I Love Words by Francoize Boucher
(c2010, Kane/Miller, Ages 9-12)

Book description: This amazing book will have you playing with words and inventing new ones. You’ll turn yourself into a spelling super hero, build your own bookstore and even make a talking cake! Then there are the poems to write, the word-riddles and secret codes to solve, the expressions to learn…you’ll be so busy you won’t even have time to copy and send the love letters!

Book review: Love this book!  Perfect for igniting the imagination of your child and sparking a passion for writing.  I’m saving this book for home school fun and rainy days.  There are enough activities in his book to last a long while.

Check out the following new books by Kane Miller and Kids Can Press. Delightful illustrations encourage hours of reading and imaginative fun. Each of the following books have classical appeal that will make these sure favorites with your children.

"One Night in the Zoo" by Judith Kerr
(c2010, Kane Miller; ages 4-8)

Book description: One magical, moonlit night in the zoo…an elephant jumped in the air and flew! But nobody knew. So begins an extraordinary night. The zoo is filled with the wild antics, high spirits and silly games of some of the most beloved zoo animals…does anyone know? Will anyone find out? Nobody…except you!

Book review: This is what the best children’s books are made of: magical imagination, silly and creative instances and pure fun. One Night in the Zoo has all that and more. Kerr’s carefully drawn, colorful menagerie perks the imagination and invites readers to pretend along–which we do all too willingly and discover pure fun! Little ones will love counting the animals and turning the page to see what new clever event awaits.

As a mother, any help I can get in protecting my children from bullies is a blessing to me. Susanne Gervay's book, I Am Jack, is a boon to both parents and children. You will also find links to more resources for handling bullies in this interview. Even my fifteen year old daughter found this book useful and recommends it for younger kiddos ages 7-12.

Susanne, what inspired you to write this story?
My son was bullied at school. It was a traumatic time where he was victimized, targeted and afraid. Kids who are normal kids, forgot my Jack was a real person. It started as a joke, that escalated into a cruel game of verbal, emotional and physical bullying with Jack as the target. My Jack was not safe at school. He felt there was no one there to help him. Not me, his family, teachers, school, friends, other kids, community.