For the Kids Archives - Page 3 of 30

Science Fun!

Fun With Science
Easy Experiments for Young People
Freeman and Freeman
1956

This little gem from the 1950s is CLEARLY past its “sell by” date. The cover was in bad shape and there was some yellowing. This came from a university collection, not a public library. (There was one public library that had this book listed in its collection.) The Freemans wrote many youth science nonfiction books up into the 1970s.

This book was first published in 1943 and was last printed in 2000. The Freemans passed away in the 1980s. I couldn’t find much biographical information about the Freemans with my cursory searches. Given the longevity of their books, as well has the number of titles, their materials should be archived and maintained for study.

Daddy Moved Out

May 24, 2021 Mary Kelly For the Kids 5 comments

Daddy doesn’t live here any more
A book about divorce
Boegehold
1985

In this “story”, Mommy and Daddy are fighting all the time. Mom copes by vacuuming. Daddy moves out. Our young protagonist, Casey, fakes an illness to make Dad move back. It doesn’t work. Mommy and Daddy stay friends for the most part and Casey learns to deal.

Supermarket Sweep

May 17, 2021 Holly For the Kids 10 comments

Supermarket
Baugh
1965/1970

Submitter: While I give this cute book props for having a diverse cast of kids, the book is rather old, and the spine is gone. Time to find something new.

Holly: It’s definitely old! 19 cents a pound for whatever it is those kids are looking at (3rd picture below)? Are those coconuts??

Come to See the Clowns

May 6, 2021 Holly For the Kids, Ha Ha Ha? 13 comments

Come to See the Clowns
Tensen
1963

Submitter: I am submitting this sad clown book – more for its condition than anything else. – Come To See The Clowns – Leave with nightmares….

Holly: Kinda cute, actually, as clown books go, but yeah – it’s seen better days!

Mary: I need to reiterate that clowns are evil. That said, this might be the least obnoxious of our clown book inventory.

Stormy Weather

May 4, 2021 Mary Kelly For the Kids 2 comments

A Day in the Life of a Meteorologist
Witty and Witty
1981

If you are thinking of switching careers, maybe you should become a meteorologist. This book gives you the ins and outs of your average TV meteorologist – in 1981. It’s not a the worst book, but there isn’t a lot of discussion on meteorology other than in a TV context. However, I just think that it’s a rather limited view of a career. I keep thinking it is more about broadcasting than actual science. Not all meteorologists are on television and not all TV weather reporters are meteorologists. Poor Joe’s credentials and training aren’t even mentioned. I really think that most career books, especially aimed at young people, should have training and education requirements within the text.

Friday Fiction: Another Dad dumps his family story

April 23, 2021 Mary Kelly For the Kids 8 comments

My Dad Lives in a Downtown Hotel
Mann
1973

For those of you looking for a totally depressing book about divorce for your kids, this might qualify. The beginning has our kid, Joey, found his mother sad and depressed when he got up for breakfast. Evidently, Dad didn’t come back after a fight last night. Mother is just devastated. Joey has trouble coping and hides in a closet at school.

Joey then begins his quest to talk to his father. This Dad is no prize. Joey remember how is Dad taught him to swim by throwing him in a pool with the “sink or swim” comment. After school Joey decides to find his dad and talk to him about being a better kid. Dad is disinterested and is barely engaged as Joey presents him with a written promise to be a better kid. Dad still says no to being married to Mom. Joey makes peace after his friend, Pepe says lots of kids don’t have a dad at home.

Growing Up

April 20, 2021 Mary Kelly For the Kids, Parent/Teacher Collection 8 comments

Growing Up
de Schweinitz
1956 3rd Edition (Original Copyright: 1928)

This is another find in my Swedish Death Cleaning Project

Yes, it has been a while since I posted a selection from my Swedish death cleaning project. I did manage to clear out a bunch of stuff and recycled or donated a good chunk of the personal library. However, since we are getting carpet installed in this room and need to move the furniture around, this little gem was parked behind some stuff and fell out when we were packing stuff up.

This book is geared to children. From the text and illustrations it seems a bit much for the younger crowd, so maybe they are thinking upper elementary. It’s basic sperm meets egg. The author has some animal metaphors for how this sperm and egg thing work. We have some cameos by cows, horses, sheep, and trout. There is also an illustration of birth.

National Library Week-Another book for the kids

April 8, 2021 Mary Kelly For the Kids, Librarian's Choice 8 comments

Today’s National Library Week choice is this 1964 book about libraries that was still in circulation as of this writing. I was impressed that it actually didn’t look worse. Other than the yellowing pages, it is in pretty good shape. The text isn’t too bad, but it is rather dense for the kids. To a kid in 2021, this is really not helpful.

As a librarian, I have some comments. The lady on the in the illustration about the Mazarin Library really shouldn’t be leaning on the display like that. My first impression was that she was sleeping. In the final illustration of the “modern” library, some of the card catalog drawers are not closed properly. Is it too much to ask that people shut the drawers (gently, of course) when they are finished using the catalog? Also the card catalog seems to be a bit small and inconveniently placed for use. Finally, where are the golf pencils and scraps of paper? I’m getting a twitch looking at these illustrations.