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More Reading Lists:

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Ultimate Reading List Grade 3 to 12 - ultimatereadinglist.com- 9949

This site consolidates book and author information from several important book lists, including prize winners and best book sites. Students can find the names of the books that won awards, the number of books authors have written, biographical information about the author (from Wikipedia), book summaries (usually written by the awarding entity), and other special features, including a lifetime reading list. A section showing books that are on more than one reading list allows selective readers to choose books carefully. Be aware: this site does include some minor advertising.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to acquaint your students with some writing and book awards, to check out Oprah's newest recommendations, and to encourage students to set up their own lifetime reading list. Have students choose books to read then complete a multi-media alternate to the traditional book report. How about a fictitious blog entry written from the perspective of the main character? Or maybe a book report written online, using an interactive book creator such as Bookemon (reviewed here).

Reading Lists List Grade 4 to 12 - TeachersFirst- 158

Some students have trouble finding books that interest them. This collection comes to the rescue with reading lists for all sorts and types of interests.

In the Classroom:
Try using these lists with your reluctant readers; there are dozens of possibilities

Checkpoints for Progress Grade 1 to 12 - US Dept. of Education- 5392

This helpful checklist of reading and writing skills outlines what parents should expect to see from their children at each grade level. The site provides reading lists and practical tips for helping students to hone their language arts skills.

On-Lion for Kids! Grade 1 to 8 - NY Public Library- 5319

The New York Public Library offers this just-for-kids portal featuring links to sites by subject (science and technology, arts, games, sports, people and places), reading and book lists, book reviews written by kids, and helpful resources for parents and teachers.

Children’s Choice Reading List Grade 1 to 9 - International Reading Association- 4508

This site lists approximately 100 recently published children’s books, chosen by children and sorted by reading level. Endorsed by the children themselves, these books are meant to encourage reading among children ages 5 to 14.

Teachers’ Choice Reading List Grade 1 to 9 - International Reading Association- 4507

Celtic Studies Reading Lists Grade 9 to 12 - Privately Published- 2155

An interesting list of links to information on Celtic studies, with links and annotations.

A Recommended Reading List Grade 6 to 12 - - 2152

This list, taken from Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren's classic How to Read a Book, provides a comprehensive list of the great books of all ages. It's a great reference list for a lifetime reading program.

Reading Lists Grade 1 to 12 - Council for Exceptional Children- 2016

The Council for Exceptional Children presents these pages, which offer teachers and parents lists of pointers on how they can encourage reading with children, especially those who have a learning disability. The site includes tips on strategies which can make reading easier and more rewarding for these students.

The Lifetime Reading List Grade 6 to 12 - TeachersFirst- 153

Want to know what every literate student (or adult) should read? Here are some suggestions from our editors.

Books for Young People Book Lists Archive Grade K to 12 - Through the Magic Door- 10405

This site has archives of lists of books, organized by theme and displayed pictorially. Specific subjects feature books divided into two or three levels, including picture books, books for independent readers, and YA books. Featured books are not annotated, but bibliographic information is included. There are many widely varied themes, from the classical to the offbeat (Something from Nothing, and In Praise of Bad Books). The themes are too numerous to mention them all: Adventures on the High Seas Booklist, Africa Booklist, American Military Stories Booklist, Building Things Booklist, Children Putting on Plays Booklist, Exploration Booklist, First Day of School Booklist, Inventors and Inventions Booklist, Mother Goose Booklist, and countless others. A search feature allows teachers and students to search by many different criteria: Type of Child, Title, Author/Illustrator, ISBN, Genre, Subject, Series, Format, Fiction or Non-Fiction, Reading Level, Grade Level, Lexile, Setting, Author and Illustrator Demographics, Personal issues, and other categories. A free login allows users to submit reviews, tag books, or create wishlists (suggest other themes). Registration does require an email address, but it is free. You do not need to register to access the booklists.

In the Classroom:
Turn to this comprehensive list if you are searching for books on a certain theme. These books are a perfect addition to units on the various topics presented. Share the link with your students if they want other books about subjects that have interested them. Keep these booklists handy for students seeking independent reading. If you use a list in conjunction with a curriculum unit, be sure to invite students to "review" the books by putting the list on a class wiki or in a spreadsheet where they can enter comments and indicate that which books they have read. This will allow other students to choose books based on what a fellow student with similar taste recommends. Google Docs Spreadsheets reviewed hereare an easy online tool for students to collaborate and comment. The teacher can create one that is editable publicly and link to it from the class web page. You may want to provide this link on your class website for families to access at home.

Reading Suggestions Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- 10029

This site, created by our teacher-editors, offers a reading list for students in all grades. Simply click on the grade level that you wish to explore and a book list will be provided. Most books offer a short description and some link to other titles by the same author. New titles are added frequently, so be sure to check back.

In the Classroom:
Save this site on your classroom computers' favorites, so students can easily access the site to find new books to read! Share this link on your class website. This is an excellent resource to provide for summer reading.

Story Place Grade 1 to 12 - Charlotte & Mecklenburg County Library- 6136

Created by the Charlotte & Mecklenburg County libraries, this is an interesting, bilingual resource for finding children's books and related activities. In addition to a kid-friendly book search, there are theme reading lists for both elementary and preschool age groups. Inquisitive reading teachers – especially those working with Spanish-speaking students, will find this a welcome addition to their web lists.

A Page-Turner Guide to Kids’ Books for Summer Grade 1 to 7 - - 5222

Even if it's not summertime, this reading list can provide librarians, teachers, and parents with great suggestions. "Best bets" in picture books, chapter books, and teen books are provided along with summaries and "alerts" regarding language or subject matter. A variety of reading level, subjects, and styles are included.

