Wintertime is the perfect season to snuggle up with your child and read a good book (or several books!) together. In doing so, you are setting a good example for your child, not only showing them how much you love and care about them, but how much you value reading as well.

By reading to your younger children, you are not only helping to bring the words and story alive, but are actually helping to enhance your children's reading skills as they listen and watch you read to them.

For older readers, having them read to you is also invaluable. By reading aloud with a parent, children are able to practice both their reading and comprehension skills. Parents can stop the reading periodically to ask questions about the story to enhance comprehension.

For independent readers, reading the same book, even silently to oneself, is a fun way for parents to still connect with their child, as parents and children can each critique the book, offering their own opinions and insight. There are parent and child reading groups popping up all over the United States, so it may be worth checking one out in your area, if that is something that interests you both. Interested in forming your own group? Check out some good tips to get started on Scholastic's website: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=10218

Even if a parent and child are not reading the same book, just setting aside a special time each day for both of you to read sets a good example that will last throughout your child's life. Many experts suggest bedtime as being the most ideal time for reading.

Check out this excellent resource, "Parent Guide to Reading" on reading on Scholastic's website for excellent articles and tips to encourage more reading in your home: http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/collection.jsp?id=318

The following is a list of a variety of great book suggestions for you and your child to enjoy throughout the winter months and beyond.

Wishing you and your family a warm and wonderful winter season and many hours of reading pleasure,

Alyse Rome
Publisher, Amazing Kids! eZine and a Mom


Winter Holiday Books

Amazing Peace
A book and CD
Written and read by Maya Angelou
Illustrated by Steve Johnson and Lou Fancher
Published by Schwartz & Wade Books
A Picture book and CD recommended for ages 7 and up

Amazing Peace is a beautiful and moving poem celebrating the hope of peace which Christmas brings. Originally written by Maya Angelou for the 2005 Presidential Inauguration, the book includes a bonus CD with a recording of Ms. Angelou reading her poem.

The Christmas Gift - "El regalo de Navidad"
Written in both English and Spanish
By Francisco Jimenez
Illustrated by Claire B. Cotts
Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

The Christmas Gift is a touching story about a poor migrant worker family from Mexico who learn the true meaning of Christmas despite their hard lives. The story reminds us that our family and loved ones are the best gifts of all.

Books Written By Kids

Buddy Booby's Birthmark
Written by Donna and Evan Ducker
With a foreword by Hannah Storm
Illustrated by Mike Motz

Buddy Booby's Birthmark was written by Evan Ducker, now age 14, and his mother after discovering there were no children's books dealing with the subject of birthmarks and the often harsh treatment children with birthmarks are treated by others.

This heartwarming and important book teaches children about compassion and birthmark awareness, in a way that is accessible and meaningful to kids. It contains a forward by Hannah Storm, formerly of the CBS Early Show, and an ESPN anchor, who has a port wine stain birthmark. Buddy Booby's Birthmark would make a wonderful addition to any child's library.

My Vampire Cousin – part of the "My Weird Family" series
By J.K. Hawkins, age 12
Illustrated by Heather Payer-Smith
Recommended for ages 12 and up
Self-published

J.K. Hawkins is a first time children's book written who developed her most notable character, Alice, at the age of eight. Her heroine Alice is an average 12 year old girl who innocently stumbles into some quite out-of-the-ordinary circumstances when she wanders too far into the woods behind her house.

She has since written over twenty stories for the "My Weird Family" series. This latest story is the first book in her new series and will appeal to mystery and comedy lovers alike.

Science, Health & Fitness

The Busy Body Book: A Kids' Guide to Fitness
Written and Illustrated by Lizzy Rockwell
Published by Crown Publishers
A Picture book recommended for ages 5-8

A colorful and informative picture book for younger kids, complete with fun, colorful and appealing illustrations which teach kids about the different systems of the human body, while stressing the importance of fitness and exercise.

