Posted in Winners Announced

Posted in Winners Announced

We’d like to thank everyone who entered the Splish Scavenger Hunt Giveaway. I gathered all the entries and place your names into a hat.

The ten lucky entries to receive the E-Book: And Then Mama Said . . . It Takes Time to Learn to Read and the companion activity book are:

(Drum roll please.)

 Gloria, Cindy, jennebeker, Heidemarie, Vicki B., Erika, Beth, Elizabeth N., Abi, and Keri.

Watch your e-mails for these books. They have been sent.

And the three winners of the autographed copies of And Then Mama Said . . . It Takes Time to Learn to Read are:

(Another drum roll, please, this time with more excitement.)

Jessica W., Christine, and Robin.

Please watch your e-mail for notification.

Congratulations to all our winners!

We are so happy that you all had a wonderful time this summer playing along with us. We hope that you will continue the good job of reading throughout the rest of the year.

If you have not had mom or dad register your reading logs, you still have time. But you’ll need to hurry because August 30 is coming up fast. Be sure to have your folks go HERE to register. You may win more books.

Well, that ends this year’s Scavenger Hunt Adventure
I will sure miss spending time with all my friends,
But who knows what tomorrow brings,
We may play along with Splish someday soon again.

There are worlds beyond our imagination,
Just waiting for us to explore,
Fun and excitement in every chapter,
Adventure and so much more.

So keep on reading those wonderful books,
And with every page you turn,
Who knows where they will lead,
And what new things you’ll learn.

Posted in Winners Announced

Posted in Winners Announced

Everything has been going wrong for Bertie lately.

No matter how hard she tries to do and say the right thing, Bertie keeps tumbling into embarrassing--and sometimes dangerous--situations. Her stern father has too many rules, her know-it-all sister won't stop teasing her, and her mischievous younger brother keeps getting into trouble. But what makes her really afraid are those Communist missiles pointed right at the U.S. As Bertie starts seventh grade in the fall of 1962, news of these missiles throws the nation into a panic and Bertie suddenly feels completely out of control. Can Bertie confront an ugly truth about herself and face her fears--once and for all?

 

 

You'll also notice that I picked 2 from the younger category and put them in my sidebar.  Cute, huh?  These were colored by Mikayla (age 8) and Amber (age 10).  I've selected a special book to send to each of them as well.  Both of these books were donated by ZonderKidz.  Mikayla will be receiving This is the Day! and Amber will get The Story for Kids.

Each day of the week our world holds a new surprise if we pay attention to what God has given us.

A unique edition of the NIrV done in story format to parallel the adult edition of The Story, TNIV.

I love giving away books!  I'll have many more to give away throughout the summer!

Posted in Winners Announced

The winner in the 10 & Under category is
Hannah (age 7)

Here is Hannah's coloring page:

*Hannah will be receiving a gift pack of books by Sleeping Bear Press, which will include:

Ten-year-old Dandi (affectionately called "Dan" by family and friends) lives and breathes baseball. She may not be a fence buster but she can "hit 'em where they ain't" in the neighborhood pick-up games. The boys know she's a contender. And there's no bigger fan of the 1961 Kansas City A's. So when Charlie Finley, the A's new owner, announces an essay contest to get batboys, there's no doubt Dandi will enter the contest.

Dandi not only enters the contest--her essay wins! However, her joy is short-lived when the contest officials enforce the For Boys Only rule. Long before the boundary-breaking ruling of Title IX, young women across the country used grit and determination to prove that barriers of gender have no place on a level playing field. Dandi Daley Mackall's true-life story gives voice and testament to the spirit of these young sports pioneers.

Although America officially declared its independence in 1776, we owe much of our heritage, culture, and even style of living to England, our mother country. In B is for Big Ben: An England Alphabet, young readers are given an armchair tour of a country that may be small in size (smaller than the state of New York!) but a giant in history, achievement, and influence.

Of course, everyone has heard about England's famous kings and queens, and castles and monuments. But did you know that many of our everyday conveniences started as British ideas? Charles Babbage designed the first computer in the nineteenth century. And guess what contribution came from the Earl of Sandwich?

From the ancient stillness of Stonehenge to the picturesque charm of the Lake District to the bustling streets of London, B is for Big Ben reveals the many treasures, past and present, of merry old England.

Libraries, like books and kids, come in all shapes and sizes and are as individual as every story and freckled face. Readers will learn about Kenya's Camel Library Service, Zimbabwe's Donkey Libraries, and Northern Europe's Book Boats.

There is so much to discover and celebrate about the history and inner workings of our community libraries -- How do libraries keep track of all the volumes? Where was the first library and who was its first librarian? How many miles of books are housed in the Library of Congress? And what is the scriptoria?

From the first jump ball and its humble beginnings at a YMCA with a couple of peach baskets, to the final buzzer and the glam of an NBA slam, basketball bounces onto your bookshelves with J is For Jump Shot. As with the other Sleeping Bear sports titles (7 titles and over 400,000 in print) it is the perfect introduction to the game. Whether reluctant or voracious, readers will be entertained as they learn the rules, fundamentals, famous players and plays.

Young fans and old will find nothing but net with Mark Braught's dynamic illustrations as their many questions are answered -- What was the role of Dr. James Naismith in developing the game? Why do referees sometimes place their palm on their head? And who scored more points than any other NBA player?

