Smithsonian Readers and More Great Books from Silver Dolphin

I have kids in vastly different age groups. A highly gifted 3rd grader (so on the level of about a 5th grader), a three year old just beginning part time preschool, and a four month old baby. When I am offered books to review, I pretty much always jump at the chance if I think my kids might be interested in because education is really important to us! If I am lucky enough to get my hands on books that both INTEREST my kids, and educate them, I am a happy camper! I was lucky enough to just receive a large selection of books- some perfect for my little guy, and others perfect for my 3rd grader. Each title in the Smithsonian Readers series features six 32-page sections on high-interest topics, colorful illustrations, multiple-choice quizzes, a glossary, and 36 removable fact cards for additional, on-the-go learning, making these leveled readers the perfect gift for beginning or reluctant readers who are fascinated by history, science, and the world around them.

Smithsonian Readers: Early Adventures Level 1(ages 4 and up) lays the groundwork with simple sentence structure and familiar content, divided into six 32-page topics: Vehicles, Reptiles, Outer Space, Animal Habitats, Insects, and Safari Animals. Full-color photographs highlight concepts in the text, while multiple-choice quizzes emphasize comprehension. A glossary of terms and 36 illustrated fact cards inspire further exploration of young readers’ favorite subjects.

Smithsonian Readers: Seriously Amazing Level 2 (ages 5 and up) builds on the skills developed by the Level 1 reader by introducing varied sentence patterns and more advanced vocabulary, such as contractions, possessives, compound sentences, and three-syllable words. Children can also explore new areas of interest with sections on Nighttime Animals, Sea Life, Dinosaurs, the Solar System, Baby Animals, and the Human Body.

Smithsonian Readers: World of Wonder Level 3 (ages 5 and up) engages burgeoning readers with more detailed content about the world around them: Ancient Egypt, Wild Weather, Rain Forest Animals, the United States, the Planet, and Sharks. The Level 3 reader features additional resources to underline concepts and teach new skills, such as maps, diagrams, and illustrations, as well as more complex spelling patterns and longer sentences.

Smithsonian Readers: Endless Explorations Level 4 (ages 6 and up) combines the knowledge of the first three levels, urging children to apply their newfound skills with subjects designed to challenge them: Predators, Space Exploration, Natural Disasters, World Wonders, Ocean Habitats, and Flight. Fewer photographs encourage readers to focus on the text for information, while pronunciation guides familiarize them with the more complex vocabulary.

 Smithsonian Magnetic Adventures: Jungle, Smithsonian Magnetic Adventures: Solar System, Smithsonian Sticker Creations: Wildlife, and Smithsonian Everything You Need to Know: Grades 4-5.

Each one of these books impressed me. My older son, who typically does not like to read, has been very fascinated with the Everything You Need to Know and The Seriously Amazing Series! He absorbs knowledge, especially science based knowledge and is always wanting to know and learn more. This series really helps him explore his interests.

His baby brother is only three, so he cannot read yet. He does love to play and use his imagination every chance he gets so the Magnetic Adventures are perfect for him. He loves playing with the magnets and roaring like the tigers and make all kinds of scenarios in his imagination. I am able to tell him about each of the animals as he plays with it too, so the "game" becomes education!  My kids do attend school, but I could see this series being perfect for homeschooling children, or for kids who attend traditional school, but need some summer time supplementation. 

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     Disclosure: The above item was received in order to facilitate review. I have not been compensated for this post. Top Notch Material blog will always provide honest opinions, beliefs or experiences on products reviewed. We will only recommend products or services that we feel are of benefit to our readers. If you have any questions, please contact me at nursemommypaige@yahoo dot com. The disclosure is done in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission 10 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.