Have you heard a lot about the “A Kids Book About” series that’s been getting a ton of press lately? I bought a few for my kids to read and they give their honest options about whether or not they are worth it. Scroll down for our complete review!
This kids review of “A Kids Book About” series was written by family travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
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Like most moms I know, I spend an embarrassing amount of time on Facebook.
I love seeing what my friends are up to with their kids, watch cooking videos of things I’ll probably never make, and read lame Buzzfeed listicles about things I remember from the 90s.
Because I’m on Facebook so much, I see a TON of ads.
Usually, they are dumb products that I scroll right past. Or, they hit way too close to home and it creeps me out that Facebook is spying on me.
However, this summer, I started seeing a bunch of Facebook ads for the “A Kids Book About” series, especially the one about racism.
At first, I assumed they were capitalizing on the Black Lives Matter movement and I was skeptical about the actual quality of the content.
But, I started seeing friends order the books and rave about them. So, I figured I’d look into them a bit more and order a few for my 6 year old.
Use the code MOMMYLAND for $5 off your next “A Kids Book About” order!
What is the “A Kids Book About” Series?
This children’s book series tackles complex topics like racism, body image, depression, anxiety, and so many more topics that affect kids.
These are not picture books. But, they remind me a lot of BJ Novak’s book “The Book Without Pictures” in the way that they use font sizes and styles to keep kids engaged.
The “A Kids Book About” series is meant for parents and kids to read together. That’s because these are some pretty serious topics and your kids will probably have comments, questions, or reactions along the way.
Think of these books as super cool conversation starters.
Each book starts with an intro that introduces the topic, why it’s important, and gives a little preview of what to expect.
And at the end of each book is an Outro. Sometimes they have critical thinking questions for kids. Other times, it just summarizes and reinforces the main themes of the book.
It’s important to know that most of these books are geared for kids ages 6-12 year old. A few are for ages 5 and older.
I decided to buy 3 books to try out with my 6 year old, mostly because there was a 25% off discount if I bought 3. And when they arrived, I just told my son that I bought him some super cool books that I thought he might like.
Let’s see if I was right!
Honest Review of “A Kids Book About” Series From My 6 Year Old:
A Kids Book About Failure
My son decided he wanted to read this book first because he thought it was funny that the title was misspelled and they had crossed out the y in “failyure.”
He ended up reading it aloud to me while I was driving and he kept cracking up! He loved that they crossed out a bunch of mistakes but then kept on writing.
At the end of this book, there are a bunch of questions to ask kids about failure. By the end, my son said he kind of wanted to fail at some stuff because it’s a good way to grow. I thought that was pretty insightful!
A Kids Book About Racism
We decided to read this book at bedtime as a family (with my husband and 3.5 year old son.) My 6 year old did all the reading.
My kids are half Chinese and he actually stopped reading and exclaimed “Wait! I’m a person of color!” It was the first time he realized that and he thought it was so cool to be a part of the story!
He liked how the book kept saying being different is good. And he thought the page that repeated the word “really” a gazillion times was pretty hilarious.
Actually, he said it was “really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really funny!”
A Kids Book About Feminism
He read this book on his own the first time and he told me it wasn’t one of his favorites.
So, I had him read it out loud to me to see what it was all about. When he got to the line about “bonkers, bananas” he couldn’t stop laughing!
Then he said he liked the book and wanted to read it again.
I think he didn’t understand why boys would be treated differently than girls. I’m a feminist and I’m glad that my boys have been picking up on my views about gender equality.
What I Thought About the Books
Honestly, I was so impressed with the books we ordered that I hopped online and ordered some additional titles.
I was worried that the books might come off a bit “preachy” or make me want to roll my eyes a bit. I remember reading books like that when I was little and I just couldn’t take them seriously.
These ones are written for kids in a way that is so direct, yet tactful/respectful.
I love that each one is written by an expert in that field. It’s refreshing to read from authors who have first-hand, authentic experience with the topics, instead of one author trying to write about everything regardless of personal experience.
