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Category Archives: Children’s Books

Great Book for Kids GIVEAWAY – Enter to Win!

May 15, 2013

Children love to learn to read at the Reading Kingdom, and there’s no better way to celebrate their success than by giving them a free children’s book…

That’s right; you could win a great book for kids in this blog post!

We sent Lingo flying around the internet to find a fantastic children’s book to share. “The Best Place for Me” by Amy Misakonis is the great book for kids we’re giving away to THREE of our lucky readers!

Here’s more about this great book for kids:

About the book:

“The Best Place For Me” is a playful and meaningful journey through some of the most exciting places on Earth. With fun rhymes and enchanting illustrations, parents and their little ones will embark on an adventure that will lead them to a place greater than anywhere else in the world. “The Best Place for Me” delivers a special message for parents to tell their children every night. “Right here with you is the best place for me, there’s no place, my sweet baby that I’d rather be.”

About the Author

“Amy Misakonis created, The Best Place for Me, her first book, for parents to convey a special message to their little ones: Right here with you, is the best place for me.

Amy lives in Annapolis, Maryland with her one year old son. He has been the inspiration for her first book and future works, including My Wish For You her second book, currently in work for release in early 2013.

Each of Amy’s stories expresses in words and playful images all of the important things that we, as parents, want our babies to know. How much we love them, and how very important they are.”

How to Win:

Enter in our rafflecopter widget below! Entries are valid until 11:59pm PST on 5/20/2013. (Entries are limited to one per household)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Once the entry period has expired, we will randomly select the winners via Rafflecopter and they will be notified via the email address provided.

Good luck!

If your children want to learn to read great books for kids, Reading Kingdom is the place to be. Our reading software successfully teaches children to read, write and spell up to a third grade level using our patented “Integrated Six Skill Method”. Click here to sign them up for a free 30 day trial of the Reading Kingdom online learning program. Lingo and company hope to see you soon!

And if you’re looking for more great books, check out the Reading Kingdom book series.

Lingo the Owl

I’m Lingo, the owl. You can find me in my favorite game of all time – the Reading Kingdom! Come play with me in the online reading program that’s disguised as a game.

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About Our Online Reading Program, Books, Books About Family, Children's Books, Reading Strategies for Kids, Teaching a Child to Read

Celebrate Children’s Book Week!

May 13, 2013

Children's Book Week

“There is no substitute for books in the life of a child.” -Mary Ellen Chase (1887-1973, an American educator and author)

Sharing a great children’s book with a child can be a memorable moment in his or her life, as well as one that can influence him or her to become a lifelong reader. To celebrate children’s book week, we’re reviewing some of our favorite books for kids, as well as some of the top children’s books you can buy your child. But first, here’s more about Children’s Book Week from the official website:

“Established in 1919, Children’s Book Week is the longest-running literacy initiative in the country. Every year, author and illustrator appearances, storytelling, parties, and other book-related events are held at schools, libraries, bookstores, museums, and homes from coast to coast! Children’s Book Week is administered by Every Child A Reader, a non-profit literacy foundation, and sponsored by the Children’s Book Council.”

Read 5 ways to pick picture books for kids to select your children’s books for the week. Once you know which types of books you’d like to read with the family, you can click here to see seven great, classic books that children love and also see our top 10 children’s books to buy for your child. If you’re looking to read something even more historic with your child, check out our amazing online collection of rare children’s books!

If your children want to learn to read, click here for a free 30 day trial of the Reading Kingdom. Our online reading program has successfully taught thousands of children to learn to read and we have the testimonials to prove it!

Lingo the Owl

I’m Lingo, the owl. You can find me in my favorite game of all time – the Reading Kingdom! Come play with me in the online reading program that’s disguised as a game.

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About Our Online Reading Program, Books, Children's Books, Education, Reading for Kids and Kids Learning Websites, Teaching a Child to Read

Funny Stories for Kids: Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs: As Retold by Mo Willems

May 9, 2013

Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs: As Retold by Mo Willems is one of Reading Kingdom’s recommended funny stories for kids. Melissa Young explains why:

“What You Need to Know:

• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs: As Retold by Mo Willems, is a hilarious, original re-telling of the classic fairy-tale.

• Only the ingenius mind of Mo Willems could come up with this creative take on Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

• Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs: As Retold by Mo Willems, will make a fantastic, funny read-aloud.

Summary:

In this clever re-telling of the old classic Goldilocks tale, three dinosaurs (Papa, Mama, and some other dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway) decide to go out. But before they leave, they meticulously make their beds, fix their chairs and leave delicious bowls of chocolate pudding (of various temperatures) on the table….for no reason (wink, wink). Mama Dinosaur mentions, as she leaves the house:

“I sure hope no innocent little succulent child happens by our unlocked home while we are…uhhh…someplace else!” (wink, wink again)

As no reader will be too shocked to learn, a little girl named Goldilocks shows up and lets herself into the dinosaur’s house. Goldilocks does everything we have come to expect of her; she eats the pudding, she sizes up the chairs and opts for the bed. But Goldilocks comes to the slow conclusion that she is in the wrong house (and wrong story!) and hightails it out of there before the hungry dinosaurs can come back and eat her!