Boy Meets Book Grade 1 to 8 - Michael Sullivan- 5048

Statistics show that boys just don't read as much as their female classmates. Use this resource to help your reluctant readers get excited about books. Check out the "tips for enjoying books" for ideas on how to make the reading experience much more interactive. A book list, organized by reading level, includes more than 100 selections encompassing fantasy, historical fiction, adventure, sports, and non-fiction.

Children’sLit.com Grade 1 to 6 - - 4849

Here’s a children’s literature database coupled with an ongoing service to keep reading teachers and others aware of new releases and events in children’s literature. The monthly features and booklists are freely available; members also have access to an extensive MARC book listing catalog and a searchable collection of reviews.

In the Classroom:
Visit the Features link to explore some of the outstanding offerings, including a collection of Themed Reviews organized by topic, a Meet the Authors and Illustrators section (containing contact information for visiting author programs), and an impressive collection of teaching guides and materials. All book reviews include age recommendations. A "Kids’ Resources" link provides an annotated list of kid-friendly sites that can be safely explored by students.

St. Charles Public Library Best Books for Young Adults 2000 Grade 6 to 12 - - 2150

This annual list of fiction and non-fiction complied by the Young Adult Library Services Association of the St. Charles Public Library provides annotated suggestions for young adults ages 12 to 18.

In the Classroom:
Use these book lists as a way to interest hesitant readers in your classroom. The books recommended are all interesting enough to capture any young mind, regardless of their previous feelings towards reading. Avid readers will also love this site, so be sure to post it on your teacher web page to allow students to access it out of the classroom. Parents will also love access to the site, and can use it to generate a summer reading list for their kids.

BDD Books for Young People: Teacher's Resource Center Grade 1 to 8 - - 1194

Lots of interesting materials here! Teacher’s resources are organized by many categories-- alphabetical, thematic, and award winners. An especially interesting listing is one for reluctant readers. Links to Children’s Book Council, American Library, Children’s Literature Web and others make this a good stop to shop.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to obtain reading lists and recommendations for read-aloud books for the classroom. Make sure to check for updates, as the site gets new lists continuously.

Read Up On It! Grade 1 to 12 - Library of Canda- 391

This site promotes a free reading kit from the Canadian Library. This kit is designed to promote reading and give educators resources that worked for this group. It promotes children’s literature also. The site itself contains reading lists in French and English. The lists are centered around themes. There is also ways to share your success with the kit and pose questions in an open forum. They offer tips and suggestions on ways to encourage reading and learning among children and adolescents.

In the Classroom:
Use these recommended book lists and discussion questions as a way to inject something new into your classroom. If there is a theme that matches up with one already existing in the classroom, this website is excellent for enrichment. Use the free recommendations and discussion prompts in your classroom.

Search - Children's Book Council Grade 1 to 12 - Children's Book Council- 69

This great site offers a helpful set of resources for parents, teachers, and librarians. There are lists of newly published books, links to ordering and other book-related resources, and a list of "not to be missed" titles and authors for various grade levels. The resources are updated regularly, so there's always something fresh to offer to students or other teachers.

In the Classroom:
Be sure to include this site on your teacher web page for students and parents to access to learn more about recommended reading lists. Use the site as a starting point for crafting summer reading lists or to design a reading challenge for your class. *Link*

Booklist Home Page Grade 1 to 12 - Amer. Library Assoc.- 56

This is the web incarnation of the American Library Association's periodical of the same name. The web version includes listings and reviews of popular books for children, young people, and adults, as well as articles of interest to librarians and those in the business of making reading and reference accessible to students and adults.

In the Classroom:
Check this site for book lists to accompany upcoming units or to create independent reading challenges/contests for your class. Share the link with parents on your teacher web page so parents and students can use it when planning a trip to the library.

Find a Book Grade 1 to 12 - lexile.com- 10138

This site allows teachers and students to go through four simple steps to find a book that has a lexile rating. The steps include entering a lexile range (if unknown: enter grade level and ease of reading), interests (similar to a keyword search), search of all items that come up, and list-making.

One disadvantage of the site is that you can only enter a keyword when you get to the third step. After a book list based on interests appears, then you can search by keyword to make the search zero in on specifics. When teachers or students select books for a reading list, they can then click to see the complete list of books they have selected. Clicking on a book title leads to another screen, but it does not contain a book summary; instead, it has a list of other keywords for the book along with other book data.

In the Classroom:
This site is great for teachers searching for books at specific lexile levels. Learning support and ESL/ELL teachers can find books to accompany units in content area classes but on the correct lexile level. Students can also use the site by entering their grade levels and what kind of readers they are. Use this site to differentiate the learning experience for all levels of students. Rather than having students complete traditional book reports, why not have them complete a multimedia project? Provide some choices such as a podcast, using PodoMatic (reviewed here), interactive venn diagram comparing characters (reviewed here), or online book using Bookemon (reviewed here).

Reading For All Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- 9628

This TeachersFirst professional page includes extensive resources for Reading in the Content Areas, Graphic Organizers, Reading Strategies, Vocabulary Development, Elementary Reading, independent reading, and special topics reading lists. The page also includes a link for you to purchase books from Amazon and have TeachersFirst receive a portion of the proceeds. TeachersFirst is a free service of a non-profit since 1998. Why not shop through this link to help TeachersFirst continue its service to teachers worldwide?

In the Classroom:
No matter what you teach, these resources will help you target reading and study skills for better comprehension and more.

