Buffalo, NY:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know (Arcadia Kids)
Title: Summer ReadingAuthor: PamelaPublisher: Family Travel WebsiteDate: July 2010"With around 30 pages per book, "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" is bursting with historical facts, quirky stories, and fun knowledge about the city and state you're vacationing to. With explanations of diaper wearing horses, unique city nicknames (Porkopolis? I'm curious about that one!) and an introduction to the Tallest Cowboy in Texas, it's really no wonder that your kids will take a cover-to-cover approach when reading this delightful series.Of course, as a parent, I must also point out the educational value of such an engaging series - especially during the summer, when it can be most difficult to interest your kids in reading. The colorful layout and pictures are a perfect balance to the interesting content, allowing your kids to really connect with and enjoy the stories and information. The subject matter will keep them involved and excited about your family vacation destination, as well as giving them fun facts, trivia and information to share with the rest of the family during your vacation together!"http://tiny.cc/familytravleguides_blogTitle: Travel gifts for on-the-go familiesAuthor: Eileen OgintzPublisher: msnbc.com/Tribune MediaDate: 12/15/2010Where is that elf when you need her?You still have to shop for a pile of gifts that won't bust the budget for on-the-go families -- including your own -- and Black Friday and Cyber Monday are long gone.If you were super-organized, you might have squirreled away "surprises" from your last family vacation -- those souvenirs the kids wanted but you nixed -- and can now present with appropriate fanfare. I wasn't that organized this year and my kids wouldn't let me buy even one more ornament for the tree. ("Enough already!" They said in Hawaii and Colorado.) But I've got a fallback plan: A photo book for each of them comprised of vacation shots taken over the years. (Hopefully, my picks won't embarrass them too much.)Still too much work for this stressful season? Think about what makes you and your gang happy and cozy when you travel and purchase some of those things for your favorite travelers. Maybe it's a book for the kids about where you're going. Arcadia Publishing, www.arcadiapublishing.com/arcadiakids, has just launched a new series of short (48-page) paperbacks about U.S. cities ($9.95). "Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know" offers all kinds of cool information kids need to know when visiting popular travel destinations, including Orlando, Houston and Dallas.Since I can't stand to be without something to read at an airport, on a beach or on a train or ship, I prefer e-books. With an e-book, I don't have to tote bulky travel guides and I can share titles across multiple Kindles in my family, as long as we have the same account. Give one to your favorite traveler and include a guide for the place they are going next, or select a novel set in that locale. Include a children's book set in wherever the traveling kids are going to visit. (Your local children's librarian can steer you in the right direction.)Barnes & Noble has just introduced NOOKcolor (www.NOOKcolor.com) -- the first full-color Touchscreen Reader's Tablet ($249) -- and NOOK kids, which will offer a growing collection of nearly 12,000 children's picture and chapter books in enhanced digital format, allowing kids to interact with words and pictures and even have some of the words read to them. (A cheaper NOOK version is also available starting at $149.)Barnes & Noble also offers a read-in-store feature that lets you read Nookbooks for free, as well as LendMe books, which allows you to read books from your B&N; library on your iPad, smartphone, PC and Mac. Google has also just opened a new bookstore for E-books, which you can read on your iPad, Android phone or laptop. (Google E-books, however, currently can't be read on Kindle.)Not to be outdone, Amazon's latest Kindle (www.kindle.com) is 21 percent smaller, though with the same 6-inch display, 17 percent lighter, double the storage capacity and it offers free out-of-copyright books and a battery life lasting up to a month. You can also read your Kindle on your other devices. Kindle (Wi-Fi) is a great choice -- just $139 -- if you already have a high-speed Internet connection and wireless router set up and do not need the more expensive 3G ($189), which enables you to download books anytime, anywhere, while on the go without having to find a Wi-Fi hotspot.If you know someone who frets when they are out of cell range from their kids on vacation --say on a cruise ship, campground or on top of a ski slope -- give them the Motorola MB140R Two-Way Radios (just $34.99/pair). They fit in a pocket and have a range of up to 10 miles. (You can buy them at www.amazon.com