Fishing for adventure 
in middle grade fiction?
Click on link to order 
Ryan's Unkeepable Catch 
from Kindle store.

Here is a beautiful young reader enjoying

my middle grade novel 

"Ryan's Unkeepable Catch".

Available on Kindle.

Rough winters make for good reading! Try to include the 2015 Newbery Winner, The Crossover by Kwame Alexander or one of the Honor Books: El Deafo by Cece Bell and Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson.

If you don't know what a Wooly Bugger is, read my first self-published E-book on Amazon.com, Ryan's Unkeepable Catch. It's middle grade fiction for kids 9-12 with a bunch of truths about a boy hooked on fly fishing. And check out a new Laudable Link entitled Creative Writing Institute with CEO Deborah Owen.

Almost ready to publish Ryan's Unkeepable Catch on Kindle Kids for 9-12 year olds. 

Details to follow.

2014 Newbery Medal and Honor Books

The 2014 Newbery winners offer a great variety with something for everyone...and the winner is: Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures by Kate DiCamillo. The Honor books are listed below. Yummy can't wait!! Doll Bones by Holly Black The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes One Came Home by Amy Timberlake Paperboy by Vince Vawter

We Need More "Rules"

Cynthia Lord's Newbery Honor Book "Rules" is outstanding. It brings to life the feelings of Catherine when relating to her autistic brother, David. What great writing! In reverse, Gennifer Choldenko's acclaimed "Al Capone Does My Shirts" portrays a brother with a special needs sister. Books that help siblings cope deserve all the awards they can get.

Rules

Cynthia Lord's Newbery Honor Book "Rules" is outstanding. It brings to life the feelings of Catherine when relating to her autistic brother, David. What great writing! In reverse, Gennifer Choldenko's acclaimed "Al Capone Does My Shirts" portrays a brother with a special needs sister. Books like these that help siblings cope deserve all the awards they can get.

New Laudable Link for kids & adults

Try www.goodreads.com for a user-friendly, one-stop shopping expedition for the latest in children's and adult literature of all genres. Just hover your cursor over the book name for a short synopsis or click on the book cover for more details!

2013 Newbery Winners Announced

Enjoy!

The 2013 Newbery Medal winner is  

The One and Only Ivan 

by Katherine Applegate

HarperCollins Children's Books

The 2013 Newbery Honor Books are:

Splenors and Glooms 

by Laura Amy Schlitz

Candlewick Press

Bomb: The Race to Build-and Steal-the Worlds's Most Dangerous Weapon 

by Steve Sheinkin

Flash Point

Three Times Lucky 

by Sheila Turnage

Dial Books for Young Readers

At A Loss for Bedtime Stories?

www.knowonder.com

has a great collection

of bedtime stories for

all ages.

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.

Book shopping?

If you've never visited biblio.com you are in for a treat when you do. Looking for a book your mom used to read to you? Looking for a rare book? On biblio.com you can browse by subject, title or author. They have sales and a "make an offer" section as well. This should ease your shopping problem for that special reader on your list.

Me...write Poetry for Children?

Do you have a poem running around in your head? Or a rhyming story that you wrote for your own children? If so, you may win $500.00 and be published! Go to this link http://www.thechildrenswriter.com/af627/ 
Follow the directions and enter soon. Good luck.

Is Your Child's School Looking for an Author to Speak?

Suzanne Slade is a prolific author who loves to speak to school children via Skype. Check out her website and get to know her. www.suzanneslade.com

Building a Book Collection for Children

A mentor of mine, Mary R. Dunn, has a great website with an article on easy ways to create and add to your child's library. Click on this link, go to the 7th article on her list and gain some practical ideas: http://www.marydunnbooks.com/other_publications.htm

Thank you, Mary.

Chock-Full!!!

www.schoollibraryjournal.com is busy, but chock-full of lots of good stuff. With a little patience, you will find everything from early learning information to books for teens and much, much more. Enjoy! Has anyone read the 1960 Newbery Medal Winner "Onion John"? Although 40+ years old, it seems very applicable for today's kids. Classic material? What did you think?

Kids' Fun

Next time you're stuck in a waiting room with kids going bonkers, link to the web on your phone, and go to www.smories.com. A hundred thumbnails of kids pop up. Click on a face your child likes. That child will tell stories to your child! Some are in rhyme; some are for toddlers; some are for the older set, but all are wholesome. A great way for your kids to see others who love to read.