The 2011 Abraham Lincoln Book Awards!

It's that time of year again! Let's get reading! Even though reading should be a part of your every day routine, now is the time to stock up on some new books; mainly, the Abraham Lincoln Book Award Nominees.
Here you can find the current list. These books are the books that are considered great reads for teens and young adults. There are many programs through schools and librarys that promote reading these books. Leyden, for example, hosts pizza parties for students who read four or more books.
Many schools or libraries also host blogs or discussions about the books. Marian Catholic High School is one of these schools who creates a yearly blog about the current Abe Readers.
Another place to check out some cool conversations and questions about books is the bookbattle. Here, readers can answer questions about their favorite books. Get together with a group of friends who have all read the same book (or others) and have a book party to quiz each other and share your ideas about the book.
While you're indulging in you brain candy, be sure to check out the Leyden Libraries blog, which can give you cornacopias of information about Abraham Lincoln Book Awards 2010.
~your best friend

Places to Find the Best Books

Sometimes it's hard to find a good book to read. To make this easier, many libraries, schools, and literary associations publish book lists. Sometimes publishers put out their own lists, too. A great way to find that next good read is to go to one of these lists.

Sometimes a good place to start is to look at locally or even nationally recognized list. The
Abraham Lincoln Illinois High School Book Award for 2010 is a good place to start. Many of these books provoke a strong feeling and discuss very heavy topics, such as drugs, sexual behaviors, and love. Reading these books can also give the reader some insight into some things they may never experience. Also, if a book is recognized, then it must be a really good book and be able to satisfy lots of different readers, so trying it out can't hurt.

Another place to look would be a pulishers list. For example, Simon Pulse books publish some really good teen books. With multiple lists from different genres, these lists are categorized especially for teens. Many of their books are written just for teens, but enjoyed by all ages.

Finally, an amazing collection of various book lists can be found at the Young Adult Library Services Association. They have multiple lists for teens only and give explanations about the books. There are teen book lists for every genre, from graphic novels to audiobooks, and even a special list for reluctant readeers! In addition to suggesting books to read, YALSA sets up book chats for their young readers to connect and converse about the books that teens are reading.

So the next time you get bored with Facebook or Myspace, check out one of these list. Who knows, you may just find a book that captures your heart.
~your best friend

What Books Should I Read?

Whenever someone tells you to read, a common response is what do I read? There are millions of books published in every language all around the world. But to enjoy reading, it would be a really bad idea to just pick up any random book and start reading. To get the best out of your reading experience, choose a book topic that you enjoy, such as scientific fiction, historical fiction, etc.
Here are some tips on choosing a good book:
Use the FIT Method:
F- Find a book that looks interesting
I- Investigate to see if it is too hard
T- Try reading the book or trade it in for another one.

In order to best discover if the book is too hard for you to read, many readers use the five finger method. The five finger method is very simple. Pick up a prospective book and open to a random page. Start reading and every time you come to a word that you don't know put down one finger on your left hand. If all your fingers go down, it probably isn't in your best interest to read this book.

If you are read to dive into the diverse world of reading, it's time to choose a good book. Talk to your friends, your teachers, your siblings, and see what books they read. Think of a book that you did read and then look up books by the same author or theme. Ask your librarian for suggestions, and don't be afraid to try something new. By opening your view to the kinds of books that you do read, you will get a lot more out of your reading experience.

Sincerely,

your best friend

Why We Read

Books are an age old thing. They have been around for hundreds of years, and there is no end in sight for the timeless classics. Unfortunately, the number of teens and kids reading is declining. According to a report by the National Endowment for the Arts, or the NEA, the average 15-24 year old spends about two hours watching TV and about seven minutes reading for fun a day. This decrease in reading has been shown to lead to lower test scores, poor sales figures, lost jobs, and other socio-economic consequences.
How do we fix this? Encourage reading! According to "8 Ways Reading Makes You Better at Life," reading has many positive affects. In the educational perspective, reading can make you all around smarter. It improves your memory, analytical thinking (common sense), your writing skills, and expands your vocabulary, making you generally smarter. In the real world aspect, reading can make you less stressful, help you to remain calm in tough situations, and help you prioritize your goals by revealing to you things you may not have known you wanted to do.
In addition to that, the article "10 Benefits of Reading!" provides more reasons to read besides the eight above. Reading can educate you on other cultures and places that you may never get to see or visit. It can build self-esteem, improve discipline, and reduce boredom. Also, a reader tends to be more creative and usually has something to say, whether or not it's about the book he or she is currently divulging in.

So the next time your sitting at home watching "Family Guy," turn off the TV and pick up a good book. It's better for you in more ways than imagined.
~your best friend

Get Into It!

When someone says reading, many people begin groaning and want nothing to do with reading. But really, reading is like directing your own t.v. show with a a pre-written script. You can do what ever you want with the characters, pick the setting, and other things, just to a certain extent. Then you can go check out the corresponding movie to see how your idea and that directors idea's match up. Keep up with this blog to get my rating on the books I read, and maybe give some new books a try. Like they always say, you can't say you don't like it until you try it. Give Reading a try. :)