DK Canada Archives — Thrifty Mommas Tips

Keeping Kids Motivated Through School and Beyond

Paula — Thu, 08 Oct 2020 18:55:25 +0000

I received product for consideration here. My opinion is all my own. Keeping kids motivated about their schooling is harder than it’s ever been before. At least, it is if your kids are anything like mine. On one hand, having that extra time makes it easier for the kids to do their studies and really nail down the material. On the other hand, right now more of that time is spent at home where all the best distractions are. Think about it. At school, the tablet isn’t right there. The console isn’t inches away. Tiktok isn’t playing (mostly). The snacks aren’t there whenever the kids want to get up and mill around. The distractions seem almost limitless, and it can really impact motivation. Keeping Kids Motivated with Great Books I’ve found that engaging reading material can help keep kids motivated to learn, even if it doesn’t necessarily fall directly in line with their current curriculum. Learning is a mindset, so if we can get our kids to get in that mindset of having fun while learning, then it makes school so much easier. I’ve found some great books from DK Canada that help make keeping kids motivated so much easier. They also make for great holiday gifts if you have children who are always primed to read something new and interesting. It Can’t be True! Poo Yes, this book is all about poo. It Can’t be True! Poo filled with all kinds of facts about poo and farts. It’s educational and disgusting in all the right ways for kids. I chose it for my nephew and am gifting it to him for Christmas. He’s obsessed with poop and fart jokes, so this one made perfect sense. It’s also filled with scientific facts, so it makes learning fun and engaging for him, which is the ultimate goal. My niece and nephews LOVE books so anything that keeps them reading or playing board games with Aunt Paula, makes this lady happy as a clam. Kooky Facts By the way, did you know that a week’s worth of elephant poo weighs as much as 25 people? Unsolved Murders Unsolved Murders is perfect for those interested in true crime, mysteries, and the macabre. This book makes the reader the detective, allowing them to explore some of the most infamous unsolved cases of the 20th and 21st centuries. Kids will learn about cases like Black Dahlia, the Zodiac Killer, and the JonBenet Ramsey case. I got this book for my youngest daughter. She is obsessed with true crime stories right now, so it’s the perfect fit. Also, we have been reading some of the stories together. This year, her school is moving so very fast because it is one course at a time over the span of five weeks that we have been reading and sharing books and even reading out loud to get through the content. Reading this one is easy as the stories are short and she and I can both pick up a story and read it out loud to the other one at random. You need not start at the beginning and read them in order. Pick what you like and run with it. Choose a different unsolved crime the next day. A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult This is another book that I got for my youngest daughter. If there’s one thing she’s as obsessed with as crime, it’s magic. She’s a gigantic Harry Potter fan, so she eats up anything that has to do with magic or the occult. What is it about witches and wizards right now anyways? A History of Magic, Witchcraft, and the Occult dives into topics covering everything from ancient animal worship to shamanism, alchemy, divination, modern Wicca, and more. It combines her love of magic with what is basically a super interesting history lesson. Both of my daughters are very interested in this book and in spells too. Keeping Kids Motivated Doesn’t Need to Be Hard. Just Find What Interests Them As you can see in the above list, there are lots of ways to get kids excited about learning that fall outside of the things we normally think about. That’s a good thing, because unique books like this are what really capture a child’s imagination and spark a love of learning. Start Shopping Now for Fall and Winter What’s more these awesome books from DK Canada make for great holiday gifts, as well. They’re so delightfully out there, that kids won’t even know their holiday gift is secretly another strategy in the ongoing battle to keep them engaged in learning. If you’re been looking for help keeping kids motivated, head over to DK Canada and give their wide variety of unique books a look. You’ll find something that appeals to any kid in your life. Don’t forget to enter for a chance to win a copy of A History of Magic, Witchcraft and the Occult. Follow the rules below for a chance. Entry-Form

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Keep Growing and Reading with these Dinosaur Books

