#17 Christmas eBooks for Kids

     On my other blog www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com, I recently welcomed a reading audience from Spain.  

     Now a welcome is also in order for a new reading audience in Jamaica, representing the 45th country reported in the combined stats of my two blogs. 

     With the upcoming holidays, more children will soon have access to digital readers.  I feel that it is important for us to provide them with a variety of quality literature.  Hopefully, some of the suggestions in this blog will help you locate it on Barnes and Noble and Amazon.com.

     Apps are also available for many other devices such as smart phones, tablets, and computers.  Many of them have parental control features to protect children from some of the "junk" on the internet.  Investigate it and consider investing in this new reading format. Kids love it!

*****

     My first recommendation today is by James Harriot, well-known as the author of the All Creatures Great and Small series of books about a country veterinarian.  The specific Christmas story I am suggesting was published in 1993 as The Christmas Day Kitten.  I had to dig hard to find it in digital format. It finally surfaced in an Audible Audible collection by Harriot on Amazon called Warm and Joyful Animal Tales.  It sells for $9.95 but is free with a 30-day Audible trial membership. 

*****

     Barbara Robinson published The Best Christmas Pageant Ever in 1971. This humorous little tale has enjoyed huge popularity and been dramatized for television and stage, but don't you agree that children should have the opportunity to read Robinson's real words?  Amazon sell it for the Kindle at $5.69 and Barnes and Noble offers it for the Nook at $5.99.

*****

     Both Amazon and Barnes and Noble offer a classic holiday collection for $2.99 by Golgotha Press (published in 2011) entitled 50 Classic Christmas Stories.  The contents list The Fir Tree, The Little Match Girl, The Bird Christmas Carol, and many others I have never read.  Please preview this this anthology to assure yourself that its spiritual approach is compatible with your family values.

*****

     The Gift of the Magi was published by O.Henry (William Sydney Porter) in 1906.  Known for short stories with surprise endings, O.Henry does not disappoint in this classic.  

     B&N offers several editions priced from $.99.  They also offer an "easy read" edition for $1.39 (though I prefer the author's original, myself).

     Amazon also has several versions, priced from "free" to $9.99.  One version is $.99 in four languages and another is in Japanese for $1.99.

*****

     A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens was published in 1843.  Several editions are offered for B&N's Nook for between $.99 and $12.99, and several for Amazon's Kindle are priced between "free" and $4.99.

*****

     And now for a small regret again.  

     I had another experience similar to the one I reported last time about Shel Silverstein's poetry books not being available in digital format. 

     Natalie Savage Carlson's Newberry winner, The Family Under the Bridge is currently not available for digital readers.  That, in no way limits my need to recommend it as a wonderful holiday story. It only limits the book's audience. 

     It is my hope that by including it along with my comments, publishers will soon find a way to offer it. 

*****

     And now I have a little holiday gift for you, my readers. On December 8 and 9, Amazon.com is offering my eBook Pomegranate (Agent C Series) by Lynda at no cost for eBooks. It has a futuristic setting but some connections straight out of very old Greek mythology.  It also has messages about the safe use of the internet, and the importance of family and friends.  

 

     I chose to offer this book because that is where Jessie, the main character in my current writing project Jessie's Journey, was first introduced. (See www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com.)

*****

     And one last little piece of business.  I have signed an exclusive agreement with Amazon for all eight of my eBooks for at least the next 90 days.  

     This means that they will only be available on Amazon.com for Kindle or Kindle apps.  You will not be able to purchase them for B&N's Nook reading devices until at least March.  

     It also means my eBooks will have some special promotion options with Amazon, including their "Prime", and member-lending library.

     However, I will continue to recommend books sold by both companies on this blog.  

     Next time I will recommend some favorite children's series available as eBooks.

     Until then, please keep reading...  

       

#16 Humorous eBooks for Kids

       My stated objective for this post was to recommend several eBooks for kids with humorous poems, riddles and chapter stories.

     That turned out to be more challenging than I had expected for two reasons: one is that some of the best examples are not out in digital format (yet). The other difficulty has to do with what kids find amusing.

     I had, for example, almost forgotten how so many of my fourth graders broke into uncontrolled gales of laughter at any sound or suggestion of bodily noises.

     So, I have done my best here to sort out some wholesome examples of children's humor with only one serious regret. Shel Silverstein's books of poetry are still unavailable for the Nook or Kindle.  

     Go ahead, with my blessings, and read his wonderful works in regular "printed on paper" books.  Trust me, you will love them in any format.  