Adolescent Literacy Grade 4 to 12 - adlit.org- 9383

The focus of this site is to encourage better literacy and reading enjoyment among pre-teens and adolescents. A sister site to Reading Rockets and Colorin'Colorado, Adlit offers summer reading strategies, book lists, book clubs, classroom technique hints which encourage development of reading attack skills, and a special section on authors and their best books. For a Spanish language version of the main topics available as an A to Z list, click on the left side of the screen ( En Espanol ). This site has everything you already know about teaching reading in easy-to-use formats. This site requires Flash and Adobe Acrobat. Get both from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
If you need ideas to get students reading for fun and to help develop their confidence, try this site. Highlight this on your class website so parents can try the activities with their older students. When doing author biographies, share this site with your class using an interactive whiteboard or projector. Be sure to check out the “Classroom Strategies” link for even more literacy ideas.

Visiting Authors Grade K to 6 - visitingauthors.com- 9363

Having an author visit your school is easy using this site. Author information, pictures and book lists, and hints on how to prepare for your author visit are all found here. Some of the authors include Marie Bradby, Timothy Bush, Nikki Grimes, Angela Johnson, Steve Lyon, Alexander Stadler, and many others. Learn where the author resides, fees, and more.

In the Classroom:
Have your students pretend to be an author who visits your school. Make a video of the “visits” from several “authors.” Make a wish list of their expectations from the students. Have students create fictional stories of why the author wrote a particular book. Share them with the author for huge laughs. If you do invite one of these featured authors, make sure you read their books well in advance of the visit. Many of these authors have their own websites, so visit those sites as well. As a school event, you may be able to arrange a ‘Lunch with the Author’ fundraiser.

Teacher Book Wizard Grade K to 12 - Scholastic- 9082

Wizards perform magical feats, and this book wizard proves to be equally supernatural. Claiming to be the first book search engine for teachers, it is built on a database of 50,000 books from all publishers. Snazzy tools allow you to choose your own leveling system, and then match the student to a whole list of books. You will find ready-made, themed lists as well. Teachers can create their own book lists to share with other teachers. Use the BookAlike tool to see what books are similar to a particular well-loved book. Matching the right book to each individual student has never been easier. The Book Wizard Tour requires Flash. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Teachers, make sure your librarian and even parents know about this wonderful web tool. This could be set up as the homepage for several computers in the library, so students can plug in their levels, their interests, and then enjoy the book recommendations. Librarians, use Scholastic's online library evaluator tool to evaluate your current collection. Teachers, take the Book Wizard Tour for an easy explanation of this helpful service.

Themes and Literature Circles Grade 1 to 8 - Literature Learning Ladders- 8868

Themes and Literature Circles offers explanations, tips, and ideas based on current scientific research for creating literature circles in the classroom. The site provides several theme examples to get started as well as book lists for each theme, technology ideas, and Internet connections. Some of the topics included are 100th Day Celebration, All About Me & Celebrating Diversity, Colonial America, Quilts, Japanese Internment Camps, Underground Railroad, Civil War, and Native American Legends.

In the Classroom:
Use the thematic Internet links for web quests and teacher resources as part of an interdisciplinary or team-taught unit. Share the reading lists with your school library/media specialist for featured displays. If you want to really generate student enthusiasm have the class create a wiki on the theme, including book reviews and informational pages on the topic. Don't know about wikis? See the TeachersFirst Wiki Walk-Through to get started.

Book Adventure Grade K to 8 - Sylvan Learning- 8589

Book Adventure is a motivational program for students and a teacher tool for grades K-8. Teachers and/or students can create book lists from a database of 7,000 leveled book titles. User-riendly searches can be completed by using title, author, ISBN, subject and/or level. Students complete multiple choice quizzes on their completed books while earning points in the process. They may redeem their points for prizes. Teachers can monitor student progress at all times. All users must register with the site but it is FREE. (Student registration should happen after the teacher registers and does NOT require an email account).

In the Classroom:
Teachers can utilize quizzes during guided reading time as assessment tools for comprehension. If yu children have at-home web access, encourage family reading nights and have students complete quizzes as "homework" by accessing the link on the classroom web page.

Columbus Day Grade K to 8 - Kaboose- 7946

This all-encompassing website truly has something for every classroom! There are coloring pages, interactive maps, historical information, book lists, information about "the controversy of Columbus", recipes, crafts, higher-level thinking questions, word puzzles, clip art, e-cards and more.

Stories from the Web 11-14 Grade 6 to 9 - Birmingham Library Services- 7811

Search for books by title, author, or genre in the SFW virtual bookshelf. This page is for ages 11-14. The companion site is for younger children. There are many genres to choose from so there is something for everyone. Book blurbs give a brief summary of the books. Write a review to rate the books you read or read the reviews from other students to find out what others have to say about the books listed. Tips are offered on how to get started writing stories, plays, poetry, rap and songs. Submit the writings to the site to post in the Gallery for others to read and give feedback on. Make sure you follow your district policies for posting student work and information on the Internet. Flash is required. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Consider using a projector or interactive whiteboard to show a piece of writing that is the same genre or type as the next writing assignment for your class. Edit the writing as a class and point out the areas you will be looking for in their writing. The site will not accept entries from entire classes.

Stories from the Web 7-11 Grade 2 to 6 - Birmingham Library Services- 7810

This site provides a wealth of information for students who are looking for a good book, fairy tales or poems to read. Peer reviews, short synopsis and ISBN numbers are included under recommended reads. Each book listed has a ‘tease’ to get students hooked into reading the complete book. Students can choose short stories to read on line by author, title or type of story. Enter the bookshelf to search for other books to borrow from a library. Companion sites for ages under 7 and 11-14 address interests of other age groups. Flash is required. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

In the Classroom:
Present this site to your class as a ‘Book Club Online’ to get students interested in reading. Students who already have a love for reading will enjoy the peer reviews. Encourage students to write reviews of their own to submit and share with the class. Use this as a way to discuss Internet safety and be sure to follow your school districts policy on posting information on the web. Include the link on your teacher web page for students to access and share at home.