Democracy -- America has it and it seems like many other countries want it. But what exactly is a democracy and how easy is it to maintain? Despite the banter in today's media, many Americans are still in the dark when it comes to knowing and acting upon their rights and responsibilities as citizens of a democratic society. In refreshingly candid and straight-to-the-point language author Elissa Grodin takes readers of all ages on an A-Z trip through our government's structure, from its earliest beginnings to definitions of basic components and concepts (including immigration and taxation). Engaging, disarming, and frequently thought-provoking artwork from illustrator Victor Juhasz emphasizes the magnitude of the subject. From founding fathers, first ladies, and the First Amendment to the presidential oath of office, D is for Democracy details the political processes, parties, and people of democracy, American-style.

The winner in the 11 & Up category is
ADINA (age 12)

Here is Adina's coloring page:

*Adina will be receiving a great series of books from ZonderKidz (a division of Zondervan publishing).

Growing up is hard when you don’t have a mother—but God helps Lucy find her way.
 
Lucy is a feisty, precocious tomboy who questions everything—even God. It’s not hard to see why: a horrible accident killed her mother and blinded her father, turning her life upside down. It will take a strong but gentle housekeeper—who insists on Bible study along with homework—to show Lucy that there are many ways to become the woman God intends her to be.
 
Lucy’s bossy, career-minded Aunt Karen thinks eleven-year-old Lucy needs a woman’s influence. Enter Inez—a housekeeper with a will as strong as Lucy’s—and her granddaughter Mora, a girly-girl who is Lucy’s polar opposite. Will the girls ever find common ground? Inez just might have the answers when she teaches them the story of Ruth and Naomi.




In Lucy Out of Bounds, Mora’s gone boy-crazy for Lucy’s best friend, and the town might sell the soccer field Lucy plays on. Lucy feels betrayed by everyone, but in the book of Ruth she just might find a role model for perseverance … and forgiveness.












Lucy has come a long way from that tomboy who wouldn’t give pink the time of day. She’s developed into an authentic tween who has learned that girls make great friends, that teamwork means more than stardom, and that God is real. But she’s still Lucy. In the third book of the series, she runs headlong into some new—and some old—problems.
 
Although Lucy has come to love and respect Inez and more than tolerate Mora, with school out for the summer, the three of them have more together time than anybody can stand! That worsens when the “monsoon” season keeps them cooped up in the house for three solid days without Dad to referee (he’s stranded at the radio station).
 
When Dad is stuck at the radio station without his assistant Luke, the new management finds out just how much Dad depends on his assistant and threaten to fire Lucy’s father. Lucy is freaked out at the thought of moving.
 
Plus it gives Aunt Karen more ammunition for her fight to have Lucy come and live with her in El Paso. That would be heinous enough, but Lucy just can’t leave now, not with the soccer team making tremendous progress and Coach Auggy scheduling three unofficial games with neighboring teams during the summer to get them ready for the real soccer season in the fall.
 
And not with Januarie getting into “iffy” territory with the new kids her own age that Lucy and her friends have encouraged her to hang out with so she’ll leave them alone. Child Protective Services gets involved when Januarie gets in trouble, and Lucy has to be there for her, especially since this could affect her friend J.J. too.
 
When the weather dries up, wild fires break out with a vengeance.
 
A big one threatens Los Suenos. Myteriously, the only thing destroyed is the soccer field. The big developer who has tried to buy the property before swoops in for the kill. Lucy and her team have to convince the town to come together and restore the field, rather than give up and sell it.
 
Meanwhile, Lucy, Mora, Dusty, Veronica, and Inez study Esther. Lucy grows even closer to God through her Book of Lists and her resonance with Esther, even though she was a girly-girl. That helps her not only save the soccer field, get Januarie out of trouble, and get herself an audition with the Olympic Development Program (without Aunt Karen’s help), but it enables her to make a huge sacrifice for Dad and agree to live without him for six weeks while he goes to a special technology school for the blind in Alamogordo. That’s going to mean having Aunt Karen come to live with her in the fall. But Lucy is the only one who can do this thing in this time and this place. Like Esther, she is willing to make the sacrifice.

CONGRATULATIONS, HANNAH & ADINA!
I hope you will enjoy these new books and will add them to your summer reading lists!

*Stay tuned to my blog - I will be posting more great coloring contest pictures in the weeks to come. I will also chose a favorite in each category to use here on my blog!

Posted in Winners Announced

Posted in Winners Announced

Wow!

National Young Readers Week has come to an end.
We had a total of 5,453 entries!

Congratulations to all our winners
(listed below).
I'll be contacting you all for mailing addresses.

