Abundance of Websites

Here are the websites ALSC – American Library Services to Children Division ofALA voted the best and most valuable. I see a couple that would be helpful for summer reading next year.

Name of Website: BaseballRox
URL: http://www.baseballrox.com/
Section: The Arts
Subsection: Sports
Age Level: Elementary, Middle, Parents/Teachers/CareGivers
Keywords: baseball, coaching, sports, training
Contact info: info@SportsRox.com
Annotation: This site is for anyone who loves baseball or wants to learn more about the game. Videos provide coaching instruction and tips for all aspects of the game. Baseball related
links (quotes, video game reviews, players, etc.) and online games such as Guess the Stadium provide more depth for the true baseball fan.

Name of Website: Chemicool
URL: http://www.chemicool.com/
Section: Sciences
Subsection: Chemistry and Physics
Age Level: Middle, Parents/Teachers/CareGivers
Keywords: periodic table, elements, chemistry
Contact info: online contact form available
Annotation: With an interactive periodic table and alphabetical listing of elements, as well as chemistry dictionary, this site is for anyone needing or wanting to know all about the elements that make up our world. Detailed information about each, including the atomic weight,
state of matter, characteristics, uses, abundance, and approximate cost make this site a great place to start a search on a particular element.

Name of Website: The Eric Carle Museum of Picture book Art
URL: http://www.carlemuseum.org/
Section: The Arts
Subsection: Museums
Age Level: Elementary, Middle, Parents and Teachers
Keywords: Carle, museum, illustrations, art, picture book
Contact info: info@carlemuseum.org
Annotation: Take a virtual tour, find out about current exhibitions, and try a couple of the art activities when you visit this site. You can also read about Eric Carle’s life and email experts questions.

Name of Website: Maisy’s Fun Club
URL: http://www.maisyfunclub.com/
Section: Literature and Languages
Subsection: Favorite Children’s Stories
Age Level: Preschool
Keywords: Maisy, Cousins, games, Tallulah, Cyril, Charlie, Eddie
Contact info: marketing@walker.co.uk
Annotation: If you love the book character Maisy, this is the website for you! When you visit this site, you can play games, read some of Maisy’s books and find out about her friends.

Name of Website: Audrey Wood
URL: http://www.audreywood.com/
Section: Literature and Languages
Subsection: Authors and Illustrators
Age Level: Preschool, Elementary, Middle School, Parents and Teachers
Keywords: Audrey Wood, Don Wood
Contact info: info@audreywood.com?subject=QuestionforAudrey
Annotation: Author website for Don and Audrey Wood. Includes biographical information, fun photos and fun secret information. Answers to questions kids ask. Booklists,
Awards and honors, help aids for teachers and parents. Art processes and contact information
for both Don and Audrey.

Name of Website: Jon Scieszka
URL: http://jsworldwide.com/
Section: Literature and Languages
Subsection: Authors and Illustrators
Age Level: Elementary, Middle School, Parents and Teachers
Keywords: Jon Scieszka, boys, reading
Contact info: emily.heddleson@us.penguingroup.com
Annotation: Jon Scieszka, The National Ambassador of Young People’s Literature, has a website that is full of fun and chuckles. Scieszka’s humor is apparent as the viewer is
subjected to large, close-up pictures of noodles, a not too serious European map of how a book
is put together, and other comical information like Scieszka’s Annual Report. Serious tidbits
include “talents you need to be a writer” and summaries of upcoming projects. Direct link to
Scieszka’s GuysRead website, with helpful tips for parents and teachers.

Name of Website: Animal Fact Guide
URL: http://www.animalfactguide.com/
Section: Animals
Subsection: Animals
Age Level: Elementary, Middle School
Keywords: Animals, wildlife, zoo, endangered species, conservation
Contact info: info@animalfactguide.com
Annotation: Learn interesting facts about animals around the world. The site includes
animal videos such as a rare pygmy hippopotamus at an Australian zoo and a wildlife blog.

Name of Website: Dawn
URL: http://dawn.jpl.nasa.gov/
Section: Sciences
Subsection: Astronomy and Space
Age Level: Elementary, Middle, Parents and Teachers
Keywords: Dawn mission, asteroid belt, solar system, stars and galaxy
Contact info: ctrussel@igpp.vucla.edu
Annotation: Dawn is an unmanned mission to the beginning of the solar system. There are videos and images of the craft moving towards the asteroid belt. The site includes games and activities for kids such as making an asteroid belt. It’s also a resource for students and teachers including online interactive simulations.