I have come to expect the most hilarious and creative storytelling from Mo Willems, and he doesn’t disappoint with Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs: As Retold by Mo Willems. The entertaining and clever ideas that spill out of him, paired with his fantastic illustrations, which only make these stories funnier, are truly amazing.

This would be a perfect multi-age read-aloud. Little kids will just love the new spin on an old tale and older kids will enjoy the tongue-in-cheek humor. They will feel like they are “in” on the joke. I can’t recommend this storybook enough! It’s a perfect holiday gift.

Adults will enjoy reading it just as much as the kids. That is what makes Mo Willems’ humor so special: it is appealing to a wide variety of ages and is never at the expense of others. His humor never, ever hurts others or makes fun of anything. This is such a nice example for kids of all ages.”

Have your children read “Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs: As Retold by Mo Willems”? What did they think of this funny story?

Did you know that the Reading Kingdom is great for developing reading comprehension? The Reading Kingdom is our award-winning, fun, easy-to-use online program that teaches children 4-10 years old how to read and write to a third grade level. You can even sign up for a 30 day free trial, risk free!

Sweet on Books

Melissa Gaynor and Melissa Young live in a small town outside of New York City and have five children between their two families. Their children and a shared passion for children’s books brought them together as friends and business partners. Voracious readers with dreams of opening a children’s bookstore, they parlayed their passions into creating Sweet on Books and establishing themselves as two of the leading children’s book reviewers on the web.

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About Our Online Reading Program, Children's Books, Humor, Reading for Kids and Kids Learning Websites, Teaching a Child to Read

Best books for children: A Birthday for Bear

May 2, 2013

A Birthday for Bear by Bonny Becker is one of the Reading Kingdom’s recommended best books for children. Melissa Young explains why:

What You Need to Know:

• A Birthday for Bear is a continuation of Bear and Mouse’s story that started in A Visitor for Bear. It is just as enjoyable and gives the same fine example of friendship and its many benefits.
• It is a well-written, laugh out loud romp of a story.
• The illustrations are equally as gorgeous as the language.
• This is a wonderful read-aloud for your younger readers.
• The adult reader will enjoy this entertaining story as much as the young reader.

Summary:

Bear and Mouse are back! This time Bear is not interested in celebrating his birthday. He would quite like to be left alone and just be able to clean his house, like he always does on his birthday. However, Mouse has a different idea. And if you have read the hilarious precursor to this book, A Visitor for Bear, you know Mouse is quite persistent. Mouse does not give up easily. After a series of amusing tries, Mouse eventually convinces Bear of the merits of celebrating and sharing his birthday with a friend. How lucky are we, the readers, who get to go along for the ride.

And kudos to Candlewick, the publisher, for publishing this in a much more inexpensive package than the first. A Visitor for Bear is a hardcover picture book and is well worth the money. But this second adventure is in a Learn to Read-size book, which makes it less expensive and more attractive to a larger audience of young readers. For example, a newly independent reader will be very comfortable picking this book up and won’t look at it as their little brother or sister’s picture book. It is also extremely well-written, which is tricky to do in the Easy Reader genre. It is a fabulous and funny read aloud, too.”

Have your children read A Birthday for Bear? What did they think of the book?

Did you know that we run one of the leading reading websites for kids? Check out our videos, tutorials, worksheets and activities. You can also subscribe to the Reading Kingdom, our award-winning, fun, easy-to-use online program that teaches children 4-10 years old how to read and write to a third grade level. Sign up now for a 30 day free trial, risk free!

Sweet on Books

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Mystery books for kids: Walls Within Walls

April 25, 2013

Walls Within Walls by Maureen Sherry, is one of the Reading Kingdom’s recommended mystery books for kids. Melissa Young explains why:

“What You Need to Know:

• Walls Within Walls is a fabulous middle grade mystery by a debut author.
• A full-bodied, multi-character story with appropriate content for the age group it is written for, hooray!
• There is nothing too scary in this book but if your youngster is feeling a bit timid, you might want to wait
on this one until he is a bit less fearful. That said, it will not scare a child without issues.

Summary:

The Smithfork kids are moving on up, moving on up, to the east side of New York City (that was for you Jeffersons fan out there). Their dad has hit it big with his video game business and they are leaving warm and cozy Brooklyn for the wilds of Fifth Ave. With their new home comes a nanny, busier parents, less family time and a vast mystery hidden inside the walls of the new apartment. Years and years ago when the pre-war apartment building was being built, the puzzle-loving builder, Mr. Post, hid a series of clues there so that his survivors could find his enormous fortune on the occasion of his death. But his children were never able to solve the puzzle and find the fortune. Years passed, and with the stipulation in Mr. Post’s will that the walls never be touched by construction, the puzzle survived, albeit hidden behind new walls.

What a wonderful read. The story is so fast paced and compelling, I couldn’t put this book down!”
Have your children read Walls Within Walls? What did they think of the book?

Are you looking for great reading programs for kids? The Reading Kingdom is our award-winning, fun, easy-to-use online program that teaches children 4-10 years old how to read and write to a third grade level.You can sign up for a 30 day free trial, risk free!

Sweet on Books

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About Our Online Reading Program, Books, Books About Family, Children's Books