May Celebration of Dinosaurs - DINOMAYNIA #GIVEAWAY - National Geographic Kids' dinosaurs books educate & entertain [6-Book Giveaway]

National Geographic Kids has an amazing DinoMAYnia website packed full of games, video shorts, facts, and even a dinosaur personality quiz!  natgeokids.com/dinomania

In honor of International Dinosaur Day on May 17th, National Geographic Kids is celebrating DinoMAYnia and has compiled a terrific line up of books for dino-maniacs of all ages. 

Now we're celebrating this fun "DinoMAYnia" month by parterning with National Geographic Kids to offer a super 6-pack of Dino books for the kiddies. Read on to see just what's in the pack of books and how you can enter-2-win!

Little Kids First Board Book; Dinosaurs (ages baby - 3, hard cover, $7.99)

The prehistoric world comes alive with dinosaurs small, big, giant, and gigantic in this colorful book for the very youngest dinosaur lovers! Each spread in this sturdy book features a different dinosaur, along with super simple facts and lively, age-appropriate language to keep babies and toddlers--and their grown-ups--fascinated by every colorful page. Not only will readers learn about a variety of dinosaurs--and how to say their names, they can also find recurring shapes and patterns in the art, while adults can keep their eyes open for occasional funny commentary from the animals. Sidebar text offers additional learning for older siblings or those ready for more complex information.  The Little Kids First Board Books mirror the beloved First Big Books while taking a fresh new approach to excite a baby's sense of wonder and make learning about nature and science fun.

Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs (hardcover, ages 4-8, 128 pages, $14.95)

A #1 best seller on Amazon! The prehistoric world comes alive with dinosaurs small, big, giant, and gigantic, with stunning illustrations. Bursting with fun facts and age-appropriate information, each spread features a different dinosaur, along with simple text in big type that is perfect for little kids. Young dino fans will love the interactivity included in every chapter, and parents will appreciate tips to help carry readers' experience beyond the page. 

So Cool! Dinos (hardcover, ages 3-5, $6.99)

Those sharp, pointy teeth! Those terrifying claws! Those long necks and pointy spines! Let’s face it ... dinosaurs are SO COOL! Blending dinosaur art with silly quips and Informational fact boxes about when dinosaurs lived on Earth, stats about dinos, dinosaur feathers, and more, this is the perfect little reader to get kids’ brains buzzing and keep them laughing while learning.

National Geographic Readers: T.Rex (ages 4-6, paperback, $4.99)

Giant teeth! Crushing bite! Slicing claws! And … feathers? Scientists have unearthed new knowledge about the king of the dinosaurs, and now you can, too. Travel back in time to the Mesozoic forests to meet the mighty Tyrannosaurus rex. Learn how their bodies were perfectly adapted for hunting, how T. rex parents guarded their nests, and just how much meat they could guzzle down in a single bite. Then explore some of the fascinating fossils―including Sue and Scotty―that have helped scientists make important discoveries (for example, T. rex may not have roared at all!). National Geographic Readers’ combination of expert-vetted text, brilliant images, and a fun approach to reading have proved to be a winning formula with kids, parents, and educators. This level 1 text provides accessible information for kids just beginning to read on their own, perfect to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow!

Ultimate Dinopedia, 2nd ED (hardcover, ages 7-10, 296 pages, $24.99) 

Big, beautiful and gift-worthy! The new edition of the popular Nat Geo Kids Dinopedia includes all the latest species and is the most complete, up-to-date dinosaur reference available. Find favorites, like the fierce T-rex and the gentle Brontosaurus, plus audacious new finds, like the Anzu, Kosmoceratops, and Yi. Every dino profile is colorfully illustrated and features descriptions of when they roamed the Earth, how they lived, what they ate, and more. There are more than 600 dinos featured in all, including 10 profiles of recently discovered dinosaurs and new entries in the Dino Dictionary. Reports from paleontologists present the latest news and insights from the field.

Weird But True! Dinosaurs (paperback, ages 8-12, 208 pages, $8.99)

300 dino-mite facts to sink your teeth into! Perfectly sized for back seat boredom busting, this new addition to the wildly popular WBT series is taking on the jaws and claws that ruled the Mesozoic world.  Calling all dino dynamos!  Did you know that the T. rex had vision 13 times better than the average human's? Or that people collect fossilized dino poop? And get this: There's a dinosaur named after Hogwarts--Harry Potter's wizarding school! Get ready to meet dinosaurs with horns and feathers, razor-sharp claws and gigantic teeth. You'll encounter the places they lived, the bizarre art they inspired, and the amazing paleontologists who discovered them.