Name of Website: KidsClick! web search for kids by librarians
URL: http://www.kidsclick.org/
Section: Reference Desk
Subsection: Great Links
Age Level: Elementary, Middle
Keywords: search engines, reference, index, site index, web sites, search tools
Contact info: kclick@slis.sjsu.edu
Annotation: This directory of sites is selected by librarians and are organized by subject and Dewey numbers. Students can click on a particular subject and another page appears with a list of age appropriate websites for that subject. This directory is also searchable by keyword. Each website lists the suggested reading level. Additional tips on searching techniques are included.

Name of Website: School Time Games
URL: http://livepage.apple.com/
Section: The Arts
Subsection: Games and Entertainment
Age Level: Elementary, Middle
Keywords: games, learning games, educational, school
Contact info: Jason Miller, info@schootimegames.com
Annotation: A collection of games for learning and fun, from math games and logic puzzles to arcade style games.

Name of Website: Speakaboos
URL: http://www.speakaboos.com/
Section: Literature and Languages
Subsection: Favorite Children’s Stories
Age Level: Preschool, Elementary
Keywords: stories, folktales, fables
Contact info: online email form
Annotation: Listen to online children’s stories such as Arthur, Curious George and other classic stories. Foreign language stories and multicultural stories are forthcoming. A feature to record your own story is available. Story guides and worksheets are included for teachers to use. Parents can download guides and resources for them to use with their children.

Name of Website: Activity TV
URL: http://livepage.apple.com/
Section: The Arts
Subsection: Games and Entertainment
Age Level: Elementary, Middle
Keywords: games, crafts, educational activities
Contact info: online email form
Annotation: Children of all ages can learn and create a variety of crafts ranging from origami to jewelry. In addition, children can play games and participate in other educational activities by watching online video demonstrations.

Name of Website: Mem Fox: Teaching, Learning, Living
URL: http://livepage.apple.com/
Section: Literature and Languages
Subsection: Authors and Illustrators
Age Level: Elementary, Parents and Teachers
Keywords: stories, reading, possums, Mem Fox
Contact info: Edna,mailto:sfaxfox@bigpond.net.au
Annotation: This award-winning Australian author’s link has stories about her books, plus information and resources for parents and teachers. Information on writing tips are included.

Name of Website: Kevin Henkes
URL: http://livepage.apple.com/
Section: Literature and Languages
Subsection: Authors and Illustrators
Age Level: Elementary, Middle, Parents and Teachers
Keywords: Kevin Henkes, stories, reading, mice
Contact info: online email form
Annotation: Award-winning author Kevin Henkes provides a complete listing of his picture books, mouse books and novels, plus provide excerpts and information on his upcoming books. The go-to bar will take you to individual titles, where you can get additional information about the book and characters. Fun and games are included for some books.

Name of Website: Charles R. Smith, Jr.
URL: http://livepage.apple.com/
Section: Literature and Languages
Subsection: Authors and Illustrators
Age Level: Preschool, Elementary
Keywords: Charles R. Smith, Jr., stories, photographs, sports
Contact info: mailto:charles@charlesrsmithjr.com
Annotation: Award winning author and illustrator Charles R. Smith, Jr features his books that combine photography and sports. Books on other subjects are featured, too.
Activities for using his books are available for downloading.

Name of Website: Tate Kids
URL: http://kids.tate.org.uk/
Section: The Arts
Subsection: Games and Entertainment
Age Level: Elementary, Middle
Keywords: art, games, virtual galleries
Contact info: kids@tate.org.uk
Annotation: Children can create their own artwork, upload their artwork and create their own gallery on this website. Children can play games and watch films. Ideas for creating arts and crafts are included. An adult zone includes the internet safety clause, lessons for teachers, and ideas for parents to use with their children.

Name of Website: Horizon Magic Porthole
URL: http://www.magicporthole.org/
Section: Animals
Subsection: Animals
Age Level: Elementary, Middle, Parents and Teachers
Keywords: coral reefs, reef animals, fish, turtles
Contact info: magicporthole@gmail.com
Annotation: Enter the Magic Porthole™, which takes you into the fascinating and fragile world of coral reefs, using a variety of multimedia experiences. Explore virtual reefs with reef creatures as guides. Children can play games and win prizes as they learn about different reef animals. This website includes resources, news, exhibits and other information on coral reefs and other sea animals.