HOOK KIDS on READING: children

Showing posts with label children. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

SUPPORT AUTHORS--Buy Direct from Them!

DISCOVER
AUTHORS your kids will READ

Authors have terrific imaginations, a love of words, and a passion for creating

wonderful stories. Unfortunately, this rarely translates into buckets of money.

We write because we love to weave words into stories

that capture children's imaginations.

The idea of kids eventually reading our stories to

THEIR children is our kinky kind of immortality.

Don't laugh. . . I am SERIOUS!

Authors only need two things from READERS:

#1
BUY THEIR BOOKS!

WRITE a REVIEW!
Tell others if you (or your child) enjoyed the read. . . or NOT.

PLUS

Buying from an author's website helps

YOU and the AUTHOR.

Authors make more from the books THEY sell, and

YOU often get DISCOUNTS and much CHEAPER postage.

Authors love to AUTOGRAPH the books you buy.

This makes your GIFT of a BOOK extra special.

The Authors listed in the panel on the RIGHT have

private websites, where you can BUY DIRECT from
them, and even ask about their plots and characters.

YOU CAN ALSO eMAIL an AUTHOR

Their books are also available on
Amazon, bookstores, and other places

More author names and links will be added
as they are discovered.

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Margot Finke

A Magic Carpet of Books

Skype Author Visits

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Tuesday, September 8, 2015

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY--with Grammarly!

HOOK KIDS on READING

FOLLOW the Revamped PATH.

BOOK. . . News
WRITING. . .Ideas

MARGOT'S. . . Thoughts

W-H-A-T-E-V-E-R Grabs My Interest.

Hold onto your hair, mate

not even The SHADOW knows!

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GRAMMARLY

Celebrate International Literacy Day

*Books help children and adults learn
about the world and themselves.
*Reading opens a window to the rest of the world.
*Books are the Magic Carpet Ride every child needs.
*Reading opens minds and hears.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

RANDY KAZANDY - a Kid with Cool Glasses.

If your child can't see his hand before his face,
yet throws a tantrum whenever you mention being tested for glasses,
you need . . .

RANDY KAZANDY'S HELP

If your child's life is miserable because some BIG DOOFUS kid
is bullying him, you need help from . . .

RANDY KAZANDY

When Students sign the pledge they get to wear a Randy Kazandy
wristband that says “I love being me.”
They join the Team Randy. Bullying be-gone!

Reviews:

Crypto-Capers Review

Orange County Family MagazineReview
More Reviews

Randy has impeccable lineage too:

Publisher- Whim Publishing, P.O. Box 293, Paola, KS. 66071

Printed by Worzalla in the USA –Lead Free

Second printing March 1, 2010

Author: Rhonda Fischer - Art: Kim Sponaugle

BOOK TRAILER

And for kids with eyesight that rivals that of an eagle,
they can. . .
READ Randy Kazandy for the FUN of it!!

Available from Amazon and other online and store outlets.

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Margot's Magic Carpet -
All my books on one page.

"Taconi and Claude- Double Trouble "

Read sample page -
WIN a FREE Copy with just a comment

Thursday, July 22, 2010

I Want to Shout - I TOLD YOU SO!

Publisher's Weekly has this article on the revolution overtaking the way our children read books, and the way publishers are dealing with it.

The Digital Revolution in Children's Publishing
(Bringing children's books into the iPad age)
by Karen Springen

In March, Anna Quindlen wrote in Newsweek, "Well, what is a book, really? Is it its body, or its soul?" Publishers of all stripes are struggling with that definition, including children's publishers. Picture books have used artwork as a core part of their storytelling as long as the art form as existed, yet they have always evolved, too. "The printed book hasn't stayed static—look how popular graphic novels are with kids," says Eliza Dresang, the Beverly Cleary professor for children and youth services at the University of Washington and author of Radical Change: Books for Youth in a Digital Age. "Things aren't the same, and they never will be."

** Click the title for an in-depth and
fascinating read.

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NOW For a Terrific Companion Piece

Introducing
Calibre by
Crystal Stranaghan

There's a handy piece of open source (yep, that means FREE!) software called Calibre that lets you convert almost any kind of ebook file to any other kind: so you can use it on whatever device you want. Yep, even Kindle.

