I received these products for my review. All opinions are my own.

Real or Fake? by Emily Krieger (ages 8-12) – NEW SERIES ALERT! – Can you mail an unpackaged coconut via the United States Postal Service? Are tiger cubs born furless and without stripes? Did China build a secret city for 1,000 people on the sea floor? Is there really a type of bird with tiny, useless wings, hairlike feathers and nostrils at the END of its beak or is it just a hoax? Real or Fake tests your detective skills to determine which stories are real and which, in fact, are fake (oh, and yes, you CAN mail a coconut, China did NOT build an underwater city and that bird is not a myth! It is a kiwi!). Also included are history’s greatest hoaxes, secrets behind a good fake, internet urban legends, and crazy headlines.

Mastermind by Stephanie Warren Drimmer (ages 8-12) – NEW SERIES ALERT! – In this interactive book kids learn about what type of thinker they are and are given the chance to exercise different parts of their brains with games, tests and puzzles. The cheeky narrator and self-proclaimed “Mastermind” Ima Genius and her talking dog, Atom, guide the reader through short and snappy explanations of the science behind why the brain does what it does and how it affects the senses, spatial reasoning, language, memory and problem solving. As kids work their way through the book completing experiments, brain teasers, mazes, quizzes and games, their efforts (and smarts!) are rewarded with a Certificate of Mental Achievement declaring them as a Certified Mastermind. Rich in content, humor, graphics and fascinating science, Mastermind is an ultimate boredom buster.

National Geographic Kids Almanac 2017 (ages 8-12) — The world’s best-selling almanac for kids is back with new content, new features and an interactive Almanac Newsmaker Challenge activity that encourages kids to make their own time capsule. This latest edition of the New York Times best selling book is THE gold standard in nonfiction “edutainment” and features not only the latest discoveries in the worlds of technology, conservation and nature, but also grabs kids with cool weird-but-true facts, activities to keep ’em busy all summer long and amazing animals from around the world.

Everything Sports (ages 8-12) – Perfect for reluctant readers and just in time for the Rio Olympics, this book has it all — from archery to zip lining this book covers EVERYTHING about the world’s favorite team and individual sports. Readers won’t stop until they’ve learned everything there is to know about the history, rules and regs, training, and practice of dozens of athletic pursuits. A Hall of Fame profiles the giants in downhill skiing, hockey, gymnastics, football and more and there is even a quiz kids can take to see if they’d make a good ref. Packed with big, bold pictures and graphics and featuring a diverse array of athletes (men and women of all races, young and old,) Everything Sports not only includes the most popular sports such as baseball, basketball, football, soccer, tennis, but also features the more extreme and quirkier sports like parkour, wakeboarding, fencing, curling, and table tennis. The book also dedicates several pages to the Olympics.

I swear, every time National Geographic Kids sends us books, they’ve read my kids’ mind and know exactly what they are interested in! Nat Geo has the BEST kids books!!!! Seriously. I am never, ever disappointed, and this awesome back to school bundle is no exception.

The Real or Fake book is great for a crowd- during a family gathering they read through the story, and then had everyone say whether they thought it was real or fake- so much fun! They love the Mastermind puzzles and games too, and is a great way to keep them entertained. (Huge plus for parents!) The sports book was RIGHT up their alley, especially my oldest who is obsessed with all things sports. But the almanac… oh my goodness, they have spent hours looking through that thing! It is filled with so much great information. It was great for the Olympics watching- they have learned so much about the different countries and their flags! They love the information about the states as well, and love learning about past presidents too.

Each of these books offers a unique learning experience, all while entertaining your kiddos as well. Seriously a win/win. These books make amazing gifts for any little one because they have such a great amount of both education and fun!