Children's Books

How many 7th Graders can say they best selling authors? Well this group of kids from Woodlawn Beach Middle School in Northern Florida can thanks to their teacher Andrea Santilli and iBooks Author. Ms. Santilli, a self-professed “die-hard Mac girl”, was looking for a new way to not only challenge her Advanced Life Sciences class, [...]Related StoriesBluetooth Remote For Your iPhone Isn’t As Dumb As It SeemsSlateSHIELD, A Clipboard-Like Case For...  

Students from Becky Tyson’s first grade class may have just mastered their spelling and grammar, but they can already add published author to their list of accomplishments for the year. The class at Carolina Forest Elementary recently penned “My Most ...  

When 2012 rolled around, Andrea Santilli, a teacher at Woodlawn Beach Middle School in Gulf Breeze, Florida, wanted to find a new way to challenge her 7th grade Advanced Life Science students. She wanted to help thems develop relevant lifelong skills in addition to their regular studies, so Santilli set out on a unique quest."I wanted to give them the opportunity to be published so they could use this as part of their academic resume and to...  

With very few school days left, Washington-Wilkes Middle School students are still working hard to complete all of their work before the school year ends. Students took the Gates MacGinite reading test on May 3 to determine reading levels. Final Exams for all courses are scheduled for May 14 and May 15. Honors Night for middle school students will be held on May 15.read more  

The grant will be used to purchase children's phonics books and ... and programs that support the development of an individual's full potential. The collection available to users offers timely and useful recorded knowledge having literary, artistic ...  

Because the academy used inspirational proverbs and quotes as a teaching method, Relford added a quote from Marian Wright Edelman, founder of the Children's Defense Fund, to Blanton's book: "The question is not whether we can afford to invest in ...  

BOGOTA - Since March, the Bogota Public Library has been offering a dozen second grade students an opportunity through a monthly book club to read beyond the classroom. "What we’re doing is reading the ‘Magic Tree House’ series by Mary Pope Osborne.  

Third graders at Cold Spring School are trying to raise over $5000 for their Activists for Animals event on June 1st, 2012 at the Project Fine Art Zone Gallery in downtown Santa Barbara. This event will feature books and local artists’ pieces ...  

Macias, the captain and tallest member of the team, wears a bright pink mouse costume made out of thermal underwear and duct tape. Their set’s backdrop is a six-foot tall book that allows them to change scenes by turning the pages. Every part of the ...  

To donate: Give during Monday night's concert, or visit The Prouty Ride at www.theprouty.org (look for the "Wheelie Warriors" link), and The Crane Project at www.facebook.com/TheCraneProject (look for 1 Girl, 1 Grandpa, 1 Wish) There is a ...  

Anna Cowart and Sherry Braswell's first grade class at Twin City Elementary school are illustrators and authors of a class book titled "Did You Know?” The students wrote an informational paragraph about a topic of their choice and interest.  

During the spring and summer we tend to spend much more time outdoors, so it's a good time to share children's poetry books about nature - birds and other animals, plants and more. An Egret's Day by Jane Yolen is illustrated with striking photography by Jason Stemple. Each poem is accompanied by one or more photographs, along with additional information about the Great Egret. Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, with...  

Younger readers love unraveling a mystery as much as anyone – but how do you find an  thriller that's appropriate for a middle-grade reader? Here are five children's mysteries nominated in the Best Juvenile category for the 2012 Edgar Awards . These engaging stories are aimed at readers in the 8-12-year-old range.  

Today is D.E.A.R. Day, a celebration of reading that is held annually on April 12. That date was chosen in honor of author Beverly Cleary's birthday. For several generations, Beverly Cleary has delighted young readers, particularly 8-12 year olds, with her humorous, yet realistic, stories about the ordinary lives of children. Her popular young characters include Henry Huggins, Ramona Quimby and her older sister, Beatrice "Beezus" Quimby...  

One of the benefits of National Autism Awareness Month is the number of resources that are available at bookstores each April. That's how I found Ian's Walk: A Story About Autism, a picture book that I recommend for children ages 6-10. The author, Laurie Lears, and the illustrator, Karen Ritz, do a good job of showing what it is like to be an autistic child and what it is like to be an autistic child's sibling. Other Autism Resources...  

