Book Nook: Books About Use of Time from Boys Town

Books can be a great way to help kids learn about and develop different skills. Boys Town Press aims to help readers learn about a wide variety of skills, and I recently had a chance to review several books that focus on appropriate use of time.  

• Michael McMichaels Vol. 5: The Case of the Escaping Elephants by Tony Penn, illustrated by Brian Martin. The latest installment in the Michael McMichaels series follows the titular character as he learns about moderation of screen time and working with others.
• What’s in It for Me? by Julia Cook, illustrated by Anita DuFalla. From Award-Winning author Julia Cook comes another story about Noodle, who is always being told what to do and having a hard time understanding what’s in it for him. The book teaches the value of practicing small chores now to get ready for life’s challenges later.
• Time to Get Started by Bryan Smith, illustrated by Lisa M. Griffin, is a book for early readers about a boy named Blake who has a hard time taking initiative and getting things done at work and school. Appealing to the procrastinator in all of us, Blake and his mom come up with a concrete strategy to get things done.

I like the fact that two of the books were parts of series - as kids read more about a certain character, they can really see themselves in that character and learn more as that series continues. The escaping elephants were a cute and unique way to convey the lesson ab out screen time. As Noodle learns about the value of completing chores, he learns about why it's a good use of his time, and I love that message (it's something not a lot of kids really see). I also appreciate the book that encourages kids to avoid procrastination - it's a hard skill even for adults, and helping kids learn initiative and time management early is a great foundation.

These books are excellent for home libraries and also great for classroom and school libraries as well.