Books Inc. Kids's blog

The Egypt Game starts from the perspective of April Hall, a little girl who's just moved to a new neighborhood so that she can live with her grandmother while her mother runs around Hollywood. Despite the fact that April finds the new town far too provincial for her tastes, she soon makes friends with the decidedly less precocious Melanie Ross, and by proxy, Melanie's very serious little brother, Marshall (who never goes anywhere without his safety octopus, aptly named Safety). The three begin playfully reenacting ancient Egyptian rituals, and are soon joined by two boys, Ken and Toby. With five players in the Egypt game, all bringing their own ideas and research to the table, the game becomes more serious, and when strange things start happening, the kids can't help but wonder if they are making it happen. Meanwhile, a child murderer is in the neighborhood, and everyone suspects the Professor, the strange old man whose backyard is the secret location for the Egypt game. Though the cast of characters is racially diverse, Snyder never devolves into sanctimonious preaching about difference. All these varied characters and elements create a wonderful story about imagination, learning and the joy of play.

It may be impossible to throw a rock at an elementary school without hitting a third or fourth grader who's curious about ancient Egypt. So throw a rock, hit a kid and then buy them a copy of this book. The parents will totally drop charges when they see how awesome the book is. Or you'll go to jail with a funny story about bad advice an excellent kids book. For ages 8-12.

A bear has lost his hat, and it’s quite tragic, indeed. Though he politely asks everyone in the forest if they have seen his hat, he is met with little to no help. However, a simple question from a deer jogs something most suspicious in his memory… perhaps finding his hat was easier than he’d feared!

You know that feeling you get when someone hands you a present? The way it feels as you untie the ribbon, rip the tape and pull back the wrapping paper? It’s something like anticipation, with a touch of nervousness… and hope, too. Because that present could be anything, and all that possibility is exciting, and a little scary. It’s something more complicated than a noun. That’s the feeling that defines Bigger Than a Breadbox.

When Rebecca’s mother leaves her father, she takes Rebecca and her little brother with them, and Rebecca is forced to start at a new school where she knows no one. Removed from Baltimore and thrust into Atlanta, Rebecca struggles to fit in at a new school, cope with the separation of her parents and grow up all at the same time. But then, Rebecca finds a beautiful breadbox that, to Rebecca’s delight, grants wishes. Not all wishes… just wishes that can fit into the breadbox itself.

            Even though this is a book with a touch of magic, Snyder keeps the characters and their relationships so honest and organic that it feels as believable as truth. Simple sentences underlie not at all simple emotions in this complicated novel about coming of age, recognizing your parent’s humanity and realizing that no matter how wonderful a gift is, there is no object that can fix all your problems. A lovely novel perfectly suited for discussing as a family or in a bookclub. For ages 8-12.

Some books we read and we forget. Some books we don’t read at all. But then there are some books, like The Phantom Tollbooth, that we read, remember and then recommend to all our friends, because it’s got that special, magical quality that begs to be shared. And today, October 25th, is the 50th anniversary of this cherished children’s classic.

The Phantom Tollbooth stands with classics like The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and Alice and Wonderland, as books that people read as children, remember through adolescence and often reread as adults to share with their own children. With fifty years under its belt, The Phantom Tollbooth has blessed generations of readers with an unforgettable adventure, perfectly suited for reading aloud as a family.

So join Milo as he goes on a pun-filled trip through the Kingdom of Wisdom with his faithful watchdog, Tock; eat your words with King Azzaz, and jump to the Island of Conclusions. And just like Milo, we’re sure that in the end The Phantom Tollbooth will help you see the world in a more vibrant, playful and interesting way.

Family vacations can be a drag. Especially when you end up on a not-quite deserted desert island full of strange maybe-aliens, maybe-monsters that you’re left to battle off so that they don’t eat/kill/maim your entire family! When they say Bad Island, they seriously mean it. Yikes.

And you thought that summer you spent with Auntie Mildred in that mosquito-infested swamp she calls home was rough.

Told half in the present from the point of view of a very contemporary family (with surprisingly honest family problems for a story that also contains ancient alien curses) and half in the past story of alien royalty, Bad Island is an awesome mash-up brought to you by the guy who created the Eisner-nominated Ghostopolis (which is also awesome). With his signature flair for action and humor, TenNapel delivers another rollicking graphic novel adventure, great for ages 7/8+