January 28, 2012

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Top 4 E-Readers

A Picture of a eBook

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E-readers make it easy to read more frequently. E-books are less expensive than regular books, and using a Visa prepaid debit card allows an avid traveler and others on the go to easily purchase e-books, limiting the number of books to carry around. Here are four of the top e-readers, each with its own advantages.

Amazon Kindle

The latest generation of the Amazon Kindle has a more portable design. Amazon has put more work into making the screen easy to read. Readers can quickly turn the pages and access a multitude of newspapers, magazines, e-books and all else online with Wi-Fi access. With the ability to store over 3,000 e-books and a high-powered battery, avid readers will enjoy this lightweight device.

Barnes & Noble Nook Touch Reader

Similar to the Amazon Kindle, the Barnes & Noble Nook released in 2011 is lightweight with an easy-to-read screen. With built-in Wi-Fi that accesses the Barnes & Noble online store and a powerful battery that can last for nearly two months, readers can’t go wrong with this device. This particular device doesn’t have a Web browser, so it’s strictly for avid readers who enjoy a lightweight device with a strong battery.

Kobo E-Reader Touch Edition

With a screen that isn’t as ideal as the two other varieties, the Kobo e-reader is still a high-quality compact device that is more affordable than the other two e-readers. Use a vision prepaid card to buy this affordable e-reader, and enjoy built-in Wi-Fi and a long-lasting battery.

Sony Reader Touch Edition PRS-650

This Sony e-reader is more expensive than the Amazon and Barnes & Noble varieties. However, it’s a user-friendly device that gives you access to a glare-free screen, easy downloads from e-book libraries and audio playback.

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How Books Can Spread Through the Internet

Cover of "Kindle Wireless Reading Device,...

Cover via Amazon

While libraries and bookstores are still popular sources of reading material, the Internet has made it possible for people to get their favorite books from the comfort of home. There are several ways that books are spreading through the Internet and becoming more accessible.

If you enjoy reading books and discussing them with others, consider starting a virtual book club. You might get together with friends or family who live far away and come up with a list of titles to read. Consider sending a list of books to club members using a service such as Metrofax internet faxing. Then you can chat online or on the phone at a convenient time to discuss the book that the group is reading.

Although you can still go to your local library to browse and check out hard copies of books, you can find lots of material on your library’s website. For example, some libraries offer eBooks that you can download onto your computer. You can also download an audiobook onto your computer or smartphone to listen to at your leisure. These features are typically available to you for free if you have a valid library card.

Another way that books are spreading through the Internet is by way of online retailing. Instead of visiting a brick-and-mortar store, you can log on to your favorite store’s website and purchase books to read on your computer, smartphone, or e-reader device such as a Kindle. This allows you to keep a personal library of your favorite books at your fingertips. Some reading devices will even allow you to “lend” your electronic books to friends.

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Books for Boys

Cover of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" 

Cover of Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Boys, for some reason, seem to more likely not enjoy reading. This could be because of several factors: authors are generally women and write books that appeal more to girls; teachers are generally female and suggest books that they like to read, which doesn’t appeal to boys; or maybe it’s because they’re rambunctious and aren’t ones to sit and do something for very long.

Whatever the reason is, if you can find books that appeal to boys, you’ll be able to show them that there are books they can enjoy too. Here are some books that are recommended for elementary school boys:

  • The Diary of a Wimpy Kid, by Jeff Kinney. This is a great series of books for boys because the main character is a boy and it deals with issues that boys deal with. Boys can easily relate to these books and because the premise is it’s a diary written by a boy, it also might encourage boys to write as well.
  • Percy Jackson and the Olympians, by Rick Riordan. This is another series with a boy as the main character. What’s great about this book is the main character has dyslexia and ADHD, which many boys can relate to, and it shows the character being successful despite these faults. It also has a lot of action.
  • Alcatraz Smedry, by Brandon Sanderson. This series of books is hilarious. The main character has a penchant for breaking things, but this series explores how this is actually a talent. Very fun for all ages.
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Blogs: A Random Taste of Entertainment

Blogs are growing exponentially in quantity online, because just about anyone can create and run a blog with little difficulty. As such, there are many very interesting blogs on the Internet that are worth reading when you are looking for something to pass the time.

