Common Sense Media

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Book Recommendations:

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Recommended by Common Sense Media

Adapted from best-selling author Kate DiCamillo's book, The Magician's Elephant is a visually engaging, animated tale with themes that rekindle a sense of hope & wonder. Expect some fantastical action & moments of fear & peril. Our full review: https://t.co/KusODXBnMp https://t.co/aJ9ka3MVtH (from X)

The Magician's Elephant book cover

by Kate DiCamillo, Yoko Tanaka·You?

Kate DiCamillo conjures a haunting fable about trusting the unexpected and making the extraordinary come true. What if? Why not? Could it be? When a fortuneteller's tent appears in the market square of the city of Baltese, orphan Peter Augustus Duchene knows the questions that he needs to ask: Does his sister still live? And if so, how can he find her? The fortuneteller's mysterious answer (an elephant! An elephant will lead him there!) sets off a chain of events so remarkable, so impossible, that you will hardly dare to believe it’s true. With atmospheric illustrations by fine artist Yoko Tanaka, here is a dreamlike and captivating tale that could only be narrated by Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo. In this timeless fable, she evokes the largest of themes — hope and belonging, desire and compassion — with the lightness of a magician’s touch.

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Recommended by Common Sense Media

Emily is the science teacher we all wish we had as young kids. (from Amazon)

NATIONAL BESTSELLER From the host of Netflix's Emily's Wonder Lab and FOX's Xploration Outer Space comes a book featuring 50 experiments that introduce the wonders of science to the whole family. MIT engineer Emily Calandrelli shares the science behind each experiment while showing you where to find STEAM concepts in the world around you. You'll learn how to think like a scientist with Make a Hypothesis! and Try This! prompts, where you can experiment within the experiment. With Calandrelli's expert guidance, illustrations throughout, and easy-to-find grocery items, you can make: An alien hovercraft to learn how an air hockey table works Glow-in-the-dark paint to learn about ultraviolet light Delicious ice cream to learn about supercooling Oobleck to learn why ketchup is so hard to get out of the bottle Grab your goggles and a family member to get started on a journey to spark curiosity, critical thinking, and fun family times! SUPER FUN SCIENCE EXPERIMENT BOOK: With chapters like Magic Tricks, Kitchen Science, and Fun with Physics, this book is packed with experiments that will delight little scientists and their lab assistants. FOR SCIENCE KIDS & NON-SCIENCE KIDS: For anyone who loves to try out kitchen science or STEM experiments at home, this book is brimming with ideas. Bill Nye the Science Guy says, "Here are 50, count 'em, 50 home experiments you can count on. Each is a crowd, or home experimenter, pleaser." GREAT FOR SCIENCE FAIR & HOMESCHOOL CURRICULUM: A must-have for parents and homeschool educators! Colorful illustrations accompany every experiment, along with instructions and materials you'll need to get started, sections to record notes, and real-life examples connecting your STEAM experiment to the world around you. There are also fascinating facts about important people to know in science history. Perfect for: Fans of Emily Calandrelli and her TV popular shows and Instagram Kids and families who love to have fun with science Birthday, Christmas, Chanukah, graduation, or summer activity gift for young learners Readers of books about important women in science and popular best sellers like Ada Twist, Scientist and Emily Calandrelli's Ada Lace Adventure series

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Recommended by Common Sense Media

Athletes and sports fans will appreciate this inside look at the development of one of the most exciting and skilled basketball players to emerge in this era . . . Comic-style illustrations by Zeke Peña provide some visual excitement. (from Amazon)

Epic Athletes: Patrick Mahomes (Epic Athletes, 9) book cover

by Dan Wetzel, Marcelo Baez·You?

In this uplifting illustrated middle-grade biography, acclaimed sports journalist Dan Wetzel tackles the real-life story of the NFL's brightest rising star, quarterback Patrick Mahomes! In 2018, Patrick Mahomes stepped onto the gridiron as the new, inexperienced quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Just twenty-two-years old at the time, football fans wondered if this young man could live up to lofty expectations. Little did they know, a star was about to be born. By season's end, Patrick threw a whopping fifty touchdowns, the youngest to ever do so, and took his team nearly all the way to the Super Bowl. And the next season, he became the youngest quarterback ever to win Super Bowl MVP! With limitless potential, Patrick not only emerged as the NFL's most dynamic and exciting player, but he's also become a role model to kids across the country. Filled with sports action and comic-style illustrations by Marcelo Baez, this inspiring biography tells the story of the new king of pro football. Praise for Epic Athletes: * "Wetzel knows how to organize the facts and tell a good story. [A]n unusually informative and enjoyable sports biography for young readers." ―Booklist, starred review “Dan Wetzel has a winning formula in his Epic Athletes series, sure to appeal to young sports fans.” ―The Buffalo News

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Recommended by Common Sense Media

This lively, touching middle school soccer story is full of fun. (from Amazon)

Booked (The Crossover Series) book cover

by Kwame Alexander·You?

