Give the Gift of Knowledge Through Reading This Holiday Season with These Educational Books from Bushel & Peck Books (Review)

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

Being a homeschool parent, I am always looking for books and educational products to pick up for my girls and even gift to family and friends when birthdays and holidays roll around. I have found over the years that my girls especially appreciate these gifts and will use them time and time again as they grow.  Books especially become like reference material for them and their schooling. And, whenever there is a vacation or sick day, they prefer grabbing a book from their book shelves over watching too much television.  It is great that they love books so much, and love helping me review them when we are sent new releases from publishers each month.  

Last month, I was sent a handful of new and upcoming releases from Bushel & Peck Books, and wanted to take time today to share them with you, as these books would make for great gift ideas for kids of all ages this upcoming holiday season -- especially those who love Outer Space, learning a new language like Spanish, or are curious about poetry.

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Buy now from Amazon for only $29.99

About this Book:

"Filled with pop-ups, pull-outs, sliders, and foldouts, this fully interactive nonfiction book about our solar system is part art, part school, part experiment all rolled into one!

The Sun and the Planets is an incredible, 3D journey into our solar system! Packed with paper models, moving parts, pop-ups, and built-in science experiments, kids will discover how orbits work, what causes an eclipse, the science behind the seasons, plus other engrossing facts about the planets, our solar system, our galaxy, and beyond!"

Buy now for only $16.29 from Amazon

About this Book:

"A brilliant, colorful way to learn your first words in Spanish!

Introduce your child (or yourself!) to the incredible language of Spanish! Featuring over 800 first words with bright, bold illustrations, My First Book of Spanish provides each word in both English and Spanish along with cultural tips, sample sentences, and simple hints on usage and word choice. An index in the back includes a complete list of all words in the book with handy page references.

ith a special emphasis on the culture and customs you'll find in Spanish-speaking countries, My First Book of Spanish is divided into sections including People, Personal Pronouns, Courtesy, Geography, Family, Transportation, Science, Sports, Holidays and Festivals, Meals, and more.

The Little Library of Languages teaches beginners the basics of foreign languages through brightly colored illustrations and simple explanations of grammar, spelling, language systems, pronunciations, counting, and more. The perfect gift for families about to travel abroad or for kids who love learning about other people and places."

Titles in the series include:

My First Book of French (Spring 2022)
My First Book of Japanese (Spring 2022)
My First Book of Mandarin (Fall 2022)
My First Book of Spanish (Spring 2023)
My First Book of Thai (Spring 2024)
My First Book of Korean (Fall 2024)

Buy now from Amazon for only $17.90

About this Book:

"In this gorgeous collection, twenty-five of Poe's most beloved works are each illustrated with stunning, full-color collage artwork.

Poems include "The Raven," "The Bells," and many others. Brief commentary and helpful definitions accompany each poem, making The Illustrated Edgar Allan Poe among the most accessible―and beautiful―introductions to Edgar Allan Poe available.

From the Introduction:

SUGGESTION 1: Enjoy the poems. This seems far more important than trying to puzzle out what the author meant (or what other people believe the author meant).

SUGGESTION 2: Engage with the poems by asking questions….

SUGGESTION 3: Be your own boss. Read the poems in order or jump around as you see fit. Share them or savor them all by yourself. Say them aloud or whisper their words in your heart.

Poetry makes life better. There is NO wrong way to experience a poem.

So, read on, dear friend. And thank you for choosing poetry."

Buy now from Amazon for only $19.99

About this Book:

"The most curious museum on Earth isn't on the earth at all; it's on the moon.

“The poetry and facts complement each other and make for a nice flow of information and fun, resulting in sometimes goofy poetry.…A lovely picture book that mixes poetry and history about the moon.”―School Library Journal

Footprints forever etched in time. A commemorative patch from a tragic flight. Two golf balls, still lodged in frozen dust 238,900 miles away. From the amusing to the poignant, The Museum on the Moon introduces readers to the mysterious objects left on the lunar surface since humans arrived in 1969. Part history, part poetry, heartwarming and haunting, and illustrated with breathtaking graphite drawings, The Museum on the Moon is a moving exhibit of humankind's most famous quest for knowledge and our place in the universe. 

