the dinosaur names, and imagination style questions associated with each dinosaur, like "if you could have a pet dinosaur, what would you name it?" If you are looking for a dinosaur book for older kids, there is also the "National Geographic Kids First Book of Big Dinosaurs", not to be confused with this book for "Little" kids."
"This book reads like an encyclopedia and not a story; however, they have shortened the information to 1 page per dinosaur which keeps a child's interest and a complete page with a picture illustration of the dinosaur."
"Some of the more commonly known dinosaurs are conspicuously absent or the illustrations don't show you how to tell them apart from other similar species."
"Illustrations are on point and love how they break down the names of each dinosaur."
"Good for younger kids and older...I'd say 3 to 8 ish."
"My daughter and nephew both got a copy of this book and they both LOVE IT!"
"Very cool book!"
"Good informative dinosaur book."
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National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)
• Chapter 2 introduces kids to the other planets in our solar system. --The Children's Nook Blog “Featuring fun, short entries about planets, stars, galaxies and more, this charming book is perfect for reading aloud or for beginning readers to enjoy themselves.” --Today's Zaman CATHERINE D. HUGHES is the author of National Geographic Little Kids First BigBook of Animals , National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs , and is the science editor for the award-winning National Geographic Kids and NationalGeographic Little Kids magazines.
Reviews
"I bought this for my five year old daughter, who was asking for a book about space."
"4 year old son loves space, stars, etc and enjoys this book, I like it to, as it teaches things I didn't know or can't remember from school!"
"Very simple, understandable concepts even for young kids and the pictures are phenomenal."
"Sure isn't as well constructed at the same books I ordered as a teacher 15 years ago."
"Very well done books with great photography/art (what else would you expect from NG?). He got them a year ago when he turned 4."
"Pictures are great and easily interpreted and the book "sections" well, meaning you can read about the planets one night then the next learn about the comets or galaxies, etc."
"Great quality!"
"Bought this for our sons third birthday."
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National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)
The National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals is an adorable animal reference sure to be welcomed by parents and librarians alike. Catherine D. Hughes is the author of several books in the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book series, including Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs , Little Kids First Big Book of Space , and Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean .
Reviews
"I'm a teacher, and I use these books to write animal reports with my 1st and 2nd grade students. After I read about one animal I ask my students what they remember about the animal. I take suggestions from the students and we write two to six sentences about the animal."
"The perfect book to use for teaching toddlers about all kinds of animals."
"My daughter loves this book, it's very educational she is three and loves to look at the pictures I will definitely be ordering her more books from this series."
"My daughter loves these books!"
"This book is awesome!"
"My boys love bugs."
"The pictures and the well-made quality of the books make them absolutely worth it."
"I got this to help my toddler learn animals in a way that wasn't totally boring for us adults."
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Best Children's Television & Radio Books

My Little Pony: The Elements of Harmony: Friendship is Magic: The Official Guidebook
Everypony is sure to love the abridged, digital-only edition of The Official Guidebook! Brandon T. Snider has authored numerous books for Little Brown featuring pop culture favorites such as the Transformers, Minions and My Little Pony.
Reviews
"She loves to read up on each character and know all she can know about the episodes. *My Little Ponies. *Cutie Mark Crusaders. *Fellow Equestrians and Animal Friends. *The Dark Side. *The Elements of Harmony. *The Magical World of Equestria. *An Interview with Lauren Faust. *Chronicles of Friendship. *The Musical Pony. *Friendship Fanatics. There are very cool things that a real fan will love: Pre-production artwork! Highly recommended for MLP fans and fanatics of all ages, shapes and sizes!"
"My daughter loves MLP and this book!"
"There are pages for each of the main characters, and small segments for the side characters, and even little bits about some of our favorite background characters. There's an awesome interview with Lauren Faust, messages from writers, artists, and more!"
"Beyond that, there's also an indepth interview with the show creator, Lauren Faust, as well as a lyric guide for all the songs featured in the show at the time of the book's creation."
"It looks like the book from the pilot episode and contains some great illustrations and info, including insights from Lauren Faust, the show's creator."
"It covers just about every pony that has ever had screen time from Seasons 1-3, every villain, big or small, and literally every thing else."
"My sister and I (both intense pony fans, aha~) argue a lot over our favorite songs' words (pathetic, I know). This book also includes details on all of our favorite ponies and other characters, places, the elements, and episodes."
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Best Children's Water Books