Easter picture books and board books make a nice addition to children's Easter baskets. For example, I recommend Jan Brett's picture book The Easter Egg for children ages 3 to 6. It's about a bunny named Hoppi, an Easter egg decorating contest, kindness and a surprising outcome. For more recommended Easter books, see Best Easter Picture Books and Easter Board Books for Little Ones. Another excellent seasonal book is the recently published...  

Whether you celebrate the Jewish holiday Passover or just want your children to learn more about it, I recommend the children's nonfiction picture book Celebrate Passover, which is part of the National Geographic Society's Holidays Around the World series. Other recommended Children's Books about Passover include Passover: Celebrating Now Remembering Then and Wonders and Miracles: A Passover Companion. (Cover art courtesy of the National...  

If you child is a beginning reader who is ready for entertaining stories that have a limited vocabulary, I have a terrific series to recommend. The Elephant and Piggie Books by award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems are so much fun. Read all about the Elephant and Piggie Books and, then, read the book review of I Broke My Trunk by our newest reviewer, librarian Nancy Snyder. (Cover art courtesy of Hyperion Books for Children...  

When Harry Potter series author J. K. Rowling announced her new Web site, Pottermore.com (What's Pottermore?), she also announced that eBooks would be available exclusively through the Pottermore Shop sometime in 2012. Well, that time is here! While the Pottermore site is still finishing up its beta testing, the Pottermore Shop is now open and selling Harry Potter eBooks and digital audio books. As of March 27, 2012, the eBooks are available...  

Celebrate National Library Week with a trip to the public library and some special children's books. As I've mentioned before, I'm convinced that one of the best gifts you can give your child is a library card and a weekly trip to the library to borrow books. Libraries and librarians can have a tremendous impact on individuals and communities. In these tough economic times, you can also save money at your public library. Here are some...  

You have probably seen some of the Get Caught Reading posters featuring animated and real celebrities, but what do you know about Get Caught Reading? Check out the Get Caught Reading FAQs to learn more about this literacy initiative. What I particularly like about Get Caught Reading is its emphasis on reading for the fun of it. For other related May activities and events, see my May Calendar of Children's Books. For tips on encouraging...  

First Book Canada is distributing 48-thousand new books to children in need, in communities right across Manitoba. The company is a registered charity that distributes books to children from low income families right across the country. The books come directly from publishers.  

What are the current trends in children's literature for 2012? To find out, I interviewed Mary Fellows, President of the Association for Library Service to Children, which is a division of the ALA. Since ALSC provides services for babies-14 year olds and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) provides services for kids within the 12-18 age range who are reading young adult books (also known as books for teens), if you have...  

For more than a dozen good children's poetry books for National Poetry Month (and year round), see 12+ Recommended Poetry Books for Kids. First on my list is Dark Emperor & Other Poems of the Night by Joyce Sidman, with illustrations by Rick Allen. Dark Emperor is a stunning combination of poetry, art and science. It includes poems about nocturnal animals, dramatic relief prints illustrating each poem and additional science information about...  

It's not only National Poetry Month, it's also Young People's Poetry Week. If your kids love to perform for family and friends, have them celebrate with their own special poetry performance using these children's books of poems for two or more voices. Performing the poems is a great way for children 8-14 to learn to enjoy the spoken word and to gain fluency in reading aloud. I recommend starting with You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very...  

Don't just celebrate National Poetry Month by sharing poetry with your kids; encourage them to write their own poetry. If your tweens or young teens (grades 4-5 and middle school) are interested in writing poetry, I have two books by author and poet Ralph Fletcher to recommend. Poetry Matters: Writing a Poem from the Inside Out and A Writing Kind of Day: Poems for Young Poets are both excellent resources for 8-14 year olds who are interested...  

Mumbai, May 28 -- Two weeks ago, Mansi Karandutkar, 10, was engrossed in reading the Adventures of Pinocchio. To help her understand the book better, a 'reader' dropped in at her Borivli home. "The reader explained the book in an animated way and helped me relate to the fun and mischief that Pinocchio did. I was in a dream world," said Karandutkar.The 'reader' was provided by 'Book Buddies', a ...  

