At a recent LeapFrog event this weekend, their educational toys were described as “vitamin-sprinkled cupcakes.” They are toys that are still fun for kids but sneak in a little lot of learning on the sly. The other day my son was playing their SpongeBob Square Pants game, but was also counting money and making change as part of the game. I like that.
Same thing with books … every night, we read a handful of books as part of our 100 Book Challenge. Sometimes they’re silly, sometimes they’re serious and sneak a little learning in. Sometimes they’re for Nicholas, sometimes they’re for his baby sister. But we’re always reading. Tonight’s selection? Like the “vitamin-sprinkled cupcakes,” it’s a book that is fun for kids with a little lot of learning sprinkled in… What to do About Alice?
The GOOD: Completely different than the usual spate of children’s books out there, this one was a fun, but deeply rooted, story, all about Theodore Roosevelt’s handful-of-a-daughter, Alice Lee. The book is beautifully illustrated with whimsical colorful drawings, and the story moves at a nice pace.
The BAD: Not necessarily bad, but this book is not geared towards younger children. It has some words (gamboled anyone?) that even I had to look up, and terms (Buffalo Exposition) that need defining for the younger set. Might be better suited for kids 10 and up. The inside covers of the book are printed on, and I didn’t care for that. I’d rather see them white - can’t teach an old dog new tricks and all.
MONEY MATTERS: What to Do About Alice retails for $16.99 and can be found at your favorite bookseller or online at Amazon.
The MOM VERDICT
Cate says: Honestly, as a 38-year-old, I loved the story and learning about Alice Lee Roosevelt… a fun tale, but with historical backing. It was a little beyond my six-year-old, but we’ll definitely be saving this one and going back to it as he dives more into the Presidents and American history at school.
Sarah says: I loved the amount of historial meat this story had. It’s obvious that the author took care to research her subjects. But reading it to my three-year-old, it was definitely a bit above his head. The book introduces a lot of concepts without a lot of explanation — something that surprised me. I think it will be great when he’s a little older though. And I certainly enjoyed it.