1. And Then Mama Said, It Takes Time to Learn to Read by Gena Suarez

• Erika (age 5)
• Jackson (age 5)
• Kiara (age 5)
• Jonathan (age 6)
• Jessica (age 5)
• Laura (age 5)
• Saige (age 3)
• Micah (age 8)
• Andrew (age 4)
• Colin (age 5)

2. Professor Horace Cryptozoologist by Kevin Scott Collier

• Brock

3. Andrea Carter and the San Francisco Smugglers (book & doll set) by Susan Marlow

• Leanna (age 5)

4. Across the Wide River and The Light Across the River by Stephanie Reed

• Stephen (age 11)

5. North Woods Poachers, Legend of the White Wolf, Big Rig Rustlers, Mountain Cabin Mystery, and Secret of Abbott's Cave by Max Elliot Anderson

• Conner (age 10)

6. The Big Picture Story Bible from David Helm

• Janessa (age 7)

7. Hymns for a Kid's Heart and Christmas Carols for a Kid's Heart by Bobbie Wolgemuth and Joni Eareckson Tada

• Karly (age 12)

8. The Quest for Liberty and The Fight for Freedom by Susan Olaskey

• Phillip

9. Keeping Holiday by Starr Meade

• Cody (age 10)

10. Adventures in Jamestown, Escape on the Underground Railroad, Secrets of Civil War Spies, and Attack at Pearl Harbor by Nancy LeSourd

• Emily (age 9)

11. Beyond the Reflection's Edge and Eternity's Edge by Bryan Davis

• Holly (age 14)

12. Otter and Owl Say I'm Sorry, Otter and Owl's Helpful Hike, Otter and Owl Set Sail, and Otter and Owl and the Big Ah-Choo by Crystal Bowman

• Elizabeth (age 5)

13. Just Ali Cat, Ali Cat is a Scaredy-Cat, Ali Cat Finds a Home, and An Ali Cat Christmas by Dandi Daley Mackall

• Andrew (age 6)

14. Walls, Brawls, and the Great Rebellion, Fights, Flights, and the Chosen Ones, and Traitors, Kings, and the Big Break by Young Shin Lee

• Mitch (age 8)

15. Turtle Trouble and Berlin Breakout by Ben Avery

• Nathanael (age 7)

16. Mixed Bags by Melody Carlson

• Amber (age 15)

17. The Summer of Cotton Candy by Debbie Viguie

• Kathryne

18. Ripple Effect by Paul McCusker

• Katy (age 13)

19. Here's Lily by Nancy Rue

• Taylor (age 10)

20. Sophie's World by Nancy Rue

• Samantha (age 8)

21. Seek and Find Bible Stories by Jose Perez Montero

• Ian (age 6)
  
  

Posted in Winners Announced

.....who e-mailed about the Magic Tree House audio books.

These two prizes have been awarded
(to Jason & Alayna).

I do not have time to respond to everyone's emails,
but I appeciate everyone who showed an interest.
You may check at your local Wendy's and see if they are still offering
these great audio books!

Keep watching for more giveaways-
Splish has plans for more giveaways, coming soon!

Posted in Winners Announced

NEHEMIAH
who says his favorite subject is Spelling.

REMINDER:
Please e-mail me with your book reports, book reviews, short stories, and poems
so that I can post them on Splish's blog!
Don't forget to include your first name and age.
If you have to write anyway, it's more fun to share!

Posted in Winners Announced

ZOE (age 9)
is the winner of God Loves Me More Than That
Zoe says "I would like to win the book "God loves me more than that".  First, I would like to win it because I would love to read it.  But then I would like to take it with me whenever we go out so I have a chance to share it with others.  There are so many people that don't know God loves them and I would like to change that."

KAREN & HER CHILDREN
are the winners of When God Created My Toes
Karen says "We would be interested in When God Created My Toes.  I have 2 sons - God blessed us with our oldest son who is Japanese and we adopted him when he was 5 weeks old and then God blessed us with allowing us to have our second son naturally.  My oldest son is now 7 and has so many questions about what it was like when he was in his birth mother's tummy - and I can't answer those questions like I can for my second son.  This sounds like a really neat book that just might help answer some of his questions."

ZACHARY (age 9)
is the winner of What Is Heaven Like?
Zachary says "I would like to win the book, "What is Heaven like?" because my little brother is in heaven.  Two years ago my brother Joshua went to live in heaven with Jesus.  I would like to read a book about what heaven is like."

Posted in Winners Announced

Well, the Summer Reading Splash has come to a close, but that doesn't mean that you are supposed to stop reading!  SPLISH is going to keep reading, all throughout the year, and he wants YOU to read with him. SO, we are going to keep our blog up and running throughout the school year!  Some of the fun things you can look forward to here at Splish's blog are:

• Book reports and book reviews by YOU!  (If you'd like to submit a review or a report, please e-mail it and we'll take care of posting it on the blog.  Don't forget to include FIRST NAME and AGE.)
• More prizes!  (Occasionally we will post chances for you to win more great books, so keep watching for those opportunities.)
• More information about SPLISH, our fun mascot! 

The general consensus from all the answers received was that the majority of you really enjoyed the Summer Reading Splash and will definitely be participating next year!  That's great!  Be sure to tell all your homeschooled friends about our summer reading program too.  We'll try to make next year's program bigger and better than this year.  We're always open to suggestions, which you can e-mail to us at anytime.

Now, I know you're all anxious to hear this week's winners, so....

The winner of The First Adventures of Incedible You is
ETHAN (age 9) who says:
"I really liked being able to vote on a name for the frog. My mom really liked being able to stay home and save on gas money. Yes, I want to do it again next summer!"

The winner of the Terrestria Chronicles is
NATHAN who says:
"I like the book prizes you gave away for answering the questions.Yes, I plan to participate again next summer. It was great. I hope I win this week!"

For those who are wondering about turning in your reading logs, we will be e-mailing that information on Tuesday, the 29th.  We are setting up a webpage where parents can enter their child's name and # of books read, and select the FREE e-book all at once.  It should be very simple!  So, be watching for details.......

