Disclosure: I was sent review copies from the publishing in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
I recently stumbled across Workman Publishing while looking for fun doodling and STEM based books for the girls for school and pleasure. After visiting their website and checking out their amazing selection of books for kids of all ages, I had to reach out to them and see about featuring a few of their books in my holiday gift guide. I knew that there were readers out there with children who loved to doodle and draw like my girls, and do at-home science experiments. And, the following books I was sent delighted my girls, and offered hours of enjoyable, while learning new things at the same time.
Check out these books from Workman Publishing, which would make great gifts for kids this holiday season...
My youngest daughter, Bella, LOVES to doodle. You can give her a squiggle and she can turn it into something amazing. Back when I was little, my art teacher used to draw random squiggles on a sheet of paper and have us turn those squiggles into something new like an animal, a scene, etc. Then, we would have to stand in front of the class and explain our new drawing. I used to love this activity, and when I saw this book online I couldn't help but remember back to my youth and how a squiggle was not just a squiggle if you just opened your eyes and imagined all the infinite possibilities.
I showed Bella how to use this doodle book to create one-line animals, and then she was off and running with it. She kept at this book for a few hours, until she was done and ready for me to fold the cover of this sketchbook to make book flaps. Then, she sat and flipped through the pages admiring her work. And, when her Daddy came home that night, she couldn't wait to show off what she worked so hard on that day. She even showed my husband how a squiggle can be something as simple as a snake, or as complex as a crocodile. You just had to look at the squiggle and imagine.
My daughter has been asking for more Squiggle books like this, and I will definitely be getting her more, as I couldnt' believe how she sat and intently worked on this book until she was done with all the doodles. This is one of her most prized doodle books, and she loves to show it off to family and friends who come to visit, before she goes into her infinite possibilities from a squiggle spiel. :-)
If your child loves to doodle or would love to try their hand at turning a squiggle into a masterpiece, then you will want to check out this Squiggle book by Kenzo Hayashi today.
About this book:
"It’s a brand-new way to doodle, and an innovative way to learn to draw.
A squiggle is a one-line drawing. When you squiggle, you never lift your pen or pencil from the paper. And using this one line, Squiggle!shows kids how to draw over 200 animals. Animals with personality, like a fierce lion, a friendly elephant, a curious dolphin, and a whole field full of hopping, crouching, and resting bunnies. A squiggle can be as simple as a duck or as complex as a peacock.
Squiggle! also includes a connected doodle pad, so kids can practice drawing any animal side-by-side with the example.
Each page is perforated so young artists can easily tear off their masterpieces to share with family and friends. And when the doodle pad is done, fold the extended cover into flaps so the book itself can last forever and keep inspiring creative one-line doodles."
Age range
4 - 12
Grade range
K+
Categories
Number of pages
176
Publication date
September 19, 2017
ISBN
9781523501090
----
Buy this hardcover now for only $12.95
I requested this book for my daughter, Savannah, in mind, as she loves anything cats. And, when she saw this book, she was so excited and started flipping through. She noticed as she was flipping through the book that is wasn't like other storybooks she had read. She said it looked like a comic book, but wondered about the pages where you had to draw and doodle further.
I shared that this is a unique book that will take her on an adventure with Rusty Robo-Cat, and that with her her and creativity, she will help tell the story. She thought this was a neat idea and couldn't wait to get to work reading the story and doodling herself into the story.
Savannah had so much fun adding her own drawings and doodles to this book, and has read it over and over again. She is asking Santa for other Doodle Adventures books, so that she can create more fun adventures with her doodles.
If you have a child who loves to doodle or draw and come up with their own stories, then they will love the Doodle Adventures series from Mike Lowery. They will have a blast creating their own unique story with their drawings.
More about this book:
"Introducing DOODLE ADVENTURES #3! Like The Search for the Slimy Space Slugs! and The Pursuit of the Pesky Pizza Pirate!, The Rise of the Rusty Robo-Cat! marries the fun of drawing and doodling with a lively fantasy tale that will appeal to boys and girls alike.
