The Kidz Ink Link

Book2Movie Alert: The Tale of Despereaux

2008-12-19T08:26:00.000-08:00

Kate DeCamillo’s Newberry Award winning book, The Tale of Despereaux, hits the big screen today!

I’m hearing that in some ways it’s actually better than the book (I can’t believe it!) and in others it’s not as good (isn't that what I always say). I had so much fun reading the book, I’ll have to check it out for myself.

For more reading fun, be sure to read my previous post and visit The Tale of Despereaux movie website.

Enjoy the holidays. I'll see ya in January!

A Christmas Carol is Not Just Another Holiday Book

2008-12-18T08:21:00.000-08:00

A Christmas Carol was published on December 19, 1843. We’re still reading that baby 165 years later. That’s some book!

These days there’s a whole boatload of movies too.

Lots of people say this book changed the way we celebrate Christmas. The author, Charles Dickens, focused on the importance of family and the joy of giving.

Before A Christmas Carol there were no Christmas cards, no Christmas turkeys, no Christmas trees in homes, no Christmas lights, and no Christmas presents. Yeah, read this and think of Christmas in a new way. Be thankful in a new way.

I say that’s the ultimate in reading fun.

It’s All About the Gingerbread

2008-12-17T08:46:00.000-08:00

Christmas always reminds me of gingerbread houses. Play games here. Find out how to make one here.

Gingerbread houses always remind me of Hansel and Gretel. Find some fun books to read here.

Hansel and Gretel always remind me of… of… Huh. Hansel and Gretel remind me of gingerbread houses. Go figure.

Enter the Harper Holidays Sweepstakes!

2008-12-16T18:37:00.000-08:00

Lucky! Ten people will win a Holiday Gift Box of books from HarperCollins. The winners get to choose from six different prize packs. You can enter here.

Naturally, I’d pick the kids books. Cuz… hello… they’re the best!

You’ve got to be 18 years old to be eligible. So, if you’re not, find someone who is. The last day to enter is December 22nd. You can read the other rules here.

Elf Yourself for Free

2008-12-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

A dear friend sent this to my family last year—and I just can’t get enough!

Elf Yourself, courtesy of OfficeMax, is crazy fun! Create an emailable, dancing video of yourself and up to four of your friends and family.

When you get done laughing yourself silly and want to have more fun—go read some elf books.

National Poinsettia Day

2008-12-12T08:25:00.000-08:00

Apparently today is National Poinsettia Day. I don’t even know what to say about that.

Stop and smell the poinsettias?

Yeah, that’s it.

And while you’re at it… read for fun. Here’s the Best Books of 2008 list from The Horn Book.

And wouldn’t you know it, there are even a few poinsettia books for kids.

Book2DVD Alert: Horton Hears a Who!

2008-12-11T08:07:00.000-08:00

Yikes! I missed the release of Horton Hears a Who!

It’s out. Go get it!

And check out the website. There’s Fun and Games and Downloads and all sorts of cool stuff.

I must admit, I am a huge Dr. Seuss fan. He is quite possibly my favorite author.

So, I say after you watch the movie, you should read all his books. Just for fun!

Oh where, oh where has Cheri been?

2008-12-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

Lately, the Big Sur Children’s Writing Workshop, school, and Christmas have been getting more of my attention than this blog. I’m glad I put those things first, but I’m itchin to get back you all!

I’ll try to have a little something for you tomorrow.

Oooh. My Inkdeath review appeared on the Well-Read Child last Friday. That’ll keep you busy for a while.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard

2008-12-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

I think I said all there is to say about J.K.’s new book in my previous post.

I hope you pre-ordered. If you didn’t, quit waiting around—it’ll be in stores this Thursday. This is reading fun you definitely don’t want to miss!

Book2Movie Alert: Marley & Me

2008-12-01T08:39:00.000-08:00

John Grogan wrote Marley & Me about his real-life experience with a wild-and-crazy Labrador Retriever. Now there are a whole slew of Marley & Me books. One for every age group. You should definitely read at least one for fun!

And on Christmas Day there’ll be a movie too. It looks seriously funny.

And cute.

And wild!

And you’ll love it a lot more if you’ve already read the book.

Day After Thanksgiving

2008-11-28T07:25:00.000-08:00

It’s the day after Thanksgiving. I’m taking the day off.

Kickin back. Chillaxin.

And putting up my Christmas tree.

I’ll be back Monday.

See ya!

Cheri Williams’s Thanksgiving Advice

2008-11-27T08:42:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Here is my expert Thanksgiving advice:

Hang out with people you love.
And with people who love you.
Eat good food.
But not too much.
Be thankful.
Be thankful.
Be thankful.
And forget about football.
Read for fun!

Charles M. Schultz Birthday

2008-11-26T08:06:00.000-08:00

Charles Schulz, creator of Snoopy and the beloved Peanuts gang, would have been 86 today.

He was the most widely syndicated cartoonist ever. His work appeared in over 2,300 newspapers and he published more than 1400 books. He won both the Peabody and Emmy. Wow. What a legacy.

Read some fun Peanuts trivia and comic strips.

Thank you, Charles!

Christmas Countdown

2008-11-25T07:19:00.000-08:00

There’re 30 days til Christmas. And counting.