And they use appropriate language for kids, but don’t gloss over the issues.
What Are The Book Titles and How Can You Order?
All these book are available in hardcover or as an ebook. You can purchase them individually or sign up for a book subscription.
They have a One Book Box subscription where you can get a new book sent to your home every month, every other month, or once a quarter.
Or they have a Two Book Box subscription where you can get two new books sent to your home every month, every other month, or once a quarter.
Use the code MOMMYLAND for $5 off!
Here’s a current listing of their other book titles:
A Kid’s Book About Bullying
We all know that bullying is a real issue in schools, so who better to write about bullying than a current high school student?
This book tackles the complex issue of bullying and how to spot it when it’s happening. Sometimes kids don’t realize they are being bullied at the time because it can seem like kids are just being mean.
This is a great way to help them put a word to how they are feeling.
A Kid’s Book About Empathy
It can be difficult for kids (and even some adults) to differentiate between sympathy and empathy. This book shows kids how to feel “with”” someone instead of just feeling sorry for them.
It’s written by a former NFL coach and father of 5, so I’m sure he has lots of experience with big feelings.
A Kid’s Book About Disabilities
This book is written by a middle school teacher who is also a lifelong wheelchair user, so she has some good insight into how kids should approach someone with disabilities.
This book helps kids (and their adults) figure out how to talk to people with disabilities, how to talk about disabilities in general, and how more than a billion people in the world have disabilities!
A Kid’s Book About Creativity
While it’s easy to put kids in categories like “creative” or “logical,” being creative is something that all kids do (no matter what adults say.)
This book shows how creativity isn’t just about singing or being an artist. And it empowers people to unlock their own creativity.
A Kid’s Book About Belonging
Feeling like you don’t belong is such a universal feeling. And it can lead to so many other negative feelings, especially for kids.
This book is all about what it’s like to feel like you belong to a group/family/team (and what it’s like when you don’t.) And it shows kids how they can belong to themselves and how that will help them feel like they belong anywhere.
A Kid’s Book About Divorce
Talking to your kids about divorce is a really tough conversation to have, especially when there are such strong emotions tied to it.
This book helps kids know what to expect when their parents get divorced (the good, the bad, and the ugly.) It’s a great conversation starter that should spark an honest discussion between parents and kids.
Plus, the author is a divorced mom who co-parents her son, so she’s been there.
A Kid’s Book About Mindfulness
In the past few years, the concept of mindfulness has started to pop into schools a lot more. It’s more than just being present in the moment, it’s also about knowing who you are.
This book helps kids see that practicing mindfulness can lead to understanding themselves a whole lot better.
Plus, it’s written by the founder of a nonprofit that specializes in teaching mindfulness to teachers and teens. And she even created the first mindfulness course for public high schools.
A Kid’s Book About Shame
One of the biggest feelings kids experience from a young age is the feeling of shame. It’s something that we all try to hide from time to time, but it’s important to talk about.
The important lesson in this book is that we shouldn’t feel ashamed for feeling shame. It’s just part of the human experience. And talking about it normalizes it.
A Kid’s Book About Money
Money is at the root of just about everything in the world. So, it’s no wonder that kids have so many questions about it, like where it comes from and how they can earn some.
The author is a financial coach who has a ton of experience helping people be more efficient with their money. In this book, he talks about what money is, how to earn it, and how to spend it wisely.
A Kid’s Book About Depression
Families have been a lot more open about mental illness and depression, and this book is a great way to start a conversation with your kids about it.
The author shares her personal story of depression and gives an honest look at what depression feels like, what life looks like with it, and how to be loved through it.
A Kid’s Book About Adventure
There’s a fine line between facing your fears and doing something dangerous. And it can be hard for kids to figure out which is which.
This book is all about how to live a life of adventure while figuring out the difference between a healthy concern and an overblown worry. It will help kids know when to take chances and ask themselves “why not” instead of “what if?”