Picturing America Grade 5 to 12 - National EH/American Library Association- 7716

A new experimental program attached to the "We the People" program, Picturing America invites educators and school librarians to apply online for free 2'by 3' posters of artworks from America. Those selected for the gift (500 schools in all) will also receive reading lists and other information about the art. The deadline for applications is March 19, 2007!

In the Classroom:
Get free laminated copies of major artworksto use throughout your school. Grab an art tecaher or librarian to help you complete the application. If you don't try, you'll never win!

Children's Literature Grade 1 to 8 - Web English Teacher- 5657

Search through this alphabetical list of children's authors, click on a link, and explore a great collection of resources (organized by book title) including vocabulary lists, activities, and lesson plans - many with an interdisciplinary flair.

Back to School Reading Grade K to 10 - Long Beach Public Library- 5288

Make that difficult transition back to school a bit easier for your students with this helpful list of books that focus on common back-to-school issues and anxieties. Titles include "Lookout Kindergarten, Here I Come," "How to Be Cool in Third Grade," and "Will I have a Friend?" The books are divided up by grade level (1-4, 4-6, and young adult) and by specific subjects.

In the Classroom:
Take advantage of these free book lists. Brief descriptions of each book are provided. Provide the lists of literature to your families on a class newsletter or on your class website.

High School: the Big Kahuna Grade 6 to 8 - Castleworks, Inc.- 5168

Help your middle school students feel a bit more confident about entering high school with this kid-friendly site that addresses many common fears and anxieties. Topics include "Getting Prepared," "Bigger, Faster, More," "Small Fish Again," and "Get Extra-Curricular!" A printable journal page offers a structured way for kids to record their feelings and questions, while a reading list of adolescent fiction provides great suggestions for those who want to read more about the topic.

Katerpillars and Mystery Bugs Grade 2 to 8 - University of Kentucky Department of Etymology- 5066

This site provides activities, projects, games, and reading lists that can enhance a life science lesson on creepy-crawlies by introducing the real thing! Browse through the "Teacher/Parent Resource Materials" and check out the collection of units and lesson plans that require students to observe, interact with, and record their experiences with a variety of insects. The "Teacher’s Guide to Six-Legged Science" provides invaluable background information and helpful tips, especially for teachers who are a bit tentative about welcoming bugs into their classrooms.

International Children's Digital Library Grade 1 to 12 - University of Maryland- 4934

Encourage your students to read with this extensive digital library that includes hundreds of books from all over the world, in their original languages. Browse the site by category, title, author or location and prepare reading lists of your students. Establish a high-tech reading center by making this site available on classroom computers. Texts can be accessed using a basic (56K connection) or enhanced (high-speed connection) mode. A project of the University of Maryland and the Internet Archive.

Rudyard Kipling Society Grade 9 to 12 - - 4856

While Kipling is not a staple of today’s reading lists, many of his works have become classics. This British site offers a biography, listings of books and poems, a poem of the day, and links to related resources and publications. It could be useful as part of an author study, or for a student interested in finding additional books by the author.

Lesson Plans from Keith Haring Grade 1 to 3 - Keith Haring- 4850

Children’s illustrator Keith Haring offers some surprisingly detailed lessons for primary students in this collection. Haring is a man of few words and many images, so the lessons have a particular appeal for beginners.

Book Talks - Quick and Simple Grade 1 to 6 - Nancy Keane- 4846

Nancy Keane has collected thousands of short (sometimes very short) book descriptions into an easily-accessed collection for use by elementary librarians and reading teachers. You will probably want to augment many of these if your book talks need to be more than a minute or two, but they can be a great starting point.

Rainforest Alliance – Kids & Teachers Page Grade 2 to 12 - Rainforest Alliance- 4519

The kids’ page is directed towards elementary science, with coloring pages and fun frog facts for kids. The Teachers’ page has helpful hints and recommendations for rainforest lessons in grades K-12. Both sections have links for further research, and there are reading lists for both children and adults.

Character Education Curriculum Resources Grade 1 to 12 - Boston University- 3867

The Center for the Advancement of Ethics and Character at Boston University has created a character education site that is both successful and apolitical. This page offers a reading list, information on the Six E’s of character education, and a large collection of lesson plans and ideas that integrate character education with other subject areas.

In the Classroom:
Teachers will want to explore the lesson themes in detail; each introduces many possibilities.

Edward Albee Grade 9 to 12 - - 3024

This site provides a synopsis, reading list and student/teacher comments on American playwright Edward Albee’s 1962 play "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

Recommended Literature Grade 1 to 12 - California Department of Education- 3006

This page from the California Department of Education offers a fully searchable database of literature for K-12 students. Available search criteria include age, language, awards, and a variety of topical keywords. Each book listing includes a short synopsis.

In the Classroom:
Teachers will find this a great tool for locating books appropriate to particular topics or student interests, especially in multi-lingual classrooms

The Road from Coorain Grade 7 to 12 - PBS- 2991

The web companion to the Masterpiece Theater presentation of Jill Ker Conway’s story offers additional background information on the book and the author, as well as a visual feel for life in the Australian outback. This site could be a great supplement if this title is on your reading list.

Books by Survivors Grade 6 to 12 - - 2163

An annotated list of books written by Holocaust survivors.

A Teacher's Guide to the Holocaust Grade 4 to 12 - - 2162

Links to Holocaust literature and reading list classified by elementary, middle and high school levels. Source: Florida Center for Instructional Technology, College of Education, University of South Florida

Holocaust Bibliographies and Books Grade 4 to 12 - - 2161

A thorough listing of links to booklists on the Holocaust.