Do you have books on your Christmas list? Have you let the right people know about these books?

It’s time.

Make a list. Check it twice.

Be precise.

What are you waiting for?

Did you forget how to find fun books to read? Check my past posts here, here, here, and here.

People love to give books for gifts.

If you ask for books, I’m pretty sure you’ll get more presents ;0)

Book Alert: How to Talk to Girls

2008-11-24T08:49:00.000-08:00

How to Talk to Girls. Advice for boys of all ages to talk to girls they like. Advice like…

Comb your hair and don't wear sweats

Control your hyperness (cut down on the sugar if you have to), and

Don't act desperate

This picture book sounds like serious reading fun. But the reason I’m totally stoked is because the author, Alex Greven, is nine years old. Yep, you heard me right. Nine.

A nine-year old author.

Sweet.

Alex wrote the book for a school assignment. His teacher gave it to the principal who suggested he have it bound. Then Alex sold it at the school’s book fair, sent a copy to the local news station, and appeared on the news and the Ellen Degeneres Show. Now it’s been published by HarperCollins and is due in stores tomorrow. See the whole story here.

So, I just want to say—kids rock! When we follow our dreams, there’s no telling how far we can go.

But wait... there’s more. Alex also has two books coming out in the spring—How to Talk to Moms and How to Talk to Dads. And, he’s donating part of his earnings to Stand Up 2 Cancer.

This is a kid who’s following his heart and making a difference. What would your heart like to do? You can start now—whether you’re nine. Or ninety.

PW's Best Books of the Year

2008-11-21T07:32:00.000-08:00

Publishers Weekly, the leader in book news, just released their Best Books of 2008 list. You can read it here. The kids’ books are down at the bottom.

I gotta go. I’ve got some books to get! I’m gonna have me some reading fun!

Movie Alert: Disney’s Bolt

2008-11-20T08:30:00.000-08:00

Just a reminder.

Bolt.

In theatres.

Friday.

You still have time to read the book. It will make seeing the movie more fun. I promise. Read my previous post, and see the preview here.

DVD Alert: WALL-E

2008-11-19T07:20:00.000-08:00

At last we can get another dose of that irresistible robot WALL-E. I just love that guy! He’s cute, he’s fun, and he saves the world. What more can you ask for?

Read some books. Play some games. And watch that DVD!

If you missed my take on WALL-E, you can read it here.

Happy Birthday Mickey Mouse

2008-11-18T09:05:00.000-08:00

Mickey first hit the big screen in Steamboat Willie on November 18, 1928, so I figure that makes today his birthday. He seriously doesn’t look anywhere near 80 years old. Must be the cheese.

Read Mickey’s bio. Check out his website. Find the perfect Mickey books. Have some Mickey fun!

Book Alert: Burning Up: On Tour with the Jonas Brothers

2008-11-17T07:47:00.000-08:00

About the Jonas Brothers. By the Jonas Brothers. Available at a bookstore near you—today!

Kevin, Joe and Nick Jonas wrote the book themselves, and it includes never before seen pics. Some are from their Look Me in the Eyes tour. Others were taken during Hannah Montana & Miley Cyrus's Best of Both Worlds tour.

You don’t want to miss this. The inside scoop on the Jonas Brothers. With pictures.

Their website looks sweet, too.

2008-11-14T07:16:00.000-08:00

Today is National American Teddy Bear Day. Of course, this turns my thoughts to my favorite book bears (I’ll bet you knew it would!).

Winnie the Pooh. Paddington. Yogi. Smokey. Berenstain Bears. Bear of Karma Wilson picture-book fame. Brown Bear, Brown Bear. Little Bear. Goldilocks’s Three Bears. Brother Bear.

I love them all. They are so much fun! I think my all-time favorite must be Baloo.

How about you—who are your faves? Leave a comment below. Share the bear you have the most fun reading!

Create Your Own Comic Strip

2008-11-12T07:14:00.000-08:00

Do you love to read graphic novels? Comic strips? Good old-fashioned cartoons?

Check out MakeBeliefsComix.com and get creative! Choose from 15 fun characters. Make them talk and think. If you’re not sure where to start, ideas and prompts will get you going. English, Spanish, French, Italian, German and Latin are available—how fun is that?

When you’re done, you can print or email those babies!

Learn more about making and publishing your own comics here.

Celebrate Veteran’s Day

2008-11-11T08:12:00.000-08:00

Do you know that Veteran’s Day used to be called Armistice Day? Yep, it’s true.

First, the United States honored World War I veterans. Now, we pay our respects to all veterans. Great reading, and fun activities about Veteran’s Day, can be found at The United States Department of Veterans Affairs website.

I love this site! There’s Cool Facts About Veterans, About the Department of Veterans Affairs, About the Flag, and Games and Activities for Kindergarten to 5th graders.

For 6th to 12th graders, check out the Department of Veterans Affairs, About Veterans, History of the American flag, Origins of Taps, Lincoln Jigsaw Puzzle, Beat the Blocks, Drawing, and Word Jumble.

You can also read The Library of Congress stories of United States veterans here.

When you’re done, click here for Veteran’s Day Word Searches, a Veterans Day Quiz, a U.S. Military Quiz, and Star-Spangled Banner gap-fill fun!

