**A Geek Daddy received the featured products free to review**
What if pets had the power to save the day for humans in distress? That is the theme for a line of books by Capstone Publishing called the DC Super-Pets. In these stories the pets of the heroes and villains from the DC comic book universe have their own super powers which are demonstrated through their embarking on various adventures and challenges. My seven year old twins really enjoy the DC Super-Pets books and are just the right age for this series which is written for children six to nine years old who are in first through third grade; though I have to admit this 40 year old dad enjoys reading these stories just as much as his kids do.
DC Super-Pets stories are designed to help early readers transition to chapter books. Each book is normally three chapters long and filled with large-sized text and colorful illustrations so they aren't overwhelming for young readers. In fact the fun illustrations of the Super-Pets combined with goofy scenarios attract children towards wanting to read these books.
While DC Super-Pets are of course fictional creations there are animals in the real world that help make a positive difference in people's lives. For example K-9 dogs are trained to help police search for illegal drugs or explosives and service dogs can provide assistance to people with disabilities. Therapy dogs can also play an important role in helping improve lives by providing affection and comfort to people in hospitals, retirement homes, schools, and disaster areas and to those with Alzheimer's Disease or Autism. For example, therapy dogs were brought in to help the survivors of the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newton, Connecticut cope with the incident and are credited with providing peace of mind to the shocked and devastated children and adults these real life super pets interacted with.
Our local public library incorporates assisting with the training of a therapy dog into its children's summer reading program. Reading to therapy dogs helps kids practice their literary skills over the summer while helping train the animals to be comfortable interacting with people. It also gets children excited about reading over the summer which is a time when unfortunately books are often tossed aside for other activities. My kids really look forward to these reading sessions and take a lot of pride in they are helping a dog so that it can help others. They've been really excited to share their DC Super-Pets stories with a real life super pet who will one day be helping people in distress when reading during the therapy dog training at the public library.
My daughter has been reading DC Super-Pets BACKWARD BOWWOW during her therapy dog training sessions. In this story, when Bizarro Krypto crash lands on Earth, he can't believe his eyes. Humans own dogs as pets! On his Bizarro planet, everything is the exact opposite -- canines rule the world! Before returning home, he promises to make things right ... or maybe wrong. Can Krypto the Super-Dog intervene and prevent Bizarro Krypto from making a huge mess?
My son has been reading DC Super-Pets THE AMAZING MINI-MUTTS as he helps train the therapy dog. In this book, Krypto, Ace, and other Super-Pet pooches visit the Bowwow Boot Camp to show a new breed of heroes a few tricks. But the evil Brainicat wants to teach the canine cadets a lesson as well. When he shrinks them all to microscopic size, the prep-school puppies must quickly learn to step up!
There are more than twenty DC Super-Pets adventure books by Capstone Publishing to choose from plus a super-sized Character Encyclopedia that provides interesting facts and descriptions of each animals unique powers in the profiles of more than 200 pets. All of these DC Super-Pets books feature quirky artwork from Eisner Award winning artist Art Baltazar. The Eisners are the comic book industry's equivalent to what the Oscars are for the movies so only the most talented and creative professionals are honored with this award. Baltazar's artwork provides a zany vibe that makes reading each DC Super-Pets an amusing endeavor that kids are sure to enjoy. As a parent, I appreciated that the illustration are numerable enough to capture children's attention and imagination but not so overpowering that they distract a child from immersing themselves into the text of the story. Adorable characters and amusing plots will have children wanting to pick up a DC Super-Pets book to read. For more information about this great early readers children's book series visit capstonepub.com/library/products/dc-super-pets
If you'd like to know more on how you can contribute to training therapy dogs or for a referral to obtain the services of one, please visit the Therapy Dog International website at tdi-dog.org.
Don't let all the hard work the children in your life have put into reading over the previous school year stagnate during their summer recess warns Gabrielle Miller, the president and CEO of the non-profit organization Raising A Reader, which is dedicated to helping families develop, practice, and maintain literacy habits for children ages 0-8 that are critical for a child's success in school and life. Miller notes that with no homework assignments from teachers many of the 50 million plus children that are on summer vacation will stop reading during this break from school impairing their learning abilities when they return in the fall. She reached out to A Geek Daddy to help spread the message that parents need to incorporate books into summer vacation activities and establish regular reading routines for their children.
"Summer reading should be all about the parent-child experience," Miller communicated to A Geek Daddy. "Rather than having it be a chore, or a list of must-read books, summer is a terrific opportunity to build family reading experiences. Whether it's as simple as reading with children so they can see how much adults love reading, or visiting places and doing activities tied to a book, there are a host of ways reading can help children enjoy the summer and be ready to start school in the fall."
