Monday, June 3, 2019

Get a Jump Start on Summer Reading with These New Children's Titles from Simon & Schuster (Review)

Disclosure: I was sent samples from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.




Are your kids out of school yet?  We wrapped up our homeschooling the end of last month, and the local schools will be finishing up school this Friday.  So, summer is almost here, and kids everywhere are excited.   With summer break comes day trips, spending time with family and friends, and summer reading.  My girls look forward to the local summer reading programs the libraries hold, and it is a great way to get them to read all summer long.  Now that my youngest is reading chapter books, too, she is already talking to her older sister about seeing who can read the most books this summer.  :-)  Usually my youngest is not a fan of reading, but now that she wants to read more than her sister, I am excited to see if she develops into an avid reader, based on the stack of books she has pulled out of her bookcase to kick off her summer reading with. :-)  Included in her stack are some of the recent releases we were sent from Simon and Schuster, that are worth checking out.  Here are just some of the new titles, for kids of all ages and reading levels, that would make for great summer reading this year...



(Also available in hardcover and Kindle format)

About the Book:

"Snoopy is traveling to space with NASA in this special Level 2 Ready-to-Read that’s perfect for every Peanuts fan!


Snoopy wants to be the first beagle on the moon, so he grabs his red scarf, a space helmet, and lots and lots of dog treats. 


Then it’s time for lift-off! Come join Snoopy and the Peanuts gang in this book that celebrates a collaboration between Peanuts and NASA. A special section at the back of the book includes nonfiction facts about the moon!"


  • Publisher: Simon Spotlight (June 2019)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534445161
  • Grades: K - 2
  • Ages: 5 - 7
My Thoughts:

Fans of Snoopy will love this cute new picture book, featuring this lovable Beagle.  Snoopy wants to be the first Beagle to travel to the moon, and starts his planning and preparation.  But, when Snoopy finally arrives to the Moon, he finds his brother Spike is already there.  Together they complete missions Snoopy had in mind, before finding themselves hungry.   Now Snoopy has to rush back home to make it in time for dinner.  Will he make it?  Pick up this cute book to find out for yourself.  And, be sure to read it to the end, as the final pages include fun Space facts, including learning more about the moon, Snoopy's space gear, and the long relationship between Peanuts and NASA, which I didn't know about.  Truly a fun read, especially with the summer reading programs at libraries this year being all about space.   


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(Also available in hardcover and Kindle formats)

About the Book:

"All systems are go as Snoopy prepares for an out-of-this-world adventure in this special storybook based on the Peanuts partnership with NASA!


Snoopy, the world-famous astronaut, is preparing to go to the moon. He quickly realizes, though, that training for space is hard work…especially when Peppermint Patty and Marcie decide to become his personal coaches! Good grief!


This special storybook comes with a double-sided poster filled with cool nonfiction facts about space!"

  • Publisher: Simon Spotlight (June 2019)
  • Length: 24 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534450622
  • Grades: P - 2
  • Ages: 3 - 7
My Thoughts:

Fans of Snoopy and Outer Space will love this book.  Both of my girls got hooked on space and the planets during our school studies this year, so they were all smiles when they saw this and the "Snoopy, First Beagle on the Moon!" I mentioned above, as they both relate to the moon and Space in general.  In this particular book, Snoopy wants to visit the Moon.  But, he soon realizes that there is special training you have to go through to get your body ready for the special trek.  And, with the help of Peppermint Patty and friends, he embarks on the necessary training, so that he can travel to the moon.  Will Snoopy finally make it to the moon?  You will just have to pick up this cute picture book to find out for yourself. :-)

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(Also available in hardcover and Kindle formats)

About the Book:

Learn all about soccer in this fascinating, nonfiction Level 2 Ready-to-Read, part of Game Day a new series that gives fans an insider look at their favorite sports!


This book is perfect for young, sports-obsessed fans who, in addition to watching and playing sports, crave the kind of expert knowledge that only an insider would know.



It’s game day, and Fred, a women’s soccer team equipment manager, arrives at the arena where he works. Not only do the Dragons have an early match but a new player has just joined the team! There’s gear to check and a lot of prep work to be done before the players arrive. Once the game begins there are even more responsibilities for this equipment manager who has to keep his eye on the ball and the players’ needs. Readers are given a field-side view of the passes, plays, and goals that make up a soccer match—as well as learning about the key rules and regulations of soccer.



A special section in the back of the book is chock-full of even more facts about the game and its storied history and players. It is custom-made for the fan who loves all things soccer!



