Right Reads: Best of books!

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The Great Book of Transport: The Beginner’s Guide to Land, Air and Sea transportation
by Lynne Gibbs
Publisher: Alligator
(ISBN: 1-84239-944-6)

When my toddler’s included trucks as well as trains, I knew I needed a book to help me with the vocabulary for this traditionally male territory. Not knowing if I may need to know about other types of transport, I was glad I found this bumper book!

Recommended for ages 9-12, this hardcover 150 page reference contains more than 400 full colour photographs of the “biggest, boldest and most stunning models” of all time (as at 2006, that is).

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Tags: elementary, non-fiction, preschool, primary, toddlers by KittyCat
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What to Expect: The Toddler Years
by Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway
(ISBN: 978-0894809941)

This is the third book in the “What to Expect Series” after “What To Expect When You’re Expecting” and “What to Expect: The First Year”.

Many people I know are turned off by these series because:

a) it’s thick - almost 800 pages

b) its print is small - about 8 point

c) it’s got no colorful photos - only line drawings where necessary and

d) it’s very factual

However, I love the series because:

a) it’s very factual

b) it’s compiled based on the experiences of thousands of women out there

c) it’s written by journalists, who are some of the best writers out there because they need to do extensive research and cross-check their facts

d) it’s by an established publisher i.e. Simon & Schuster

e) it presents both the good and bad points of every issue, while suggesting the better choice (not promoting/persuading) and

f) it’s written in a conversational and humorous style

My only gripe is that it’s too Western-oriented (even though the writers have tried to include references to Black and Asian children where they can) and their experiences relating to Asian children seem to me like token entries.

Tags: non-fiction, toddlers by KittyCat
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