The new school year is just around the corner! As students prepare to head back to school, exploring government publications tailored for children can provide a valuable educational resource. From engaging picture books to interactive websites like Ben’s Guide, which offers games and activities, these materials stimulate young minds and foster a love for learning.
Back to School - Government Publications
The Constitution’s Children: A Collection of Essays by Schoolchildren to Commemorate the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution, 1787-1987
The Constitution's Children is a collection of essays written by schoolchildren to commemorate the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution in 1987. These essays reflect the perspectives of America's children on the significance of the Constitution throughout history and its impact on their futures.
Creating Independence, 1763-1789: Background Reading for Young People; A Selected Annotated Bibliography
The Children’s Book Section has prepared this bibliography as a guide in the selection of background reading for young people in connection with the Bicentennial of the American Revolution. The work is part of the Library’s larger bibliographic program for the Bicentennial.
Symbols of the U.S. Government: Ben's Activity Book
This activity and coloring book is full of information, illustrations, and activities that teach students of all ages about the symbols of the United States Government.
What’s Under Your Feet? Based on 1992 Facts and Figures
This activity book is packed with information, illustrations, and activities designed to educate students of all ages about soil ecosystems.
Swimming on Your Back
A children’s book about sea otters featuring engaging illustrations and scientifically accurate content.
Junior Paleontologist Activity Book, Ages 5 to 12
In this book you can learn about ancient life, complete fun activities, and explore just some of the more than 220 national parks that are known to preserve fossils and which offer a look into the past.
Exploring Caves: An Instructional Unit for Grades K-3
Exploring Caves is an interdisciplinary set of materials on caves for grades K–3, covering geology, cartography, and hydrology. This packet contains a poster, an instructional book, and a list of multimedia resources on caves. The instructional book contains a read-aloud story, lessons, and student activity handout sheets.
An Incredible Journey
This book, designed for grades 4-5, explores the efforts that communities are following in order to save the salmon from extinction and restore the habitat on which salmon depend.
Mission to Planet Earth: A Puzzle Coloring Book for Kids and Grown-ups
This activity and coloring book is packed with information, illustrations, and activities that educate students of all ages about space and Earth.
Looking Up at the Sky with NOAA: Activity Workbook
This workbook offers interactive exercises from NOAA to explore weather, climate, and environmental concepts.
The Adventure of Echo the Bat
As Echo begins his journey in search of the Bat Cave, he doesn't know that there is a satellite flying high in the sky above him. The big pictures in the second half of the story show you what the satellite sees. Lift the pop-up pictures to see what Echo is seeing as he is flying.
Coyote and the Turtle's Dream
Based on the popularity of the original Eagle Books series, the Native Diabetes Wellness Program (NDWP) is developing a series of novels for middle schoolers in Native communities. The novel, Coyote and the Turtle’s Dream, is the first in a series of three books that will include a four-volume graphic novel based on the same story. The book features characters from the original series, but also expands the characters to include family members, teachers, store owners, other residents of a small reservation town, and an elderly box turtle. Adding to the understanding of type 2 diabetes presented in the original books, Coyote and the Turtle’s Dream introduces the character of Arianna, a young girl with type 1 diabetes.
Where is Bear? A Terrific Tale for 2-year-olds
Meet Tiger, Bear, and their forest friends, Bird, Frog, Fox, and Turtle! In this terrifically unique and interactive tale, your 2-year-old child with help Tiger find Bear. Each step in your child's quest to find Bear highlights important milestones in your child's growth and development. Look for the leaf at the bottom of the page for these Milestone Moments.
Tricky Treats
This story introduces Coyote, a traditional trickster character, who initially challenges the healthy messages promoted by Mr. Eagle. Tricksters like Coyote are known for their jokes and deceit in literature and folklore. However, in this tale, Coyote ultimately learns and aligns with these healthy principles by the end. Mr. Eagle, in the book, encourages children to choose nutritious snacks over less healthy options, categorizing them as "everyday foods" and "sometimes foods." He also imparts lessons on food safety and respecting others' belongings. This book is the fourth installment in a series developed by the CDC’s Native Diabetes Wellness Program, formerly the National Diabetes Prevention Center.
Through the Eyes of the Eagle
Through the Eyes of the Eagle” is the first book in the Eagle Book Series aimed to elementary school children and introduces the character of Mr. Eagle. Mr. Eagle befriends Rain That Dances, the primary child character in the book, to educate him about diabetes and how the lifestyles and health of the people have changed. Mr. Eagle has come to remind the children of the healthy ways of their ancestors so that they can be strong and healthy again.
Recipes for Healthy Kids. Cookbook for Schools
This cookbook presents a variety of recipes, with full color photographs of the finished meals, for children (and adults!). The recipes have fun names and are tasty to both kids and adults, and include nutritional ingredients like dark green and orange vegetables, dry beans and peas, and whole grains. The recipes are low in: fat, saturated fat, sugar, and sodium. This is a cookbook with recipes that kids and adults will want to prepare and eat, and have fun while doing so and getting great nutrition! This cookbook features a collection of recipes from the "Recipes for Healthy Kids Competition", where children, school nutritionists, chefs, parents, and other interested members of the community submitted their own recipes for fun, healthy foods (the winning recipes in each category are marked in the Table of Contents).
Upcoming Event
Speaker at the Center: Robert Maynor Great Reads 2024 Adult Selection, "The Big Game Is Every Night"
August 20, 2024, 6:00 PM
Join us at the SC Center for the Book for the latest installment of the Speaker at the Center series with author Robert Maynor. Maynor's book, "The Big Game Is Every Night," is the Adult Selection for the 2024 Great Reads from Great Places.
