More Rockets!

UPDATE 2:  Launch is delayed again.  They're now targeting somewhere toward the end of the launch window, which is 11:28 PM.

UPDATE:  Launch time is now targeted for 10:05 PM.  A bit too late for most of the little ones, unfortunately.


Just a quick news flash to all those parents out there in the mid-Atlantic states with kids interested in space. About 8:25ish pm EST, NASA will be launching a rocket from an island in Virginia. If the skies are clear, it may be possible for little ones to see it streaking skyward.

If they are interested in books about rockets or space, I recommend the following:

Space Explorers - Apollo Astronaut Camp Kit for ages 10-12

Space Explorers - Discovery Astronaut Camp Kit for ages 8-9

Space Explorers - Junior Astronaut Camp Kit for ages 5-7

See Inside Space

First Encyclopedia of Space

First Guide to the Universe

Will you try to see the rocket launch tonight? We'll be outside, if the skies are clear!

Space Camp!

OK...my little girl may not quite be old enough for the real Space Camp just yet, but Usborne will take care of her!  There's a new series of books I need to get her: Smarty Pants Camps.  The Smarty Pants Camps are designed to promote critical thinking through active reading, effective writing, and inquiry learning.  The best part (for my daughter, anyway) is that they're...space themed!  The Space Explorers program includes a series of challenges, missions and hands-on experiments for children to explore and solve collaboratively. Standards based programs are scaled for different age groups. Each camp kit includes a student lab notebook and a set of fiction and non-fiction books for reference, reading and exploration. 


There are three sets based on age range:
Space Explorers - Apollo Astronaut Camp Kit for ages 10-12
Space Explorers - Discovery Astronaut Camp Kit for ages 8-9
Space Explorers - Junior Astronaut Camp Kit for ages 5-7


I think it's time to get the blankets out and find a big box or two so we can make a rocket or a space shuttle!

Museums and Books (and Outer Space)

Museum trips can be great fun for kids, and they can learn a lot, too.  If you go to a museum where you find something that really fascinates your children, a book or two to reinforce what they learned at the museum can be a wonderful thing.

My daughter loves science - right now she loves astronomy and she wants to be an astronomer when she grows up.  We went to visit the Smithsonian Institution's Air & Space Museum Udvar-Hazy Center today, and I thought that a great way to follow up on our visit would be to look at a few space books.  Of course, there are several great Usborne books to choose from!

She already has See Inside Space - it's one of her favorite books.  I think I might get her the First Encyclopedia of Space.  She's looked at it before, and narrowly chose See Inside Space instead.  Of course, she loves dot-to-dot puzzles, so Dot-to-Dot in Space might be a nice, fun treat.

There are lots of other great choices, too - which space book would your child like?

Some Old Favorites

My daughter got her first Usborne book as a baby.  Her very first Usborne book was That's Not My Dragon, which is unfortunately out of print now.  But she accumulated a nice collection of That's Not My... books.  Two of her favorites were That's Not My Teddy and  That's Not My Dinosaur.  The That's Not My... series is great for babies and toddlers, with lots of different textures for them to feel and adjectives to learn.  They held up to her frequent use really well too - well enough that when she outgrew them, we were able to pass them on to my nephew, and they were still in great condition.  Take a look at the That's Not My... list.  What book was your child's favorite, or which one do you think your baby will love?

Welcome!

Welcome to the blog for www.IWantUsborne.com.  I am a new Independent Consultant for Usborne Books & More, and I'll be blogging about some of my favorite Usborne children's books, my daughter's experiences with her Usborne books, why I decided to start selling Usborne books, and whatever else comes to mind.  Thanks for reading, and don't forget to go see all the great kids' books available for you to buy at www.IWantUsborne.com!