Handy, handy, handy. Not sure if it works on ALL files, but I've not yet found one it didn't like ; )

I'm currently mostly reading on my iPhone with my Kobo account and on my Kobo reader. I'm a techno-geek in many ways, and have recently been alternating writing, with actually creating iPad & iPhone apps for my books.

Waiting for the next gen iPad is a good idea if budget is an issue. In the meantime, you can get a KOBO reader for just under $150 from Chapters-Indigo. It's not fancy, and doesn't do color, but you can put pdf's or any e-pub document on it, and the battery life is great. Works wonderfully with no glare in the sunshine too.

I recommend that ALL authors learn as much as they can about the new readers and embrace that as a publishing option - whether you like READING paper books or electronically. Earning potential for authors should improve dramatically with the elimination of publisher's print and distribution costs (that can only be a good thing, right?). Make sure that's reflected in any contracts you're signing! Percentages/royalties should be much higher on books sold in electronic format...

Happy Summer reading everyone!
For any techno-curious folk - feel free to Visit My Blog.

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HOORAY!

I TOLD YOU SO!

The EXPANDED future of reading is here.

Kids know this, and they are techno savvy, bless their hearts. They are eager to try eBooks on screen, or on an eReader: plain reading with illustrations, or as interactive as imagine can make them. I say YEA!! Let's admit that there is room for books published and read in many different formats.

All my children's books are available as eBooks,
or on CD. Some are also available
as soft cover books.

I am blatantly promoting them here,
proud of their content and artwork.

eBOOKS are less than half the cost of paper ones,
they are GREEN. and they save trees.

Below are links to TRAILERS for each book on YouTube. You can read more about them all on MY WEBSITE: Where to BUY, sample verses, illustrations, facts about the illustrators, + extras like coloring sheets and autographed copies.

"Wild and Wonderful" series - 7 rhyming books
that tell about animals from the US and Australia.
Fun as well as educational.

from my
"Wild and Wonderful"
series.

Squirrels Can't Help Being Nuts
Mama Grizzly 11/21/09
"Never Say BOO to a Frilly" 11/16/09
"Kangaroo Clues" 11/11/09
"Humdinger Hummers"11/9/09
"Don't Eat Platypus Stew"11/6/09
"Wild and Wonderful" Series 11/3/09
+
My G.A.P Books

Rattlesnake Jam

Latest PB – in Soft Cover and e-book:
Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind.

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Books for Kids + Manuscrit Critiques

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SKYPING AROUND the WORLD

Today SKYPE flew my “Magic Carpet” back to a class on the east coast. I listened to all the wonderfully innovative stories these kids wrote after my first visit with them. They really remembered to use powerful words and add lots of action – FANTASTIC! They illustrated their books, and every child wrote a cute Bio to go with their story. They were so proud of their accomplishments, and I was busting my buttons too. Such a thrill to be a part of turning a class on to the joys of reading and writing. YAHOO! I also read them “Never Say BOO to a Frilly,” as a treat for all their hard work. And their teacher, Geralyn Downey, went all out to encourage each child, and make them feel proud of their writing. Great teachers like Geralyn are real treasures.

I made a Skype Author Visit to a classroom in Auckland, New Zealand. They were so enthusiastic and smart. They even made a Video about my visit. I was thrilled and humbled. Read about it HERE

I also Skyped with high school teens in New Delhi, India. They asked so many questions. It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic kids interested in reading and writing.

NOTE The only limit to an author visit to schools anywhere in the world are the Time Zones. They must work with where YOU live, as well as where the schools are situated.

SKYPE THANK YOU NOTES from TEACHERS

Thank you so much for this Margot. I am looking forward to skyping with you at 11. Just to let you know- the students took great pride in their stories. Although they are somewhat silly, and some maybe not too logical, the goal was for them to write and feel pride in publishing and sharing their stories. In that, they have all been successful. So, I hope that you will be able to sit back and let US take you YOU on a Magic Carpet Ride today! Talk to you soon! Geri

I did. . . and it was AWESOME!!

From a happy New Jersey teacher:

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"Thank you so much for our class skype today! The children learned so much, and cannot stop talking about it! They took your suggestions for writing to heart and are excited to begin writing their own stories tomorrow! LOVED this experience! Thank you!"
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SKYPE Inspires a Class:

Hi Margot,

I just wanted to let you know that my students have been working hard on writing their own stories since skyping with you. They were wondering if you might have time to Skype with us again to listen to their stories.