World Kindness Week is November 10-16

2008-11-10T08:50:00.000-08:00

The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation encourages us. Be kind. Kindness can change the world.

Print the Kindness, Pass It On! Poster, and see how many acts of kindness you can do this week. Things like, Cheer Up a Friend, Leave a Thank You Note, and Open a Door. These area great ideas. And we don’t have to stop on Friday—we can do them all the time!

Crayola.com offers fun Coloring & Activities and Craft Ideas.

For Acts of Kindness reading fun, click here.

DVD Alert: Kung Fu Panda

2008-11-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

The Kung Fu Panda DVD releases on Sunday.

I saw the movie. I think you’ll like it.

But… you should read the books first. For fun!

This is not like having to eat vegetables before you get dessert. Not at all. These books are yummy!

Check out my previous post. It includes the preview and a link to the Official Website.

Letters About Literature

2008-11-06T07:27:00.000-08:00

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress in partnership with Target presents… Letters About Literature, a national reading and writing promotion program.

Whew. That’s a mouth full.

Translation? Here’s a chance for some reading, writing, and shopping fun!

This is the deal. You write a personal letter to an author explaining how his or her book affected you. You can win Target gift cards and a grant for your school.

Read the Participation Guidelines here. Some sample letters here. And Frequently Asked Questions here.

The deadline is December 6, 2008.

Movie Alert: Bolt

2008-11-05T09:41:00.000-08:00

Bolt, with John Travolta and Miley Cyrus, hits theatres November 21. Bolt believes his life on a television set is real. And that he has superpowers. When he accidentally gets shipped to New York City, the dynamic doggie must decide if he is a superdog or a superdud.

You know I think you should read the book before you see the movie. I’ll bet you know it too. The book is almost always better, plus you get to know what happens before anyone else! That is definitely reading fun!

Find out about Bolt: Junior Novel here.

Visit the Official Website for videos, photos, games, and downloads here.

Election Day

2008-11-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

Today is election day. Check out some cool books.

Movie Alert: Madagascar Escape 2 Africa

2008-11-03T07:30:00.000-08:00

Madagascar Escape 2 Africa is in theatres and IMAX on Friday. That still gives you plenty of time to read the book and check out the totally amazing website. There is a serious amount of fun to be had there. Seriously!

Daylight Savings Ends

2008-11-01T07:28:00.000-07:00

I do love a fun quiz. ;0)
Check out Trivia Quiz: Daylight Saving Time.

And, don’t forget to turn your clocks back tonight! This is totally cool. If you go to bed at 9 o’clock, you should reset your clock to 8 o’clock.

Woohoo—you just gained an extra hour for reading fun!

Happy Halloween!

2008-10-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

I’ve got a little treat for you. Well, two actually—no tricks here!

Halloween Trivia and a Pumpkin Carving Simulator.

Happy Halloween, my favorite reading for fun friends!

Project Gutenberg—The First Producer of Free Ebooks

2008-10-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

Free of charge. No cost. Gratis. On the house. Complimentary. FREE.

That’s how Project Gutenberg works. You can download over 100,000 books—and it won’t cost you a cent.

How do they do it?

Typically, the United States copyright on these books has expired, and they’ve become works of public domain. This means these books may be used freely by anyone!

Browse by Author, Title, The Top 100 Downloads, and more. Don’t miss out on this FREE reading fun!

DVD Alert: Journey to the Center of the Earth

2008-10-29T08:58:00.000-07:00

Three explorers. Adventure. Danger. A journey into the depths of Earth.

Jules Verne wrote Journey to the Center of the Earth, but many have re-written it. Pick up a copy today. Or download one here for free reading fun.

Other movie-related books are: Journey to the Center of the Earth: Movie Novel, What Hides Beneath the Earth, and Choose Your Own Journey.

Download a super-fun movie guide here.

Check out the Official Website here.

DVD Alert: Tinker Bell

2008-10-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

Tinker Bell has her own movie! And for the first time ever—she speaks! Travel to her home in Pixie Hollow and peak into her life before Peter Pan.

Check out the movie-related booksTinker Bell Junior Novel, In the Realm of the Never Fairies: Secret World of Pixie Hollow, and Tinker Bell Read-Aloud Storybook.

In the movie Tink discovers her talent for tinkering. The Tinker Bell Find Your Talent Activity Guide shows you how to find your talent, too.

And of course, to round out your reading fun… drop by DisneyFairies.com.

DVD Alert: Kit Kittredge: An American Girl

2008-10-27T07:05:00.000-07:00

Kit Kittredge: An American Girl comes to DVD tomorrow!

Read her books! Watch her movie! Check out her website! And my previous post!

Have some American Girl reading fun!

And be sure to check back tomorrow. It’s like book-to-DVD week around here!

Today Is Make A Difference Day

2008-10-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

Today Is Make A Difference Day: The National Day to Help Others.

How can you make a difference? Think about it… what makes you sad? Or excited?

Kids really can make a difference. Why not give it a try!

Here’s a list of biographies of kids who made a difference. You can too!

Movie Alert: High School Musical 3

2008-10-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

HSM3 is out tomorrow!

Check out the Official Site here and my previous post about the book here.

American Girl Says… Bye-Bye Samantha

2008-10-22T06:14:00.000-07:00

After 22 years, it’s time to say good-bye to American Girl’s Samantha Parkington. Her line of products will no longer be available. Waaah.

