Some of Our Favorite Kids' Books

Family Fun in Massachusetts, Cape Ann Kids Summer Guide

Finding the right book for your kid can be a challenge but if you keep new ones coming, you may be on your way to raising a lifelong reader.

Here we've highlighted a few books for different ages - some exceptional titles could be the perfect thing to spark your kid's interest, introduce your reader to a new author, or rediscover an old favorite.

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by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Daniel Salmieri, a hilarious picture book that warns of the dangers of serving dragons their favorite food topped with spicy salsa. It will make them breathe fire, and they could burn your house down. It's silly fun from start to finish, with dragons of every size, shape, and color and heaps and heaps of tacos on its entertaining spreads. This one could become a classic.

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This touching, sweet, beautiful kids book shows both kids and adults how to visit their dreams and make them come true through wonderful illustration and narration. A simple, great story that gives kids the freedom to have passion, ideas and dreams.

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About a young girl who finds a lost baby bear on Broadway in NYC who is looking for his mama. There are certain things you should do when you meet a bear in Manhattan and one of them is to stick your gloved hand out (after you "suck in your breath") and say, "Stop there, Little Bear!" The book will charm young kids because of the bear's infantlike talk when interacting with the little girl who has found him. "How does your mama sing, Little Bear?", she asks.  Little Bear responds, "Oh! Sings like mama!". The cuteness continues to the very end.

This is an adorable book that has a beautiful flow (Amy Hest), from the first past to the last. The illustration (Elivia Savadier) and whimsical watercolors are a treasure.

The book opens up the opportunity to discuss what your little one should do in case they ever lose their Mama when they are out in public and, of course, have that never ending discussion about "strangers." This is a quaint little story you and your little one are going to enjoy.

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This wonderful story, written by Mo Willems, that's easy to follow and is filled with beautiful watercolors depicting the story as it progresses through Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and into the following Spring.

City Dog's life changed when he made to the country and had a chance meeting with a frog in a pond.  Their friendship develops through the seasonal life cycle of the frog and eventually ends when winter arrives.  The dogs spends the winter thinking of his friend, and mourns his loss. The following Spring brings renewed spirit to the dog as he implements what he learned from the frog during the previous year. 

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The Harry books are great for language development because the names of the dinosaurs play a big role in the story line, plus there's a train. What could be better than dinosaurs and trains (ahem - Dinosaur Train)?

The underlying theme is that sometimes the best adventures don't necessarily require a brand new toy or game.  Sometimes the imagination just needs a little nudge by spending some quality time with something old and broken.  I can see myself using a Harry as a point of reference many times as we move forward with our own adventures into the future.

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Follow the mini stories of Officer Mike, Officer Jan and Officer Carl as they are dispatched to different emergencies by Sargent Santole.  By the end of the first reading, your child will have a baseline of facts about what police officers do, how to identify them and where to find them.  With colorful illustrations and repetitive rhyming story telling, this will quickly become a favorite with your little one.

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This is a book you read over and over and have great fun while doing it. With feathers flying and eyeballs popping, Pigeon is unflinching and hilarious in his determination to drive the bus. The genius of this book is that the very young will actually recognize themselves in it.

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Chicken Cheeks is sure to keep them laughing as all the different kinds of animal butts pile atop one another. From beginning to "end" this story is filled with visual jokes and amusing details. It helps to reinforce several concepts too including initial consonant sounds, rhyming pairs, and synonyms. This darling book is a must-have for any early elementary student.