From the book:

The primary goals of the United States' NASA Apollo program (1961-1972) were to establish space technology, carry out scientific exploration of the moon, and to develop ways for humans to work in the lunar environment. Six missions―Apollos 11, 12, 14, 15, and 17―landed American astronauts on the moon. 

The astronauts carried with them a variety of items that are now artifacts―some personal mementos, some tools and equipment for the purpose of moon transport and experimentation, and other things, like human waste products, unavoidable. 

Because the moon has virtually no atmosphere, these things remain on the moon, just as they were, and will presumably continue to be there for years to come. The moon truly is a museum!"

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My girls really enjoyed helping me review these four books. And, they came in handy with some of our current homeschooling, as my oldest has decided to give learning Spanish a try again for her language of choice to study for the school year.  

She also found herself intrigued by Edgar Allan Poe's, "The Raven," and took it upon herself to memorize the poem, while also enjoying the other poems by Poe in this beautifully illustrated hardcover book.

Both of my girls are big into space and learning about things like the constellations and the moon and the planets, so both Outer Space themed books sent our way were well received by them. They took turns reading each of the books cover to cover, with the "The Sun and the Planets" book being an instant favorite and one the girls continue to pull from the shelf and read as it contains a 3-D Solar System and pop ups.  Being big into poetry myself, I really liked the "The Museum on the Moon" book as it combines a poem about Space and the Moon on one page, and then shares factual information that correlates to the topic on the other. So, not only do you get to appreciate a well-written, short and sweet poem that is easy to follow along and understand, but then you can follow up your learning by reading about important and interesting dates in history that relate to the Moon, explorations, astronauts, and more. This was a really enjoyable read, and one I found myself even learning a few new things about Moon exploration. I can see why my girls find it so fascinating, and how they can spend hours reading books about Outer Space. Highly recommend both of these books for kids of all ages -- as they will be books they will appreciate more and more as they grow and become more interested in learning about the Moon, Sun, Planets, etc.

I really with the "My First Book of Spanish" book was around when I was learning the language in middle and high school as a kid as I would have found it more enjoyable and not just tediously memorizing words that the professor would recite to us. The full color illustrations and playful way this book is laid out really makes you want to learn the language.  My oldest has studied Spanish off and on for a few years and only gets as far as the basics.  But, after sharing this book with her, I have found her much more interested in learning Spanish and applying what she has learned and speaking it with confidence, before moving on to new content that she is quick to pick up as she flips through the pages of this well put together book, which combines both language tips and culture cues.  I have used various beginner Spanish books and workbooks in teaching my girls, and have to say this one is ten times better than anything I have used in the past. Even my husband, who is from El Salvador and speaks Spanish fluently, agrees that this book is really well done and a great reference for kids (and even adults) who are or want to learn the Spanish language in a fun and easy way.

So, as you gear up for your holiday shopping for this year, why not consider some non-toy gift ideas for the kids on your shopping list like books?  We all know toys get boring rather quickly and find their way into a corner of a room or at the bottom of the toy bin sometimes even before the tree is taken down or we flip the calendar to the new room. Books also remain popular with kids -- especially ones with vibrant colors and eye catching illustrations -- of which the above mentioned Bushel & Peck Books titles all have.  I really like the quality of the books available from Bushel & Peck Books and know they will make great gift ideas for the holidays, as new book additions in your family's bedtime routine, or even as reference books if you homeschool like I do.  Head on over to their website and browse their wonderful selection of books for kids of all ages -- you will not be disappointed!  Just be warned, it will be hard to not put together a large wish list or add lots of books to your shopping cart -- but, is that really a bad thing?! :-)  My girls have already started putting together their wish lists for Christmas, and I was happy to see a handful of books from Bushel & Peck Books at the top of their lists. 

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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My First Book of Electromagnetism Explains the Physics of the Modern World in Kid Terms and with Fun Hands on Experiments (Review)

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

Buy now from Amazon for only $17.99

If your kids are fascinated with the world around them, and are always asking you how things work, or wanting to learn more, then do I have the perfect book for them -- "My First Book of Electromagnetism," which recently released on March 7th from Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón & Eduard Altarriba, and published by Button Books.