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the Ocean (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)
National Geographic Kids First Big Book of the Ocean is an adorable animal reference that includes the sea's high-interest animals, such as dolphins, sharks, sea otters, and penguins, and introduces kids to some of its lesser-known creatures. “Equally suitable for quick dips or lengthy dives, this gallery of ocean dwellers will attract schools of newly fledged readers.” -- Kirkus Reviews , starred review. “A delightful, age-appropriate introduction to ocean creatures big and small.” – Children’s Book Council.
Reviews
"I am sure we will eventually need to rebuy this book as we did with the dinosaur book because they get so loved pages get ripped many times then ripped out."
"These National Geographic books are the best for little kids."
"Bought this as a gift for a 4 year old and I think it's something he can enjoy now (with the beautiful pictures) and enjoy later as he reads more."
"We've had this book a few years now, and as my daughter becomes a more fluent reader in 2nd grade, I often catch her sitting down, reading this book."
"I am a National Geographic geek from way back but had to sensor my Nat Geo books and magazines to show 2-12 year olds so these allow me to share the pics without the more adult content."
"We plan on purchasing other National Geographic kids books, as our daughter's "sponge" of a brain is taking in so much animal knowledge from them!"
"My grandson absolutely loves this book."
"Beautiful book in the series - never disappoints!"
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Best Children's Inventors Books

Bomb: The Race to Build--and Steal--the World's Most Dangerous Weapon (Newbery Honor Book)
This is the story of the atomic bomb. This fascinating tale, packed with a wide cast of characters, focuses mainly on three individuals: spy for the Soviets Harry Gold, leader of the Manhattan Project J. Robert Oppenheimer, and Knut Haukelid, who sabotaged German bomb efforts while working for the Norwegian resistance. It's also an excellent primer for adult readers who may have forgotten, or never learned, the remarkable story of how nuclear weaponry was first imagined, invented and deployed--and of how an international arms race began well before there was such a thing as an atomic bomb.” ― The Wall Street Journal. “This is edge-of-the seat material that will resonate with YAs who clamor for true spy stories, and it will undoubtedly engross a cross-market audience of adults who dozed through the World War II unit in high school.” ― Bulletin of the Center of Children’s Books, starredreview.
Reviews
"Our youngster also loves similar Landmark Series history books like "Bomb"."
"It is an excellent overview of the Manhattan Project and really gives great insight into the people involved, the scientific breakthroughs, the moral questions, and the spying that surrounded the whole process."
"I read it and enjoyed it as well, thus it is a very good book for both kids and adults!"
"The author did a great job explaining the science in basic terms and repeated it several times throughout the story to help the reader understand."
"The conclusion that only a well tempered, thoughtful, well advised, and rational minded leader should have authority over a nuclear arsenal is inescapable."
"To have taken any dramatic license with this story, would have, in my opinion, weakened the overall impact of the story on the reader."
"My son loves this book and is using it for a summer reading project."
"If they failed to develop a working gadget, we would all be living different lives today in all probability Some of them were killed in the process."
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Best Television Guides & Reviews

The Making of Outlander: The Series: The Official Guide to Seasons One & Two
It was only a matter of time before Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander saga made the leap from book to hit TV series, and the millions of readers captivated by the epic romance of Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser have eagerly followed.
Reviews
"I watch the shows, I have now read the books, I listen to the podcasts and I follow the FB pages. And I know a LOT, but this book still told me things I didn't know and was filled with great color photos and quotes from the actors and others involved in the production of the show."
"I was waiting to see if this book would actually be a companion book or a re-hash of everything social media savvy Outlander fans have seen and heard for a few years now."
"I'm now on book 5."
"The information provided about each member of the main cast of characters gives an in depth take on how the role came about and some of their thoughts about the series."
"Got this for my wife for Christmas."
"This is a MUST HAVE for any OUTLANDER FAN."
"Not really a 'story'...just a fantastic 'the making of' for my favorite TV adaptations of my favorite books."
"I love all things Outlander❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️."
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Best Children's Atlases

