Shining a spotlight on these fantastic websites for kids:

Explain that Stuff! Love this site! British science writer, Chris Woodford, explains all sorts of complicated science and technology in a way that is kid and family-friendly. Check out two articles that I just read and understood! The first is all about nanotechnology. In my 31st century world, the scientists are involved in pico and even femto-technology, but here in the twenty-first century, we're all about nanotechnology which is quite miniscule enough to blow anyone's mind. I also ran into an explainthatstuff article on Global Warming which was really easy and compelling to read.

National Geographic Kids--Dare to Explore: What's not to love about National Geographic's Kid pages? Fun videos, great photos, a whole section on animals and pets, a global perspective--I just read a great kid-friendly report on Ghana! Here's a video from the website of the Jack Russell Terrier who holds the world record in number of balloons popped in a minute!

National Wildlife Federation's Ranger Rick: Okay, I've always been a sucker for Ranger Rick. I had a magazine subscription most of my childhood and read it cover to cover! This website, of course, recommends that you purchase a subscription, but it also has lots of fun photos, articles, and games. So far, the two coolest things on the website in my humble opinion are 1) Ranger Rick's green zone where he helps you make Earth a greener place, and 2) Wildlife Watch where, get this, you spot a particular wild animal near where you live and then you post what it is and where you spotted it on a map of the United States. How cool is that?

The Old Farmer's Almanac for Kids: I cannot take credit for finding this little gem. ALA found it and highlighted it as their website of the month for February 2011. This website is so fun, I'm going to start checking it each day! Did you know that on January 30, 1847, Yerba Buena, a U.S. town of 200 people, was renamed San Francisco?

PBS Kids: Great website, trustworthy brand. Let's face it, we all feel safe with the Public Broadcasting Service and we love the entire family of characters that live here. No surprise, this kid site is generally geared for the younger crowd.

The Dinosauria: Another zeller find courtesy of ALA's Great Websites for Kids catalog, this UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology website is easy to follow and has a great rundown on the latest research about Dinosaurs, including the theory that birds are direct descendants. While debate continues on the topic, this is still a great place to read about dinosaurs whether feathered or not!