American Library Association Newbery Web Page Grade 1 to 12 - Amer. Library Assoc.- 2156

Madison's Top 100 List of Novels Grade 1 to 12 - - 2153

Ever wonder what the people in Madison, Wisconsin (home of the University of Wisconsin) are reading? Here's a helpful list of 100 Top Books complied by the Madison Public Library.

Banned Books Online Grade 6 to 12 - - 2151

The University of Pennsylvania provides an interesting listing of books that have been are " banned"-- suppressed or censored by authorities. The site provides a short history of the books listed and give links to other sites with the same concern.

In the Classroom:
This is a useful site for history and English teachers, and a great discussion- starter.

Search - Good Books for Middle Schoolers Grade 6 to 8 - Children's Library of Pittsburgh- 2149

A concise and helpful list of fantasy books for the Middle School grades from the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.

Good Books for Fourth and Fifth Graders Grade 4 to 5 - Children's Library of Pittsburgh- 2148

From Atwater's "Mr. Popper's Penguins" to White's "Charlotte's Web," this list provides some great reading ideas for the 4th and 5th grade set.

Best of the Year for Young Adults Grade 7 to 12 - American Library Association- 2081

The American Library Association's annual listings of the best young adult fiction and non-fiction. You'll find listings for 2002 as well as several years prior. Find the good works here.

Ready Set Read for Families Grade K to 1 - U.S. Department of Education- 1458

This is the family section for the Department of Education's Ready-Set-Read program, which is designed to foster reading readiness skills in preschool children. The site contains ideas and activities that parents can use with their children to help them practice the speaking and observation skills that will help them learn to read.

In the Classroom:
This site offers tips for parents from the Department of Education. Teachers can also use the reading lists to help in book selection for reading centers. Make sure to refer the site to parents via teacher webpage if they ever ask for resources on reading.

The Children's Book Council Grade 1 to 6 - - 345

The Children's Book Council sponsors Children's Book Week each fall. Their site includes this Showcase collection of books recommended for children, with links and additional information on each book selected. A good starting point for building a reading list or library.

Witch of Blackbird Pond - Unit collection Grade 5 to 8 - Privately Published- 263

Here’s one teacher’s very complete collection of projects and web resources to accompany Elizabeth George Speare’s award-winning book. There are sections on history, virtual field trips, project ideas and more. If Witch of Blackbird Pond is on your reading list, this is a great collection.

International Kids Club Grade 2 to 10 - Planet Pals- 10406

This International Kids Club site has activities, books, and crafts to help students understand each other around the world. Information links include lots of material on world clocks, religions, customs, organizations, and art. Specific links include “I” Kids, “I” Share, “I” Shop, “I” Learn, “I” Craft, and “I” Play. One fun part is finding out how speakers of different languages think animals sound. What is "meow" in an Asian language, for example? Sound files give examples of the sounds of many languages, as well. Some of the links are slow to open at times, so you may want to open them before you are ready to use them in class.

In the Classroom:
Use parts of this site when doing units on prejudice, diversity, and discrimination. Refer students to do research in some of the books listed here on those subjects. Have students interview people from other cultures to check the information given here on aspects of their cultures. Do they agree with what is said here? Even younger students will enjoy learning about flags and peace symbols. Make the craft links available for students doing reports on different countries or preparing for an International Day. Have students copy flags or other country symbols. Ask them to create their own ”country” from these models. Challenge cooperative learning groups to research a specific topic at this site and prepare a podcast to share with the class using PodOmatic (reviewed here).

Bookshare: Books without Barriers Grade 2 to 12 - Bookshare- 10143

This site allows FREE access to a number of books, newspapers, and magazines, all using adaptive technology. After a free registration (available to participants with documented limited vision), members can download books, textbooks, and newspapers in a compressed, encrypted file. They then read the material using adaptive technology, typically software that reads the book aloud (text-to-speech) and/or displays the text of the book on a computer screen, or Braille access devices, such as refreshable Braille displays. The advantage to this site is that it offers newer books and other written materials than many other online digital libraries. Besides written items, a number of videos are available which assist or focus on typical Bookshare users, many featuring them as success stories. A special page of information for teachers with limited vision students includes information such as other resources, reading lists, and handouts.

In the Classroom:
If you have students with limited vision or certain specific qualifying learning disabilities in your class, be sure to save this useful resource in your favorites. List this link on your class website or wiki or email it to parents of these children. If possible, share this site with those teachers working with students with limited vision and qualifying disabilities.

Mathematical FIction Grade K to 12 - Alex Kasman- 10060

This site provides countless books, films, plays, and television shows that all relate to specific math concepts. What a fabulous way to integrate math, language arts, history, and more! The site includes the title, year, and brief description. Teachers can browse by genre, medium, motif, and/or topic. Media include everything from comic books to plays to television series. Genres include historical fiction, children’s literature, adventure/espionage, fantasy, science fiction, and more. Sixty-three fiction offerings are even available FREE (in their entirety) online! The site is still developing and frequently adds additional fiction titles. Students who enjoy fantasy will also enjoy choosing books from this site, since the author admits that not all math mentioned in all the books is "real" math!! The site allows teachers to search by keyword and also to browse new offerings in the compilation of titles.

In the Classroom:
Use this site to find extra reading choices for reluctant readers who are interested in technology and math. Use it also to show students that math processes are inherent in a lot of life's experiences. Search the site for your current math topics. Share this link on your class website for students (and parents) to use at home. Share it with your school librarian for a featured reading shelf. Challenge your more verbal/linguistic gifted students to write similar stories that feature a math concept and create an online book using a tool such as Bookemon, reviewed here.

