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Home ยป Blog ยป My Kid’s Favorite Books

My Kid’s Favorite Books

by Sarah Turner Clover Lane, Favorite Toys

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Favorite Toys here.

Favorite Gameshere.

Teen Gift Ideas here.

It would be impossible to name every one of them, but if you are in for some Christmas gift ideas, these are a few of our tried and true, much loved books.  Quite a few of them are activity or drawing books…sometimes I think those are best for the stages kids go through when they don’t really want to pick up a big old book at the end of a school day.

Klutz The Book of Impossible Objects: 25 Eye-Popping Projects to Make, See & Do Craft Kit

Andrew (12) really likes this book-it comes with all the equipment needed to make optical illusions. I have found these strung across my kitchen quite a few times.

We have owned many Klutz activity books over the years and they are my favorites!


Image result for crazy action contraptions

Crazy Action Contraptions

Image result for klutz cat's cradle

Cat’s Cradle  (I loved that the kids really got into this one year because it brought back childhood, long bus-ride memories!

Image result for klutz paper fashions

Paper Fashions

Abbey LOVED this-we still have a book she made out of these in her scrapbook box.

National Geographic Subscription

National Geographic Kids

National Geographic Little Kids

My science/nature guy likes a subscription to National Geographic. (I do also!)  The Kids and Little Kids versions are excellent and they get SO excited when they find them in the mail box.

Deluxe Essential Handbook (Pokรฉmon) (Pokemon)

I don’t think anyone is into Pokemon anymore, are they?  But my older kids loved them, and we had all the figures and cards so my two younger ones (12 & 7) are into them too.  Patrick found this at a school book fair and thought he had died and gone to heaven. It’s big and thick and lists them all.

Sports Illustrated Kids Big Book of Who: ALL-STARS: The 101 Stars Every Fan Needs to Know

Another one of Patrick’s favorites-he is my crazy sports guy.

Encyclopedia of Amazing Places

Great photos-I bought this as much for my husband as for the kids.

The Totally Brilliant World of Puzzles

Andrew (12) loves this.

Who Would Win? Polar Bear vs. Grizzly Bear

There are quite a few of these “Who Would Win” books, and they are filled with neat facts about the animals. It’s fun to hedge a bet till the end!  

I love the author’s storyhere.

I Survived Collector’s Toolbox (I Survived)

Andrew (12) LOVES these books, the whole series, and couldn’t wait to buy the next one, then the next one, and then the next one.  I great way to teach history.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid #11 Double Down

THE NEW ONE!!!

We pre-ordered this and when it came I had to settle an argument over who got to read it first.

The Smithsonian Book of Presidential Trivia

Again, bought for the boys AND the husband.

Sports Illustrated KIDS Magazine 1-Year / 12 issues Print Subscription

Another subscription that the boys love, it always makes them happy to see it after school in the mail pile-it comes with little sports card to collect also.

Geo-gami: The Art of Making Geometrical Shapes from Paper

I find these all over the house-this is a great activity for 10 and over.

Look And Find Books

ALL the kids loved this seek and find book (as you can tell from the tape.)  Janey has me read it to her every day (she has already memorized where everything is but still loves it.)  

Guinness World Record Books 

 Someone always gets the new year’s edition under the tree.

They are filled with amazing (and gross) things.

Scribbles

My mom got this for Andrew for his birthday and he loves it.  It’s a super thick book that has pages with half drawn sketches that you can finish off.

  

Klutz Book of Paper Airplanes

 All my boys love this.  I found it on Andrew’s floor one morning with about 10 airplanes laying around everywhere.  Apparently, when I thought he was snug in the bed for the night, he was up working away at aircraft.

The Art Of Cartooning 

 Matt and Andrew both love this book.  

A big book and very good with step by step easy to follow instructions for the 6-12 crowd.

Life Picture Puzzles 

 When you just can’t eek a book out at bedtime, these are easy and fun.

Manners Can Be Fun

 I love, love, love these books-there are three of them.  Manners Can Be Fun, How To Speak Politely and How To Behave and Why.  

Childhood Of Famous Americans 

These are all really well written.  My boys really like the sports guys. 

BOB Books 

 Do you know about BOB books?  They are great for teaching reading, and building confidence.  I learned about them with my first (got them from the library) and then eventually bought them all.   They really helped each of my kids learn to read.  They start out really really slowly, with very simple pictures and lots of repetition and progress up per set.

Pendragon Series 

 Matt had read and reread this series.  Abbey and Isaac have read them all also.

Matthew who is fourteen loved this series this year:

Beyonders The Complete Set: A World Without Heroes; Seeds of Rebellion; Chasing the Prophecy

Abbey LOVED the Beacon Street Girls.  Good wholesome tweenie reading.