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)
This charming reference introduces young readers to the wider world by exploring languages, landscapes, weather, animals, capital cities, mountains, deserts, and other landscapes and landforms, and more. Elizabeth Carney is a children's writer and editor specializing in children's nonfiction.
Reviews
"Easy to read for young children."
"Very vibrant colors and so much information that my guys found interesting."
"Perfect educational, fun book for kids!"
"Great book, excellent like all the National Geographic Series."
"Granddaughter spending countless hours reading and learning, thanks to this book I am 'The best Grampa ever"."
"a gift to a 5 years boy, he loves it."
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Best Children's Almanacs

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)
Linking to a popular feature in the super successful National Geographic Little Kids magazine, this book brings the browsable fun of the bestselling National Geographic Kids Almanac to a new audience: preschoolers! She has written several popular titles, including Little Kids First Big Book of Why and numerous installments for the National Geographic Readers series.
Reviews
"One of the reviews said it has misinformation because it classifies humans as "carnivores", but some recent studie shave classified humans as such "based on the percentage of meat in the typical human diet". See: http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2012/04/20/150817741/for-most-of-human-history-being-an-omnivore-was-no-dilemma. Another negative review said the information is shallow and gave this example: "Some question do not even have answers like this one, 'why some animals are big and some are smalls?'. Why are some animals big and others small?"
"National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why is very much successful in answering this big question of a small word why. An newer to a why question can be given in two ways 1) theoretically 2) practically -. This book adopts the way of giving practical answers in a very simple manner without losing any important theoretical fact."
"National Geographic has several in this series depending on your child's interest."
"I bought this book and a few others that were similar for my kids (Ages 6 and 12) for Christmas."
"This is one of the best books I've purchased!"
"This was a great book to give my curious 4 year old."
"The subject matter is practical, it has easy to understand and short explanations, and vibrant pictures."
"My 3.5 year old son loved this book."
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Best Children's Dictionaries

Merriam-Webster's Rhyming Dictionary
More than 70,000 rhyming words. Merriam Webster Inc, Springfield, MA.
Reviews
"I have Merriam-Webster Android version also, however I wanted hardcover type one. Because; 1) I'd like read/check preface, explanatory chart, explanatory notes, and so on this dictionary (it meaning, I'd like to read preface and appendixes of Webster). So, I recommend hardcover type dictionary even it's very heavy :) However, when I opened the dictionary at first..."
"Perfect, you can't find a hard cover dictionary in many stores anymore, and this is just what I was looking for."
"When using it as a writer (I know the word, but not its spelling, nor if I completely understand the word I seek to use) and not as a reader, I would have been more pleased if those who had added electronic usability had also made it more intuitive to those of us with poorer ability to spell by more simply allowing the browsing for a word as is done with a paper dictionary."
"If you are planning to use this as a kindle dictionary, you'll often run into definitions that contain the word itself."
"Finally, Merriam Webster's Collegiate Dictionary is a very good all-purpose dictionary, including as it does everything from basic vocabulary, to technical words, spanning the entire history of modern English up to the present."
"A clumsy volume, clearly thrown together by people without enough experience in digital production, it also lacks the rigor needed to constitute a useful dictionary on any platform."
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Best Children's Thesauri Reference Books

