Best Children's Books: Ten Top Selections for Pre-Schoolers

Children have cherished books for centuries now. They love books for different reasons. Sometimes their reasons even stump us adults. The following are ten carefully chosen books books for pre-schoolers, though some a little older still like them. We adults may struggle selecting books for children because we are looking for a plot or story line-we are maybe looking for excitement. But pre-schoolers want something they can understand, something fun, something with which they can identify, maybe something cuddly and comforting.

1. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, tight in its language yet exuberant in its pictures. When Max is trundled off to bed without his dinner, he imagines an adventure in the land of the Wild Things, where he meets a raucous collection of fanciful beasts. After some monster fun, he becomes homesick, awakens in his bedroom to find a piping hot supper waiting for him.

2. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, by Laura Numeroff. Oh, that starving little mouse. Once you give him the cookie, you kick off a crazy trail of action! By the end of the story, the mouse, the boy that gives him the cookie, and maybe even the reader, are exhausted! Wonderful illustrations and a kooky lead character.

3. The Snowman by Raymond Briggs is the only wordless tale in this list. A great book to begin getting a child interested in reading. A memorable story of a boy who makes and then befriends a snowman who enters his world and takes him out on a nighttime journey. The non-conclusive ending can also furnish a great beginning.

4. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. The author apparently accepted a wager that he couldn't write a story using only fifty words. "Do you like green eggs and ham? I do not like them Sam-I_am." This book's repetitive phrases, simple drawings and goofy charm make it one of the favorites and also a book to help kids learn how to read..

5. Curious George by H.A. and Margaret Rey. The has got to be the world's most beloved monkey! Curious George has had many thrilling adventures in his day, but it all starts with the first one, which has become a classic. Of course, we've got to introduce a new generation of readers to this crazy troublemaking chimp.

6. Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey. Watch out for citified ducks... A great read aloud, this tale of two mallards who decide to raise their family in the Boston's Public Garden is an all-time favorite. Beautiful drawings and a great story have made this story one sought out by thousands.

7. No, David! by David Shannon. As little David somersaults from one outlawed activity to the next, with his mom shouting the title, David's naughtiness is quite impressive. Believe it or not, this kid's book has a "real" soundtrack: the text is drawn from a book the author produced when he was 5!

8. Blueberries for Sal by Robert McClosky. As Sal and her mom head toward a patch to pick blueberries, so do a mother bear and her cub. Eventually the young set swap moms for a cockeyed adventure tale and a comedy of errors. Kids like it.

9. The Hungry Caterpillar, by Eric Carle. This colorful classic depicts a very hungry insect eating his way through an apple, two pears, three plums, and a collection of other treats. Part of the trip includes readers learning about colors and counting-plus the added benefit of an intro to the life cycle of a caterpillar.

10. Love You Forever by Robert Munsch. The story of a boy and his mom. While the mother continues to rock her boy to sleep-even if she must sneak into his bedroom to do it-life continues through stages as he grows up and his mom grows older. Eventually, he rocks his own aged mother to sleep. A touching cycle-of-life tale that may bring a tear to the eye.

So, parents, grandparents, teachers, and other assorted readers, here are ten sure winners for pre-schoolers. I hope it helps you in the unending quest for the love and satisfaction of the young-uns.

Want to find some of the very best books for pre-schoolers or tots? Check out this website that contains hundreds of the most popular arranged by age group and story description. http://www.books-to-grow-by.com

A Review of the Dinosaur Detectives Handbook - A Dinosaur Book for Children

The Dinosaur Detectives Handbook Reviewed

From a teacher's perspective dinosaur books can prove very helpful as they can encourage de-motivated children to take up reading in earnest. Some children from about the age of six, particularly boys can become less interested in reading, other activities such as video games can become a distraction for them. If they have an interest in dinosaurs and prehistoric animals then the "Dinosaur Detectives Handbook" can be a help in getting them to read more. This is a well-written, informative text that is packed full of dinosaur themed statistics.

Child Friendly Book About Prehistoric Animals

Child friendliness and educational qualities and perhaps most importantly of all, a thumbs up from children in the age range that the book is aimed at are all useful things to consider when choosing a book about dinosaurs for your child.

The new Dinosaur Detectives Handbook has just gone through an extensive peer review process and came out the other side with a big thumbs up from young readers.

Field Guide to the Dinosauria

This spiral bound, book, designed to look like the sort of field guide you would take on a nature walk is jam-packed with facts and information on dinosaurs. Fifty different dinosaurs are featured. The book reminded the children of the sort of invaluable note book that they see palaeontologists use when they are mapping a palaeontological dig site.

Maps, Stickers and Fact Files About Dinosaurs

The book includes maps, stickers, fact files, scale drawings and lots of illustrations and for each dinosaur, readers can make their own notes, add a picture and tick-off where they might have seen it - on television, in films, books or on line.

Thanks to the dinosaur experts and researchers who have helped compile this book, most of the prehistoric animals featured in the book are covered very accurately and there is an abundance of up to date dinosaur facts and figures. As a hardback book, the book will stand up well to wear and tear, yet it is easily small enough to fit inside a child's rucksack.

All in all, the book represents extremely good value. It is aimed at children aged 5 years and above and it really gets them into the subject. There is even a handy glossary at the back to explain some of the more difficult words and we love the fact that a pronunciation guide for those long dinosaur names is provided.

Children's Books on Different Kinds of Families

I was recently asked if I knew of any good children's books to help someone who is a single mom explain to her five year old son that his family is normal... That was a good question! There are so many different kinds of families and many adults don't know how to explain this to their children. Many children live in what the world thinks of as a "normal" family with a mom and a dad but more and more this is not the case, that doesn't mean that other families are not normal just that they are different but still normal.

Surprisingly there are few books written about families that are not the mom, dad and child scenario family. Most of the family books that are available have that scenario and don't seem to have room for any other family organizations, that leaves some adults and children wondering where to turn for the same literary comfort that is abundantly out there for the mom, dad and child scenario family. I was really astonished at the lack of books for young children on this subject, we have had several generations now of single parents dealing with all the issues that have to be dealt with. Oh there are lots of books for adults but the children are somehow left out of the mix.

