It may "take a village to raise a child," but most American families are struggling, with diminishing social support, to do the job on their own. While parents work longer hours for less and the costs of childcare, healthcare, and college skyrocket, the share of the U.S. budget spent on kids has fallen 22 percent since 1960. More and more children may well not make it to a healthy, productive adulthood. That's terrible for them--and for us as well. It doesn't have to be this way. In this book, renowned expert David L. Kirp clarifies the importance of investing wisely in children. He outlines a visionary "Kids First" policy agenda that's guided by a "golden rule" principle: Every child deserves what's good enough for a child you love. And he offers lively and inspiring, on-the-ground accounts of five big cradle-to-college initiatives that can change the arc of all children's lives: strong support for parents; high-quality early education; linking schools and communities to improve what both offer children; giving all youngsters access to a caring and stable adult mentor; and providing kids a nest egg to help pay for college or kick-start a career.

From PBS KIDS, the number one educational media brand for children, this fully-illustrated, thoroughly engaging book introduces important concepts for pre-schoolers. Extensive research has proven that little ones learn best when they are engaging with an adult. Every page of 100 Concepts for Preschoolers is designed to spark conversation between the grownup reader and the preschooler. From life cycles to opposites, to early math and literacy, to sorting and rhyming, the playful captioned pictures and themed pages encourage vocabulary growth and reasoning skills. Children three years of age and up (and their parents) will have fun exploring key concepts, while preparing for pre-school, and for life!

The first complete guide-for use by adults and children-to creating fun and educational book clubs for kids. As authors of The Book Club Cookbook, the classic guide to integrating great food and food-related discussion into book club gatherings, Judy Gelman and Vicki Levy Krupp hear a common refrain from parents, librarians, teachers, community leaders and kids themselves: "How about writing a book for kids' book clubs?" Indeed, in recent years youth organizations, parents, libraries, schools, and our local, state, and federal governments have launched thousands of book clubs for children as a way to counter falling literacy rates and foster a love of reading. Based on surveys representing five hundred youth book clubs across the country and interviews with parents, kids, educators, and librarians, The Kids' Book Club Book features: _- the top fifty favorite book club reads for children ages eight to eighteen; _- ideas and advice on forming great kids' book clubs-and tips for kids who want to start their own book clubs; _- recipes, activities, and insights from such bestselling children's book authors as Christopher Paolini, Lois Lowry, Jerry Spinelli, Nancy Farmer, Christopher Paul Curtis, Andrew Clements, Laurie Halse Anderson, Norton Juster, and many others. From recipes for the Dump Punch and egg salad sandwiches included in Kate DiCamillo's Because of Winn-Dixie to instructionson how to make soap carvings like the ones left in the knot-hole of a tree in Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, this book provides a bounty of ideas for making every kids' book club a success.

With more than 100 quick, simple ideas, this activity book can enliven any day. It can help parents encourage children to think creatively, solve problems, and have fun learning. 32 b&w illustrations. 27 photos.

50 Ideas for Kids Church gives you fifty unique ideas for life changing lessons with kids. After each idea there is a journal section which allow the reader to take notes and make plans.

Adventurous or globe-trotting jobs do exist outside of the movies and television. For kids thinking about making a career out of exploring new horizons, this book will be a welcome resource. Career Ideas for Kids Who Like Adventure and Travel, Second Edition clues kids in on action-packed jobs in various exciting fields. By providing step-by-step self-assessment followed by a series of job profiles, this illustrated book helps kids identify their personality traits to better match themselves to possible fast-paced careers. Resources for further research and expanded career discovery activities encourage further exploration for adventure-minded kids. Completely revised and updated, this guide is a great starting point for kids seeking a career filled with adventure and travel.