Sunday, we celebrate Earth Day. See Popular Characters Celebrate Earth Day and the Environment for several recommended picture books and beginning reader books for children ages 2-8. Older children and young teens will appreciate Kakapo Rescue: Saving the World's Strangest Parrot, a fascinating nonfiction book, which is part of the excellent Scientists in the Field series. One of the most popular children's books about caring for the...  

Because of all the holidays and events in April and the many excellent children's books related to them, you'll find lots of resources on my April 2012 Calendar of Children's Books. Included are children's poetry books for National Poetry Month and Young People's Poetry Week, books about libraries and librarians for National Library Week, books about the environment for Earth Day, children's books about Easter and Passover, and much more...  

The movie version of the best-selling book The Hunger Games, Book One in the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins, is breaking all kinds of attendance records. It's been interesting to read about how adults and kids feel about the book and how they feel the movie compares with the book. Find out what others think and share your own responses to the following questions: Readers Respond: What do you think of The Hunger Games, Book One in...  

It's been TV-Turnoff Week and Turnoff Week. Now it's called Screen-Free Week, and the goal keeps expanding. From Monday, April 30, to Sunday, May 6, families across the United States are encouraged to not only turn off the TV, but all electronic media, including computers, electronic game systems, iPads, etc. and enjoy other activities. Are you wondering, "What does Screen-Free Week have to do with children's books?" You may be surprised at...  

Since it's National Poetry Month, it seems appropriate to feature a novel in verse. Thanhha Lai won the 2011 National Book Award for Young People's Literature for her novel Inside and Out & Back Again. Using poetry that children's book blogger and reviewer Melissa Fox calls "gorgeous in its simplicity," Lai tell a story based on her own childhood, first as a 10 year old in war-torn Vietnam and, then, as a new arrival in the United States...  

If you are looking for a thought-provoking young adult book for your teenager, consider The Giver by Lois Lowry. Lowry who was awarded the 1990 John Newbery Medal for Number the Stars, middle grade fiction about the Holocaust, was awarded the 1994 John Newbery Medal for The Giver. While this novel about a utopian society has won praise and multiple awards, it has also been condemned for the way it treats suicide and euthanasia and has been...  

Today, volunteers across the United States are giving away 500,000 free books as part of World Book Night, an initiative that began in the UK in 2011 and is being celebrated there today, as well. The purpose of World Book Night is to spread the love of reading and to promote the value of reading, books, bookstores and libraries. It's thanks to a large number of sponsors, including UPS, 17 printing and paper companies and two dozen publishers...  

If you are looking for special Mother's Day gifts for a mother or grandmother who enjoys children's books, see my list of children's books that make good Mother's Day gifts. It includes a number of children's picture books, plus one book of quotations from children's books. For example, Pieces: A Year in Poems and Quilts is an excellent gift for a woman who quilts. Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers, a book of poetry by Latino poets, will...  

Did you know that April 30th is the 16th anniversary of Children's Day / Book Day, also known as Dia? According to ALSC (What's ALSC?), "El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day) is a celebration every day of children, families, and reading that culminates yearly on April 30." (Source: Dia Web site) Download the Dia reading list of children's books for recommended books in a number of languages in addition to English...  

Although it is much more serious than most of his other picture books, The Lorax by Dr. Seuss is one of my Favorite Picture Books and Beginning Readers by Dr. Seuss. This story of the impact that unbridled greed can have on the environment is not only a story kids enjoy because of Seuss's storytelling skills, it is also one parents and teachers can use to emphasize the importance of individual responsibility in caring for the environment...  

If you are looking for excellent informational books for your kids, particularly tweens and young teens, I recommend the Robert F. Sibert Medal winner and Honor books. The 2012 Sibert award winners include Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy's Parade, the 2012 Sibert Medal winner, which was written and illustrated by Melissa Sweet. Unlike the Honor books, this book will appeal to very young children as well as...  