or www.rei.com.)You know how upset tweens and teens get if their iPods or smartphones run out of juice --especially when they are stuck in the car for hours with the family. They'll thank you for the Energizer Energi To Go (www.energizerpowerpacks.com/us/) -- rechargeable lithium polymer power packs designed to charge everything from phones to MP3 players, digital cameras, netbooks and laptops. Prices start at $69.99. One version, $24.99, attaches to your key ring and allows you to charge and talk at the same time. Another bet is FuelTank from Call Pod ( www.callpod.com), with prices starting at $49.95. FuelTank, weighing in at just four ounces, lets you charge two portable electronic devices without the use of an outlet.Maybe your wish for the holiday season is for your family to get unplugged on vacation. Tempt them with To Go! Games from Mattel ( www.mattel.com) like UNO Spin that includes special travel icons and MAD GAB that lets you team up to solve silly word puzzles. (Both games are under $10.) My gang always takes along playing cards and travel Scrabble; my sister's family is partial to the Mexican Train dominos game. (Do you have a favorite travel game? If so, e-mail it to me at Eileen@takingthekids.com.)If someone you know can never find their suitcase on the airport carousel, give them some brightly colored luggage tags or a new lightweight suitcase like those from Lands' End's ( www.landsend.com) Flight Wise collection. The cases come in a variety of colors, including canyon orange and chili pepper.Check out Burton Snowboards Wheelie Flight Deck ( www.burton.com). It meets airline carry-on rules yet has a volume-enhancing CRAM stretch zipper zone, removable laptop case and comes in bright, easy-to-spot plaids and designs.And if you've been that person in line (like me) frantically taking shoes out of your suitcase so that you won't be overweight, get them a travel scale/alarm clock from LL Bean ( www.llbean.com) for just $29.95.The right gear can make or break a trip. For those contemplating a long flight or car ride, get the Total Pillow ( www.totalpillow.com, $19.99) that twists into a variety of shapes and is filled with tension-easing microbeads. The kids can use it for a headrest, floor pillow or seat cushion.Buy your outdoors lovers some cushy socks that will keep their feet toasty and dry. I'm partial to my lightweight down jacket from Mountain Hardwear (www.mountainhardwear.com) that crumples into a ball and fits into its own stuff sack, doubling as an airplane pillow. (You can find other versions from Marmot and Patagonia, among others.)But there is one thing that will never fail to please the travelers you love: The promise of a trip to come.Are you listening, elf?Title: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know About Atlanta, Charleston, Tampa, Orlando, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Dallas, and HoustonAuthor: CanCanPublisher: MomMostTraveled.comDate: 12/10/2010If you are planning a family trip or just want to teach distant relatives about your city, Arcadia Publishing has launched a fun new series called Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know.Each Cool Stuff book contains colorful photographs, dynamic graphics, and kid-friendly facts about a specific city and state.I would have LOVED this series as a child, but I appreciate it as an adult as well.What if I was going to visit someone in one of these places, and I wanted to impress them with my cornucopia of local-esque knowledge?Currently the series includes:•Charleston, SC:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know•Atlanta, GA:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know•Orlando, FL:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know•Tampa, FL:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know•Buffalo, NY:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know•Cincinnati, OH:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know•Houston, TX:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know•Dallas, TX:: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should KnowIf you home school, or are a teacher, these books would be a cool extension activity for your state history curriculum.Each book includes sixteen pages of fun facts about the city and 32 pages about the state.The books have sections like Sights and Sounds, Marvelous Monikers, and Dramatic Days.Read them on the car trip, use them to plan your sight seeing, or challenge each other with cool trivia questions.