Family Book Club: October Edition
Fall is here, and we are more than happy to be falling into a new routine. As we settle into cozy sweaters and socks, there are more evening hours to occupy and less time spent running around. (Hopefully!) What to do during that down time? Read, of course! All month long, we will be diving into these titles with our kids for the monthly family book club. This month is all about surviving and thriving, with a hearty dose of Dahl-ian mischief thrown in.
The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, and Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self
Hardcover $14.99
The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, and Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self
By
Katty Kay
,
Claire Shipman
Illustrator
Nan Lawson
Hardcover $14.99
The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, and Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self, by Katty Kay, Nan Lawson, Claire Shipman, JillEllyn Riley
The Confidence Code for Girls: Taking Risks, Messing Up, and Becoming Your Amazingly Imperfect, Totally Powerful Self, by Katty Kay, Nan Lawson, Claire Shipman, JillEllyn Riley
About the Book: Is your middle-schooler worrying about everything all of a sudden? From friends and social media likes to grades and after school activities, the pressure to be perfect and perform well is higher than ever. As often as we tell our girls that they can achieve anything, there are certain factors – such as doubt – that will continue to creep in. This book is an excellent read together opportunity to discuss confidence confidently. Quizzes, real life recaps, lists and activities round out this selection to make it informative and interactive. By reading this with your daughter, you will help round out her toolbox of skills that will last her well into adulthood.
About the Authors: These women have impressive resumes – journalists, news anchors, morning show consultants, writers, illustrators. Collectively, they are true examples of confidence. Author Kay is the anchor of BBC World News America and has covered multiple presidential elections, 9/11, and several wars. She grew up all over the Middle East and speaks multiple languages. Author Shipman worked as a journalist covering the White House and did a stint in Moscow. She is a recipient of both a DuPont Award and an Emmy Award for her coverage of the 1989 student uprising in Tiananmen Square. One thing all four of these women share in common is that in addition to impressive careers, they are all moms to a total of nine kids between them.
For the Meeting: Encourage some other mom/daughter duos to read this book together and then gather everyone up for a girls-only family book club meeting. Consider role play opportunities, as presented in the book, and use this as a hands-on opportunity to walk them through dos and don’ts of social media.
Questions for Discussion:
- What scenarios in the book did you identify with? Why?
- What does confidence look and sound like to you?
- How does the phrase, “progress, not perfection” apply to what you’ve learned from this book?
- The next time you are faced with doubt or low self-confidence, what are three things you can do to overcome that feeling?
The Manual to Middle School: The "Do This, Not That" Survival Guide for Guys
Paperback $13.99
The Manual to Middle School: The "Do This, Not That" Survival Guide for Guys
In Stock Online
Paperback $13.99
The Manual to Middle School: The “Do This, Not That” Survival Guide for Guys, by Jonathan Catherman
The Manual to Middle School: The “Do This, Not That” Survival Guide for Guys, by Jonathan Catherman
About the Book: Does the phrase “too big to be little and too little to be big” hit home when you think of your middle schooler son? If so, this book is an excellent chance to make those awkward years a little less uncomfortable. With 100 dos and don’ts that cover a range of topics – from cell phones to test time – readers will find that almost anything that could possibly happen in middle school tackled in the pages of this book. Bullet point lists and comics, plus a touch of humor, help make this one approachable for even reluctant readers.
About the Authors: Jonathan Catherman actually enlisted the help of his two sons, Reed and Cole, to complete this book. With a total of three guys that have been to and lived through middle school, their collective wisdom offers smart insights and practical solutions. Catherman, an educational trainer and cultural strategist, was awarded a President’s Volunteer Service Award in 2016 for his 1M Mentoring Foundation, which has a goal of providing youth with effective and affordable mentoring services.
For the Meeting: Gather the boys together for a power hour of middle school topics and discussions. Offer up some food for the hungry fellows and be prepared for a few laughs.
Questions for Discussion:
- What are five new things you learned from the book?
- Have any of the events in this book ever happened to you? How did you resolve the situations?
- Were there any tips that you did not like? Why?
- What is one extra tip you would add to this book?
George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides
Paperback $6.95
George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides
Paperback $6.95
George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides, by Rosalyn Schanzer
George vs. George: The American Revolution as Seen from Both Sides, by Rosalyn Schanzer
About the Book: It’s King George III versus George Washington in this illustrated tome. There are two sides to every story and the American Revolution plays out in a full 360-degree view here. With two decades of history crammed into one illuminating book, readers will actually enjoy reading about American history. Who was right, and who was wrong? Take some time to read and you might just discover that this is not an “us vs. them” dilemma.
About the Author: Roaslyn Schanzer has written more than a dozen books that playfully explore history. It is no surprise that an author that enjoys writing and illustrating about many great adventures of the past enjoys her own adventures. This world-traveling author has hiked, swam, explored, and photographed many remote corners of the world – from Bolivia to Belize. After painting pictures for other people, she decided to start painting and writing her own books. Twenty-five years later, she has educated many kids (and parents) in the process.
For the Meeting: Gather the family for a feast that takes them back in time to the American Revolution. Vegetable stew, meat pies, and an apple pie for dessert fit the menu quite well. Dim the lights, as electricity was not yet invented. And make it an afternoon affair, because, believe it or not, supper was usually around 2 p.m.!
Questions for Discussion:
- What do you think life was like for families and soldiers during the American Revolution?
- Describe the similarities of Britain’s Government and the Colonies’ Government. Describe the differences.
- Why do you think many people say the American Revolution was about “us vs. us” instead of “us vs. them.”
- If you had to pick a side, which one would you choose and why?
James and the Giant Peach
Paperback $7.99
James and the Giant Peach
By
Roald Dahl
Illustrator
Lane Smith
In Stock Online
Paperback $7.99
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl, Lane Smith
James and the Giant Peach, by Roald Dahl, Lane Smith
About the Book: Aunt Spiker and Aunt Sponge are absolutely no fun for James. After moving in with them following the death of his parents, he would like nothing more than to escape. When a peach on the tree in the yard starts growing larger than life, James discovers a passage inside. There he meets new friends (hello, ladybug) and once the peach is snipped from the tree, it starts rolling away. Read this classic together with your kids for a trip down a peach-filled memory lane. Originally published in 1961, this newer edition has illustrations that help tie the book into the movie.
About the Author: Roald Dahl was a fighter pilot, intelligence office, and diplomat for much of his life. During this time, he began writing and by the time of his death in 1990, had sold millions of copies of his books. It should come as no surprise that he was buried with pencils, among other favorite items. During his lifetime he not only write award-winning books, but also invented medical devices as the result of illnesses within his own family. A father of five, he was also known as a bit of a chocolate connoisseur and is famous for saying, “Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
For the Meeting: Gather up your family for a peach-filled meeting. Peach pie, peach iced tea, and peach salsa all sound good. After you talk about the book, you can hit play on the movie version to tie it all together.
Questions for Discussion:
- How is magic used in this book?
- Describe anthropomorphism and how it is used in this book.
- What did you learn about the natural order of the world from the characters?
- How does the ending of the novel compare or contrast to the beginning of the novel? How has James changed over the course of the book?