Give the Gift of Learning this Holiday Season
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Give the Gift of Learning this Holiday Season

ByMichael Thal

Holiday shopping is right around the corner. Are you really looking forward to spending hours fighting for a parking spot or waiting in long checkout lines at Macy’s, Sears, or Best Buy? If you want to avoid the hassles, think about buying your favorite child a book this year. You will want your book choice…

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New Year’s Resolution: Read More…And Here’s Why

ByMichael Thal

What are you reading? It’s a simple question that could elicit a complex response and an exchange of ideas. It’s a question that can cut through all the tedious niceties and get right to the issue—the depth of your mind and that of your friend. This is our time of year for resolutions. “I’ll lose…

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Book Blast: 2016 Books by SCBWI Authors

ByMichael Thal

The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCWBI) is holding its annual six-week Book Blast promotion that started October 10 and will continue until November 18, 2016. Book Blast highlights traditionally and independently published books on individual author pages. Picture books for young children, chapter books for older readers, middle grade novels and young…

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SCWBI Summer Reading List could boost kids’ reading ability

ByMichael Thal

School in Los Angeles begins August 16, 2016. It’s been a long hot summer, so slow the pace a bit, kick back, and read a book. It’s so important that the reading skills of children remain sharp. According to an article in Reading Rocks, “Summer Reading Loss,” thirteen academic studies covering 40,000 students discovered that…

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12 YA Beach Reads to Tan by This Summer

ByMichael Thal

Summer 2016 is right around the corner. What better way to enjoy a day at the beach than to bring a good book to soak up the sun? Here are 12 YA books on the SCBWI “Summer Reading List” by California writers. With each book you’ll find its category, author, brief description, and link to…

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Simple Food Guide for Teens

ByMichael Thal

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, fast food has been associated with higher caloric intake and poorer diet quality in children and adolescents.” It’s no wonder 25 million children in the US are overweight or obese consuming 67% more fat than recommended amounts and 72% more saturated fats, which leads to obesity….

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Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2015

ByMichael Thal

Having a hard time finding a bookstore in your neighborhood? Interested in meeting the wordsmiths that put those books together? Look no further than the LA Times Festival of Books to be held on the campus of the University of Southern California on April 18-19. The Festival of Books begins Saturday morning at 10:00 AM-6:00…

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6 Cheap Places to Buy Books

ByMichael Thal

Looking for an inexpensive book? Here are a few suggestions where you can purchase or even find a book for free. 1. Thrift Shops. Places like Goodwill, the American Cancer Society Discover Shops, and the Salvation Army are just a few examples of thrift shops that sell books for under a $1.00. For example, when…