The same with this collection-Catwings.

The Daring Book for Girls-filled with fun activities and facts.

Matthew, my science guy, loves this collection.

Basher Science: Core Science Library

(Maybe I should read them and relearn what I never learned in any of these classes because I was too busy passing notes.)

I love the National Geographic series for kids.  ALL the books are great but these are our favorite so far.

National Geographic Kids United States Atlas

National Geographic Kids National Parks Guide U.S.A.

Here are some more of our favorite National Geographic books:


Weird But True’s

Myths Busted!: Just When You Thought You Knew What You Knew…

National Geographic Kids Quiz Whiz: 1,000 Super Fun, Mind-bending, Totally Awesome Trivia Questions

This Star Wars book is SO worn out-it’s been taped up quite a few times.  Patrick and Andrew love it.

Star Wars Character Encyclopedia

They also love this one:

LEGO Star Wars: The Yoda Chronicles

This year I started buying one hardcover picture book a month to freshen up my collection.   (My favorite ever is old Harry the Dirty Dog.)  On my blog’s sidebar is a link to more of our favorites.

I think Santa might bring a few of these this year for Janey:



Little Golden Book Classics

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December 8, 2011 ยท 29 Comments

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  1. Rhona says

    December 8, 2011 at 8:05 am

    Love these posts Sarah, I'm off to look up Harry the Dirty Dog – might be one to get for my granddaughter ๐Ÿ™‚ Also need to check if we've got the latest Wimpy Kid one – my daughter enjoys those too. Thanks for the peek.
    xx

    Reply
  2. bonnieboatwright@gmail.com says

    December 8, 2011 at 8:21 am

    These are great lists, Sarah! I just opened up amazon to look into Scribbles. My 6th grader would love this. My boys love the Guinness Books as well. They also love the annual Time Life Almanacs.

    Reply
  3. {cindy} says

    December 8, 2011 at 10:28 am

    We are big book loves here!
    Off to look for the Manners one…too funny!
    have a happy day sarah

    Reply
  4. knit one, knit two says

    December 8, 2011 at 10:55 am

    Munro leaf! I got the manners books for the boy years ago. Glad to see someone else reads them too.

    Reply
  5. Katie Leipprandt says

    December 8, 2011 at 12:13 pm

    Thanks for the tip on the BOB books…have never heard of them, but I know many who could use those as gifts this year!

    Reply
  6. Alyssa says

    December 8, 2011 at 12:48 pm

    I've basically done all my Christmas shopping for my girls and for gifts from your lists. Wanna do one for grownups? Then I can be done! Thank you. We already broke out a plasma car. Mire to come from Santa. Sooo awesome. Your children seem so wonderful. I love love love your blog. You've helped me be a more confident and informed mom. Merry, merry Christmas.

    Reply
  7. You Can Call Me Jane says

    December 8, 2011 at 1:23 pm

    Sam has the Klutz paper airplane book and loves it. It often comes out when he has a friend over. I highly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about it:-).

    Reply
  8. Bette says

    December 8, 2011 at 1:42 pm

    Great list! My 5 year old loves Harry the dirty dog. Last year for Christmas he got Walter the Farting Dog and that's become a favourite too.

    Reply
  9. shoutingforha says

    December 8, 2011 at 2:24 pm

    We have the paper airplane book too. It is seriously the best one I've ever used.

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    December 8, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    I got the BOB boks when my oldest was starting to read, best starting to read books ever! My kids love the airplane book, we love all the Klutz. If you or Abby ever want to crochet or knit they have great books for that! I am going to put the Scribbles and manners books in my amazon cart to get for upcoming birthdays. And we will definitely check out the Childhood of Famous Americans and Pendragon books at the library!

    Reply
  11. elisabeth (bovagoods) says

    December 8, 2011 at 3:45 pm

    Sarah, thanks so much for this! Where does one buy the clear plastic covers for books? I have been wanting to do that too! Don't you love the crinkly sounds they make when you open the book? Brings me back to story time as a kid.

    Reply
  12. Erin says

    December 8, 2011 at 4:04 pm

    We LOVE the Bob books around here!! Used them to teach both of my girls how to read. ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  13. Julie says

    December 8, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    I am really enjoying your Christmas gift ideas! And I loved Harry the Dirty Dog when I was a kid. My aunt owned it and I would read it whenever I went to visit. I recently found it on the shelves at Barnes and Noble and was able to share it with my kids.

    Reply
  14. TRICIA says

    December 8, 2011 at 7:26 pm

    Thanks for this post. My kindergartener is a very new reader. We will have to check the Bob Books out!

