Top Five Kids Books You (and Your Kids) Can’t Live Without

Sierra Black, 2009

Childhood, as it survives in my memory, was one long golden afternoon spent lost in the stacks of my local library. I’m blessed with kids of my own now, one of whom just discovered the magic of libraries for herself.

Between the library and our own large book collection, the kids don’t lack for reading material. Here’s my short list of books I’d want handy if I were trapped on a desert island with a preschooler. Continue reading »

Books Bode Well for Princess and the Frog

If the pile of storybooks sent my way by the folks at Random House are any indication, Princess Tiana might be the best role model for our kids to come out of the Disney vault.

With my daughter breathlessly awaiting The Princess and the Frog debut in theaters, we’ve spent the last several nights reading the Tiana books to satisfy her cravings. The good news? Continue reading »

Achooo! Kids Books for Surviving the Flu

It’s all anyone’s talking about in the nursery school line these days, so is it any wonder kids books about getting sick are a hot commodity these days?

Babble took a look at two of the biggies and weighed out what kids will learn (and more importantly - should you spend your money?): Continue reading »

Scholastic Backpedals On Book With Lesbian Moms

Last week, I wrote about the Scholastic company’s request that an author, Lauren Myracle, change her new book to eliminate a lesbian couple — the mothers of one of the main characters.  Myracle refused and Scholastic decided not to include the book in their spring book fairs.  Then people got wind and, understandably, got upset.  And now, Scholastic has changed it’s mind — the book will be available at their middle school book fairs this spring.  So why are parents and LGBT advocates still upset?
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His Name is Harry Potter - No, Really

There are crappy names, and then there are names that were perfectly fine until a single mom wrote an internationally best selling children’s book and Warner Bros. started making movies about it.

Yes, I’m referring to Harry Potter. Not the boy wizard - the poor English bloke who shares his name with the fictional character. Continue reading »

“Stand By Me” Star Pens At-Home Dad Memoir

I’m pretty sure every kid growing up in the ’80s read Stephen King’s short story, The Body — which was turned into the fabulous movie Stand By Me.

Hearing stories about the making of the movie is the absolute only thing I’m interested in reading now that one of the stars, Jerry O’Connell, has inked a deal to write a memoir.

Only problem is his book is about his latest role: stay-at-home dad.

Shoot me now. Bury me with Ray Brower. I don’t care. Continue reading »

Scholastic Censors LGBT Book

I’ve always thought that the Scholastic Book Fairs were pretty cool.  They make kids’ books available at extremely affordable prices in a very convenient and even fun way.  I imagine lots of kids have books because of Scholastic that wouldn’t have them otherwise.  The company is also good to teachers, offering liberal bonuses to let teachers get books for their classrooms cheaply.  Now, however, my opinion of the company is in jeopardy of changing significantly for the worse.

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You Can Choose the Cheerios Box Book

Forget the Wheaties box. The cool place to be if you’re a book author is inside a box of Cheerios.

And Simon and Schuster and General Mills want parents to help pick their next book in the Spoonfuls of Stories program. Continue reading »

Kid Books Lose Battle to DVD Spread

The books in many kid’s rooms seem to be losing the battle for shelf space with kid’s DVDS.

In a survey in England, a third of parents admitted the flicks outnumber the books for their kids. What do you want to bet the numbers aren’t that far off on this side of the pond? Continue reading »

Kangaroos and Dolphins and Crayfish, Oh My

I’m beginning to notice a theme in children’s lit: kids and critters go hand-in-hand. So we rounded up some of the newest examples of animal antics on bookshelves and let you know whether they’re worth the hardcover investment: Continue reading »