The following books are among the few I found that might be helpful, but the list is short for a reason, there just aren't many books out there on the subject, especially for single parents.

• The Family Book by Todd Parr
• We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families by Todd Parr
• Who's in a Family? By Robert Skutch
• All Families Are Special by Norma Simon
• Do I Have a Daddy? A Story About a Single-Parent Child by Jeanne Warren Lindsay

I promised the person who asked me about a book for her friend that I would write a book for young children who were in the single parent situation like her friend's little boy, (I do have a bit of experience on the subject). Even though I usually write fantasy adventure or science fiction for middle grade or young adults I will give this my best efforts soon. It is a difficult subject for us adults to broach and trying to explain it so that children can understand is not easy... then again maybe it's easier for them to understand than it is for us grownups, we seem to complicate things way more than they need to be.

Julie L. Worthington is a writer of fantasy adventure and science-fiction middle-grade and young adult books along with short stories. She is passionate about children's literature both old and new. To find out more or to read some of her work go to http://www.julieworthington.com

The Top 5 Children's Books on the American Revolution

I love history! It is sad these days when children say they hate history, "It's boring". I believe it's because they get bogged down in trying to memorize dates and lose sight of the people and adventures that happened all throughout history.

History is exciting! If we begin teaching our children when they are young they will learn to appreciate the wonderful stories and the exciting adventures that happened in history. There were so many regular people who became heroes and so many time periods to learn about. In this article I am going to focus on the Revolutionary time period. There are many different ways to get young people interested in this time period, the people were on a quest to explore the new country they had come to and determine how they wanted this new country to be. The people found great courage, and laid a foundation for a great country to be formed.

Even if we have our young readers read fiction based on different times in history it can help them appreciate what it was like in that particular time and how the people might have lived. The following is a short list of books I think children will enjoy reading about the Revolutionary time period. Some are factual and some are fiction with factual basis. All are fun to read and not "boring."

• The American Revolution by Bruce Blivin Jr.
• Felicity by American Girl Series
• Letters For Freedom: The American Revolution by Douglas M. Rife
• George vs. George by Rosalyn Schanzer
• Heroes and Heroines of the American Revolution by Peter F. Copeland

You will be able to find many more books for children to read with a little research, I hope we can instill in the young readers a love of history through literature.

I find that when I write my love of history is always evident. There is always some aspect of history in each book I have written and most of the short stories as well. I try to show the adventure and excitement of history and hopefully pique the interest of my readers to learn more about what was happening in that time period. For instance the book I am writing now has a great amount of time travel in it and I love doing the research for each place in time my characters go! One destination will of course be the Revolutionary time period where they will meet interesting people and have an exciting adventure!

Julie L. Worthington is a writer of fantasy adventure and science-fiction middle-grade and young adult books along with short stories. She is passionate about children's literature both old and new. To find out more or to read some of her work go to http://www.julieworthington.com

Children's Books As Christmas Presents

I love Christmas! I would have Christmas all year long if I could somehow get away with it. So of course I spend much time thinking about what gifts I might get or make for my friends and family. Whether you are a young reader or not, children's books make great gifts, they are easy to wrap and they always have a wonderful adventure to give to the recipient. When you give a book to a young reader make sure they know just how special the book is to you, which will help them be excited about the new adventure that is ahead for them. In other words tell them the story of how you became acquainted with the book yourself.

You can also write a little message inside the book for them and that will make the gift even more special, it will also give them the feeling that you are sharing something special together. There are so many children's books to choose from, books with Christmas themes, cherished books from your childhood, newish books you have read recently or a book you have never read before that you can both read together for the first time. There are also many different ways to give a book such as an e-book, an audio book, or the traditional paper back or hard cover books, whatever you think the young reader in your life will enjoy the most.
Below are some Christmas themed suggestions to get you started:

• A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss
• 'Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore
• Samantha (American Girl) by multiple authors
• Norman Rockwell's Christmas Book: Revised and Updated by Norman Rockwell
• The Christmas Dinner: A Play for Reading or Acting by Shepherd Knapp
• Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
• A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Shulz
• Christmas Books by Charles Dickens
• The Nutcracker Ballet: A Book, Theater, and Paper Doll Fold Out Play Set by Mara Conlon & Jo Gershman

A few years ago for Christmas my son gave me a leather-bound edition of Huckleberry Finn! I loved it! Children's literature is for everyone who loves a great story written by a great story teller. I would encourage you to share the wonderful world of children's books with those you love whether they are young readers or not. So get to know your young reader or find out what your friends and family members loved to read as children then go shopping and yes a used book is allowed to be given as a gift, some books are out of print and that's the only way you can get them. I believe with enough time, effort and thought you can find a book for everyone one on your Christmas list.

Julie L. Worthington is a writer of fantasy adventure and science-fiction middle-grade and young adult books along with short stories. She is passionate about children's literature both old and new. To find out more or to read some of her work go to http://www.julieworthington.com

Fairy Tales and Fables Part 2

As I stated in a previous article for generations children have experienced fairy tales which have not only entertained but have taught good manners, respect, life, imagination and much more. Although our young readers of today know about a few that have been made into movies I have found that if you mention The Red Shoes by Hans Christian Anderson they won't know what you are talking about or they may think you are talking about Dorothy's ruby slippers. Or what about The Fisherman and His Wife by the Brothers Grimm which teaches children (or adults) not to be greedy if they know it exist.

Every country or society has fairy tales and fables children (or adults) can enjoy and learn from Hans Christian Anderson who was from Denmark and the Brothers Grimm who were from Germany but we have writers and story tellers from everywhere that have wonderful stories to tell, there is Childe Rowland by Joseph Jacobs of England, Aurore and Aimee by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumount of France, Uncle Remus' Tar Baby by Joel Chandler Harris from America. I would highly recommend all three of these stories for your young readers!