    Reply
  15. Rebekah Hamon says

    December 8, 2011 at 8:31 pm

    Thank you for all your book/toy/game posts! It's saved me time while Christmas shopping, & some things I pan to get in he future. What type of typewriter did you buy? And was it just because it was adorable, or because you knew something about the brand?
    Thanks again! Your blog inspires me to live a more beautiful life & be a great mom.

    Reply
  16. Rebekah Hamon says

    December 8, 2011 at 8:38 pm

    Thank you for all your book/toy/game posts! It's saved me time while Christmas shopping, & some things I pan to get in he future. What type of typewriter did you buy? And was it just because it was adorable, or because you knew something about the brand?
    Thanks again! Your blog inspires me to live a more beautiful life & be a great mom.

    Reply
  17. Terri Edwards says

    December 8, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    I'd like to know where to get the plastic book covers too!! Great list and thanks for the ideas as my 3 yr old grows.

    Reply
  18. Paula says

    December 8, 2011 at 9:33 pm

    This is a good post!

    Reply
  19. Unknown says

    December 8, 2011 at 10:33 pm

    I loved the Pendragon series as well as my 6th grader and of course, both of my kids love the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

    Has your son read the Fablehaven series? My daughter loved that.

    Reply
  20. Sue says

    December 8, 2011 at 11:03 pm

    I love that you are saving books to read to your grandchildren……I am a kindergarten teacher and I have shelves of my favorite books that I am saving for my grandchildren and a box for each of my children. It would be really be hard for me to just pick one book I love! My favorite Christmas book is: Santa's book of Names.

    For those of you looking for the book covers…just use clear contact paper. Easy to put on and makes wiping up dirty fingerprints easy too.
    Sue ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  21. Christine says

    December 9, 2011 at 2:39 am

    What a great group of books.

    You must have a row of Percy Jackson series..YES??!!

    Reply
  22. Old Centennial Farmhouse says

    December 9, 2011 at 2:43 am

    Childhoods of Famous Americans are wonderful books! We used many when we homeschooled. All your suggestions are wonderful!

    MERRY CHRISTmas, if I don't get to say so before the big day! Love you and your blog, and your kind generosity in sharing and encouraging so many, all year through. You are a special, special mom.
    xoxo
    Joni

    Reply
  23. Magnolia Verandah says

    December 9, 2011 at 10:30 am

    Just love books and have bought books every year for Christmas for my children and now their children. Don't think they will ever go out of fashion.

    Reply
  24. Simply LKJ says

    December 9, 2011 at 12:43 pm

    We are a book loving family too! There are so many wonderful books to chose from. They always make a great gift.

    Reply
  25. Victoria ObSEUSSed says

    December 9, 2011 at 6:08 pm

    So many wonderful suggestions! Thanks for sharing what is on your shelves and what you'd recommend for kids. We love children's books and I'm going to check out several you've mentioned, starting with the airplane book because my son keeps asking me to show him how to make better ones and I never know. Thanks! – Victoria http://www.obSEUSSed.com

    Reply
  26. Jennifer Francois says

    December 9, 2011 at 6:35 pm

    Yes, I too would like to protect our books, and have often thought I''d like to know how the library does it. So is it just clear contact paper or something special?

    Reply
  27. Karen says

    December 11, 2011 at 9:36 pm

    Thank you for this post! My 5th grade son loves to read series but we struggle at times to find new ones for him to enjoy. I love your suggestions and several of them seem to be right up his alley!

    Reply
  28. Heather says

    December 12, 2011 at 5:40 pm

    Thanks for the book post!
    I love trading ideas!

    Reply
  29. Alison says

    December 17, 2011 at 3:50 pm

    Thanks for the suggestions. I'm always looking for good books. I checked out Pendragon, and they are a HUGE hit with my boys! I REALLY appreciate it. No, REALLY!

    Reply

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Sarah Turner

When our first baby was placed in my arms I knew there was no place I wanted to be other than home with him every day. Twenty five years, and five more babies later, (six children, now ages 26-8), I still feel the same. I blog here about motherhood, how to make a house a home, easy recipes, and simple living. You can read more about me here.

