New Great Website to Help Kids (and Parents) Read +GIVEAWAY

As an English teacher I'm constantly trying to find ways to get kids reading and ways to help parents get their kids reading.

Recently I was introduced to the website:

Brightly

Brightly is co-founded by Amanda Close and Christine McNamara, book lovers and moms who in the course of their book-publishing careers discovered that parents craved more lifestyle content dedicated to reading and children. As parents who love to read, they want to share that passion with their children and bond over books. As busy moms, they’ve also experienced the challenges that get in the way of developing this connection. They hope to help other parents navigate through the quarter of a million children’s books out there to find the right book for the right kid at the right time.

I checked it out and was really pleased with what I found. 

Many times a website will only address young readers - like age 10 and below.  That isn't the case here.  This website looks at readers and books from ages 0+! 
Yes that means there are YA books!

What I also liked was that it had quick easy to read articles that parents could turn to and get help keeping their kids reading. As a parent myself I know that I need to read something that gives me ideas and tips in a quick manner!

One of the featured articles right now is: Graphic Language: How to Read Comic Books With Your Kids

It's a great quick read that can help parents see how reading in that genre can grow readers.

Over all it's just a wonderful site - one I'll be sharing with all the English teacher I work with as well as parents! Let's put it this way - if you have readers in your family, if you're a reader or you are around kids reading - you should really check it out!

After I checked out the website on my own (because of a cool giveaway they're having to celebrate the launch of the site) I was contacted by them asking me if I knew about the site and what they were about.  When I said I already had and loved it, they offered up a giveaway for my readers!

Win

A tote bag

The Island of Dr. Libris by Chris Grabenstein 

All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven 

Must be at least 13 and a US resident
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Under 14's Only Month at The Book Zone (AKA MG Books!)

Hey all I wanted to share a great month long event that is happening over at The Book Zone.  The entire month of November is decided at U14 books - we here in the US know them as Middle Grade (MG) books.  They are those great books written for the wonderful kids 14.  

I'm very excited to see this, because I've always felt there isn't enough focus put on this category of books.  I see YA everywhere, but it's much harder to find MG. And it's frustrating to read great MG/U14 books, review them and have very few comments.  Even more frustrating to have a giveaway and very few entries! 

So months like Under 14's Only are perfect!  

I hope you all stop over and check out the books highlighted throughout the month.  I know I will be!

Oh!  I do have to give a shout out to Shannon Messenger and her Middle Grade Mondays.  She has done a great job get the spotlight on MG books more! I really need to get my act together so I can participate more!

I also know Green Bean Teen Queen also does a Tween Tuesday post quit often.  

Plus I know there are plans in the works by Deb Marshall for another March of Middle Grade! 

Let's hear about any more that you know of! 

And lets get MG/U14's in the spotlight!!

HELP NEEDED - Middle Grade Reviewers and Blogs

If you read my blog on a regular basis you know that I'm moving towards mostly middle grade books.  I'm making this move because I love middle grade (or tween) books and because I feel they need more attention in the blogosphere :)

But I need your help! I'd like to start putting together a directory of blogs that review a lot of middle grade books - well over half their reviews are on middle grade books.  Reply below if your blog fits this description and/or if you know of any that do.  Eventually I'm planning on creating a blog or something for this list - maybe just a page on my blog.  I'm not sure yet. 

Any middle grade blog/reviewer info you can share will be greatly appriciated. 

MIDDLE GRADE AUTHORS I want your info too! If you write for this age group, let me know.  I want to make a list of author blogs/websites.  If you're on Twitter  - let me know that too, so I can follow.

I should've said this before! Middle Grade is usually considered books for ages 9-12/13 where as Young Adult is usually 13/14+.  Sorry for any confusion!

Thanks everyone! I owe ya ;)