Summer Reading & Win Free Books

As a teacher, I’m often asked to recommend summer reading for kids.  I don’t like one-size-fits-all summer reading lists, but I often provide “idea lists” — with lots and lots of possibilities for lots of different kinds of readers.  Along those lines, I’m trying something new on my Twitter feed… Kate’s Great Summer Reads will feature a book a day with thoughts on who might like it and a link to IndieBound.  Today’s tweet:

Kate’s Great Summer Read #1: For mystery-lovers ages 8-12, E.B. White Read-Aloud Winner MASTERPIECE by Elise Broach. http://tiny.cc/summer1

I’m KateMessner on Twitter if you’d like to follow and make summer reading suggestions of your own, too!

Now on to the free books…

If you haven’t had a chance to play the “What Tree Are You?” game & enter to win an advance reader copy of THE BRILLIANT FALL OF GIANNA Z, you have until Friday, and you can click here to enter.  I’m loving the comments so far.  For example, did you know that   is a purple-leaf plum,   is an aspen, and   is a Charlie Brown Christmas tree?  What kind of tree are you??

Also in the blog-world this week:

You can visit   and enter to win a copy of Linda Urban’s delightful, foot-stomping picture book MOUSE WAS MAD.

Mary of KidLit fame is just back from BEA and giving away CATCHING FIRE, SHIVER, and ALONG FOR THE RIDE over at her KidLit blog.

And Reviewer X has a bunch of contests (some ending June 3rd so be quick!) Titles up for grabs include CATCHING FIRE as well as books by

   and Elizabeth Scott.  

And one more thing…

If you have not checked out this post from   about the caterpillars/eggs in her backyard, you should go see her photos and then get yourself outside to explore your own yard.  In my little world, this is what summer’s all about.