The following is a short list of some more of the stories that I hope don't get forgotten along with their wonderful creators that I hope don't get forgotten either:

The Brothers Grimm
• The Blue Light
• The Clever Little Tailor
• The Donkey

Hans Christian Anderson
• The Little Match Girl
• The Nightingale
• The Steadfast Tin Soldier

Aesop
• The Honest Woodcutter
• The North Wind and the Sun
• The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs
• The Oak and the Reed
• The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

Joseph Jacobs
• Catskin
• The Buried Moon
• The Brown Bear of Green Glen
• Jack and the Bean Stalk
• Molly Whuppie
• The Three Little Pigs

In this selection there are some that I hope will be recognized and some new ones that even I hadn't read before! That was really fun to find the new/old stories that held the wonder and excitement of the fairy tale or fable. I hope you have fun reconnecting or learning about them for the first time and sharing them with your young readers. I enjoy researching old stories and love learning about what might have been forgotten and then sharing it with others. I have even found myself incorporating this research into my writing I guess that's what story tellers do...

Julie L. Worthington is a writer of fantasy adventure and science-fiction middle-grade and young adult books along with short stories. She is passionate about children's literature both old and new. To find out more or to read some of her work go to http://www.julieworthington.com

Children's Literature: Fairy Tales and Fables

For generations children have experienced fairy tales. These fairy tales have been stories that have been used to teach lessons on good manners, respect, life, imagination and much more. Our young readers of today can probably recognize some of the wonderful fairy tales of the past but I'm afraid a lot of them are being left out of today's reading experiences. They will recognize The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Anderson, Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie and Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi because Walt Disney loved fairy tales and wanted to share them with the children of his generation and the children of generations to come. There are so many more fairy tales that he didn't get around to and may be lost to our young readers if we don't remind them that these wonderful stories, who seem like old friends to me, are out there. J. K. Rowling even made up fairy tales for her famous Harry Potter series which are very reminiscent of the cherished old stories that we need to revisit.

The following is a short list of some of the stories that I hope don't get forgotten along with their wonderful creators that I hope don't get forgotten either:

The Brothers Grimm

• The Elves and the Shoemaker

• The Town Musicians of Bremen

• The Pied Piper of Hamelin

Hans Christian Anderson

• The Most Incredible Thing

• Thumbelina

• The Ugly Duckling

• The Princess and the Pea

Aesop

• The Boy Who Cried Wolf

• The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse

• The Tortoise and the Hare

• The Ant and the Grasshopper

• The Lion and the Mouse

These wonderful writers told stories that helped nurture honesty, courage, hard work, self esteem and imagination. There are some writers or story tellers who have been forgotten such as the writer or story teller who created the story of The Little Red Hen which is one of my very favorites, all we know now about this story is that it began in Russia. I hope we can share and remember the great fairy tales we have with our young readers and help them to learn to love and appreciate the wonderful literature that is available to them. I have little tip for those who have a kindle or some other kind of e-reader, most of the fairy tales, fables, and folk tales can downloaded for free. I hope you have fun reconnecting with these old friends and sharing them with your young readers.

Julie L. Worthington is a writer of fantasy adventure and science-fiction middle-grade and young adult books along with short stories. She is passionate about children's literature both old and new. To find out more or to read some of her work go to http://www.julieworthington.com

7 Books to Ignite a Love of Reading in Your Boy!

What books can we give our boys to teach them to love reading at a young age? What holds their interest and sparks a love of reading and knowledge? As a parent, you wonder what you can do to entice your boy to read, and not to fight them just to pick up a book. After months of trial and error with different genres, writing styles, and subjects, I found seven books that will spark a boy's interest and keep it.

1. The Adventures of Captain Underpants by Dav Pilkey

George and Harold are two elementary school boys who love to draw and make up stories, so they decide to make comics for themselves. They are about a character they make up called Captain Underpants, who later becomes their principal! The series promotes creativity and encourages kids to draw or write their own comics. The unique and easy to follow writing style of the author insures that your boy will not become bored or frustrated by trying to figure out big words. The pictures throughout the book are fun and ensure that your boy will spend hours laughing over this book and will want to read it again and again. And luckily, there are more novels in this series!

2. Ricky Ricotta's Mighty Robot by Dav Pilkey

Since we enjoyed this author's writing style so much, we decided to try this series to see if the author's writing had the same endearing qualities, and we were not disappointed. With monsters from space, robots, and silly words and phrases, your boy will enjoy every minute in the pages of this book. There are no complicated or large words, and there are pictures on every page. As is consistent with the author's style, the book encourages art by providing instructions on how to draw the characters at the end of every book in the series!

3. The Stink Adventures by Megan McDonald

This series has differing themes throughout, such as space travel, gigantic jawbreakers, stinky shoes, and treasure hunts. This author also writes the Judy Moody series, and the main character, Stink, is Judy's younger brother. The books are easy to read and follow, with great jokes and silly situations that will keep your boy highly entertained, and excited for the next book. The pictures are detailed and just as entertaining as the story, and some books even have color pictures. This is a fun entertaining series that your boy will want more of.

4. Sir Fartsalot Hunts the Booger by Kevin Bolger

This book is a hilarious read. The book is full of silly and gross names that have boys hooting with delight, such as: the story takes place in the Kingdom of Armpit, a knight is named Sir Bedwetter, and Sir Fartsalot is hard of hearing, so he always hears what someone says incorrectly and creates great jokes. The book is filled with colorful characters and an entertaining style of writing, so your boy always wants to read more. This book is also fun to read together, as you will enjoy the jokes as much as your child.

5. Goosebumps by R.L. Stine

I enjoyed these books when I was in elementary school so I thought I would try reading them with my boy. He loves them so much that we have worn out copies and had to buy new ones. With scary but unique ideas such as invisibility gone wrong, haunted houses, scary monsters, and aliens, there is a novel in this series for every boy. If you want an easier read for your boy, the Goosebumps Horrorland series uses less large words than the Goosebumps series, and follows along, but has some interesting maps and stories to catch a boy attention and keep it, even before they can read the larger, harder-to-read series!

6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

This series is easy to read and set up much like a comic book and diary. There are tons of pictures filled with as many jokes and descriptions as the actual story. This series addresses situations boys find themselves placed in with a witty outlook and realistic resolutions, by engaging boys with a character just like they are. As the character deals with everyday situations with sarcasm and humor, boys are sucked into the books and can't put them down!

7. My Weird School Days Series by Dan Gutman

Who didn't wish that their teacher really was an alien or crazy? This series takes those thoughts to the maximum with crazy teachers that do silly things, to super-smart teachers that are computers posing as people, to lunch ladies writing secret messages in mashed potatoes. The amusing situations and play-on-words keep boys anxious to read more, and laughing out loud. The books are filled with real facts that are delivered in a stimulating and easy to read way that helps kids remember them, but not realize that they are learning too!

