In a recent post, I answered the question “Why Should I Make My Kids Read?” Now I’m going to give some practical suggestions to help turn kids into readers. Be forewarned, no matter what you do, not every kid will love reading. These suggestions, however, should go far in making literature taste better for the less-inclined. The most […]
I've reviewed lots of books and written 20 of my own.
It's Like This, Cat, by Emily Neville, Book Review by Emily, age 11
The title of this book is It’s Like This, Cat. The author is Emily Neville. This book won the Newbery Award. It is fiction. The story begins in New York with the main character, Dave Mitchell, arguing with his dad. He gets in all sorts of arguments with his dad. He goes to an apartment […]
Family Secrets, by Gail Jones, eBook Review
Fitting in at a new school is tough, especially when your first new friend turns out to be your worst new enemy. Such is the case in Family Secrets, a contemporary romance for young adults written by Gail Jones. After an unwanted move, Rachel’s life is in enough turmoil. Then Emma, the schoolyard diva, turns […]
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, Book Review
I’ve been told by a dozen people that I must read this book. I now submit the same charge to you, but with a warning. This book will take over your life. It will glue your body to the couch and your eyes to the page. Chores will go undone and sleep seem not so […]
Why Should I Make My Kids Read?
“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 […]