One little boy in particular has been so enthusiastic about this that he has been asking to work on his "book" every day since skyping with you. It is a very short story, but he could NOT be any prouder! You have really made an impression on him, as well as the other students! Thank you for this!

If you ever have time to skype with us again, they would LOVE to share their stories with you!

AND I AM GOING BACK TO HEAR THEIR STORIES AS SOON AS WE SETTLE ON A DATE.

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Geralyn Downey shared your link: "To my teacher friends. Our class skyped with Margot Finke, children's author, and we LOVED it. Please watch this, and consider having her visit your class via skype. Believe me, you will love it! She was fantastic!"

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Thank you for the Skype! My class loved your storytelling!

From Mrs. Hime's Third Grade Class

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I just wanted to thank you for visiting our class! I know my students were so excited to engage with you and found your artifacts so interesting! My students struggle every day to battle obstacles that I would wish for no child, yet they do it fearlessly. With half of my students living below the poverty line, many of them will never see the world, nor the next parish. But I do believe that experiences like the one you gave them is invaluable in their realization that there is so much more out there! Thank you again for taking the time to talk to and read to my students!

Shane Silpe - 3rd Grade Teacher

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Thanks a ton for the Skype session with us. My students and I were absolutely thrilled to have you in our classroom. They wouldn't stop talking about you today. They shared their amazing experience with everyone at school and in their community as well. Today they wrote some poems for you. My students want to send you thank you emails and their poems. Do you mind if I let them email you on this id?

Once again thank you very much Margot. We thoroughly enjoyed your session, wish we could have listened you read the other story you showed us.

Regards, Harini - 4^th grade teacher in New Zealand.

***********

Thank you for spending your time with us. The children are still very excited about skype and sometimes have trouble sitting still! When the session was over, we discussed what they learned and they had a ton to say. We are also going to write a narrative using an Australian animal. It will take us a couple of weeks but I cannot wait to see what they produce. It was a great way to kick off our narrative writing unit. I think the children would love a copy of your book. Will you sign it for us? I know as they are writing their stories, yours would be a wonderful model for them.

Sincerely, Jennifer - 5th Grade Teacher

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Hi Margot,

Thank you so much for your email and especially for the wonderful Skype visit!! It was so much fun and so informative!! It was a huge hit and everyone raved about you!! :-) Regarding the books, I think it would be fine to send them to my school as there are lots of deliveries during the summer. I would love to do this again next year (preferably mid-year) with our new first grade classes!! Thank you so much for all of your time and enthusiasm!! I hope you have a wonderful summer!

Nancy – first grade teacher.

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GREAT BOOKS for RELUCTANT READERS and BOYS!

ASSORTED:
Lawn Boy by Gary Paulsen
Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli
Hatcher by Gary Paulson
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

PICTURE BOOKS by Margot Finke
Rattlesnake Jam
Mama Grizzly Bear
Kangaroo Clues
Ruthie and the Hippo's Fat Behind
Horatio Humble Beats the Big D
Don't Eat Platypus Stew
Prairie Dog's Play Day
Never say BOO to a Frilly
Squirrels Can't Help Being Nuts

YOUNG BOYS:
Cars That Go and Things That Go by Richard Scarry
The Carrot Seed by Ruth Krauss
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

MID GRADE BOYS:
A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
The Baseball Card Adventure Series by Dan Gutman
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis
The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh
Taconi and Claude by Margot Finke

Jeff Kinney's WIMPY KID Series:
http://www.wimpykid.com/
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
The do it Yourself Book
Rick Riordan's books

Rick Riordan's Books:
The Titan's Curse
The Battle of the Labyrinth
The Sea of Monsters
The Lightening Thief.

Mystery of the Copper Turtle Doris Holik Kelly
The Revenge of Thelma Hill by Margot Finke

See how most of these authors are MEN.
Come on ladies, anything they can do . . .

WRITING CENTER

The transition from high school to college can be a challenging one, especially when it comes to writing academic papers and other written assignments. New college students will find that they are expected to write more, and that their work must meet higher standards, set by instructors who expect students to show up with the written communication skills necessary to succeed in class. Regardless of the type of writing you are asked to do, proper grammar and punctuation is expected. Use our quick-reference guide to avoid some of the most common mistakes student writers make. Grammar – Punctuation – Other Common Issues – Different Writing Styles – Citation Guide