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Happy Easter! A beautiful day filled with hope an Happy Easter!  A beautiful day filled with hope and new beginnings - focus on the future, the blessings, the cycle of life where darkness doesn't triumph, but light and love and fresh days ahead - and sunshine - does.  We grow and change and let the old shed, the suffering transform, and rebuild with energy and hope to become closer to Jesus.  Love to you all.
I love my home and I hope you do also. With all t I love my home and I hope you do also.  With all the imperfections and maintenance it requires, when I pull up and walk in I want to stay, to relax, to feel safe, for daily life to be easy, and to care for "home". I want simplicity, ease, convenience.  To me when my home is simple, without being filled to the brim of things that just take up space I love it best.  I hope if you've participated fully or even partially as time allowed in 40 Bags in 40 Days you've found that joy and pride in your home.  I plan to share more little challenges and tips as the year proceeds to trouble shoot areas and keep maintenance effortless and the house love flowing.  Daily life in our homes should bring us joy and ease while we care for our families, we should be thoughtful stewards of our money and of our time and simple living is the answer to that. 
Thank you for participating! ๐Ÿก
I think this is one of the best things about the 4 I think this is one of the best things about the 40 Bag decluttering process.  When I know what I have and have removed all that I don't, it cultivates more discretion and caution about what I bring back in.  I think there is also some realization of how much money is wasted on fads, or thoughtless purchases.  It's quite eye-opening.  I've become so much more careful, and find we all take better care of things, as do my children.
The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days! I've tackle The final week of 40 Bags in 40 Days!  I've tackled all the areas of my home with exception of my oldest daughter's room (not the photo)- which she is excited to work on this week.
The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean an The simpler the room, the easier it is to clean and straighten up.  And then the more enjoyable it is to actually sit in that room.  It's not a hard equation, all it takes is ruthless purging-and not just little things but larger items also.  Functional furniture is the key and very few decorative pieces especially when children are in the home, makes life so much easier. 
๐Ÿƒ
As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 As we head into the last week of the 40 Bags in 40 Days Challenge I'm hearing from so many of you what a difference it has made in your appreciation of your homes, a certain contentment, and at the same time a thrill of looking in on the organized kitchen, closet and living space.  I agree!  I love purging, cleaning and organizing a space and then going back later that day just to get that wonderful sense of accomplishment.  It makes such a difference! 
๐Ÿƒ
A lighter, fresher, calmer home is the result of de-cluttering.  I even had a participant who had been planning on listing her home, start 40 Days just to get her house ready to sell, and then was so ruthless in the process and also thrilled by the results that they decided to stay put in what seemed like a new home to them.  What a savings of time, money and energy. 
๐Ÿƒ
Next week I will be talking maintenance and answer all questions! โ˜€๏ธ
Tips For Shared Kids Rooms- This bedroom has seen Tips For Shared Kids Rooms-
This bedroom has seen every configuration possible.  With kids spread out 18 years apart, I've had to be creative over the years-which I think is the key to sharing rooms.  It is all possible-I consider it a rare luxury and privilege to not have to share a room although I know that is not the norm today. 
๐Ÿƒ
I like to create a simple look with white furniture (this ends up making room transitions easier also when moving someone out and someone else in.) I also like to match bedspreads for a cohesive look. 
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Clip on bed lights save space. 
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A simple shared book shelf can hold a child's special books and knick knacks and if necessary can be assigned per shelf.
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When my kids were younger I had my dad build me a large wooden roll out box for under each bed.  This held each child's toys. 
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All clothes are kept in a closet instead of dressers to save space.
I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags I feel like I bailed on everyone following 40 Bags progress and tips.  My excuse is the stomach flu ravaging us all here in the last week with me being the last to fall and the slowest to recover.  On top of that the weekend before I tried to roller blade (don't even ask how many steps I made it) and majorly bit it.  Thankfully I think I just sprained my arm. So I've been using one arm for nursing sick children back to health, and doing whatever cleaning and cooking and straightening I can do.  Alas, last week was a wash.  We have two weeks to go.  I'd like to continue and end on a high note.  How about you?  Even a little de-cluttering counts! Spring is in the air and I can't wait to throw open my windows and let fresh clean air circulate through my fresh clean orderly home. โ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒฑ
Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to th Especially where kids are concerned- we tend to think that the more things they have the happier and more occupied and loved they will feel.  Nothing can replace human interaction and I've found that too many toys has the reverse affect.  They cause overwhelm-just like us - we'd rather sit in an orderly space than one filled with too many things to do and too much stuff.
โ˜€๏ธ
When it comes to kids closets here are some tips-
1. Hand me downs don't all have to be received.  Or received at all.  Be choosy and keep just what they will use and need.
2. When children are presented with too many choices, tension and acrimony can exist.  Being able to open a closet with a reasonable amount of outfits can create more peace.
3. Cultivating independence in care of clothes is easier when there is less and the space is simplified and organized. 
โ˜€๏ธ
More tips coming on the blog this week.  I am moving my blog platform so I can't make any promises - it's under construction and that's exciting!
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