*****

     My first eBook recommendation is by Roald Dahl who also wrote the Charlie and the Chocolate Factory books.

     His humor is a bit dark, but very, very funny.  The Twits was published in 1980, and is the story of Mr. and Mrs. Twit, a couple of despicable individuals who take turns playing tricks on each other. At last a family of circus monkeys  teaches them one very final lesson.  

     It is a fun read-aloud, and is available for $6.99 for both the Kindle and Nook (Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com).

     So far, so good, right?  Now it's going to get tricky, so pay close attention to which books are offered by whom.

*****

     Jack Prelutksy's poetry book entitled What a Day it Was at School! (2009) is available from Amazon for the Kindle for $5.99, but B&N does not have it for their Nook.

*****

     Casey at the Bat and Other Great Poems for Kids (2009), is offered by Amazon.com for their Kindle for $2.49, and by B&N.com for their Nook for $2.99.

*****

     And now we come to the joke and riddle books.  Parents and teachers, you do realize that these books will require your active participation, don't you?--especially, the Knock, Knock jokes?

*****

     Michelle Zimmerman has published a collection entitled 101 Christmas Jokes for Kids downloadable to the Kindle for $1.99.  In her description, she suggests using a phone app so your child can enjoy reading jokes while waiting at the grocery store or doctor's office. 

     Keep those kids reading!

*****

     Jeffrey Fisher has published Ho! Ho! Ho! Christmas Jokes for Kids on B&N for their Nook for $.99.

*****

     There are many, many titles.  You will want to sort through the titles carefully, though.  Just enter "joke books for kids" in the search window of your device or computer web page.

     I hope you have found this post helpful.  Next time, I will recommend some eBooks about the holidays.

     Until then, please keep reading...

    

#15 eBooks About Strong, Independent Kids

     Margaret's Christmas Cookies by Lynda will be offered as a free promotion for your Kindles on November 10 and 11. I hope you will take advantage of this special offer for holiday gift-giving.

     Because I have accepted a 90-day exclusive contract with Amazon, the title is no longer offered with my other eBooks on Barnes and Noble for their Nook reading devices. It is currently only on Amazon for Kindles.

    Margaret, the main character in my story, fits the theme for this post, so I am using it for one of today's recommended books. I have previously posted an entry to my other blog with details about it.  You can access it by clicking on Margaret's Christmas Cookies info.

*****

     Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell was published in 1960. It is the story of a young girl who learns to survive alone on a small island. Both Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble offer it for their reading devices at $4.99.

*****

     The Boxcar Children Mysteries #1 by Gertrude Chandler Warner was originally published in 1924.  In recent years, the series has been extended by other authors, but the original versions are available on both Amazon and B&N for $4.61. Warner's books are also available as eBooks in collections of multiple series numbers.

*****

     I can't resist re-recommending my favorite classic, Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson, originally published in 1883.  Amazon offers a free version (public domain) as well an one with maps and illustrations for only$1.99.  B&N also has versions beginning at $.99. The choices include a children's classic with an easier readability, though the original version is wonderful for shared reading with an adult to support discussions.

*****

     I was disappointed to find that Pippi Longstocking, published in 1945 by Swedish author Astrid Lindgren, is only available as an Audible Audio Kindle edition for $10.95 on Amazon.  Pippi is a wonderful story and an easy read.  I believe that it should be offered as a regular eBook, and I hope it soon will be.

     In the next post, I will recommend some outstanding eBooks of children's humor.  Some are poetry, some riddles, and some are chapter books. 

     For now, please keep reading... 

    

#14 Sci-Fi eBooks About Time Travel

     Not long ago, the idea of students reading books on a digital reading device like the Nook and the Kindle would have fit nicely in the realm of science fiction.  Now it is a reality.

     That explains why I feel that this theme of time travel for my eBook recommendations is so very appropriate!

*****

     I have four titles to offer in this post, and the most recent is entitled The Magic Half, published in 2008 by author Annie Barrows.  It is the story of an eleven-year-old girl who has two sets of twins in her family.  She feels left out until she travels back in time and discovers her own lost twin.  This eBooks sells for $1.63 on Barnes and Noble and Amazon for their Nook and Kindle readers.

*****

     Dinosaurs Before Dark is the first of the Magic Tree House Series of time travel books.  Written by Mary Pope Osborne, it was first published in 1992.  Jack and Annie discover a tree house with a book that allows them to travel back to prehistoric times.  This eBook sells for $4.99 for both the Nook and the Kindle.

