Valerie Wyatt

Micronations for beginners- this uses a how-to format to talk about how countries work. And by concentrating on the very small, big topics like economy and diplomacy feel more immediate. And the suggestion for national anthems and other regalia are hilarious. Lots of jumping off points for further research.

If you have a student or child in your life who needs some encouragement with math, this is the book for you! Valerie Wyatt, author of science book for girls, wins another one for girls with this fun, exciting book filled with math tricks, games, projects, and experiments, all tossed in great combination with stories and pictures-- and I don't mean story problems and technical diagrams! Wyatt and illustrator Pat Cupples have made a vibrant character in Nora, your "newfangled fairy show more godmother", who helps you find math looping in and through every part of your life. Games and experiments call for equipment that most kids will be able to find around their homes--masking tape, newspaper, rulers, pencils, and other familiar items. Nora's friends come from a wide variety of backgrounds and bring a little kick of much-needed racial and ethnic diversity to the world of encouraging girls and women in math and science. "Real-life math" boxes profile women using math in their careers, as chefs, veterinarians, marine biologists, and more--a great way to show kids why and how math might matter later. Good for 4th grade math up through pre-algebra. show less

{my thoughts} – This book is about changing one word into another. It is based on a game called word ladders. I think this book is well thought out and the illustrations help to make the word ladders make sense to the individual reading. It also teaches children another game in which they can play alone or with a friend that helps to improve their academic skills in terms of reading, writing and spelling.

My first encounter with Kids Can Press was as a teenager; browsing through the library, looking for craft books, I found the Kids Can Do It series...and I was in love. A huge variety of projects, simple, easy instructions, helpful photographs....they're the epitome of craft books. Now, I am delighted to review two very unusual "how to do it" books from Kids Can Press. They've retained all the best of the Kids Can Do It series, but used it on some unusual topics!

Want to freak out your family show more and gross out your friends? Does fake blood sound like the perfect birthday present? Do you like gross and icky projects? Then 100% Pure Fake is the book for you! With clear, step-by-step instructions (plenty of warnings and safety precautions to reassure parents) and ingredients you can probably find in your own kitchen, you'll learn how to make different types of fake blood, scars, rotting flesh, eyeballs, the classic spill, broken glass, shrunken heads, and more! This book is genius, pure genius. What other gross craft book can you think of that not only tells you how to make fake blood....it differentiates between arterial blood, "basic" blood, and scabs? Perfect for craft programs around Halloween, even parents who don't like gross crafts will be resigned to the fool-proof projects which include cleaning-up instructions as needed!

How countries are formed on the global scale isn't something you often see in children's books - still less how governments work. At least, you don't see it in books kids will want to check out! At my library I have a tidy shelf of how-the-government-works books. I dust them every week. Booooring. But what if you weren't just reading about it....what if you were starting your own country? With step-by-step instructions, plenty of humor, fascinating facts about other country builders, large and small, and quirky illustrations, Valerie Wyatt and Fred Rix have created the perfect book for showing kids how governments are formed and stabilized (or not). And the how-to part isn't just a gimmick - the information and history is built around actual instructions on forming your own micronation and there's plenty of stories of people who did just that! This book is part of the CitizenKid series by Kids Can Press and I'm looking forward to checking out the rest of this series! Hand this book out to kids looking for something to do, researching governments, kids interested in virtual worlds, kids interested in politics and history...the list is endless. I, myself, am already planning a program based on this excellent guide.

Verdict: Highly recommended

100% Pure Fake by Lyn Thomas
ISBN: 978-1554532902; Published August 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates

How to build your own country by Valerie Wyatt, illustrated by Fred Rix
ISBN: 978-1554533107; Published August 2009 by Kids Can Press; Review copy provided by the publisher through Raab Associates show less