The Craft Kingdom is a must-buy!
I like that this one is great for families and summer time! I also love that these aren’t fancy, complicated crafts so it’s not just a tabletop type of book..it is actually one that you will pick up and use this Summer! I also like that you do not have to run out to the store and look for materials that you don’t usually have around the house. Each project contains a supply list and detailed, colorful, picture-filled tutorial. At the end of the book, there is a section for stencils to trace shapes needed for the projects, leaving no stone unturned as you dive into creating. You can purchase on Amazon.com but find out more at https://www.thecraftkingdom.com/
Eli Maor was raised in a creative home. Her parents owned a publishing house and as a child, she would lose herself in the bright colors and beautiful fonts. Her love for art and creativity continued into adulthood. She obtained a bachelor of arts in media and business management, and went on to study interior design. While obtaining her degrees, she sold handmade crafts at art fairs and booths.
Her first book, The Craft Kingdom, came after years of creating, teaching workshops, and a whole lot of DIY fun.
Maor shares crafting videos on her YouTube channel, The Craft Kingdom. You can also connect with her on Facebook and Instagram.
For more information visit www.thecraftkingdom.com.
The Craft Kingdom is available through Amazon, Barnes and Noble and in select bookstores.
Have a baby or a toddler? This one is a must for you this Summer! HIKE IT BABY: 100 Awesome Outdoor Adventures with Babies and Toddlers BY SHANTI HODGES.
Hike it Baby presents 100 outdoor adventures across the U.S. that you can take with babies and toddlers (really!), along with everything you need to know about exploring the natural world. Sourced from real families using Hike it Baby’s trail-tested system, this book helps moms and dads get out there in their comfort zone, yet feel like hardcore adventurers! Whether you’ve always wanted to hike part of the Appalachian Trail, splash around in gentle Northwest waterfalls, or scramble up rocks in the desert surrounded by Joshua Trees, this book shows you how to plan a truly memorable journey together.
I love how this really does sound like a fun way to get out and explore with your little ones!
Shanti Hodges founded Hike it Baby, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families with babies and toddlers find each other in the outdoors. In 2016 she began hosting an annual family camping festival (familyforestfest.com) in Oregon. In 2018 she began hosting retreats in Southern Utah (hikingmyway.com).
Prior to hitting the trail as a mom and outdoor movement leader, Shanti was a freelance writer and a consultant helping small businesses with their websites and social media. As a freelancer she wrote for magazines like Outside, Men’s Journal, Marie Claire, Shape, Self, and also wrote a book in 2007 called, “Women Who Run.”
Shanti and her husband Mark split their time between Portland, OR and La Verkin, Utah. She enjoys watching their son Mason fall in love with nature on their frequent adventures camping, rafting, biking, and of course, hiking in the outdoors.
The book is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Hike-Baby-Awesome-Adventures-Toddlers/dp/1493033905
Do you like to draw or know someone who does? This one is a fun way to learn how to draw animals! The blank page can be daunting, but Ten-Step Drawing: Animals offers a quick and easy starting point for any doodler, illustrator, or aspiring artist.
I love that this is a fun and simple way to actually learn how to draw the animals! I am not talented in the area of drawing but I even found that I could draw some of the animals with this fun book!
Ten-Step Drawing: Animals
Learn to Draw 75 Animals in Ten Easy Steps!
By Heather Kilgour
$14.99 US / $19.99 US
This next one is such a cute story! I highly recommend for ages 4-10.
Have You Ever Wanted One Thing More Than Anything Else In The World?
In His Illustrated Children’s Book, BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE, Bestselling Author Alan C. Fox Focuses On Perseverance, Dreams, and Letting Go.
Have you ever wanted one thing – just one thing – more than anything else in the world? A toy? A new bike? A computer game? Did you imagine that this one possession would make you incredibly happy – forever? For Benji that one thing is an enormous orange kite. In BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE (Clavis Publishing; August 2018), bestselling author Alan C. Fox tells the enchanting story of a young boy who learns that possessing something is not quite as meaningful as letting it go.
