5 Minutes for Books reviewer Dawn, also a parent and a preschool teacher, is happy to share her thoughts about Schoolies, a set of books and learning materials. Review copies and giveaway prizing is courtesy of Macmillan, and all opinions expressed are solely the writer’s own.
In just over two weeks, my three kids will be heading back to school, and for one of them, it’s a monumental year. After two years of preschool, my youngest is taking the leap into kindergarten. We’ve filled our summer with lots of reading and a bit of basic skills practice, and we’ve found a treasure trove of fun and valuable learning activities in the Schoolies.
The six products available in the Schoolies line are a mix of storybooks, dry erase activity cards, interactive books, and a fold-out school house with sturdy paper figures for open-ended creative play. All products feature the Schoolies cast of lovable characters, created by Ellen Crimi-Trent– various animals to represent the teaching staff and students.
As both a parent and an early childhood educator, I’m truly impressed with the Schoolies line. The two picture books Making Friends and My First Day of School utilize straightforward storytelling to address some common anxieties that some children may have when they’re preparing for going to school. The dry erase book Let’s Get Ready for School and the Activity Flash cards provide opportunities for children to practice language and literacy, fine motor, and mathematical skills. In My School Day, children can use the embedded plastic clock with movable hour and minute hands to track the Schoolies characters’ experiences over the course of the day, and the play set of School House includes several fold-out school rooms and settings to use as backdrops for playing with the cardboard Schoolies figures provided.
The activities all encourage children to practice their growing skills, and though they are being primarily marketed for preschool aged kids, I see great value for kindergarteners and first graders as well, as the spectrum for learning these skills includes these early elementary students as well. Made by Priddy Books, I expected high quality products, and I wasn’t disappointed in the least. The activity cards and books are made to last, and I expect their thick construction will hold up to my son’s repeated use over the next couple of years.
Ready to win?
Thanks to Macmillan, we have an amazing giveaway to offer today. One winner will receive the entire Schoolies set, as well as a Land of Nod backpack to help a lucky little one prepare to head back to school this fall! Please enter using the Rafflecopter below. Giveaway is open to U.S. addresses only.
Check out the #Schoolies on social media: @MacKidsBooks and Macmillan Kids
I like the Schoolies Wipe Clean book!
school day – would be perfect for my niece
Let’s Get Ready for School looks helpful.
“My First Day at School” would be perfect for my 4 year who starts Pre-k next month.
Let’s get ready for school looks the most useful to me!
The Let’s get ready for school book looks like something my son would enjoy. How do you pick just one when they are all so cute! 🙂
I think the Making Friends book would be the most useful for my very shy 4 year old.
Making Friends looks fun!
The making friends one is cute!
Let’s Get Ready for School looks good!
My School House looks fun!
Lets get ready for school looks great.
I like the My School Day book … It’s a great way to teach kids how to tell time (and maybe get them excited for the school year as well)!
I’d like to read the Making Friends book.
Schoolies Wipe Clean: Let’s Get Ready for School
school days is my favorite one
My school day looks useful for my classroom and kids 🙂
My school day with the clock looks great for my son! He’s still learning to read a clock.
lets get ready for school
Let’s Get Ready For School!
A perfect set for my niece!
I like them all!
My school Day with the clock
I like the flash cards.
I like School House!
I think the Let’s Get Ready For School book looks really neat!
My school days looks cute~
I like the Schoolies Wipe Clean: Let’s Get Ready for School and the Making Friends books best. 🙂
I like my school day
nannypanpan@gmail.com
My 4 year old really wants to go to school so all of them look great. My favorite is the Get Ready for School.
“My School Day” would be great to help my daughter learn to tell time!
the lets get ready for school one
I think In My School Day because we are working on time and this clock would be a great resource.
my school day with the clock!
Definitely “Lets Get Ready for School” for my 5 year old. 🙂
The School House looks like a lot of fun!
I like the My School Day book. Great for teaching kids about time.
The Let’s Get Ready for School looks perfect for my preschooler. 🙂 So cute!
I like Let’s Get Ready for School.
I like My School Day. Everyone should learn how to tell time with a clock.
The My School Days book looks like fun.
I really like the My School Days book with the clock on it.
My first day of school. My granddaughter is starting kindergarten and pretty nervous.
Lets get ready for school
“My School Day” looks good!
“Lets Get Ready for School”
The Schoolies School House looks cute!
My School Day with the clock
I like Let’s Get Ready for School. Thanks.
partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com
Let’s get ready for school
the school house one looks the most fun and useful
Let’s Get Ready for School
In My School Day to help with time skills. Great giveaway!
Schoolies Wipe Clean: Let’s Get Ready for School looks cool. Especially since I have multiple children.
Let’s get ready for school. So I can get my little girl ready for school.
That is the cutest backpack ever!
Making Friends looks like fun!
I like My School Days.
Let’s Get Ready for School
My school day!
School House Looks Very Fun!
My First Day of School
Let’s Get Ready for School looks like a great one for my daughter.
The Let’s Get Ready for School looks most useful for my grandson!
My school day looks fun…
Let’s Get Ready for School
“Let’s Get Ready for School” looks like it will be really helpful!
I like My School Days.
I think the Making Friends one.
The Schoolies School House is great.
I like the Let’s Get Ready for School book.