BUT there is some good news—her books will be.

Actually, there’s even more good news. Samantha will have two new books in the spring! The Cry of the Loon: A Samantha Mystery and the interactive book, Samantha's World.

The Tales of Beedle the Bard Contest

2008-10-21T11:19:00.001-07:00

You can visit J.K. Rowling. At the National Library of Scotland. She’ll even read her brand-new book The Tales of Beedle The Bard to you.

Say what?

It’s true. Five lucky winners (and their chaperones) will do just that!

How, you say.

Well… I’m glad you asked.

It’s simple. Write a 200-word essay explaining how you’ve helped others. See the Official Contest Rules here.

Not familiar with The Tales of Beedle The Bard? Read my previous post. Oooh. Check out the Harry Potter prequel, too!

And, if you win... say hi to J.K. for me!

Bestselling Children’s Fiction

2008-10-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Publishers Weekly says…

the bestselling children’s fiction books are…

Click here to see what your friends are reading for fun!

Black Poetry Day

2008-10-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Maya Angelou. Sterling A. Brown. Lucille Clifton. Toi Derricotte. Paul Laurence Dunbar. Jessie Redmon Fauset. Angelina W. Grimke. Jupiter Hammon. Langston Hughes. Claude McKay. Anne Spencer. Ntozake Shange. Natasha Trethewey.Margaret Walker. Phyliss Wheatley.

Read a poem in honor of Black Poetry Day.

Three Cheers for Cheerios and Spoonfuls of Stories

2008-10-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

Cheerios is at it again. For the seventh year in a row they’re putting five million specially sized books in Cheerios cereal boxes. For free. FIVE MILLION—that’s a whole lotta books!

Cheerios encourages kids to read AND is teaming with First Book to get brand-new books to low-income families.

This year’s books are: Duck for President, When Dinosaurs Came with Everything, Romeo and Lou Blast Off, Monkey and Me, and Diego’s Wolf Pup Rescue.

See the full article here.

Check out the Spoonfuls of Stories website here.

Check out the Cheerios for Kids website for reading fun, games, and downloads here.

Despereaux For All

2008-10-15T08:36:00.000-07:00

Get ready. This small hero with a big heart hits the big screen December 19th.

In the mean time, the Tale of Despereaux Movie Tie-In Junior Novelization is out!

So is The Tale of Despereaux : The Graphic Novel.

And, of course, there’s always the classic, the original, the one and only The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread. I give this book five blocks of cheese! Ha. That's like five stars for regular books ;0)

There are a bunch more Despereaux books too! Check them out for guaranteed reading fun!

Just Out… Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book

2008-10-14T17:28:00.000-07:00

Now you can have your own Wimpy Kid... ahem... journal! The Diary of a Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book is on shelves now!

Answer questions like:

“What was the best dream you ever had?”
“The worst thing you ever ate?”
“The best secret you ever heard?”
“The most trouble you ever got in for something that wasn’t even your fault to begin with?”

Filled with Greg and Rowley’s art and comics, plus plenty of ruled and blank pages for your own stuff, this book looks seriously cool. You can create your own reading fun!

Check out author/illustrator Jeff Kinney and the Official Diary of a Wimpy Kid Website.

And don’t miss Diary of a Wimpy Kid on funbrain.com.

Happy Columbus Day!

2008-10-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

Test your Columbus Day knowledge... if you dare!

The 25 Best Picture Books for Children

2008-10-09T09:58:00.000-07:00

Examiner.com listed The 25 Best Picture Books ever written.

“Best” according to them means we want to read the book over and over again, it stays in our hearts and minds, the words and pictures work together, and it uses language well.

They show the list countdown-style from number 25 through 1. I’ll cut to the chase… the top five Best Picture Books ever written are…

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper
Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
Sneetches and Other Stories by Dr. Seuss
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Great books indeed! I love every one of them still! Thank goodness, we’re never too old for picture books.

I think it’s interesting that all of these books are at least 45 years old. That says something for their timelessness.

Of course, there are great picture books being written today too. You can see a few of my faves here.

See the full Examiner article here.

I’d love to know… which picture books do you have fun reading? Share them with us in the comments section below!

More about Book Adventure

2008-10-07T07:01:00.000-07:00

A while back I told you about Book Adventure. Well… I’ve had a chance to check it out a little more. And... there’s more! This is the site that keeps on giving.

Check it out:

Kids Zone for Games, Tools, and Awards you can print yourself.

Book Finder to find books that you’ll love.

Five Finger Test to figure out if a book is too hard for you.

And don't forget about the prizes (Read "I told you" if you did).

Reading fun just got better!

Inkdeath is Out… Inkdeath is Out!!!

2008-10-06T08:35:00.000-07:00

An early release, yay!!!

I haven’t finished it yet (darn it), so I can’t say much. But, so far it’s goooo-ood! I took it to my daughter’s soccer game and drew a crowd! See... reading is fun and creates friendships.

I’ll be back with a full Inkdeath report—soon. Just wanted to let you know… run… do not walk… to the nearest book store!

Read a great Q&A With Cornelia Funke here. There is loads of fun info on her site!

