Fantastic Summer Reading from Nat Geo Kids!

Summer is right at our doorstep with pools opening and trips planned. Let’s not forget reading. It’s a life long skill not to forget when away from the classroom and homework. Reluctant readers and anyone else interested in hacks and facts have two handy paperbacks you can take with you on trips or enjoy them at home.

Up first is 101 LIFE HACKS:

When I first sat down to enjoy the 208 pages, my intention was to read about 50 pages each day until finished. Well, forget that—I was so fascinated by the tricks and techniques to make like simpler I couldn’t put it down.

My favorites included some nifty packing tips, a hiccup cure, and Lend a Hand for determining how much sunlight remains in a day. Also included are several stories on Hacker Heroes, real life individuals whose job is to create hacks in their line of work. You can even learn how to create your own life hacks.

Emphasis on colorful pictures with small amounts of text make this the perfect summertime read.

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This next one also is full of pictures but has more text spread out over the 256 pages: MORE SURPRISING STORIES BEHIND EVERYDAY STUFF.

The sequel to SURPRISING STORIES BEHIND EVERYDAY STUFF. I read this one in order of pages but a better way would be to glance through the table of contents and let your interests guide you where to begin. The chapter titles hint at the wide variety of stories.

ODDS AND ENDS
PLAY TIME
WEAR IT
HEALTH AND MEDICINE
FABULOUS FOOD
TRADITIONS
ATHLETICS AND ACTIVITIES
ANCIENT INVENTIONS
CLOSE TO HOME
DEVICES AND DOODADS

Each topic has 9 separate stories. You will be amazed and amused by the history of how things came to be popular. Too many favorites to list but a few include THE TILT-A-WHIRL, PIZZA, and ANETHESIA. Kid readers will be saying “Did you know…?” all summer long as they relay the facts to friends and family. The response will be be just one word: WOW!

MORE SURPRISING STORIES BEHIND EVERYDAY STUFF will make sure boredom never settles in this summer.

(I received copies of the books in exchange for my honest review)

Blogging about middle grade books or authors next week? Join the celebration.

All you have to do is blog about a middle grade book on a Monday (contests, author interviews, or anything middle grade related also count). Email me the title of the book or feature and a link to your blog at gpcolo[at]gmail[dot]com

Make sure you put MMGM or Marvelous Middle Grade Monday in the subject line so it gets sorted accurately–and please don’t forget to say what book or author you’re featuring) You MUST email me your link by Sunday evening (11 PM Eastern Time) in order to be included in the list of links for the coming Monday.

Thanks for spreading the middle grade love and for being a part of this awesome tradition begun by Shannon Messenger and carried on here at ALWAYS in the MIDDLE! (CLICK HERE FOR PAST MMGM POSTS)

*Please note: these posts are not a reflection of my own opinions on the books featured. Each blogger is responsible for their own MMGM content and I do not pre-screen reviews ahead of time, nor do I control what books they choose. I simply assemble the list based on the links that are emailed to me.