New York Times Bestseller · National Book Award Longlist · ILA-CBC Children's Choice List · ALA Notable Children’s Book · Book Links’ Lasting Connections · Kirkus Best Book · San Francisco Chronicle Best Book· Washington Post Best Book· BookPage Best Book "A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes. Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely feat, both as a poet and as a storyteller. " — The Chicago Tribune Like lightning/you strike/fast and free/legs zoom/down field/eyes fixed/on the checkered ball/on the goal/ten yards to go/can’t nobody stop you/ can’t nobody cop you… In this follow-up to the Newbery-winning novel THE CROSSOVER,  soccer, family, love, and friendship, take center stage as twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick inspiring books to read.   This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse by poet Kwame Alexander bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match!

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Recommended by Common Sense Media

A delight for truck lovers, holiday fans, and kids who enjoy some rhythmic verse as they nod off to dreamland. (from Amazon)

Construction Site on Christmas Night: (Christmas Book for Kids, Children's Book, Holiday Picture Book) (Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site) book cover

by Sherri Duskey Rinker, AG Ford·You?

From the author of the #1 New York Times bestselling Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site series. More than two million copies have sold across the series! Created for lovers of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, as well as fans of Sherri Duskey Rinker's storytelling and AG Ford's art, this beautiful holiday picture book shows Excavator, Bulldozer, Crane, Dump Truck and Cement Mixer building a new home for fire engines. As they finish their big, important job, they get their own Christmas surprises. Your kids will have fun discovering the special surprise awaiting each vehicle as much as they will love rhyming along with the story. This cute book is sure to be a classic! Art by illustrator AG Ford. • A Christmas tale with a great message • Teaches kids the joy of giving and the value of work • Rhythmic patterns make reading fun Fans of Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site, Mighty, Mighty Construction Site, and Excavator's 123 will be excited about this children's holiday book. • Ideal Christmas gift for little ones • Perfect book for children who like construction, trucks, fire engines, cars, and building things • Parents, grandparents, and teachers will have fun reading this action-packed story to kids

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Recommended by Common Sense Media

A mystery, adventure, and activity book all rolled into one entertaining story....Plenty of excitement, with science. (from Amazon)

Einstein is running amok! Darwin is losing his head! The science museum in Half Moon Bay is in big trouble because its robotic replicas of history’s greatest scientists keep going kablooey! As 11-year-old amateur inventors Nick and Tesla Holt try to uncover the cause, they’ll need to keep adding all-new gadgets to their latest creation, a customized super-cyborg glove. Follow the action, and then follow the illustrated instructions to build your own gadget glove with four incredible functions: LED signal light, emergency alarm, sound recorder, and UV secret-message revealer!

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Recommended by Common Sense Media

Kids who love vehicles will delight in this vibrant sequel spotlighting each truck's contribution to a team effort. (from Amazon)

Mighty, Mighty Construction Site (Goodnight, Goodnight, Construc) book cover

by Sherri Duskey Rinker, Tom Lichtenheld·You?

#1 New York Times bestseller! A construction book kids can enjoy any time of day, from the team behind Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site. "People will be revving their engines to get their hands on this sequel."—Booklist Created by Sherri Duskey Rinker and Tom Lichtenheld, the author-illustrator team behind the phenomenal bestsellers Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site and Steam Train, Dream Train, here is the perfect book for kids learning how to work and play together, make new friends, and overcome obstacles. Down in the big construction site, all of the favorite trucks are back facing their biggest job yet and will need the help of new construction friends to get it done. Mighty, Mighty Construction Site teaches kids that when working as a team, even a big job seems small! They find out that with teamwork, nothing is impossible! WILDLY POPULAR CHILDREN'S BOOKS: Since its debut more than a decade ago, Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site and the series of books it launched have become beloved favorites of kids and parents alike, with millions of copies sold. Fans of the series are in for a mighty good time with this truck book that focuses on team-building, friendship, and working together! FAMILIAR FRIENDS: Kids will recognize their favorite truck characters—Dump Truck, Excavator, Cement Mixer, Bulldozer and more—and meet some smiling new friends like Skid Steer, Backhoe, Flatbed, Pumper Truck, and Front-End Loader in this beautifully illustrated picture book. PERFECT READ-ALOUD: Filled with vibrant illustrations, rich vocabulary, and easy-to-follow rhymes, this delightful toddler book is great for little ones who can't get enough of construction stories, day or night! Perfect for: Family and elementary school story time Emerging readers in preschool through early elementary grades who are beginning to work on word recognition and independent reading Gift for birthday, baby shower, holidays, or any occasion Anyone who loves engaging classic children's books by authors such as Dr. Seuss, Chris Van Dusen, Sandra Boynton, and Shel Silverstein Fans of books about vehicles like Little Blue Truck, Thomas the Tank Engine, and Diggersaurs