#brianfloca

Thanksgiving weekend is the time I always devote to thinking about holiday gifts for the kids in my life. As I have previously confessed, I am a big fan of gifting books. Not just any books, books that I think will match kids’ interests and personalities. This year I have spent a lot of time perusing the aisles of bookstores to familiarize myself with the newest released books. I am compiling some books that I am planning to give this holiday season.

First up.... Dr. Seuss’ instant classic What Pet Should I Get? for kids ages 3-7.

A young brother and sister go to a local pet store to pick out a new family pet. Choices include the obvious cat and dog, but are quickly followed by some imaginary creatures. This book follows the familiar Seussian rhyme scheme infused with humor. At the end of the story, they leave with a pet, it just remains a mystery to the reader. A great opportunity for young readers to use their imaginations. 

Up next... The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak, a hilarious great for readers ages 5-9. 

Here’s how this book works. The reader of the book has to read the words on the pages exactly as they are written. It quickly unravels into funny noises and silly proclamations that will leave all young readers giggling and begging you to read it again. I read this book to my 4th graders earlier this year for a birthday read aloud, and many of them remarked, “I need to get this book and have my mom/dad read it to me right away!”

And, finally for our non-fiction enthusiasts, I’d recommend Locomotive by Brian Floca, for readers ages 6-11.

This is a visually stunning book about the Transcontinental Railroad. It is detail rich in the descriptive text and beautiful illustrations. The book takes you on a historical journey from east to west, set in the summer of 1869.