Fall Favorites from National Geographic Kids Books (Giveaway ends 10/29/31)

School is back into full swing across the country – thankfully. I think kids and educators are thrilled to be back in school. The kids missed their friends and having a sense of “normalcy.”

I work in the school district. So far, so good with school. Social distancing, mask wearing, vaccinations and keeping kids home when they are sick really made a difference. Our school district is adamant about children getting tested BEFORE coming back to school if they are sick, or sent home sick, just to be on the safe side. Even if a child goes home early because they have a headache or tummy ache, they still need to get tested before they can return to school.

I have a “library” that I created in our program. I bring in books that are sent to me to review (after I am done reviewing them) to add to our library. The children are welcome to borrow the books and bring them back whenever they want, or they are welcome to keep them too.

I’m a supporter of anything that can encourage children to read. Reading is very important, most especially in a day and age when children would rather play video games and watch television then read a book.

I have a few kids in the program who love to read, and some that are seen as “reluctant readers.” To me, it doesn’t  matter about their reading “status,” but more so seeing a child excited to read a book.

I was sent some WONDERFUL books  from National Geographic to review. After I was done reading through the books and checking out the gorgeous color photos, I couldn’t wait to show them to the kids at work. WOW! Let me tell you they were all over those books. Some would rather read through the books than go out on the playground to play or do arts and crafts.

With these books I’d like them to stay in our “library,” only because several kids wanted to keep them and I didn’t have enough to let them all bring home a book.

These are the books I was sent to review.

Ultimate Book of African Animals by Emmy Award-Winning Filmmakers Beverly and Dereck Joubert (ages 8-12, hardcover)

Ready for an adventure of a lifetime? With National Geographic photographer-filmmaker duo Beverly and Dereck Joubert as their guides, readers are transported to the plains of the Serengeti, the sands of the Sahara and the shaded nooks of the rainforest. Dereck and Beverly are eight-time Emmy award-winning filmmakers, National Geographic Explorers-in-Residence and wildlife conservationists who have been filming, researching and exploring Africa for over 35 years.  By sharing their stories of life on safari and Beverly’s jaw-dropping photography, this dynamic duo gives the reader unique, behind-the-lens access to Africa’s wildlife, how they live, play and hunt and how they have adapted to their wild, one-of-a-kind environments.  A big, beautiful guide to animals that roar, race and “totally rule,” this gift-worthy book is overflowing with facts, stats and photos of animals of all behaviors, shapes and sizes — including the tiny bombardier beetle, the sneaky desert viper, mischievous monkeys, elusive Ethiopian wolves, as well as fan favorites like lions, elephants, cheetahs, zebras, giraffes, hippos, gorillas, rhinos, and so many more.

I have always wanted to go on an African safari. I have seen documentaries on television, and I’ve always wanted to go on one myself. It’s actually one of my “bucket list” things that I want to do before I die. Sadly, I doubt I ever will. They are expensive, and my husband is terrified to fly in an airplane over water. I’m pretty sure we can’t drive to Africa from New York.

This book helps bring an African safari to life.

With each turn of the page, readers will see stunning photographs and interesting facts about the creatures that call the African continent their home.

I found this book very interesting to read. Even as an adult who loves animals and grew up watching shows like Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom, I STILL learned from this book.

Attention Percy Jackson/Greek Mythology Fans!:

Zeus the Mighty Series: The Trials of Hairy-Clees  (ages 8-12, hardcover)

“Readers will appreciate the overlay of this mythological world atop the real-life operations of a pet rescue center and how Boyer manages to fit all the plot pieces together perfectly. Great characters, action, adventure, and lots of humor” — School Library Connection

“A treat for proto–Percy Jackson fans.” — Kirkus Reviews

Welcome to Mount Olympus, a pet supply and rescue center that sits high on a hill in Athens, Georgia. The overconfident hamster Zeus, wise cat Athena, and other rescued pets live there under the watchful eye of their caretaker, Artie, who’s obsessed with Greek mythology. The pets overhear her favorite podcast, Greeking Out, and believe themselves to be the actual megastars of mythology! Get ready to laugh, cheer, and learn with Zeus and his minions in their rollicking romps through Greek mythology and unforgettable adventures. Check out the Zeus the Mighty website for books, fun printables, games, fun Greek facts and episodes of the real life Greeking Out podcast.

I have received other books in the Zeus book series. These are fun books that both boys and girls can enjoy. In fact, it’s a girl who took this book home with her to read. She thought Zeus looked cute (he is).

These books are fun to read, even as an adult. If my kids were younger I could see me reading this book, and other Zeus books, to them at night before bedtime.

If your child love humor and adventure, then this book is worth checking out.

The book (and all Zeus books) also have illustrations scattered throughout the pages.

Little Kids First Big Book of Rocks, Minerals and Shells (ages 4-8, hardcover)

This new addition to the wildly popular Little Kids First Big Book series introduces a fascinating variety of Earth’s rocks, minerals, gemstones, fossils, and shells — from granite to gold, marble to malachite, and conchs to clams. Discover how rocks are formed, the three kinds of rocks, and the difference between rocks and minerals. Learn how rocks and minerals are used in art, architecture, industry, and science. Then journey to the oceans to explore seashells and the amazing animals that once inhabited them. Packed with more than 200 stunning photos, including closeups of each specimen, this colorful book showcases breathtaking natural sites such as the Giant’s Causeway and human-built structures like the Great Wall of China. Filled with fun facts, this book is designed for interactive learning, the Little Kids First Big Book of Rocks, Minerals, and Shells.

