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Kidsreads.com Newsletter |
May 2003 |
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Letter From Booker T. Worm - Are You Psyched for Summer Vacation? |
The countdown is on! No matter where you live in the country, summer vacation is on the way. That means lots of time for reading.
We know that you, like us, are counting down the days till the NEW Harry Potter book is in stores. Till then we have a lot to share with you including our Sammy Keyes Feature and Contest. Enter the Contest by June 1st and you could win a personal letter from Wendelin Van Draanen (she wrote the Sammy books), as well as signed copies of all the books for you AND your classroom.
We also have news about a NEW series called Spiderwick, and nine new book reviews.
And speaking of Harry, we have three new Harry Potter trivia games from the forthcoming book called, SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW HARRY POTTER? And be sure to check out our Poll Questions. Just how long do you think it will take you to read HP5?
Have a great month...
Keep reading...
Booker T. Worm |
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Cool New Books |
HOT OFF THE PRESSES!
This month's roundup of cool new books is perfect for anyone who enjoys adventures and the Great Outdoors. But even if you're not the "adventurous" type, there are a number of titles that you should enjoy, including some that focus on the relationships --- both good and bad --- that kids have with their family and friends. |
See Cool New Books for May
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Poll |
Are you re-reading the Harry Potter books in anticipation of HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX coming out?
Yes, I already started.
Yes, I am going to do that.
No, but that's a good idea.
No, I have no desire to do that.
I do not like Harry Potter.
How many days do you think it will take you to read the 896 pages in Harry Potter Book V?
1 day
2 days
3 days
4 days
5 days
6 days
7 days
8-14 days
More than 14 days, but less than a month
A month
More than month
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Vote in the poll here.
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Question of the Month |
What character from a book could you see yourself being best friends with and why?
Send your replies to Question@kidsreads.com. |
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Mailbag |
We're looking for your best jokes, poems and comments about books!
Recently our mailbox has not been as full as we would like it. We assume you have been busy with school and activities. But now that you have FREE TIME for the holidays, we expect to hear from you. Write us at our new address: Mailbag@kidsreads.com!
Here are the rules:
We are not allowed to post anyone's e-mail address, real name, street address, phone number, school name or information, or any other information that is private about that individual. There is a law called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act which prohibits us from publishing private information about our readers. Also, we will not publish anything that has bad words in it. |
Read the Reader Mail here.
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Sammy Keyes SPECIAL FEATURE and CONTEST! Enter NOW! Closes June 1st |
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SAMMY KEYES by Wendelin Van Draanen
A Sweepstakes and an Exclusive Song Clip!
To celebrate the release of Wendelin Van Draanen's new book, SAMMY KEYES AND THE ART OF DECEPTION, Kidsreads.com has a special feature that includes a SWEEPSTAKES (the prize includes a personalized letter from the author and a collection of signed books), a 23-minute audio interview with the author and a clip from a song based on the books (note that the complete song is ONLY available when you purchase the new book SAMMY KEYES AND THE ART OF DECEPTION). How to enter to win? Answer our four trivia questions based on Sammy Keyes titles, all of which we have excerpted.
To celebrate the publication of Wendelin Van Draanen's SAMMY KEYES AND THE ART OF DECEPTION, Kidsreads.com is running a sweepstakes where readers have a chance to win a set of 8 signed books in the Sammy Keyes series as well as a letter from the author, Wendelin Van Draanen!
To enter the Kidsreads.com Sammy Keyes sweepstakes, download the sweepstakes entry form (it's a PDF file) and answer all four of the following questions. The answers may be found by reading the excerpts that we have posted! |
Read the Sammy Keyes Feature and ENTER THE CONTEST HERE
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Series Feature: Spiderwick |
THE SPIDERWICK CHRONICLES by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black
Jared Grace, his twin brother Simon, and their older sister Mallory have a legitimate reason to worry. Their lives are being turned upside down by faeries. These small, mischievous creatures cause quite a ruckus in the Grace's new house. In this feature, you'll learn more about the first two Spiderwick books (in what will be a five-book series) from Kidsreads reviewer Marya Jansen-Gruber, meet the two people who have written them, take a fun quiz, and much more! |
Read our feature about the Spiderwick series here.
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NEW Harry Potter Trivia |
Fans all over the world are eagerly awaiting the arrival of J.K. Rowling's HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX to their local bookstores. But how much do you really know about the young wizard, his friends and his enemies? Do you think you remember every single detail of their previous adventures? Find out your level of Harry Potter expertise with the soon-to-be released SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW HARRY POTTER? by Clive Gifford. This fantastic book contains 300 questions devoted to each of the first four books in the series --- an astounding 1,200 questions total!