*****

     The first of another popular time travel series was published one year earlier.  The Knights of the Kitchen Table was the first of the wittyTime Warp Trio Series by Jon Scieszka.  It was published in 1991. After Joe receives a mysterious gift from his uncle for his tenth birthday, he finds that he and his friends, Fred and Sam, can travel to the land of knights and dragons. This eBook also sells for $4.99 for Nook and Kindle reading devices.

*****

     Madeleine L'Engle's A Wrinkle in Time was published in 1962 and won a Newberry Medal for it the following year.  It is the story of Meg and Charles Wallace who with their friend Calvin O'Keefe enter a tesseract (a wrinkle in time) to search for the Wallace children's missing father. It sells as an eBook for both Nook and Kindle for $6.99. 

*****

     (Did you notice that Barnes and Noble and Amazon may be trying to coordinate their prices?)

     Next time I will recommend eBooks about strong, independent kids.

     Please feel free to transfer over to my other blog by clicking here:  www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com.  My current post explains where I got the ideas for my own book entitled Pomegranate (Agent C Series) by Lynda.

     And please keep reading!

   

#13 Ebooks About Kids Who Move

     We live in an increasingly mobile society, but moving from place to place is not really a new phenomenon.  Today, I will recommend some excellent chapter books on this subject. They are all available as Ebooks at barnesandnoble.com for Nook reading devices and on amazon.com for Kindles.  

     Free apps are also available so that these books can be downloaded to home computers, ipads, some smart phones, and many other devices. 

     My first two recommendations were published in the last ten years.  One of them is usually read by (or to) children in the early grades and the other is more suitable for middle-grade readers.

*****  

     Gooney Bird Green, first published in 2004 by Lois Lowrey, is about a new second-grade student.  Something of an expert in the art of story telling, Gooney Bird Green insists that all of her amazing stories are completely true.  Then she surprises her new classmates by explaining how it is possible.  The Ebook is available for Barnes and Noble's Nook at $9.99 and Amazon's Kindle for $5.69.

*****

     The Green Glass Sea was first published in 2006 by Ellen Klages.  Set in 1943 in Los Alamos, New Mexico, it is the story of kids who might have moved there with their families at the time the Manhattan Project was being developed. B&N sells it for the Nook for $8.99 and Amazon sells it for Kindle for $8.99.

*****

     Teetoncey (Book 1 of the Cape Hatteras Trilogy), published in 1974, is another wonderful book by Theodore Taylor whom you may recognize as the author of The Cay and The Trouble With Tuck (see the previous post about animal stories).  The setting for Teetoncey is the Outer Banks of North Carolina in 1898.  A shipwreck leaves one lone survivor on the shore, a comatose young girl with no identification. This book sells for $9.30 on B&N for their Nook and $7.99 on Amazon for Kindle.

*****

     I like to recommend one classic in each of my lists, and my recommendation of a book that has stood the test of time and fits into our theme about kids who move to a new place is Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery, first published in 1908.  Set on Prince Edward Island, it is the story of an elderly brother and sister who request a boy to help with the farm work, but receive a girl, instead.  Barnes and Noble and Amazon both sell it for $.99.

*****

     Next time I will recommend three Ebooks about time travel, one of which is a children's classic.

     Please feel free to visit my other blog at www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com.  I currently have published a post that explains the source of the ideas for my book entitled Margaret's Christmas Cookies. Just click on the link above to transfer to this site.

     And please keep reading...      





          

        

#12 Animal Fiction in eBooks for Kids

     How can I possibly recommend only three animal books for kids?  There are so many!

     Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo was a Newberry Honor Book in 2001.  It is a sweet story about Opal and her stray dog, Winn-Dixie.  The eBook is available for Nook on BN.com and Kindle on Amazon.com for $3.50.

     The Trouble With Tuck by Theodore Taylor was first published in 1981and is also a dog book.  When Tuck begins to loose his sight, his young owner finds a wonderful solution to his problem.  The eBook is available for both Kindle and Nook from their respective web sites for $5.99.

     Curious George was written and illustrated by H.A. Rey and Margaret Rey in 1941.  It eventually became a series of pictures books about George, the monkey, and his owner, the man with the yellow hat.  It is available on Amazon.com for Kindle for $5.24 and on BN.com for Nook for $6.99.  The illustrations will be black and white unless your device displays color.

     Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel was published in 1970, and is an illustrated beginning reader.  It is available as an eBook for both Nook and Kindle at $4.99. 

   (Woops! I think that was already four books, and I still have one more)  Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is a classic picture book first published in 1941.  Amazon has an Audible Audio Edition for Kindle that sells for only $2.95.  I have not actually tried it, but if you are interested in these audio versions, you might want to consider it.  The price is especially good.

     Next time I will recommend some books about kids moving to new places.  Please join us.

     On my other blog, I have written a post about the sources of my ideas for Monkey Tales, a little beginning reader.

     Please check it out by clicking on the following link:

        www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com.


     And then keep reading...   

#11 Historical Fiction in Ebooks for Kids

     In this post I will be recommending some historical fiction in ebooks for kids--stories that focus on three different times in history.

     The first is Weedflower by Cynthia Kadohata.   Shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor, twelve-year-old Sumiko's Japanese American family is forced to move away from their home on a flower farm in California and into an internment camp near the Colorado River in Arizona until the end of World War II. Weedflower is available for both Nooks (Barnes&Noble) and Kindles (Amazon) for $5.99.

     My second recommendation has a similar theme, but takes place more than a hundred years earlier.  Soft Rain: A Story of the Cherokee Trail of Tears was written by Cornelia Cornelissen. In 1838 the Cherokee people were relocated from their homes in North Carolina to Oklahoma. Soft Rain is a 9-year-old girl who becomes temporarily separated from some of her family members on the long and dangerous walk. This ebook is also available for Nook (Barnes&Noble) and Kindle (Amazon) for $5.99. 

     For my third historical fiction ebook, I am recommending Johnny Tremain by Esther Hoskins Forbes.  This book was the winner of the 1943 Newbery Medal, and is the story of a fourteen-year-old boy who becomes involved in the events leading up to the American Revolutionary War, including the Boston Tea Party and the first shots fired at Lexington.  Barnes&Noble's ebook for Nook sells for $5.87, and Amazon's ebook for Kindle sells for $4.99.

     I have one more recommendation which, though not a piece of fiction, is worthy of your notice.  

     Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordical Gerstein, the recipient of the 2004 Caldecott Medal for outstanding illustrations, is an amazing picture book. It shows and tells the story of French aerialist Philippe Petit who, in 1974, walked a tightrope between the two towers of the World Trade Center. (Yes, those same towers!)  Amazon offers it for Kindles at $5.99. 

     Feel free to visit my other blog at www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com.  I am discussing where the ideas for my published stories originated, and my picture book Circles in the Wind is the current topic.

     Please keep reading...

         

#10 Three Wonder-ful Ebooks for Kids

     I intended to recommend some Ebooks of historical fiction for kids in this post.  I even announced that I would do so.  I still plan to do it--next time.


     You see, I became distracted by a very special new piece of literature for children and felt compelled to adjust my schedule to make room for it right this minute. 


     R.J. Palacio's Wonder is wonderful, and two other books  fell nicely into place beside it.  In the classroom, we called it the "teachable moment".


     So today when I recommend another trio of books published in various time periods, you will find that they all share the word "wonder" as a part of their titles.


     They are all available for Kindle devices from Amazon.com and for Nook from Barnes & Noble.

*****

     Wonder by R.J. Palacio was published earlier this year.  Told in first person by six of the main characters, the story reveals Auggie's realistic experience as he enters school for the first time with the facial deformity he's had since birth.


     Palacio's writing rings true and honest, and I look forward to seeing this author's name listed as awards are announced later this year.  I also hope to read more of her work in the future.


     Wonder is available for both Kindle and Nook on Amazon.com and B&N for $10.99, and is also offered in audio formats.

*****

     Tony DiTerlizzi's The Search for WondLa was published in 2010.  A futuristic piece of science fiction, the story's presentation is enhanced by the author/illustrator's liberal use of his own very creative illustrations.

     This ebook is available at $8.99 for the  Amazon and Barnes&Noble reading devices.   

    (Diterlizzi has recently published a sequel called A Hero for WondLa, but you should be aware that the story plots are sequential, and better understood when read in order.)

*****

     Just as I did in post #9, I am again recommending a classic as my third ebook.

     Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland was first published in 1865 by Charles Dodgson who wrote as Lewis Carroll.  Many versions of this story exist, including a popular animated movie by Walt Disney.


     Amazon and Barnes & Noble each offer versions with the author's original and complete words for the Kindle devices (free) and the Nooks ($.99).