Here are a few Raising A Reader tips for parents on helping their children have a super summer of reading:
Participate in a local public library summer reading program that will often provide fun educational activities during the break from school plus challenge kids to read in order to earn an invitation to a special event like a pizza party or other rewards or prizes. Many libraries across the United States participate in the Collaborative Summer Library Program which provides a uniform theme and resources for libraries to use to encourage kids to read. This year's theme is Wellness, Fitness & Sports. Check out what your local library has to offer kids to help keep them reading during the summer.
Invite
the family pet to join the book sharing experience. Even if your child
can’t read yet, have her ‘read’ the story to you and the pet. Children
who can read will be able to practice their skills and children who have
not yet learned to read will begin to think of themselves as ‘readers’
which is very important to lifelong learning.
Find
books that are centered on summer activities he or she enjoys. If your
child likes to go horseback riding, for example, find books about horses
or stories with horses as an integral part of the plot. This will give a
child a welcome change from the types of books read during the school
year and better complement their summer.
If
you are taking a trip, read books about your destination with your
child before you leave. Do some research with them on the location and
find things in the area they want to do while visiting. And don’t forget
to play “I Spy” with road signs or license plates along the way.
Write
a book with your child about them, your family, their favorite foods or
toy, their friends or whatever interests them most. Your child can draw
pictures or use actual photos. If you’re worried that your child spends
too much time watching TV or playing video games, have him or her tell
you or write a story about their favorite TV show or video game. You can
also use one of many templates available to create and print the book
on your computer.
Create
an outdoor reading area so the whole family can enjoy the summer
weather and not feel stuck inside. Children generally read indoors, so
being outdoors will create a new environment for enjoying a book and
boost a child’s enthusiasm for reading.
Let
your child choose. Books are great, but so are comic books, magazines
and even educational websites such as National Geographic Kids. Let them chase their interests and they’ll be reading
more than they realize.
My kids love super heroes so we're encouraging them to enjoy a super summer of reading with DC Super Heroes books from Capstone Publishing, which specialized in children's books and digital products specializing in the educational market serving class rooms, libraries and parents looking for good materials for their children to read. Capstone Publishing has a wide range of DC Super Heroes books to choose from suitable for all ranges of children to enjoy from those in their preschool years having mom or dad read to them to elementary school students just learning to read on their own to teens who are looking for something interesting to read during their high school years. They generously sent A Geek Daddy a free sample of the books in their super hero collection perfectly matched to my kids reading level to help keep my 7 year old twins reading over the summer months. Easy to read Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman stories written for a children's elementary school aged audience will keep my kids interested in flipping through books all summer long. My kids also just discovered through these book Capstone Publishing sent us the world of the DC Super-Pets which is a line of books featuring stories about the unique animal companions to the super heroes and villains of the DC Comic book universe. My kids have fallen in love with the DC Super Pets collection!
My twins also are participating in our local public library's summer program to help keep them reading during their break from school. Each week they are provided a list of challenges involving reading books and educational activities that if are completed allow them to grab something from a treasure chest of prizes. Also throughout the summer they'll have the opportunity to spend some time visiting the library and reading to a therapy dog in training. They are both excited to share their new DC Super Pets books with the therapy dog when they have a chance to read to it this summer. At the end of summer there is a party for all the kids who participated that includes a magic show and Kohl's department store provides all the children with Kohl's Cares stuffed animals and books as a reward. Have you checked out what types of summer activities your community public library has to offer?
For more information about all the wonderful books that Capstone Publishing has available for young readers, visit CapstoneKids.com. Parents can be super heroes by ensuring their children read over the summer. I hope all of our A Geek Daddy readers have a super summer of reading!
** A Geek Daddy received the featured products for free to review **
Two of the most used words in my son's vocabulary are "why" and "how." He is very curious always asking about how things work and why things happen or are the way they are. Though only a first grader he's already demonstrated an incredible interest in math, science and technology and like most boys his age he's really into super heroes. So to say he was excited when I brought out BATMAN SCIENCE: THE REAL-WORLD SCIENCE BEHIND BATMAN'S GEAR to read with him would be an understatement.
Fans of Batman will know that when it comes to fighting crime unlike other comic book heroes it isn't super power that let the Caped Crusader save the day but rather his technology that often gives him the edge over the villains he is fighting against. Batman is know for his gadget packed utility belt and tricked out custom vehicles like the batmobile and Capstone Publishing's book BATMAN SCIENCE explores the science behind the hero's really cool technology. This soft-cover 142 page book is divided into four sections: Batsuits & Capes - The Science Behind Batman's Body Armor, Batarangs & Grapnel Guns - The Science Behind Batman's Utility Belt, Batmobiles & Batcycles - The Engineering Behind Batman's Vehicles, and Batplanes & Batcopters - The Engineering Behind Batman's Wings. These sections feature a bunch of Batman's cool high-tech crime fighting tools and weapons plus highlight real world applications of similar technology. By combining the entertaining elements of the comic books, television series, movies and video games with engineering and science examples from the real world this book provides an educational learning experience that is also an enjoyable read for kids.