Posted in Winners Announced

Kids, can you believe we only have ONE MORE WEEK of our Summer Reading Splash?!  I can't.  These first nine weeks seem to have gone by so fast.  Remember, though, that even have the Summer Reading Splash program has ended, we're still going to keep the blog open - we'll be sharing YOUR book reports and we'll be having some more fun with SPLISH, our froggie mascot. 

Now our week 9 winners.....

The winner of our 3 Master Books is:
Bekah (age 5) who says:
“I would like to be Bubble from the book Bubble and Squeak. Bubble was a gerbil, but his name sounds like a bubble which is like a pearl and I like pearls. I like to pretend I'm a gerbil when I'm playing with my brother. We don't have a gerbil, but Mama told us about having them when she was little.”

The winner of our autographed set of books by Stephanie Reed is:
Molleigh (age 7) who says:
“I would want to be  Mary in the Bible. Because she loved God so much she was picked to have Jesus.  I would like to see Jesus.”

Here’s what a few of our other readers had to say about which book character they would like to be:

Emily (6) says: “I read a book named Ramona, Forever.  I would want to be Beatrice, Ramona's big sister, who she calls Beezus.  Beezus does lots of things to help her mother and she gets to babysit Ramona.  I would also like to be Beezus because she gets to help her mother with the new baby, Roberta.”

Abby (9) says: “From Nim's Island, I would like to be Selkie the sea lion because I like sea lions.  Plus, Selkie had lots of fun playing with coconuts in the ocean.”

Anna (7) says: “I would like to be Henry from the book Henry and Mudge and the Sneaky Crackers.  And I want to be him because he got a new spy kit and another boy bought the exact same kind of spy kit that Henry did.  They left code notes to each other. And then one day Henry left a code note that read: "Meet me here five o clock" and he did meet Henry. So they made a club called Sneaky Crackers because they were good at cracking codes.  And for ID they always carried some real crackers in their pockets.  I think that Henry is cool!!  And that's why I want to be Henry.”

Skylar (9) says: “I would like to be Violet Baudelaire from the book series "A Series of Unfortunate Events" by Lemony Snicket because she's smart and she gets her siblings out of lots of problems by inventing things.  I've always wanted to make cool contraptions -- useful things, like an attractable birdhouse and a mechnical pet horse that I can ride.  In "The Bad Beginning" Book 1, Violet made a grappling hook out of a pipe and dirty clothing.  She used it to try to save her little sister, Sunny.  Another reason that I'd like to be like Violet is because is because she's very courageous.  I think I'd be a little scared to go out in the night and save my sister.”

Sarah (13) says: “I have recently read several books (nine since the middle of June) on England during the reign of Henry VIII through Elizabeth I, including Edward and Mary and Jane Grey, with some on Mary Queen of Scots and Henry VIII's many wives. Although these are not fictional characters, I would prefer to be like Jane Grey. Even though she was never coronated, she was queen for nine days. Jane was a devout Christian. Rather than renounce her faith under threat by Queen Mary, she was willing to die for her faith, and she was only 15 years old. I don't know that in the face of death that I could measure up to the example set by Jane Grey. She was a very strong and courageous teenager and an excellent example to follow.”

Zane (6) says: “I really like the "Flat Stanley" books and would like to be Flat Stanley for a day.  I think he has a lot of fun being flat, especially being mailed around the world in an envelope!”

Abigail (9) says: “I would be Laura Ingalls in the Little House books.  I'd love to be a pioneer and I'd love to see what it was like and feel what it was like to be a pioneer.  I'd like to taste that candy they made out of snow.”

Lauren (14) says: “One of the books I have read recently is Crown & Covenant Trilogy by Douglas Bond. If I could be any character, I would like to be Lindsay, the girl who helps Duncan rescue his father from prison at the hands of  religious persecutors in Scotland in the 17^th century. It would be a very dangerous part, but very interesting and faith-building. I would love to step into the part because throughout the trilogy you can watch Lindsay grow and mature in her walk with the Lord. In the first book (in which she helps Duncan rescue his father), Lindsay is hot-tempered and out-spoken young girl. By the last book in the trilogy, she is kind, gentle, prayerful, loving, and a young woman.”

Levi (10) says: “I've been jammin' through the Hardy Boys books and my favorite character is their Dad.  He's got alot of experience solving crimes, and he teaches his sons alot of stuff.  I have 2 little brothers, and sometimes I feel like their Dad.  And they test my patience and I have to work on showing them the Fruit of the Spirit, and it's good practice to be a good Dad.”

Nehemiah (10) says: “I have read lots of books this summer, but I would have to say that I would want to be Lucas Bixby.  Lucas Bixby is a kid who finds spy gear.  He uses them for missions he has with his friends.  I like electronic spy stuff, their cool!  Lucas is in the six book series called "Spy Gear".”

Sarah (11) says: “I would like to be Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice because I admire her greatly. I like the way that she is ever polite, even when she is turning down Mr. Darcy's offer of marriage. I like the way that she is always composed, even when she has received the awful news of Lydia's elopement. I like the way that she is witty and intelligent, and how she likes reading best, just like me. I also enjoyed how she had a special relationship with her father, and how Lizzie was the only female in the house, excepting Jane, that had any sense. She is the ultimate female heroine.”

