Kids Reader

You could have a Harvard degree or a lifetime’s experience as a librarian, and you still wouldn’t have come across some of the facts found in Interesting Facts for Smart Kids. But after a few rounds of listening to some of the most bizarre things you’ll ever learn about the world, you’ll have a family of experts in, well, everything!

At the height of World War I, history’s most lethal influenza virus erupted in an army camp in Kansas, moved east with American troops, then exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. It killed more people in twenty-four months than AIDS killed in twenty-four years, more in a year than the Black Death killed in a century. But this was not the Middle Ages, and 1918 marked the first collision of science and epidemic disease.

When Fia Hosein and her family moved from Trinidad & Tobago to Peppermint Falls, she was excited for everything new that awaited them, like snow days! But one cold winter day, Fia's voice starts to sound different and Ma and Grampy tell her it sounds like she has “snow in her throat.” Oh no! Did Fia catch a cold? Now, Mrs. Z has assigned Fia a verbal presentation to perform in front of the whole class. How is Fia supposed to speak in front of her classmates when her voice feels all wrong?

Sebastian Metzger loves learning new things, especially about animals. He's actually been experiencing many new things recently: third grade marks his first year living as a boy. Some things don't change, though. His imaginary friend, Jimothy the chipmunk, is always by his side! When Sebastian spots a new book in the school library on octopodes, he just knows he has to check it out. The only problem is: this book is so new, the librarian hasn't even prepared it to be checked out! Sebastian promises to take great care of it, and the librarian makes an exception.

At fourteen years old, Carlotta Walls was the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine. The journey to integration in a place deeply against it would not be not easy. Yet Carlotta, her family, and the other eight students and their families answered the call to be part of the desegregation order issued by the US Supreme Court in its 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case.

Lucas and Clara search for Queen Tasha's missing emerald. On their exciting adventure, they travel to all the main attractions of Wrenly: Primlox (the island of fairies), Burth (the island of trolls), Crestwood (the island of dragons), Hobsgrove (the island of wizards), and the beautiful Mermaid's Cove. King Caleb has promised to reward the person who finds the precious stone, and Lucas and Clara are determined to search the entire kingdom until they find it!

In The Secret Explorers and the Tomb Robbers, Gustavo (history expert) and Kiki (engineering expert) are set the mission of stopping the Cairo Museum from closing down. They travel back in time to ancient Egypt and are soon drawn into a tense, thrilling adventure that involves breaking into pyramids, learning ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, and stopping thieves hoping to rob all the treasure from the Pharaoh's tomb.

A field trip to the local art museum with Mittens's rambunctious nieces takes an unexpected turn when a priceless Monet painting is stolen! With their reputations on the line, the museum leadership desperately turns to Mittens and Alex for help. Will the detectives see past the deception around them to discern friend from foe? Could this be another crime organized by the mysterious Ruffled Feathers? Most importantly, can the museum survive the antics of the crazy Kastle kittens?

It's Squish - a graphic-novel series, now adapted for audio, about a comic-book-loving, twinkie-eating grade-school amoeba trying to find his place in the world (or at least trying to make it through a school day). This audiobook includes the first four books in the Squish series: Super Amoeba, Brave New Pond, The Power of the Parasite, and Captain Disaster.

Meet Weir Do. No, that's not a typo, that's his name! Weir Do's the new kid in school. With an unforgettable name, a crazy family, and some seriously weird habits, fitting in won't be easy...but it will be funny!

The new gymnastics teacher likes cats, brooms, and funny rhymes, that sound awfully close to spells. Could Miss Brewbaker really be a witch?

In his first-ever devotional for children, Dr. Charles Stanley takes young listeners his message to spend time each day with Jesus to develop a strong faith. Every Day with Jesus is seamlessly coordinated with the devotional for adults, Every Day in His Presence, so adults and children listen to the same theme and Scripture each day. It is perfect for families to grow in their faith, individually and together.

A late night hunting trip for the Sugar Creek Gang leads to a surprising discovery. Later, Old Man Paddler invites them to his cabin for a sassafras tea pary. An urgent knock on the door interrupts the party. Soon, they find themselves knee-deep in a quicksand rescue. Explore with the gang the effects of sin in one's life and the benefits of following Jesus.

Dad's training to become a firefighter, while Weir's busy with Pet Day! Will FiDo and Blockhead freeze up or find fame?

Every morning, Judy measures Stink, and it's always the same: 3 feet, 8 inches tall. Stink feels like even the class newt is growing faster than he is. Then one day, the ruler reads 3 feet, 7 and 3/4 inches! Can it be? Is Stink shrinking? Stink tries everything to look like he's growing, but wearing up-and-down stripes and spiking his hair don't seem to be fooling anybody into thinking he's taller.

There’s a bank robber in Green Lawn! A red-haired kid took a video of the crime, but nobody can find him. Without the video, will the robber go free? Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose must track down that kid - before the bandit does!

Amelia Bedelia and her friends learn about the solar system and their place in the universe in the sixth book in the Amelia Bedelia & Friends chapter-book series. But with Amelia Bedelia involved, there are sure to be more than a few funny mix-ups along the way.

From the street to the store, take a trip around town and learn to sign along the way. What's the sign for car? Or for menu? Learn helpful words for restaurants, the doctors office, and even the zoo!

From greetings to holidays, there are tons of times in your world where you can sign. What's the sign for happy? Or for cake? Learn helpful words for birthdays, feelings, holidays, and more.

Advertisements are everywhere! Younger and younger students are exposed to them every day. What do they need to know to evaluate ads? Kickstart the media literacy conversation with young listeners.