A Children’s Science Book to Explain the Physics of the Modern World

This books, which is written for kids in mind and easy to understand, starts by explaining first what electricity is, before diving into the forces around us. If that wasn't enough to get kids excited about learning about electromagnetism, throughout this book you'll find fun experiments like constructing an electroscope to measure the presence of an electric charge, to working with a homemade motor.  

My girls really enjoy constructing the electroscope instrument as it helped them further study and detect static charges all around them.  I could go on and on about how great this book is. But, instead, why not pick up a copy of this new release and enjoy it with your kids.  Homeschooling families will love this book, and it will become a staple when learning about electromagnetism.  With so many great illustrations and easy to understand explanations it will make learning about this sometimes complex topic easier and fun!

About this book:

"My First Book of Electromagnetism uses fascinating bite-size facts, clear and simple explanations and attractive and absorbing illustrations to illuminate the mysteries of electricity and magnetism. What is electricity? What has it got to do with magnets? What is magnetism? And the most fascinating thing of all, what has all this got to do with light? All these questions are answered in this introduction to the fabulous world of electromagnetism."

• Pub month: March 2023
• ISBN-13: 9781787081246
• Author: Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón, Illustrated by Eduard Altarriba
• Price: $17.99
• Binding: Hardcover
• No. of pages: 64
• Dimensions: 10 x 10 inches
• Color: Full color throughout
• Age: 8+

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Author Information:

Eduard Altarriba

Eduard Altarriba is a graphic designer and illustrator. He runs Alababalà, a Barcelona-based independent studio producing games, exhibitions, animation, apps and workbooks for children that are practical and fun.

Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón

Sheddad Kaid-Salah Ferrón is a science and physics enthusiast with degrees in physics and pharmacy. Since graduation he has been teaching science to children, continuing to study physics, working in the pharmaceutical field and staring at the universe with his telescope. He now writes popular science books.

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

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The Big Book of 100 STEM Activities by Laura Minter and Tia Williams -- A Must Have for Homeschoolers and Hands on Learners! (Review)

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

I was first introduced to Laura and Tia when I stumbled upon their baking and crafting blog, Little Button Diaries, back in 2013. After seeing some of their creative ideas and amazing photos, I could see why they won Best Craft Blog at the 2014 Mum and Dad (MAD) Blog Awards, and then again in 2015 when they won an award in the crafts section of the Brilliance in Blogging award.  Since then, I have been scooping up their book releases and incorporating them into my homeschooling, as both of my girls are hands on learners and love whenever they can do fun arts and crafts when we tackle a new theme or topic.  So, when I heard these mums were releasing a new book, "The Big Book of 100 STEM Activities" this month, I had to get my hands on a copy.

My girls really loved all the activities and ideas Laura and Tia's shared in the previous releases, "Science School" and "Kitchen Science," so I knew they would love this new release.  

This new STEM is chock full of fun hands on activities that will have kids of all ages (and even adults) having fun learning about how the human body works, forces and gravity, engineering, binary codes, and chemistry, just to name a few.  I really like how these mums put together their books -- chock full of full color photos and easy to follow along steps.

And, all their activities are easy to shop and prep for -- with many STEM activities needing items found around the house.

My girls and I have been having so much fun completing the different STEM activities in the new "The Big Book of 100 STEM Activities" which releases on March 14th. It is available for pre-order right now on Amazon for only $24.99.  This is one book you will use time and time again as your kids get older, and be a fun way to fill a rainy day or snow day, when the kids are inside with nothing to do. 

Or, if you homeschool like I do, this is a great addition to your pieced together curriculum and can help tie in different STEM concepts in a fun hands on way.

More about this book:

"Our dynamic duo of blogging parents and bestselling authors Laura Minter and Tia Williams are returning with a STEM-tastic title in 2023 - The Big Book of 100 STEM Activities (March 2023, Button Books, RRP $24.99)!

Bursting with small projects that you can do at home you and your curious kids can investigate big scientific concepts with ease and have tonnes of fun doing so. Much like their bestselling books The Big  Book of 100 Little Activities and The Big Book of 100 Outdoor Activities, you’ll have so much choice on how to educate, entertain and essentially inspire children aged 5 to 11."

