Long before there was television, movies, computers, or even books, people told stories to one another. These folktales delighted, informed, inspired, and educated. When people heard a tale that they liked or that particularly moved them, they made it their own by changing where it took place or how it was told. Today we are lucky to have books and other ways to share a world of stories. From Aesop’s fables to Cinderella, you are sure to recognize familiar tales in different settings.
Books can transport you through space and time. Meet kids from California and Brazil whose dance could be a martial art. Use your imagination to travel to long-ago Japan with Annie and Jack. Visit a longtime friend who lives half a world away. Learn words in French or in Spanish. Take a close look at a magical underwater or starry world — all without leaving your home. Wherever you go, make sure to take along a book, and remember: books take you places!
Why is counting important? It tells how many, allows people to sort related things into groups. Also, counting and sorting just may help us think about things differently. What can be counted? Everything! The Census counts the number of people in the United States. These numbers determine how many representatives each state sends to the U.S. Congress, help to plan for emergencies by determining where people live, and much more. Take a look at how places change, look at the U.S. as a small village, and find out more about where you and others live in the United States.
They’re not named Agatha Christie or Mary Higgins Clark, but young readers definitely have their favorite mystery writers. Luckily, many detective and mystery books for kids — like Cam Jansen and Encyclopedia Brown — are part of a series so it’s easy to keep kids reading, guessing, solving, and using their noodles. Check out these recommended mysteries for armchair detectives ages 0-9 to find books that’ll interest and intrigue them.
