Literacy Connections
This site offers information for reading teachers and literacy volunteers. It includes tutoring tips, sight words, readers theater, songs, children’s literature, and reading aloud.

The New York Times — ‘The Trucker’ and Other Children’s Books
The New York Times has reviewed a handful of new books including The Trucker, a book about a little boy dreaming that his toy truck turns into a big rig. I know that our library always needs new truck books to keep those tiny little boys happy.

SmartWriters.com
A sad update about Paula Danziger. Ms. Danziger died Thursday, July 8th from complications following a heart attack. She will certainly be missed.

JS Online: Education law lacks expected bite
Here in Wisconsin, No Child Left Behind doesn’t affect some schools since they don’t receive federal funding for children living in poverty. So instead the punishment most dreaded by those schools is being listed as ones that need improvement. I can imagine with our open enrollment policy that middle class families would opt to drive their children to a nearby school not on the list.

Star – French go potty over Harry’s politics
France is having a fabulous debate over the Harry Potter books. It is fabulous because so much of it is valid criticism. Yes, Harry Potter’s universe is a capitalist one. Yes, there are issues within the world that are disturbing. Read the article to find out more.

the Official Bruce Coville Homepage
Homepage for this author of several popular series for children, including The Magic Shop.

SmartWriters.com
SmartWriters has information on Paula Danziger, who recently had heart surgery and is having difficulty in her recovery.

A Perilous Power by E. Rose Sabin (0-765-30859-2)
This prequel to A School for Sorcery shares the same breakneck pace and impending feeling of danger. The books are set in a Victorian fantasy world where some people are born with magical powers and are feared and hated by those without them. Perilous Power is filled with vivid characters and a good story, but there is one nagging issue throughout the book, the love between Les (one of the main characters) and Miryam, a magically gifted girl. The love between the two seems to appear suddenly with no building and yet is the basis of a large amount of the book. Because the love story is weak, it weakens the rest of the tale. However, the action and adventure in the book still make it worth reading.
Recommend to teens who enjoy fantasy, especially boys who will enjoy two strong but very different male protagonists. There is no need to have read School for Sorcery first, though readers of that book will recognize characters.

AP Wire | 07/03/2004 | Ruth Heller Gross, a popular children’s book author, dies
Ruth Heller, author of children’s books like Many Luscious Lollipops died Thursday at age 81.