Shi Belcher is a stay at home mom and an avid reader. She enjoys all genres of literature and reading childrens' books with her son. She enjoys expanding her book collection and believes that books are meant to be shared with others. She particularly enjoys the science-fiction, fantasy, romance, and classic books.

Check out her book recommendation blog at http://www.shisbookshelf.blogspot.com

4 Tips For Writing Fantasy Stories

Do you feel overwhelmed because you never know how to come up with an opening line to your fantasy book? Most people feel a writer's block when they start writing their story because they do not know how to start.

Here are four step-by-step approaches or categories to get you started and focused on your writing.

1. Create A Character

2. Create The Setting

3. Create A Conflict

4. Create A Solution-Ending

I just finished reviewing a fantastic juvenile fiction series called The Kelmar Trilogy by Laura Sepesi. Fantasy is highly imaginative writing. For example, one can read about animals talking with one another, expressing emotions and wearing real clothes. Fantasy can be set in medieval times with castles and dragons, wizards and knights. Or the story can be set in the future.

So, when you begin to write your fantasy story, you will need to come up with a name for your character. Keep in mind that you will want to choose an exciting name and not just "dragon" but rather, "dragon-lord." This is what we call a compound word, taking two separate words joined together to form a new word, like "candlestick."

At this point, you will want to create details of your character from his or her size, characteristics, color, appearance, and descriptive titles to your character. For example, Dubious the dark-knight or Phoebe, the good-fairy of Seaguard Cove have soft or hard sounds to their name.

Once you've established the main characters and sub-characters of your story and have included a variety of dragons, dwarfs, ladies and lords, it's time to move on to the setting.

Will you start with the Great Fortress of Camden, surrounded in an enchanting forest? Perhaps the wise queen of Goshen lives in the High Tower of Gadzar. Whatever setting you choose, you will have lots of scene changes to create from barren deserts and empty plains to evil fortresses and radiant cities.

The next hearty step of your story outline will be the meat-and-potatoes part. Will the dark forces pose traps, plots and schemes to force their opponent in battle? Will monsters arise, sorcerers cast spells and a witch uses an invisibility cloak to lead a surprise attack to defeat their enemies? Yes, more descriptive writing occurs here to develop a real page-turner story.

My favorite and final point in writing a fantasy story is to provide an ending that hopefully pleases everyone but after all, it is your story and you probably will choose a predictable ending, like good triumphs over evil, but then, maybe not.

I personally like to read about the Good Lady Diana being rescued by her favorite, Great Knight Nicholas, from the treacherous and barbarous William Zardk, along with his companion, the dangerous Dragon Dunzabar. To be taken to Nicholas' enchanted castle to meet his father, the Kindly King, and to begin a new life atop a pinnacle of rock, overlooking a lush valley would be a great ending, and indeed another sequel to a marvelous, new beginning.

For more reviews and writing tips, visit my website and online market place at http://barefootbooks-ladyd.blogspot.com/

Book Review for "The Lightning Thief"

Book Review: The Lightning Thief
Written by: Rick Riordan
Hyperion Books
ISBN: 0-7868-5629-7
Avail as: print & eBook
5 Stars

Riordan fashions a modern tale of the Olympians that will keep you turning the pages with "The Lightning Thief." Percy Jackson is a 6th grader with a lot of problems. Diagnosed with ADHD and dyslexia, school isn't easy for him. His step-father is barely civil to him. Then there's a horde of monsters who want to kill him. Things only get more complicated when he discovers he's a son of Poseidon.

Percy is not invited back to his school, so his mother takes him down to the coast to spend some quality time with him. Unfortunately, their time together is ruined when monsters attack. Percy's mom hurries to get him to Camp Half-Blood where he'll be protected, but not before she disappears.

At the camp, Percy meets his old teacher, Chiron, and learns he's a demigod - a half blood, son of a mortal woman and the god Poseidon. A part of him is thrilled to finally find a place where he belongs with friends, Luke, Annabeth, and Grover. A part of his is sad over the loss of his mother.

After visiting the oracle, Percy's given a quest. Zeus' lightning bolt has been stolen. Zeus holds his brothers, Poseidon and Hades responsible. Percy must discover who has stole the bolt and why. His journey takes him across America with Annabeth and Grover. Will Percy embrace his heritage as Poseidon's son, or will he turn his back on the Olympians?

Riodan's writing is crisp and sharp, engaging the reader from the get-go. His creativity shines, giving the Greek gods a unique, modern spin that allows them to relate to young readers while fueling their curiosity about Greek mythology.

Riodan uses a good economy of words to paint vivid pictures of his settings. The plot never lingers, moving at a brisk pace while holding the reader's attention.

The main characters are interesting and complex, each having to face their problems. Percy can channel a lot of power as Poseidon's son, but he must learn to tame his emotions so he can grow as a hero. Annabeth craves her father's love, but finds it difficult to fit into his world as Athena's daughter. Grover wants nothing more than to prove himself worthy to receive a seeker's license, but the path his must take challenges his courage and bravery.

What I enjoyed most was watching Percy grow as a character. He's got a good heart, but unless his traits are channeled in a positive way, he'll never discover his true potential, and that's a message middle school children can relate to.

"The Lightning Thief" is well written, riveting, and full of action that will take young readers on the adventure of a lifetime.

Reviewed by: S. Burkhart

StephB is an author who likes to read many books and a variety of different genres. StephB is an author at http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writing.

Book Review: A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle

How do I begin writing a review of a book that tackles a subject a cannot fully comprehend? Mathematics and physics, anyone? But, I am getting ahead of myself.

I first encountered the word tesseract while browsing Goodreads and chanced upon Alex Garland's novel, The Tesseract. (Yes, the Alex Garland who is the author of the infamous book, The Beach.) I was totally intrigued with The Tesseract, not because of the tesseract concept per se, but because of the Philippine setting, particularly Manila. Presently, however, I can no longer recall what the story of The Tesseract was all about after I read it some two years ago. I am sure, though, that there was no description there of what a teserract is (or did I just miss it?). This time, with Madeleine L' Engle's A Wrinkle In Time, there was an explanation of what this term means, except that I think I do not totally get the concept.