Better Than Great: A Plenitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives
A veritable "tko of terminology," Better Than Great is the essential guide for describing the extraordinary — the must have reference for anyone wishing to rise above tired superlatives. Even so, we find ourselves defaulting to such habitual choices as good, great, and terrific, or substitute the weary synonyms that tuble our of a thesaurus — superb, marvelous, outstanding, and the like. From the sheer number of quality adjectives, I imagine I would find one in this terrific – scratch that – frabjous compendium." To make look-up easy and accessible, Plotnik divides the words into fifteen categories: Great, Sublime, Physically Affecting, Mentally or Emotionally Affecting, Beautiful, Joy-Giving, Large, Exceptional, Intense, Delicious, Trendy, Cool, Wicked Cool, Forceful, and Challenging Belief or Expression. "[W]hat could be as fabulous, stupendous, showstopping, socko-boffo and epiphanic as this neatly organized, humorous yet helpful 'acclamatory hoard' of words for praising?" And (to lift one phrase) that ain't exactly chopped herring, considering it gives this critic some 6,000 substitutes for feeble old "amazing" and its ilk." a wide range of fresh superlatives in a number of categories, pulling from rare gems and vintage gold all the way through current phrases influenced by hip-hop. "Offers an energetic escape from the literary languor that enwreathes writers and speakers Together with two of his earlier works on writing style— Spunk & Bite (2007) and The Elements of Expression , Better Than Great completes an unmatched triplicity of linguistic perfection." "Arthur Plotnik's Better than Great is a bouquet of perfection, a feel-good, all-purpose A-list Angel Cake of big-league tips on how to turn your complimentary powers into blue chip, berserkely good, yowzwers of social and professional opportunity." — Alan Kaufman, author of Jew Boy, A Memoir and editor of The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry. "For those who find themselves at a loss for praise-worthy words, feel there’s a paucity of acclamatory expressions, or believe we are numbed by the plethora of platitudes that pass for superlatives, Arthur Plotnik’s new book is better than great; it is iridescently indispensable, a bare-knuckled barrel of berserkley fun words." — Phil Cousineau, author of Wordcatcher: An Odyssey into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words. Arthur Plotnik shows us how masterful writers rub words together to make fire." "Even I loved Art Plotnik's sublimely subversive exercises in adverbs used audaciously." — Dave Kindred, author of Morning Miracle: Inside the Washington Post , and adverbophobiac. Word -adroit Art Plotnik has compiled a collection of hundreds of juicy alternatives to your three favorite superlatives. A feloniously fun bedtime browsing treat, Better Than Great is also an unimpeachably useful daytime reference work. "...delightful, spankingly amusing... Plotnik presents hundreds of words and phrases that will make any conversation a sojourn through paradise... — Terri Schlichenmeyer, Shelf Awareness for Readers , July 15, 2011. "If you want to add insane quantities of crackle and sizzle to your writing, look no further than Better Than Great ... a no-holds-barred ... guide for any writer looking to rid themselves forever of the stale, cumbersome baggage of overused and boring superlatives." ...Whether you use this book ... when stuck for a thwackingly good superlative or ... to turbo-charge your vocabulary... you'll find the ... industrial-strength verbal inventiveness that you're seeking. All readers will ... find it supremely fascinating to learn of the terms .... to express greatness.--Barry Silverstein --ForeWord, April 4, 2011. An energetic escape from the literary languor that enwreathes writers and speakers addicted to stale adjectives .
Reviews
"If you're a writer in search of substitutes for over-used words and phrases, then Arthur Plotnik's "Better Than Great: A Plenitudinous Compendium of Wallopingly Fresh Superlatives" is the Swiss-Army-knife for your Macgyver-esque writer's bag of tricks. When the only word that comes immediately to mind is "GREAT," "HUGE," or "AWESOME," imagine having at your fingertips such alternatives as: monsta! Better still, try some of these modifiers to spiff-up the over-used "awesome": awesome unabridged; giga-awesome; kiss-the-hem-of-its-robe awesome; out-of-the-ballpark awesome."
"I wished the announcer on a recently-televised NFL game had had a copy of BTG on hand as he blithely characterized the Packers as "a great team with great owners in a great city with great fans.""
"A great reference when you need fast word with bite."
"Some have complained that the words are too far out there, and while there are simpler ones, this book carries out it's mission: deliver a brain-bending, evocative, air-to-air missile of adverbs, adjectives and shrunken metaphors (and how-to for newer writers) that are sure to take your writing up a notch."
"If you write, if you blog, if you simply love to play with words, if the banalities of awesome, great, and fabulous bore you -- go ahead and spring for the hard copy."
"Do you have a feloniously fun bedtime browsing habit of looking through books for delicious & decadent phrases, words & superlatives (then noting them down in a notebook)?"
"'Better than Great' is a mosh pit of fresh new words and phrases to express thanks or joy or any number of occasions that head butt your stale thank you notes and make them sing (okay perhaps I'm over Plotniking here but the enthusiasm is heartfelt!)."
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