New Books from Schiffer for Kids

Schiffer Books has released a new line of books for kids.  And, they are spectacular!  The publishing company sent me some of their kids' books in exchange for an honest review.  So, here is what I thought:

Bugs In Shoes - This book by Beth Wilder is absolutely adorable with it's cute rhythmic flow throughout. It is perfect for early, merging readers.  The bugs progress throughout the book trying on different articles of clothing.  This poetic rhythm and bright happy pictures helps draw the young reader in and makes the words entertaining and easy to remember.  A few lines from the book read as follows:

Bugs in earmuffs

Bugs in coats

Bust in swimsuits

Bugs in floats...

The book also has pages in the back that are meant to be photocopied for your child to color and enjoy.  You could also extend the learning time by using them in a matching game.  As you read the book with your child, have him or her set the matching bugs on the correct pages.

Bertie Bumble Bee - Troubled by the Letter "b" by K.I. Al-Ghani and Illustrated by Haitham Al-Ghani - This book is an excellent resource for parents and teachers dealing with a struggling or dyslexic learner.  The book is a sweet story about a little bee who is very excited about school until he is made fun of because he switches around his letters.  The book walks the reader through an enticing story revealing how mother bee helps her little bee figure it all out.

The suggestions for how to remember the correct way to write letters is very helpful and fun to follow.  The back of the book is filled with pages of how to help your child master basic phonics.  The story and the phonics helps are a rich resource for any teacher or student learning letters, even if it comes easily with no challenge.

Double-Talk Word Sense & Nonsense - By Zora & David Aiken Illustrated by David Aiken is a cute, easy-to-remember way of learning homophones using silly nonsensical rhymes, such as this one:

The sandman, they say, might help us to snore.  But not the sand man we build at the shore.

The pictures that accompany the cute little verses are very appealing.  They will draw your child in to look for detail after detail.

The Tale of Strawberry Snow - by P.L. Caudle Illustrations by Frank H. Simmonds, IV - This is a story about "making new friends" wobbly legs and a courageous heart describes the little pony in the book who makes friends with the most unlikely creature.  The story is sweet and easy to read for early readers (PK-3rd grade).

Boomer Explores Annapolis - by Angelique Clarke Illustrated by Jim Hunt  - This story is a brilliant method of teaching facts about a city while the reader is absorbed in the puppy's story.  Boomer could very well explore your town as well.  I wish there were a Boomer story about every capitol city (at the very least) as a way for kids to learn more about the USA.  Your dog-lover will learn a ton about the city of Annapolis in this story that follows a dog around town.  The factual tidbits about this city in Maryland are filtered in to a young reader unaware of how much he or she is truly learning about historical sites.  The lovable puppy will bring your child back to read the story again and again.  Each time the story is read, your child will remember more historical facts.

The books are available at Schifferbooks.com where you can learn more about other newly-released children's books as well.

 

 

Help Your Child Write: Write Dudes Writing Grips Review

Does your child struggle with handwriting? Do they deal with dyslexia or other issues that make learning and writing challenging? If so, it's time to get excited because there is a fabulous product that can help!

Writing grips help make writing easier for children because it provides a soft texture in the proper place for the child to quickly and easily hold the pen or pencil correctly. There are several styles of writing grips on the market. Some focus on specific needs. The Write Dude writing grip is really easy to use. It slides onto a pencil or pen easily and then grips into place. The outside of the grip is a rubbery feel with raised stars, making it noticeable when the fingers are on the right place. The Write Dude people call them their "Fashion Grips." They come in a variety of colors and several to one pack which can be found at Target, Office Max or Office Depot. Who would think one trip to an office supply store could solve a learning issue.

In addition to the writing grips, the company has an 18-pack of retractable pens available that come in a variety of really cool colors and have a built-in grip positioned in the correct spot for holding and writing comfort.

I agreed to review the Write Dudes line of writing grips, which the package refers to as "Fashion Grips," but I was jumping up and down when I received a nice variety of other products the company offers as well. Let me just say, I had 3 children begging me to use them. So, we went to town trying them out and fell in love!

The other products I sampled include a pack of #2 pencils which are Made In The USA (whoo hoo!) That was exciting to note. Also, we enjoyed the 8-piece pencil pack of sparkly colors and the girly, mod colored flowery 15-piece pencil set complete with flower-shaped erasers that fit on the end of the pencil, and a pencil sharpener that swivels to close when not in use - nice feature!

We were also thrilled with their highlighter which is more of a flourescent, see-through crayon as it does not make a mess or bleed through the paper. My 4 year old went to town highlighting her Bible after I gave her the go-ahead. I was amazed at how easy and non-messy this was. They also have the typical markers that have a pretty sparkly design on the outside, which by the way did not leave a mess either, and gel pens in a variety of colors for highlighting and artistic fun.

Note: I was given a package of Write Dudes writing grips and other writing products from Write Dudes to review, but everything I chose to write is 100% my opinion.