Almanac

An almanac is a reference book that is usually published annually, and is composed of lists, tables, and often brief articles that relate to a particular field or to many general fields. Almanacs come in a variety of forms, but most are written in a question and answer format, with their primary purpose being to educate their audience. Several almanacs are written with children in mind as the audience. In a classroom library, almanacs would be best used as a reference tool for teachers, or for students who want to look up a quick fact or are writing some form of a research paper. Students may find the information to be very fascinating. Popular subjects for student almanacs include art, weather, museums, sports, nations, U.S. history, and animals, and the material discussed can also be a tool in helping students with schoolwork. Finding reliable publishers and authors is important when looking for a great classroom fit. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that almanacs generally come out with a new version each year, making them become outdated rather quickly. Therefore, as an educator, these are books that will need to be assessed every 1-2 years to make sure they are still accurate, or consider choosing material that will not outdate as quickly.

Some of my favorite book choices:

National Geographic Kid's Almanac 2014
By: National Geographic


National geographic kids almanac 2014. (2013). Washington, D.C.: National Geographic Children's Books.

Interest Level: 4-7
Grade Level: 6
Lexile: 1070 L
Guided Reading: Y


The world's best-selling almanac for kids is packed with colorful photos and fun articles on animals, robots, dinosaurs, cool inventions, and more. Fun facts, games, activities, crafts, and maps are also included. Done in true National Geographic style, this book gets students excited about their world and everything in it. This reliable source never disappoints with their accurate, updated information and fantastic text features shown in over 500 beautiful photographs and fun, helpful information on subjects such as technology, presidents, animals, weather, outer space, natural disasters, and green tips. However, each edition is filled with new information, so this is a book that would require updating often. 


Children's Book-A-Day Almanac
By: Anita Silvey

Silvey, A. (2012). Children's book-a-day almanac. Roaring Brook Press.

Interest Level: K-12
Grade Level: Not available
Lexile: Not Available
Guided Reading: Not Available



This fun book guide gives daily book recommendations and is an inventive reference book to showcase both old and new children's literature. Each page features an event of the day, suggests a children's book that relates to that event, and lists other events that took place on that day. The text features make the information easy to follow and understand. This historical and informational narrative is a worthwhile resource for teachers. Teachers could use this material to plan lessons and activities for students, tying literature and world events together. The recommended book titles span from elementary to high school age.  The Children's Book-A-Day Almanac is also available in an online version that highlights the book of the day. This makes it easy to access no matter where you are.

Children's Book-A- Day Almanac online version