Reading Recommendations

Here's a Best Kept Secret ...

Magic Tree House Fans! 

Check out the Magic Tree House site with fun activities, information on books, and lots more.

Get a Head Start!

 For a Printable Listing

Get engaged with your Bluebonnet Book! Click HERE for fun activities and lesson plans pertaining to each title.

Last year's Bluebonnet Nominees can be found by scrolling the pane. Ready, Set, Read! 

                                                See the Carol Hurst's Site

Looking for a great sight to find lesson plans and book reviews for all grades?  Check out Carol Hurst's Site for Children's Literature.  You'll definitely enjoy the layout and the free material!  For Lesson Plans, be sure and visit Lesson Plan Central located on the Home Page under Resources.

Read An Eric Carle Book!

   Here are Some Ways Kids Can Enjoy Getting 

"Net News"

• http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/  Kidsnewsroom.org provides children with a safe, kid-friendly Internet site loaded with stories, pictures, contests and opportunities for learning. Each week, a new issue is added to the site with the latest news in sports, music & entertainment, health, history, local events and happenings around the world, all designed with kids in mind!
• http://www.weeklyreader.com/  Weekly Reader Online for Kids.  The best known of Weekly Reader's publications is probably Weekly Reader, a newspaper for children in the elementary grades.
• http://www.nytimes.com/learning/ The New York Times Learning Network for grades 3 - 12.
• http://www.studentnewsnet.com/ Student News Net. This is an excellent site! Once you're there, look for the button to select for Students grade 3-5.  I think you will agree it is well done!
• http://www.sciencenewsforkids.org/  Science News for Kids is a new Web site devoted to science news for children of ages 9 to 13. Sections of the Science News for Kids Web site is devoted to particular interests. At present, there are six zones: PuzzleZone - a weekly brainteaser for those who enjoy solving and inventing puzzles;  SciFiZone - an entertaining science-fiction composition exercises for those interested in writing; ScienceFairZone - with weekly science fair profiles and tips; GameZone- which contains a small selection of logic and memory games;  TeacherZone - where you can find materials, some related to the feature article of the week; and  LabZone - that features a weekly hands-on activity. There is already talk of adding additional Zones including a RoboticsZone in the future.  This is a great site!
• http://www.odysseymagazine.com/ Odyssey Adventures in Science.  This received the Coolest Science Site Award. Check this one out!  It's for kids ages 10 - 16. You can access science webcams, Ask A Scientist, and much more.
• http://www.timeforkids.com/TFK/news/index.html Time for Kids Online offers a ton including news articles, polls, extensive search, and Homework Helper.  Nice! 
• http://kids.msfc.nasa.gov/Puzzles/  I had to add this one. This is a site from NASA rich with puzzles and games for kids.  Enjoy!
• http://dailynews.yahoo.com/fc3/yahooligans/health This takes you to the popular Yahooligans tool with emphasis on Science related articles. Always something new.
• http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/ KidsHealth is the largest and most visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children from before birth through adolescence. Created by The Nemours Foundation's Center for Children's Health Media, KidsHealth provides families with accurate, up-to-date, and jargon-free health information they can use. KidsHealth has been on the Web since 1995.
• http://www.whitehouse.gov/kids/news/  Visit the White House for Kids! Yes, it's our very own White House making this available.  Pretty neat.
• http://www.fortworthgov.org/DEM/kidscrud.htm  The City of Fort Worth website for kids.  Rich with activities and articles.
• http://www.senate.state.tx.us/kids/  Texas Senate Kids invites all you rip-roaring readers to play games, explore the Texas Capitol, and learn all about the Texas state government.
• http://clerkkids.house.gov/ Kids in the House is an interactive center to help kids learn about the United States House of Representatives, the Office of the Clerk, and their roles in lawmaking.  
• http://bensguide.gpo.gov/ Ben's Guide to U.S. Government for Kids provides learning tools for K-12 students, parents, and teachers. These resources help teach how our government works.
• http://school.discovery.com/sciencefaircentral/  Science Fair Central brought to you by the Discovery Channel's Discovery School. Great place to help with getting that next Science Fair project going along smoothly.
• http://news.nationalgeographic.com/kids/ National Geographic News for Kids and http://www.nationalgeographic.com/kids/index.html the complete National Geographic Site for kids. These are impressive and full of information, activities, and things to explore.
• http://vrd.askvrd.org/ The VRD Learning Center can help you find information and answers to your questions about school subjects, fascinating facts, research topics, and more.  You'll be asked to create a login, but once you gain access you'll be glad you did!
• http://lcweb2.loc.gov/ammem/today/today.html Today in History.  You'll enjoy peering in on this site to see what happened.
• http://factfinder.census.gov/home/en/kids/kids.html The U.S. Census Bureau Fact Finder for Kids.