Paula — Wed, 06 May 2020 13:17:48 +0000

As you know, many kids in Ontario and many other Canadian provinces have moved on to online school. While that process for me is a bit up and down, some weeks I have loved it and others not so much, I have used this opportunity to add more literature and entertaining educational books to my home. I received these DK Canada Dinosaur Books for consideration here. Post may contain affiliate links as a service to my readers. I receive a small commission on qualifying purchases. My opinion is all my own. For me, right now, as a parent, it’s more important to protect my kid’s mental health and allow them to explore some areas of interest and creativity. So, I am trying to nurture my kid’s love of reading and giving them some topics they are into. Have a Dino Fan? My youngest girl is fascinated by dinosaurs. She could read about and draw dinosaurs all day long. It is her favourite subject. Truthfully, she is a kid who latches onto a subject and mines it for almost everything it is worth sometimes. She’s always been that way. When we spied more DK Canada Dinosaur Books in their catalogue we were interested in seeing these for ourselves. Here are Three of Our New Favourite Dinosaur Books! DK Canada is one of my favourite resources for gifts for both my kids and my niece and nephews too. Over the years, I have given dozens of these great educational books to my nephew who lives in Toronto. He gets some every Christmas and most birthdays too. I am thrilled every single time he lights up on receiving these books from DK Canada. They truly make the best gifts. Our Favourites Right Now A few of you know that my daughter is on the spectrum, the FASD (fetal alcohol spectrum disorder) spectrum. She also has ADHD and SPD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and Sensory Processing Disorder) Why do I mention that? Well, her brain works differently. She likes to read, but processes things in a different manner. Sometimes my daughter is incredibly articulate. Two summers ago, when we travelled to Philadelphia together for a Philly mother – daughter trip my younger girl received three DK Canada Dinosaur books and nature books. The two books of Dinos made the cut and flew with us and in fact she read them every night. She also drew weekly dinosaur sketches and knows more about dinosaurs than most adults I know. If you have a dinosaur nut you could combine all five of the ones that we have for an epic gift that would thrill them right now. Also, I kind of love this TREX dinosaur mask for the younger kids. Here’s our list of Six Favourites: Pocket Genius: Dinosaurs Pocket Genius: Dinosaurs is my daughter’s go-to for quick referencing. She uses this pocket guide to pull up information about specific dinosaurs she finds in other areas of her study. It was a great guide to come with us to Philly where she used it inside The Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University. Dinosaur My daughter loves Dinosaur! because it features images and cutaways, making it so much more than words. Dinosaur A to Z Similar to Pocket Genius, Dinosaur A to Z catalogs of over 150 dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures. Ainsley uses this for quick reference and as an easy way to drill down on a particular creature she’s interested in. The Dinosaur Book Read more about this one below. The Dinosaur Atlas Again, read more below but the easy to flip pages and the overlays are a hit here. Ultimate Dinosaurs Extremely thorough and full of content that is gripping and even new to us in some cases. Why These Books Exactly? Recently, right after she got these books sent to us by DK Canada for review here, I asked her why she likes them so much. This is what she said: “My brain thinks in pictures. I need the photos and the illustrations to absorb the information and these DK dinosaur books have the most incredible pictures.” The acetate overlays in the Atlas are our favourite parts. The Dinosaur Book These Smithsonian books are brilliant. With over 1,000 images and fascinating facts, The Dinosaur Book brings some of the most incredible creatures into your child’s life. “Using a range of full-color images, including spectacular fossilized bones and realistic digital reconstructions, all forms of prehistoric life are covered.” Beautifully illustrated book and dense with information too. Hardcover, $29.99 roughly, 208 pages Ultimate Dinosaurs A visual exploration of the monsters that once ruled the earth. Travel along the prehistoric timeline to piece together the parts of a missing dinosaur at an archaeological dig. Discover the secrets of the Stegosaurus by looking at a close-up of its skeleton. Ultimate Dinosaurs is colourful and educational. Totally worth it. Hardcover, $18.99 roughly and 128 pages. Dinosaur Atlas Journey through the lost world with The Dinosaur Atlas, one of our all-time favourite dinosaur books. With acetate skeleton overlays illustrating the skeletons of the dinosaurs, there’s so much visual happening here. More to learn and absorb, plus it stands out from the pack with this all-in-one compendium of everything dinosaur. The very latest in paleontology in an easily accessible atlas format that illuminates the mysteries of dinosaur origins, clues to what they looked like and where they lived. The latest research and discoveries brings the dinosaurs on these pages to life. Vivid recreations of the prehistoric world and fascinating see-through overlays featuring 3-D computer graphics of skeletal structures, DK’s Dinosaur Atlas breathes life into dinosaurs while also teaching kids some biology. We love the acetate overlays because this adds an additional layer of learning to the DK Canada Dinosaur Atlas. It also lists important fossil sites around the world, so there’s geography thrown in there too. Right now kids are needing extra tools to keep them busy and occupied. DK Canada never fails to deliver in that department. With literacy, geography, history and science all rolled into these books, they will keep your kids learning and happy right now.

