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

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!

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

The 25 Best Picture Books for Children

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

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!!!

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

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

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

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

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.