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McDonald’s Happy Meal Books – Ninja Cowboy Bear Presents the Way of the Ninja

Ninja Cowboy Bear Presents the Way of the Ninja

Written by David Bruins
Illustrated by Hilary Leung

The creators of The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear return with a high-energy story about friendship. This time, the daring ninja learns that the greatest thrills and the best adventures are the ones we share.

The ninja’s playtime games are too rough-and-tumble for his friends the cowboy and the bear. The ninja isn’t interested in his friends’ games — and playing all by himself isn’t much fun. Can the rambunctious ninja ever meet his friends halfway?

Children will easily relate to the lesson about mutual respect embedded in a story about three different but nonetheless close friends.

 

 

Series » Ninja Cowboy Bear

Deadpan text and cartoon-style illustrations pack a playful punch in the Ninja Cowboy Bear books, which were inspired by the classic game of Rock Paper Scissors. Starring a tight-knit trio of friends who counter conflict with respect and sensitivity, these stories celebrate the differences that make everyone unique and friendships special.

 

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McDonald’s Happy Meal Books – The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear

The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear

Written by David Bruins
Illustrated by Hilary Leung

The ninja, the cowboy and the bear do everything together — they paint pictures, compare cloud shapes in the sky, fly kites and much more. Though each friend is very different from one another, they enjoy each other’s company. Until one day when they begin quarreling and compete to see which one is the best. The bear can pile up rocks the highest. The cowboy can collect the most raspberries. The ninja can catch the most rabbits. When each contest leads to more resentment, it seems the friends will never stop disagreeing. Only when they learn to be considerate of their differences do they finally realize how much they appreciate each other.

The cute, yet stylized artwork combined with a fun story about friendship and celebrating differences make this legend an unforgettable one.

This playfully illustrated picture book also includes instructions for the Ninja-Cowboy-Bear game, which is similar to Rock Paper Scissors except that kids use their whole body.

 

 

Series » Ninja Cowboy Bear

Deadpan text and cartoon-style illustrations pack a playful punch in the Ninja Cowboy Bear books, which were inspired by the classic game of Rock Paper Scissors. Starring a tight-knit trio of friends who counter conflict with respect and sensitivity, these stories celebrate the differences that make everyone unique and friendships special.

 

The Legend of Ninja Cowboy Bear Coloring and Activity Sheets:

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McDonald’s Happy Meal Books – Wild Buildings and Bridges

Wild Buildings and Bridges

Written by Etta Kaner
Illustrated by Carl Wiens

From cactuses to birds’ wings, termite towers to honeycombs, this book celebrates more than thirty examples of nature’s influence on building and bridge designs all over the world. In some instances, architects looked to nature to solve structural problems, like creating an earthquake-proof bridge by mimicking the long roots of a type of grass known for stabilizing riverbanks. Other examples show how nature provides artistic inspiration, like the famous buildings designed by Frank Gehry that evoke the beauty of moving fish. The incredible structures in this book prove that nature and architecture are perfect partners! Sidebar biographies tell us more about these famous architects who have used nature to spectacular effect in their designs. Fun activities throughout add an interactive element, with step-by-step instructions for science experiments and a design-your-own-structure activity.

Award-winning author Etta Kaner combines science and art in this unique look at nature’s influence on architecture and design. The emphasis on problem-solving and critical thinking make it an excellent choice for science and technology lessons on structures, mechanisms and engineering. The book could also be used for studying earth science and the environment, as it promotes sustainability and eco-friendly structures. Detailed and eye-catching illustrations by award-winning artist Carl Wiens help make the concepts clear and easy to understand. This book will fascinate budding architects and makers who love building and learning how things work. Includes a glossary, resources, author’s sources and an index.

 

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McDonald’s Happy Meal Books – Earth-Friendly Buildings, Bridges and More

Earth-Friendly Buildings, Bridges and More

Written by Etta Kaner
Illustrated by Stephen MacEachern

Introducing Corry Lapont: 12-year-old and aspiring “green” engineer. This dynamic title takes the form of Corry’s scrapbook. It’s a dazzling collection of postcards, brochures and other memorabilia documenting Corry’s research into green design. Kid-friendly language explains the engineering behind some of the planet’s most cutting edge towers, bridges, tunnels, domes, dams, dikes, locks and levees. These structures include the Vizcaya Bridge in Spain, where gondolas transport cars over the Nervion River, and the Channel tunnel, where trains speed between England and France in just 35 minutes. Readers will explore the environmental impact of structures, such as the pros and cons of dam construction and how rainwater can be used to cool buildings. Complex concepts are clarified with simple activities, as well as colorful drawings, fun facts and the occasional wisecrack from Corry’s kid brother, Riley.

 

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McDonald’s Happy Meal Books – Animals Do, Too!

Animals Do, Too!

Written by Etta Kaner
Illustrated by Marilyn Faucher

“Do you like to dance?” asks the first spread of this playful nonfiction picture book. “Honeybees do, too!” responds the next. Illustrating the simple text are joyful drawings that visually connect the children enjoying a dance party to the honeybees performing their own “dance” in the hive. A block of more in-depth text fleshes out what the honeybees are actually doing and why: their waggle dance tells other honeybees “where to find a tasty meal.” Using this same rhythmic question-and-answer style throughout, the book compares a series of children’s favorite activities to similar things that animals do. From playing tag and leapfrog (gazelles and cattle egrets) to blowing bubbles and getting piggyback rides (gray tree frogs and marmosets), there are seven activities/animals in all. And though the behaviors might look the same, while the children are playing, the animals are performing essential tasks such as finding food or caring for their young.

Award-winning author Etta Kaner has created a fun, engaging exploration of some ways animals behave just like people. By highlighting connections between human and animal behaviors, she encourages children to develop compassion for other creatures and to recognize their place within the natural world. This book would make an excellent resource for early life science lessons on the characteristics of living things, especially with the expanded information in the back matter about each of the animals found in the book. The question-and-answer pattern of the text together with Marilyn Faucher’s inviting, detailed illustrations work as an entertaining, interactive read-aloud as well.

 

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