A Wrinkle In Time was first published in 1967 by American author, Madeleine L" Engle (1918-2007), and won numerous awards, one of which was the prestigious Newbery Medal - an award given to a particular book for its distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

Given that A Wrinkle In Time has won the Newbery Medal, I was expecting a children's story that is a quick and easy read; but lo, and behold, this book makes huge demands on the imagination. I, in all of my thirty years, cannot still fully grasp what a teserract is. Add to that my very unsatisfactory comprehension with mathematics, physics, and geometry. This is not to say that I did not like the book. I TOTALLY LOVED IT! I loved it because it has made me think. It was amazing, in a literal way, because my mind until now is still processing the concept of a tesseract. Too bad, the explanation in the book entails some mathematical computations, and what little skill I have with numbers unfortunately does not include the book's demands. Sigh.

Still, I was amazed with how Miss L'Engle crafted her characters and weaved her plot, encompassing not only time travel but space travel as well. Of course, time and space travel stories are not entirely new to me, but considering that the book was published almost 50 years ago, A Wrinkle In Time has exceeded my expectations of "old" books like this. Madeleine L' Engle is indeed one amazing writer.

What surprised me while reading this book are the Biblical quotes. Considering that this book is categorized as science fiction, Christian themes are not lost in it. In fact, strong biblical allusions are prevailing in the story. I love that the primary theme of the story is love - a theme that is not actually new in most children's books but compelling, nonetheless.

A Wrinkle In Time wraps up so beautifully in the end, though a bit mushy. But then anything lovely is mushy, don't you think?

I am surprised that this is just the first of a series of other books because standing alone, A Wrinkle In Time is one excellent book. I am not under the compulsion yet of completing all the books in the series, but maybe sometime in the future I'll pick up her other books, when my brain is again ready for some wild, out-of-this-world calisthenics.

5 stars.

http://www.lynaireads.luigiandlynai.net

The Top 7 Great Reasons to Use EBooks for Kids

An eBook is a book in an electronic format that is downloaded to a computer, laptop or PDA. It looks exactly like a book and has numbered pages, pictures, graphics and a table of contents. As the world becomes obsessed with electronic gadgets, eBooks are gaining popularity amongst adults and children.

Most kids love to play video and computer games, so introducing them to the world of eBooks should be a simple progression. Children love interacting on the computer and they can do this while reading an eBook. This allows them to see books in a totally new light.

eBooks can be books that your children read on their own, or they may be books that you read aloud to them together. They can be found in novel format, fiction, non-fiction and animated picture books. There are also a number of online book sites to open the world of reading to your child at an early age. The following are seven great reasons to use eBooks for kids.

1) Introduces Them to the World of Technology - Reading an eBook allows you to teach your child how to utilize today's technology. Kids are obsessed with electronic gadgets and will be thrilled to learn how to use the keyboard. This is also an excellent way to give your kids a head start and prepare them for entering school.

2) Colorful Display and Pictures - eBooks for kids promotes learning through its vibrant colorful and picture display on the computer. It also holds their interest for a longer period of time.

3) Click on a Link - eBooks provide links to additional information and is an excellent tool for added learning. If they are unsure of a word or would like to learn more information, they can click on the link and gain additional knowledge. This is an excellent way to make learning fun.

4) Save a Tree - You can teach your child the importance of saving the environment by utilizing ebooks. The books are downloaded safely to your computer and cutting down trees is not a requirement to manufacture a book.

5) eBooks for Kids Can Be Read Anywhere - If you and your child find yourselves with unexpected free time, an eBook can come in handy. This is especially true if your eBooks are downloaded to a PDA and you can carry it with you at all times. eBooks are an excellent way to keep your child occupied with entertaining educational materials and not seek out mischief.

6) Indestructible - Traditional books can tatter, fade and tear. eBooks for kids can last for decades and be passed down from generation to generation. They are also easily transported and shared with others.

7) No Waiting - eBooks for kids can be delivered almost immediately. You can show your kids how easy it is to purchase an eBook, download it and begin to read it within a matter of minutes. You don't have to go to the bookstore or wait for them to arrive in the mail either.

Reading to children at an early age benefits them into adulthood. eBooks for kids will help keep them interested in reading. This will also help them be better equipped during their job seeking years and have a brighter outlook for their future.

I'm Sally Sweet from Bloomington, IL. I have a bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Development & Family Relations and have owned a child care business since 1993. During this time, I have written several children's books and am now sharing them online.

Please visit Sally Sweet's eBooks for Kids to learn about the awesome benefits of using eBooks and to view my current eBooks for kids titles. Here's a direct link to my very first and most popular eBook titled "Larry Had a Little Monkey": http://ssebooksforkids.com/larry-had-a-little-monkey/.

Children's Literature - Forgotten Gems

Review and Thoughts on Lark Rise to Candleford by Flora Thompson

I usually like to read fantasy adventures that include magic and mysteries. This book has its own kind of magic and mystery...

Flora Thompson gives many details of what it was like to live in a small, (very small) hamlet. She tells about her family and the way families did things back in this time.

In the late 1800's life was so much different than it is now and life in England was extraordinarily different than it was in America at that time. Flora Thompson paints a vivid picture of the time and place with her words. She doesn't really tell a story she simply tells how things were and some things that happened to her as a young girl.

You can't read this book thinking you will get a story because it really has no plot just lovely information.

It's absolutely worth reading...

Review and Thoughts on The Canterville Ghost by Oscar Wilde

I love this story! I have asked several people lately if they have read it and have received the same answer, no... I don't understand? They had never even heard of it!

It's a great adventure story with intrigue and mystery. A family inherits an old house that has a ghost. Once they sort out that the ghost is real they have to sort out how to get rid of it. It's not really a scary story even though it has a ghost.

The ghost made a terrible mistake and has lived (or whatever you call it) with that terrible mistake for many years. I'm not going to give the whole story away but it has a great mystery and lots of excitement in it.

There have been several movies made with the story one of them even has Sir Patrick Stewart in it. I would recommend it if you want to watch the story instead of reading it.

