(Part 2) Best values books for children according to redditors
We found 464 Reddit comments discussing the best values books for children. We ranked the 133 resulting products by number of redditors who mentioned them. Here are the products ranked 21-40. You can also go back to the previous section.
Twice now, professional friends of my wife (who, as always, is a humanities professor) have given my oldest daughter this kind of book as a gift. Each time it was a from a late 30s childless feminist female professor (who are people I like fine, btw). They apparently thought the books were "fun" and "playful" with a "good message".
The first of these, A is for Activist, I mostly rolled my eyes about and then gave away after a while.
The second one, Rad American Women A-Z, was given as a gift when I wasn't around, so I only came across it when looking at my 5 year old daughter's book shelf. The very first content page of this book when I opened it was this hagiography of Angela Davis - it is instructive to compare the article in the kids book with the information in the wikipedia page. And I'll admit, I seethed for a while after finding this book on my daughter's book shelf.
I recognize that there are people out there who want to give their kids these kinds of books, just as there are people who want to give their kids Baby's First Bible Stories or Baby's First Bill O'Reilly or Baby's First Glenn Beck or Baby's First Hamas.
And aside from that Hamas cartoon, this doesn't bother me. This is basically one major way people pass on their values and culture and worldview to their kids.
Nor does it bother me that my daughter will learn, over time, that there are well-meaning people out there who support Angela Davis, or Glenn Beck, or Moses, or radical feminism, or traditionalism, or Orthodox Judaism, or whatever, and that they disagree with each other, and they have their reasons, and that's okay. And she'll have to make up her own mind about those things.
But what does bother me is the idea that it's reasonable, and fun, and not even worthy of comment, to give what amounts to pretty nakedly partisan / radical propaganda to other people's kids.
It was actually after finding this second book that it finally sunk in for me that my previous practice of just politely and silently keeping my politics and worldview to myself around my wife's peers wasn't going to work. It doesn't bother me that I don't agree with them on plenty of stuff, and it's not important to me that they be convinced of, or engage with, my viewpoints or values. I actually get nothing out of them getting a window in to what I think and believe, really. But I've started seeing their assumptions about what all decent people think and value leak into how they treat my kids. And that's getting my back up. It's the assumptions part of it more than anything.
EDIT: To clarify, both books were given to my wife by the friends. No one was trying to go around our backs or anything like that... nor would they, because it wouldn't have occurred to them that there was anything objectionable about the books in the first place. It just happened to be the case that I found the second book on the book case without knowing it had been given, as described above.
I feel that scores should definitely be hidden on the New pages, and I've said it before. It's the problem of grey dots and gold stars; as soon as you get that first negative vote, people will ignore the submission, or visit it seeking to dislike. (Not showing scores is why StumbleUpon works so incredibly well...)
Or Mr. Tickle
Edit: More
Hillary Clinton: Some Girls are Born to Lead
It Takes a Village: Picture Book by Hillary Rodham Clinton
A Girl Named Hillary: The True Story of Hillary Clinton
Hillary Rodham Clinton: Dreams Taking Flight
Hillary Clinton: The Life of a Leader
I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Makes Her Mark
I Look Up To... Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Elizabeth Warren: Nevertheless, She Persisted
And there are a lot more where those came from. There were a lot of politician worshiping children's books I chose not to include because my list was already pretty long.
> Mr. Tickle
https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Tickle-Men-Little-Miss/dp/0843174226
Here you go. Cheap.
The Giver
I don't know if you're familiar with the Magic School Bus books (and TV show), but they do a fantastic job of introducing science topics to kids, and climate change is no exception. Definitely check out Magic School Bus and the Climate Challenge. There's a good list of other books with environmental and conservation themes here. A few of my favorites are Earth Dance and The Great Kapok Tree; Children of the Earth, Remember is a bit more intense, written as a letter from Mother Earth; The Earth Book and What Does it Mean to be Green? have concrete ideas for what young kids can do; and in a few years you might consider the chapter book Hoot as a read-aloud (great empowering message about kids saving an endangered species of owls). Also the book Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed isn't about environmental issues per se, but is great for showing the impact a single person can have on the world.
I think it's fine to talk about things like this in an age-appropriate way, with a hopeful, positive, "this is what you can do to help" spin. I wouldn't show her a documentary aimed at adults. You wouldn't show a 5-year-old a documentary that graphically depicted poverty or violence, you would talk to them about how some people are less fortunate and that's why we donate cans to the food bank, or that's why it's important to be kind to each other instead of hitting - things that are actionable for a 5yo. Similarly I think it's important to start the conversation about environmental issues early, but it needs to be done in a way that's encouraging and educational rather than discouraging and hopeless. More than "hardened, determined warriors" I think we need informed, concerned citizens - people who understand the science and are committed to making things better. I don't think it's too early to start instilling those values, and empowering her to be an agent of positive change in the world.
