This company as far as I can tell from the books we were given to review has some interesting and unusual choices for kids.  For our review we were given electronic formats of The Sum of Our Parts-No Bones About It, Andy and Spirit go to the Fair, Rainbow Sheep, and Maybe We Are Flamingo’s.

We have never read storybooks in electronic format so this was new to us.  Using the tools in adobe we reduced the screen to 80% and we were fine, although I must say it’s hard to snuggle at the computer so it would take some getting used to for us.  The books are available in hard copy as well so the choice is yours.

Some of the books have video clips of pages and some have sample pages.  The site also has free coloring pages and other books for free to check out, just go to freebies.

Of the five our favorites were definitely The sum of Our Parts-No bones About It and Earthquake.  Both of these would be excellent to add to your studies of the Human Body and Earth Science respectively.  Here’s a bit about each of the books staring with our favorites:

The Sum of Our Parts-No Bones About It by Bill Kirk

This is a very informational but cute book.  Facts about the body are presented in a rhyming fashion with cute cartoon faces on the bones. At first, being close to Halloween and all, the book was sort of scary looking but that’s because we’re studying the skeleton.  I think I have myself trained to stay away from all that stuff because of Halloween but really it’s not anything like that at all!

Inserted in the pages are “factoids” and insert pictures of bones.  The factoids tell interesting facts and explain things about the bones.  The insert pictures show the bone that page is about by itself and then the larger picture on the page shows where it fits in the skeleton.  Doing it that way really helps you to “see” the small and big picture.

The ages on this one are 8-13 but even teens/adults trying to learn bones would benefit from memorizing the rhyme.

It’s available as a download for $5 and $10.95 plus shipping for a printed copy.

Earthquake by Susan J Berger

The ages on this one say 6-9 but I think it should be higher to maybe 12.  it has a lot of technical information on earthquakes including vocabulary, charts and technical illustrations.  We did earth science about 2 years ago and I think this would have been a great addition to the study.

Earthquake like the bones book (see above) also has great “factoids” which add a little of interesting side facts.  Besides giving information on earthquakes is also suggests being prepared for emergencies and gives steps and lists of things to do.  Yet another extra it contains  is a craft to make,an emergency bed pocket to store flashlights and things like that you might need handy.

It’s available as a download for $5 and $11.95 plus shipping for a printed copy.

Maybe We Are Flamingo’s by Safari Sue Thurman

A typical subject for children’s book, why are we different.  The was a little young for my children as my youngest is almost 10 and it recommends ages 3-9.

It has cute pictures especially towards the end when they are discussing that flamingo’s turn pink from their food, the young flamingo’s draw pictures of themselves as taco flamingo’s or pineapple flamingo’s.  I could just see my kids when they were younger coping this type of logic and the drawings on my refrigerator to go with it!  I also liked the fact that they turned to their mother to find out “why” they weren’t pink. 

It’s available as a download for $5 and $9.95 plus shipping for a printed copy.

Rainbow Sheep

By Kim Chatel

What is interesting about this book is the felting illustrations.  They used felting to create the scenes of the book, really unique.  At the end of the book instructions are given to make felted soap and a felted sheep along with definitions of the terms used to understand the process.

Again the age recommendations  for this one are 4-10 so it’s not in our range but I could see my girls all over the craft part if I’d had those supplies on hand.  I do a lot of crafts and have quite an extensive craft supply but felting supplies are not in it.

The story itself is about imagination although it doesn’t come out and say that.  I’m sure with very young children you may have to ask a few questions and do a little leading to get that out of it.  It’s about a sad rainbow and trying to get it to smile. It’s a cute story although I must say it’s the felting and crafts at the back that set it apart.

It’s available as a download for $5 and $10.95 plus shipping for a printed copy.

Andy and Spirit go to the Fair- Mary Jean Kelso

This one is suggested to age 12 and is part of a series of 3.  Andy and Spirit go to the Fair is about a horse and a boy in a wheelchair who compete at the fair.  We go to the fair every summer so this was a very familiar subject to us!

The extra information in this one is on wild horses and 4H.  There are links at the end of the book for further information and research on these subjects.

This book was more of your "story" type book with the happy ending.  It's about overcoming challenges.  The illustrations are like colorful paintings.

It’s available as a download for $5 and $10.95 plus shipping for a printed copy.