Mordecai (8) says: “I would like to be Stuart in Stuart Little, by E.B. White.  It would be fun to be little and go down the bath drain to get Mrs. Little's ring.  Also, to take a light, little hammer and hit the faucet to turn on the water.  I would like to drive a sailboat that is just my size.  He did a lot of fun things.”

Ashley (13) says: “I think it would be neat to be Jessie Alden from The Boxcar Children series. She always looks after her brothers and sister and often cooks for the family when they're away from home. She never forgets Benny's cracked pink cup and Grandfather's coffee. She also knows how to make do with what she has. It would be exciting to go on adventures and solve mysteries like they always do.”

Abigail (13) says: “I think it would be neat to be Belinda Davis in Love Takes Wing by Janette Oke.  I would like to see what it was like to live like she did and in the time period she lived in, to see what the houses in Boston were like then, and to go abroad.  Also, I would like to meet all the people I like reading about!” 

Be sure to check back on Monday for the last week of book giveaways!

Posted in Winners Announced

Only 2 more weeks to go! 
Now, I know you're anxious to find out who
this week's winners are.

The winner of the 2 books from Sleeping Bear Press is
BEATRIZ (age 10) who says
"One of my dreams is to be a writer and author when I grow up.  I would like to write children's books because I love to make up stories that would help teach other children about God.  I love to draw and one of my other dreams is to be an artist.  I would illustrate  the books I write and use the gifts God has given me in this way.  I have already written a story called "Scotty and Pin" which my family liked very much. "

The winner of the entire Kingdom Series by Chuck Black is
TREVOR (age 10) who says
"I would like to write a book for all ages.  It would be about airplanes.  It would have lots of stories of airplanes in it.  It would be a good book."

We've definitely got A LOT of upcoming authors participating in the Summer Reading Splash program!  I'm looking forward to reading some of your books in the years to come!

Jonah (age 6) says "I would write books for children. It would be about playing in the sand and swimming at the beach. There would be a mystery to solve and a boy detective."

Molleigh (age 7) says "I have written a Christmas story about an angel that helped a family whose daddy was a soldier away at war.  I wrote that story for everyone to read.  I also wrote a story about myself that I have not finished yet."

Hope (age 10) says "Yes, I have thought about writing a book. What it would be about is a girl named Madi. She has always wanted a horse, but she doesn't have enough money so she makes a deal with her dad. This book would be great for girls who have wild dreams about horses, just like Madi."

Ethan (age 9) says "Yes -- I've even already written one. It's for any age! It was about our dog, Kona. I told about his adventures, such as the time he was hit by a car but he lived. Kona was a very special Golden Retriever, and even though he died a couple of years ago, we'll always remember him when we read my book."

Zoe (age 8) says "I wrote a story this year and drew the illustrations.  It is a book that I wrote for children and the title is "How to blow a bubble".  The story is about a girl named Jennifer Bubbleby who wants to learn how to blow a bubble with her bubble gum and how she finally learns to do it."

Rebekah (age 13) says "If I ever write a book it would be for teens and young children . It would be a story about a young girl and her parents who devote their lives to taking care of  neglected and abused horses. The ranch is  called "Horse Heaven ". After one year, they saved over 30 horses. They took in many animals that were ill treated and had fear of men. And after hard work and long hours of caring for them , they brought hope back into thier lives and became best friends. I hope to encourage children to volunteer at shelters and help make the world a better place for animals to live. I got the idea from watching ASPCA program on "Animal Planet".The workers were trying to save neglected horses and most of them survived and found  loving homes and people who cared for them. Some animals were beyond saving and it was the saddest part to see them go. I really want to  reach out a lot of young people and inspire them to make a difference."

Dylan (age 12) says "Yes, I have thought about writing a book.  I really like fictional mysteries.  My story would take place in the present time.  I am facinated about myths of the Bermuda Triangle,  so there would be searching for treasure, ships, lost people you name it.  My story would be geared toward teens, as they would most likely be my characters as well.  I also enjoy reading books in a series, so my story would probably have sequels."

Jessica (age 13) says "Yes, I am writing a book, several in fact! I love writing, and get so many story ideas, that I can't keep up with them! I have not titled the one I am working on yet, but it will be a fiction/fantasy. The story is about a girl and her friend who find a door in an old abandoned house, and are transported to another world quite like our own medeivel age. The girls learn an important lesson in true bravery and friendship! It would be a book for kids ages 12-18. Maybe I could even have it published one day!"

Zachary (age 11) says "If I were to write a book it would be a biography about Micky Mantel.  I think he is one of the great baseball players of all times.  He was also a Christian which impressed me.  I think people of all ages would like to hear about his life and how he has the record for coming the closest to hitting a ball out of Yankee Stadium."

Isaac (age 8) says "I have thought of writing a book about some homeschoolers who go to another continent on a field trip.  They travel around the world learning about history by visiting different places like the pyramids and the Nile River in Egypt and Jerusalem and the Sea of Galilee in Israel. When they visit a pyramid, the dirt above the steps is loose and they fall in.  They meet grave robbers trying to steal treasures from the pyramid and get in a challenge to outrun them.  They hide the treasure in a special box (and hid themselves in the box too) and give it to a museum which gives them a reward.  In Brazil, the family goes canoeing down the Amazon River and meets dangerous animals they have to escape from and helps missionary friends build a house in the jungle where they are doing Bible translation work. As they visit other places around the world, they get into other exciting adventures and learn about history around the world."

