Category Archives: Guest Contributor

On Reading: Back to School Survival Guide
(from Disney-Hyperion Books)

Ready for back to school? It’s hard to believe but the first day is just around the corner! Before you know it, you’ll be faced with new classes, new teachers, new friends…So much to do, so little time. Disney Book Group’s Back to School Survival Guide is here to help with all of your school survival needs, along with some pretty awesome books to kick-start your fall semester! Tip #1: When the science fair rolls around, please be sure you don’t submit a project that has a gigantic laser eye, can read dogs’ minds, and well, may possibly destroy your city. And if you do… make sure you have a back-up plan! Title: Oh No! Author: Mac Barnett Grades: Pre-K to 2nd Publication Date: June 1, 2010 A little girl builds the best science project ever...only to have it destroy the city. Oh no! Tip #2: ...

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On Reading: Summer Reading, Presidential Style

We all have reading lists throughout the summer (or at least, some of us did if teachers assigned us some), but sometimes we feel like we nee new books to add on and explore. We can get suggestions from friends, family...or even websites, but aren't you a little bit curious about what books people indulge in, especially when they have limited time and have to choose wisely? The Presidents of the past have had some great taste- so we wanted to share the summer reading lists for President Obama, President Bush and President Clinton. Maybe this will inspire you to add some new books to your list! (Click on the picture to go to the site, then click on the infograph to move around it or zoom in so that you can see the whole list)

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On Reading: Obsession on the Road

I love my daughter, and she's lots of fun to take on outings. Once upon a time there was a family who went to visit some old ruins. There was lots to look at, there were many places to explore, there were wonderful sights to see. Her mother was very patient with her. She did not say, "Put down that book and play with your brothers." (Although you can kind of see the girl's point...)

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On Reading: The Best Things in Life are Free

About the author: Eve Marie Mont lives with her husband, Ken, and her shelter dog, Maggie, in suburban Philadelphia, where she teaches high school English and creative writing. Free to a Good Home is her first novel. Please check out the contest on Eve’s website for a chance to win a book club package of eight signed copies and a Skype call-in. Also, if you’d like to read a sneak preview, click here. Read Dawn's review of Free to a Good Home, and enter to win your own copy (through 7/20). ***** First of all, thanks so much to Jennifer for inviting me to guest post on “On Reading.” When I was a child, our home was always filled with great books. My parents are both classicists and teachers, so the ...

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On Reading: Flashlight Worthy Book Recommendations

My name is Peter, and Jennifer was kind enough to let me to contribute to her regular "On Reading" series. I run the website Flashlight Worthy Book Recommendations along with my friend Eric. Some of you may have run across my site, but for those who haven't, Flashlight Worthy is: Hundreds of book lists (373 as of this writing and I try to add a new one every other day)... Each list is usually between 5 books and 15 books... Each list on a particular theme (more on that later)... And each book on the list has a short description of why it's so good (not a plot summary). Did I mention that the books we recommend are so good, they keep you up past your bedtime? ;-) Now that we have that out of the way, I can explain why I'm so excited that Jennifer so graciously invited me ...

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On Reading: Hook a Boy with a Book

Note from the editor: We are pleased to have author Chris Bradford guest posting today and offering up so many wonderful reads. I am even more excited to let you know that we have 3 copies of the first two books in his Young Samurai Series to give away. Please leave a comment at the end of the post giving your thoughts, and you'll be entered to win. We'll announce the winners on June 9. THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. Supposedly, boys don’t read books. After a certain age, the distractions of iPods, Gameboys and the internet shove the book aside, like older brothers in a rush for attention. I don’t believe any of this. A book can be longer lasting than an iPod, more action-packed than a Gameboy and more informative and interesting that the ...

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On Reading: Books, BFF

I’m a natural born insomniac. Right from the time I was a tiny baby. My poor mother, tiring of reading aloud to me, taught me to read. She and I were trying to figure out how old I was when I first learned to read and neither of us can recall. She did say that it was hard to keep me stocked with books, such was my voracious appetite. I learned early that books were my special best friend, books watched me grow, helped me, comforted me, informed me. “You never want to come and play with me,” my sister bemoaned. She, the antithesis of me, loved all kinds of sports, while I was the sort to be viciously assaulted by slamming tennis balls, or basketballs that knocked the wind right out of me. “I’ll come and read outside while you play.” That was the best I could offer her. We have countless ...

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