Getting the Kids to Read
Summer Reading Programs
New Book Recommendations
Tips for Writers

How DO we get our kids to read more? With all the video games, television, and cell phones occupying most of our kids spare time, encouraging them to actually pick up a book is difficult. One thing that I can't stress enough is that kids need to have someone to read to them out loud. Start when your children are very young...it is surprising how much babies actually enjoy having someone read out loud to them. Make it a family ritual, and pick books that are about things that they are interested in and are exciting. Boring simply doesn't encourage interest in reading.

Kids like books about other kids that do the same things they do. Finding something that is funny, exciting, and relevant may take some research on your part. Take the children to the library and let them pick out their own books...there are so many to choose from. I give my grandchildren an Amazon gift card, and let them choose whatever they want from the huge selection of books available there.

Buying an electronic reading device for your child is an investment in their future....Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, Apple's I-Pad, or even their smart phone works great to add e-books of their choice.

Your public library will have a number of summer reading programs available...check with them and enroll your child. There are even some wonderful online programs....for instance, Scholastic is sponsoring a competitive reading program for kids. It looks like great fun. There are new book lists for every age in this program.

There is Barnes & Noble's Imagination Destination to spark your kid's interest....they offer a free book of your child's choice, and you don't have to buy the books your child reads for the competition from B&N...

Kid Pickers: How to Turn Junk into Treasure
by Mike Wolfe and Lily Sprengelmeyer
Fantasy, Science Fiction
Grade 3 up

If you like garage sales, this book will be a winner with your kids. Here is a contest where you can win a copy of it http://www.kidsreads.com

In the Shadow of Blackbirds
by Cat Winters
Ages 12 & UP

In 1918, Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as mourners flock to séances for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. She’s forced to rethink her way of looking at life and death, for her first love --- a boy who died in battle --- returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

The Laura Line
by Crystal Allen
Teen

Thirteen-year-old Laura Dyson wants two things in life: to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by ultra-cute baseball star Troy Bailey. But everyone at school makes fun of her and Troy won't give her a second glance. When Laura is forced to learn the history of the slave shack on her grandmother’s property for a school assignment, she discovers the self-esteem she’s been missing.

Chomp
by Carl Hiaasen

In three previous mysteries --- HOOT, FLUSH and SCAT --- Carl Hiaasen has offered young readers entertaining comic mysteries that combine environmental concerns and social issues with plenty of wacky laughs. Now, in CHOMP, he extends his winning streak with a funny novel that dives into the world of reality television.

Planet Tad
by Tim Carvell

Tad has an agenda: Survive seventh grade. He also wants to: grow a mustache, get girls to notice him, and do a kickflip on his skateboard. . . .But those are not the main reasons he started a blog. Tad just has a lot of important thoughts he wants to share with the world, like: Here is the first thing I have learned about having a dog in your house: Don't feed them nachos. Not ever.

Be sure to subscribe to the kidsreads.com newsletter...book recommendations, reviews.

And for the teen version of the newsletter, go to this site: http://www.teenreads.com/

TIPS FOR WRITERS:

Children's Book Insider is offering a free, no strings attached, e-book for aspiring writers.

Just go to this site and put in your email address.... http://cbiclubhouse.com/

Getting the Kids to Read
Summer Reading Programs
New Book Recommendations
Tips for Writers

How DO we get our kids to read more? With all the video games, television, and cell phones occupying most of our kids spare time, encouraging them to actually pick up a book is difficult. One thing that I can't stress enough is that kids need to have someone to read to them out loud. Start when your children are very young...it is surprising how much babies actually enjoy having someone read out loud to them. Make it a family ritual, and pick books that are about things that they are interested in and are exciting. Boring simply doesn't encourage interest in reading.

Kids like books about other kids that do the same things they do. Finding something that is funny, exciting, and relevant may take some research on your part. Take the children to the library and let them pick out their own books...there are so many to choose from. I give my grandchildren an Amazon gift card, and let them choose whatever they want from the huge selection of books available there.

Buying an electronic reading device for your child is an investment in their future....Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, Apple's I-Pad, or even their smart phone works great to add e-books of their choice.

Your public library will have a number of summer reading programs available...check with them and enroll your child. There are even some wonderful online programs....for instance, Scholastic is sponsoring a competitive reading program for kids. It looks like great fun. There are new book lists for every age in this program.

There is Barnes & Noble's Imagination Destination to spark your kid's interest....they offer a free book of your child's choice, and you don't have to buy the books your child reads for the competition from B&N...

Kid Pickers: How to Turn Junk into Treasure
by Mike Wolfe and Lily Sprengelmeyer
Fantasy, Science Fiction
Grade 3 up

If you like garage sales, this book will be a winner with your kids. Here is a contest where you can win a copy of it http://www.kidsreads.com

In the Shadow of Blackbirds
by Cat Winters
Ages 12 & UP

In 1918, Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as mourners flock to séances for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. She’s forced to rethink her way of looking at life and death, for her first love --- a boy who died in battle --- returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?

The Laura Line
by Crystal Allen
Teen

Thirteen-year-old Laura Dyson wants two things in life: to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by ultra-cute baseball star Troy Bailey. But everyone at school makes fun of her and Troy won't give her a second glance. When Laura is forced to learn the history of the slave shack on her grandmother’s property for a school assignment, she discovers the self-esteem she’s been missing.

Chomp
by Carl Hiaasen

In three previous mysteries --- HOOT, FLUSH and SCAT --- Carl Hiaasen has offered young readers entertaining comic mysteries that combine environmental concerns and social issues with plenty of wacky laughs. Now, in CHOMP, he extends his winning streak with a funny novel that dives into the world of reality television.

Planet Tad
by Tim Carvell

Tad has an agenda: Survive seventh grade. He also wants to: grow a mustache, get girls to notice him, and do a kickflip on his skateboard. . . .But those are not the main reasons he started a blog. Tad just has a lot of important thoughts he wants to share with the world, like: Here is the first thing I have learned about having a dog in your house: Don't feed them nachos. Not ever.

Be sure to subscribe to the kidsreads.com newsletter...book recommendations, reviews.

And for the teen version of the newsletter, go to this site: http://www.teenreads.com/

TIPS FOR WRITERS:

Children's Book Insider is offering a free, no strings attached, e-book for aspiring writers.

Just go to this site and put in your email address.... http://cbiclubhouse.com/