New here? Then you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

One of my favorite children’s book publishers is Sylvan Dell. Not only are their books beautiful, but educational! Each book comes with a "For Creative Minds" section full of additional materials, crafts and activities, all of which are checked for scientific accuracy.

Here are a few new ones which would make wonderful holiday presents:

Turtles in My Sandbox, written by Jennifer Keats Curtis and illustrated by Emanuel Schongut. For ages 4-8, this is a wonderful book for children who love sea life or turtles. When a mother diamondback terrapin lays eggs in a young girl’s sandbox, the girl becomes a “turtle-sitter” to help the babies safely hatch. She raises the teeny hatchlings until they become big enough to fend for themselves in the wild. Then, with the help of experts, she releases them. Along the way, she learns about these unique animals and that she has made an important contribution to their survival. The “For Creative Minds" section includes terrapin fun facts and a turtle habitat craft.

For ages two to eight, Water Beds - Sleeping in the Ocean, is another wonderful book about sea life. How do marine mammals - animals that breathe air - sleep in the deep waters of the ocean? Water Beds: Sleeping in the Ocean answers this question. Youngsters meet ten marine mammals, including sea otters and bottlenose dolphins, manatees and harbor seals, humpback whales and walruses, and learn about each animal’s unique habits.

Although the brief portraits are based on up-to-date scientific research, author Gail Langer Karwoski weaves the facts into simple, poetic language. Connie McLennan’s rich oil paintings capture the ocean’s habitats and its appealing creatures. The story invites children to drift into a peaceful sleep on the gentle waves of imagination. This book was awarded the Learning Magazine 2007 Teacher’s Choice Award and the 2005 Moms’ Choice Award. It’s also a 2005 Foreword Magazine Book of the Year Award Finalist.

Finally, for the holidays there’s Christmas Eve Blizzard. This has become a holiday favorite around my home, and a book that I’ll pack away with the ornaments to enjoy year after year with my children. It’s a tender story of a beautiful cardinal who is trapped in the snow until a young boy rescues him. Nicholas places more importance on caring for the injured bird than in decorating the Christmas tree or opening his gifts on Christmas morning. Christmas Eve Blizzard will truly touch your heart.

The “For Creative Minds" section contains information on how to make your backyard into a bird-happy habitat, several simple bird-feeder crafts, “cardinal numbers,” math games, and information on what to do if you find an injured bird. For ages six to 10, the book is a 2005 Henry Bergh Award Finalist, NAIBA nominee, and a Book Sense Picks Nominee.

All Sylvan Dell Publishing books can be purchased on Amazon.com, directly through the Sylvan Del Publishing site, or you can use the BookSense Bookstore Locator to find a bookstore near you that sells these titles.

Technorati tags: children’s books, Christmas, presents

Like what you see? Subscribe to My Readable Feast for updates!

Trackback URI | Comments RSS