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Self-Improvement for the New Year with DK Canada

Paula — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 11:31:21 +0000

This post was sponsored by DK Canada. Self-improvement is always on the top of everyone’s list when the new year rolls around. Whether we’re trying to lead a more healthy lifestyle, balance work and home life, or just broaden our horizons, self-improvement always takes the front spot in our minds this time of year. It’s no different for me and my family. This year, we’re improving ourselves with my favourite publisher, DK Canada. Three Self-Improvement Books for My Family Travel and learning always top my family’s list of ways to improve ourselves, and the books I recently received from DK Canada help us out on those fronts. 15-Minute Japanese My sister-in-law is Japanese, and my oldest daughter is very interested in learning the language. In fact, over the past decade, she’s actually picked up several phrases. She picks up language fast and always has done so. Now at 17, she’s fluent in French and English and chipping away at Japanese. That’s why I got her 15-Minute Japanese. With it, she’ll be able to start actually learning the language that she’s always been so fascinated by. Who knows – maybe the rest of us will pick it up too. From the DK Website: With this fun, user-friendly, and uniquely visual Japanese language course, you can teach yourself Japanese in just 12 weeks. ….What? Cool. DK’s 15 Minute Japanese–now relaunching with a new free audio app–is the perfect course for busy people who want to learn Japanese fast. Twelve themed chapters are broken down into easy-to-follow 15-minute daily lessons, spanning a range of practical themes, including socializing, doing business, food and drink, travel, and shopping. Each lesson combines vocabulary and grammar essentials with attractive full-color photographs, making it quick, easy, and fun to learn new Japanese vocabulary. There is no writing or homework–you simply use the cover flaps to hide the answers to exercises and test yourself as you learn. Each chapter ends with a review module, so you can track your progress and identify any areas where you need further practice. The free audio app enables you to hear Japanese words and phrases spoken by native speakers. You can also record yourself, compare with native speakers, and re-record as desired. Use the app alongside the book’s easy-to-use pronunciation guides to perfect your pronunciation, and to practice Japanese conversation in real-life situations. 5 Language Visual Dictionary I got myself the 5 Language Visual Dictionary. I studied a lot of languages over the years, but I never became fluent in any of them. That doesn’t mean I lost my passion for languages, though. Since I plan to visit Europe this year, I’m eager to start using my new book. From the DK Website: 5 Language Visual Dictionary is a user friendly and intuitive reference for adults learning English, French, German, Spanish, or Italian. The only language dictionary of its kind, 5 Language Visual Dictionary makes language learning accessible by using photographs to put everyday words into context. Its thematic organization of 10,000 terms accompanied by more than 1,600 annotated color photographs and illustrations puts the perfect translation at your fingertips. Additional feature panels include abstract nouns and verbs, as well as useful phrases you can use in conversation. Whether you are a student, tourist, or business traveler, 5 Language Visual Dictionary is your comprehensive guide to learning English, French, German, Spanish, or Italian. DK Life Stories: Anne Frank Finally, I got my youngest daughter DK Life Stories: Anne Frank. We’re all fascinated by the story of this courageous young girl, but my daughter is especially moved by Anne’s life and her diary. She was so excited when she heard she was receiving this book. From the DK Website: In this biography, discover the incredible story of Anne Frank, the courageous young writer who hid from the Nazis during World War II. Anne Frank’s diary is read by children and adults worldwide. It tells two stories: one of an extraordinary young girl living in hiding during one of the most fearsome times in history, and one of a relatable young girl facing the same questions and troubles that kids come up against today. Learn how both sides of this puzzle made up the person who is Anne Frank. Meet her family and friends, explore “The Annex” where they hid, and see her story put in historical context alongside information about World War II and the Holocaust, and Hitler and Nazi Germany. Books are a Great Path to Self-Improvement I’m a lover of books, both for pleasure and self-improvement. The best scenario is when a book combines both of those elements. That’s what books from DK Canada do for my family. With 15-Minute Japanese, 5 Language Visual Dictionary, and DK Life Stories: Anne Frank, my family and I are well on our way to a year focused on self-improvement with some fun and interesting books that will help us broaden our horizons. Enter for a chance to win a copy of DK Life Stories: Anne Frank. Good Luck! If you do not win you can still save on these books – Indigo sale on until January 20th: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/sale/deals-of-the-week/books/dk/ Entry-Form

