Books, Reviews

Children’s Book Reviews: Know-Nonsense Indeed Can Be Wonderful

Is is no nonsense or know nonsense? Well, read on to discover books that are sure to teach you lots of things in a know nonsense way and sometimes nonsensical way to teach and entertain too!

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These Books Know What They Are Saying: It’s Not Nonsense

A Rock Can Be

A Rock Can Be (Millbrook Picture Books)
by Laura Purdie Salas (Author),‎ Violeta Dabija (Illustrator)

Just like the previous books in the series, ‘Water Can Be‘, and ‘A Leaf Can Be’, this book is simply magical. As before, Laura Purdie Salas and Violeta Dabija have unfailingly managed to create the wow factor with ease. Pithy text and beautiful illustrations blend seamlessly to show the reader that a rock is not just a rock, but can be so much more. At the same time, they continue to educate with the book using appended text to explain words in each page as needed, and with an appendix of useful and interesting information (history of hopscotch, anyone?). A gift for young and old (that rock-enthusiast in your family will appreciate this book, no matter the age).
Rating: A+
Reading Level: Ages 5 to 8
Reread Level: 5/5

Everybody’s Somewhere

Everybody’s Somewhere
by Cornelia Maude Spelman
Quarto Publishing Group – Seagrass Press

This book has colorful, adorable illustrations and rhyming text which make it easy reading. It will help those littles who worry when people they know and love are away, as well as wonder about other someones and somebodies like them who are well, somewhere else. It helps teach them that there are people just like us all over the world, make them familiar with concepts of time, place, and distance.

Notes: Amazon’s page for this has teaching points for teachers, parents, and caregivers from the publisher which will definitely be useful.

Rating: A
Reading Level: Ages 5 to 8
Reread Level: 4/5

The World’s Biggest Fart

The World’s Biggest Fart:  Rafael Ordóñez Cuadrado, Laure du Fäy (Illustrated by)

While my daughter, who is almost 12 and my 15 yo teen found this book hilarious, I reacted like a typical adult (female) to this book with a ‘gross, enough already’ and hoped nobody gets any ideas from the book! Based on the previous statement, I would like to say that this book will be enjoyed by kids (and non-kids) of all ages who enjoy jokes of the bodily-noises kin. For the others, they will be mightily curious as to what this book is about while finding the humor corny (though not offensive).

Rating: B+ based on an A (from my kids) and B- (from me)
Reading Level: Ages 5 to 8
Reread Level: 4/5

The Know-Nonsense Guide To Series

The Know-Nonsense Guide To series by Heidi Fiedler (Author),‎ Brendan Kearney (Illustrator): The below three books in the series are all aimed at teaching concepts in a fun way. While my favorite one has to be the one about grammar solely based on its subject matter, each of them manage to cover a broad range of information in a 64 page illustrated book which is not overly wordy. The quirky illustrations and humorous examples help the reader understand the concepts in a totally fun way!

My thoughts on each of these books are below:

The Know-Nonsense Guide to Grammar

This book teaches not only the basic rules of grammar, but also throws in a healthy dose of literary devices. I actually learned something new in this book (though I have always followed this rule without actually knowing it) – the sequence of adjectives in a sentence (when there are multiple adjectives).  This book will be a great classroom addition.

Rating: A
Reading Level: Ages 8 to 12
Reread Level: 5/5

Measurements: The Know-Nonsense Guide to

Not confining itself to just the more common measurements of length, volume, mass, and time, this book also explores intensity (of sound, spice, windchill – to name a few). Again, the book teaches while entertaining using fun illustrations and cool definitions.

Rating: A
Reading Level: Ages 8 to 12
Reread Level: 5/5

The Know-Nonsense Guide to Money

Do you know your bitcoins? If your child (or a total newbie to money) asks to define what earning power means or how/why we need to budget, then this book will help!  It explores money in five sections: What is Money?, Earning, Saving, Spending, and Borrowing. A perfect introduction to the complex world of finance for anyone, and for teaching how to use money responsibly for the young ones!

Rating: A
Reading Level: Ages 8 to 12
Reread Level: 5/5

This post goes towards It’s Monday What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA at Teach Mentor Texts and for the Ultimate Blogging Challenge as well as Just Jot It January. This also goes towards the NetGalley and Edelweiss Reading Challenge.

Disclaimer:
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publishers for sending me a digital review copy of the books – A Rock Can Be, Everybody’s Somewhere, and The Know-Nonsense Guide To Money.
Thank you to Edelweiss and to the publishers for sending me a digital review copy of the books – Everybody’s Somewhere, The World’s Biggest Fart, The Know-Nonsense Guide To Measurements, and The Know-Nonsense Guide To Grammar.
I was not compensated for my reviews. My thoughts were in no way influenced by the author or publicist. They are my personal opinions formed when I read these books.

13 thoughts on “Children’s Book Reviews: Know-Nonsense Indeed Can Be Wonderful

  1. Hello thank you for the reviews. I have just started an online platform as well. My goal is to review at least 30 books this year! I would love to chat with you on your experience as a book blogger. 😊

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  2. The book Everybody’s Somewhere seems like a great book not only for children, but for adults missing someone they love as well. It seems to serve as a great comfort and hope, that everybody’s somewhere.

  3. I love the idea behind the book, Everybody’s Somewhere. I think it’s important for children to learn in a way that is on there level. And I love that is also covers people from around the world. How cool is that?

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