It's Children's Book Week (May 7-13). Here are some ways to celebrate: Take your kids to one or more of the Children's Book Week children's programs at your local public library. Learn about all of the ways you can save money at your public library. If you don't already read aloud to your child every day, start doing it as part of your family's Children's Book Week celebration. Get ready for a summer of reading by checking with your child...  

In May, we celebrate several children's book-related events. If you are looking for resources for Latino Books Month, you need to know about the Pura Belpré Award, which honors Latina and Latino authors and illustrators. Among the children's books that have been honored are the picture books Book Fiesta! and The Storyteller's Candle and the novel The Dreamer. Read about this year's winners at 2012 Pura Belpre Award Winners. (Cover art...  

If your teens are fans of dystopian novels, they may have already read Delirium, the first book in Lauren Oliver's trilogy. Learn more about the author and her books by reading teen librarian Jennifer Kendall's interview with Lauren Oliver. For more recommended books, see Dystopian Novels for Teens: A Top Picks List. (Photo of Lauren Oliver courtesy of HarperCollins) Subscribe to my newsletter | Follow me on Twitter | Connect with me on...  

While I still think the children's picture book Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss makes a great graduation gift for a high school or college graduate, there are some other children's books that I also really like. Other children's books that make good graduation gifts include: Pete the Cat and the Four Groovy Buttons, Only One You, Zoom and Henry Hikes to Fitchburg. Each of these books makes some good points about life, but because...  

After children's author Jean Craighead George revealed that she wanted to write a book about a girl who talks with wolves, legendary book editor Ursula Nordstrom reportedly asked one question - will it be accurate? - and most certainly knew the answer.  

I was sorry to hear about the death of artist and illustrator Maurice Sendak. His picture books not only brought joy to generations of children, but they also had a profound effect on the field of children's literature. Did you know that author and illustrator Brian Selznick dedicated his recent book Wonderstruck to Maurice Sendak because of the influence Sendak's Where the Wild Things Are had on his work? For more about Sendak, read my...  

The Book of Live Wires This week we're talking to award winning and abundantly talented teacher, author, and activist Gayle Brandeis about her latest, The Book of Live Wires The Next Full Moon TMM talks to bon vivant, famous authoress, and occasional mermaid Carolyn Turgeon about her new novel...  

Sprucing things up! Hipmama is doing some remodeling. We're gonna look funny for a bit, but we figure it's better to look funny than not be here. :) We've recently upgraded our software; if you find a bug, please report it. Thank you! The Book of Live Wires This week we're talking to award winning and abundantly...  

CLARK — The students in Nicole Reagan’s second grade ... Pictured from top left: Jon Spricigo, Caitlyn Hessler, Matthew Costeira, Christopher Warnick, Nicolas Ricci, Joshua Pilecki, Allison Hannah, Angel Acosta-Feeley, Alexa Grasso.  

The Start-up of YOU, co-written by the cofounder of LinkedIn, will help you invest in your future, help you think like an entrepreneur and help you master the art of networking. The book is well worth both the time and monetary investment.  

NORWALK, CT-- - What started as a class for kids, has grown into a series of popular workshops and seminars for adults; and now a new book called Warrior of Life: A Guide to Self-Transformation, gives ...  

Wearing shorts, a T-shirt, a traditional krama scarf and a palm leaf hat, a Cambodian cowboy takes a break from caring for his bulls to guide children through the Angkor temple complex.  

This week we're talking to award winning and abundantly talented teacher, author, and activist Gayle Brandeis about her latest, The Book of Live Wires read more  

Project Bookworm has started at the Siouxland Libraries. Four branches are collecting gently used children's books to give to those in need.  

Northside Primary School held a Children’s Book Character Parade in honor of Children’s Book Week May 7-11. Media Specialist Tracey Dicks  

NEW YORK, N.Y. - Actress Garcelle Beauvais is planning to share life lessons through a series of children's books.  

Alltel Wireless donated $500 to the Coshocton Public Library to help fund the cost of new children's books.  

The Tri-County United Way is seeking donations of children’s books to replenish its Red Bookshelf Program.  

MIAMI (AP) Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat is becoming an author.  

Readers respond to recent reviews of children’s books.