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

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Baby University Books are the Best and Easiest Way to Introduce Kids of All Ages (and Even Grownups) to Big Ideas and #STEM Learning (Review) @Sourcebooks

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

If you follow my blog then you know that I homeschool my two girls.  Right now they are doing third and forth grade work.  One of their favorite subjects is science, so I am always looking for books to pick up and read to them as part of our schooling to get them even more excited about science, as we all know the field of science is populated by a lot of women.  My hope is to show them that if they want to pursue a job in the science field, that they can do it, even if they are a girl.

I am always scouring the Internet and bookstore shelves looking for books for kids about science.  And, sometimes I am sent emails from publishers sharing new book releases for kids that fit the bill.  A couple of months ago, the folks at Source Books reached out and asked if I wanted to check out their  Baby University books.  At first, I thought these books would be too young for my girls based on the name of the series. But, after researching them further online I saw that these books, written by Chris Ferrie, who is also an award-wining physicist with a PhD in Applied Mathematics, were written with three levels of learning in mind.  Level 1 was for baby basics, level 2 was for toddler time and level 3 was for older kids who wanted to learn more.  After learning this, I jumped at the opportunity to review and share a sampling of the books with my girls.

I was sent the following books all about science by Chris Ferrie:

My girls first noticed the Baby University logo on the back of the books and were wondering why I was sharing baby board books with them. But, then when we sat to read them together, they could see that they were advanced in the content, and depending on the child's age, they can take in and comprehend the scientific content differently.   I had saved these books for last month as we were doing a whole month about rocket science, quantum physics and the ABC's of Science, and I knew that they books would be perfect to share at the end of each week to review and discuss what we had learned earlier in the week.

My girls really enjoyed these books.  They loved how the content was written so that they could understand it, and loved how their were illustrations to go along with the text, to help them better understand everything.  On the back of the book there is a phrase, "It only takes a spark to ignite a child's mind," and these books do a great job in getting kids of all ages excited about science.

"Ferrie says, "These books are breaking the rules of age-appropriate learning. For decades, we have taught our children about farm animals and construction equipment―things some children may never see in real life. Meanwhile, children are holding supercomputers in their hands and we are not teaching them about science or technology. We teach our children to say lengthy words like hippopotamus—why not teach them to say proton, neutron, or electron?""

I joked with my girls that they were rocket scientists after what we learned in our homeschooling and after reading Chris Ferrie's books.  They looked at me, and said that they needed to study further to be as good as the author and the rocket scientists of the world.  But, thanks to what they learned thus far, they are excited about science and want to learn more. Kids' brains really are like sponges, and they are always eager to learn and absorb all the information you are willing to share with them.  That is one reason why reading to your children, especially at bed time is a must, as they will develop a lifelong long for reading, get to enjoy quiet quality time with you, and will usually learn something new based on a book you share with them, or have their imaginations sparked because of the story line.

I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future Chris Ferrie releases, and have since picked up his other books in the Baby University series to share with my girls.  We recently finished reading the Quantum Computing book, which my girls loved, as my husband is teaching them coding.  He is a computer programming, so he gets excited when the girls want to learn about computers, and show an interest in coding and programming, which are two passions of his.

If you love sharing fun educational books with your children -- babies through young readers -- and they show an interest in STEM, then you want to check out Chris Ferrie's Baby University science books for kids.  Once you read them with your children, you will see why we were instant fans, and can't wait to grow our book collection.

Check out these recent April/May releases in the series

MORE TO COME:

ABCs of Biology (June 2018)

Evolution for Babies (June 2018)

Astrophysics for Babies (July 2018)

8 Little Planets (October 2018)

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About the Author:

Chris Ferrie, the author of the series, is an award-wining physicist with a PhD in Applied Mathematics. He is also the father of four budding young scientists. Chris originally wrote and self-published Quantum Physics for Babies and Rocket Science for Babies as a way to each his children science and technology concepts early. Ferrie believes introducing babies & toddlers to math and science promotes literacy in these subjects when they encounter them in school. 

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

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