Children benefit greatly from seasonal reading choices. Everything is fresh and new in a child's eyes and books are great for starting discussions and learning. Below are some suggestions for fun books to consider for March, spring, April, back to school, and Christmas.
March into Spring
Women's History Month
March is the start of spring and Women's History Month. The Usborne Young Reading Series includes manageable biographies of the following famous women in history: Anne Frank; Florence Nightingale; Marie Antoinette; and Cleopatra.
You might also be interested in some top reading choices from Amazon.com for celebrating Women's History Month. Take a look at the women's history books page.
Read Across America Day
Read Across America Day celebrates the life and work of Theodore Seuss Giesel, otherwise known as Dr Seuss.
It's a great time for picking out a new book which will become a child's favorite. How about the following from Usborne Books & More: Farmyard Tales with a duck to find on every page; books with charming clay model illustrations by Jo Litchfield; or interactive books by Richard Fowler, which are great for keeping kids focused on the story.
St. Patrick's Day
St Patrick's Day, as well as a celebration of all things Irish, has become synonomous with the color green. There are many fine books on the environment and nature for children. Here's a list of 50 Nature Books for Kids.
Have a Happy Spring Break
Travelling for the holiday? Grab a bag and stuff in some goodies, including a book or two. Something new will keep your kids busy and make for happier travelers. Puzzle, maze and search books can keep kids busy for hours and sticker books keep active fingers occupied.
An Easter Gift That Lasts
Board books are an Easter surprise for an infant or toddler that lasts beyond the thrill of Easter egg hunting. Mini books are perfect for adding to an Easter basket. And craft and cookery books such as Fairy Things to Make and Do and the Little Children's Cookbook, both from Usborne, are popular long after the holiday is past.
Springtime Savings
Usborne often offers spring and Easter savings packs of books. Check with your local Usborne consultant for current offers, or visit Alison's Usborne Books & More store.
Grow A Budding Reader in April
National Poetry Month
April is National Poetry Month. Share nursery rhymes, poems and songs with your child and grow their phonemic awareness. Heard of phonics? Poems, songs and rhymes not only build essential phonic pre-reading skills, but they are FUN! Celebrate mud, rain, ice-cream, cats, mice, teddy bears and more with a great book of poems for preschoolers. Start growing phonics skills early, there's no need to wait until preschool.
Nursery Rhymes will put your tiny one on the path to reading. The Usborne Nursery Rhyme Treasury contains 67 beautifully illustrated traditional nursery rhymes and makes a wonderful gift. Need more poetry ideas? Choose from a selection of favorite American children's poets.
Get out in the garden - grow and discover
Plant a green thumb seed! Take your child out into the garden. Story books about gardening are great for growing an outdoor interest for both kids and adults. Plant a variety of seeds inside and out, or escape into the secret garden with a book.
Explore the Farm
Baby animals and tractors can be hard to resist! Lookf for books about lambs, chicks, ducklings, birds nesting, and tractors. Apple Tree Farm is a great story series for preschool children which gets kids thinking about animals and places outside the city. Dot to dots are a great way to practice pencil work and to learn number sequences. Go dot to dotty on the farm is a farm themed book which sneaks in some writing skills for kids!
Got a bug enthusiast?
Collect some creepy crawlies. Nurture your naturalist. Visit your local park, then do a big bug search, or hunt for 1001 bugs on the way home.
Find more great fun books for spring for kids at Alison's 50 Nature Books for Kids list.
Find Some Splashing Summer Reads
Hot Summer Reading
Run your own 10 week summer camp with the Usborne Ten Terrific Weeks curriculum and/or book sets, including Adventures at Sea, without leaving home. Nothing beats an Usborne pirate book for summer fun - there are stories, crafts, puzzles, and search books.
Usborne also publish a range of books about seas, oceans, and ocean wildlife, including sharks, under the sea, seashore, and penguin books.
Free Reading Incentive Program
Summer reading incentive programs are a fabulous way to get kids reading and bring a benefit to your non-profit. Usborne's Reach for the Stars program may be available in your community through your local Usborne Books & more consultant. Find out about Usborne Reach for the Stars . It's a really great program.
Have a Great Trip
Travelling for the summer? Grab a bag and stuff in some goodies, including a book or two and some cards. Usborne puplish a number of different card packs which are popular with traveling kids, such as 100 Things for Little Children to do on a Trip and 50 Brain Games.
Reach for Educational Excellence
Help your child to reach for educational excellence this fall with fun, absorbing Usborne books that kids love. Support your child's learning and build a confident reader.
Top Pick For Middle School Reference Books
For oustanding reference books take a look at the Usborne encylopedias: Geography, History.
Each encyclopedia covers a wide range of middle school topics with pre-screened internet links accessible through Usborne's outstanding Quicklinks website which grows your teen's knowledge. Find the answers to homework questions, and research for reports.
The Illustrated Dictionary of Math is an essential guide for parents; know the answers to math questions that teens use to stump you! The Parent's Choice recommended Illustrated Dictionary of Science explains the essential science concepts that will set your teen on the path to college.
Free Reading Incentive Program
Launch a back-to-school reading incentive program to benefit the children you care about. Read about the Reach for the Stars program and find out what an Usborne consultant near you can offer.
Baby's First Christmas Stocking
What fun to choose gifts to put into baby's first Christmas stocking! Usborne has lots of choice in cute, fun, books that will fit both the stocking and your budget. Choose from chunky board books, baby flashcards, washable books, and wipeable stroller books.
Usborne Touchy-Feely Board Books - Snowman $9.99
That's Not My books are not only fun for baby and you, they are fantastic vocabulary builders for babies and toddlers which prepare them for reading and school success. You'll have a hard time choosing from the 25 different titles which include adorable seasonal ones such as That's Not My Reindeer, That's Not My Snowman, and That's Not My Santa.
You can see more ideas on finding the best children's books at the best kids books page.