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Earth Day Every Day with these Great Books

Paula — Thu, 19 Apr 2018 12:21:17 +0000

Every year, people around the globe celebrate Earth Day. On this day, people often reflect on the environment, what’s happening to it, and how they can make a difference. It’s also a day all about loving the planet and remembering that it’s home to some of the most amazing creatures and places. All that is wonderful, but I think it would be so much better if we had the planet on our mind all the time. I’d love it if every day were Earth Day. That’s why I’m excited about these two Earth Day books I got for the kids from DK. They’re all about the cool, crazy things in the world and how people can protect them. To me, raising kids who are respectful of their environment and conscious of the choices we make, is important. School is great at instilling this attitude in our kids right now. And at home I choose to model and talk about what we are doing as family to change our habits. I also believe in providing books and resources that help them understand. So this April I am revisiting our library and adding more Earth Day books to it. What’s Weird on Earth This book is chock full of facts about our planet. With everything from wind patterns to how rubber duckies helped trace ocean currents, this book is filled to capacity with wonderful weirdness of earth. It’s the kind of book that really holds a child’s attention. Geography, history, STEM concepts, sociology, reading, technology, and more come together in this exciting and educational atlas that presents the world’s weirdest facts visually on maps. See hidden underground waterways and ancient patterns carved in desert sand. Learn how 29,000 rubber duckies helped scientists trace ocean currents after a shipwreck. See where lightning strikes the most on Earth, and where it never strikes at all. See maps from previous centuries to understand how people perceive the planet thousands of years ago. Planet Earth will never seem the same again. What’s Really Happening to Our Planet This book offers a real, honest look at the planet and how we as humans effect. It uses scientific data and an approachable style to help both kids and adults understand the impact of human beings on the planet and how we can help reduce our strain on the planet. Based on unmatched scientific data, What’s Really Happening to Our Planet? brings together major areas of public concern, such as deforestation, climate change, water shortages, and inequality. Easy-to-reference charts and infographics illustrate key findings, while clear, jargon-free text explains the science behind the figures. In addition to charting global trends and showing how they are connected, this book articulates how we can live more sustainably in the future. Every Day is Earth Day When You Know the Facts I love DK Canada. They make incredibly rich educational books for kids. I’ve always tried to teach my kids how important our planet is and how important it is for us to take care of it. These two Earth Day books help to underscore both of those ideas. What’s Weird on Earth showcases all the most interesting things about our planet, and What’s Really Happening to Our Planet shows us just how damaging humans can be, yet also showing us how we can stop the damage. I highly encourage every parent to pick up these two books and make every day Earth Day. I received product in exchange for consideration here. My opinion is all my own and it s also truthful.