Benji adores kites. All kinds of kites – big or small, plain or fancy, square or diamond- shaped. He loves flying them at the beach, watching them float high in the sky. One day Benji sees a giant orange kite at the toy store. He wants it more than anything else – ever. But his mom explains that he’ll need to earn the money to buy the kite. So Benji buckles down and weeds the garden for the next two weeks – the vegetables in the morning and the flowers in the afternoon. It seems like he’ll never be done.
Finally, the special day arrives, and Benji’s mom hands him the giant orange kite of his dreams. At the beach, Benji lets his kite soar higher and higher with every gust of wind. He watches it rise above the people, the hot dog stand, and even the houses beyond. Soon the kite becomes a distant speck in the sky. Benji is thrilled. But when it’s time to pull the kite down and head back home, Benji can’t bear to do it. He wants to set the kite free to fulfill its destiny among the clouds. Benji lets the twine go and the kite disappears into the sunset sky. The kite may still be up there yet.
Alan Fox explains that like all of his books, “BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE is based on a real-life incident. This one happened when I was a child. I decided to tell the story because I wanted to share the sense of achievement I felt by working hard to obtain something I really loved. But once I saw the kite flying at the beach, I wanted to let it go. My dream had been accomplished. It was time to move on to another, new experience. You must always keep going to fulfill your dreams and aspirations.”
BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE, with illustrations by Eefje Jujil, is the second in Alan Fox’s series of picture books. The first, BENJI AND THE 24 POUND BANANA SQUASH, was named a notable children’s book of 2017 by Booklist magazine and has become a much-loved story for youngsters and parents alike.
About the author
Alan C. Fox is the bestselling author of three books for adults, PEOPLE TOOLS, PEOPLE TOOLS FOR BUSINESS, and PEOPLE TOOLS FOR LOVE AND RELATIONSHIPS. His two children’s books are BENJI AND THE 24 POUND BANANA SQUASH (Clavis 2017) and BENJI AND THE GIANT KITE (Clavis 2018). An entrepreneur, philanthropist, and relationships expert, Alan is also the publisher of the poetry magazine, Rattle. He founded a charity that works to maximize the potential of youth as well as an organization that encourages young people to become active in helping others. Alan lives in Los Angeles, California. To learn more, visit Alan’s website: alancfox.com
SUMMER BRAIN QUEST® series: SUMMER BRAIN QUEST: Between Grades Pre-K & K (Workman Publishing, $12.95) Launched last summer, the Summer Brain Quest workbooks are the most recent addition to the parent-trusted and kid-approved Brain Quest series, America’s #1 educational bestseller. Now, in answer to strong demand from parents and educators for books that address school readiness at the youngest ages, our newest workbook was created for this crucial and underserved age group. SUMMER BRAIN QUEST: Between Grades Pre-K & K will get four- and five-year-olds ready for school in a fun and personalized way.
SUMMER BRAIN QUEST is notable in that it offers a one-of-a-kind learning experience. Because of its innovative format—each book has a tri-fold map with multiple paths where children mark their progress with specially designed stickers—the series makes learning a flexible game that can be approached from different directions (educators call this personalized learning).
Kids feel supported in what they’re doing and excited to choose their next step. SUMMER BRAIN QUEST empowers kids to have a voice in what and how they learn, while ensuring they practice the fundamentals of each grade. Original and adorable cover, map, and sticker artwork by video game artist Edison Yan gives this series major child appeal.
I like that there is so much more than just a workbook! The workbook is set up like a game, with learning that is fun and also personalized. I also really like the map with more than 150 stickers to mark quest progress. There are also 8 outdoor activities and a mini deck that can be cut out and go on trips with you!
It can also be purchased on Amazon.com and Barnes & Noble.
Self Disclosure: I received free copies of the above books to facilitate this post. Some images were provided. No other compensation was received and I only feature books that I highly recommend.