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.
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!
Cat's Cradle (I loved that the kids really got into this one year because it brought back childhood, long bus-ride memories!
Abbey LOVED this-we still have a book she made out of these in her scrapbook box.
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.
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.
Another one of Patrick's favorites-he is my crazy sports guy.
Great photos-I bought this as much for my husband as for the kids.
Andrew (12) loves this.
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 story
here.
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.
THE NEW ONE!!!
We pre-ordered this and when it came I had to settle an argument over who got to read it first.
Again, bought for the boys AND the husband.
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.
I find these all over the house-this is a great activity for 10 and over.
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.)
Someone always gets the new year's edition under the tree.
They are filled with amazing (and gross) things.
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.
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.
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.
When you just can't eek a book out at bedtime, these are easy and 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.
These are all really well written. My boys really like the sports guys.
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.
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.
Matthew, my science guy, loves this collection.
(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.
Here are some more of our favorite National Geographic books:
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.
They also love this one:
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:
.
-filled with fun activities and facts.