Both these books give me much inspiration for some stories I want to write in the future. I love to find old stories that have the energy these two books have. They can transport you to a different place and time and show you things you never thought of. They can also give you a new perspective on what you thought you knew or believed. There is so much hype these days about how books have to be best sellers or by a certain author or whatever... back in the time both these books were written it was different, it just had to be good writing or a good story. These books may not have been published if they had been written today and what a loss that would have been!

I think sometimes stories can become forgotten gems... these two have.

Julie L. Worthington is a writer of fantasy adventure and science-fiction middle-grade and young adult books along with short stories. She is passionate about children's literature both old and new. To find out more or to read some of her work go to http://www.julieworthington.com

Book Review: Pretty Dolls, by Kimberly Dana

Pretty Dolls by Kimberly Dana, a finalist in the Children's Picture Book category at the 2011 Pacific Northwest Writers Association Literary Contest, is a delightful story about overcoming jealousy and the love a girl can share with her special doll, no matter what she looks like.

Little Tasha has several dolls, but her favorites are Emily-Nicole and Gracie. Emily-Nicole is the most beautiful of all, with porcelain skin, silky red hair and turquoise-blue eyes. She spends most of her days perched on the top bookshelf case with the other beautiful dolls. Unlike Emily-Nicole, Gracie has tufts of brown hair (from when Tasha played hairdresser), purple eyes (from when she played artist), and a missing arm. She's not at all beautiful like Emily-Nicole. But Tasha loves her because she's the snuggliest of all and that's why she always carries her around.

Unbeknown to Tasha, once she's deeply sound asleep in the quiet of the night, Emily-Nicole, jealous of Tasha and Gracie's closeness, starts making fun of Gracie and calling her cruel names. The other pretty dolls giggle and together they mock:

"Pretty eyes and pretty hair. We're the best dolls anywhere. If you were a pretty doll, you'd be up here standing tall."

Night after night the banter continues. As Emily-Nicole becomes more and more jealous, she turns increasingly cruel. Her heart becomes just as cold and porcelain-like as her beautiful face. Deep inside, though, she suffers. She would like to be the one to snuggle up with Tasha instead of standing on the shelf all day and night. She just can't understand why Tasha prefers Gracie when Gracie is so ugly compared to her.

One day, Tasha's dog Victor charges into the room and rocks the bookshelf back and forth, making Emily-Nicole stumble and fall. He snatches her into his mouth and shakes her, then heaves her into the air and she lands on Tasha's bed... right next to Gracie. Will the other dolls help Emily-Nicole or will Gracie?

Pretty Dolls is an adorable picture book for little girls ages 3 to 8. It is a story about kindness and discovering new friendships. The book offers a valuable and lovely message about what it means to be truly beautiful and about accepting others, even if they look a little different than us. The language is simple and engaging, appropriate for this age group. The illustrations are charming, a splash of color on the pages with a lot of pinks and purples. There's an accompanying audio book included with Pretty Dolls, which can be downloaded for free from the Tate Publishing website and burned onto a CD or saved to a portable device such as an iPod. Recommended.

Author Kimberly Dana is an award-winning English teacher. In addition to writing for children, she also writes for young adults. You can visit her at http://www.kimberlydana.com

Mayra Calvani is an author, reviewer and freelance book publicist. She also offers online workshops on the art of book reviewing and picture book writing. To learn more about her books, workshops and promotional packages for authors, visit her website at http://www.MayraCalvani.com

Join her mailing list and receive the free ebook, "Reviewers Talk about Their Craft," as well as the first lesson of her Slippery Art of Book Reviewing Workshop.

It Has Begun

Pink! White! Everywhere! Driving down the country roads of Fresno County in California the scene is filled with living color. Various tones of pink from almost white to bright magenta mingled with the sound of bees as they work tirelessly fill the air. In February each year this beautiful site of color flows across the fruit orchards on the Blossom Trail in the bountiful San Joaquin Valley. Fruit fresh from a tree is luscious, but to have the opportunity to see it appear as a bud, grow to a blossom and finally mature into a piece of fruit is a wonderment indeed.

The low hum is the sound of honey bees working hard collecting nectar to make honey. As they fly from blossom to blossom pollen gathers on their legs and it is scattered to each flower that will later develop into fruit. The Blossom Trail is one of the "show times" of the fruit tree. The orchards have been nurtured, watered and pruned throughout the year and now they are on stage in their glorious gowns of color.

Could this picture of beauty be compared to our daily life? One of the possible parallels to this evolving image of color that flows over the land could be the overall emotions that permeate the scene after we depart. Have we spread joy, sorrow, anger or emptiness as we go through our day. One of the main differences in this comparison is that the honey bees are all spreading the same thing and getting the same results.

A smile is the carrier of joy and happiness that is infectious. It is difficult to frown at a person that is smiling at you. Admittedly there are those that might break their face if they smiled, but the more one smiles the more natural it feels. A smile generates a positive attitude. When I picture my smiling face on a honey bee as greetings are exchanged, that image almost makes me giggle. The amazing thing is that it spreads just like the colorful blossoms across the orchards. I know, that sometimes pain and sadness overwhelms our life and it is at those times we really just want to be alone, but I also know if we can smile it just makes us feel better. A smile gives comfort.

Yes it has begun! Another beautiful array of colorful blossoms flowing across the orchards like watercolor paint on wet paper. Smile on dear friend and begin the flow of acceptance and love to all those that are blessed to cross the fields of your life. And be prepared to tell them what makes you so happy. I am, but that will be for another story.

In my children's storybook series "Ginger Lady Bug's Adventures, The Blossom Trail" twin honey bees Macy and Mallory are portrayed as they gather nectar from blossom to blossom. They are shown in full page watercolor illustrations along with their other friends, The Blues Birds, Nellie Gnat and Ginger Lady Bug playing in the top of the nectarine trees. The story of what an important job honey bees have and some of the products they produce has been integrated into the story of how fruit grows. This is a beautiful story told in a joyful setting that children of all ages can enjoy. The Blossom Trail is an annual event that takes place in February and March. People from all over the world come to see nature in all her glory as color flows over acres of farm land. Paintings and books can be found at http://www.gingerladybug.com.

