Math art projects are a unique way to combine right and left brain learning. Both my boys enjoy math, but they often balk when I suggest, "let's do an art project!" My solution has been to make math learning creative with math art projects and activities. This is a collection of our our favorite math art projects and...
21 Math Art Projects for Kids
Poetry Reading Challenge for Kids (Week 2)
Welcome back to our (very casual) poetry reading challenge for kids and families. For every week during National Poetry Month, I have one short, classic poem for you to read with your kids. Learn the simple and flexible challenge rules and get the first poem on the introductory poetry reading challenge post. The best way...
Poetry Reading Challenge for Kids (Week 1)
This poetry reading will encourage you to share the joy of reading poems as a family. It is designed for beginners but will be appreciated by even the most experienced fan of poetry! How the Poetry Challenge Works: The poetry reading challenge lasts 5 weeks, but you can pick and choose weeks, if you don't...
Anyone Can Write a Book Spine Poem!
Writing spine poems is a marvelously fun activity that opens up a world of creativity for kids who are intimidated by writing poetry. What is Book Spine Poetry? A spine poem is a poem created by stacking books, spine side out, so that the titles create a poem when read in succession. The poems can...
Poetry Bingo for Kids
Poetry Bingo is a great way to include fun and games during National Poetry Month (April) or any time of year! Our free, printable Poetry Bingo cards encourage kids to explore different forms of poems as reader, author and speaker. What's Included The Poetry Bingo printable includes three pages: The first Poetry Bingo card features...
Irish Folktales for Kids
It doesn't need to be St. Patrick's Day in order to read Irish folktales to your kids! As part of my world folktale picture book series, this book list features all the fairies, selkies, leprechauns and other magical creatures of Celtic mythology, Irish legends and folk lore. Picture Books These individual Irish tales make great...
Music Appreciation Coloring Page
Did you know that the National Association for Music Education named March is Music In Our Schools Month? After celebrating with song, relax with this cute music appreciation coloring page from children's book author and illustrator, Melanie Hope Greenberg. The coloring page features a teacher playing piano from sheet music while three exuberant children dance...
25 Screen Free Spring Activities + Spring BINGO!
These easy, fun spring activities for kids, including nature activities, crafts and garden projects, will keep kids screen-free, and give them a new appreciation for all the glories of spring! Spring Nature Activities Rescue Worms. After the rain, rescue worms. In our city park after a storm, the park paths are littered with earthworms. Sounds...
12 Spring Read Alouds (Novels & Chapter Books)
The perfect spring read aloud book will take readers' imaginations out into nature, and foster an optimistic spirit. Pick up one of these cheerful chapter books and novels for your family to read aloud this season! When Mischief Came to Town by Katrina Nannestad is one of our family's favorite read aloud books! In early 20th century...
Children's Books about Women in Politics and Women Activists
Between the pages of these children's picture book biographies about women in politics and women activists, you will meet the women who helped shape the future and advance the rights of women. MORE: Big List of Picture Book Biographies of Women Who Changed History: scientists, performers, writers and more! Read these books during Women's History...
Picture Books about Women Scientists and Women in STEM
Teach your kids about fascinating women with these compelling and informative picture book biographies about pioneering women scientists and women working in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields. MORE: Big List of Picture Book Biographies for Women's History Month - includes biographies of women in the arts, social sciences and more! Natural Scientists and Biologists...
Lunar New Year Coloring Page (Year of the Dragon!)
Celebrate the Year of the Dragon with this darling Lunar New Year coloring page featuring children marching in a parade with a giant dragon puppet. This year's Lunar New Year coloring sheet, like all our monthly coloring pages is from children's book illustrator and author, Melanie Hope Greenberg. Print out the coloring page to accompany...
15 Favorite Children's Picture Books by Black Authors
These favorite picture books by Black authors make wonderful read alouds for story time! Children must be allowed to see themselves represented in picture books experiencing the joys of life and not always depicted as part of a marginalized group, as too often happens. These 15 books are a great place to start! Be sure...
