August reading activities
August is National Inventors' Month
Read up on famous inventions and the innovative people whose ingenuity has shaped our lives at About.com.
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August 1: National KidsDay encourages you to celebrate and honor America's children through the gift of spending meaningful time with them. Contact your local Boys & Girls Club or KidsPeace to find out what's happening in your area on National KidsDay. Resources available through the KidsDay web site offer expert advice on ways to make the most of your time with children. Suggestions range from books you can read with children of all ages, to suggestions for communicating with young people to help instill a positive sense of belonging and self-esteem. Visit the KidsDay web site for more information.
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August 21 is Christopher Robin’s birthday. Christopher Robin Milne, immortalized in A.A. Milne's books Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner, was born August 21, 1920. Test your Christopher Robin and Pooh knowledge with the quiz at just-pooh.com. Then settle down with a book and some hunny to share with your honey to commemorate the day.
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August Author Birthdays
Discover these authors for satisfying summer reading:
- Walter Dean Myers, August 12. Prolific and prize-winning author of books for children and young adults. According to his Random House biography, "... Walter Dean Myers came to believe that his work filled a void for African-American youths who yearned for positive reading experiences and role models... It is one of many attributes that has made him one of the most important children's and YA authors writing today." You can access lesson plans and teaching guides utilizing Myers' novels at webenglishteacher.com.
- Diana Wynne Jones, August 16. Long one of Britain's most popular writers of fantasy and science fiction for children and young adults, Diana Wynne Jones is enjoying increasing exposure in the United States. Many readers, hungry for good books in-between installments of Harry Potter, are discovering that Wynne Jones' Chrestomanci series, Howl's Moving Castle, the Derkholm series and many others, are finely crafted tales of magic, wonder and suspense, infused with sly wit. HarperCollins Publisher maintains a graphics-heavy web site devoted to Wynne Jones that will amaze you with its gorgeous images, but a more useful resource is maintained at Wynne Jones' offical fan site. This site is filled with information about her books, including a review of her latest work, The Merlin Conspiracy, and a question and answer piece in which Wynne Jones discusses at length her personal writing process and the value of magic and fantasy in literature.
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Don't close the books when the school doors close! Children frequently lose reading skills when they don't read during extended vacation. Take a look at our reading lists to plan your child's summer reading:
Send comments to readacross@nea.org
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