  • Publisher: Simon Spotlight (June 2019)
  • Length: 40 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534439344
  • Grades: K - 2
  • Ages: 5 - 7

My Thoughts:

If you have a soccer player/fan in your life, and they are reading beginner chapter books, then you will want to pick up the new "Breakaway" book which releases tomorrow in stores.  This book is all about soccer, and gives kids a behind the scenes look at the game, as well as teaches them how to play soccer and proper terminology that goes along with the game.  Both of my girls play soccer, and love watching the World Cup on television with their Daddy, so they they found this book all about soccer, to be a fun book to read.  They loved how the book introduces people to soccer and emphasizes being a team player.  Kids will be introduced to a glossary of terms and their definitions that relate to soccer, prior to reading the book, so they will have a basic understanding before reading.  There were some words my girls didn't know, and they loved how the definitions were easy to understand.  I highly recommend this book for fans of soccer, and those who may be trying soccer for the first time this summer.

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(Also available in hardcover)


About the Book:

"Visit Yellowstone National Park as Newbery Honor recipient and New York Times bestselling author Marion Dane Bauer takes you on a tour of one of our country’s greatest treasures in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read.


Bubbling mud puddles, shooting steam, and majestic bison make Yellowstone National Park—the world’s first national park—a magical place to visit! 



Read all about it in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read that almost makes it feel like you’re there!"



  • Publisher: Simon Spotlight (May 2019)
  • Length: 32 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534440340
  • Grades: P - 1
  • Ages: 4 - 6
My Thoughts:

This is another great addition to the ever popular "Wonders of America" Ready to Read Book books from Simon & Schuster.  I have enjoyed the previous books in the series, and use them as part of our homeschooling to learn about places, in a fun and informative way.  


This recently release is all about Yellowstone, and will introduce kids to this famous national park, including the animals that live here, as well as the natural formations that you can find here including bubbling mud puddles and shooting streams.  We read this book the other day, along with the "Grand Canyon" book, which I will share about below, and the girls couldn't get enough of it.  They found Yellowstone to be a very fascinating place and can't wait to visit this national park one day, to see everything they read about, for themselves. 
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(Also available in hardcover)

About the Book:

"Visit The Grand Canyon as Newbery Honor recipient and New York Times bestselling author Marion Dane Bauer takes you on a tour of one of our country’s greatest treasures in this Level 1 Ready-to-Read.


It all started with water. But how did one river make such a deep canyon? Beginning readers will love learning about one of the great wonders of the United States: the Grand Canyon."




  • Publisher: Simon Spotlight (May 2019)
  • Length: 32 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534440357
  • Grades: P - 1
  • Ages: 4 - 6
My Thoughts:

I love Simon & Schuster's "Wonders of America" series, especially this one and the one about Yellowstone, which I am also featuring in this write up.  What I love about these books is that kids are introduced to places, the animals that roam the land, and what makes them so spectacular and considered a "wonder."  



If you like books that are not just fun to read with your kids, but also include educational content, then you will want to check out the "Wonder of America" books.  In this particular book about the Grand Canyon, readers will it all started with one drip, and then some amazing and interesting facts, that even I was unaware of.  Both of my girls enjoyed this book, especially the extra interesting facts included at the back of the book.  I highly recommend this book, as well as the "Yellowstone" book in this write up, which also recently was released from Simon & Schuster.

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(Also available in hardcover and Kindle formats)

About the Book:

"Learn all about the careers you could have if you love video games in this fascinating nonfiction Level 2 Ready-to-Read, part of a new series that gives readers a sneak peek at how they can turn their passions into careers!




Do you love playing video games? Then you could be a video game writer, animator, or programmer! Learn about these careers and more in this book that includes a glossary and backmatter section of even more cool jobs for kids who like gaming!"




  • Publisher: Simon Spotlight (May 2019)
  • Length: 32 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534443990
  • Grades: K - 2
  • Ages: 5 - 7

My Thoughts:

In addition to the book, "If You Love Dolphins, You Could Be..., which I am highlighting next, this book (also available in paperback and hardcover) is a great book to share with kids who love playing video games.  They will be surprised to learn that they can turn their love of video game playing into a career.  And, this book shares all the different careers available that are perfect for video game fans, like a video game tester, video game translator, video game animator and video game writer, to name a few.  My girls found this book to be an interesting read.  They both love playing video games, especially with their Daddy, and never thought it could lead to a career.  They thought it was more of a hobby, but after reading through this easy beginner chapter book, they now know that a lot of work goes into making a video game, and that people who love video game playing are doing the jobs to get the games made. 