~ What event always draws a big crowd on the first Sunday in May in Cincinnati? (the Flying Pig Marathon)~ What city is nicknamed The Big Guava? (Tampa)~ How many people visit the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each year? (1,800,000)In April, fourteen more Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know books will be published for Columbus, OH; Austin, TX; San Antonio, TX; Columbia, SC; Savannah, Jacksonville, Rochester, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Charlotte, Richmond, Boston, and Chicago.Author of the series, Kate Boehm Jerome, is a thirty-year veteran of educational book publishing.Title: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know...Author: Piera JollyPublisher: JollyMom.comDate: 12/13/2010Children learn best when learning is fun, right? That's why I love the new Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know book series by Arcadia Publishing. These books each feature a U.S. city--highlighting all the things a kid should know about the city. Right now, there are eight books in the series covering the following cities: Charleston, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Houston, and Dallas. Each book contains fun facts about the city and also teaches kids about the state. What I love about this series is that the books are not overwhelming or worst...dry and boring. These are geared at kids so the books are short {under 50 pages} and information is fun and engaging while still being educational. The pages are glossy and full color with LOTS of pictures. I live in Atlanta so I was especially interested to read about all the "cool stuff" that every kid should know about Atlanta. I found out a bunch of things I didn't know myself like it is the only place in North America where you can see largest fish--the Whale Shark!During this time of the year, so many of us are traveling to different states to visit friends and family. I think the Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know book series by Arcadia Publishing would be awesome for road trips or travel of any kind. Bring the book in the car or on the plane and learn all about the cool stuff to do and see where you are traveling to. Quiz each other and make a game out of it! These would also make fun stocking stuffers!To learn more about the series, please visit ArcadiaPublishing.com.Title:  More Children's Books Picks for Christmas!Publisher:  gograhamgo.comDate: 11/23/2010What a wonderful collection of books that teaches kids about the history around them.  You can purchase titles on Chaleston, SC; Atlanta, GA; Buffalo, NY; Cincinnati, OH; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Orlando, FL; and Tampa, FL.  I love how each book takes you on a tour that kids would enjoy and then starts to break down the state with fun facts and history.  These would be excellent sets to purchase for elementary aged kids.  Take them on trips to keep the entire family entertained!  Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know books retail for $9.99 a piece and are soft cover.Title: Parents Can Beat the Summer Slump Blues!Publisher: wiredprnew.comDate: 6/18/2010Monday, 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!"Title:  Florida Travel Tips & DealsAuthor:  Georgina CruzPublisher:  Chicago TribuneDate:  12/1/2010Reading for young explorers on your holiday gift list -"The Barefoot Book Of Dance Stories" by Jane Yolen and Heidi E.Y. Stemple (Barefoot Books, $23.99) features dance folktales from around the world. Illustrated by Helen Cann, the book features such dances as the West Indian limbo and Spain's flamenco. It comes with a CD with stories narrated by Juliet Stevenson. Visit www.barefootbooks.com.Looking for books about cities with cool stuff for kids? Arcadia Publishing has launched a new series about U.S. cities: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know. The books, by Kate Boehm Jerome, feature colorful photos, graphics, anecdotes, and kid-friendly facts about Orlando, Tampa, Charleston, Atlanta, Buffalo, Houston, Dallas and Cincinnati, the first books in the paperback series. Each book includes 16 pages of fun facts about the city, plus 32 pages about the state. Sections like Sights and Sounds, Marvelous Monikers and Dramatic Days spotlight each city's landmarks, geography, special events and more. Good stocking-stuffers, they're recommended for ages 7-11, and sell for $9.99 each. Fourteen new titles will be added to the series on Jacksonville, Savannah, Rochester, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Boston, Chicago, Raleigh, Charlotte, Richmond, Columbus, Ohio; Austin, San Antonio, Columbia, S.C. Visit www.arcadiapublishing.com/arcadiakidsWant even more reading for young travelers? Anna Hibiscus and Hooray for Anna Hibiscus by Atinuke, a Nigerian storyteller, introduce early readers, ages 5-9, to a lovable girl, Anna, who lives in a multi-generational African household including her mother who is from Canada and her father who is from Africa. These two chapter books, illustrated by Lauren Tobia, are sure to prompt conversations about cultural differences and the meaning of family. Visit www.kanemiller.com.Title: Arcadia Publishing Launches Eye-Popping Series About U.S. CitiesPublisher: fireflyblog.orgAuthor: Guest