Here’s how my Second Hand Saturday winner selection works. You leave a comment within 7 days when the post first goes up (you have from Sat until Sat, so really 8 days because I am not that on top of it). You tell me WHAT BOOK YOU WANT and WHY YOU WANT IT. Whoever makes a compelling argument will win because I am all about getting the right book into the right hands. If no one wants the books, I’ll tweet like mad until someone comments. My Twitter handle is @PragmaticMom. If you follow me, I’ll follow you bac
Top 10 Best Children’s Books: My Kids’ Favorites of 2010
As I look back on the year and think about all the books my kids and I read together, it brings back warm, fuzzy memories of snuggling, laughing, and just enjoying a shared experience that loving the same book brings. So I asked my kids to each give me their three favorite books from last year and then I added a few more of my own, though I have to say that I loved their picks as much as they did. I hope you enjoy these books, should you need book recs, as much as we did!
Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior(!or?) WSJ; My Take (I’m Asian)
This was my cultural reality and the reality of most Asian kids that I knew, but there’s a flip side to everything. Are Chinese Mothers Superior? That is a mighty aggressive headline, first of all. Very un-Asian-like. This extreme style of parenting correlates to 1) standard of living for parents (lower = stricter), 2) recency of immigration (more recent = stricter), 3) stay at home parent vs 2 working parent (stay at home = stricter), and 4) insanity of parents (more insane = stricter).
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain is Fantastic
Your Fantastic Elastic Brain: Stretch It, Shape It by Dr. Joann Deak [non fiction picture book, ages 4-8] is gently encouraging kids to try new things after taking time to point out how the brain works. The message to the kids is that you are one sculpting and shaping your brain so be the driver not the passenger in this amazing journey called life!
Best Young Adult (YA) Non Fiction
I guess I am a children’s book award junkie. I really love all short lists for awards even more so than the actual award recipient. There is just something so exciting about a short list; anyone can be the winner. This genre: non fiction for young adult is not where I am reading ahead of my eldest yet as she is just eleven, but I am excited to learn about this award and I’m pretty sure that it will fit the bill for one of my kids in the future.
12-year-old author of fantasy chapter book
In the case of Nancy Yi Fan, it’s clear she was born with a special gift. My 10-year-old, nearly 11-year-old brought home this book for me to blog on. (At the same age, Nancy had banged out a draft of this book and was sending it in to publishers!).
Great Gifts for Kids Around $20 for Holidays or Birthdays
Gifts for kids around $20.