The Inkheart movie, starring Brendan Fraser (you know... George of the Jungle), is due out January 23rd. Check out the preview—do you think it’s true to the book?

What! You haven’t read Inkheart?!?!? Aaaaaaaaaaaah! You know how I feel about this!

Get thee a copy. Quickly.

Seriously!

It’s awesome reading fun!!!

Movie Alert: Beverly Hills Chihuahua

2008-10-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Beverly Hills Chihuahua. Today is the day.

Check out the Official website here.

Check out the book here.

Catch a flick and have some reading fun!

Jumpstart's Read for the Record Campaign

2008-10-02T08:33:00.000-07:00

Here’s the deal. “Since 1993, Jumpstart has been working toward the day every child in America enters school prepared to succeed.”

Every year they encourage hundreds of thousands of kids and grownups to read the same book on the same day so people will know that helping young children read is important to overall education.

The book is Corduroy. The day is today! For some reading fun, find an event near you!

October is National Book Month

2008-10-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

October is National Book Month. Oh yeah! Woo hoo! Whatever does this mean?!?

The National Book Foundation encourages us to “celebrate the best of American Literature.”

Mm hm. We can do that!

What do you think… should we buy more books?
Build more bookcases?
Read in a new genre?
Different time period?
Should we spend more time reading?
Have a book party?
Read a classic?
Maybe we could do some research on the history of books?
Read and talk about a book with friends—like a book club?
Plan a Book Appreciation Party?

You know I like the idea of a party! The opportunities for reading fun seem endless…

The National Book Foundation wants to know—how will you celebrate? Send them an email here.

Surviving a Book-ectomy

2008-09-30T08:43:00.000-07:00

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…

2008-09-29T08:16:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-25T08:53:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-22T16:12:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-19T08:32:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-18T07:06:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-17T08:41:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-16T09:43:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-15T08:53:00.000-07:00

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

Roald Dahl Day

2008-09-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-09-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

Remember. Always.

September 11, 2001

Geronimo Stilton Takes the Tube

2008-09-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-09T10:09:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

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

2008-09-04T07:05:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-09-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

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?

2008-09-02T08:20:00.000-07:00

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!

2008-09-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

I hope you're having some reading fun!

Mini Tales From Massive Writers

2008-08-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

Short and sweet. Sometimes it’s good. Real good.

At bedtime.
In the car.
While waiting for an appointment.
In the bathroom (shhh, you didn’t hear that from me ;0)

Enter WOW 366: Speedy Stories In Just 366 Words

I mean... just the idea that they all have exactly 366 words makes me want to read it. Plus, this new short story anthology by Scholastic was written by famous authors from all over the world, and each makes suggestions for reading fun!

Hello! That’s what I’m talkin’ about.

P.S. I'm going on vacation, but I promise, I'll be back for more reading fun!

Disney’s Ultimate Broadway Sweepstakes

2008-08-19T10:20:00.000-07:00

What do The Little Mermaid, Mary Poppins, and The Lion King all have in common?

They’re all books, of course (and lots of reading fun!).

And, they’re all Broadway plays.

AND… Disney is giving away a trip for four to see them all in New York!

See the official rules on the site. The sweepstakes end August 31st.

Harry Potter Fans Grab Your Hankies!

2008-08-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

Big news for movie goers—Warner Brothers just announced that Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, previously scheduled for a November 21st release, is being pushed back to July 17th, 2009. That’s right… no Harry til June. Aaaaah!!! Eight additional months of agony.

This move has caused Twilight to move up from December 12th to November 21st.

I do my best to keep you up-to-date on the very latest… stay tuned for more reading fun!

Barring any breaking news, I’ll get back on the magazine topic tomorrow.

So Many Books… So Little Time

2008-08-15T20:29:00.000-07:00

Books
~ a poem by Arnold Lobel

Books to the ceiling.
Books to the sky.
My pile of books
Are a mile high.
How I love them!
How I need them!
I'll have a long beard
By the time I read them.

Two and a half million copies of Brisingr are headed to bookstores!

2008-08-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

Of magic and dragons...

"Eragon finds himself bound by a tangle of promises he may not be able to keep."

September 20th brings Christopher Paolini’s much-awaited third book in the best-selling Inheritance Cycle series to eager readers everywhere (yes… there will be midnight parties!).

You can read or listen to an excerpt of Eragon, the first book in this high fantasy series, here.

You can read or listen to an excerpt of Eldest, the second book, here.

You can read an excerpt from the third chapter of Brisingr here.

You can become a Fricaya Member and enter to win exclusive Inheritance prizes here.

You can sign up for the Alagaësia Newsletter and receive exclusive updates from Christopher regarding all things Inheritance here.

You can check out Eragon’s favorite books and music, read Christopher Paolini’s answers to fan questions, play an interactive fiction game, learn from the Eragon pronunciation guide, see which character you are most like, download a screensaver, and put your knowledge to the test here.

You can play the new, interactive online game Vroengard Academy here.

This should keep you busy for a while. Here’s to having reading fun!

Oprah’s Book Club

2008-08-13T08:25:00.000-07:00

After a great deal of influence in the adult book world, Oprah is now in the kids reading business, too. In partnership with the American Library Association, Oprah.com just released a Kids Reading List.