Lewis and Clark - LA Purchase Vocabulary Grade 4 to 10 - Vocabulary University- 9885

Lewis and Clark and the Louisiana Purchase are the focus of this vocabulary site. There are several word puzzles, a wordbank (with 18 words), an alphalary for explorers, lesson plan ideas, and further extension activities. There is also a book list, offering titles about life for pioneer children.

In the Classroom:
Share the puzzles on your interactive whiteboard or projector. Have students work with a partner to try out the puzzles on their own and volunteer to work on the whiteboard (resist the urge to be Vanna White yourself!). Use this site to enhance your Lewis and Clark lesson, or a unit on explorers. Try the activities; most are very easy to use in any classroom. Share some of the literature with your students.

Read Kiddo Read Grade K to 12 - James Patterson- 9846

“Dedicated to making your kids readers for life” is the sub-heading to James Patterson’s new site ReadKiddoRead. This well-known author has put together a loaded site full of inspiration, book suggestions, author interviews, and more to inspire educators and parents to promote reading. The titles are divided by age (0-8, 6 & Up, 8+ & Up, or 10 & Up). Search by category (within age levels) such as Fantasy & Other Worlds, Real World Fiction, Action/Adventure/Mystery, and others.

Teachers who have reluctant readers at all ages will discover ample ways to help them find exciting books. Make sure you click on the Books for Boys link at the top of the page to find targeted, page-turning books with boy protagonists. The books at this site also include brief descriptions.

In the Classroom:
Sign up for Patterson’s newsletter (free) to keep updated on news from the youth literature world. This is definitely a site to save on your classroom favorites and also list on your class website. Provide this link for families to use to find summer reading resources.

Native American Booklist Grade K to 12 - NEA- 9750

This site celebrates the major works by Native American authors. There are three booklist levels, grades K-4, grades 5-8, and grades 9-12 and above. As part of NEA's Read Across America program, links to tools to help parents and teachers encourage more reading among the young. Books include fiction, essays, poetry, and nonfiction articles.

In the Classroom:
Use this site as a reference when picking extra reading materials during a Native American unit or as you approach November and Thanksgiving. Teach students how to find book reviews online after they've selected a book they would like to read. Have students create multi-media book “reports.” Give students choices like a wiki, blog, PowerPoint, or even an online book review using a tool such at Bookemon (reviewed here).

Lexile Grade K to 12 - MetaMetrics, Inc.- 9704

Whether or not your school uses the Lexile system to measure reading levels, teachers should become familiar with it. Lexiles are coming your way soon. Already 950 companies use Lexile to measure the reading levels of their materials. Thousands of schools now use Lexile measuring to determine the precise reading level of their students. Explore this website for more information on ‘how’ the measuring is done. On the homepage, click on the Educators’ link. There, you will find a Lexile Analyzer that allows you to cut and paste text into an entry box to determine its Lexile readability level. (You will need to register for the free use of the Analyzer.) Click on the book database to find the Lexile level of your classroom books. The Lexile Calculator lets you figure out the rate of comprehension based upon Lexile scores. Lexile leveling is also available for Spanish text. See El Sistema Lexile link at the bottom for more information.

Registration is free. An email address is required, as is some other information. This site requires Adobe Acrobat. You can get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.

Another helpful resource in understanding Lexile levels is this pdf comparison chart from Harcourt (opens in Acrobat Reader).

In the Classroom:
If your school reports data to parents using Lexile scoring, then download the white papers to give to them at conferences to explain Lexile scores in ‘parent friendly’ language. Include this link on your classroom web page. If your students know their Lexile level, you will want Lexile levels on your classroom library materials so students can match the right book to their reading level. As an FYI, SOME books listed on Barnes and Noble's online site include Lexile levels in the descriptions (just after age level).

PBS Arthur Grade K to 3 - PBS- 8950

If Arthur and his friends sit on your bookshelf, then bookmark this interactive and safe PBS website. The site offers numerous activities, polls, information about your favorite Arthur characters, and many other educational activities. Some examples include, "Elmwood City Map," "Facts and Opinions," "Supermarket Adventure," and numerous others. This site requires Flash. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page..

In the Classroom:
Make sure you click the 'Parents and Teachers' link at the bottom left column of the homepage. There, you will find lesson plans, activities, book lists, and more. Nearly all of these activities are ideal for an interactive whiteboard or projector. When reading Arthur books in your classroom, extend the learning through these activities. From healthy eating tips to Arthur Trivia, the possibilities at this website are endless. The games are conducive to individual or cooperative learning.

Educators' Top 100 Children's Books Grade K to 12 - NEA- 8498

As a result of a teacher survey in 2007, NEA has compiled this list of 100 Best Books for Children from an online survey The list is unfortunately not labeled, as the 1999 listing from NEA was, with age/grade ranges. You will find many classics as well as some newer entries onto the shelves.

In the Classroom:
Share this list with parents via handout or a link from your teacher web page or use it to help make selections for you classroom library. If you provide independent reading incentives, be sure to make this list available to your students as they make book choices. Perhaps you would like to let them "review" books from the list on a class reading wiki or include student mini-reviews on your teacher web page. Or print the list out in a large font and cut strips for books appropriate for your class in general. Allow any student who reads and reviews one of the books to sign the strip and hang it, along with a review, on an "Our Reading Accomplishments" bulletin board.

Story Times Grade K to 6 - bestkidsbooksite.com- 8031

Teachers and school librarians can pull up a list by theme of early elementary books and accompanying activities including fingerplays, craft projects, and songs. Besides the usual fiction picture book titles, findings also include appropriate nonfiction titles. When a teacher clicks on a selected book, a nice summary of the book appears. Suggested links to other related subjects allow you to expand the search, as well.