This book "People" covers the whole "we're all on this earth together, we all believe different things, but holy crap are we all mostly alike" angle. It's pretty wonderful.
Blue Balliett's series:
Stephen Hawking's series:
Others...
The School Story (It has two female leads, not sure if that will be a deterrent for your nephews)
Einstein Anderson series
Encyclopedia Brown series
Hardy Boys series
Sammy Keyes series
Check the ages. All of these are above a 5-year-old, unless you're reading to him. Most of what you're asking for will end up being detective mysteries.
I wouldn't recommend nonfiction unless the subject matter matches their real-world interests... or you happen to know they prefer non-fiction.
I got another one: The Grimer
parody of The Giver if anyone doesn't know.
I Can Handle It by Laurie Wright
Listening to My Body: A guide to helping kids understand the connection between their sensations (what the heck are those?) and feelings so that they can get better at figuring out what they need. by Gabi Garcia
Breathe Like a Bear: 30 Mindful Moments for Kids to Feel Calm and Focused Anytime, Anywhere by Kira Willey
Edit to add a French book: Léon et les émotions by Annie Groovie!
It was actually this picture book. The description makes it sound super fundie but we're Catholic so I don't even know where he would've found it
People by Peter Spier for age 5 or 6. I was fascinated with this book as a kid. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White for age 10. Matilda by Roald Dahl for age 11 or 12.
Come to think of it, the only short story anthology I've read that was without a doubt YA is Young Warriors, edited by Tamora Pierce and Josepha Sherman. I honestly only read it because Tamora Pierce's name was connected to it, so myself and others are probably missing out on a lot of great anthologies because we don't recognize the names blazed on them.
That said, lots of experience with more grown up short stories. I'm more willing to branch out with "adult" authors, I think. The YA ones tended to have more humor and triumphs in them rather than bittersweet or ironic or tragic endings. In adult short stories, an unhappy ending tends to be perfectly fitting, but I think it would often turn off a younger audience that is looking for entertainment rather than "literary" value. Anecdote: every short story my high school lit mag published had an unhappy ending. Our readership was limited to aspiring English majors.
I would say that a good short story is self-contained, but doesn't explain much about the world at large. I don't like to waste time in a very short story with a bunch of unnecessary exposition. As a reader, I like to think that I'm smart enough to fill in some gaps in the setting based on clues and context.
If I love a book series, I will happily seek out short stories (and sometimes fanfiction) set in the same world. JK Rowling seems to have avoided this so far by publishing "textbooks" from the HP world rather than stuff with familiar characters, but I enjoyed those anyways because it still added to the depth of the universe. Pottermore might be a different story to that effect, but I haven't delved much into that.
So we shouldn’t encourage kids to idolize good people because there are some bad people out there others might idolize instead? That seems incredibly narrow minded. That’s like parents banning board games because they have dice, or forbidding dancing because they saw someone twerk on TV one time. Nothing Hillary Clinton is saying or doing right now is going to “screw with” this little girls head. It’s far better for her to know the politics presidency aren’t defined by Donald Trump as soon as possible if he’s going to be her president during the formative years of her life.
And look at the book she’s signing, it’s not “What Happened”, it’s a children’s book she wrote: https://www.amazon.com/Takes-Village-Picture-Book/dp/1481430874/ref=nodl_
Finally, what “one issue” would Trump idolizing kids embrace? He hasn’t been consistent on a single issue.
I believe you're looking for "Kensuke's Kingdom"
> the modern church offers a lot of value for raising children
When I first left the church I felt the same way.
But then I ordered some non-believer parenting guidebooks on raising your children with ethics and it blew me away.
One easy reading 250 page book had more valuable and useful information on teaching children to be kind and loving than I could find in all the 1000s of pages of mumbo-jumbo, confusing, contradictory scriptures and church publications put together.
Raising Freethinkers - Practical Parenting Beyong Belief
And then there were brilliant books I found for the kids, I stupidly didn't realize stuff like this existed outside the church.
Maybe Right, Maybe Wrong
What Should Danny Do?
I was a Girl Scout leader for seven years. Little girls are just mean creatures sometimes. It starts around 6, cools off a bit by 8, then picks right back up again by 10-11. Not all little girls, to be sure, but elementary age is where you get the start of queen bee/wanna bee attitudes.
It’s hard to know why. I’ve read books and studies (I have a degree in psychology and early childhood education experience). There are a lot of different factors in play. I’ve often heard “boys are hard until kindergarten, girls are hard from kindergarten on.” Not sure I agree with it completely, but I appreciate the sentiment!
You might try this book (or similar):
https://www.amazon.com/Meanest-Thing-Say-Beginning-Readers/dp/0590956167#productDescription_secondary_view_div_151869704539
I really liked the Little Bill series, as it dealt with a lot of topics in a kid appropriate way.