Blogs: A Random Taste of Entertainment

Blogs are a nice mashup of people’s thoughts and opinions interspersed with links, facts, pictures and other information. They focus on topics of interest to the blogger. Sometimes a blog is a commentary on someone’s personal life. Other times, blogs offer information and thoughts related to hot topics in the news or important causes. Some of the best blogs on the Internet attract millions of page views in short periods of time, not only because the bloggers are talking, but because they are talking about what people want to know or read.

Learn More with Blogs

If you are interested in learning more about a particular subject, one way to do that is with the help of online blogs. If fashion is your passion, search online for different fashion blogs. It won’t take long to figure out which are interesting and valuble and which blogs are mostly fluff and a waste of time. One of the many benefits of blogs is getting other opinions on a topic and engaging in conversations on the blog with other interested readers.

Some of the most interesting writing on the Internet can be seen in blogs. Search for the most popular blogs and keep several of them bookmarked on your computer. You’ll have an endless font of fun, entertaining, useful and otherwise interesting information that you can tap into anytime you like.

Filed Under: Reading Tagged With: , ,

4 Most Enjoyable Books To Read

Nabokov Scrabble

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Getting lost in a good book that you can’t seem to put down is a wonderful way to forget your daily stresses and enjoy some quiet time while using your imagination to delve into the world of the book. Here is a list of four of the most enjoyable books to read.

  • “Anna Karenina” by Russian author Leo Tolstoy is considered a classic novel and has long been on many lists of 100 greatest novels of all time, and 100 novels you must read. The story tells of Anna Karenina’s love affair, her struggles with high society and her fall from the upper class. For a search engine that will help look for more great books, check out Canada 411.
  • “Great Expectations” by English author Charles Dickens is a well-known novel and a part of many modern l English curriculums. The story follows the growth of Phillip Pirrip (Pip) from a small boy to his pursuit of becoming a fine gentleman.
  • “Lolita” by Russian Author Vladimir Nabokov was originally banned from many countries for its racy storyline. It follows Humbert Humbert as he moves from Europe to America, ends up in a boarding house in New Jersey and has an affair with his landlady’s little daughter.
  • “Wuthering Heights” by another English author Emily Bronte is considered one of the greatest romance novels of all time. Follow the story of Heathcliff and his passion for Catherine through the heartbreak of life and death.
Filed Under: Book Distribution, Reading Tagged With: , ,

How to Start a Book Club

Anyone who is interested in starting a book club is likely faced with the same problem: how to choose which books to present. The sheer number of available books may make you wish you never started the process, but many are finding that by focusing on the most important books of the last 50 years, they can easily develop a club that is fun and intellectually stimulating.

When selecting books; remember that book clubs don’t have to focus on ‘smart’ books or the classics. Instead, selecting a variety of books in different styles, your club can gain exposure into a wide variety of subjects and writing styles. Consider the following three books, each of which is widely considered to be on the list of the most important books of the last 50 years.

  1. The Da Vinci Code: a popular book and movie, this is mainstream that allows a club to explore religious and art themes.
  2. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: the pinnacle of self-help books, this piece explores a different form of writing. Using a list of book club questions can help break this one down.
  3. Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: delve into history with this book and those like it. Expand the discussion with research and relevant materials for an exciting and educational discussion.

The truth is the most successful book clubs utilize a wide variety of books and subjects to keep them interesting. Take some time to research the most influential books of the last 50 years to add variety to your club.

Filed Under: Book Distribution, Books, Reading Tagged With: , ,

Help Your Child Become a Better Speller: Encourage Reading!

A child reading in Brookline Booksmith, an ind...

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You’ve probably utilized multiple techniques to help your child improve their spelling, but have you considered setting aside worksheets and handing them The Phantom Tollbooth instead? A study published by American Educator concluded that “methods that emphasize language structure are more effective than rote methods” (Graham, 1999; Berninger,1999). In other words, kids shouldn’t just write words, they need to read them.

 

Read Well, Spell Well

 

Susan Jones, M. Ed stated “The correlation between spelling and reading comprehension is high…The more deeply and thoroughly a student knows a word, the more likely he or she is to recognize it, spell it, define it, and use it appropriately in speech and writing.”

