Atlanta, GA:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know (Arcadia Kids)
Planning a summer vacation? "A fun way to choose a travel destination is to look through the cities contained in the "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" books by Kate Boehm Jerome. Each book contains 16 pages of facts related to a topic city and is followed by 32 pages about the state. The fabulous thing about the "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" books is that all the work has been done for you. Interesting facts and information, along with related pictures have been compiled and put into one easy book. Using the facts contained in the "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" books will not only help keep your child busy, but will also provide for an educational trip. The family will have fun learning new things together and time will fly as you're driving. Happy traveling!" --Help! S-O-S for Parents guest blog post by Danette M. Schott, founder of S-O-S ResearchMonday, June 21 is National Summer Learning Day! No--it's not a new holiday invented by the greeting card industry. It's an effort launched by the National Summer Learning Association to highlight the need for continuing academic support for kids during their summer "time-off."  Educational children's book author Kate Boehm Jerome agrees that the so-called "summer slump" or "slide" is a real phenomenon. "It's well documented that if kids don't engage in at least some kind of educational activity over the summer, they can lose some serious academic ground" says Jerome. So how can you avoid the backsliding while still giving your kids some well-deserved down time? Jerome's advice to parents: Keep it simple! "You don't need an elaborate plan and you don't have to spend a lot of money" says Jerome. "As little as ten or fifteen minutes a day of meaningful engagement can make a difference."  Jerome recommends taking advantage of "teachable moments" throughout the day--but with a twist. "When my kids were growing up, I'd ask them to read things to me all the time. It didn't matter what: the back of a cereal box, an article in the newspaper, a short passage from a new book. The kids really enjoyed the notion of teaching me new things rather than vice versa" smiles Jerome.  And what about the struggling reader? "Try not to overwhelm your child" advises Jerome. "Small successes can lead to big gains. Early on, my son struggled with reading so he gravitated toward non-fiction books loaded with short passages of interesting facts. After he found success with those kinds of books, he soon moved on to more challenging reads. You may have to search a little harder --but certain books will grab even the most reticent reader. And if a book inspires even one question, then there is opportunity for the learning cycle to continue!"  Jerome should know. She's spent her entire career developing successful educational programs that have been read by literally tens of thousands of kids--of all ability levels--over the last 25 years. Her most recent non-fiction series "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" was created for Arcadia Publishing and features eight U.S. cities (Houston, TX; Orlando, FL; Dallas, TX; Cincinnati, OH; Tampa, FL; Buffalo, NY; Atlanta, GA; and Charleston, SC)--with more to come.  Jerome designed The Cool Stuff series to showcase a city and state from a kid's point of view. "By the Numbers," "Sights and Sounds," and "Strange But True" are just a few of the fun features that engage kids and get them talking.  However, Jerome knows the magic ingredient is really found outside the pages of her books. "I love it when kids and parents dig into one of my Cool Stuff books together!" says Jerome "And, I'm even more thrilled when my book gets tossed aside because it inspired an interesting conversation or a real-life adventure!" "What a great idea - not only for grandkids but anyone visiting who'd like to know more about a city!" --WirePRNew.comDid you know that some states have their own muffins listed right up there alongside the state flag, bird, and tree? New York does. It's the Apple Muffin. And did you know that Gatorade was developed to help the University of Florida football team--the Gators--stay hydrated? What about this oneâ ¦while on New Year's Eve, people around the world watch the ball drop in Times Square to mark the new year, in Georgia, the Peach State, thousands watch a huge fiberglass peach drop from an Atlanta tower.  This is just a sampling of what you and your kids can chat about with the new series of books, "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" by Kate Boehm Jerome. They're handy to have at home if you live in one of the cities featured (so far there's Houston, Orlando, Dallas, Cincinnati, Tampa, Buffalo, Atlanta and Charleston) or you're driving to or through them.  The thin softcovers are easy to read, full of great visuals and are educational as well as FUN. And while they're geared to kids ages 7-11, chances are anyone older stands to learn quite a bit as well. --FarewellTravels.com