Summer Reading Essentials from Nat Geo Kids Books Plus GIVEAWAY #Partner 8/14

***Disclosure: I received complimentary samples to facilitate my post. All opinions are 100% honest and have not been influenced in any way.***

After an incredibly challenging school year,  keeping kids reading over the summer has never been more important.  The gold standard in "edutainment," National Geographic Kids Books is serving up 3 amazing fiction series and 3 eye-popping nonfiction books that check all the boxes as summer reading "slam dunks" -- browsable, bright formats, high-interest topics and fun content.   On a plane, in a car, under the covers or inside on a rainy day -- these summer reads are perfect for reluctant readers and book lovers alike.

My kids LOVE National Geographic Kids books, and look forward to learning new things while having fun every time they pick one up. Whether it's a fact book, an Almanac, or even story books packed with educational tidbits, National Geographic Kids is our go-to for summer "Edutainment". 

I'd love to share some of our favorite offerings of the summer, and give you a chance to WIN a great National Geographic Kids Book Bundle as well! Keep reading to learn more! 

Explorer Academy Series by Trudi Trueit (ages 8-12, available in Hardcover and PB) - OVER 1800 FIVE STAR REVIEWS ON AMAZON!! 
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• "This exciting, fast-paced, far-flung story is full of science facts and James Bond-like gadgets, accompanied by colored illustrations.  The ending is guaranteed to keep readers eager for the next series installment." - Booklist
• Explorer Academy is exciting and smart.  —Karen Bokram, Editor-in-Chief, Girls’ Life

National Geographic's blockbuster fiction series, Explorer Academy, has it all: a diverse cast of characters, cool technology, code breaking, adventure, exotic locations and a thrilling global mission -- all inspired by the real adventures and explorations of the National Geographic Society.   Join Cruz as he leaves his tranquil home in Hawaii to join 23 talented kids from around the globe to train at the Explorer Academy with the world's leading scientists to become the next generation of great explorers. But for Cruz, there's more at stake. No sooner has he arrived at the Academy than he discovers that his family has a mysterious past with the organization that could jeopardize his future. In the midst of codebreaking and cool classes, new friends and exotic locales, eco-challenges and augmented reality expeditions, Cruz must tackle the biggest question of all: Who is out to get him, and why? 

​Books 1-5 are out now, and book 6, The Dragon's Blood will be released in October! 

Check out the Explorer Academy website featuring videos, comic shorts, games, profiles of real-life National Geographic Explorers, chapter excerpts and more. 

Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad: Absolute Hero by Valerie Tripp (ages 8-12, Hardcover) 

A brand new series from the author of many beloved American Girl books, Valerie Tripp!  Join Izzy Newton and her friends at Atom Middle School in the first adventure of this new middle-grade fiction series. A crowded new school and a crazy class schedule is enough to make Izzy feel dizzy. But for the S.M.A.R.T. Squad, it’s all about relying on the value of friendship and the power of science to help them think their way through all kinds of sticky situations. Science and tech reign supreme when these five brainy buddies put their heads together!

Read the first chapter, check out the book trailer,  and meet the characters at https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/books/smart-squad/.

And stay tuned.....Book 2 will be out in October!

Zeus the Mighty Series (ages 8-12, Hardcover) -- Welcome to Mount Olympus, a pet supply and rescue center that sits high on a hill in Athens, Georgia. The overconfident hamster Zeus, wise cat Athena, and other rescued pets live there under the watchful eye of their caretaker, Artie, who's obsessed with Greek mythology. The pets overhear her favorite podcast, Greeking Out, and believe themselves to be the actual megastars of mythology! Join .  Get ready to laugh, cheer, and learn with this Zeus and his minions in their rollicking romps through Greek mythology and unforgettable adventures. Books One and Two are currently available, with Book Three coming out in August!

​Check out the Zeus the Mighty website for books, fun printables, games, fun Greek facts and episodes of the real life Greeking Out podcast! 

5,000 Awesome Facts About Everything (ages 8-12, Hardcover) This BIG book is literally busting its covers with fascinating, fun-tastic facts on super, sensational topics that kids love. Who knew that there were so many sweet things to learn about chocolate or that a dozen delicious details about peanut butter would show up on a page with a few splotches of jelly to whet our appetites? Keep turning and a terrifyingly toothy shark tells you all about himself, while other spreads lay out tons of tips on toys and games, mysteries of history, robots and reptiles, sports and spies and wacky words.   A visual feast of colorful photographs surrounded by swirling, tipping, expanding, and climbing bits of information in a high-energy design, this book will satisfy both the casual browser and the truly fact obsessed.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2022 (ages 8-12, paperback) - The number one selling kids almanac on the planet!

'"...this gathering of upbeat, vividly illustrated, browser-friendly dips into topics ranging from black holes to blue-footed boobies to Bolivian street food is hard to put down, and the pop quizzes and research guides at each chapter’s end will give studious sorts a leg up, too." - Kirkus

The latest installment of the New York Times best-selling almanac features amazing animal stories, explorer profiles, and outrageous attractions that kids know and love, plus more of the incredible inventions, awesome games, and fresh challenges for curious kids who want to learn all about the world and everything that's in it.  Tons of fun facts, crafts, activities, and fascinating features about animals, science, nature, technology, conservation help kids keep up with our quickly changing world and is why this is the number one selling kids almanac on the planet.  There's a whole chapter full of fun and games, including activities, jokes, and comics and the colorful compilation also includes an Almanac Challenge 2022 — which inspires kids to reduce their plastic waste.  

101 Life Hacks: Genius Ways to Simplify Your World (ages 8-12, paperback) - Try these cool hacks! Turn ordinary into awesome with this fun book, jam-packed with science-inspired ideas kids can use to simplify, prettify, and eco-fy their lives at home, school, and on the go. Get tips and tricks for upcycling and reusing old stuff, as well as hands-on activities, fun facts, and insights from professional-grade life hackers who use their problem-solving skills to change the world.  Make cool lantern lights for your room, discover a tried-and-true brain freeze cure, learn how to boost your memory power, and more. By the end, you'll be able to hack your way through all kinds of problems, from a messy backpack to stage fright, a drippy ice pop to smelly shoes!

If you're looking for a great way to keep education at the forefront during the summer months, definitely check out National Geographic Kids. 

You can also connect with National Geographic Kids on Facebook and on twitter to stay on top of their latest news, products, and promotions. ​

Enter to WIN :

​Enter to WIN a National Geographic Book Bundle containing all the wonderful books listed above! 

​How cool is that?! 

This giveaway is open to US Residents 18+ until 11:59PM EST on August 14, 2021. Winner will be drawn using Rafflecopter's Random Number Generator. All entries will be verified, so play fair! I will notify winner via e-mail and they will have 48 hours to reply before I am forced to redraw winners. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. This contest is not affiliated with Facebook, twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram in any way. If you have any questions, please contact Brandy at [email protected] Thanks for entering, and Good Luck!

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