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DK Canada Makes Learning Fun With These Wildlife Books

Paula — Wed, 18 Oct 2017 12:39:29 +0000

DK Canada, a publisher of educational books, makes learning fun! If there’s one thing that you have to do to get kids excited about feeding their minds, it’s this: You have to make learning fun. If learning feels like a chore, nobody wants to do it. So how do you make learning fun? By giving children resources that spark their imagination and make it fun to learn. DK Canada is a publisher that certainly knows how to do that. I frequently get their books as presents for my children and for nieces and nephews too, and these great books are always a huge hit! DK Canada – Feeding Minds with Facts So why do the kids love DK Canada books so much? Simple. They’re fun! While they may contain as much information as some textbooks, they don’t FEEL like textbooks. They’re not boring and they are beautiful. DK Canada books use tons of pictures and language that is relatable to the kids. It sparks their imaginations with vibrant, colorful pictures and easy to understand information. That’s why I’m in love with these books. They make the kids in my life fall in love with learning. I recently picked up three more books for the kids in my life. My daughter is obsessed with both sharks and Marvel, so she got two shark books this time around, as I’d already gotten her a couple of Marvel books – also from DK Canada. (Marvel books are also exceptional from DK Canada. They are just gorgeous. My youngest carries hers many places.) I got my nephew the Smithsonian Super Nature Encyclopedia. He is such a smart little dude. At 9 years of age, he’s already working on his third language and he thirsts for knowledge. Plus as an aunt I love that he adores reading. [tweetthis]Make learning fun and give some of these great wildlife books for Christmas too. @DKCanada[/tweetthis] Three Great Books from DK Canada Let’s take a closer look at the great books I got from DK Canada this time around. These are always gifts I am thrilled to give to any little person. Smithsonian Super Nature Encylopedia This book features information on 100 of the most incredible creatures on the planet. My nephew is fascinated by the natural world, so this was perfect for him. He just turned nine and he is fascinated by gross and unique facts. There are plenty of odd creatures in this book to wow and capitative any young reader. Heres what DK Canada has to say about this one: How can a cheetah accelerate from zero to forty miles per hour in three seconds? How do termites build cooling systems into their homes?What is that Alien-like set of jaws in a moray eel’s mouth for? These questions and more are explored in Super Nature Encyclopedia, an interactive look at the “wow” factor of the natural world-spotlighting Great White Sharks, African Elephants, Emperor Moths, Howler Monkeys and more of the world’s most fascinating and surprising animals in remarkable detail. Visualized with incredible 3D animal models with cross-sections and strip layers, readers can explore every essential detail of the animals’ anatomical features and learn why their bodies work the way they do. [tweetthis]Shark crazed child in your house? These @DKCanada books will fuel their obsession. [/tweetthis] Sharks and Other Deadly Ocean Creatures Visual Encyclopedia While my daughter is fascinated with sharks, she’s also fascinated with other ocean predators. When Shark Week rolls around, she gets pretty excited about it. She loves documentaries and dramas featuring sharks and she has quite a collection of nature based shark movies too. Brought to life with cutting-edge CGI technology, more than 200 sharks and fierce fish are featured in highly visual profiles. From great white sharks to barracudas, children can explore dangerous waters with age-appropriate texts and photographs. Compare different ocean habitats, body sizes, tails, and more in the eight chapters that cover the different classifications of sharks, including bullhead sharks, ground sharks, and carpet sharks. Find out why they are called tiger sharks, discover how long frilled sharks’ pregnancies last, and see why a hammerhead shark’s head is shaped that way. Learn which sharks live in salt water, which sharks live in fresh water, and which sharks can live in both! Read amazing shark facts about anatomy, behaviour, and habitats, and find key information at a glance with data boxes, facts, and figures laid out in DK’s signature style. Joining DK’s award-winning Visual Encyclopedia format, Sharks and Other Deadly Ocean Creatures Visual Encyclopedia is the ultimate one-stop reference book for everything shark. Sharkpedia My daughter will really love this one. Pssttt…don’t tell her but this one is socked away for Christmas. It offers a unique look at sharks that keeps kids interested from start to finish. In fact, I could see my daughter reading this one all the time. A visual and comprehensive research manual and guide that will take kids from tropical paradise to the cold, dark depths, in search of the wildest, weirdest, and most wonderful sharks in the ocean, now refreshed with a new look. Kids can go on an around-the-world adventure to track the sea’s most extraordinary predators with Sharkpedia, 2nd Edition. From the huge and harmless whale shark to the puny pygmy shark, these fascinating fish come in many shapes and sizes, and this guide will take kids from tropical paradise to the cold, dark depths of the ocean. Who gulps up tiny plankton? Who snatches unsuspecting seals mid-swim? Kids can see for themselves from the portholes of our trusty vessel or, if they dare, from behind the bars of a shark cage. So grab your scuba gear and get on the boat-we’ve got sharks to find with Sharkpedia, 2nd Edition. DK Canada Makes Learning Fun The kids in my life love learning, and I love to encourage that learning! I have received so many DK Canada books for the kids in my life, and I will most certainly get many more for them in the future. These nature and wildlife books make great Christmas gifts and birthday gifts too. Whenever I give a DK Canada book, I see a spark of interest in the kids’ eyes that is extremely hard to get with most learning books. These books offer visual interest and ease of reading, which makes it easy for the kids to get excited about learning, which is key. I encourage you to give DK Canada books a look. In my experience, there is no better way to get the kids excited about learning. I received product in order to facilitate this post. This post also contains affiliate links to help you shop. My opinion is all my own and it is also always truthful.

