TRY YOUR WRITING SKILLS 

 If you are in the mood, write a young adult short story and enter it in the contest from ICL (Institute of Children's Literature). Go to this link for contest details: 

http://www.thechildrenswriter.com/af627/

New thing to do at the pediatrician's office.

Reach Out and Read is taking over pediatrician's offices everywhere. The importance of reading out loud to children cannot be stressed enough. Who knows better than a pediatrician? Many pediatricians have employed Reach Out and Read--an organization that supplies their office waiting rooms with books to enjoy while waiting. And to top it all off, each child will be given a book to keep. I love it!

Newbery Winners 2012

The 2012 Newbery Medal winner:

Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos

The story is about a boy named Jack Gantos. Jack thinks it's the end of the world when he is grounded for life by his feuding parents. But when his mother volunteers him to help a neighbor type obituaries of people in his community, excitement grows and mysteries evolve with even a possible murder.

The 2012 Newbery Honor Books:

Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai,

The American South becomes Hà's family's new home when they flee from war-torn Vietnam. The book follows her year-long struggle to find her place in her new home.

Breaking Stalin's Nose by Eugene Yelchin

On the night Sasha is to join the Young Pioneers, Sasha’s world is overturned after his father is arrested by Stalin’s guard.