Back to School Finds from ZonderKidz

School has been in session for just about a week here and we are slowly getting back into our routine. We are still getting down bus routes, pick up times, and homework assignments. I’ve signed all kinds of paperwork and have done all the prep work for a stellar year. The last thing on my list is hammering our the kids reading list for the school year.

I love reading books, it’s one of my favorite pastimes. I enjoy spending time in the pages of books and learning about different characters. It’s a love I hoped to pass on to my children. Most schools want kids reading every night so it’s perfect to get ahead of the assignments and make sure all the kids have something to read throughout the school year. Zondervan Kids sent me out some of their recent releases and there are a few that are heading on our reading list for the school year.

Disclosure: I’m a ZonderKidz Mom, items shared in this post were provided to me by Zondervan Kids. Any opinions expressed are my own.

One Big Heart

From skin, hair, and eyes in a multitude of colors to different personalities and interests, God gave us all special traits and characteristics that make us uniquely ourselves. And we all have things in common too: like sharing fun and laughter on the playground, a sense of curiosity, big feelings, and so many other things that show how we are all more alike than we are different.

Ready to celebrate all our likes and differences? So are we! And this diverse picture book—drenched in color and full of laughter and fun—will show you how.

One Big Heart is:

• Written by Emmy-winning ABC News correspondent and The World Is Awake author Linsey Davis
• A multiethnic, multicultural, multiracial children’s picture book that recognizes our unique differences while celebrating how alike we are as well
• An inspiring story of inclusion and connection
• The perfect read-aloud for kids ages 4–8  

I really think my youngest would love this book. We live in a very diverse neighborhood, so that makes the kids school just as diverse. I’m big on teaching my children to be kind individuals towards their classmates and strangers. I like that this book helps children understand being different is something we should celebrate. It is a great addition to any reading list for younger kids.

The One and Only Wolfgang

What makes a family? Is it sharing favorite foods, cuddling up for snuggle time, loving each other no matter what you look like in the morning?

For Steve Greig’s oddly wonderful, real-life family of senior dogs, chickens, rabbits, and a pig named Bikini, family is all those things and then some! And this lovable bunch is now starring in their very first children’s book that showcases the importance of family.

Meet the Wolfgang, a loveable bunch of animals belonging to Steve and each other. Greig looked for the most “unadoptable” animals and gave them a home … his home! Strange and unique, The One and Only Wolfgang will remind readers that no matter how old or how odd, everyone has a place where they belong.

The One and Only Wolfgang:

• Is written by Instagram sensation Steve Greig, Wolfgang2242, with close to 800,000 fans and growing
• Is co-authored with New York Times bestselling author Mary Rand Hess
• Features unique, whimsical art from Nadja Sarell combined with comical photographs of the Wolfgang
• Like Steve Greig’s Wolfgang2242 Instagram account, features themes of love, friendship, and family

Another great book for younger kids. It helps parents teach kids that everyone is deserving of love. It has strong themes about family and great to kids with different family backgrounds.

The Berenstain Bears: The Trouble with Tryouts

Sister is fast on her feet. She kicks the ball with the power of a cub twice her size. Yet, even Mama, Papa, and Brother think she has set her sights too high because, compared to the other cubs, Sister Bear is too small to make the team … or is she?

Featuring all your favorite Berenstain Bear family and friends, this early reader chapter book helps kids connect plot to chapter structure, taking their love of books and reading to the next level. And, as part of the beloved Living Lights series, it’s the perfect segue for emerging readers and fans of the brand.

The Berenstain Bears Trouble with Tryouts:

• Helps early readers ages 6-10 graduate from following along with picture books to reading chapter books on their own
• Is the perfect steppingstone for readers who are ready to take the next important step in their reading comprehension
• Includes all the Berenstain Bears family and friends who have been beloved by parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren for decades
• Features kid-friendly text and easy-to-read, easy-to-remember Scripture verses
• Teaches valuable life lessons about always believing in yourself and never underestimating the power of an underdog

If you child is starting to read on their own this book series from ZonderKidz is a great place to start. It’s perfect for kids getting the hang of reading and those starting to read without much help.

Arcade and the Golden Travel Guide

While at the library—Arcade’s favorite place to chill—a mysterious old woman gives him a golden arcade token that grants him a unique gift. A gift that allows him to time travel between different places including his own future. From sitting in the dugout with Babe Ruth, to hanging on to the back of a bucking bull, to performing life-saving surgery on a dog, Arcade has no shortage of adventure! Together with his older sister, Zoe, Arcade explores life’s biggest thrills and challenges, and the two also have a big mystery to solve. Who is the rightful owner of the incredible Triple T Token that leads to such astounding adventures?

Arcade’s circle of friends begins to widen as the Triple T Token hangs from his neck. Pulsing. Beckoning another adventure. The question for Arcade, Zoe, and their new friends is no longer, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” It’s, “Where will we go next?”

Read as part of the series or as a stand-alone novel! Arcade and the Triple T Token is the first book in the humorous and imaginative Coin Slot Chronicles series by New York Times bestselling author, former NFL running back, and Dancing with the Stars champion Rashad Jennings.

When picking books for my kids I like to find books they can relate to on different levels. I like this book because it’s very relatable to my older son because he an see himself in the lead character. I’ve always loved books that I could relate to on different levels, whether it’s by being same race, sex, stages in my life, or even just books about things I’m passionate about. A shared interest makes reading more fun and seem less like a chore. That’s what this book offers and I like that it’s a series he can read the entire year and in the future.

Bible Gems to Remember

Illustrated Bible:

Scripture is filled with “gemstones”—concise statements of five words or less that hold great value, meaning, and power. Bible Gems to Remember Illustrated Bible, written by Robin Schmitt and illustrated by Kris Aro McLeod, takes children through 52 stories from the Bible, each featuring a powerful gem from Scripture to memorize.

God can accomplish amazing things with just a few words. Imagine what he could do in the heart of a child who memorizes and meditates on these short “gems” of wisdom from the Bible.

Devotions for Kids

Bible Gems to Remember Devotions for Kids, written by Robin Schmitt, shows how God can accomplish amazing things with just a few words. Scripture is filled with “gemstones”—concise statements of five words or less that hold great value, meaning, and power. This photo-driven devotional includes 52 of these special Bible gems to memorize as well as additional gems to ponder at the end of the devotion.

Bible Gems to Remember Devotions for Kids:

• Includes 52 devotions, one for each week of the year, enhanced with beautiful gemstone photos that encourage children to memorize Scripture
• Is creatively based on Scripture “gemstones” that are concise statements of five words or less that hold great value, meaning, and power
• Features a gorgeous cover that sparkles and shines

These books are great for parents who want their children to spend time learning about the Bible and reading from that book. It’s centered around 52 stories from the Bible. It’s perfect because you can have you kids ready a new one each week for a year. I like that they also have the devotional for kids to use together with the book.

These are all great options for parents looking for books for their kid’s reading list. I hope this list helps you find an option that works for your family.