I highly recommend this book for those who can't get enough of video games.  Maybe they will find a career path they will want to pursue after reading this book, while learning all about what goes into a video game being made, from the writing to animation, to name a few.


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(Also available in hardcover and Kindle formats)

About the Book:

"Learn all about the careers you could have if you love dolphins in this fascinating nonfiction Level 2 Ready-to-Read, part of a new series that gives readers a sneak peek at how they can turn their passions into careers!





Do you love dolphins and the ocean? Then you could be a marine biologist, an aquatic veterinarian, or an underwater filmmaker! 



Learn about these careers and more in this book that includes a glossary and backmatter section of even more cool jobs for kids who like dolphins and other marine life!"

  • Publisher: Simon Spotlight (May 2019)
  • Length: 32 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534444690
  • Grades: K - 2
  • Ages: 5 - 7

My Thoughts:

This past semester for homeschool, I enrolled the girls in classes at a nearby aquarium.  Not only did the girls learn about the different marine animals, but they also learned about jobs you could pursue if you liked ocean animals like dolphins and whales.  So, when I saw this new book from Simon & Schuster arrive at our door, I knew that my girls would love it, as they had so much fun with the marine classes they took, and my oldest still wants to be a vet or care for animals in some way.

This Ready-to-Read Level 2 Chapter book has simple chapters and longer sentences, for beginner chapter book readers.  There is even a small glossary section at the front of the book for new words introduced relating to the topic of marine careers that readers will encounter when they start reading through this fun and fascinating book.


Both of my girls really enjoyed this beginner chapter book, and now know about more careers that relate to marine animals like an environmental lawyer, underwater archaeologist and aquarium curator, that they were not aware, but now find fascinating.  If you have a child who loves marine animals and has started to read chapter books, then you will definitely want to check out this new release, available in both paperback and hardcover.

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Scratchie

About the Book:

"Sharpen your claws—and scratching skills—with this adorable touch-and-feel book about a cat who loves to scratch everything…and wants you to join the fun!


Hi there, human!
I’m Scratchie the Cat
and I like to scratch stuff
to keep my claws super sharp.


Let’s scratch things together!

Join Scratchie the Cat to scratch touch-and-feel elements throughout this story. Rough door mats, grainy wooden tables, paper towels, cardboard boxes, and more give readers a claws-on experience as they innocently wreck Scratchie’s owner’s house (just like real cats)!

With touch-and-feel elements on every page, Scratchie even has the perfect ending, because there’s one more thing that loves to be scratched…Scratchie the Cat!"

  • Publisher: Little Simon (May 2019)
  • Length: 24 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534437654
  • Grades: P - K
  • Ages: 3 - 5
My Thoughts:

For parents and caregivers with little ones, this is a cute book to pick up and keep in your diaper bag or tote and pull out when you find yourself needing to keep your child(ren) entertained.  This board book will have kids touching and feeling elements on each and every page of this book, all about Scratchie the Cat.  My oldest daughter loves cats and dogs, so she was quick to grab this book to flip through and check out.  Even though she is older, she still have fun with the stimulating interactive touch and feel features of the book, as she read the cute story about Scratchie the cat.  The story itself it straight forward and easy to follow along, for young children.  But, the real fun is had in the touch and feel elements inside the book.  Kids will love this book, and want to sit with you to play with time and again.  My girls used to love books like this one when they were little, and they came in handy in keeping them busy while waiting at the doctor's office or on the go, and needing a distraction. 
"This sleepy dino board book is a prehistoric twist on the popular bedtime lullaby, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!”


Twinkle, twinkle, dinosaur
how I like to hear you roar.
Stomping through the trees so high, 
as your friends fly through the sky. 



A roaring twist on the popular bedtime nursery rhyme, Twinkle, Twinkle, Dinosaur is the second book in a brand-new board book series that’s perfect for parents and little ones to snuggle up with and share."


  • Publisher: Little Simon (May 2019)
  • Length: 16 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781534439757
  • Grades: P - K
  • Ages: 1 - 5
My Thoughts:

If you have a dinosaur lover in your life, then they will go crazy for this super cute and oh so colorful board book, that takes from the classic, "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, replacing it with a cute green, little dinosaur.    


Even though my girls are older and not into board books any more, my youngest was quick to grab this book and read it the other day as she loves dinosaurs.  She thought the story was cute, and loved seeing all the playful dinosaurs.  

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These are just some of the recent children's releases from Simon & Schuster.  To learn more about these and other great books to share with your kids for their summer reading, head on over to https://www.simonandschuster.com/ and browse their current and upcoming releases.  Happy reading!


Disclosure: I was sent samples from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.




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