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How evolved are you? New book for kids tells all!
The Giant Timeline is a new book out by a new publisher, Charlie’s Playhouse, which makes books and toys to teach kids about evolution and natural selection. The Giant Timeline is an 18 foot long unfolding book that takes the reader through the past 600 million years of history of life on this planet. The book is big, big, big, like its subject matter, but makes the story compelling to kids 4+ with colorful illustrations, comic book-like thought bubbles from the funny creatures, and lots and lots of strange looking monsters who have the distinction of being our ancestors.
Dads will find a lot to love about this book. It’s a perfect length for a before bedtime read, but also fills in tons of knowledge gaps for the non-scientists among us who haven’t studied the evolution since high school (where my teacher scoffed at it by the way). My son and I both read the book together and enjoyed the colorful illustrations. The book also contains page after page of explanatory material which provides background information and even games for the deeper involvement in the timeline, with ideas for kids, parents, and teachers. I’ve never seen such an in-depth study guide in a book of this type.
The Giant Timeline has taken the coveted “favorite book” of my five year old son. He loves is so much that he immediately took it to school to show his kindergarten friends.
The publisher of the book, mom and scientist Kate Miller, admits that evolution can be controversial. Charlie’s Playhouse, however, believes that the majority of Americans find the study of evolution consistent with their own beliefs and that the issue if over-politicized. “Why should this majority be deprived of educational fun stuff for their kids because the few who politicize the issue. It’s basic cultural literacy.” To this end, Charlie’s Playhouse has teamed up with The Clery Letter Project which gathers signatures from clergy affirming their belief that evolutionary study is consistent with their religious beliefs.
Find this book and other toys of an evolutionary nature at Charlie’sPlayhouse.com.
One last thing, while the book smells a bit like plastic out of its packaging, it’s actually made out of a earth-friendly synthetic paper called Polylith.
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“My Parents are Divorced, My Elbows have Nicknames…”
My Parents are Divorced, My Elbows have Nicknames, and Other Facts about Me is a new book by Bill Cochran that helps kids understand that living in a divorced situation might not be as weird as all the other idiosyncrasies a kid might have.
This book, written for kids 4-8, is well-done with good and real examples of the complexity of living in two houses, and the frustrations of not having mom and dad literally on the same end of the soccer field. It even treats the stepmom issue with grace (taking the side of the stepmother, of course).
Not to be overly politically correct, I was disappointed that the parents got stuck in stereotyped roles. Dad can’t cook, mom can’t do math, and mom is better at putting bandaids on. I think I’m pretty good at all three of those tasks. I know it’s hard not to step on a landmine when dealing with these subjects, but I would have liked to see one example that went against 2oth century notions of sex roles.
This might be good book, especially for younger readers, if you’re trying to communicate the “non-weirdness” of being in a divorced famil.
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The Forever Dog is a new book that helps kids understand grief
- Cover of The Forever Dog
The Forever Dog is a new book by Bill Cochran that tells the story of a young boy’s relationship to his dog Corky. Sadly, Corky dies early on in the book, so much of the tale is about the young boy’s stages of grief as he in turn is sad, angry, and finally happy about this important dog in his life.
Adults will have a hard time reading this book without themselves feeling sad about their own personal losses, while kids who have not yet had to experience a death will be blissfully unaware of what the story means. It does, however, introduce concepts that are new for most kids, and could help ease them into what death means. Be prepared to answer your child’s own questions about your longevity if you pick this up to read at bedtime.
This book may be helpful for kids who own older pets, and for whom a preparation for an eventual death is important. I would not recommend it for parents trying to explain the death of a family member or close friend.
The book is beautifully illustrated by Dan Andreasen.
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If the World were a Village…
We’d heard a lot about these books and finally had the chance to read 
If the World Were a Village and If America Were a Village.
First of all, let me say that I appreciate the correct use of the subjunctive “were” rather than “if the World was a village.”
Second, I thoroughly enjoyed these books. When I took them out to show my kids (5 and 9), they were a little cynical. My son wants to read about trucks or monsters and my daughter likes stories. But the well-done illustrations pulled them in – they know quality when they see it – and the chance to talk about stuff with dad.
The books just present simple statistics using the example of a village of 100 people. Each person representing 1% of the population, which gives a kid, and adults, better access to the material. Literacy rates or hunger are presented as some of the “villagers” who can’t read or who go hungry, which personalizes the hard data. Every page gave us new things to talk about or for me to explain.
The books don’t attempt to give answers to the world’s problems and inequities, but do give parents a chance to discuss how lucky most American kids have it. Several generations of American parents have tried to communicate this message to relatively over-privileged off-spring. This book goes a good way to dimensionalize the differences. Dads will also pick up some interesting information. And it’s an enjoyable read for dads and kids alike.
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Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix for what age?
After consuming the first three Harry Potter Books in short order, I slowed down when we reached Number 4, The Goblet of Fire. Teachers and parents had warned me that “they get dark” after number three and I wasn’t looking forward to creating any undue trauma in my little seven year old. The Goblet of Fire lived up to its reputation, both creepy and gruesomely violent at the end. My daughter, at nine, though, enjoyed it and begged for Number 5. 
I see little kids who are reading number seven, and other kids who don’t read the stories until age 12? What is the most appropriate age for Number 5?
Now, as the summer hits mid-stride, we’re already talking about The Order of the Phoenix and restarting our evening Harry Potter Ritual. I’m looking forward to spending long stretches reading to her and sharing the experience. And, I’m calculating that if we only read one once a year, I can stretch this ritual out until she’s thirteen.
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