If your tweens love stories of adventure and magic, then these middle grade novels inspired by mythology from around the world will get them hooked on reading. The enduring appeal of myths means many kids go through a phase where they read as much Greek mythology as they can find; often then they move on...
Mythology-Inspired Books for Kids Ages 7-13
Outdoor Family Games that Everyone Will Want to Play
What's better than some great outdoor family games? Fresh air, exercise, laughs! Even if you don't have a backyard, (some people live in apartments!), you can take these fun outdoor games to the park, whether they be "backyard" board games or more active games. MORE: Don't forget about these 10 awesome Tag Games! Our favorite...
Coloring Pages that Celebrate the Great Outdoors!
Looking for unique coloring pages about the great outdoors? Well, break out the colored pencils! Here are eight different outdoor scenes that your kids will love to bring to life. All of these outdoor coloring pages are designed by children's book author and illustrator, Melanie Hope Greenberg. Greenberg's iconic book, Mermaids on Parade celebrates a...
8 Math Games for Kids of all Ages and Skill Levels
Looking for fun math games that kids and families can enjoy together? Or maybe you need math games for the classroom? You're in luck! This is where you can find the best math game that are so fun kids will say, "More math, please!" We love family games and with one child who loves math...
Books for Kids Who'd Rather Play Video Games
Would your child rather play video games than read a book? Wondering what the best books are for kids who love video games? You might be surprised at all the reading material out there that will attract even the most devoted gamer. One easy way to start is to plug the name of your child's...
String and Bead Puzzle: Stump Your Kids!
When you want to get your kids off the screens, there's nothing like an old fashioned string and bead puzzle! This version of the classic puzzle not too challenging that they won't be able to solve it, but it's tricky enough to keep them working at it long enough for you to get something done...
Make Your Own Mermaid Tail!
This DIY mermaid tale is everything you need to make your child's summer dreams come true. Okay, you may need a few other things, but when you make your own mermaid tail, the imaginative pretend play will take off! Inspired by her picture book, Mermaids on Parade, author-illustrator Melanie Hope Greenberg has easy instructions for...
Summer Poems for Kids: Classic and Modern (with Printable)
Summer! A time for lazy days, sand between the toes, running through the sprinklers and... reading poetry. Yes. Poetry. That's right. Summer wouldn't be summer without these summer poems for kids. Whether you read them in a hammock, by the pool, or under the stars while licking s'mores off your fingers, summer poetry will make...
10 Fun Bubble Activities for Kids
Blowing bubbles is absolutely magical. What child (or grown-up for that matter) isn't captivated by the whimsical charm of different sized rainbow-tinted bubbles floating through the air. When my son was 3 years old, bubbles were one of the few things I could take to the park and it was guaranteed that he would join in...
Summer Library Challenge and Library Scavenger Hunt
My son once told me, "The library is one of my favorite places in the entire world." This summer, when you complete our summer library challenge and library scavenger hunt, you may just find your kids saying the same thing. We all know that libraries offer summer reading programs. Yet, how often do you take...
Pizza Party Bookmarks Coloring Page
What's better than a pizza party? Why, a pizza party with a reading theme, of course! Which is why this pizza party bookmark coloring page is just the thing to you need to keep the kids busy while they wait for the piping hot pizza to arrive! MORE: Children's book author and illustrator, Melanie Hope...
Madcap and Wacky Children's Books
Sometimes you just need a wacky children's book to read aloud. Am I right? A book that is silly, madcap, and just makes you laugh and say, "That is crazy!" Well, here are the silly, funny children's books you need right now. Some of these books have an underlying serious message, others are just there...
Printable Puppets for Kids
Kids are natural storytellers and these printable puppets are an excellent tool to spark their imaginations. Teachers and librarians can use these stick paper puppets and finger puppets at preschool circle time or library story time to encourage participation and enhance learning. All of our paper puppets are designed by Melanie Hope Greenberg, and are...
Poetry Bookmarks Coloring Page
April is National Poetry Month! What better way to get a little extra poetry-goodness in your life, and your children's lives, than with a poetry bookmark? Every time you open your book, you'll see a lovely poem and a smile will spread across your face! Like all our monthly coloring pages, children's book author and...
Diverse Graphic Novels for Kids and Tweens
Young readers love graphic novels and these excellent, diverse graphic novels featuring characters from all walks of life are just the thing to keep them turning the pages even after you tell them, "Lights out!" If your kids are super fans of graphic novels, or "reluctant readers" who prefer books not to be too text-heavy,...
Best STEM Games for Developing Growth Mindset
Games are excellent tools for building skills of all kinds. With the recent emphasis on STEM in schools, parents and caregivers will be glad to know they can reinforce students' learning by playing STEM games at home. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. One of the key ways kids can succeed in these...
Read Alike Bookmarks for Kids!
A good bookmark doesn't just help you remember where you left off reading. It also doesn't just help you preserve pages from the viciousness of dog-earing or spines from the indignity of being placed open and face down. A good bookmark–the perfect bookmark–tells you what to read next! That's why parents, librarians, teachers, as well...
Nonfiction Poetry for Children
Nonfiction poetry focuses on conveying facts about subjects through engaging and creative narratives. Poems that teach about nature, history or science can be useful for helping kids who love to to read books about facts try something new. Likewise, they can draw fiction-loving kids into a lesson about a less-than-favorite subject. Note: this post contains...
Mafia Dice Game: Rules for Playing
Need a fun family dice game? Look no further! The Mafia Dice rules are easy to learn and the game is excellent for group entertainment because it's best with three or more players. The more the merrier. Fortunately, Mafia Dice has nothing to do with organized crime, but it does have everything to do with...
