These Kids Are Getting BOOKS for Christmas ~ 2019

Since all this COPPA [Children's Online Privacy Protection Act] business from the FTC [Federal Trade Commission] is stirring up YouTube, I’ve decided to skip making a video sharing the books I’m giving my little cousins for Christmas this year. For those interested in my 2018 picks, you can go back and check out the video from last year. So ain’t nobody got time to deal with all that COPPA/FTC stuff (or that potential over $40k infringement fine), but because we’re here to talk about books, we’ll do it here.

Below is a synopsis from the first book in the series, The Last Kids on Earth

"Ever since the monster apocalypse hit town, average thirteen year old Jack Sullivan has been living in his tree house, which he's armed to the teeth with catapults and a moat, not to mention video games and an endless supply of Oreos and Mountain Dew scavenged from abandoned stores. But Jack alone is no match for the hordes of Zombies and Winged Wretches and Vine Thingies, and especially not for the eerily intelligent monster known only as Blarg. So Jack builds a team: his dorky best friend, Quint; the reformed middle school bully, Dirk; Jack's loyal pet monster, Rover; and Jack's crush, June. With their help, Jack is going to slay Blarg, achieve the ultimate Feat of Apocalyptic Success, and be average no longer! Can he do it? "

My eleven-going-on-twelve-year-old cousin has Christmas then his birthday coming up five days down the road. So in celebration of both, I got him the first three books in The Last Kids on Earth series. He's a sixth-grader so the books are right on time, considering the reading Grade is from 3-6. Anyway, the series arrived toted as Diary of the Wimpy Kid blended with The Walking Dead. And, well, he picked them out. I thought they sounded/looked cool myself (who doesn't love zombies!?). I push for him to read more, so luckily the hunt for his interests went smooth. I didn't have to wonder if this or that series would grab his attention.

Anyway, the first book in this series released in 2015; the books are also up for a Netflix series. And two things rang when I learned this. One: there were plenty more books up ahead to keep him reading. Two: kids love Netflix so what better way to keep him reading as he relates the two forms of media.


Other than that, I got a deal on my buy. So the first three books come in a box set for $40. I, though, lucked-out and found the 2nd and 3rd book in the bookstore's bargain section. Leaving me to grab the first at the membership discounted price. Don’t you love it when things work like this? Like I said before, remember to check those bargain sections and save some MONEY!

We're back on Dog Man again.  Synopsis of book number #7, Dog Man for Whom the Balls Rolls down below.

"The Supa Buddies have been working hard to help Dog Man overcome his bad habits. But when his obsessions turn to fears, Dog Man finds himself the target of an all-new supervillain! Meanwhile, Petey the Cat has been released from jail and starts a new life with Li'l Petey. But when Petey's own father arrives, Petey must face his past to understand the difference between being good and doing good."

I’ve spoke of my seven-year-old cousin and his love of the Dog Man series. So, without a second thought, picking him out a Dog Man book for Christmas was easy. The next Dog Man comes out December 10th. But I like to get stuff done, so the current release would have to do.

These are 7-year-old and up reads. Grade level 2nd to 4th. Perfect for him.

Below is the synopsis to Mrs. Smith's Spy School for Girls by Beth McMullen

"A girl discovers her boarding school is actually an elite spy-training program, and she must learn the skills of the trade in order to find her mother in this action-packed middle grade debut that’s perfect for fans of Stu Gibbs. 

After a botched escape plan from her boarding school, Abigail is stunned to discover the school is actually a cover for an elite spy ring called The Center, along with being training grounds for future spies. Even more shocking? Abigail’s mother is a top agent for The Center and she has gone MIA, with valuable information that many people would like to have—at any cost. Along with a former nemesis and charming boy from her grade, Abigail goes through a crash course in Spy Training 101, often with hilarious—and sometimes painful—results. 

But Abigail realizes she might be a better spy-in-training than she thought—and the answers to her mother’s whereabouts are a lot closer than she thinks…"

Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls is for my nine-year-old cousin. She’s pretty much the reader-reader in this trio. She’s also the one with the leadership and supervisory tendencies. Now I would wager that's like many young girls surrounded by boys, but correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, while I don’t know much about this series, the second I spotted it I thought of her. The age range is 9-13. Whereas the reading grade is 4-8. The series consists of three books (the third released this past August), but I’m hoping the books keep coming. It put me in the mind of my discovering the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate when I was 13. I read those books up until they discontinued when I was 18. My hope is she’ll carry a love of this series throughout a few of her adolescent years.

Anyway, that's it. Just sharing books for the kids–ALWAYS.