Chris Oxlade

These Busy Builder books are more than just a book, but a way for children to interact, learn and play while reading. Each book includes a fact book, a 3-D building, and 48 model pieces. Think legos but instead cardboard pieces that build everything from firetrucks to the pole for firefighters to slide down. These kits are full of fun and will keep kids busy for hours. They are easily transportable as everything fits inside the box (if the things they build are taken apart) and it closes show more with a velcro.

The book is a heavy paperback that fits right inside the box. Each page details different equipment including the vehicles and buildings on the site that are necessary. The tools, employees, and tasks needed to get the job done are explained.

Then kids can take it to the next level and build what they just read. By opening the box, they can set the scene with roads and a fire station that they are building.

Multiple pieces are included to build vehicles and other necessary parts to play and act out the scene. In the fire station kit, the kids will learn what life is like inside the fire station, all the various fire trucks, and equipment involved in helping in emergencies. Helicopters, fire trucks, and the fire station pole are included in the fun of building.

When your child is done playing, everything can be taken apart and placed back inside the box for storage or travel. I think these kits are awesome and would make excellent gifts for preschool-aged kids through second grade. The words in the books would be too hard for the preschool and kindergartners to read themselves, but the pictures would help them figure out the steps to build and play.

These are a nice size and since they are made like a book, they would fit nicely on a bookshelf for storage. They are very sturdy and would hold up to numerous occasions of playing and travel. I wish our boys would have had something like this when they were younger. I think these are a must-give for Christmas! show less

Join Ava and George as they explore mighty natural phenomena in Ganeri & Oxlade's Geo Detectives: Volcanoes & Earthquakes. A perfect introduction to the natural world for young readers, stuffed full of neat facts and awesome experiments. With easy to find materials, and ingredients, budding geo detectives can get up close and personal with the mechanisms behind volcanic eruptions, tectonic plate movement and more! I read this with my cubs, and we had fun trying the experiments. Definitely a show more bonus for teaching grade school science!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. show less

The Water Cycle is another great addition to the Geo Detectives series by Anita Ganeri & Chris Oxlade. A perfect introduction to climate and the natural world for young readers, stuffed full of neat facts and awesome experiments. With easy to find materials, and ingredients, budding geo detectives can get up close and personal with the water cycle and more! I read this with my cubs, and we had fun trying the experiments. Definitely a bonus for teaching grade school science!

***Many thanks to show more the Netgalley & Quarto Publishing for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. show less

Surprisingly intelligent for a kid's book. I liked it, even if my niece made me read it! ;0) I do like UFOs, so not complaining that loudly.