*****

     I hope you will forgive me this little side trip.  Next time I will follow through on my promise to recommend historical fiction.

     Recently I finished publishing the last of my seven ebooks for Barnes & Noble's Nook eReader.  They are all seven available for Amazon's Kindle as well.  Lucky Alana (Agent C Series) by Lynda sells for $3.99.

     

     My other titles are:

         Tiny Others (Agent C Series) by Lynda, $3.99

         Pomegranate (Agent C Series) by Lynda, $3.99

         White Rabbit Time (Agent C Series) by Lynda, $3.99

         Margaret's Christmas Cookies by Lynda, $2.99

         Circles in the Wind by Lynda, $2.99

         Monkey Tales by Lynda, $2.99

     These ebooks are all illustrated, and have various reading levels.

     You may be interested in my other blog, at www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com. Its purpose is to encourage reading in students who have the skills, but haven't yet found the joy in choosing to do it.


     
     ...And I will recommend three eBooks of historical fiction for kids next time.  It's a promise. 

              

    

#9 Three Recommended Ebooks

   
     Let's consider three ebooks for kids about tornadoes. The first is new (2012), the second is older (1986), and the third was first published in 1900.  I have no illustrations to offer here without violating copyright laws, but please look these up on Amazon.com or BN.com.

*****  

     The Storm Makers (2012) by Jennifer E. Smith is a children's science fiction tale about a boy who as the power to control weather.  It is illustrated by Brett Helquist who also illustrated Blue Balliett's Calder Game, Chasing Vermeer, and The Wright 3.   


     The Storm Makers is available from Amazon for their Kindles, and Barnes and Noble offer it for their Nook devices.  Both companies sell the ebook for $9.99.


     I liked it.  The subject of our changing weather patterns is a current one, and one that is worthy of some thought and discussion.

*****

     Night of the Twisters: The Most Dangerous Night of Their Lives... is based on a 1980 disaster in Nebraska.  The book was first published in 1986 by Ivy Ruckman.  


     It also offers you the opportunity to try Amazon's Audible Audio system for some of their Kindles, iPhones, and Androids, and Amazon.com sells it for $9.95. The text is unabridged (complete and not a summary), and it is read to the audience by a professional who sounds like the main character.  


     I find this is a legitimate reading experience considering the fact that I did "Read-aloud" nearly every day in my fourth-grade classroom, and many of my students liked to read along in their own books as I read to them.

     Night of the Twister: The Most Dangerous Night of Their Lives... is a powerful story and very well written.

*****     

     My last suggestion is a classic.  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was published by L. Frank Baum in 1900.  Some of the Amazon Kindle editions are free because it is now more than one hundred years old and is a "public domain" book.  I noticed that both Barnes and Noble and Amazon also offer a Complete Wizard of Oz Collection for less than a dollar.  L. Frank Baum wrote about fifteen "Oz" books. 


     It is always interesting for children to read the original words of a story with which they are familiar from a movie.  


     I strongly suggest keeping a list of things that are the same and those that are different from these two art forms.  This supports a critical reading/thinking skill called "compare and contrast".

     Next time I will recommend some historical fiction for kids.


     Until then, keep reading...

#8 Parental Controls for Ebooks

     My ebook Pomegranate (Agent C Series) is available for Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook.  It sells for $3.99, and contains a strong message for young readers about the importance of using technology safely.


     Would you, as a parent, happily invest in a digital reading device for your child if you were more comfortable about controlling its easy access to inappropriate reading material and internet sites?


     I was teaching fourth grade in the '90's when our school district presented the students with a new math series.  The first week of school I was leading my class in a Scavenger Hunt of each of their textbooks when we discovered that the math book had a math practice site for their home computers.  


    Suddenly, the hand of one of my new students flew into the air, and his troubled voice blurted out, "But teacher, there is some really nasty stuff on the internet."


     Most kids know about that "stuff", and it's difficult to offer the good "stuff" without exposing them to the bad.


     I understand that Amazon's Kindle, Barnes & Noble's Nook, and Apple's iPad have optional password protection.  Use a search engine (Google, Bing, etc.), and do some research about it.  


     If you are concerned, you really should be.  


     Also, be aware that if you have downloaded adult reading materials on one device, it might be automatically available on a second device of the same brand.  I have two Kindles, one a keyboard Kindle, and the other a Kindle Fire.  When I purchase a Kindle ebook for Kindle 1, it is also available for my Kindle 2.  