From Mike Lowery—creator of the popular Kid’s Awesome Activity Calendar—it’s like a visual Mad Libs: part game, part graphic novel, and a thrilling, interactive experience in which the reader draws him- or herself into the story and becomes the star.
Carl the Duck is back and needs help on the very important mission of discovering why the cats around town are acting like jerks. Can you track them down and break the spell they are under? (And maybe draw a space vampire along the way?)
Each page combines hand-lettered text, delightful illustrations, plus prompts and plenty of space for the reader’s own contributions.
The book is sturdy paper over board with high-quality cream paper that’s a pleasure to draw on. Kids will love using their imaginations to complete the story, then reading it over and over again."
Age range
8 - 99
Grade range
2+
Series
Doodle Adventures
Categories
Number of pages
112
Publication date
May 30, 2017
ISBN
9780761187219
---
Buy this hardcover book now for only $14.95
Even though we are only halfway through this fact-filled book, which contains 31 at-home experiments that coincide which STEM related topics discusses in this book, the girls and I are loving everything we have learned thus far.
This book is made up of histories greatest blunders and with the incorporation of experiments to show the science behind things and why certain structures and historical landmarks crumbled, fell or sank, it does an amazing job at sharing the importance of proper engineering when constructing massive structures, monuments, etc.
When I think back to the chapters we have read so far, I have to say that my favorite was the first one, which dealt with the collapse of the Colossus of Rhodes in 226 BC. The reason why this was a favorite was that my girls really enjoyed the "All Shook Up" experiment, which gave them a taste of how building designers test things against known forces including earthquakes. With the use of jello and mini marshmallows the girls tried their hand at testing different forces. And, when they were done experimenting, they got to enjoy the jello. Yum!
Most of the experiments in this book take between 2-15 minutes. Some need to be prepped overnight, but for the most part they are all quick and easy to set up and require supplies you have around the house or can easily find at your local grocery or retail store.
There are so many great experiments to show history's most famous engineering disasters, and the hands on approach about teaching about this blunders in history make for a more enjoyable learning experience.
This book would be great for homeschooling families, or would be well received by your child's teacher this holiday season. I can't stop raving about it to homeschooling friends, and the ones who have purchased it agree it is a great book and one they use often in their schooling.
More about this book:
"It’s hands-on science with a capital “E”—for engineering.
Beginning with the toppling of the Colossus of Rhodes, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, to the destructive, laser-like sunbeams bouncing off London’s infamous “Fryscraper” in 2013, here is an illustrated tour of the greatest engineering disasters in history, from the bestselling author of The Book of Totally Irresponsible Science.
Each engineering disaster includes a simple, exciting experiment or two using everyday household items to explain the underlying science and put learning into action. Understand the Titanic’s demise by sinking an ice-cube-tray ocean liner in the bathtub. Stomp on a tube of toothpaste to demonstrate what happens to non-Newtonian fluids under pressure—and how a ruptured tank sent a tsunami of molasses through the streets of Boston in 1919.
From why the Leaning Tower of Pisa leans to the fatal design flaw in the Sherman tank, here’s a book of science at its most riveting."
Age range
9 - 14
Grade range
3 - 8
Series
Irresponsible Science
Categories
Number of pages
256
Publication date
September 05, 2017
ISBN
9780761183945
---
There are so many wonderful STEM and activity based books from Workman Publishing that would make great gifts for kids of all ages this holiday season. Instead of toys, why not fill your child's mind with fascinating facts, or let them use their imagination to turn a doodle into an animal or something more magnificent. You can learn about the three books I shared above as well as other great books for kids by visiting the Workman Publishing website today.
Disclosure: I was sent review copies from the publishing in exchange for an honest review. All views shared are mine and mine alone.
I tend to like to give educational toys or books like this. They are fun yet teach something. This is a nice set/series it has a wide range
ReplyDeleteellen beck