Search by five age groups or the classic category. A short summary of each recommendation is included, too. Plus, a picture of the book. I like that. Contrary to popular teaching you can actually tell quite a bit about a book by its cover.

But, that’s another story.

Check out the list and have some reading fun!

2nd Annual Cutest Cat and Kid Digital Photo Contest

2008-08-12T10:54:00.000-07:00

Meow! Simon and Schuster is giving away books. Oodles of books. Cat-themed books at that.

To be precise The Cat Fanciers' Association, Simon & Schuster Publishing, Iams, Dr. Elsey's, and PetSmart have joined paws to present the 2nd Annual Cutest Cat and Kid Digital Photo Contest. You can win cat-themed books and other cool cat stuff!

Basically, someone over 18 enters a digital pic of someone under 12 and a cat. See all the rules here.

Learn about cat breeds and colors, cat shows, cat careers, play fun cat games, and link to cool cat sites here.

This contest sounds purr-fect. And—like loads of reading fun!

Summer Games – Beijing, China 2008

2008-08-11T09:13:00.000-07:00

The TV rarely gets rest at our house these days. The Olympics are on and we are soaking it up (could that possibly be swimming humor? Hm.).

Time for Kids has a great site devoted to the Summer Olympics. With News, Fast Facts, Olympians Scoop, Photo Gallery, and Quick Quiz you won’t be disappointed.

Time has magazines for kids too. They’re targeted to teachers, but home subscriptions are available as well.

Take a dive (get it?) into the Olympics and reading fun!

Harry Potter Returns… Sort Of

2008-08-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

Good news for Harry Potter fans!

You probably remember that Dumbledore gave Hermione a book in Deathly Hallows. A book of five wizarding tales. Tales which contained clues critical to the destruction of You-Know-Who.

Well… drum roll please…

The Tales of Beedle the Bard will now be available to the rest of the world on December 4th!!!

The book will include all five wizarding fairy tales (only one - The Tale of the Three Brothers - is told in Deathly Hallows), AND introduction and illustrations by J.K. Rowling (who knew she can draw too!), AND commentary and previously unrecorded historical backstory by none other than Albus himself.

Pretty sure J.K. has another hit on her hands.

You can see pictures of the original book created here, pre-order here, and read Amazon’s exclusive interview with J.K. here.

J.K. always makes reading fun!

Magazines Teach Health, Nutrition, Safety, and Exercise Fundamentals

2008-08-06T09:52:00.000-07:00

The Children’s Better Health Institute publishes award-winning magazines you may not have heard of. Their purpose is “to encourage children of all races and cultures to strive for excellence in the areas of academics, personal fitness, medicine, and science.”

And… they make it FUN!!!

Turtle Magazine “offers colorful and entertaining stories, poems, and rebuses” to preschool children.”

Humpty Dumpty “keeps four to six year olds growing and healthy bodies moving.”

Children’s Playmate has “fun activities, stories, and recipes that promote healthy habits” for six to eight year olds.

Jack and Jill “ features profiles of regular kids doing extraordinary things” (ages seven to ten).

Children’s Digest “features up-to-date reviews of books and CD-ROMS” for nine to twelve year olds.

Check out the 2008 Cover Contest featured on each website–kids get a shot at illustrating a cover!

Cool. And definitely reading fun!

Christian Magazines for All Ages

2008-08-05T10:13:00.000-07:00

Back on the magazine front... Focus on the Family has Christian magazines for every age group. Each magazine has a totally awesome, age-appropriate website too!

Stories. Crafts. Movie Reviews. Contests. What’s New. Entertainment. Health and Beauty. Spiritual Health. Too Funny. Mail Bonding. Music. Sports. You want it—Focus has it!

Check ‘em out:

Clubhouse Jr. – “Faith-filled fun for youngsters. Creative stories, fascinating articles, puzzles, craft ideas and more are packed into each issue.”

Clubhouse - “This magazine for kids reinforces traditional values and promotes family closeness with hands-on activities, challenging puzzles and exciting stories.”

Brio – “Packed with feature articles and stories that encourage teen girls 13-16 to make godly choices.”

Brio and Beyond - “Not only will your daughter find articles that'll strengthen her faith, each issue is packed with great reading about everything from fashion and food to fitness and fun things to do.”

Breakaway - The magazine for Christian teen boys. Honest answers about the issues that concern you the most.”

There you have it, loads of Christian reading fun!

Time Paradox

2008-08-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

I have a confession to make. Big. Huge. Like… really large.

I haven’t read Artemis Fowl.

Not one. Ever. I mean never.

*Sigh*

I want to. Really, I do. I just haven’t gotten there yet.

But I thought you should know (assuming you’re over the age of 12)… the teenage criminal mastermind strikes again. Book six, The Time Paradox, is on shelves now.

I hear that Artemis really is reading fun. I hope letting you know about his latest book redeems me. Just a little bit.

Check out Eoin Colfer’s site (it’s pronounced Owen). The Artemis Fowl site. And the Artemis Fowl graphic novel.

Whew. I feel better. ;0)

Cricket Magazine Group

2008-07-31T10:36:00.000-07:00

Cricket Magazine Group has magazines for everyone! From babies to teens.

Babybug. Ladybug. Click. Appleseeds. Ask. Spider. Cricket. Dig. Cobblestone. Muse. Faces. Calliope. Oddyssey. Cicada.

