President's Day means that many of you have at least a long weekend this weekend (unless you are making up a snow day!). Some of you are off just one day and others of you have as much as a week's vacation. It's a great time to catch up on reading for pleasure, which you may not have time for when you are in school.
This month we celebrate Black History Month at Kidsreads.com. To celebrate see our roundup of new books that celebrate the contributions of Black Americans.
Our Poll and Question this month are all about audiobooks. Do you think that listening to an audiobook "counts" as reading it? Let us know by answering the poll below. Also, let us know what book you would love to listen to.
Happy Valentine's Day to you from all of us at Kidsreads.com. Hey, don't you think it's cool to get a valentine from a worm --- albeit a bookworm?
Booker T. Worm for Kidsreads.com
Cool New Books for February
In this month's roundup of cool new books fans of the Little House series will be thrilled to know that a chapter-book biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder is now available. Also, Wendelin Van Draanen, author of the popular Sammy Keyes series, has returned with a brand new series about a boy who creates a new identity for himself on the Internet.
Kidsreads.com Founder Carol Fitzgerald and her 9-year-old son Cory recently interviewed the mother-daughter writing team of Louisa Young and Isabel Adomakoh Young --- together known as Zizou Corder --- about LIONBOY, their first children's novel. Louisa and Isabel talk about the process of writing the book, reveal who their favorite characters are and offer readers a preview of the next two installments in this spellbinding trilogy.
LIONBOY by Zizou Corder Young Charlie Ashanti has a secret --- he can talk to cats! Most of the time his gift is fun, but when his parents are kidnapped, he must rely on a network of pedigreed felines, alley cats, and even lions to find his mum and dad. Read more about this book, the authors, a review and an excerpt.
February is Black History Month, and one of the best ways to celebrate is to take a look at some of the wonderful children's books that honor the numerous achievements of African Americans and the contributions they have made throughout history.
In this roundup we pay tribute to African Americans from different walks of life who courageously spoke out against slavery, racism and discrimination, and fought tirelessly for equal rights.
LIONBOY Contest -- Enter by Wednesday, February 17th!
To celebrate the publication of LIONBOY by Zizou Corder, Kidsreads.com is running a contest where 25 readers each will have a chance to win a copy of the book! More about this exciting title can be found at http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0803729820-about.asp
To enter the Kidsreads.com LIONBOY Contest, please answer the following question on the Official LIONBOY Contest Entry Form, which you can print out here: http://www.kidsreads.com/funstuff/contests/LIONBOY Contest Entry.pdf
Q: Why does the lion have to keep acting threatening?
The answer to the question can be found by reading an excerpt of LIONBOY at http://www.kidsreads.com/reviews/0803729820-excerpt.asp
We've updated our Series feature listings with new as well as soon-to-be-published books. Whether you want to see what is going on with your favorite series, or find a new series to explore, this is the link you don't want to bookmark!
Calling All Sports Fans! Author Matt Christopher's New Website is LIVE!
Readers who are sports fans will want to explore MattChristopher.com, the new official website for bestselling author Matt Christopher. Christopher's recent books include Body Check and On The Court With...Shaquille O'Neal. MattChristopher.com offers information about his work --- including a bibliography broken down by the type of sport. The site also has an "All-Star Trivia Game," tour/appearance information, and a special section for teachers and librarians.
LOAMHEDGE by Brian Jacques
In this sixteenth installment of Brian Jacques's popular Redwall series, adventures at Redwall Abbey continue at a fast pace as new light is shed on the Abbey's ancient origins. Reviewed by Sally M. Tibbetts.
THE RESCUE: Guardians of Ga'Hoole - Book Three by Kathryn Lasky
Soren, the barn owl and his friends set off to find their missing and much loved teacher Ezylryb. In the process, they fight a mysterious and terrifying owl called "Metal Beak." It's not until the confrontation is over that Soren discovers the true identity of his opponent. Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber.
THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE by E.L. Konigsburg
In this companion novel to the acclaimed SILENT TO THE BONE, twelve-year-old Margaret Rose Kane launches a campaign to save three scrap metal towers that her uncles have spent the last forty-five years building. Reviewed by Sarah A. Wood and excerpted.
A COOL MOONLIGHT by Angela Johnson
In this dreamlike tale, nine-year-old Lila lives in darkness and yearns for the sunshine to which she is dangerously allergic. Can her mysterious nocturnal friends help her experience the sun? Reviewed by Terry Miller Shannon.
THE YOUNG MAN AND THE SEA by Rodman Philbrick
Twelve-year old Skiff Beaman has a multitude of problems: his mother recently died, his father won't get off the couch, and his fishing boat, the Mary Rose, just sank into the sea. Skiff must find a way to save the boat --- and get his family back on its feet again. Reviewed by Renee Kirchner.
I HOUDINI: The Autobiography of a Self-Educated Hamster by Lynne Reid Banks
Houdini is a hamster who can escape from anything. While on his escapades he causes all kinds of trouble, from chewing through wires to causing a flood. But Houdini thinks it's all worth it, because he is desperate to explore the Great Outdoors. Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber and excerpted.
I, JACK by Jack the dog, as told to Patricia Finney
Jack is a yellow Labrador retriever who lives with a family of three children and three cats. He relates the story of his courageous deeds and how he became close friends with Petra, the girl dog who lives next door. Reviewed by Sarah Sawtelle and excerpted.
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