I want to say I was one of those parents who spent 30 minutes every night reading aloud to my kids. I want to say I didn’t sweat the small stuff and I was fine leaving a myriad of errands untended until after I read my kid a book. Unfortunately, when my kids were younger, I tended to get sidetracked a lot.
And I have struggled to keep this one parenting truth front and center that truth being that encouraging my kids love of books is likely one of the greatest gifts I can impart to them and helping my kids to understand that no matter where they physically are, inside the pages of a book, their minds are free to roam and undertake initiatives they might otherwise have dismissed.
Case in point, my son, ever the mature 11-year-old staunch realist, has confided in me that delving into the fantastical world of certain characters has reignited her passion and belief in things he can’t see, feel or touch.
So this summer I am making it my mission to spend at least a fraction of this summer season with my kids taking them to a library or book store, or just snuggling on the couch and fishing out a dog-eared book from your shelf that you’ve always wanted to share with them. The bottom line is this; the electronic games and glitzy toys eventually begin to lose their magic and this is not the case with a good book. Always magical, each page brings a new adventure. A wise person once said that a book is a gift that can be opened again and again. This Summer get lost in the pages and there is nothing like reading a story where YOU ARE PART OF THE MAGIC which is exactly what National Geographic kids and Put Me In The Story have done with their new kids books. Keep reading for a full review and how you can enter to win a Family trip to San Diego!
With National Geographic Little Kids Book of Animals Hardcover $29.99 | Paperback $19.99 Kids can explore the rain forest, the ocean and the icecaps with their very own personalized guide ! National Geographic Little Kids Book of Animals is a colorful introduction to some of the world’s coolest creatures. From blue morpho butterflies and red-eyed tree frogs to tigers and polar bears, this personalized guide is sure to indulge your junior explorer. Each page features beautiful photos of the animal alongside quick facts about its size, diet, and habitat. Questions like “How fast can you run?” are woven throughout to keep your little one’s interest. And parents can personalize this book with their child’s name, photo, and an encouraging dedication message to create a memorable keepsake. For a special surprise, check out the final pages, where your child can mark their favorite animal characteristics, then draw themselves as their favorite animal!
National Geographic Little Kids Book of Dinosaurs Hardcover $29.99 | Paperback $19.99 With this book kids can take a trip back in time through the prehistoric world! With full-color illustrations, quick facts, and pronunciation guides, National Geographic Little Kids Book of Dinosaurs has plenty of information to captivate your paleontologist-in- training. This kid-friendly reference book includes dinosaurs of all kinds: big and small, scaled and feathered, meat-eating and plant-eating. Your kiddo will learn fun facts about each dinosaur and answer questions like, “How many plates do you see on the Stegosaurus?” Parents can also personalize the book with their child’s name, photo and special dedication message. On the final pages, your child can mark the dinosaurqualities they like best, then draw themselves as a dinosaur!
And kids are invited to celebrate the launch of these new National Geographic Kids personalized books and the San Diego Zoo’s 100th Anniversary with THE LITTLE EXPLORER DRAWING CONTEST!
The San Diego Zoo has an extra special year of fun planned and they want YOU to be a part of it! With displays on Centennial Plaza, new film experiences, new shows and more, this year will be one of the most exciting at the San Diego Zoo! Contest Open: May 16 – July 8
To Enter: Adults 18+ can fill out the form on the contest page to enter.
For EXTRA entries: Download the free coloring pages on the contest page and share a photo of your child’s drawing on their coloring page with the hashtag #ColorAndExplore on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook! You can also upload the drawing to the photo gallery on the contest page.*Social media posts must be public for them to be counted as an extra entry.
1 GRAND PRIZE WINNER will receive: Family vacation to San Diego! 4-days/3- nights for a family of 4! Includes flights and hotel accommodations and 4 tickets to the San Diego Zoo
2 RUNNER-UP WINNERS will receive: National Geographic Little Kids Book of Animals and National Geographic Little Kids Book of Dinosaurs personalized books 1-year subscriptions to National Geographic Kids magazine and National Geographic magazine. Good luck!
A wise person once said that a book is a gift that can be opened again and again. This summer season get lost in the pages.
This post is written in partnership with National Geographic kids and Put Me In The Story but as is always the case all opinions expressed are my own.
My 10-year-old and all her cousins would think this was pretty damn great. I think I want one, too 🙂 you\’re never too old – – right?? 🙂
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This is such a great idea and I totally want my kids to try this too!
We absolutely love Nat Geo books!! We have the larger scale encyclopedia type books and tons of their new readers on every animal and scientific thing we can find!! Since we get their magazine we can use their website too. I swear Nat Geo is the best resource for kids!!
Oh thank you so much for sharing this, I am definitely ordering this for Ryder!
I really hope my kids will give this a go because it’s a fantastic idea.
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The personalized details in the National Geographic Little Kids Book of Animals, especially the child’s name, photo, and dedication, make the reading experience feel participatory rather than passive. I saw my niece stay with a nonfiction book longer when she could connect each animal fact to a small choice of her own, provided the activity kept the focus on reading instead of becoming another screen game. When we plan a library session, I use Number Wheel to fairly pick which animal or page to explore next, and the random choice often gives her a reason to keep reading.