Book Review: Compost (kid's book with stickers, games and science) (OT)

Compost: A Family Guide to Making Soil from Scraps (A Discover Together Guide), by Ben Raskin (Roost Books, 62 pages, 2014, $16.95) Review by Skye Anderson

Composting is Fun!

Replete with four pages of stickers, a ruler you can take out and use to measure worms, a game based on Candyland or Chutes and Ladders (Worms and Ladders), a picture frame, and a punch-out Worm Lover's Society member card, Compost is a book for kids that the whole family can use and take part in the activities therein.

For boys (and girls!), there are plenty of pictures and facts about worms and other creepy crawly things, including different kinds of worms and their genus and species, and also a bit about bacteria and protozoa.  They will learn the difference between humus and hummus (the latter is edible), the difference between hot and cold compost piles, and how you can start composting in your own kitchen! Kids can immediately use the stickers or, reading through the book, can earn the stickers one at a time.

Parents will appreciate the advice on what to do if you run into problems, the instructions to start composting (easy), what to compost and what not to compost, and the science (acidic and alkaline soil) and creativity of composting.

Worms are Great!

Be a Worm Hero!

Rotting is Good!

Book Review: Tails (toddlers, textures)

Tails, by Matthew Van Fleet (Harper Collins Clarion/Dragonfly Design, 2003, $14.99, 1-3 years, 20 pp), a board book for toddlers. Review by Skye Anderson.

Tails for Toddlers, A Touching Tale

Toddlers like yours simply love to touch (after they have put the object in their mouth, of course) so this book about tails is so touching (pun  intended). It starts with the cover, a cut-out with a shiny peacock tail feather, a soft tiger tail (both forming the 'T'), a clingy yet strong pangolin tail (the 'a'), a stringy warthog tail (making the 'i'), an old and bumpy alligator tail ('l'), even a fluffy tail (for the 's') and, of course, a long weasel tail.

Short Tails and Long Tales (Opposites, too)

Tails is a book that teaches counting, starting with the final page, but with an emphasis on common and not-so-common animals - all with tails to touch! 

The animals are cute, even the skunk with a scratch-and-sniff tail. Some tails will wag if you help them - with pull-tabs and fold-outs and flaps to lift.

But, sadly no dog tails. . . .

Tails look different. Tails feel different. Tails even have different functions. Your child will learn and remember 'all about tails'!