Best of luck! PM me anytime!
Read Diana Winston's book on Buddhism. It's helpful for teens, but it's really for everybody. https://www.amazon.com/Wide-Awake-Buddhist-Guide-Teens/dp/0399528970
Yes. There are 6 children's books available for free from the author, today:
https://www.amazon.com/Little-Bear-Takes-Winter-Nap-ebook/dp/B07642XVKX/
https://www.amazon.com/Petunia-Garfunkel-Learns-Helpful-Childrens/dp/197842874X/
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Visitors-Picture-Children-Overcome-ebook/dp/B0763FPXQ6/
https://www.amazon.com/Small-but-Know-This-ebook/dp/B0777SXWZJ/
https://www.amazon.com/Hello-Around-World-Discovering-Differences-ebook/dp/B076862GHB/
https://www.amazon.com/Brave-Silly-Rabbit-Gioula-Chelten/dp/1547218924/
The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics
Wide Awake: A Buddhist Guide for Teens
Hooked!: Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume
... and now that I'm done with Westing Game, I think it's time to pick up The Giver and see how that held up over the years.
Here are all the local Amazon links I could find:
amazon.co.uk
amazon.ca
amazon.com.au
amazon.in
amazon.com.mx
amazon.de
amazon.it
amazon.es
amazon.com.br
amazon.nl
amazon.co.jp
amazon.fr
Beep bloop. I'm a bot to convert Amazon ebook links to local Amazon sites.
I currently look here: amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca, amazon.com.au, amazon.in, amazon.com.mx, amazon.de, amazon.it, amazon.es, amazon.com.br, amazon.nl, amazon.co.jp, amazon.fr, if you would like your local version of Amazon adding please contact my creator.
This book is AWESOME. And my kids love it because it's interactive (a la "choose your own adventure"). They're 4, so at 5 your kid is in the right age range:
"What Should Danny Do?"
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/069284838X
The second is also by Clements and I think it's called "School Story"
http://www.amazon.com/School-Story-Andrew-Clements/dp/0689851863
I am awesome at making mix cds. I don't have a picture or a tracklist of anything I've made, but even people who aren't my friends or family have praised my skill. When I used to have a blog, I made the offer to make a mix cd for one of my commenters as long as they told me some some music they like and some they don't and the recipient later told me that he listened to it up until the day he couldn't find it, which made me proud to hear from a stranger.
I would love [this book] (http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0375829636/ref=tmm_pap_new_olp_sr?ie=UTF8&condition=new).
Some faves with great positive messages, no monsters - and colourful artwork!
Red: A Crayon's Story by Michael Hall
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0062252070/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483843710&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=the+red+crayon&dpPl=1&dpID=51LKwkYBZIL&ref=plSrch
Zero by Kathryn Otoshi
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/097239463X/ref=pd_aw_fbt_14_img_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EWFCSCMXS62AT0RNAT4Z
Leon the Chameleon by Melanie Watt
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1553375270/ref=mp_s_a_1_20?ie=UTF8&qid=1483844281&sr=8-20&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=melanie+watt&dpPl=1&dpID=51h8MObbHZL&ref=plSrch
Have You Filled A Bucket Today? By Carol McCloud
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/099609993X/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483844686&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=have+you+filled+a+bucket+today&dpPl=1&dpID=51g3Y-LKZiL&ref=plSrch
I Am A Rainbow by Dolly Parton
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006GJSJHU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483844799&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=i+am+a+rainbow
Ordinary Mary's Extraordinary Deed by Emily Pearson
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0879059788/ref=mp_s_a_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483844903&sr=8-1-fkmr1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=molly%27s+extraordinary+deed
Grumpy Bird by Jeremy Tankard
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0439851475/ref=pd_aw_sim_14_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=3YF4V7V8BJDD0WW7P0DN
Spork by Kyo Maclear isn't as colourful, but the silver might go with lavender?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1553377362/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1483844555&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=spork+childrens+book&dpPl=1&dpID=51acOmac4UL&ref=plSrch
read this to your kids << I learned so much from this it is unreal.
Is this a picture book, then? Or a chapter book with pictures?
There is a book called Kensuke's Kingdom about a boy lost at sea who finds an island with a cave. But I don't recall illustrations. Also, there was a man living in the cave who the boy befriends.
http://www.amazon.com/Kensukes-Kingdom-Michael-Morpurgo/dp/0439591813
The Cay is also about a boy shipwrecked on an island: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Cay
Also, The Black Stallion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Black_Stallion
The Giver
But he is a children's author, which would be comedy gold if it weren't so terrifying.
here’s the book
Excuse the link... i cant fix it with this phone... but i think it sums up your post quite well. ;)
http://www.amazon.ca/Childrens-Book-Michaels-Marinade-collection-ebook/dp/B00TCNYNHM