Reading Rocks!   Tags: awards, book clubs, children, kids, reading  

Welcome to the Alameda County Library's Reading Rocks Guide for Kids of All Ages...

Reading tips, web links, book clubs and more! 

Ready for a change? Find a new book or series here...

Memorial Day - Real Life Heroes

Eyes on the Goal - John Coy

Call Number: J COY,J

ISBN: 9780312373306

Publication Date: 2010

Just before they are due to start middle school, Jackson, Gig, Isaac, and Diego, four sports-loving friends, all attend the same weeklong soccer camp. Diego is an experienced soccer player, and Gig has a natural ability for the sport he never realized. But Jackson and Isaac are split into another group of players—a group with younger, smaller kids. For the first time, both boys aren’t the stars of their team. In fact, they can’t seem to get a handle on soccer. At the same time, Jackson is having a hard time getting a handle on his mom’s deepening relationship with her boyfriend, and her suggestion that they move in with him. And Gig is worried about his father’s deployment to Afghanistan. Here is a story about how life, like sports, can be unpredictable, frustrating, and exhilarating.

Hero Dad - Melinda Hardin; Bryan Langdo (Illustrator)

Call Number: JPB HARDIN,M

ISBN: 9780761457138

Publication Date: 2010

Some superheroes wear rocket-propelled boots, drive super-powered cars, and have X-ray vision. But other superheroes wear army boots, drive tanks, and go away for long trips to make the world a safer place. It's a tough job, but that's what superheroes have to do. With Melinda Hardin's simple text and with Bryan Langdo's endearing watercolor-and-pencil illustrations, Hero Dad makes a difficult and tender subject more accessible to children with parents serving far from home.

Shooting the Moon - Frances O'Roark Dowell

Call Number: J DOWELL,F or J Pbk DOWELL,F

ISBN: 9781416926900

Publication Date: 2008

When her brother is sent to fight in Vietnam, twelve-year-old Jamie begins to reconsider the army world that she has grown up in.

Soldier Bear - Bibi Dumon Tak; Bibi Dumon Tak; Philip Hopman (Illustrator)

Call Number: J DUMON TAK,B

ISBN: 9780802853752

Publication Date: 2011

An orphaned Syrian brown bear cub is adopted by Polish soldiers during World War II and serves for five years as their mischievous mascot in Iran and Italy. Based on a true story.

Sometimes We Were Brave - Pat Brisson; France Brassard (Illustrator)

Call Number: JPB BRISSON,P

ISBN: 9781590785867

Publication Date: 2010

Bravery has many meanings. Jerome's mom is a sailor. When her ship is in home port, she and Jerome bake cookies, read books together, and take their dot, Duffy for walks.

 

Websites for Young Writers:

http://storybird.com/ 

Collaborative storytelling. Storybirds are short, art-inspired stories you make to share, read and print.

http://www.theamandaproject.com/ 

This site is about a girl named Amanda Valentino. She started at our school, Endeavor High, on Halloween. She vanished in March, but has been sending us cryptic clues ever since. Her friends have set up this website to try to find other people that knew her so they can discover more about who she was and why she disappeared. Every Friday new stories are posted for you to investigate & discuss.

http://www.kidsonthenet.org.uk/

Post your stories for everyone to read.

http://mylifeisaverage.com/ 

A place to share everyday stories in one paragraph or less. Read what makes life average for others too!

http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/

Write your own novel!

http://www.stonesoup.com/

Stone Soup accepts writing by kids ages 8-13.

http://www.tumblr.com/ 

Tumblr lets you share anything. Post text, photos, quotes, links, music, and videos, from your browser, phone, desktop, email, or wherever you happen to be. 

http://www.eduplace.com/tales/

Wacky Web Tales: Choose nouns and verbs to create a funny story.

Check out Bookflix ebooks                

Coming Soon...

Ghosts of the Titanic - Julie Lawson

ISBN: 9780823424238

Publication Date: 2012

Angus Seaton, 17, had the unenviable job of retrieving the dead bodies and personal items of those who were on board the 'Titanic'. His actions that day impact the life of Kevin Messenger, 12, over a century later. Haunted by the cries of a woman, Kevin is transported back in time to the sinking 'Titanic' to right some past wrongs.

Green - Laura Vaccaro Seeger

ISBN: 9781596433977

Publication Date: 2012

The color green can be found in many different shades within nature. This celebration of the color is comprised of fruits, leaves, and even a zebra with green stripes.

Hero For Wondla - Tony DiTerlizzi

Publication Date: 2012

Eva had never seen another human until a boy named Hailey rescued her and her companions and took them to the colony of New Attica where humans of all shapes and sizes lived in peace. She thinks she has everything she's ever dreamed of. But, she soon realizes that something sinister is going on and she must find a way to stop it.

Lions of Little Rock - Kristin Levine

Publication Date: 2012

Marlee and Liz were the best things that ever happened to each other. When Liz leaves, Marlee hears other kids saying that Liz was just a black girl pretending to be white. Marlee could care less; together, the friends will stare integration dead in the eye, and all the dangers that come with it, to stay together.

 

Favorite films based on books...