Book Review: Only in America Activity Book

Summer in the United States is a common time for road trips, and it’s a great time for activities for kids to do in the car and learning about states you might be visiting on your travels.

Only in America Activity Book by Claire Saunders and Heather Alexander focuses on the weireder side of the states, along with activities to make the car or plane ride a little more fun.

The book includes a fruit sudoku game board; fun weather facts; info about some of the biggest, longest, tallest and deepest things in America; a space to make up your own wacky laws; a sports-themed crossword puzzle; cryptid code breaking (and make your own); a math game; facts about weird museums in America; a four-leaf-clover hunt; maze; dino matching; a place to draw something you’d put in a time capsule; a word search with funny place names; a quiz to find words in other words; a diamond hunt; facts about funky festivals (like an annual Jell-o fight); some fun animals, state symbols, largest balls of things, a morbid maze, a number code and a food guessing game.

You’ll also find some fun “would you rather” questions everyone in the car can answer, like would your rather drink pickle juice at Picklefest in Atkins, Ark., or be fed baby food by your blindfolded partner at the National Baby Food Festival in Fremont, Mich.?

As you work through the book you’ll find at least one fun fact for every state, and pass some time on your trip as well.

The answers to any puzzles with correct answers can be found in the back of the book, but lots of these activities are open ended so you can do them again and again or different kids can come up with their own answers.

About the book: 32 pages, paperback, published 2022 by Wide Eyed Editions, suggested retail price $12.99.

Remembrance Day (marked as Veterans Day in the United States) is Nov. 11, and it marks the end of hostilities in World War I. Poppies are a traditional symbol of the day because it is said they were the first flower to grow again on the battlefields, which inspired a famous poem. Let’s check out some poppy crafts you can make with your kids as part of a World War I unit or for Remembrance Day.

This pretty poppy craft from Krokotak just requires the printable, some crayons, scissors and glue. The printable includes the center of the flower and kids can draw the outside as well as adding stem.

Glued to My Crafts has a printable for a torn paper poppy, or you could color or paint this one as well.

Use torn or cut pieces of paper to make these poppy suncatchers from Red Ted Art.

Happy Hooligans has a bunch of great poppy crafts but I particularly like the painted rocks and easy paper plate poppy.

Crafty Morning has a cute poppy craft made with fingerprints, which is quick and easy to do with kids of any age.

Older kids and adults can make these folded paper poppies from Chica and Jo, but they do involve hot glue and floral wire, which can be sharp, so it’s not for young kids. An easier paper poppy that only calls for regular craft glue can be found at Sugar Spice and Glitter. This one also has a printable template to make it easier.

These felt poppies from One Little Project also use a glue gun and a sewing needle, but they’re so pretty I couldn’t resist sharing them for older kids. Add a pipe cleaner stem or turn them into pins to wear for remembrance events. Check out their coffee filter poppy craft for a great option for younger kids.

Have you read?

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