Summer Brain Quest: Between Grades 1 & 2 – Summer Learning Workbook

Summer Brain Quest: Between Grades 1 & 2 is a Common Core–aligned summer workbook from Workman Publishing, written by Megan Butler and Claire Piddock. Designed for children ages 6–7 who have finished U.S. first grade, it reviews reading, writing, math, science, and social studies through map-guided activities, stickers, and outdoor challenges that help keep skills sharp before second grade.

About This Book

Summer Brain Quest: Between Grades 1 & 2 is a 160-page paperback activity workbook and part of the Summer Brain Quest series. Rather than a plain exercise book, it is built as a personalized "quest": children begin with a fold-out map and work through leveled activities, earning stickers to track their progress as they go. The book combines curriculum-based exercises with bonus challenges and outdoor "Outside Quests," and it features full-color illustrations throughout by Edison Yan and Rachel Dukes, with Mindy Yip as guest editor.

The content is aligned to U.S. Common Core standards and reviews the core subjects a child covers in first grade while previewing second-grade material. Because it draws on the U.S. curriculum, the text uses American English and American examples.

Who Is This Book For?

The publisher recommends this workbook for ages 6–7, for children who have just completed first grade and are moving toward second grade. It is written for native or fluent English readers, so it is well suited to:

• Students at international schools following an English-medium or U.S.-style curriculum.
• Returnee children who want to maintain English reading, writing, and academic vocabulary.
• Bilingual and multilingual families raising children in English.
• Confident, advanced young English learners ready for grade-level native material.

It is not designed as a beginner ESL or EFL workbook. Learners who are still building basic English will likely find the reading level challenging.

What Learners Can Practise

• Reading comprehension.
• Writing.
• Addition and subtraction.
• Telling time.
• Science topics such as earth science and the seasons.
• Social studies, including geography, communities, and map skills.

How to Use This Book

• Short daily practice: ten to fifteen minutes a day to prevent "summer slide" between school years.
• Independent, self-guided study: children follow the map and check their own work using the included answer key, with light parent support.
• Home study for returnees and international-school students: steady English and academic review over the long holiday.
• Outdoor and hands-on learning: the "Outside Quests" move some activities away from the desk.

Why Parents and Teachers May Find It Useful

The quest format, map, and stickers give children a clear sense of progress, which can make independent summer study more motivating and less of a struggle. Because it covers the full range of core subjects in one book, it offers a simple, structured way to keep academic English active during a long break. The included answer key lets parents and tutors support a child without needing to re-teach the material themselves, which is helpful for families where the adults are not native English speakers.

Key Product Details

• Title: Summer Brain Quest: Between Grades 1 & 2
• Series: Summer Brain Quest
• Authors: Megan Butler, Claire Piddock
• Illustrators: Edison Yan, Rachel Dukes
• Guest editor: Mindy Yip
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• ISBN-13: 9780761189176
• ISBN-10: 0761189173
• Format: Paperback
• Publication date: April 18, 2017
• Page count: 160 pages
• Dimensions: 11.8 × 8.4 × 0.5 in (approx. 30.0 × 21.3 × 1.3 cm)
• Weight: Approx. 1.2 lb (about 0.5 kg)
• Illustrations: Full-color (4-color) throughout
• Language: English (U.S.)
• Recommended age: Ages 6–7 (publisher)
• Grade level: Between U.S. Grades 1 and 2 (publisher)
• Subjects: English language arts, math, science, social studies
• Curriculum: Aligned to U.S. Common Core standards
• Answer key: Included
• Included materials: Map, 150+ stickers, bonus challenges, Outside Quests, summer reading list, Brain Quest mini deck

Recommended Uses

• Summer and school-holiday study.
• Home study for international-school students.
• English maintenance for returnee children.
• Independent, self-guided practice.
• Private tutoring assignments.
• Review before the start of the new school year.

Customer Questions and Answers

What age and grade is this workbook for?

Workman Publishing recommends it for ages 6–7 — specifically for children who have just finished U.S. first grade and are preparing for second grade.

Is this an ESL book for beginners, or for fluent English speakers?

It is a U.S. Common Core workbook written for native or fluent English readers. MakoStars recommends it mainly for international-school students, returnee children, bilingual families, and advanced young learners, rather than for beginner ESL study.

What comes with the book, and can a child use it on their own?

The workbook includes a map, over 150 stickers, bonus challenges, outdoor activities, a summer reading list, a Brain Quest mini deck, and an answer key. The quest format is designed for children to work through largely on their own, with occasional help from a parent or tutor.