"Books are the quietest and most constant of friends; they are the most accessible and wisest of counselors, and the most patient of teachers." -- Charles W. Eliot
My kids love the thrill of visiting the book fair at school; a trip to the local library is always a fun outing; and a great reward is a trip to the local bookstore. But the internet brings us even more opportunities to encourage our children to read and even write stories of their own. Here are a few interesting sites I have discovered:
- Preschoolers will enjoy exploring Lookybook to view picture books at no cost. They can even make their own bookshelf to display their favorite titles.
- Check out the Internet Public Library's Kidspace for links to web sites meant to enhance children's enjoyment of favorite storybook characters.
- Kids of all ages will find something worthwhile on Big Universe. Free options include creating and sharing books online. Animated graphics make the writing process even more fun. For a membership fee, print your own stories and read other books online.
- Budding authors will enjoy Tikatok, where they can write and edit stories online. Upload scanned artwork to enhance the story, or mail artwork to the company. Publish the books for a fee.
- A number of retailers sell illuStory kits to help children make their own books. Amazon stocks several varieties here.
- Featured on Oprah and The Today Show, Pajama Program distributes new books and PJs to underprivileged children. For more information, visit the web site.
