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As we seek to get kids doing more authentic persuasive writing, this is a great site to share book reviews for kids, by kids, and use them as a springboard to beginning our own!

It begins with a story start. A story start is the first chapter of the book. The rest of the story is up to you. The story start could be written by a professional writer, a teacher, you or your classmates, or maybe even a celebrity! You write your version of Chapter 2. Take the story where you like. The only limits are your imagination and a word count. At the same time, other BoomWriters will be writing their own version of what happens next. Submit your entry. When you're done (and before the deadline), you submit your entry for review. If it's accepted, you'll get points and BoomDollars. You'll use BoomDollars to purchase accessories for your Boomer avatar. Vote, Vote, Vote! You and the other BoomWriters vote on the entry you think is the best. Of course you can't vote for you own entry, and you won't know whose entry it is you're voting for. You may be able to vote more than once, which is good, as voting also earns you points and BoomDollars. Did you win? If so, then your entry becomes the official Chapter 2 of the book. If not, don't worry because there will be many more chances for you to win. It's a book! The competitions continue until the book is finished. Then, *Boom!* you're a published author! The end result? A real book that you, your friends, family, and the whole world can buy. Imagine that, a book with your name in it that you helped write.

"Essays and reflections about literacy coaching. These may include book reviews, protocols, videos, or other content to support coaches as they build their repertoire of strategies for supporting teachers' job-imbedded professional learning."

Letter P.A.L.S. is a school-based National Reading Project focused on helping students strengthen their reading skills through weekly, engaging practice! The project is facilitated via dynamic, high-interest, online interactive reading adventures, where the content is delivered in letterform from age-specific, theme-related, fictitious pen pals. Thus, drawing the reader into the world of the writer and providing a one-of-a-kind engaging, motivating reading practice session. Each letter is personalized with the student's name, 3-4 pages in length, professionally written, beautifully illustrated, tells a complete story, and reviewed by reading specialists for age appropriateness. The Letter P.A.L.S. reading experience is further enhanced by the addition of supplemental activities, such as word searches, crossword puzzles, etc., and extra peripheral components, such as 3D glasses, magnifying glasses, puzzle pieces, etc., to bring maximum engagement and the most meaning out of each theme-related reading experience.

Elizabeth (Betsy) Bird, NYC public librarian, Newbery Award committee member, and book reviewer extraordinaire, writes prolific posts about new books, literacy programs, and the publishing world at her blog for the School Library Journal, A Fuse #8 Production. She is widely considered the most powerful blogger in kids' books.

"The TeachingAuthors are six children's book authors with a wide range (and many years) of experience teaching writing to children, teens, and adults. Here, we share our unique perspective as writing teachers who are also working writers. Our regular features include writing exercises (our"Writing Workouts"), teaching tips, author interviews, book reviews, and more."

School Library Journal's Battle of the (Kids') Books is a competition between 16 of the very best books for young people published in 2009, judged by some of the biggest names in children's books. There are some fantastic reviews of books that would be fun for our kids to read. It looks like the books are probably geared to our 3rd to 8th graders.