Books For Early Vocabulary Success in Children

BOOKS FOR CHILDREN

Books for children should be selected wisely. It is often said-"Books are our best friends". The true value of books must be taught to children at an early age so that it develops into a habit later. Books for children usually are categorized based on their age groups and interests. They have interesting animated pictures depicting scenes from the stories. Reading not only is good for gaining knowledge, but improves the child's English grammar as well.

Books for children Less than 3 Years

Children less than two years are too young to read and understand words. It would be best if they were made to read books with big colorful pictures and cartoons. Books with pop-up designs are beneficial for the children. They can be taught names of fruits and vegetables through books with colorful drawings. The teacher can read simple short stories about animals or birds to the children. This also enhances their imaginative power. These books should be made of sturdy board pages which they can turn themselves without tearing them or hurting themselves. Books for children can also have predictable texts and easy rhymes. This will improve their pronunciation and understanding of the English language.

Books for Children between ages 4-5

It is necessary to know the interest of the children and give them appropriate books. These children have a longer attention span and can learn a lot when taught with proper skill and technique. Choose books for children with lots of pictures so that it is visually appealing to the kids and they read it with interest. Stories can range from simple to complex, depending on the abilities of the child. It mostly consists of fairy tales and short stories about animals and birds. Books with rhythmic or rhyming text help in introducing the tough grammar to the children. Interactive books for children are very appealing.

Books for children above 6 years

Books for children should not only comprise of basics like rhymes but should also have grammar and mathematics. Books should be separated on the basis of subject. The difficulty level should increase with age as their concentration learning capacity also increases.

Children should be taught to make maximum use of the books available. Books for children should be selected in such a way that the children enjoy learning and thus eventually get into the beneficial habit of regular book reading. This will help the children throughout their life.

I am a fresher currently pursuing a Bachelor degree majoring in Biotechnology. I love writing as it is my passion.

Sam's Desert Adventure, an Outstanding Young Reader Book

Sam's Desert Adventure, by Jonah Arizona, the newest young reader publication by Moonlight Mesa Associates, Inc., is a sure-fire pleaser for young readers in the age range of 7 to 11. Parents will be charmed by the mischievous, endearing Sam Davenport who will remind them of their own childhoods and their own children.

Set in Arizona, the story features a young boy named Sam Davenport and his hilariously acquired mule, Bucket. Sam's older sister, Alice, adds a charming touch to the story, and Sam's elderly neighbor, Mr. Melby, helps develop this tale of youthful adventure and hard-learned lessons.

Despite Sam's engaging appeal, he is an impulsive child with a wild imagination who regularly forgets to consider the consequences of his boyish antics. Sam learns many difficult lessons the summer he acquires Bucket, but he has many exciting adventures in the process. Slowly he grows to understand that actions have consequences and that he must be accountable for those actions.

This story goes beyond Sam's boyish behavior, however, and the author shows a sensitivity and thoughtfulness in the ten-year-old that is deeply touching. Sam's friendship with his elderly neighbor, Mr. Melby, is remarkable, and Sam's compassion for his aging grandparents will tug heart strings. Even his thoughtfulness regarding his sister's feelings will bring a smile.

Not to be forgotten in this story of childhood adventure, growth, and learning, is the book's other main character, Bucket. Sam's mule is unforgettable and perhaps even more charming than Sam himself. The little mule, in her own mulish way, teaches Sam some of the most important lessons he learns. Sam's attachment to, and love for, his mule is tender and stirring. Bucket fills a void in Sam's life since he had to move away from his childhood buddy, and the mule becomes Sam's best friend and constant companion.

Sam's Desert Adventure is filled with humor, warmth, hard-learned lessons, and extremely well-drawn characters. Sam's parents are to be both envied and admired for their patience and understanding in raising a boy who will, no doubt, become a fine young man despite the trials he sometimes presents them with. Though Sam's parents are strict, there is never any doubt that their actions are motivated purely by love for their son. The relationship Sam has with his parents is warm and stable - a model for all given the challenges that Sam sometimes presents.

Highly recommended by MidWest Book Review senior reviewer, Shirley Johnson, Sam's Desert Adventure is a title that will be read again and again by parents and young readers alike.

Barbra Lee, retired teacher and sometime book reviewer.

Sam's Desert Adventure is available from the publisher, Moonlight Mesa Associates, at http://www.moonlightmesaassociates.com and from amazon. Retail 9.95. Vendor queries welcomed.

Children's Literature Modern Fairy Tales and Fables - A Review of the Sisters Grimm

What was old is new again! In the book series The Sisters Grimm the writer Michael Buckley has reinvented all the old fairy tales and fables. Sabrina and her sister Daphne Grimm discover a whole new world within their own world as fairy tale and fable characters walk the streets like normal people in the town where their grandmother lives.

There are eight books out so far with the ninth one due out in May. The adventure starts out with the two sisters becoming orphans when their parents suddenly go missing. After a few foster homes they are sent to live with a grandmother they never knew they had. This is when they learn the family secret, the family business and the family legacy. They are descendants of the original Grimm brothers who wrote all those old fairy tales which turn out to be real stories. Their grandmother teaches them how to be detectives, that's the family business, and how to solve the mysteries they encounter on a daily basis.

I don't want to give too much of the story away for those of you who haven't read the books (I do have a tendency to do that) but the sisters have many adventures and nearly get killed several times. The Big Bad Wolf is their grandmother's best friend and body guard, Snow White is a teacher in the school they attend she also teaches a self defense class which includes martial arts, Prince Charming is the Mayor of the town (for a while), the Three Little Pigs are the sheriff and deputies in the town (for a while), Puck (the trickster king) is their grandmother's adopted grandson, the Scarecrow (from the Wizard of Oz) is the town librarian and Robin Hood is a lawyer!

• Book 1 - Fairy Tale Detectives
• Book 2 - The Unusual Suspects
• Book 3 - The Problem Child
• Book 4 - Once Upon a Crime
• Book 5 - Magic and Misdemeanors
• Book 6 - Tales From the Hood
• Book 7 - The Everafter War
• Book 8 - The Inside Story
• Book 9 - (Due out in May 2012) The Council of Mirrors

The reading level for these books is listed as age eight and up or third grade and up. I'm glad they put the up because I love them and I'm up there pretty far. These are great books for young readers and the rest of us because they allow us to get swept up in fun adventures and really enjoy reading children's literature. These are fun, the story is easy to keep up with and the characters are really well done!

