Surviving a Book-ectomy

I have a problem. An ish if you will.

My bookcases seem to be shrinking!

It’s true. Every time I turn around I’m out of room on those babies. I have no idea how it happens ;0)

Anyways… all too often I have to face the fact that I need to… sob… part with some books. This is as close to a near death experience as I care to get.

Recently though, I’ve found a way to ease the pain. Our local elementary school is desperate for books. Both in the school library and the individual classrooms.

It makes me feel sooo good to spread reading fun around! Next time you’re ready to part with some books, give it a try!

And the First Book Winner Is…

A few weeks ago I told you about First Book and What Book Got You Hooked? If you missed it, check it out here.

Well… votes have been tallied and winners announced. Kentucky will receive 50,000 new books for children in need!

The number one book that got readers hooked?

The Nancy Drew series.

Green Eggs and Ham, the Little House on the Prairie series, Charlotte’s Web, and Cat in the Hat also topped the list. See all 50 top books for hours of reading fun!

What book got you hooked? Let us know in the comments section below!

It’s Party Time!

Borders is hosting a Kids Party this Saturday from 2-4pm (uh… that’s tomorrow!) with games, storytimes, activities, and more.

Details are here.

Find a Borders near you here.

This sure to be reading fun!

More IGOR

As promised… here’s more IGOR.

Book Adventure, sponsored by Sylvan Learning Center, is holding the Help IGOR Get To The Science Fair Reading Contest for 9 to 14-year-olds. It works like this: read books, take quizzes, earn points.

You can win a trip for two to Space Camp, a classroom screening of IGOR, and tons of other prizes!!!

Registration is required.
Individual Student Contest Rules are here.
Classroom Contest Rules are here.

Reading fun and prizes—oh yeah!

National Punctuation Day

Today is National Punctuation Day.

I never knew.

Check out the site. Each punctuation mark is clickable—it gives a definition, instructions for use, examples, and quotes (I do love a good quote!). It’s very cool!

These are people are se-ri-ous. They even have punctuation t-shirts, mugs, and posters.

Anyways, Happy Punctuation Day to you!

Movie Alert: IGOR

Visit IGOR online here.
Check out IGOR books here.
Become a Mad Scientist Experiments can be found here. Bah hah hah hah!

Come back Thursday for more IGOR reading fun ;0)

Book Alert: Disney High School Musical 3 Junior Novel

Disney’s High School Musical 3 Junior Novel hits book shelves tomorrow. Tomorrow!!!

Get the scoop before your friends! Way before the movie hits theatres on October 24th!

Will Gabriella and Troy be separated? Aaah! Get the book and find out first!

For more reading fun check out the official HSM3 site here.

Good news. Brisinger is coming!

Good news. Brisinger is coming!

Soon.

Like… tonight.

That’s right. Why wait til tomorrow?

Borders Book Club has a great interview with Christopher Paolini, awesome behind the scenes book info, and a place to search for a Midnight Release Party here.

Barnes and Noble Midnight Release Parties can be found here.

And you should definitely check out my earlier post on Brisingr here.

Inkheart… Inkspell… Inkdeath

Inkheart and Inkspell are two of my faves—I love these books by Cornelia Funke. I’m nearly breathless waiting for the October 7th release of the final book Inkdeath.

Trust me.

Start now.

Read Inkheart.

Read Inkspell.

Hold your breath for Inkdeath.

Book Alert: The 7 Habits of Happy Kids

Boredom. Taking charge. Procrastination. Balance.

Journey with Pokey Porcupine, Jumper Rabbit, Sammy Squirrel, and their animal friends to learn valuable life lessons in Sean Covey’s new picture book The 7 Habits of Happy Kids.

Sean (yep, he’s Stephen Covey’s son) wrote the best-selling The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens and The 6 Most Important Decisions You’ll Ever Make: A Guide for Teens, too.

He also made a nice little video to tell you about his new book.

I’m not sure what this says about me, but I learn a lot from kids’ books. I think maybe they fill in holes from own childhood.

Anyhoo, this is on my Must Read List. Just thought you’d want to know.

I love it when reading is fun, but it’s even better when it grows something in me!

