I have a new post up on Playful Learning today; a little write-about transitioning Mariam's tiny art space into a project-friendly space that is more appropriate for her eight year old self. Her previous art space was great, but we did set it up when she was five, and her needs have changed quite a bit since then.
One of the things that we made sure to include when organizing her space this time around was room on the shelves for reference books and field guides. I've been thinking quite a bit lately about the importance of her being able to independently find information in the moment when she feels that it needs to be found (before momentum is lost or curiousity forgotten), and having a stack of reliable reference volumes at the ready has proven invaluable for those times when she wants to find a particular something.
Digging through our books to pull out and reorganize the reference titles got me thinking about reference books for kids as a genre and how very awesome they are. I thought that I would share with you a few that are reliable favorites at our house; not just from the grown-up perspective, but in Mariam's opinion as well. Here are a few non-fiction books that seem to be in constant rotation at our house.
The Take-Along Guides Series by Mel Boring
With titles on every topic from arrowheads to backyard reptiles, this series of books is both informative and aesthetically pleasing. The illustrations are great, the information is accessible and abundant without being overwhelming. We are especially fond of the title on birds and their eggs.
I don't know why we even bother making a space for this one on the bookshelf; it is always out and open, laying on the couch or the dining room table. This book is big, heavy and relatively expensive. It is also still probably worth its weight in gold. Possibly one of the best book purchases that I have ever made for our household.
The Tree Book for Kids and Their Grown Ups by Gina Ingoglia
This watercolor illustrated guide to common U.S. trees comes fully outfitted with a storybook like writing style and tons of botanical information; a perfect combination for inquisitive young naturalists. And honestly, this book is so well done that most adults who I've shown it to immediately loved it as well.
Titles by Gail Gibbons
Here you thought that you were sitting down to read your kiddo a picture book, and the next thing you know, you can explain how to frame a house and install plumbing. And you know all the different owl species that exist world wide, and you can describe the process of getting milk from cow to consumer in exhaustive detail. That, my friends, is the magic of Gail Gibbons. If you have raised a child through the years between 4 and 9, you likely know of which I speak.
These are just a few of our favorites- the ones that seem to find their way off the shelves and into laps the most often. I'm definitely curious (and always on the lookout)- do you have favorite reference books for children?