For example in the Batsuits and Capes section of the book, Batman's ability to withstand fiery explosions is compared to the use of firefighters using a material called Nomex in their suits. It provides a history and overview of Nomex and even provides an example of how family's may regularly use it in their own kitchens on a regular basis -- oven mitts. In Batarangs & Grapnel Guns, the book describes Batman's grappling hook devices and compares them to a tool being used by the U.S. Military called the Atlas Power Ascender which can pull a fully-geared soldier up a rope at about 10 feet per second. In discussing the engineering behind Batman's vehicle some of the tricks of the trade include stealth mode and the book refers to how today's electric and hybrid car engines make almost no noise. In fact the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is concerned these modern-day vehicles could present a safety hazard for bikers and walkers who won't hear these vehicles approaching them. BATMAN SCIENCE shows that there often can be real world applications for the high-tech vehicles and gadgets portrayed in science fiction.
BATMAN SCIENCE is filled with great illustrations of Batman plus chock-full of colorful pictures highlighting the real-world science behind his gear and vehicles. My son has really been wowed by this book. I have to admit I've learned a few things and really enjoyed flipping through the pages while reading it to him. BATMAN SCIENCE has a 3rd - 5th Grade Reading Level and is recommended for children from first through ninth grade. Obviously with younger children the book will need to be read to them. In our case that hasn't been a big deal because I've really enjoyed reading through this book with my son and seeing him be so engaged by its content.
In addition to reading to my son most nights, we also have him spend 20 minutes every night reading to my wife or me to help him with his learning to read. He really enjoys reading Capstone Publishing's Batman -- An Origin Story which is just at the right level for his current reading ability. The book is filled with colorful illustrations depicting the story of how Bruce Wayne became Batman. Each page only has two sentences and the vocabulary is at a beginning reader level so reading through this book isn't intimidating. My son really enjoys reading through this book and as a parent I appreciate it getting him to want to read. Batman -- An Origin Storyis aimed for children 5 to 7 years old in grades Kindergarten through Second Grade. This Capstone Young Readers line of books also includes origin stores for several other popular DC Comics characters including the Green Lantern, Superman, and Wonder Woman. Both my son and daughter really like the Wonder Woman book as well.
In addition to BATMAN SCIENCE and their lineup of origin stories, Capstone Publishing also have a couple of other really fun books that transport children into the world of DC Comics Super Heroes. DC Super Heroes Origami and How To Draw Batman/Superman And Other DC Super Heroes & Villains provide an outlet for children to utilize their artistic and creative talents. These books provide fun hands-on activities that can keep kids amused for hours and could even inspire someone to become the next generation of comic book artists or animated television show illustrators.
DC Super Heroes Origami provides 46 models that can be shaped out of paper. These models were meticulously designed by internationally renowned origami master John Montroll. The book provides clear stet-by-step diagrams and instructions to allow children to transform simple square pieces of paper into Batarangs, Invisible Jets, Green Lanterns and a ton of other DC Comics Super Hero inspired creations. DC Super Heroes Origami also includes 96 sheets of specially illustrated folding papers designed specifically for kids to bring their creations to life. Show off your folded models and people will truly believe that you're the one with super powers to be able to build such marvelous creations. DC Super Heroes Origami is 448 pages and recommend for children 8 to 12 years old in grades 3 through 7 at school.
How To Draw Batman/Superman is a great way to inspire kid's artistic side. Readers will learn to draw popular heroes like Superman and Batman as well as their nemesis Lex Luthor and Joker. This book provides simple step-by-step instructions for 50 full-color drawing projects. The book also provides character backgrounds and summaries so readers can learn all about the heroes and villains they are drawing. This would be a great gift for any aspiring artist who loves to draw.
Capstone Publishing's DC Comics Super Heroes books get A Geek Daddy nod of approval because they are high quality publications that get children enthused about reading. In addition to super heroes, Capstone has a huge catalog of books that will appeal to girls and boys alike ranging in age from kindergarten to high school which include biographies, fairy tales, mysteries, science fiction and scary stories among other topics. Check out all the great reading materials available for young readers at capstonepub.com.
I’ve been a Detroit Tigers fan since I was a little kid with
an attachment to the team and the game of baseball developed through the connection to
time I spent with my grandfather and father enjoying the national pastime. Some of my fondest memories of time spent
with my grandpa involved sitting on his back porch with him drinking out of glass
bottles a multitude of different Towne Club soda pop flavors …I think there were 24 flavors
in all that my grandparents bought in big wooden grates…while listening to the Tigers’ games on the radio. And what young boy doesn’t cherish the ball
games their Dad takes them to. I have
such great memories of eating hot dogs with my Dad at the old Tiger Stadium on
Woodward & Trumbull while watching Sweet Lou Whitaker and Alan Trammell
turn double plays.
