Let your child’s imagination soar with these top titles and matching activities. Great Books for Little Kids Big Anthony: His Story From the day he is born, Big Anthony never pays attention. As a boy, he leaves the gates of the farm open and all the animals escape. As a young man off to make his fortune in the world, he accidentally “fixes” the leaning Tower of Pisa. Will Italy survive the hilarious mishaps of Big Anthony? Olivia Preschoolers will immediately relate to Olivia’s ways – she’s got boundless energy, hates naps, and loves to build sandcastles. Olivia’s as individual as any young pig can be. She likes Degas paintings, enjoys singing songs (very loudly), and thrives on picking on her little brother. But when the day is through, and she’s worn her mother out completely, she still hears an “I love you,” which will reassure any child that she’s loved, too. The Giving Tree A little boy befriends a tree. Loving and generous, the tree provides everything she can for him – fruit, shade, a place for a swing – throughout the boy’s life. He, in turn, takes from the tree without noticing the sacrifices she makes. It isn’t until he’s old and gratefully rests on her stump that he understands all she has done for him. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie If a hungry little traveler shows up at your house, you might want to give him a cookie. If you give him a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass of milk. He’ll want to look in a mirror to make sure he doesn’t have a milk mustache… If You Take a Mouse to the Movies If you take a mouse to the movies, he’ll ask you for some popcorn. When you give him the popcorn, he’ll want to string it all together. Then he’ll want to hang it on a Christmas tree, so you’ll have to… . Great Books for Older Kids Bud, Not Buddy It’s 1936, in Flint, Michigan. Ten-year-old Bud may be a motherless boy on the run, but he’s on a mission. His Momma never told him who his father was, but she left a clue: Posters of Herman E. Calloway and his famous band, the Dusky Devastators of the Depression! Bud thinks the posters will lead to his father. Once he decides to hit the road and find this mystery man, nothing can stop him. Homeless Bird Like many girls her age in India, 13-year-old Koly is getting married. But her excitement turns to dread when she meets her husband, a sickly boy who is much younger than Koly and her family were led to believe. When her new husband dies, Koly must assume the only identity allowed her by society – that of a widow. Faced with a lifetime of subservience, poverty, and isolation, Koly realizes how alone she is. Yet this rare young woman sets out to forge her own exceptional future. And a new life, like a beautiful tapestry, comes together for Koly – one stitch at a time. Harry Potter: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them The most complete A to Z listing of magical beasts available! From Hippogriffs and Blast-ended Screwts to Unicorns and Hungarian Horntails, this book covers all the magical beasts you’ve ever heard of – and will introduce you to a host of ones you haven’t. It’s on the required reading list for all Hogwarts students, and a much-revered favorite of Hagrid, Hogwarts’ groundskeeper and Care of Magical Creatures teacher. This edition is an exact facsimile of Harry Potter’s own copy, including his and his friends’ notes in the margins. Harry Potter: Quidditch Through the Ages This book starts with the history of broomsticks, describes the evolution of Quidditch through the generations, and includes the rules of the game as well as a chapter on modern-day play. It is the ultimate resource for anyone interested in the magical world and its most popular sport, and it is charmingly reproduced as if it were a facsimile of the very copy from the library of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
