Disclosure: I received book samples. Opinions shared are mine.

Now that the weather is cooling down and we’re getting some rain showers, I’ll set out some new books in my classroom and in my home library. You can’t go wrong with books from National Geographic Kids. Their books are so high-quality with glossy pages, vivid photos, and durable covers. I love having these around because they also kick off some great conversations with kids!

About the books:

Animal Encyclopedia, 2^nd Edition: 2,500 Animals with Photos, Maps and More(ages 8-12, hardcover, $24.99)Discover the thousands of animals that call Earth home in this big and beautiful edition of National Geographic’s best Animal Encyclopedia.   Updated and reviewed by experts in the field for the most accurate, up-to-date information, this comprehensive reference  features 2,500 species, 1,000 stunning photos, and more than a dozen engaging maps. Jam-packed with info about animal homes and habitats, migration, life cycles and babies, the book also contains new, exclusive “From the Field” reports highlighting National Geographic explorers working around the world to study and protect every kind of animal, from giraffes to penguins and sharks to snails.  Perfect for reading for fun, researching for school, or for use in the classroom, Animal Encyclopedia provides an excellent overview of the diversity of animals that live on this planet and why each one is so unique in its own way.

My take: Who can resist an animal encyclopedia?! It’s so fun to learn new facts about these adorable creatures.

Treasury of Greek Mythology: Classic Stories of Gods, Goddesses, Heroes and Monsters by Donna Jo Napoli, art by Chritina Balit (ages 8-12, hard cover, $24.95)* A School Library Journal Best Book * Eureka! Silver Honor Book         * A Capitol Choices Selection of Noteworthy Titles for Children and Teens * An ALSC Notable 
Is your child learning about Greek mythology this year?  Give them a leg up with the beautifully written and lushly illustrated National Geographic Treasury of Greek Mythology that offers timeless tales of gods and goddesses such as Zeus, Aphrodite, Apollo, and Athena and heroes and monsters such as Helen of Troy, Perseus, and Medusa.  National Geographic completes the book with embellishments of each story: sidebars for each god, goddess, hero, and monster link the myths to constellations, geography, history, and culture to help young readers connect the stories to real life events, people, and places. A family tree and a “cast of characters” profile page help make relationships between the characters clear, and a mapping feature adds to the fun and fascination. 

My take: Kids are drawn to Greek mythology. Why not take advantage of that and get some reading in? These are fun for adults and kids alike. Make sure to pick your kids’ brains and see if they can identify some ways that Greek mythology influences modern culture.

5,000 Awesome Facts (About Everything!) (ages 8-12, hardcover, $19.99) 
Shake off the summer brain “fog” with this Amazon bestseller that is a treasure trove of high-interest, fascinating facts. Who knew that there were so many sweet things to learn about chocolate or that a dozen delicious details about peanut butter would show up on a page with a few splotches of jelly to whet our appetites? Keep turning the pages and a terrifyingly toothy shark tells you all about himself, while other spreads lay out tons of tips on toys, inventions, mysteries of history, robots, reptiles, sports, spies, wacky words, and much more.

My take: This book is for that kid who always asks “Did you know….?” Consider keeping this for yourself for a few weeks and write some of the fun facts on lunchbox notes to keep your little trivia king or queen guessing.

NG Kids Almanac 2023(ages 8-12, paperback, $15.99)                                      * The #1 selling kids almanac on the planet * A New York Times Bestseller Get ready for 2023 with all the latest and greatest information on animals, science, nature, technology, conservation, and more in this biggest edition ever.  This new edition features:

• BONUS SECTION: 20 Things to Make You Happy
• NEW trends and news for the year ahead
• NEW photo feature showcasing wonders from around the world
• NEW Almanac Challenge, plus the results of the 2022 Almanac Challenge
• NEW incredible animal stories
• NEW weird-but-true facts
• NEW amazing inventions
• NEW interviews with National Geographic Explorers
• NEW games, activities, jokes, and comics
• UPDATED reference material —  including fast facts and maps of every country — and helpful homework help tips

Whether you’re looking for homework help, want to learn more about another country, or just need a cute animal fix, the National Geographic Kids Almanac 2023 has you covered.

My take: This is a super resource for those kids who love, love, love statistics. Keep this book in the car and have your kids take turns reading some of the more shocking stories!

Would you like to win these 4 books? Enter on the form below for your chance to win! Giveaway is open to US readers ages 18+. Void where prohibited by law. Good luck!