Need something to read? Try these great online books!
Each one is a beloved children's
classic -- but best of all, they're totally free and you don't
even have to go to the library!
You've
probably seen this wonderful television program, starring Levar
Burton. Now you can visit
Reading Rainbowonline to read and hear book reviews. While you're there, you
can play fun games, print out a book mark, color the rainbow, read
stories submitted to their
young writers
and illustrators contest, and lots more. But you don't have
to take my word for it...
...and
Click
herefor
lesson plans
to accompany Reading Rainbow episodes.
Surf these publisher websites to
get a sneak peek at next season's books, find out more about
your favorite book and authors -- or to order a hard to
find book direct from the publisher.
Online links to the New York
Public Library, Library of Congress, a few local libraries -- as well
as some tips on getting more out of your local library.
Browse our selection of
highly recommended children's literature,
including science and nature books selected by the
National Science Teachers
Association.
This site is the home of the One Fish,
Two Fish and Fox in Sox matching games, the Mr.
Brown Can Moo print and play, and various other silly fun.
Don't miss the Seussville Storymaker! Site also includes a
brief biography of the real Dr. Seus. Sponsored by Random House
publishers.
Don't miss Random House's main
FUN STUFF
site! Features fun
things to download, plus author interviews and book excerpts.
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson in a
classic mystery adventure from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. See if you
can solve the mystery before Holmes explains it all.
Alice goes looking for that darned
White Rabbit and ends up finding much more than she bargained for.
Taking a journey through the wild imagination of Louis Carrol.
L.M. Montgomery first published this
story in 1909 and girls have been devouring it ever since. The
plucky orphan has even had her tale told in recent made for TV film and
animated film. You may better know her as Anne of Green Gables.
Includes Nesbit's "The Five Children
& It", Lewis Caroll's "Through The
Looking Glass", Kenneth Grahame's "The Wind In The Willows", plus more
by Rudyard Kipling, J.M. Barrie, William Thackeray, and more.
Includes fairy tales from England,
Hungary, Japan, the United States, and from such famed authors as L.
Frank Baum, Rudyard Kipling, the Brothers Grimm, and Louisa May Alcott.
Herman Melville's famous tale of the
great white whale and Captain Ahab, the man obsessed with finding and
killing it at any cost. A rare insight into the life of the men
aboard the great whaling ships. Best for advanced readers.
Charles Dickens's tale of an English
orphan who must scrape by in London's East End while searching for a
better life. An engaging story that shows the real challenges and
adventures of children of earlier times.
J.M. Barrie's beloved tale of the lost
boys, their leader Peter Pan, and the Darling children who come to
brighten their lives with the stories and tenderness of home and a
mother's remembered love.
Daniel Defoe based this popular
classic on a true story of a man stranded on an island for years, with
only the goats for company. Defoe is kinder, he gives his hero a
man servant named "Friday". Read it and think about what you would
do to survive on a wild, deserted island.
The tales of Beatrix Potter Include
such favorites as Peter Rabbit and Squirrel Nutkin, plus other adorable
illustrated stories. Also offers versions in Japanese.
First published in 1883, this grand
classic by Robert Louis Stevenson has been entertaining young people
since... well, since 1883. Young Jim grows from boy to teen
crossing the great seas, battling pirates, and hunting for the treasure
coveted by Long John Silver.
Check this page for our links to
a great selection of myths, epics, and fables -- read about Hercules,
Zeus, Hera, Athena, Achilles, Odysseus, Jason & The Argonauts,
and much, much more!
For even more free books online,
including many suitable for teens and young adults, visit
Arthur's Classic Novels.
You'll find authors
like
Edgar Rice Burroughs, P.G. Wodehouse, Jack London, Rudyard
Kipling, H.G. Wells, and dozens of other outstanding classic
authors.
Read a letter from Junie B., find out
more about author Barbara Park and her hilarious books, and check out
Junie B.'s list of her absolute favorite books (you'll probably love them
too!). You'll also find loads of fun activities on this site --
like jokes and word puzzles and even some fun crafts. Get your own
Junie diploma!
Jane Curtz is the author of
Fire On the
Mountain. Learn about her childhood growing up in
Ethiopia,
see photos, and learn about other books soon to be published.
Also features some excellent
poems written by children.
Official website for the Worst
Witch television program. You will also enjoy this
hugely popular fan site by Davinci,
featuring plenty more links, an image gallery, chat and more.
Okay well this is not
actually a site to her personal web page, but it will
take you to a linked listing of dozens of Harry Potter
sites -- official and not so official.
Visit the official Scholastic website for
online games and information about the TV series (off the air), videos, the
characters, and of course the books! Read an
interview
with K.A. Applegate on kidsread.com.
Learn the awful untruth about
Lemony Snicket, the author of "those bothersome books". You
can also receive a message from Lemony Snicket by emailing:
lsnicket@harpercollins.com If
you must, you can read about his alter ego,
Daniel Handler.
Visit
kidsread.comand browse for the name of your favorite writer.
Click on the writer's name to visit a page with their picture, a
short biography telling where they grew up and other fun stuff, plus
a listing of their important books, and a fascinating interview.
Enjoy!
From this Library of Congress gateway, you can
travel to the libraries of universities all over the United States --
or at least to their online catalogs!
Includes online internet search; On-Lion listing
of internet resources for kids; and Teenlink -- a section for teens
with links to on-line writings from teens, websites for teens, plus a
listing of help hotlines.
If
you love books, you might wish you had your own bookstore or library
-- right in your own home. But most people don't have the money or
the space for that (although some of us try anyway). Instead, try
visiting your local library.
You
might just use whichever library is closest to your school or home.
While this is usually best -- as it will make it easier to return
books on time -- you may want to find out what other libraries are
available to you.
Why?
Well, some libraries may have a bigger selection of books to
choose from. And still other libraries pride themselves on having a
great selection of certain kinds of books -- like children's
books, resource books for teachers, history books, or books by
a certain author. (And don't forget magazines -- bigger
libraries tend to keep a bigger selection of magazines.) Also, some
libraries have great activities or special cozy areasor
kid-sized restroom facilities that can make visiting more comfortable
and enjoyable -- especially for younger children.
So
check your phone book to see what other libraries are available in
your area. Then plan a visit -- set aside time to drop by each one
and see what they're like.
When
you visit, ask the librarian or library assistant if their library
has a web page. Ask if you can renew the books you check out there
online or over the phone. Nowadays many libraries do let you renew
over the phone or online! Renewing your books this way, means you
can hang onto them a bit longer -- in case you need them for a class
project or you just like to read them over and over! (It's also a
great way to renew videos -- which usually have to be back to the
library more quickly than books.)
Be
sure to find out how long you can borrow your books for. What
about cds and videos? Find out what fines they charge for
these items when they are returned late.
Next,
get yourself a library card there and go to it! (Note: some
libraries will only let you check out a few books on your first
visit. Sort of like a test to see if you can be trusted to return the
books on time!)