Food and You: Eating Right, Being Strong and Feeling Great
Published by American Girl
Recommended for kids and tweens, ages 6-12

Another positive, engaging and educational book from the American Girl publishers, this book teaches kids about making healthy eating choices, and the importance of exercise for a healthy lifestyle, all in an "easy-to-digest" format (pun intended!) ;-)

SMART LAB

New to Amazing Kids!, we are delighted to have recently discovered an amazing educational publisher called SMART LAB. In reviewing several of their products, we have learned what an excellent resource they are for parents and educators alike, especially those who are looking for high quality educational science-themed interactive books, science-related activities and laboratory-like experiments. The best thing about SMART LAB's wonderful line of educational products? They bring the concept of "hands-on" learning to life, making learning both fun and engaging for kids—the way it should be!

Parents can share in the fun and learning experiences with their kids using SMART LAB products. For example, SMART LAB makes a line of challenging interactive quiz books allow kids to challenge themselves, or a friend or family member in a test of knowledge about a variety of subjects. The hundreds of questions are randomly selected, and never in the exact same order, ensuring enough challenges for your kids to last for months!

Amazing Kids! reviewed the following quiz books and highly recommends them all:

Human Body Lab

Amazing Body Challenge!

Amazing Animal Challenge

3rd Grade & 4th Grade Challenge

P.S. Just a fair warning: Don't let the "3rd Grade" and "4th Grade" titles fool you...these books can be challenging to adults too! Parents may just find themselves discovering that they aren't necessarily "smarter than a 3rd or 4th grader" in some subjects! ;-)

The Way We Work
By David MacCauley
Published by Houghten Mifflin
Recommended for ages 8 to adult

David Macaulay has done it again with yet another truly ingenious book. Through his imaginative and amusing illustrations, he walks the reader through nothing less than the entire human body and life-cycle. Simply amazing!

Literacy

Our Library
By Eve Bunting
Illustrated by Maggie Smith
A picture book, recommended for ages 5-8

This sweet and inspiring book features a group of young animals ("kids") in a small town who get smart and band together help save their local library.

Bats at the Library
Written and Illustrated by Brian Lies
A picture book, recommended for ages 5-8

A delightful follow-up book to Bats at the Beach, this story centers around a group of bored bats who become "enlightened" while discovering the joys of reading and books at their local library...all under the cover of night.

Born to Read
By Judy Sierra
Illustrated by Marc Brown
Published by Alfred A.Knopf
A picture book, recommended for ages 5-8

Another book lover's gem about none other than young book lovers, from the dynamic author and illustrator duo of Wild About Books fame, this fun fantasy will have many a parent recognizing qualities of their own book-loving tykes in the book's adorable and (very) young "hero."

History and Social Studies

Just in time for the Presidential inauguration, here are a couple of books about the White House and woman in politics that will fascinate and educate at the same time:

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out
Created by 108 renowned authors and illustrators and the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance
Published by Candlewick Press
Includes an audio CD featuring conversations with some of the book's contributors

Recommended for ages 8 and up

Here's a fun way to learn about an important part of our nation's history together with your child, while saving the expense of traveling to Washington D.C.: Take a "literary" tour of the White House instead by reading Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out.

Answer questions such as:

Do you know which hardworking president never took a vacation away from the White House?
Who was the first president to swim in the White House swimming pool?
Which president locked himself out of the White House one night while walking his dog?

A delightful treasure-filled book, packed with short stories, essays, letters, speeches, comics, personal reflections and illustrations, Our White House is a fascinating look at the 200 year+ history of the home of America's presidents.

Madame President: Extraordinary, True (and Evolving) Story of Women in Politics
By Catherine Thimmesh
Illustrated by Douglas B. Jones
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company

Recommended for ages 8 and up

An inspiring and informative walk through the history of both American and international women in politics, from early U.S. history figures such as Abigail Adams to modern figures such as Hillary Clinton and former Pakistani Benazir Bhutto.

After reading this book, you may find your daughter exclaiming, "I'm going to be president some day!" And who knows? She just might.