Zachary (age 11) says "Wow!   I want to write a chapter book for all kids my age to read.  How exciting!  I have some ideas that pop into my head in the middle of the night.  One idea is that I have this ancient sword that let’s me jump into pictures on the wall wherever I am and time warp from picture to picture.   But, that is all I can tell you.  You’ll have to read my book someday.  J"

Posted in Winners Announced

Only 3 more weeks to go!  I had a few more entries this week, but still not up to the 500+ from Week 1.  I hope that you are all continuing with your reading, even if you aren't entering the contests each week. 

*Before I annouce  this week's winners, I want to make an announcement - entries to the weekly contest MUST BE EMAILED to me each week.  DO NOT leave a comment here on the blog containing your entry.  These entries will not be accepted.  Comments about the reading program, questions, etc. can gladly be posted on the blog, but ALL ENTRIES must be emailed.  Thanks!

Now, on to this week's winners.......

The winner of the 2 book & cd sets from Barefoot Books is
CODY (age 5) who says:
"My favorite author is Richard Scarry because I like his stories the best."

The winner of our 3 books by YWAM Publishing is
CHRISTOPHER (age 9) who says:
"Franklin W. Dixon is my favorite author. Every time I go to the library I get a new Hardy Boys book. I want to read all of them."

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNERS!

Posted in Winners Announced

Before I announce our winners for this week, I just want to say that I only had 87 entries this time.  That's good for those who entered, as it gives them a better chance of winning.  However, I know we have LOTS MORE than 87 participating (the first week, we had WAY over 500 entries!)  There are only 4 more weeks to go - don't lose interest now - you're doing GREAT!

Also, to our past winners - if you are enjoying the book(s) you received and would like to write a book review or book report and submit it to me, I would be happy to share it here on the Splash blog.
*If you have not yet been a winner, you are still more than welcome to submit a book report to me for posting on the blog, if you are interested.  (We could even keep the blog open throughout the year for book report posting only.)

OK, now on to this week's winners.....

The winner of If You Were A Parrot from Sylvan-Dell is
SAM (age 5) who says
"My friend from church liked the Little House on the Prairie books.  She still has her set from when she was a girl.  My mama has read the first 2 to me and I really like them."

The winner of The Keystone Stables book and Destination Moon is
HANNAH (age 13) who says
"My grandmother’s favorite book when she was little was Pollyanna. She does not have this book anymore, and does not know where it went. I have read this book, and it is one of my favorites, too."

Ali (age 8) - "I was able to visit with BOTH of my 2 grandmas about what books they like to read.  My Grandma Jan shared that her favorite is The Three Little Kittens that lost their Mittens.  My mom found it for her a few years ago on Ebay and it is a special book for all of me and my cousins to read together now.  My other grandma grew up with a love for Literature books from the one room schoolhouse time period.  My great grandma loved books and it is a tradition to read out loud the original Boxcar Children book.  This book was read to my grandma, my mom heard it as a child, and now me and my siblings have a copy and enjoy reading it together.  A great legacy with us all.  Even my cousins are hearing the story from my aunt."

Jacob (age 9) - "My Grandmother's favorite book(s) as a child....were the Boxcar Kids series.  She liked them because her mother read them to her and she liked how the kids always stuck together when there was a problem.  She also liked how they had fun and a good attitude no matter what.  I have never read these books before, but  would love to read them because they sound interesting because of their friendship and special bond."

Jackson (7) - "My Grandfather's favorite book when he was a child was....Little Black Sambo.  He liked this book because he thought it was exciting to see if the little boy could make it home before the butter melted and what would happen if he didn't.  I have never read this book before, but I would like to read a book that old."

Adin (6) - "My Grandpa's book was The Little Engine That Could.  His favorite part was about Captain Small. His job was to give out the jobs to the trains. He doesn't have the book anymore. I don't have the book anymore. I don't know why we got rid of it. But, my favorite part was when the Little Engine could help the toys. We borrowed it from the library this week."

*Alot of other grandparents enjoyed Nancy Drew books, Bobbsey Twins books, Black Beauty, and the Call of the Wild. 

Posted in Winners Announced

Noah (7)
who suggested the winning mascot name~
SPLISH!
(Noah will be receiving the Pilgrim's Progress  game and book set)

Also, I'd like to say a very special
THANK YOU
to Kevin Scott Collier~
an author and illustrator
who graciously donated some new drawings
of Splish~
aren't they great?!

If you like them, be watching for some other fun additions
to the Summer Reading Splash program~
coming soon!

Posted in Winners Announced

Completing Week 5 marks the half-way point of the Summer Reading Splash!  Have you been busy reading?  I hope so!  From the answers I received this week, you certainly like a wide variety of books - and that's great!  I'll share some of your answers AFTER I announce  this week's winners:

The winner of our fun dinosaur books from Master Books is
DOMINIC (age 4) who says
"My favorite books are picture  books."

The winner of our Carole Marsh mysteries is
ALEX (age 11) who says
"My favorite type of book to read is Adventure/Fantasy like "Lord of the Rings."
I like these books because they are awesome and intriguing."

Now, enjoy what some of our other Splash! participants had to say about their favorite types of books.  I would encourage you to try reading something different this week - maybe try a style that one of these other kids recommends.  You just might find that you like it too!

Abigail (4) - "I like picture books because the pictures help me follow the story."