Those are ALL magazines! Maybe there's one that's just right for you! Check out samples here.

Highlights Highlights

2008-07-30T08:26:00.000-07:00

I think it’s safe to say that Highlights is the big-daddy of kids’ magazines. They’ve been at it for over 60 years and have two-million-plus subscribers. And after all these years they’ve still got it goin’ on. Check out a sample issue.

But wait… there’s more!

The younger set is now in luck too! Highlights High Five has been created for two to six year olds (although older siblings and parents are sure to enjoy it). With read-aloud stories, Hidden Pictures, poems, activities, and puzzles this mag is sure to please. Sneak a peak here.

Highlights also has awesome, free email newsletters! They’ll send a free Hidden Picture each month, crafts, stories, discounts—you pick what you want them to send. Sweet.

Highlightskids.com rocks too. With the Game of the Week, Mystery Photos, crafts podcasts, and more. All the fun normally get from Highlights—check it out.

Reading—Fun With a Purpose

Magazine Reading

2008-07-29T13:12:00.000-07:00

I’ve just been remembering the joy of magazine reading. When I was younger I had a subscription to Disneyland Magazine: “All-new stories with favorite Walt Disney characters… for Beginning Readers.” Every Tuesday I waited breathless and all hopped-up at the front door window. I think I left drool marks like our Basset Hound.

The mailman delivered my weekly bounty—fresh off the press and custom-created-for-me (well, it seemed like it). Week in and week out I poured over the colorful pages. There were comic-book-like stories, coloring pages, dot-to-dot, mazes, hidden object pictures, and more—all with my favorite Disney friends.

Disneyland Magazine was definitely one of my best early reading experiences—I loved it! As I’ve searched for magazines for my own kids, I’ve realized there are loads of them out there that most of us have never even heard of. Good magazines that are sure to delight even the most finicky reader. Magazines tailor-made for every appetite.

Magazines are definitely reading fun!

Stay tuned… I’ll hook you up.

Smithsonian—More Than a Museum

2008-07-25T13:37:00.000-07:00

Walk on the moon. Build a light bulb. Stake your claim on the great American prairie.

Create a sculpture. Be a spy and read satellite photos. See a skeleton walk.

Check out the Smithsonian website for lots of fun, games, and downloadable activity sheets.

Learn how to play Hnefatafl.

Hnefatafl? Oh, come on… you’ve got to check this out! Click here—and here.

Chronicles of Narnia Giveaway

2008-07-23T19:34:00.000-07:00

Aaaah! Tomorrow’s the last day to enter The Narnia Sweepstakes.

HarperCollins is giving away awesome Narnia stuff.

Check this out:

“Each winner will receive a copy of the new interactive gift edition, Narnia Chronology: From the Archives of the Last King; The Chronicles of Narnia Pop-up by Robert Sabuda; The Return to Narnia: The Rescue of Prince Caspian, illustrated by Matthew Armstrong; and The Chronicles of Narnia Box Set, which includes all seven books in the series and features cover illustrations by three-time Caldecott Medal–winning artist David Wiesner.”

Hurry! Quick! Enter here.

Plus, there’s games, an interactive timeline, and audiobook samples. You can even download a Narnia widget—now, that’s reading fun!

Cooking by the Book

2008-07-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

It seems a few other people have been thinking along the same lines as I have. Wouldn’t you know it—there are already whole cookbooks with recipes from books.

Check’em out and have some reading fun!

Literary Smorgasbord or Book Buffet?

2008-07-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

Summer still has me in par-ty-mode! I’m thinking a Literary Banquet would be fun. We could plan a whole meal or dessert around food from our favorite books.

Sam-I-Am has Green Eggs and Ham.

Charlie has a factory of chocolate delicacies.

Harry delights in Pumpkin Pasties, Licorice Wands, and Butterbeer (no, there’s not really beer in there).

Edmund is tempted by Narnia's Turkish Delight.

Mmm. Reading and food fun! How many food dishes from books can you think of?

Beyond the Deepwoods

2008-07-18T11:22:00.000-07:00

At about one o’clock this morning I finished my latest read, the first book in The Edge Chronicles series: Beyond the Deepwoods.

Twig, a thirteen-year-old boy, was abandoned at birth and raised by woodtrolls. His mom is afraid the sky pirates will kidnap him so she sends Twig to live with an uncle. Twig doesn’t make it though. He does what woodtrolls never do—he strays from the path.

So begins this non-stop adventure! Bizarre creatures—hammelhorns, flat-heads, shrykes, nightwaifs, wig wigs, and more bring danger and intrigue at a breakneck pace. The beloved banderbear. The ever-watchful Caterbird. The evil Gloamglozer. Twig meets them all on his journey through the deepwoods.

Rocks float and trees eat people; British co-authors, Paul Stewart and Chris Riddel have co-created a completely new world—the line drawings bring amazing detail, further drawing the reader in.

This book is recommended for nine to twelve-year-olds, but I would say that those ahem, somewhat older will appreciate it too. I’ve already ordered Stormchaser, the second book!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to the young lady at Barnes and Noble who made the recommendation!

Check out the Edge of Chronicles website, too. It’s awesome! Beyond the Deepwoods is definitely reading fun!