For those of you who just can't wait for its release, Kidsreads.com has compiled a list of sample questions from the book. The questions themselves are divided into three levels of difficulty --- easy, medium and hard --- so both casual and diehard fans can appreciate and enjoy these fun quizzes. |
Play three new Harry Potter quizzes from the book, SO YOU THINK YOU KNOW HARRY POTTER? by Clive Gifford
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New Book Reviews |
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LOVE THY NEIGHBOR: The Tory Diary of Prudence Emerson, Greenmarsh, Massachusetts, 1774
Ann Turner
Ages 9-14
192 pages
Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber
In 1774, Prudence Emerson's neighbors begin preparing to fight the British for America's independence. Prudence is torn between her family's sworn allegiance to the British crown and her loneliness for friends who have abandoned her for the Patriot cause.
LAND OF THE BUFFALO BONES: The Diary of Mary Ann Elizabeth Rodgers, an English Girl in Minnesota, New Yeovil, 1873
Marion Dane Bauer
Ages 9-14
221 pages
Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber
Promising religious freedom and fertile land, Reverend Rodgers, the father of Mary "Polly" Rodgers, moves their Baptist community from England to the Minnesota prairie. However, after a treacherous journey across the sea and across the country, Polly finds that there is no paradise after all.
ELISABETH OF AUSTRIA: The Princess Bride
Barry Denenberg
Ages 9-14
144 pages
Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber
When sixteen-year-old Elisabeth Wittlesbach is chosen over her sister to marry the Emperor of Austria, she is immediately faced with the burden of sudden fame --- and begins to question whether or not she has made the right decision.
KRISTINA: The Girl King, Sweden, 1638
Carolyn Meyer
Ages 9-14
170 pages
Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber
Astrologers who predicted that the child of King Gustav II Adolf and Queen Marie Eleanore would be boy were proven wrong when Kristina was born. Nevertheless, the infant's father declared that she would eventually succeed him as king!
BEYOND THE HEATHER HILLS
Melissa Wiley
Ages 8-12
208 pages
Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber
In this fourth book in the Martha Years series, ten-year-old Martha journeys to the bustling city of Perth to visit her newly married sister, Grisie. This is Martha's first time away from the Scottish Highlands, and the fair city on the River Tay is more exciting than she could have ever imagined!
THE JOURNAL OF FINN REARDON, A NEWSIE: New York City, 1899
MY NAME IS AMERICA Series
Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Ages 9-14
192 pages
Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber
After the death of his father, Finn Reardon must support his mother and eight siblings by peddling newspapers on the street corners of New York City. But when the two biggest newspaper publishers raise the price that Finn and his friends pay for the papers they sell, the boys band together and go on strike.
AGNES PARKER...GIRL IN PROGRESS
Kathleen O'Dell
Ages 9-12
160 pages
Reviewed by Amy Alessio
Agnes Parker, who faces a tough sixth grade year, sets out to be a different version of the girl she's always been: someone who won't always get clobbered by bullies, who can sometimes be cool and confident --- and maybe catch the eye of the new boy in class.
WINGS AND ROCKETS: The Story of Women in Air and Space
Jeannine Atkins
illustrated by Dusan Petricic
Ages 8-12
208 pages
Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber
Jeannine Atkins gives readers a fascinating glimpse into the history of women who were pioneers in the field of aviation, beginning with Katharine Wright in 1903 and ending with Commander Eileen Collins and the space shuttle in 1999.
EYE OF THE WOLF
Daniel Pennac
Ages 10-up
112 pages
Reviewed by Ashley Hartlaub
Daniel Pennac tells the poignant story of a boy and a wolf who were born worlds apart yet are able to forge a spiritual and emotional bond with each other. |
Read our new book reviews here.
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We Asked/You Said |
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Read here to see what other Kidsreads.com readers said about our past Question of the Month questions. |
Read We Asked/You Said here.
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Want to know my favorite part about this newsletter? You can forward it to a friend by clicking the button on the bottom of the page. What could be easier? Now it's really easy to share your favorite book newsletter with friends, teachers and librarians! Can you tell I am excited? I hope you are too.
Remember to be safe online. NEVER tell anyone personal information --- which includes your real name, age, address, phone number or school. Hey, pretend you are undercover when you go online and protect yourself at all times!
Keep reading! Until next week...
Booker T. Worm and Friends |
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