Growing Bookworms Newsletter: May 1

Today I will be sending out the new issue of the Growing Bookworms email newsletter. (If you would like to subscribe, you can find a sign-up form here.) The Growing Bookworms newsletter contains content from my blog focused on children's and young adult books and raising readers. There are 1670 subscribers. Currently I am sending the newsletter out once every two weeks.

Newsletter Update: In this issue I have six book reviews (four picture books, one middle grade graphic novel, and one young adult novel). I also have a post listing eight picture books that Baby Bookworm has been enjoying, and a post about our success so far with Screen Free Week. 

Not included in the newsletter this time around I have:

• A post about School Lunch Superhero Day (this Friday)
• Links I shared on Twitter: April 26
• Links I shared on Twitter: April 19

Reading Update: In the past 2 weeks, I finished 5 novels for middle grade readers, 3 novels for young adults, and one adult nonfiction title. Most of this reading was done over a weekend during which my husband took my daughter on a trip, so that I could have some reading and resting time. I read: 

• Joe Schreiber (ill. Matt Smith): Lenny Cyrus, School Virus. Houghton Mifflin Books for Children. Middle Grade/Middle School. Completed April 18, 2013. Review to come. 
• Beth Ain: Starring Jules (As Herself). Scholastic. Early Chapter Book. Completed April 21, 2013. Review to come. 
• Kate Saunders: The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop. Delacorte Books for Young Readers. Middle Grade. Completed April 21, 2013. Review to come.
• Rob Buyea: Because of Mr. Terupt. Delacorte Books for Young Readers. Middle Grade. Completed April 21, 2013. Review to come. 
• Rob Buyea: Mr. Terupt Falls Again. Delacorte Books for Young Readers. Middle Grade. Completed April 24, 2013. Review to come. 
• Kirsten Miller: Kiki Strike: The Darkness Dwellers. Bloomsbury. Young Adult. Completed April 20, 2013, on Kindle. I liked this one very much. When my daughter is old enough, I hope very much that she reads the Kiki Strike books, because they are full of wonderful tidbits for celebrating strong girls. 
• Mary Pearson: Fox Forever (The Jenna Fox Chronicles). Henry Holt and Co. Young Adult. Completed April 20, 2013. I found this to be a satisfying conclusion to the Jenna Fox saga, and a recommended read for anyone who enjoys speculative dystopian futures. 
• Dave Cousins: 15 Days Without a Head. Flux. Young Adult. Completed April 30, 2013. Review to come. 
• Lenore Skenazy: Free Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry). Adult Nonfiction. Completed April 19, 2013. I enjoyed this book, too. I found it a good reminder to relax a bit as a parent. I do want my daughter to grow up to be self-reliant, after all. I've been enjoying the Free Range Kids blog, too. 

I'm currently reading In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters and listening to Leaving Everything Most Loved: A Maisie Dobbs novel by Jacqueline Winspear. And, of course, I'm reading every day with Baby Bookworm.

How about you? What have you and your kids been reading and enjoying? Thanks for reading the newsletter, and for growing bookworms. 

© 2013 by Jennifer Robinson of Jen Robinson's Book Page. All rights reserved.  You can also follow me @JensBookPage or at my Growing Bookworms page on Facebook.