A Kid’s Book About Body Image
Everyone’s body is unique. We don’t all have the same size, shape, or color but that’s what makes us individuals.
For kids, it’s important to talk about body image so they can think about their own feelings about it and how to love their bodies just the way they are. And, that they should love other peoples’ bodies for how they are too.
It’s written by the founder of a website where plus-size people rate their own comfort level of being in public places.
A Kid’s Book About Anxiety
More and more kids are diagnosed with anxiety each year and it’s nothing to be ashamed about. This book takes an honest look at the symptoms of anxiety and talks about how to manage it.
The author is an award-winning pioneer of the youth mental health movement and he writes about what having anxiety is like and what your life can look like when you are able to live with anxiety.
And it clearly explains what anxiety is and what it isn’t.
A Kid’s Book About Cancer
Cancer is something that has affected (or will affect) almost every family. And it can be hard for kids to understand what is happening when they (or someone they know) is diagnosed with cancer.
It talks about what cancer is in a way that makes sense to kids and it lets them know how to treat people who have it.
The author is a pediatric oncologist and the book’s goal is to take away the fear around cancer and give families a basic understanding of this diagnosis.
A Kid’s Book About Gratitude
One of the most common things I hear from other parents is that their kids are ungrateful. But, that might be because kids don’t always understand the concept.
When you read this book with your kids, you’ll be able to have a productive conversation about what it means to be grateful for the big things (like technology and parties) but also for the everyday things in life.
It’s all about changing perspectives to appreciate and be thankful for everything in life.
A Kid’s Book About Emotions
Kids have SO many emotions and they are usually pretty complicated and layered.
While a lot of kids books cover the basic emotions like being happy or sad, this one dives into the complexities of their emotions by asking questions and telling stories.
What’s extra cool about this book is that it’s also a coloring book, so kids are able to express themselves through their art.
A Kid’s Book About Voting
We’ve got an important election coming up and kids have a lot of questions about the voting system in the United States.
In this book, your kids will get a brief history of voting in the U.S. and why it’s so important. And it talks about what voting is, how it works, and how it has affected American history.
It’s written by an organization that focuses on mobilizing young voters.
BUY IT NOWA Kid’s Book About Death
One of the most difficult experiences for kids (and most adults) is dealing with death of a loved one. In fact, a lot of adults try to avoid the conversation all together.
The author is a Grief and Bereavement Specialist on the Pediatric Palliative Care Team at Texas Children’s Hospital and she knows how to effectively communicate with kids.
This book is geared for dying and grieving children so they can navigate their own emotions about this heavy topic.
A Kid’s Book About Change
Change is one of the few constants in the world. And it can be a tricky thing to cope with. But, it’s impossible to avoid since change is EVERYWHERE!
If your child is having a hard time managing life’s many changes, pick up this book so you can navigate it together. It talks about how to cope with change through personal stories and by asking kids questions.
A Kid’s Book About Optimism
In a world flooded with negativity, it can be hard for kids to figure out how to be happy. Sometimes it’s all about having the right mindset.
The author is all about spreading positivity and kindness through viral social media videos and his podcast. And that translates well to this book.
He’s able to show kids how they can make choices that lead to great opportunities and happiness.
A Kid’s Book About COVID-19
The pandemic has hit every family in a different way and kids are left with so many questions about what’s going on in the world and whether or not they will catch COVID-19.
Written by a scientist who studies infectious disease outbreaks, the book provides a lot of answers and starts good discussions about what each person can do to help keep our communities safe and healthy during this pandemic.
A Kid’s Book About God
No matter what your faith is, chances are that your kids will ask you about God at some point in their lives. And some parents are unprepared to have that discussion.
Instead of answering questions like “who is God?” and “Is God even real?”, this book asks them. So, parents are able to find out what their kids think about God and add in their own family’s beliefs and traditions.
It’s all about having a healthy dialogue with kids.
Clarity Lawyers
Friday 13th of November 2020
Thanks for sharing an awesome books reviews that can guide readers.