This is a fascinating book about rocks and other natural made things from around the world, and throughout time.

I have a few rocks that I have collected throughout my life that I would love to learn more about. I wish I could take them to the Museum of Natural History and have someone tell me if they are man-made, or simply a natural creation. One rock looks like it has a face carved into it, and the other has a PERFECT hole through the center of it. Both were found on a beach.

I also have a bone-like thing that I also found on a beach that I’d love to know if it’s some kind of a fossil.

As a child, I used to collect rocks that I thought looked different (usually ones that were very shiny and sparkly). I would have loved to have had a book like this growing up.

This book features hundreds of beautiful photography that only National Geographic can deliver.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2022 (ages 8-12, paperback) – The number one selling kids almanac on the planet! 

‘”…this gathering of upbeat, vividly illustrated, browser-friendly dips into topics ranging from black holes to blue-footed boobies to Bolivian street food is hard to put down, and the pop quizzes and research guides at each chapter’s end will give studious sorts a leg up, too.” – Kirkus

The latest installment of the New York Times best-selling almanac features amazing animal stories, explorer profiles, and outrageous attractions that kids know and love, plus more of the incredible inventions, awesome games, and fresh challenges for curious kids who want to learn all about the world and everything that’s in it.  Tons of fun facts, crafts, activities, and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, technology, conservation help kids keep up with our quickly changing world and is why this is the number one selling kids almanac on the planet.  There’s a whole chapter full of fun and games, including activities, jokes, and comics and the colorful compilation also includes an Almanac Challenge 2022 — which inspires kids to reduce their plastic waste.

Love! Love! Love this book! This book is truly A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Trust me, the moment you read through the pages you’ll clearly see why this is a best selling book. Not only is it overflowing with fascinating facts and cool information about a variety of things, but each page features extraordinary photography from National Geographic photographers.

I love that this book offers readers a lot of useful information that they can apply to their own lives TODAY, such as tips on repurposing and recycling, as well as homework help.

Great book!

NG Kids World Atlas 6th Edition (ages 10+, hardcover)

“No one does maps or atlases with as much panache and knowledge as National Geographic” – Washington Post

This Fall, the map experts at National Geographic debuts the sixth edition of their Kids World Atlas — the perfect reference for kids to learn about lands close to home or oceans away. This title is an authoritative and well-designed with completely updated maps, stats, and facts about the people, places, trends, and developments of our world.  Highlights include the latest geographic and political information, a new map on global migration that introduces kids to the movement of people around the world, new graphics that present facts in an easy-to-read format, a place-name index with more than 3,000 locations, colorful photography that shows the beauty and diversity of our world and more than 120 maps, each one telling a story.   Now more than ever, kids need to understand the world from a global perspective — this is an invaluable resource for using in the classroom or reading at home.

As crazy at it sounds, I used to love flipping through the pages of atlases at the library when I was a young girl. Usually these books were meant to be reference books, and not to be borrowed from the library. So for that reason I would lug the always heavy book(s) to a near by table and read through the pages. I loved learning about different places around the the world, and checking out maps from different countries.

I think it was my love for reading atlas’ that gave me a sense of “wanderlust.” I’ve wanted to travel around the world since I was a little girl – even places that most people wouldn’t exactly consider a tourist destination.

I think an Atlas is a great book for a child to have. Not only are they educational, but they are also very interesting too.

NG Kids Why?:  Over 1,111 Answers to Everything (ages 8-12, hardcover, 192 pages)

The concept is simple. Got a question? Well now you have an answer! 1,111 of them, in fact. Want to know why your snot is yellow? Flip to the human body chapter. What’s on the inside of a turtle shell? The animal section’s got you covered. What’s in the deepest part of the ocean? Why doesn’t Earth just float off into space? Check, check, and check. With hundreds of topics ranging from silly to serious, this book has the expert information kids need in a fun and entertaining format that will keep them digging for answers.

Every now and again I receive a book to review that is geared towards children that I really enjoy – so much so that I keep it for my family’s library. This is one of those books.

I love to learn, and I enjoy all the easy to read facts about things from all around the world.

I do very well with the game show Jeopardy. I always say that I know a little bit about a lot of things, thanks to books like this.

It doesn’t matter that this book is geared towards kids 8-12, I think any age could benefit from the great information found within it’s pages. The beautiful color photographs only adds to the books appeal.

You can find these and other great National Geographic Kids books on the National Geographic Online Store.

A lot of these book titles are also available at other retailers including Amazon.

Be sure to check out National Geographic Kids on Facebook and Twitter.

Nat Geo Kids have been kind enough to provide all of these book titles to give away to a lucky reader.

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will end on October 29, 2021. The winner will be chosen at random using a random number generator from all eligible entries. The winner will be notified via email and will have three days to reply or a new winner will be chosen in their place.

Please use the Rafflecopter widget (below) to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

Kimberly

*I received free books in order to do this review. There was no compensation. The opinions expressed are my own and not influenced in any way.