One-stop shopping:  https://books.disney.com/dinomaynia

GIVEAWAY

6 National Geographic Kids Dinosaurs Books

Ends June 3 @ 11:59 p.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway

DISCLOSURE: I received complimentary copies of these 6 books. Any opinions expressed are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's books are provided and shipped directly to the winner by the publisher or publicist. Chat With Vera is not responsible for lost or misdirected prizes.

Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, & Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem Solver in You by Jennifer Szymanski a Nat Geo Kids Books STEM book [Review & Giveaway]

The fun and games and parties of the holiday are over. Winter has really settled in meaning more inside time. All that means it is time to break out the things that will entertain the kids, grow their minds, and occupy them during those dreary winter days.

Code This!: Puzzles, Games, Challenges, and Computer Coding Concepts for the Problem Solver in You will provide that STEM fun and learning that you love for your kids to have.

ISBN: 9781426334436
Ages 8-12 | Paperback $16.99
National Geographic Kids Publihing

My thoughts:  Computer programming or coding is a complex science and/or language (or languages) that take highly skilled people to write. It is also the basis for everything technological that we use, enjoy, and rely upon on a daily basis. So a book for kids ages 8 to 12 titled "Code This!" certainly compels. But does it actually enable kids to write computer code?

No. Simply no.

It does, however, engage the readers in concepts that enable understanding the complexity of writing code and the necessity for order of execution. Activities are included where the young reader writes down the step-by-step, turn-by-turn movements or actions that are involved in executing an activity. It is likened to following the recipe or instructions for cooking. Only with coding you actually are instructing when to pick up the spoon, insert the spoon into the ingredient, lift the spoon, etc. The details of coding are minute in order to execute rightfully.

Or simply stated, the use of sequencing logic is paramount to coding.

The games in "Code This!" include writing code such as word ciphers. Sure this isn't computer coding, but it is a puzzle and the mental exercise prepares for more advanced coding.

All-in-all the book can be a lot of fun and can certainly enable the readers to think in a highly detailed method to execute the variety of activities.

Back material is provided which is interesting. Also, pictures of three types of computer languages used in coding are shown. And, of course, the answers are tucked away in the back of the book.

A fun, educational book.

About the book: 

“The writing is crisp and clear throughout…..Appealingly, this positive, highly accessible coding guide needs no computers.” - Kirkus 

"Concepts such as algorithms, optimization, constraints, cryptology, and binary code are introduced with fun and workable hands-on activities...A strength of this title is its clarity. The conversational tone is perfect for the intended age range.  -  School Library Journal

Programming concepts come to life in this kid-friendly intro to the basics of computer science and coding, with puzzles, games, and quirky characters.  As part of the Coder Crew and with the help of Cody the Robot, readers are “on a mission” to write algorithms to find hidden treasures, decode ciphers to read secret messages, create loops to program an expedition, and dive into concepts like constraints, debugging and binary code.

GIVEAWAY

Begins December 28

Ends January 15 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy from MMPublicity on behalf of National Geographic to facilitate a review. Opinions expressed are mine, alone and are freely given. Winner's copy is provided and shipped directly to the winner by publicist or publisher.

The Double Helix (Explorer Academy Series #3) by Trudi Trueit [Book Spotlight & 3-Book Set Giveaway]

ISBN13: 9781426334580
Hardcover $16.99
Ages 8-12

National Geographic Kids Books is pleased to announce the highly anticipated release of the third book in the groundbreaking Explorer Academy series published by their fiction imprint, Under the Stars. 

Global adventures, danger and mystery combined with fascinating real-world science, code breaking and technology makes The Double Helix a perfect pick for book lovers and reluctant readers alike.


About The Double Helix:

“A fully packed high-tech adventure that offers both cool, educational facts about the planet and a diverse cast of characters." – Kirkus Reviews 

“Sure to appeal to kids who love code cracking and mysteries with cutting-edge technology” - Booklist 

Named a “Noteworthy Novel Sequel” by Publisher’s Weekly

This fall, National Geographic dives deeper into the beloved Explorer Academy fiction series with a third action-packed book, Explorer Academy: The Double Helix. The journey continues with central character Cruz Coronado and his fellow explorers as they set sail on all-new exotic expeditions to Spain, Jordan and Turkey aboard the Academy flagship, Orion.