In the Classroom:
Find books and activities on topics related to your current science/social studies/reading selections or to accompany primary classroom themes.

CCBC Bibliographies of Recommended Books Grade 1 to 12 - Cooperative Children's Book Center at UW- Madison- 7815

This list of themed bibliographies invites teachers and librarians to expand their offerings when presenting units about a specific subject or at a specific level. Prepared by librarians at the prestigious Children's Cooperative Book Center, the books offered are the best in the field. Each subject list of carefully selected items is divided into broad age levels, but each book also contains information about what ages it would be appropriate for.

In the Classroom:
Keep up to date with the latest in children's literature by referring to the themed reading lists offered here. Use your newsletter of web page to sure to share a featured list to go along with units you are studying. You might also want to share them with your gifted enrichment teacher to extend classroom units.

Stories from the Web 0-7 Grade K to 1 - Birmingham Library Services- 7809

This site offers stories on line to listen to or read. Students can search for books by themes or alphabetically to read short reviews. Audio portions have a slight British accent. Pop up blockers may need to be turned off for some parts of the site. Flash is required. Get it from the TeachersFirst Toolbox page.. Companion sites for ages 7-11 and 11-14 provide age-appropriate reading activities for other groups.

In the Classroom:
List the URL in your next class newsletter or on your teacher Web page for parents and students. Adult Info gives post-reading suggestions for discussions or activities that parents could use. Encourage individual students to write then submit stories to this site either at home or during free time on a classroom computer. (The site will not accept submissions from a whole class.) When they are posted, share the stories with the class using a projector. Don’t forget headphones for individual students or speakers if using with the whole class.

TogetheRead Grade K to 12 - TeachersAndFamilies.com- 7198

Share family reading and activities around a monthly theme using this outstanding series by our partner site, TeachersAndFamilies. Interwoven into each TogetheRead theme are questions and activities based on reading strategies for effective readers. Parents and children of all ages can select books from the annotated lists, read together, and do related free or low-cost activities. Written in language understandable to parents and without education "jargon" so familiar to teachers, these themes will help any child become a a better reader and enjoy sharing family time. Books are grouped into "bands": preschool/picture books, early elementary, upper elementary to middle school, upper middle school to young adult, and mature teen to adult books. Activities accompany each age group, and participants can contribute their own activity suggestions, as well.

Libraries, schools, parent organizations, and teachers will find free, downloadable materials to promote good reading and family time. They can also sign up to receive advanced notice of upcoming themes to be able to locate the books for their families. There is even an FAQ-style page to help parents get started. Sound reading strategies help EVERY child!

In the Classroom:
Share this link on your teacher web page or in a newsletter. You might even talk to your parent organization about promoting TogetheReads as a whole-school activity. Maybe even host a TogetheRead family evening in the gym or library.

CIA for Kids Grade 3 to 12 - CIA- 7051

Divided into introductions at two levels, K- 5 and 6 – 12, the home pages explain briefly what the CIA does. Sites of interest for children include information about the Canine Corps, a story about pigeons, games and a feature on saying no to drugs. Links from the two levels of homepages do not necessarily go to reading matter of the level; for example, the “Who We Are and What We Do” pages require a sophisticated vocabulary and high reading level (9+). Links from features like “Spy-Fi Archives” display some inconsistency in formatting, but the source is a good general one for older children. An extensive book list on drug awareness and abuse prevention is helpful.

In the Classroom:
Include this site when studying the three branches of government as a concrete example of one thing the Executive Branch does. Students could explore it on a "scavenger hunt" to learn answers to questions you pose, or the whole class could visit on a projector to learn about what the CIA does. If you ask students to research different government agancies, this would be a great reference site for them to use.

Banned Books Week Grade 3 to 12 - American Library Association- 6915

To celebrate America's history of the freedom to read, the American Library Association sets aside one week every year to celebrate that freedom by bringing the most important banned books to the attention of everyone. Traditionally the last week of September, in 2009 it is being held September 26 - October 3rd. Go to the website and vote for your favorite banned book and have your older students do the same! Find out what books have been most frequently challenged. Find out about the history of book burning, print out posters for your classroom, and find out how support of this week adds to the intellectual freedom of all readers: students, teachers, librarians, and other adults.

In the Classroom:
Compare the banned book list with your curriculum. Find out how many of your students' favorite books (like To Kill a Mockingbird) have been on the list.

No Job for a Woman Grade 6 to 12 - Imperial War Museum- 6821

This British site looks at women's roles in war time from 1900 to the present. Divided chronologically (pre-1914, WWI, WWWII, and post-1945) the site focuses on five main themes: A Woman's Place is in the Home, Woman's Work: War Work, That's no job for a woman: The Services, War Babes: Stereotypes, pin-ups and prejudice, and You have no Right: Protest and Equality. There is an image guide for each theme, lesson plans, reading lists and suggestions for further research.

In the Classroom:
Although the focus of the site is clearly on Great Britain, the image galleries provide good primary source information. This site would be a great resource for incorporating women's roles into the study of the two World Wars in a regular Modern US History course. There is also great material for History Day projects on women's roles in wartime. The use of British terminology might be a little confusing, but also points up the different perspectives of another country, and might be useful in showing how the two World Wars were perceived outside the US. Despite the fact that the site is designed to cover up to the present time, it is not particularly useful for periods after World War II.

