Old books, new readers

Thankful, thankful, thankful.

As a reader I'm thankful for eyes that work well enough to enjoy the printed word. As I get older grow up I'm grateful for cheap reading glasses and good lighting, too. As a pack rat, I'm always grateful for the people and institutions who graciously receive my dusty old books and breathe new life into them.

What do you do with your old books?

Doctor and dentist offices, schools, new school teachers, after-school activity centers, and a slew of charities can get your once-loved-but-long-shelved volumes into the hands of folks who will enjoy them as you did.

Why not go clean off a shelf right now? It's a lovely, tangible way to share your love of reading.

And to make room for new books ;)

Happy Veteran's Day: special guest post coming soon

How we commemorate holidays confounds me. Around here, most schools are in session and most businesses are open today, Veteran's Day. Maybe we just need a few more organized retail sales to properly mark the occasion? That's sarcasm, by the way. I really hope we don't go down that path...

Whatever else you do today, please take a moment to truly consider the gracious strength and commitment of those who serve our country. 

And please, check this blog again on Sunday November 18 for a guest post from Janie Reinart, author of Love You More Than You Know, a collection of insights from military moms. If you'd like to read more from the Cleveland-area author right now, see her blog here. 

Livia Blackburne: Using Pinterest as a Reader, Writer, and Author

Livia Blackburne: Using Pinterest as a Reader, Writer, and Author: First, congratulations to Sam for winning the Near Witch Giveaway. Second, MIT graduation was last Friday. Unfortunately, I wasn't in it. ...

^ I'm sharing Blackburne's blog entry because I think it's worth consideration and because I'm woefully behind in my own posts, so - here - read this!

Book report time!

Please raise your hand if you'd like to share a summary of something you've read recently (or even long ago).

I'm sorry. I don't see any hands.

Contact me here or on Twitter or something, would you? I'm looking forward to reading your reports! And don't worry, I won't even uncap my red pen. :D

Help for struggling new readers (or over-achievers)

Got kids who need a little help with reading? Try some of the suggestions you'll find at Starfall. The site was launched thanks to a former reluctant reader and so effective it made the education section of Time magazine's current  50 best websites list. Visit the site to find free (yes, free!) fun and games and a good shot at reading improvement. Recommended for K-2nd graders.

Got over-achieving readers? You know - the 4th-grader who can handle any adult title, but maybe not the context? Librarians can be your best source of recommendations. Don't overlook those "older" titles, like The Phantom Toll Booth and Stuart Little. Vocabularies have changed a bit over the past few decades - enough to slow down a young (eager) reader and to teach a few new words along the way.

They'll thank you when it's time to take the SAT.
 

The good thing about being a book reviewer...

...is that it forces/allows you to read, a lot. The bad thing about being a book reviewer is the books are often bad. Extraordinarily bad.

Fortunately I enjoyed Primary Colors before diving into my most recent review assignments. (Next time I should plug my nose before taking the plunge!) The not-so-anonymously penned, not-quite-fictional description of an ultimately successful presidential campaign offered some wry laughs and a welcome escape from the current mess that passes for political discourse.

So - what are you reading? Whatever it is, it's gotta be better than the last thing I put down.

Back-to-School Reading Quizzes

These reading quizzes provide a fun challenge for students heading back to school, grownups bent on self-improvement, and anyone looking for a socially redeemable way to waste time on the computer. (e.g., if it's not Facebook or online gambling, it must be OK.)  Put on your thinking caps; good luck.


This one's hard!
http://www.cityu.edu.hk/elc/quiz/reading1.htm

Fun reading comprehension practice
http://www.manatee.k12.fl.us/sites/elementary/samoset/mathlabplanets.htm

Lots here, including vocabulary quizzes, for K-8th graders.
http://www.quiz-tree.com/English_smain.html