Shut the Box Printable Game (Instructions and Board)
Shut the Box is a old-fashioned dice game that is traditionally played with a wooden box filled with numbered, flippable tiles. However, with our printable version of Shut the Box anyone with a pair of dice can play! Shut the Box Printable For printable instructions and the numbered line game board, fill out the following...
Journals for Kids that Develop Emotional Intelligence
A good writing journal is a excellent tool to help kids and teens give voice to their emotions and experiences, develop self-awareness and explore their creativity. This list includes a variety of journals that encourage young writers, from journals where they can explore their creativity to journals with prompts that encourage mindfulness and build emotional...
Snow Globe Coloring Page and Craft
This cute snow globe coloring page makes a great winter craft! Children's book illustrator and author, Melanie Hope Greenberg designed the snow globe ready for kids to fill it! Kids can do their own drawings on the snowy landscape or cut out and place the included assortment of decorations the globe. Snow Globe Coloring Page...
Kids Activity Books: Screen-Free Fun
Unfortunately, without screens, today's kids sometimes struggle to find things to do. Give kids a helping hand with one of these books, chock full of creative activities and screen-free ideas so they can enjoy fun hands-on learning and play! Whether your children's interest lies in science and invention, or they prefer arts and crafts, or...
Easy Math Game for 5-Year-Olds (At Home Practice)
This easy math game for 5-year-olds repurposes a traditional game for at-home learning of pre-math skills like number and quantity recognition and counting. We've always enjoyed finding playful ways to modify pre-made games from our games closet for math practice. In this case, my 5-year-old and I pulled out Double Shutter, a version of a...
Children's Picture Books about Protest and Civil Disobedience
This list of picture books about protests and civil disobedience will be timely no matter when you read them, and they are a great supplement to our list of books about Martin Luther King, Jr. Many of these books put protests and civil disobedience in historical context and are a great reminder of the way defiant...
18 Civil Rights Picture Books for Kids
Uses these kids books about the civil rights movement to start a conversation with your kids about important events and the people who fought for equality. These picture books about the civil rights movement give one so much to think about. One of my favorite characteristics of the books on this list is that most...
Solitaire Chess Helps Kids Learn Basic Chess Skills
Solitaire Chess is a travel-friendly strategic logic game that introduces kids to the basics of how chess pieces move. Learning how to play chess is a great brain workout. And lots of parents want their kids to learn basic chess skills to give those young brains a boost. But first... I have a confession. I...
Growth Mindset Books for Kids
Reading growth mindset books is a great way to show your child how working through struggles in spite of setbacks can bring success and satisfaction. These stories reveal how perseverance, learning from mistakes and patience will give kids the confidence to reach for their goals no matter how big the challenge! Carol Dweck, the author...
Martin Luther King, Jr. Books for Kids
Teach your children about the importance of dreams, perseverance, and activism with these children's books about Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day lands on the third Monday in January, but I encourage you to include these books in your reading all year long. These Martin Luther King, Jr. books for kids, along...
Math + Writing Activity: Keeping a Ledger
Teaching kids how to keep a ledger of their savings and spending habits is a great way to encourage writing practice, as well as mathematics. You could even say it's an economical way to combine the two skills. (I couldn't help myself!) Giving kids a way to practice their writing without worksheets, and with real-world...
31 Realistic Fiction Books, Middle Grade (Ages 8-12)
Does your middle grade reader like contemporary realism? Kids ages 8-12, or 3rd to 7th grade will enjoy this list of middle grade realistic fiction book. The wide variety of books tell funny, heartwarming, adventurous tales with diverse main characters and settings. You'll find mysteries, humor, sports stories, tales of friendship, and family sagas. In...
Great Historical Fiction Books for Kids (Ages 8-13)
Putting the right historical fiction book in the hands of a middle grade reader is a exciting way to bring the past to life. Since I love historical fiction, I've read hundreds of books in this genre, and chosen my favorites for this list. Titles are arranged in a loose timeline, starting with the Iron...