ContributorDate: 11/01/2010More Info on This Book: Atlanta, GA: Cool Stuff Every Kid Should KnowArcadia Publishing, the leading local history publisher in the United States, has launched a fun new series about U.S. cities, Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know. Children learn best when learning is fun, and the colorful photographs, dynamic graphics, and kid-friendly facts in these easy-to-read books add up to an irresistible package.The first books in the series cover Charleston, Atlanta, Orlando, Tampa, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Houston, and Dallas. Each book includes sixteen pages of fun facts about the city, plus 32 pages about the state. Sections like ~Sights and Sounds,~ ~Marvelous Monikers,~ and ~Dramatic Days~ spotlight each city~s unique landmarks, geography, special events, and more.These handy paperbacks are perfect for popping into a backpack or tossing into the back seat, where kids can quiz each other~or their parents~on fun trivia such as:~ What event always draws a big crowd on the first Sunday in May in Cincinnati? (the Flying Pig Marathon)~ What city is nicknamed The Big Guava? (Tampa)~ How many people visit the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo each year? (1,800,000)While kids entertain themselves with Cool Stuff, parents and grandparents will appreciate that the books are both fun and educational. They make great stocking stuffers~and families can collect multiple volumes, giving kids a head start on getting to know the cities and states that make up our great country.~There aren~t many books for kids that capture the overall character of a city and its state,~ says Kate Jerome. ~Since kids are fascinated with trivia, I decided to weave interesting facts and anecdotes throughout the book~similar to the way any parent or grandparent would tell a story about a particular place. These books serve as natural springboards for kids and their families. Once kids are engaged in learning about a certain location, their natural curiosity kicks in and they want to find out more!~Forthcoming in April are books on fourteen more cities: Columbus, OH; Austin, San Antonio, Columbia, SC; Savannah, Jacksonville, Rochester, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Raleigh, Charlotte, Richmond, Boston, and Chicago.Kate Boehm Jerome, award-winning author of the Cool Stuff series, is a thirty-year veteran of educational book publishing, and her series~ have received multiple teachers~ choice awards. She is also an active campaigner for child and adult literacy.Established in 1993, Arcadia is a leading publisher of local and regional historical books. Arcadia Publishing has more than 6,500 titles in print. Information can be found at http://www.arcadiapublishing.com/arcadiakids.Cool Stuff Every Kid Should KnowWritten by Kate Boehm JeromePublished by Arcadia PublishingAges 7-11Pages 48$9.95 paperbackAtlanta, GA ISBN: 9781439600627Buffalo, NY ISBN: 9781439600696Charleston, SC ISBN: 9781439600016Cincinnati, OH ISBN: 9781439600689Orlando, FL ISBN: 9781439600641Dallas, TX ISBN: 9781439600672Houston, TX ISBN: 9781439600665Tampa, FL ISBN: 9781439600658Title: Cool kid travel guides they'll actually readAuthor: Mir; Cool Mom Picks websitePublisher: coolmompicks.comDate: 07/25/2010When we moved to Georgia, I tried to pad the transition with various books about what a great place it was and the interesting things that have happened here. My efforts were met with a resounding "meh" from my children. Hmph.Of course, the brand new Cool Stuff Every Kid Should Know city guides from Arcadia Kids weren't around, back then, otherwise I could have gotten them the Atlanta book and totally won them over.Even though we live here, now, both kids pronounced this little book "totally cool," and why not? It's chock-full of not just landmarks and suggestions on things to do, but also kid-friendly city trivia, intriguing photography, and even the wry acknowledgment of the city's 50+ streets all named Peachtree.Right now there's eight city guides packed with goodies including Charleston, Cincinnati, Houston and that hotbed of tourism, Buffalo, New York. Pick one up before a trip, or grab your own hometown as part of a "what can we learn around here" adventure. I promise you won't be disappointed.http://tiny.cc/CoolMomPicks"What a great idea - not only for grandkids but anyone visiting who'd like to know more about a city!"--Nellah Bailey McGough, Travel and Living, Southern Living MagazineHelp! S-O-S for Parents guest blog post-Danette M. Schott, founder of S-O-S ResearchJune 15, 2010Planning 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!"Title: Cool Travel Ed for KidsAuthor: Sloane WilliamsPublisher: farewelltravels.comDate: July 2010Did 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 one…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.http://tiny.cc/farewelltravels__family