Books in Spanish: Children & Adolescents Grade 2 to 12 - California State Univ.- 6685

The Barahona Center as CSU - San Marcos has created this listing of Spanish language books suitable for children and young people. Available in either English or Spanish, the site provides a searchable databse of hundreds of titles. Though the search interface is more complicated than necessary, this could be a rich resource for teachers working with Spanish-speaking or bilingual students.

Grow Up Reading Grade K to 3 - West Bloomfield Township Public Library- 6570

This Web site, developed by a public library, is filled with excellent information on instilling a joy of reading in young children. Includes helpful book suggestions, book selection tips, and a list of do's and don'ts when reading aloud.

In the Classroom:
Keep your primary students interested in reading even during summer vacation by sharing this resource with parents before the end of the year.

Children's Picture Books Grade 1 to 3 - - 6429

This site provides guidance for teachers and parents in selecting the perfect picture book for a child and offers suggestions for instilling a life-long love of reading in young students. Includes book reviews and links to author and illustrator Web sites. This is a wonderful resource to share with parents via your classroom, school, or library newsletter.

Book Sense Grade 1 to 6 - BookSense.com- 5919

Before sending your students out of the classroom for summer vacation, give them some suggestions for filling those unstructured days. This list of suggested summer reading for elementary and middles school students, covers a range of topics and includes something for everyone. Brief annotations provide useful information for teachers, parents, and librarians. You might want to recommend this site to parents in your end-of-year newsletter.

Teenreads Grade 8 to 10 - - 5336

Sometimes teens need a little bit of encouragement to get involved in a good book. This site may provide some motivation. Students can browse through reviews written by other teens, post responses to the Question of the Month, or subscribe to a monthly newsletter. Make this site available in your school's library.

Kidsreads Grade 1 to 8 - - 5309

This is a strictly-for-kids site that provides information on favorite authors, books, and series. Reviews of the newest titles, author interviews, and interactive games are just some of the many features. Encourage your students (and their parents) to visit this site before making a trip to the library or book store.

Reading for the Fun of It: (Secondary): The Math-Literature Connection Grade 6 to 12 - ENC- 5205

This collection of entertaining books approaches math from many new perspectives, and provides readers with some engaging and thought-provoking scenarios. Secondary students can find out what happens to three-dimensional people in a four-dimensional world, or take a journey through the Amazon rain forest with a mathematically gifted parrot. Some clever cross-curricular possibilities can be found on this site. Just bring along your imagination.

Americas Award for Children and Young Adult Literature Grade 3 to 12 - University of Wisconsin- 4809

Here’s a collection of outstanding books for children and young people by Hispanic authors and/or about Hispanic themes. Teachers and librarians may find this list useful in selecting appropriate or attractive titles for their students. The “commended list” links provide title, description, and ISBN information for the various titles, ordered by year.

Changing the Face of Medicine Grade 6 to 12 - NIH- 4700

Here’s a site that documents the achievements of female physicians while also providing lesson plans and information that will show students (at all levels) how physicians do their work. The biographies of women physicians – some dating back into the 19th century – are probably the strongest section of this site, but the lesson plans and Flash activities are also well worth a look. This site could be used in history, career planning, science, or women’s history studies.

In the Classroom:
Take advantage of the free lesson plans offered in this site! There is also a recommended book list which could be a great addition to a classroom reading list, or as a list students can choose from for a book report. This is an excellent site for any study of women in the workplace and the evolution of the medical field.

100 Best Books Grade K to 12 - TeachersFirst- 4096

TeachersFirst offers a listing of 100 of the best books for children, along with links to TeachersFirst's content about some of those books. Check out this list for some new literature ideas!

In the Classroom:
This is a great starting point for reluctant readers. Provide this list (or link) to parents to use during the summer months to help with the "I'm bored" days.

Beyond the Core Grade 6 to 12 - NCTE- 1195

The National Council of Teachers of English has created this listing of books for middle and high school students who want to explore literature that goes beyond the basic curriculum taught in many schools. Each listing includes a synopsis of the book, and many have links to additional resources.

In the Classroom:
While some of these texts may be commonplace in some schools, the collection itself could be a useful resource for teachers looking for something new for their students.

Kinder Garden Grade 1 to 6 - Tina Waliczak, Texas A & M University- 616

This site explores the many ways to introduce kids to horticulture. It provides planting tips for kids and their parents and is easy for young readers to follow along. It details the greater good of respecting the outdoors and plant life with pictures of neighborhoods. It depicts gardening as a learning experience and hobby to cope with stresses of living in our world today! It also includes outstanding links to book lists and horticulture.

Karleen Bradford Grade 4 to 8 - - 342

Karleen Bradford is a well-known Canadian author. Her books include Fantasy, historical fiction and contemporary novels for young adults. She also has authored ghost stories, back-in-time and contemporary novels for ages 9-12. "Dragonfire" is her newest novel. This homepage includes book lists, writing help, a biography and direct email to the author.

ALA Editors' Choice Grade 1 to 12 - Amer. Library Assoc.- 334

This is the ALA's booklist. The list is categorized by reading level and by fiction/non-fiction. A synopsis of the title and bibliographic information is included.

AmericaReads Challenge: Ready Set Read Early Childhood Learning Kit Grade 1 to 3 - US Government- 330

Grades Pre-K-3 - Ready Set Read activity guides for families and caregivers provide ideas to help young ones learn about language with age appropriate activities. This site stems from President Clinton’s challenge to help improve reading levels for all American children and to have all children reading by the end of the third grade. The kit has comprehensive, with activities and games to help teach language skills. It is excellent for first time parents and those going into teaching early childhood. Materials and resources for families are also available in Spanish. A letter from Secretary Shalala explaining the site and giving details about the President’s plans for young readers is included. The American Library Association’s book list for young readers is also published. From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.