As a parent now myself, I’ve shared my love of the game with
my children as a bonding experience with them.
We’ve enjoyed some cherished family moments enjoying games together at
the Tiger’s new home Comerica Park and watching on television as a new
generation of heroes named Cabrera, Ordonez, Fielder, Avila & Verlander
take the field and lead the team to division championships and the playoffs. I believe that \ my children like the
excitement associated with the sport but what they really enjoy is the quality time
with me that watching these games together represents. Enjoying baseball is an important pastime for
our family.
With all these baseball memories in mind, I recently discovered
a book that ties into our family’s enjoyment of the game published by CAPSTONE YOUNG READERS in partnership with SPORTS ILLUSTRATED KIDS called “Goodnight
Baseball”. I’ve been reading the book
to my 4 year old twins this week at bed time, literally all week because they’ve
asked me to reread it to them every night, and the kids love it. I enjoy reading it to them because it is a
nice nostalgic tale that our family can relate to about a father taking a son
to his first baseball game.
The story written by Michael Dahl explores the sights and
sounds of baseball through a fun rhyme that makes the book an easy and fun
bedtime read for a parent. Also because
of the rhyme type storytelling there isn’t a lot of text which allows you to
really enjoy and focus on the great illustrations in the book by ChristinaForshay. “Good Night Baseball” does a really
nice job of portraying the excitement through a kid’s perspective of
experiencing his or her first trip to a Major League ballpark through Dahl’s rhymes
and Forshay’s sketches. Reader’s
experience the sights and sounds of a trip to the ballpark starting from pulling
into the stadium parking lot and wrapping up with a Daddy carrying his tucked
out son up to bed when they get home.
I appreciated that Christina Forshay’s illustrations had a
classic 1960s/1970s feel to them that reminded me of the animation style of
cartoons like “Woody Wood Pecker” & “Tom & Jerry” and Disney movies
such as “Alice in Wonderland” and “the Fox & the Hound” that I enjoyed when
I was a little kid. Forshay’s drawings
drew my kids’ attention into the book artwork rather than me just reading the
words to them and allowed aspects of the story to pop out of the pages at them. Three of my children and mine’s favorite
images were a display of the ball diamond that made it seem as if you were
sitting in the outfield taking the whole field in; a picture of the daddy
taking a photo of his son with a lifelike team mascot; and the last page of the
book that shows the son falling asleep in his room holding a stuffed toy of the
mascot as the moon is displayed in the child’s window looking as if it is a
baseball. Forshay does an exceptional job
portraying the story through the eyes of a child.
Something I thought was funny that caught my attention while
reading the book was how Michael Dahl has the young boy say “goodbye” to all
the different things at the ballpark as they are leaving the stadium. He says goodbye to the players, their equipment,
the field, the seats, and the trash of the ground as they are leaving. My son does exactly that when we go out
places – saying goodbye to all sorts of people, animals and objects when we are
out and about. For example we were at
the grocery store the other day and as we headed to the car he said good bye to
the cashier, than the shopping cart, and the food we didn’t buy, and finally to
the building as we pulled out of the parking lot – so Dahl’s inclusion of that
angle into his story really hit home. I
also appreciated how the author included things that would excite children
about going to a stadium such as showing your tickets at the gate, buying
snacks, meeting a team mascot, getting a chance to walk the bases and see a
dugout, catching a foul ball. Including
the “goodnight” angle too really makes this a great bedtime story because it
keeps the kids attention and entertains them but it closes out getting them ready
to go to bed themselves – excellent!
The downside for us was that we read “Goodnight Baseball” as
an e-book on my iPad. I really don’t
like reading bedtime stories from my tablet to the kids because they have a
tendency for me to want to play apps with them instead and it just doesn’t seem
as nice to read to them from as a printed book.
Some of the pages weren’t as aligned on the screen and had to toggle the
screen somewhat to see the whole picture.
I have a feeling that the book’s images would display better and look a
little nicer in print versus digital.
That being said we did find the e-book overall to be a very enjoyable
read that my children repeatedly went out of their way to ask me to share with
them again at bedtime after I read it to them the first time.
“Goodnight Baseball” hits store retail shelves in March as a
hardcover book for $14.95 and is aimed for children ages 4 – 7. If you are looking for a good bedtime reading
book to share with your children the Geek Daddy highly recommends you check it
out!
Disclaimer: I
received a free advance copy digital e-book of “Goodnight Baseball” from the
publisher to review. The thoughts and
opinions in the review are my own.
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