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Little donkey on the hill, standing there so very still. Making faces at the skies, Little donkey close your eyes. A magical story from the hidden treasures of Margaret Wise Brown, perfect for sharing. This book is a marvelous bedtime story

Find these books online at Amazon or at one of the local bookstores here on the North Shore:

 

 

Bruins Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
From February 1 through March 15, Cradles to Crayons®, the Boston Bruins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Wonderfund are coming together with organizations in your community to collect new pajamas for local children living in low-income and homeless situations. Together, we are...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

LEGO Club at Danvers Library

LEGO club at Danvers Library Massachusetts
Peabody Institute Library - Danvers invites kids to an afternoon of building and fun! Activities will include free build, themes and instructional design. All structures will remain on display in the Children’s Room till the following weeks's session
3:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Sunday, February 16

Quarry Quest Treasure Hunt

Kids will enjoy this treasure hunt at the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry in Rockport Massachusetts
Enjoy an outdoor treasure hunt at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations during February Vacation! Halibut Point State Park invites kids and families to follow clues then unscramble to find a treasure box!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm

For the Love of Birding at Halibut Point

Meet at Halibut Point State Park for Beginning birding - held on the 3rd Sunday of each month.
Start your morning strolling our seaside treasure with Birding Basics Halibut Point State Park. For all ages. Winter brings birds and ducks to the seashore that escape freezing ponds up north. You’ll see Harlequin ducks and loons among the winter visitors at the rocky coastal water’s edge. Join us...
8:00 am to 10:00 am

Hike & Seek: Magic in the Winter Forest

Kids will learn about the winter survival skills of animals at the Stevens Coolidge Place in North Andover Massachusetts!
Have you ever wondered what happens in nature during the winter months? Do you have questions like, “where do certain animals go” or “why does it snow”? Join us this February school vacation for this self-guided winter themed family-friendly bundle for use along the Stevens-to-Stevens trail in...
9:00 am to 5:00 pm

LEGO Train

LEGO Train Weekend at Wenham Museum during Fevruary vacation weekend in Massachusetts
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME! Calling all LEGO fans – we’re excited to welcome the LEGO Train back to the Wenham Museum this February!  Come see a rainbow colored, L-gauge model train speeding along a brick track as it races by soaring skyscrapers, country cottages, mountainside ski slopes and much more...
10:00 am to 4:00 pm

February School Vacation at Bradley Palmer

Bradley Palmer State Park has some great acitivities for kids during February vacation week in Massachusetts
Bradley Palmer State Park is located at 40 Asbury St. in Topsfield. All programs are free and open to the public. Reasonable accommodations upon request. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Events outside may include rough, uneven trails that contain ice and snow, warm clothing and...
10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Family & Friends CPR Course

Learn about infant and child cpr and choke saving skills at Beath Israel Lahey Health's Beverly Hospital in Massachusetts!
It is only a matter of a few short minutes before it is too late to save a life … learning what to do provides you precious minutes and gives someone a chance to survive.  The Family & Friends CPR Course teaches the lifesaving skills of child CPR with breaths, child AED use, infant CPR, and m
10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Watching the Coastal Edge at Halibut Point

Tour the WWII era observation tower at Halibut Point State Park in Rockport Massachusetts.
Meet at the Halibut Point State Park visitors center to learn about the role Halibut Point has played in America’s military history. One day after the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, U.S.
11:00 am to 12:00 pm

CraneOutdoors: Family Winter Wildlife Walk

Come explore the dunes on Castle Neck and Crane Beach in Ipswich Massachusetts to learn about winter wildlife.
A CraneOutdoors Family Winter Wildlife Walk will take you on a stroll through the Crane Beach dunes while learning about the plants and animals that call this special place home. You may be familiar with Crane Beach, but have you ever visited the dune trails? The dunes of Castle Neck are a much...
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm

Monday, February 17

Bruins Pajama Drive

Drop off new pajama donations at libraries across the North Shore as part of the Boston Bruins PJ Drive.
From February 1 through March 15, Cradles to Crayons®, the Boston Bruins, Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners, and Wonderfund are coming together with organizations in your community to collect new pajamas for local children living in low-income and homeless situations. Together, we are...
7:00 am to 9:00 pm

Babson Farm Quarry Self-guided Walking Tour at Halibut Point

Kids will enjoy this tour of the Halibut Point State Park and Quarry with a focus on its stone-cutting history!
Take a self guided tour at one of Massachusetts most beautiful locations!
7:00 am to 6:00 pm