Presidents Books for Kids: Picture Book Biographies
Whether you are looking for some good President's Day books for the kids or just want to explore a little more about each of the presidents these picture book biographies will entertain and inform. We love these books for classroom use because each of them uses a unique approach to teaching kids about the presidents....
Children's Picture Books about Theater
Whether your kids want to be on the stage or watching from the sidelines, these children's books about theater will spark an interest in all things thespian! The theater is a big part of our family life. I take my kids to the theater on a regular basis, and I grew up on and off...
21 Books for Kids Who Love Facts!
A good book about facts will keep kids busy for hours! Kids are fascinated about the world around them and readily ingest all kinds of juicy facts and details, especially if they can impress others with their knowledge about their newfound knowledge. Sometimes it seems the weirder and grosser those facts are, the better! Check...
Easy Reader Books That Are Actually Easy
Parents who have emergent readers may notice a pattern with the so-called easy books their kids bring home. These "easy books" that are supposedly designed to help them learn how to read are not actually easy. Leveled readers are not standardized across publishers, making it difficult to find books your kids can use to gain...
Good Books to Read Aloud to 12-Year-Olds
Enjoy these good books to read aloud to 12-year-olds, including books across a wide variety of genres and interests, including epic tales, hilarious stories and quiet but thought-provoking yarns. The wonderful thing about these books to read aloud to 12 year olds is that they offer up so many juicy talking points! When you discuss...
Great 4th Grade Read Aloud Books
Choose one of these meaningful and entertaining books to read aloud to your 4th grader at home or in the classroom. If you are looking for the perfect read aloud for your 4th grade (generally, 8-9 year olds) you want a book with a good balance between suspenseful plotting and complex character development. Not only...
Exciting Books Like Warriors by Erin Hunter
It's not surprising that kids love Erin Hunter's Warrior Cats series; they are exciting adventures about rival clans of feral cats. Kids who have read every book and are eagerly awaiting the next installment can fill their reading time with these animal fantasy books like Warriors! Books by Erin Hunter The Warriors series boasts more...
Middle Grade Books for Black History Month (Ages 8-13)
Books are a great tool to help kids gain insight into historical events. These middle grade books will teach kids about the important role African-Americans played in the founding and development of the United States. Use these books as teaching tools during Black History Month, and all year long. This list includes nonfiction and fiction...
Fantasy Early Chapter Books for Kids (Ages 5-9)
These exciting fantasy chapter books will appeal to kids who love mythical creatures, super powers, flying carpets, and magical adventures! Suspenseful plots and whimsical characters will grab readers' interest and turn your kids into voracious readers!. These early chapter books all feature large fonts, plentiful illustrations and an easy reading length, perfect for 5-9 year...
Our Favorite Bedtime Books to Read Aloud
Reading bedtime books is a special and timeless parent-child ritual. These picture books have been some of our favorite bedtime books over the years. They range from simple and soothing rhymes to stories of love. There are even a few bedtime books meant to make kids laugh and giggle before sinking into happy and sweet dreams....
23 Books Like Junie B. Jones (Ages 5-9)
Oh, Junie B. Jones (don't forget the "B"!). Do you love her because your child enjoys reading, or do you hate her for her annoying, sassy behavior and horrid grammar? Whether you like Junie or wish you'd never met her, we all need suggestions for alternative books to Junie B. Jones. The series on this...
15 Multicultural Books for Babies and Toddlers
It's important to me that the books I read my children reflect the diverse world around them. Even when my kids were babies and toddlers and chewing on board books I wanted them not only to see their own faces peering at them from the pages, but the faces of their friends and neighbors. These...
4 Bird Feeders Kids Can Make
Homemade bird feeders are the perfect way to get your kids inspired to observe with the natural world. Making a bird feeder is also a fun activity for the whole family because they are very easy to make. We have four very different types of bird feeders to choose from, depending on the types of birds...
Middle Grade Books by Asian & Asian-American Authors
This list of middle grade books by Asian and Asian-American authors has an East Asian and Pacific-Islander focus. The stories cover a wide variety of AAPI experiences and perspectives. Although I've only included one book by each author, they have all written a number of other titles that are waiting on library bookshelves to be...
