All About Books!

Summer is the time for books. There’s nothing like buying a best seller to pack in your beach bag or downloading an audiobook to listen to as you travel. With that in mind, this week I’m sharing freebies related to books and reading!

Which of these resources will you use? Submit a comment to our blog by midnight EDT on Monday, July 12, 2010; you’ll be entered into a drawing to win a new book from Candlewick Press. A Family of Readers: The Book Lover’s Guide to Children’s and Young Adult Literature provides a wealth of information on reading to kids, reading with them, and putting them on the path to reading on their own. The book won’t be released until September, but I’ll send you the advance copy that I received in the mail today. Post your comment right now! (Update: Congratulations to Darlene, who was our winner. Darlene, please let us know what you think about the new book from Candlewick!!)

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Staying in touch with students via email over the summer? Teaching a summer reading program? Be sure to tell your students about the Borders Summer Reading Double-Dog Dare program. When a student age 12 or under reads ten books, he or she will be able to choose a free book at a local Borders or Waldenbooks store. Books on the list include Ramona the Brave, Flat Stanley, Dear Mr. Henshaw, Hoot, and others. Click here to learn more!

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Ready to hit the road? Download a free audiobook at BooksShouldBeFree.com. You’ll find recordings of lots of classics, including Anne of Green Gables, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Secret Garden, The Voyages of Dr. Dolittle, and many others. I’ve found lots of titles that I’ve been meaning to read or reread; now I’ll be able to listen to them as I travel. Click here!

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Do your students have a story to tell? Visit StudentPublishing.com to learn more about free options for publishing students’ books. Students can create books online or mail their submissions. Click here now to get all the details!

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Looking for a new way for students to share details on what they’re reading? Check out Wordle. Students enter words related to a topic, and then the site generates word clouds that show the terms. Here’s a Wordle that was created by someone who I’m guessing teaches fourth grade. The possibilities are endless for subjects across the curriculum! (Note: Read the Wordle FAQs on how to be sure students access only kid-friendly content.)

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Mark your calendar: the new Ramona and Beezus movie opens on July 23! Visit www.beverlyclearly.com for teacher’s guides, games, an author interview, and much more! The movie stars Selena Gomez as Beezus and newcomer Joey King as Ramona.

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Happy reading!

Karen

2 thoughts on “All About Books!

  1. I love using books in my classroom. I can’;t wait to see Ramona and Beezus with my grandson. One of the ways I encourage reading over summer for my PreK class is to hand out the summer reading program at our local library to Parents. When i am there checking out books for myself I often stick my head in the door of the kids programs and if I see one of my kids I join them. Its a great way to see the kids you miss over the summer.

  2. Reading has always been my favorite “free time” activity. I also love listening to audio books. I try to instill this love of reading in my students, just as I did my own children. Books are also one of my favorite gifts to give to my students.

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