Julie L. Worthington is a writer of fantasy adventure and science-fiction middle-grade and young adult books along with short stories. She is passionate about children's literature both old and new. To find out more or to read some of her work go to http://www.julieworthington.com

Plunked by Michael Northrop - Youth Baseball, Self-Confidence, and Elementary School-Aged Challenges

Jack Mogens is a sixth grader at Tall Pines Elementary School. It's late March as he begins his sixth season playing Little League baseball for the Tall Pines Braves.

Jack gets "plunked" on the side of his head while batting on Opening Day. The hit shakes his confidence to the point where he's now afraid of inside pitches.

Compounding Jack's challenge is the "revenge pitch" he takes during the team's following practice. His nemesis, Kurt "Malfoy" Beacham, heard him talking smack about him in school; and throws a pitch, hitting him in the ribs.

Nightmares haunt Jack, where a faceless pitcher is throwing balls at him, while glued to the batter's box. His anxiety builds, forcing him to feign injury to avoid playing in next weekend's game.

"Family emergency" is Jack's excuse as to why he missed Saturday's competition. His teammates and buddies aren't buying it in the cafeteria Monday morning. Jack finds his deceptions becoming harder to conceal.

Depressed, Jack unexpectedly coins the phrase, "open to mopin" when Andy Rossiter, (his best friend since second grade) questions his attitude.

Andy helps Jack save face with his buddies after missing Saturday's game. Their ultimate connection occurs at the Tall Pines Family Pharmacy while thumbing through comic books.

In an awkward moment of silence and avoided eye contact, Jack knows he owes Andy an explanation why he missed Saturday's game. When Andy asks, he exposes himself emotionally and admits his fear of getting hit by the ball. Andy affirms his feelings by responding, "Everyone is a little scared of the ball sometimes." It's a poignant display of emotions between two boys; not often encouraged in today's society.

Northrop has a talent for crafting narrative relatable to middle school-aged children: "but don't even pretend you've never faked a fever or blamed the cat for breaking something or anything like that. Don't even pretend to pretend." He also addresses doing homework and riding the school bus: "Right on cue, the bus pulls up, and its doors open. Shut up and get in it says."

Jack enjoys a loving relationship with his parents. They attend all of his games; and watch Major League Baseball together at home.

Even so, he sometimes frets over their parental control. Regarding his computer access: "Mom and dad have so many filters on this thing, it's a wonder anything gets through. Like St. Paul the Apostle could send me a personal email telling me to study hard, and it would end up in the spam folder."

Collecting Major League Baseball cards with his father is one of the duo's favorite pastimes. Viewing his dad's most prize-possessed rookie card, Cal Ripken, Jr., Jack shamefully realizes that Ripken Jr. would never fear inside pitches or let his team down. Baseball bobbleheads, a row of baseballs, and a big poster from the Baseball Hall of Fame in Jack's bedroom also provide him an a-ha moment.

Jack's emerging sexuality is evident in his awareness of the team's shortstop, Katie Bowes: "She glances up and I look down fast. I don't think she saw."

What kid doesn't have a favorite pet that's part of their being? Jack has his in Nax, a black Labrador retriever. Nax sleeps at the foot of Jack's bed; and knows when he's happy or upset.

Baseball language complements Plunked, including "ducks on the pond" (two men on base with two outs).

Well-written literature transcends time. The release of Plunked this March however, complements the start of Little League and Major League Baseball, making it an ideal read for any sports-minded kid.

If you're an educator looking to assign, or suggest a book for your middle school-aged boys, Plunked is it. If you're a parent anticipating your child's summer reading assignment, or support reading in your kids (especially boys), you'll hit a home run with Plunked.

To view excellent literature, written for grade school children and young adults, including author interviews and give-aways, visit: http://www.scholastic.com/kids/stacks/?lnkid=stacks/nav/home/main.

Timothy Zaun is a blogger, speaker and freelance writer. Visit him online at http://timzaun.com.

Important Tips for Publishing a Children's Book

The task of finding a publisher for your book can be daunting. Even J.K. Rowling, the highly acclaimed author of the Harry Potter books, received many rejections before achieving her phenomenal success. To circumvent the publisher problem, you may wish to consider publishing a children's book yourself. This route can be a very profitable one, providing you know what you're doing.

As soon as you start to investigate the possibility of self-publishing you will find yourself surrounded by apparent offers to assist. There are hundreds of companies only too ready to part you from your cash, and charge you a very high price indeed for publishing your work. Known as "vanity publishers", these organizations are out to make high profits - for themselves, not you!

As a self-publisher, your best option is to simply choose a regular, commercial printing company to carry out your work. You should fully investigate the market and choose a company that offers competitive prices. By following this route you will have full control of the process, and can make your own decisions about quality of materials and finish.

By using a mainstream printing company to assist you in publishing a children's book you will be able to retain full copyright to your work. There will be no requirement for you to sign a contract with the printer in this respect. This leaves you free to take all the profits from sales of your work, and also at liberty to use another printer, should you so wish, for any future reprints of your book.

It's important that you are fully aware of the work involved in publishing a children's book yourself. You must be prepared to take responsibility for all aspects of the process such as editing and proofreading. Also there will be important decisions to make on layout, font size, typefaces, bindings and so on. The level of involvement is considerable, but perhaps this is something you will in fact relish.

Providing you choose a printing company with a good reputation and high standards of customer care, these additional tasks need not be overtaxing. Ensure your children's book printing company is prepared to offer plenty of guidance, and that you can easily contact them for updates and clarifications.

Lastly, I'd like to touch on the subject of ISBNs. International Standard Book Numbers are unique 13 digit identifiers and enable books to be ordered and tracked in a commercial distribution network. If you are planning to handle sales of your children's book yourself, by selling directly in person or through a website, it's not necessary to have an ISBN.

Lesley Carr has a wealth of advice and tips for aspiring writers, including how to find inspiration for your work, getting your draft manuscript into shape, and how to manage your route into self-publishing. She works closely with http://www.printninja.com/ to assist authors with getting their work into print.