Christmas in July

2008-07-17T10:13:00.000-07:00

Tuesday’s post made me think of a fun game our family plays at Christmas. Actually, it’s the way we exchange gifts when we get together with all the aunts, uncles, and cousins. I’m thinking we change it up a little and make it a Summer Book Bash!

First, send out invitations to your Summer Book Bash.

Ask your friends to shop for a new book that they would love to read.

Have them wrap it and bring it to the party.

Place all the wrapped books in a pile.

Fill a bowl with little pieces of paper with numbers (You need a number for every person) and have each person draw a number.

Now comes the really fun part! Number one picks a book, unwraps it, and shows it to all the guests.

Number two goes next. They can either pick from the pile, OR they can choose the already opened book from number one. If they pick the book number one opened, then they choose another book from the pile and number one gets to open again!

Each person takes their turn, either choosing a book that has already been opened or one from the present pile.

The last person can take any opened present or the last one from the pile.

We usually say a present can only be stolen three times, but you can make any rules you want, as long as everyone understands them at the beginning.

Make sure you remind everyone at the beginning that they might not end up with the first book they open!

Christmas in July—this definitely sounds like reading fun!

Book Exchange Party

2008-07-15T09:51:00.000-07:00

Looking for more fun books to read this summer?

Looking for an excuse to have a few friends over?

Why not plan a book exchange?

Yeah, invite a bunch of friends over for a summer book exchange. Have each person bring five books (or however many you agree on) they want to trade. Set up a table or area to display the books. Then play games and let the winner pick a book. Or give out fake money and have an auction. Or pick your own fun idea to swap books.

Maybe you could even go to Michaels and get plain canvas totes to paint and make individual, customized book bags!

New books. No money required. A party with friends. This definitely sounds like reading fun!

What other ideas can you come up with?

New Seekers Series

2008-07-14T23:59:00.000-07:00

Erin Hunter, the author of the Warriors books, has a new series. Seekers: The Quest Begins is about bears and the reviews are mixed. They range between “I love this book” and “seems quite relentless and brutal.” Check out the Amazon reviews here.

HarperCollins is giving ten lucky winners a free autographed copy. Free is fun! Enter the contest here.

Harry Potter Readers Speak

2008-07-11T12:03:00.000-07:00

According to the 2008 Kids and Family Reading Report:

74% say of Harry Potter readers say reading Harry has made them “more interested in reading other books.”

69% say they, “Harry Potter books are my favorite books.”

70% say they are “‘very’ interested in re-reading Harry Potter books.”

66% of their parents say, “Reading Harry Potter has helped my child in school.”

Whoa... Harry Potter is like brain food!

Okay, maybe that’s a stretch, but they sure make reading fun! I just re-read The Sorcerer’s Stone. It’s the first time I’ve read a book more than once—ever! My plan is to re-read all seven before Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince comes to theatres November 11th.

It’s a good plan. Care to join me?

Here's a sneak peak...

Get Healthy—Have Fun

2008-07-09T22:31:00.000-07:00

I’m loving all the fresh fruits and veggies that are in season right now. It’s so much easier to make better food choices in the summer.

This got me thinking about feeling good and being healthy. When we eat right and exercise, we have a lot more energy to do fun things.

And you know I like to do fun things!!!

So... I found some fun games:

At the YouthZone you can build a healthy kid, help a mad scientist put Frankenstein back together, go on a food safari, and play with an interactive crossword puzzle. You can even have a food fight.

Nutrition Exploration has a World of Activities: Fueled for Fun, Little D the Draon, Arianna and Marcus, Monster Nutrition, and Shopping List. There are even jokes.

You probably guessed… there are some cool books on nutrition, too!

Win James Patterson’s Newest Book

2008-07-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

James Patterson’s newest book, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X, isn’t due in stores until July 21st, but you can win a copy for FREE now!

“James Patterson's exciting new series is full of high wish-fulfillment fantasy, humor, and of course, all of the suspense that Patterson fans have come to expect--only this time, it's literally out of this world.” Read an excerpt here.

Enter the JamesPatterson.com Sweepstakes by signing up for the JP newsletter. You get entered in the contest and get the scoop on exclusive contests and content. Stuff like advance chapters of upcoming books, contests and special offers, the latest movie news, and James Patterson appearances.

Sweet.

Barnes and Noble Gives Books Away—For FREE

2008-07-07T21:40:00.000-07:00

Summer Reading with Andrew Clements is on!

This is the deal for first through sixth graders...

Read eight books of their choosing
Print out the Summer Reading Journal
Tell about their favorite part of the books they listed
Do four fun activities (they really do look fun)
Get it all signed by a parent
Take it to a Barnes and Noble by September 2nd

The free book list isn’t on the site, but I was in the store the other day and there were some AWESOME choices. A nice selection of classics, award-winners, and new releases. Check out the rules here.

Don’t miss out on this one! I’m bummed; I’m too old to participate ;0(

Oh! When you turn in your Summer Reading Journal and get your FREE book, you are automatically entered in a drawing for an autographed copy of an Andrew Clements book. There’s an exclusive interview with him under the rules section and a store locater on the right. It just keeps getting better!

Seriously. I’m sooo jealous.

Independence Day

2008-07-04T13:46:00.000-07:00

Happy 4th!