The Joys of Reading

 

Some children may be reticent to the idea of sitting and finishing a whole book. How can you encourage reading? Here are some ideas:

  • Set aside time to read with your child every day; have them read to you while you make dinner or ride in the car.
  • Arrange a pet reading group. Pets are great neutral listeners that can help a child build confidence when reading aloud.
  • Have a reading goal. If the goal is met, throw a family pizza party.
  • Go to the library and let them pick out a few books of their own. Give them a small reward like stickers for each book they finish.
  • Tap into interests. Animals? Vikings? Fiction, non-fiction, and magazine articles on a favorite subject help spark interest in reading.

 

Reading is a valuable skill children can utilize their entire life, and one that goes hand in hand with better spelling. Spelling bee dreams? Pick up a book!

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Are Interactive Children’s Books Really Helping Your Child Learn?

Kids bookshelf with German and American childr... 

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As a parent you are probably pretty aware of the new technology that is out their when it comes to your child learning how to read. You have probably seen commercials for the interactive children’s books which allow your child to read the story alone and if your child struggles with a word, they are able to use a pencil-like tool to touch the word and the book will provide the unknown word for the child. This new technology has received various reviews both for the interactive books and against them.

Many parents are in favor of the books because the books are engaging and fun for their children. Parents claim that the books make learning to read easier for their children because the children are able to read the majority of the book themselves and have the option of either sounding out words or receiving a little help with certain words from the book itself. Parents claim that the technology is engaging and helps their children stay focused on the book.

However, other parents find that their children are not using the reading and grammar lessons they have learned in school because the book provides the tools for them. Parents claim that their children would rather have the book provide the unknown words for them rather than sounding out the words for themselves. Parents claim that the book actually hinders their child from learning to read rather than helping them learn. They also say that the books do not allow for personal time between the parents and child to help the child engage in reading.

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Ways to Determine the Readability of the Text

When writing a children’s book you’ll want to determine the reading level of the book so that you know what your target audience is. While many people will usually find their target audience by handing the book to people and having them read it, there is another way to discover the reading level of your book. This way is known as using the reading level tool.

A reading level tool that is commonly used by most authors is one that is found in Microsoft Word. Microsoft Word has the ability for the program to assess 100 word passages and to determine the readable level of the context that it has been instructed. This program will take into account grammar, spelling and the context of words.

When an author uses this reading level tool it will allow them to choose 100 word passages and determine the readability score of that passage. The scale that is used is one known as the Flesch Reading Ease score. This score helped author determine the ease of rating for the paragraph a passage that has been highlighted. This scale shows a score from 0 to 100. The higher the score is the easier the passages to read and therefore is determined that the text will be for younger children.

Another score that is present is one known as the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level score. This will indicate the recommended amount of education that is required for the person to read and understand the passage. This score will come in a form of 0 to 12 and be used to determine whether the passages for kindergarten all the way up to 12 grade.

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How to Determine if a Book is Right for Your Child

There are rating systems for TV shows, movies, video games and CDs. However, people believe that children’s books are not rated. That is not true. There are various ways which you can discover the content of the children’s book and try to evaluate it to make sure that it is suitable for your child. Here’s a look at some ways which you can figure out the content of the children’s books.

Reviews. Book reviews have become increasingly popular with the invention of the Internet. There are hundreds of ways for readers to rate their experience with the book and discuss problems that they may have found with the book. If you are considering reading a book and wish to research’s review is you could always turn to book bloggers or independent reviews found on sites like good reads.

Children’s Book Award. There are dozens of children’s book awards that parents can use as a guideline for determining whether a book is suitable for the child or not. Book awards can vary from those designed to judge quality of writing and plot line, suitability for children or even just the overall book. The most famous types of children’s book awards are the Caldecott Medal And the Newberry Award. These are words are given to books that have child friendly themes, promote the intellectual development of children and have overall good writing.

Age Group Listing. Almost all children’s books now contain an age group listing which has been determined by the publishers. Parents can use this as a guideline to determine if they believe the book is suitable for their children’s age or not.

Filed Under: Books, General Tagged With: , ,
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