The stakes are even higher in this third journey as Cruz and his classmates continue their ongoing quest to find his mother's revolutionary "secret formula" … and now, his missing father. The clock begins to tick, and the action intensifies as his 13th birthday draws near … a milestone that will change his life forever.  Inspired by the pioneering work of real-life space archaeologist Sarah Parcak, Cruz and his classmates from the coolest school on the planet use high-tech images from satellites to locate the buried sites of ancient civilizations and to help combat the real problem of artifact looting.

“The Truth Behind the Fiction” section of the book explains how Parcak uses infrared light, UV light and microwaves to reveal pyramids, temples and even entire cities buried beneath layers of forest and soil. The fact-based fiction concept of Explorer Academy is one of the elements that sets this series apart from other middle-grade series, and allows kids to dig deeper into the fascinating, cutting-edge research, science and technology of real National Geographic Explorers.

For more adventures with Cruz and his fellow explorers, fans can head to ExplorerAcademy.com to watch the Explorer Academy animated series “Brain Freeze,” play Explorer Academy-inspired games, and find the latest updates on The Double Helix. 

GIVEAWAY

Series of 3 books: 
Nebula Secret, Falcon's Feather, & Double Helix

Begins October 19

Ends November 18 at 12:01 a.m. ET

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway 
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of the featured book. No other compensation received. Winner's prize of books is provided and shipped directly to the winner by the publisher or publicist.

National Geographic Kids: Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit; 2 Giveaways 1) a trip and 2) book giveaway (open to US/CANADA)

You've Been Accepted...to the Explorer Academy!

Welcome to Day #7 of the Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret Blog Tour!

To celebrate the release of Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret by Trudi Trueit on September 4th, blogs across the web are featuring exclusive content from Trudi and the Explorer Academy team, as well as 10 chances to win a copy of Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret and swag!

A Diverse Cast of Characters
by The Explorer Academy Team

Explorer Academy is a global school, in every sense of the word.

First, the teachers, most of whom were explorers for the Society, come from and have worked all over the world. Cruz’s aunt Marisol, who is Mexican American, is from Hawaii, like him. She has traveled to the Amazon, Nigeria, Tibet, and jolly old England, often sending Cruz postcards from the road. Monsieur Legrand, professor of fitness and survival training, is from Paris and has spent his life pursuing amazing adventures, like hiking the Atacama desert, diving in Mexican cenotes (underwater caves), and paragliding the Alps, and he was even once an aerial performer in Cirque du Soliel. Other professors come from Japan, Australia, India, and New York.

Then there are Cruz’s classmates. Only the best students are selected from around the globe. Cruz’s best friends are Emmett and Sailor. Emmett is Chinese Canadian, invents some of the most amazing technology in the book, and loves soccer. Sailor is from New Zealand and has Maori ancestry. She’s very competitive and Cruz learns some fun Kiwi slang from her.

Check out this map of all the places Cruz’s classmates are from:

Lastly, the school itself travels around the world. How does that work? Well, it’s on a ship, of course! Each class at Explorer Academy is assigned to a ship in the Academy’s fleet. Cruz’s class, along with their professors, set sail on Orion at the end of The Nebula Secret. Throughout the series, readers will explore new locations as Orion traverses the globe. See if you can guess one of the locations in book 2, The Falcon’s Feather, from these clues. Hint: It’s the home of one of Cruz’s classmates.

1. This island nation is Europe’s westernmost country.
2. Located where two tectonic plates come together, volcanoes and geysers provide most of the country’s electricity through hydroelectric power.
3. This country is the smallest ever to compete in the World Cup soccer tournament.

The Nebula Secret is available September 4, 2018, wherever books are sold.
The Falcon’s Feather is available March 19, 2019. You can pre-order it here.

*****

Blog Tour Schedule:

September 3rd — BookhoundsYA
September 4th — Kid Lit Frenzy
September 5th — Beach Bound Books
September 6th — Java John Z's
September 7th — YA and Kids Books Central

September 10th — Christy's Cozy Corners
September 11th — Chat with Vera
September 12th — A Dream Within a Dream
September 13th — Book Briefs
September 14th — Jean Book Nerd

“A fun, exciting and action-packed ride that kids will love.”  