Books Like The One and Only Ivan
So, your young reader loved The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate and they want to know what to read next! It's no wonder they want more books like The One and Only Ivan. Applegate's Newbery award winning story about friendship teaches empathy and offers hope, even in the most difficult of circumstances. The...
Spring Poems for Kids and Families
Spring! A time of renewal! A time for blooms, fresh air and buzzing bees! And also a time for POETRY! These spring poems for kids will wake up their senses and fill them with the sparkle that only comes as the earth wakes up from the cruelty of winter. Was that too dramatic? Never! But...
Home Science Experiments for Kids
One of the best ways to engage with your child is with easy at home science experiments. Kids of all ages, from toddlers, preschoolers, tweens and teens love the magic-like quality of science projects. Even if your child is too young to understand all the underlying scientific concepts, exploring these ideas will lay a good...
Children's Books that Address Incarceration and Detention
It may seem like incarceration is a too heavy a topic for a children's book. However, the United States has the highest incarceration rate of any developed nation. That means millions of children have been touched by incarceration. All of those children deserve to see themselves in books. The books on this list touch on...
How to Play Sevens: A Dice Game
Need a fun new game to learn? Get ready to learn how to play the SEVENS dice game! This dice game for two or more players is so easy to learn and the roll of the dice will result in lots of rousing "Aw man!"s and "Yes!"es. Kids love the action of tossing dice, and...
Middle Grade Books for Women's History Month
Let's begin with the obvious. We should not confine learning about women's history to one month of the year. However, celebrating Women's History Month in March is a great reminder of the need to incorporate books about women's history all year long! These middle grade books for Women's History Month (and every month) are excellent...
Lau Kata Kati: A Traditional Strategy Game from India
Want to get your kids off screens? Entice them with a time-tested traditional game like Lau Kata Kati, an abstract strategy game from India! It's fun, quick to make, easy to learn, encourages logical thinking and rewards perseverance. Could there be a better reason to start playing ASAP? By the way, don't forget to check...
Valentine Bookmarks Coloring Page
Sure, you could run out to the store and pick up a pack of ready-made valentines for your child's class at school. But wouldn't it be more fun if they gave each of their friends a valentine bookmark coloring page? These exclusive and love-ly (see what I did there?) bookmarks are designed by children's book...
Children's Books About Consent
It is absolutely essential that all children learn about consent, both so that they know how to assert control over their own bodies, and so that they respect the boundaries of others. That said, it is understandable if parents need a little guidance on how to approach the topic of consent and safe touch with...
Break a Leg! Books about Theater for 8-13 Year Olds
You don't need to have a tween who loves the spotlight in order for them to love these middle grade books about theater! Even if your children would rather be in the audience than up on the stage, they will get sucked into the comedy and drama of stories about kids who yearn to perform...
10 Card Games Every Kid Should Know
A standard deck of 52 cards is a beautiful thing. In that portable box of cards lies hundreds of ways for kids and families to stay entertained. And yet, kids get stuck in the repetitive rotation of Go Fish and War. Now, there's nothing wrong with playing the same game a million times if you...
Mind Your P's & Q's: Kids' Books about Manners
Tired of saying, "What's the magic word?" and, "What do you say?" to your kids? These children's books about manners will be just the thing to show kids how enjoyable being polite actually is! The books on this list don't just teach kids to say, "Please and thank-you," they demonstrate how being kind, cooperative, patient...
Children's Books about the Holocaust
How does one possibly begin to tell their children about the Holocaust? It is a daunting subject, but one we must never forget. One tool at parents' and educators' disposal is good children's books about the Holocaust and the Jewish experience of World War II. Much has been written about how and when to educate...
Big List of African-American History Books for Children
Use this list of Black history books to teach your children about the achievements of Black Americans and their important role they have played in American history. The books include biographies of inventors, artists, sports heroes, activists and scientists, as well as stories of courage and determination. Read these books to enhance learning during Black...
Five Moon Activities for Kids
When children learn about the moon, it is almost like learning about magic. So, of course, kids need good hands-on moon activities to teach them about the science behind that that mysterious orb in the night sky. The following five fun and easy moon activities blend art, science, problem solving and culture to teach kids...
Nonfiction Graphic Novels for Kids Ages 7-13
Graphic novels are often touted as books to put into the hands of reluctant readers. So why not reverse that idea and put nonfiction graphic novels into the hands of readers who prefer fiction. If your child thinks science and history is just a bunch of boring facts and dates to memorize, these graphic nonfiction...
Children's Books that Address Domestic Violence
If you are in danger or have witnessed abuse please call: The purpose of this book list is to give voice to children who have endured the heartbreaking trauma of abuse. It's designed to share the experiences endured by so many children and to engender compassion and understanding for others, but also to illuminate the...
Best Games for Small Families (2-4 Players)
Have you ever started a game that specified 2 or more players, only to realize that while it can be played with two people, it just works better with more? Our family of four has played a lot of games over the years. We sat down to family game night with all four of us,...
Winter Bookmarks Coloring Page
You won't ever be fully prepared for an afternoon of cozy reading without just the right bookmark. That's why, when your kids ask for a cup of hot cocoa to go with their snowy day reading time you need to be sure to print out this adorable winter bookmark coloring page designed exclusively for us...
A Year of Family Audiobooks
Whether you need an audiobook for a family road trip, or because your voice has gone hoarse, of just for the drama of it all, audiobooks are the greatest thing to happen to the book world since the printing press. (When I said "drama of it all," I didn't exaggerate.) So why not make a...
Favorite Winter Craft: Ice Wreaths
Making ice wreaths to adorn the outside of our home has become one of my favorite winter crafts, perhaps second only to my obsession with cutting paper snowflakes. A pretty winter ice wreath goes a long way to sprucing up an ugly fire escape, but will look equally wonderful hanging from a tree, porch or...
