As both readers and writers, we return to fairy tale themes again and again, gleaning new meaning from each encounter. These are stories that survived and evolved for hundreds of years. Read them again (or for the first time) and …[Continue]

Like story hour in the classroom or at your local library, the following read-along books are narrated and illustrated. Of course, these online stories don’t replace printed books, but are simply another way to expose our children to the joys …[Continue]

Although I was a huge J.R.R. Tolkien fan in my youth, neither of my kids has read his books. Maybe the release of the first “Lord of the Rings” movie will inspire them (and countless others) to explore the magical …[Continue]

Often compared to best-selling children’s author Roald Dahl, J.K. Rowling is the biggest thing to hit children’s literature since, well, since Roald Dahl. If you enjoy either reading or writing, you’ll want to know more about the British mom who …[Continue]

Roald Dahl was a writer with a wild imagination, and a gift for sharing his vision. Some of his children’s books have been made into movies. Perhaps you’ve seen “Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and Giant Peach” or …[Continue]

Although it’s been a year since the last Harry Potter book was published, and the Harry Potter movie isn’t due until November, there is still plenty of Harry Potter to be found online. Today’s picks are sites that feature online …[Continue]

World Book Dictionary defines “phonics” as “a method of teaching reading by association of letters and combinations of letters with their appropriate speech sounds.” Rather than enter into the debate about whether children should be taught to read using phonics …[Continue]

Feeling blue because the fifth Harry Potter book “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix” won’t be released until November, 2001? Don’t let it get you down. There are hundreds (maybe even thousands) of great books just waiting to …[Continue]

Readers of all ages love to be transported from everyday life, and a good mystery story is the perfect escape. In this limited space, though, I can’t even begin to introduce authors such as Edgar Allen Poe, Sir Arthur Conan …[Continue]