Book Alert: Good Design Can Change Your Life

I’m not a big t.v. watcher these days. Rather be reading ;0)

But… my fam and I do make it a point to watch Extreme Makeover: Home Edition on Sunday nights. Most of you probably know that Ty Pennington, the show’s host, has been a busy boy lately. His face seems to be everywhere.

Well, now he’s gone and written a book too. In his newly released, Good Design Can Change Your Life: Beautiful Rooms, Inspiring Stories Ty offers “low-cost, high-impact ideas,” personal stories, and stories from his show.

The kids can’t wait to check it out. Neither can I.

Who knew? Reading and decorating fun can go together!

Movie Alert: City of Ember

Read it. Watch it. Stay tuned for more reading fun.

Roald Dahl Day

Tomorrrow is Roald Dahl Day. Check out the site for Fun Activities and Downloads. There’s even more fun stuff here.

Seriously, what’s it take to get your own day? That sounds so cool!

Dubbed the most successful children’s writer in the world, Roald Dahl's stories have been translated into over 34 languages. His most popular books include The Twits, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach , Matilda, The Witches, and The BFG. See a complete list here.

Check out his official website. Is that chicken doing what I think it’s doing? Yikes!

This is just the excuse I needed to read tomorrow! Care to join me in some reading fun?

Remember. Always.

September 11, 2001

Geronimo Stilton Takes the Tube

Swiss-errific!

Our favorite mouse editor is headed for TV stardom! Slated for 2009, best-smelling (er… selling) Geronimo Stilton will star in a new animated television series.

Geronimo’s antics have thrilled readers worldwide (he even outsold Harry Potter in Italy—WOW!). Geronimo loves to write adventure stories but somehow his wild family always drags him into one.

These books are funny and so much more! Cheesy humor, awesome use of color and imagery, and fast paced adventure are sure to make them classics.

If you aren’t familiar with Geronimo’s books you can hear and read samples here. And play fun games here. Be sure to check the Funny Page archives too. Have a ton of reading fun!

The 39 Clues – The Hunt Has Begun

Scholastic is doing something new with The 39 Clues. Something a lot of people think is really big—an interactive adventure for 8-12 year olds filled with power, adventure, and mystery.

10 books. 350 collectible cards. Online gaming (with secret information!).

You can find clues, earn points, and compete for more than $100,000 in prizes. It starts today.

This sounds like reading fun—plus some!

Happy International Literacy Day!

Did you know today is International Literacy Day?

Now you do!

Here’s a link with fun reading ideas for kids.

Women Who Love Books Too Much

My mom found a book for me yesterday (yes, I have a mom ;0).

The title? Women Who Love Books Too Much.

Say it isn’t so, I thought. Too much?

Never.

Now, it’s true I have a room I’ve turned into a library, I pick up new books weekly, and my nose is buried between their pages whenever possible. But… too much?

Nooo.

I just went through my house on a bookhunt and realized there are books in every single room! Even my kids’ restroom. And the laundry room. I must admit, this does seem a little freaky… but I wouldn’t change a thing!

Reading changes us. It grows us. And reading is fun!!!

Turns out the book my mom found is about women obsessed with books, but it’s about women who gave it all to read and write. Women who made a difference. Women who were excessive… in a good way.

The bad news: it’s out of print. The good news? I’m about to let you in on a little secret.

Allbookstores.com. Check it out.

What’s a Wordle?

A Wordle indeed. Word lovers everywhere—check this out!

Enter your choice of words. Play with fonts, colors, and layouts. Make a picture out of words. This is soooo cool!

Save it for yourself or share it with others. Wordles are perfect for a wall. A school report. A birthday card. The opportunities are endless. Seriously.

Hey, this is reading and writing fun!

What Book Got You Hooked?

First Book is taking a vote. You’re invited to tell the whole world which book got you hooked on reading! The whole… wide… world, just imagine—they’re waiting to hear from you! Cool.

Barbara Park, Christopher Paolini, Eric Carle, Gary Paulsen, James Patterson, Kate DiCamillo, Lois Lowry, R.L. Stein and a boatload of other authors and famous people (and me too!) already voted and you can read about the books they love (Has anyone else read the book I voted for?).

Plus, you get to vote for one lucky state to win fifty thousand books! How much reading fun is that?!?

You can even vote every single day, but only until September 15th.

Happy Labor Day!

I hope you're having some reading fun!