Karen Latchana Kenney

Literary Merit: Very Good
Characterization: Very Good
Level: Middle School
Recommended: Highly Recommended

For any student interested in weird facts transmitted in an engaging and exciting way, this book is their jam. Kenney investigates some of the oldest organisms on Earth, from the epic to the bizarre, explaining the science behind their longevity in a fun and straightforward way. Making each of the discoveries personal with the accounts of the scientists involved creates a very human show more narrative thread that keeps the reader interested. The book also pops with color, sidebars, pictures, and asides that cover everything from evolutionary biology to modern conservation efforts. A list of resources and a glossary are helpful and sure to interest kids who leave the book hungry for more. show less

My son had a third grade teacher who taught her students mindfulness. He has ADHD and learning mindfulness from her helped immensely. I'm so happy that Sesame Street is encouraging the use of this too! Calm Monsters, Kind Monsters is a fantastic introduction of mindfulness for children and parents. This book gives great ways to help children realize their emotions and learn productive ways to cope with them. Children will enjoy getting to try these mindfulness exercises with their favorite show more Sesame Street monsters! show less

Excellent, fills an important niche. Some families prefer books with characters that they recognize, and a lot of families have kids who need extra help developing coping skills and calming strategies. I have read a number of books on the subject, but I actually loved this. Includes index!

Perfect. Sesame Street knows what they are doing. They use various muppets to illustrate different scenarios and what can be done to calm down or prepare an appropriate response. They also use a variety of children to help illustrate that this is something everyone can do, not just muppets. It’s simple, easy to understand, and just works.