Where to Find Free Classic Books Online
By The Children’s Book Review
Published: November 19, 2009
The Children’s Book Review presents a “guest post” from education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes about online school for OnlineSchool.net.
Reading classic books is a great way for children to expand their horizons and improve their reading skills. You can find classic books at almost any public library. The most popular titles can also be found and read online. Here are 10 sites that provide free classic books to young readers and classic enthusiasts.
Where to Find Free eBooks for Children Online
By Karen Schweitzer, OnlineColleges.net
Published: September 4, 2009
The Children’s Book Review presents a guest post by education writer Karen Schweitzer. Karen is the About.com Guide to Business School. She also writes for OnlineColleges.net, an online college resource.
Can eBooks for Children Really Help them Learn to Read?
By Jeanette McLeod, www.wizz-e.com
Published: August 6, 2009
The Children’s Book Review presents a guest post by Jeanette McLeod, Founder of http://www.wizz-e.com – bringing the magic of books to life.
Every parent wants the best start in life for their child and there is no better gift to give a child than teaching them to learn to read. Numerous studies have shown that reading more to our children and having them read more increases literacy rates and improves vocabulary. However, in today’s busy lives we as parents cannot always spend as much time as we would like sharing books with our children. Statistics show that to be on grade level, a 5 year old should have had 1000 hours of reading exposure before they reach school – that is half an hour every day each year for every year they have been alive!
What else can you do to increase children’s exposure to books?
Little Skink’s Tail: Janet Halfmann
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
Published: May 8, 2009
by Janet Halfmann (Author), Laurie Allen Klein (Illustrator)
Reading level: Ages 4-8
Hardcover: 32 pages (Also available in English and Spanish eBooks)
Publisher: Sylvan Dell Publishing (August 10, 2007)
Mom’s Choice Award, Teacher’s Choice Award, and the President’s Book Award, are three notable achievements to have plastered on the cover of a book. Little Skink’s Tail did not dissapoint. It’s an endearing tale of animal physiology that is perfect for science and nature lovers — Sylvan Dell Publishing pride themselves on the fact that all of their books and activities are aligned to National Science and Math Standards, North American Association for Environmental Education standards, and all state standards. Concepts such as animal survival techniques are aproached in a wonderful child-friendly way, kids are fascinated not only by the text but also by the delightfuly clever illustrations. For kids who are left wanting more, there are a couple of fun and educational activities at the end of the book that are perfect for further exploration and allow for additional discussion.
Extra teaching and comprehension resources can be found on the publisher’s website: www.SylvanDellPublishing.com, as well as English and Spanish readings — all for free!
Add this book to your collection: Little Skink’s Tail
Author Showcase: UGH…You Again!
By Jake Manning
Published: May 6, 2009
Author Showcase: A place for authors and illustrators to gain visibility for their works.*
by Alexis Marcionette (Author), BigIQkids.com (Illustrator)
Reading Level: Ages 7 – 8
eBook: Chapter book
Publisher: www.BigIQkids.com, 2009
Third grade is a breeze for Alexis. She is confident, happy and is now taking school seriously. Even her demanding mom is pleased with her progress and grades. All is right in the world until the unexpected return of Alexis’ WFE (Worst Friend Ever) – Vanessa. Vanessa’s family has moved back to town and Alexis is now faced with the uncomfortable situation of a forced friendship with an ultra goody-goody tattle-tail. Vanessa loves reporting everything to Alexis’ mom and she can’t figure out why Alexis resents her.
To make matters worse, the class science fair is fast approaching and Alexis wants desperately to win 1st prize. Will her ground breaking, researched-based findings that children need to give up video games and TV upset every kid in school? Third grade just got a heck of a lot more complicated.
Alexis Marcionette writes with her audience in mind and presents her insights in a funny, kid-centric manner sure to generate lots of laughs and page-flipping anticipation. The technology on display in “UGH…You Again!” is unique. As a web-based, chapter eBook, children are able to read at their own pace by utilizing electronic bookmarks and a proprietary text-to-speech engine for “click to hear” individual word functionality. For assessment purposes, built into this eBook is a reading comprehension test and vocabulary building exercises with the results emailed directly to parents and teachers. Fun for kids with education in mind. Everyone will enjoy UGH…You Again!
*Titles featured in the Author Showcase have not been reviewed by The Children’s Book Review, and reflect the thoughts of the author, illustrator, or publishing company.
Link: Back to Kindle-Garten
By Bianca Schulze, The Children’s Book Review
I received a well written article about the Kindle 2 (Amazon’s latest generation reading device), by Steve Smith, in a newsletter by Media Post Publications. Steve, the dad of a Stephanie Meyer fan, does a great job of describing the usability of the Kindle 2. Below, I have included a snippet from the article, Back to Kindle-Garten — Media Post welcomes and appreciates forwarding of their newsletters in their entirety or in part with proper attribution — you can read the whole article by following this link: http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=103630
… “You are so critical of everything,” my daughter complains… again.”But, I am a critic,” I try to explain… again.
“Yeah, but you don’t need to find problems with everything.” She is taking exception with my nit-picking the new version of Amazon’s Kindle. “I think it is pretty cool… if you like to read.”
I would love to hear what your experiences have been with the Kindle 2? Or, if you don’t own one, like me, would you want one?
Which she doesn’t. My girl is decidedly post-literate, except when it involves Stephanie Meyer or manga or 140-character text messages. And the new Kindle has no SMS, no manga and no Stephanie Meyer unless and until Amazon lets me access on my Kindle a book I already bought from them eons ago in hard copy. That isn’t going to happen anytime soon, so she hands the “kinda cool” device back. …