     Would I want my ten year old reading those top three books on today's best seller list?  (You probably know which ones I mean.  They have been the subjects of many television talk shows lately.)


     And another thing, ordering books usually requires the use of a credit card, but does that reassure you?  Until the billing arrives, isn't it possible that the adult card holder might not even be aware of some purchases?


     So how else can we protect our young readers from their own curiosity?  Talk about our issues with them, of course.  


     Make rules?  Quite possibly.  


     The devices might have to be stored in common areas of the home where their use could be monitored--similar to the use of a laptop computer.  


     Should the Ereaders ever leave the house for sleep-overs or taken to school?  Should they be taken to libraries or malls where free wireless service (WiFi) is available?


     Each and every family has its own set of concerns.  The Ereaders are a new tool for entertainment and learning, and kids love that kind of thing.  


     That is good, isn't it?  


     I hope so.  By establishing some deliberate practices and sharing good ideas, I hope we can find ways to use the Ereaders safely.


     As Percy's mother says in Pomegranate, "This is not a toy!"



   


      


     

#7 A Link to a List of Free Classics

     I have just discovered a new (at least to me) list of free classic books for Amazon's Kindle.


     Just click here on Kindle Classics for Kids and discover the list of 39 titles!  It is also labeled "Part 1" so there must be at least a Part 2.


     One word of caution about classics, however.  Be aware that cultural norms have changed since these books were written a hundred or more years ago.  It is important that the author's own words be shared in the company of an adult who is prepared to discuss any of the young readers' concerns about these older words or concepts.


     As a fourth-grade teacher, I made it a rule to always read the entire book first before I used it for a read-aloud.  It can be confusing for members of a young audience to sort out who is speaking--the teacher, the character, or the author.


     I am currently in the process of publishing my seven ebooks for Barnes & Noble's Nook.  Margaret's Christmas Cookies is listed for $2.99, and Monkey Tales 
will likely be listed in the next couple of days.

     (And all seven of the following titles are listed for either $2.99 or $3.99 on Amazon.com for their Kindle.)

     Please keep reading...summertime is reading time.

#6 Another Free Classic

     

     You are probably familiar with the old saying, "You can't judge a book by its cover."  The book above, Heidi by Johanna Spyri, is one of the free children's classics offered by Amazon for downloading on your Kindle.  With a Kindle app, you can also use quite a few other reading devices and computers.

     The cover is plain because this Public Domain Book was digitized for you by volunteers.  The product is a bit like the less expensive Generic Brands at the grocery store.

     However, the words are the real author's own words, (allowing for possible translations). The story is as rich and wonderful as that in books with fancy binding, and it is yours instantly whenever you decide to order it from Amazon.com.  Just look for the plain cover and remember to check the price.  It should be listed at $0.00!

     If you haven't read Heidi for a while, share it with someone else who loves good stories.  It's a sweet, gentle tale with nice people and a happy ending.  I personally think we need more of that kind today.

     P.S.  But if you are also interested in colorful book covers, you may be interested in the current post on my other blog.  Just click on www.jumpup2chapterbooks.blogspot.com.  

     Enjoy!  

        

     

#5 Free Classics for Kids

     Welcome to our newest readership in Australia.  We applaud the high level of literacy you have in your part of the world.

     I am still getting used to a brand new computer. It is both wonderful and terrible; a blessing and a curse.  My life will never be the same, and there is still much to learn.  I feel that I've been moving forward in slow motion as overwhelming agony and confusion enveloped me.

     Enough artistic expressions, though.  I am finally ready to move forward.

     I promised you some time ago that I would discuss the free Kindle ebooks of classic literature available from Amazon.com and will begin with one of my favorites.


     Robert Louis Stevenson wrote Treasure Island for his stepson, Lloyd Osbourn, and published it in 1883.  Because its chapters were originally printed as a series of tidy little parts--a serial--they are just the right size for shared read-aloud sessions between our young readers and their mentors.


     The language is a bit tricky, and the descriptions need to be carefully analyzed as you progress through the reading. (I had my fourth graders draw the maps, floorplans, etc. to clarify details.)


     ...But the story is incredible.  It pulls readers of all ages into itself and provides us with the opportunity to read a real classic in the original words of the author.


     And (wonder of wonders), it is free as a Kindle ebook from Amazon.com!  Be careful which version you select, and make sure you find the one that lists the price as $0.00.


     There are dozens of these children's classics, and I will suggest another one next time. Join us then.


     And happy reading!