(Photo by Xirannis en Off)

My daughter is obsessed with the idea of being a spy. Her favorite gift for Christmas was EyeClops Night Vision Goggles, she packed a backpack full of spy gear, she studied various spy WikiHows and she devoured The Daring Book for Girls. Reading and watching Harriet the Spy are assigned, of course!

My daughter’s suggested backpack contents
Always useful flashlight
Nightvision goggles, of course
Rope, used for climbing (jumpropes will work here)
Extra outfit (preferably black)
Folder full of wikiHow print-outs (see below)
Water bottle (stake outs can take time)
Lemon bars (idea from Nancy Drew movie)
Walkie Talkies

My daughter’s suggested wikiHows
How to be a Spy
How to be a Spy Kid
How to Walk Silently (good to practice in our old house)
How to Make an Invisible Ink Message
How to See in the Dark

Tags: Spy, Nancy Drew, English

While some may say that a child shouldn’t read abridged versions of classics, I’m all about the Great Illustrated Classics series as my reluctant reader son loved GIC 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne. We then proceeded to GIC Journey to the Centre of the Earth.

Action, adventure, large type, frequent pics, science fiction, not babyish at all—what more could a boy want? Verne has been a hit. Next we’ll try H.G. Wells.

Tags: English, Jules Verne, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Journey to the Centre of the Earth, H.G. Wells

My son is not the bookworm I am. Sigh. He’s a strong reader but definitely reluctant. I’m grateful to the Melvin Beederman books. They are close to the only books he’ll read that are not assigned by his teacher—and that’s only when I require it.

He thinks the books are funny and enjoys the graphics.

The Curse of the Bologna Sandwich (Melvin Beederman, Superhero) is the first one in a series of six. My son says that you can read them in any order, and can we please order the new one now?

Tags: English, Melvin Beederman

Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly (Fancy Nancy)" rel="self">Fancy Nancy Bonjour Butterfly combines my youngest daughter's love of butterflies and passion for all things glitter. I love the books because of the luscious illustrations and the vocabulary. Her favorite word from the book is exquisite.

She's been using Spanish words she's picked up from Dora and Chinese from a neighbor; now she can add French from Fancy Nancy.

The butterfly house Fancy Nancy visits looks just like our beloved Butterfly House. Youngest will sit for a very long time (she never sits!) looking for Blue Morphos.

Tags: English, Fancy Nancy, Reading