“So what’s the big deal about reading?” I have sometimes been asked. “Why is everyone trying to get my kids to read?” The most logical answer to these questions is that we live in a literate world. To maintain a high quality of life, children must become proficient readers. To land a decent job and function in a […]
Why Animals Talk, by Eric Pullin, illustrated by Chris Davis, ebook review
I was encouraged by other kids-on-Kindle enthusiasts to try out Eric Pullin’s Why series, so I purchased a .99 download. I didn’t know what I was getting into, but I was happily surprised. Why Animals Don’t Talk is sixteen pages of versed rhyme slightly below my usual range of expertise. This one’s a charming read-aloud for the […]
Reading eBooks on Your Personal Computer – PDF, EPUB, MOBI and JavaScript
Digital ebooks are capturing a larger share of the book market each year, and for good reason. Millions of titles have gone digital, and many new authors make their work available only in digital formats. Ebooks are widely available, highly portable and they cost only a fraction of print editions. And did you know you […]
Newbery Medal Winners and Where to Find Them
The Newbery Medal is the highest honor given to an American children’s novel. I’ve set myself a challenge to read them all, as well as the Newbery Honor books (yearly runners-up). The first award dates back to 1922. Here’s a list of the winners, starting with the most recent. Links include all available Amazon versions (paperback, […]
Tutorial: How to Sideload an E-Books to Your E-Reader
Did you know you don’t have to purchase a book directly from an online vendor to put it on your e-reader? If you spend a bit of time looking, you’ll find lots of places to procure free ebooks, including Project Gutenberg and Book Cave, and many libraries also utilize OverDrive to let you check out […]
Anna of Byzantium, by Tracy Barrett, Book Review
If you enjoy historical fiction, pick up a copy of Tracy Barrett’s Anna of Byzantium. Ms. Barrett is primarily a writer of non-fiction, but she delivers a solid, fictionalized account of Anna Comnena, daughter of the Byzantine Emperor. Her writing is smooth, logical, and easy to follow. Set in the time of the Crusades, young […]
The Quick and Dirty Facts About Digital Books, Files, and Devices
If you’re new to the world of digital readers, no doubt you’re as overwhelmed as I was when I received my first Kindle. There are so many types of devices, countless reading apps, various file types, and lots of online retailers. So what goes with what? It can all be pretty confusing. Fortunately, sorting it […]
The Bronze Bow, by Elizabeth George Speare, Book Review
How have I missed this book for so many years? I’m familiar with Elizabeth George Speare. Her Newberry-winning story, The Witch of Blackbird Pond was one of my very first lasting favorites as an adolescent, and I later fell in love with The Sign of the Beaver. How did I miss The Bronze Bow? I stumbled […]
Night of the Full Moon, by Gloria Whelan, Book Review
If you haven’t become acquainted with the work of Gloria Whelan, you are missing out on a rare treat. She writes with a gentle beauty that makes reading feel effortless. Truly, every sentence is crafted so carefully, so vividly, that I float right through them. And she applies imagery as an artist applies color, adding depth and fullness to every […]
Frindle, by Andrew Clements, Book Review
Nick wasn’t a bad kid. He just got these ideas. Bright ideas. Fun ideas. Ideas that sometimes got out of hand. So when Nick decided to call a pen a frindle, he should have known that all of Westfield wouldn’t be able to contain the after effects. Frindle, by Andrew Clements, is a delightful, quick […]