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Marvel Universe with DK Canada

Paula — Thu, 08 Jun 2017 18:41:00 +0000

Marvel universe. That’s where my daughter lives these days. She is obsessed with everything Marvel. She knows all the movies and all the characters. And as a matter of fact she’s lobbying HARD CORE to go to an upcoming comic con in our area, or one far away. She’s really in to it and I’m beginning to embrace that. After all, the Marvel universe is based on comic books, which means she’s excited to read! DK Canada has two books that will fuel her Marvel obsession for the summer. A Great Resource for the Marvel Universe Lover DK Canada is the leader in non-fiction and resource books, and thanks to them, I have two more books that my daughter adores. These books are jam packed with information on the Marvel universe, including the most iconic characters as well as the company behind them. I couldn’t wait to give them to her, so she opened them the other day. I wish you could have heard how loud she screamed. No really, I need someone else to occasionally listen to her screaming because my ears are worn out. Marvel Year by Year Marvel Year by Year is a comprehensive history of Marvel Comics. This fan-favorite title gives fans a chronological account of Marvel’s iconic heroes like the Avengers, Spider-Man, Wolverine, and more, as well as a look at the company who brought them all to us. This visual history of Marvel Comics highlights Super Hero and Villain debuts, their creators, and Marvel’s beginnings, what they’ve done, and where they’re going. Marvel’s Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger One of my daughter’s favorite characters in the Marvel universe is Captain America. So of course this one is perfect for her. Marvel’s Captain America is full of information about his friends, enemies, and adventures. This illustrated ultimate guide book follows Steve Rogers and his journey from a sickly Army volunteer to one of the most iconic heroes in the Marvel universe. The book even features a forward by the father of Marvel, Stan Lee! The Stan Lee forward is a nice feature that caught my attention. Listen, you just have to understand how much my child loves Captain America. It’s all we have been hearing about for months now. My daughter fell asleep last night cuddled up with me, which she hasn’t done in a long time. But she climbed into my bed to read to me for about half an hour. As a result I now am a full fledged expert on the Captain America shield. After she stopped reading this one out loud to me, she fell asleep, clutching this book in her arms. Like a comfort object. Hilarious. Brief note – this is for an older child of course. These beautiful books are keepsakes and they demand parent and child interaction actually. Last night I was super impressed with the number of challenging new words in the books. For instance metallurgical, subversive, Adamantium, and Asgardian. Also excellent books for any comic book geek. Explore the Marvel Universe with DK Canada These books are only two of the amazing Marvel universe books offered by DK Canada. I got these because they are the most relevant to my daughter (right now). However, you can also find sticker books, encyclopedias, and tons and tons of guides. Check out DK Canada and see which Marvel universe book is right for your kids – or YOU, for that matter. Many thanks to DK Canada for sending these beautiful books for us to share with you. My opinion is all my own and it is also truthful.

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