Josie (9) - "My favorite kind of books to read are mysteries. I like to try to solve the mystery before the characters of the  book do. I also like to read non-fiction history books about ancient Egypt. I hope to be an Egyptologist when I grow up, and adopt children from Africa."

Megan (5) - "Early readers, because I like to practice reading all by myself!"

Travis (7) - "My favorite type of book to read is an adventure book. They are so cool! I can  go almost anywhere in the world, have fun, and learn new things."

Madison (7) - "I really like to read antique readers from the 30's to 50's. They have beautiful pictures and stories that make sense."

Donovan (4) - "My favorite type of book is an Atlas because it has things in it that I can learn about."

Zachary (6) - "I like real books about real things. Mostly trucks, construction equipment, and tractors. I also like history and animals."

Noah (5) - "I really, really like books about castles, knights, and pirates. I like the ones that help me learn more about how they lived and what they did, and what castles look like."

Anna (13) - "My favorite book genre is biographies, especially missionary biographies. I like them because they are full of amazing stories that are true."

David (8) - "I like mystery books because I really like to find the clues and secrets. I like to find the thief and the missing jewels. I like to try and solve the mystery before the end of the book."

Jessica (7) - "My favorite type of book to read is about nature and animals.  I like to learn about all the different things that God created."

Sarah (8) - "My favorite type of books are fairy tales.  I really like stories of princes and princesses.  If I were to live in another time, it would be during days of kings and queens who lived in castles."

Benjamin (7) - "I like reading craft books because I love doing crafts. Some craft books have just pictures that show me how to make crafts. My favorite ones tell me how to do things step by step."

Mary-Kathryn (15) - "My favorite type of book to read is adventure books about war history (mostly World War 1 & 2).  I love them because I learn about the people, and types of equipment they used. Also, I get to travel back to that era."

Kayla (10) - "I like to read historical fiction like American Girl books  because not only do I learn about the character but I learn some history too.  I really love history and that is my favorite subject."

Avarie (2 1/2) - "The ones with pictures."

Zachary (8) - "My favorite type of books to read are funny books. I like Little Eddie books and Henry Huggins books. They are hilarious."

Posted in Winners Announced

We had a little mix-up with the Week 3 winners.  I hadn't heard  back from the original story book winner, so I drew a new winner this morning.  Turns out that our original winner, Jackson, was vacationing (where he had a birthday AND lost his first tooth!) and couldn't e-mail me back. 

So, in order to be fair (and fun), I will be sending Jackson the Barefoot Book set that he won, and sending the new winner, Hunter,  another book that I had scheduled for later in the Splash!  Hunter, be watching your mail for:

Compliments of author, Shari Lyle-Soffe, we have the first book in the Rooter & Snuffle series~

THE MISADVENTURES OF ROOTER & SNUFFLE

In “The Misadventures of Rooter and Snuffle” first book, two raccoon brothers rely on their faith to see them through difficult, and sometimes dangerous, times. They learn to find the answers for themselves. And although these brothers may not always agree on everything, in the end they always care about each other. The three stories included are "The Search," "Rooter's Rule" and "Danger at River Bend." 20 pages, $9.95

By clicking on the link to the author's website, you can read about some other books that she has written , read reviews of her books, learn about the illustrator, print out a coloring page of Rooter & Snuffle, learn more about racoons, and much more.  And anyone can do this (not just the winner of this book!)

I hope that each of you are reading about these books that are available each week as prizes.  It's fun to learn about new authors and new books.  Be sure to check them out for yourself!

Posted in Winners Announced

Can you believe we have been reading for 4 weeks now?  The Summer Reading Splash! is going by quickly, isn't it?  I would be interested in hearing how many books you have read, so far (you may leave me a comment if you like, but please get permission from you parent first!)

I bet you are anxious to hear about this week's winners, aren't you?  Here they are:

The winner of our Kregel Bible Picture books is:
#28 - CORY (age 7)

The winner of our Circle C Adventure series is:
#109 - TYLER (age 8)

A QUICK NOTE TO OUR PREVIOUS WINNERS:  I will be getting your books in the mail to you THIS WEEK.  Sorry for the delay! 
ALSO, I never heard back from last week's Barefoot Books winner - JACKSON.  If I don't get a response from you by Monday, I will draw a new winner for those books.  Please e-mail me with your mailing address ASAP.

And now, some quotes from this week's entries:

“I would say that reading is infinitely better than watching television. While T.V. shows only what the broadcaster wishes to announce, books can display any viewpoint the author intends, and the reader can select books and authors whose views agree with his. There are far more books than television stations, and practically anyone can write a book; however, finding the means to produce a T.V. show and a station to broadcast it are too expensive and difficult for most people. In addition, television is stuffed with commercial advertising, that attempts to influence the viewer to purchase items he neither needs nor would otherwise want. Finally, one can only watch "what is on", when it is on, and has little choice of which program to watch. (No more, "I can't make it because my show is on then--and only then!") With reading, one can enjoy a greater selection of entertainment free from commercial influences and available at all times and accessible in nearly any place.
   Reading is almost always better than watching movies as well. Many a reader, after watching a movie based upon a book, will comment, "The book was much better. What I envisioned is superior to that which was in the movie." While reading lacks special effects or a soundtrack, it can allow the reader to view things his way. With reading, one can "fill in the blanks" in a way that is the most pleasing to the reader. (And, movies are often inferior in qualities which books possess. Often movies are made simply to make money by providing two hours' worth of entertainment or spread an idea not necessarily of any true value. A movie puts the watcher in a mood where he can think only about it; a book can have nearly whatever effect the reader desires.)
   I must admit reading is superior to video/computer games in most respects. While reading lacks interactivity, which is one key feature of electronic games, it also requires no equipment. All the reader needs is the book itself and a place to read it. If one seeks strategy, he might try war novels or similar volumes, for instance. I myself  enjoy computerized strategy games, and I have found an author whose fiction novels contain a good amount of strategic material. With reading, one can choose a genre (or author) which focuses on the aspect of computer/video games most enjoyed.
   In conclusion, books are far, far better than television, movies, or video games: the reader can select the material most enjoyed, he can choose books free from propaganda, he can read books which agree with his viewpoints, and no equipment but the book itself is required for instant enjoyment. I would rather read than do nearly anything else.” ~Travis, age 13

“Books are best. TV and video games don't help my brain work better. Reading books helps your brain work better. Plus I love that we cuddle together while Mom reads books to us. ~Samantha, age  5

“I like my mommy to read me a book more than t.v. because it is fun.” ~Cody, age 5

“Reading is so cool! It's better than movies or TV because you get to learn things and you can close your eyes and picture your own story in your imagination!  It's way better than video games because my mom lets me have more books than games. They are better for my brain then video games. I like to read and to have my mommy read to me.” ~Travis, age 7

“Reading is definitely better. I was watching a show about brains and the guy said that a lot of TV and video games are horrible for your brain and might even make holes in it! He also said you should always have more to learn. I personally think books are great, you're always learning more. Besides, video games get boring once you learn how to do it.” ~Raven  age 9

“I get bored watching tv and playing video games.  When I read, it helps me become a better speller and I learn new vocabulary words.  Reading is not boring to me – there is always another book to read, and each book is like a brand new adventure. I definitely like reading more than watching television or playing video games or computer games.” ~Savanna, age 10

“I would rather play video games.  But my mom makes me read.  Once I start reading a good book, I like it.” ~Stephanie, age 10

“I think reading is more fun than watching movie because in a book you get to imagine what each character looks like. You get to visualize the places they go and you can really let your imagination take over. In a movie, your imagination is limited by what someone else decided about the scenes and characters. Sometimes, I would rather play a video game, but not for long.” ~Preston, age 14

“You can get addicted to video games and watching TV.  The best thing to get addicted to is reading, because your eyes don't wear out like playing video games or watching TV.  Reading helps you to learn about history.  There are more choices that you can read in books than watching TV or playing video games.  I enjoy reading the most, because I like to read about trains.” ~Cody, age 10

“I love to read. I used to like to watch the movies first, then I realized they leave out parts in the movie. Reading is better for your eyes than watching tv, or playing video games. When you read you are right there in that life. You can be anyone you want to be in a book. Reading I think is my most favorite thing to do in the whole wide world.” ~Mary, age 13

“Ever since I was a tiny little thing, I have enjoyed looking at picture books, hearing stories, and later on, getting lost in good novels. Whenever someone asks me my favorite hobby, I promptly tell them, 'Reading!!!' (You should see the delicious stacks of books nestled alongside my loaded bookcases!) Books have impacted my life more profoundly than movies and video games, and have often taught eternal truths more richly than most television-related material. Growing up with a respect for good writing has inspired me to become a writer myself. Personally, I would much rather have a house full of books than a house full of television sets, because I prefer reading to watching TV. This doesn't mean I don't watch or enjoy it...I love seeing a well-made movie or sharing an energetic round of Nintendo with my sisters. There are many worthwhile, even God-honoring productions for us to savor. But we must be balanced...I have found worthy entertainment in reading something and then watching the movie or TV show based on it! I am convicted that good books are proof that God cares about the ways we spend our time and inspires writers to inspire readers.” ~ Lindsey, age 14

“Reading lets you go anywhere in the world. It lets you learn things that you probably wouldn't learn on TV. In my experience, it helped me learn how to spell better; I learned things about people and animals I knew little about. I think it is a better way of spending time than watching TV or playing video games. I really enjoy the times that I can read a book.” ~Esther, age 9

Posted in Winners Announced

I have been on vacation all this past week -  I was at the beach, relaxing and ....... READING!    I hope that, as your school year is coming to a close (maybe some of you are already done), you are finding some time to be outside enjoying the nice warm weather.  But, I also hope that you're making plenty of time to read too! 

I had SO MUCH FUN coming home from my vacation and reading ALL of your great entries for this week's contests!  You brought back a lot of memories for me - of books that I enjoyed as a child.  I will be sharing some of your quotes in a later post.  For now, though, let's announce this week's winners...

The winner of our storybook set from Barefoot Books is
#58 ~ HUNTER (age 4) who says:
"My Mama's favorite book when she was little was Green Eggs and Ham. Mama found it at a yard sale, and now she reads it to me. I like it.."

The winner of books 1-3 of the Scripture Sleuth series is
#61 ~ MALLORY (age 11) who says:
"My mom's favorite book when she was a child was the Nancy Drew series.  She still has them and passed them down to me.  I have read one and it was very interesting.  I hope to one day read them all."

*I will be in touch with each of you for mailing addresses!