—J.J. Abrams, director of Star Trek, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Lost and Alias

"Explorer  Academy  is  sure  to  awaken  readers’  inner  adventurer  and  curiosity  about  the  world  around  them."

—LeVar  Burton,  host  of  “Reading  Rainbow”and “LeVar  Burton  Reads”

Buy: National Geographic | Amazon | Indiebound

Add on Goodreads

Visit the Explorer Academy Official Site

Follow Trudi: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Youtube

Follow National Geographic Kids: Website | Twitter | Books Twitter | Facebook | Youtube

Adventure, danger, and a thrilling global mission await 12-year-old Cruz Coronado as he joins an elite school for explorers.

Cruz leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists to become the next generation of great explorers. But for Cruz, there's more at stake. No sooner has he arrived at the Academy than he discovers that his family has a mysterious past with the organization that could jeopardize his future. In the midst of codebreaking and cool classes, new friends and augmented reality expeditions, Cruz must tackle the biggest question of all: Who is out to get him, and why?

Readers can get in on the excitement with puzzles and codes embedded throughout.  

About the Author: Author Trudi Trueit is a gifted storyteller for middle-grade audiences. She has written more than 100 books for young readers, both fiction and nonfiction, including The Sister Solution, Stealing Popular and the Secrets of a Lab Rat series. Trueit lives in Everett, Washington.

GIVEAWAY

• One (1) winner will receive a copy of Explorer Academy: The Nebula Secret, plus an Explorer Academy tote, stickers, folder, poster and pin!
• US/Canada only
• Sept. 11 - Oct. 2, 2018

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Plus! Enter to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip! 

One lucky family of four will embark on a spectacular ship-based adventure, just like the students at Explorer Academy. Experience the remarkable beauty of Alaska’s famed Inside Passage on this thrilling 8-day voyage, courtesy of National Geographic Expeditions. Get up close to icebergs and calving glaciers. See orcas and humpback whales, then listen to them with the ship's hydrophone. Visit Glacier Bay National Park, learn about Alaska’s rich Native American heritage, and pass islands teeming with wildlife, including brown bears, sea lions, sea otters, and perhaps the world's highest density of nesting bald eagles. Visit natgeoexpeditions.com to see a detailed itinerary for Alaska's Inside Passage Cruise. Enter here! ⇦⇦⇦⇦⇦

Calendar of Events

Join Explorer Academy author Trudi Trueit and National Geographic explorer and venomous snake researcher Zoltan Takacs as they discuss the book series and answer questions from readers. Trudi will sign copies of the book as well.

Friday, September 21, 2018: Greenwich

HAMILTON AVENUE SCHOOL
Hosted by the Greenwich Public School District
184 Hamilton Ave.
Greenwich, CT 06830
6:30 p.m.

Saturday, September 22, 2018: New York Launch Event

BOOKS OF WONDER
18 West 18th Street
New York City, NY
1 p.m.

Sunday, September 23, 2018: Chicago

57TH STREET BOOKS
1301 East 57th Street
Chicago, IL
3 p.m.

Disclosure: This information provided by MMPublicity on behalf of National Geographic Kids for sharing with readers of Chat With Vera. Giveaway entered via the Rafflecopter widget is unique to Chat With Vera and the prize will be mailed by and directly to the winner. Other contest prizes are unique to NG.

Science Encyclopedia: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry, Animals, Space, and More! by National Geographic Kids [Review & Giveaway]

ISBN: 978-1426325427
$24.99 Hardcover

My thoughts: How do you say "Wow" with super exclamations that go pow and wow? Well, that's what Science Encyclopedia: Atom Smashing, Food Chemistry, Animals, Space, and More deserves.

This is a giant of a book in size (measures 9.5 x 0.9 x 12.2 inches), in pages (304), and in mind-blasting information.

Be prepared to sit for hours, days, months delving into the facts and fun information that is packed inside this real treat of a book for kids ages 8 to 12. Well, older and younger kids and adults will all spend much time sifting through the vast amount of information it contains.

The pictures capture the reader's attention and the occasional side-joke softens the learning a bit. We all know that good teachers are often the ones that bring a bit of levity to the classroom.

I love the index and glossary at the back beause they make investigative reading and learning easier. There are also lists of other materials the reader can source for further study.

This is a superb book for home, school, and public libraries and I can highly recommend it to my readers. Another superb publication from National Geographic Kids.

About the book:  Food chemistry, atom crashing, wave power, food chemistry, and robots! These are just a few of the topics covered in this fantastic new science encyclopedia, which presents a comprehensive overview of physical and life sciences from A to Z. Super smart and kid-friendly, it’s packed with full-color photographs, weird but true facts, amazing statistics, do-it-yourself experiments, plus profiles of scientists and National Geographic's explorers who rock the world of science. Keep up with the changes happening all around us with this stellar science reference book.

GIVEAWAY ~~ FLASH

Begins December 4

ENDS December 12 @ 12:01 a.m ET

Open to USA addresses only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy to facilitate this review of my own opinions which are freely given without censure. Giveaway copy is provided by the publicist or publisher directly to the winner.

National Geographic Kids: 100 Things to Know Before You Grow Up & Awesome 8 (50 Top 8 Lists) [Review & Giveaway]

Today we're looking at two National Geographic Kids books for ages 8 and up. Actually, Mom and Dad will gain a lot of knowledge from these two books. In 100 Things to Know Before You Grow Up the adults might find themselves learning just as the kids are doing. And in the Awesome 8 book National Geographic gives a lot of lists and each has eight in the list.

And to make the adventure more fun, we're giving one of Chat With Vera readers a copy of each of these books. This will be a great addition to summer fun-learning!

About the book: 100 Things to Know Before You Grow Up (ages 9-12)

Jam-packed with tips, tricks and skills that every kids should master before turning 18, this is the ultimate guide to expanding ones horizons and becoming a fun-loving, well-rounded and confident young person. A perfect graduation gift or addition to a camp care package, kids will love the expert advice from Nat Geo Explorers, adventurers and masters of their craft from around the world.

My thoughts: There is such a plethora of information packed in this small book. Information of how-to-do these things is presented in a great graphic manner, bright and colorful, great photographs, and step-by-step instructions. Easily understood and easy to work through, each individual list is really going a fun way to learn. Each list is done by experts in that particular area. But not only are there how-to-do lists, there are also how-to-be list that help behaviorally. There are instructions on developing specific skills as well as lists that are curiosity solvers.

... Balance a checkbook .... Sooth a bee sting .... Tie Three Basic Knots ... Pack a Suitcase ...

Some things are "you really need to know this" types and some are "this is fun to know" types. This will be a great little book to have in the home and used kind of like a "bucket list of things to know how to do."

Awesome 8 (ages 8-12)

About the book: A new series from Nat Geo Kids Books,
Awesome 8 is the ultimate go-to guide for curious kids who want to know the who, what and where of the coolest things on the planet. With 50 top-8 lists, every turn of the page presents a different theme and counts down the greatest of the great top 8 of its kind. Awesome 8 lists include Coolest
Coasters, Haughtiest Hotels, Wicked Water Slides, Perilous Predators, Remarkable Ruins, Weirdest Wonders and Swankiest Subways. Great for reluctant readers, each Awesome 8 list appears in photographs, layered with fun facts and insightful stories.

My thoughts: Sometimes it is just fun to look at and learn about things a bit off-the-wall or just simply cool-to-know things. Sometimes it is fun to just see these awesome things - well, at least to see pictures of them, and be amazed that such is part of our world or such is part of the amazing inventions of people.

Complete with a great Table of Contents and an awesome Index, this will prove to be a grand source for delving into bits of research when the mind wants to take a journey to see some "awesomeness." Each two page spread is replete with 8 awesome things, places, critters, etc. and they are all shown in awesome photographs and enough text to tantalize the mind and senses.

This is a strong, well-bound, soft-cover book that will see lots of use and really help keep the kids and Mom and Pop out of the summer slump. Might even be helpful in making a "bucket list" of some awesome stuff and places to see.

GIVEAWAY

2 books for 1 winner

Begins June 26

Ends July 17 @ 12:01 a.m. EDT

Open to USA addresses only

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

DISCLOSURE: I was provided complimentary copies to facilitate this review. Opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.