Children’s literature possesses a special place in the intrigue hearts and exceptional minds of many people whose parents began them on the journey to story reading. Through the magical world of storytelling, a young mind benefits in growth through the influences reading – either to or by – place upon a child. When a child listens to a story at a young age, understanding begins to grow within them about the world around them, as well as about themselves. Promoting independent reading at an early age helps to spark curiosity in young people.

Parents of even newborns are attracted to providing children’s books. The very first exposure to books is usually in the form of non-destructible picture books that stimulate young vision through use of color and shapes. This category of childrens books targets ages 0-5 and through these years help stimulate powers of identification. Some children’s books at this stage also incorporate sound associated with the images presented in the book so the youngster begins to internalize the identification process

Audio Books For Children

My kids love to be read to, but when I’m not home they still need their stories. I’m a professional, and I have to work late. My wife is no better and some nights neither of us is available to read the requisite bedtime story. That is why I like to get audio books for children. Although nothing beats having a parent read a story to you, in most cases a book on tape is the next best thing.

For a long time, I was skeptical of the value of audio books for children. I am a big fan of reading and self reliance as important values for kids. I figured that if my children wanted to get a bedtime story and I wasn’t home, they could read it themselves. Then I realized that I was being silly. My son and daughter are both avid readers, so there is no harm in them being read to from time to time. Sometimes, having someone read you a story can really do a lot to put the mind and body at ease. I remember how much I enjoyed hearing my parents read me bedtime stories when I was a kid. Back then, people didn’t work as much, and I could get any story I wanted pretty much every night. Although I can not do the same thing for my kids personally, I can still rent online audio books that let them hear someone else read a favorite story.

At first, my youngest didn’t really like having to listen to an audio book for children instead of having me read. She said that the voice of the actor reading was scary, and she wanted me to do it. After a while, however, she got used to the way the audio books for children sounded. And of course, she started to figure out the advantages of a recording over her parents. When I read her a book, we always stop after about 15 minutes. When I’m not around and she is listening to one of the audio books for kids, however, she can keep listening for as long as she wants to. After all, I’m not there to stop her.

My favorite thing about the audio books for children is that they stop me having to read the stories I really don’t like. In general, I am willing to read my kids pretty much anything they want to hear, but there are a few tales that really bore me. If my kids want a story that I’m not in the mood to read, they can pop in one of the audio books for children and sit back and listen. That way, everyone gets what they want.

Ancient History Books

I have always been fascinated by ancient books and maps. I love the smell and feel of antiquity, the idea that what I’m touching in reading was put together by someone hundreds or even thousands of years ago as a way to communicate in recorded history for posterity. I also find ancient history books to be very educational. They really show you how cultural biases can affect the way you record a story. The stylistic differences between ancient and modern history writers are striking. Not only do they show you how the historical record may be distorted, but they provide some insight into how modern historians might also make errors.

One of the interesting things about ancient history books is how they tend to combine mythological and fantastic elements with actual recordings of history. For example, the Saga of the Volsungs Which Wagner borrowed for some of his works is sort of an extended work of folk history written in ancient times. It has about the Germanic gods and goddesses and their struggles, but it also discusses the movement of the Huns and the Gothic tribes across Europe as the Huns pushed everybody West. It was written hundreds of years later, and you can see quite a bit of distortion, but you can also see kernels of truth. Kings that lived decades or even centuries apart are thought of as neighbors and all play a part in the story of a great mass migration. Epic battles are reframed so that they have to do more with the struggles of the protagonist in the story. I don’t know if you could call it a classical ancient history book, but it is amazing how historical it actually is.

Even more classical ancient history books tend to include elements of fantasy in them. The story of Atlantis, for example, is included in several books of ancient Greek history. Others tell of satyrs and other fantastical creatures inhabiting various lands. Even medieval history includes a good dose of this sort of fantasy, so it is evident that it kept going for a long time.

In my own writing, I try to borrow the style of ancient history books at times. I think a lot of fantasy authors do. When your culture has a set, rationalistic way of looking at things, it can be hard to get outside of that and take on a more imaginative perspective. Ancient history books can help you do that, however. You tell a story that is at once true and imaginary in the same way that ancient historians were able to. It can be a great help in writing a story of epic fantasy for a modern audience.

7th Book of Harry Potter

Anyone who has not heard of the Harry Potter series must have been living on Mars! The series began in 1997 and concluded ten years later with the 7th book of Harry Potter, titled Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. It was the fastest selling book in history and has been published in 93 countries. The excitement for fans was tangible with people lining up at bookstores on the launch date. There was a special treat for those lucky enough to get tickets through a ballot for an event at the National History Museum in London. 1,700 guests were there for a signing session and reading from the author, J.K. Rowling.

Rowling also toured America and appeared at Carnegie Hall. Guests obtained these tickets by sweepstake. Writers don’t often get treated like rock stars but such was the anticipation surrounding the Harry Potter seventh book. Readers knew that there would be a final show down between Harry and He Who Should Not Be Named. Security was paramount and the publishers were very protective of the material. They didn’t want anyone to spoil the party and reveal the plot outcome. Unfortunately there were some internet leaks that seeped out but by and large, security was maintained.

It was a difficult task to tie up all the plot strands from the previous stories but Rowling managed it with great skill and this 7th outing for Harry was well received by fans and critics. The author said that she always knew what the end game would be and how each character would evolve. Of course, there is just as much excitement when it comes to the films. Because Deathly Hallows is a long and complex book, the film adaptation will actually be two films. Both will be directed by David Yates, who directed the two films that went before. Part 1 is scheduled for release on 19th November 2010 and Part 2 for May 2011.

Filming for the final two installments will begin in February 2009 and is expected to last a year. Many actors playing the major roles for this adaptation of the 7th Harry Potter book have confirmed that they will take part. This includes the three young stars, Daniel Radcliffe (Harry), Emma Watson (Hermione) and Rupert Grint (Ron). They will be joined once again by Helena Bonham Carter, Alan Rickman, David Thewlis, Timothy Spall, and Brendan Gleeson.

Rowling has produced a spin off publication from the 7th book of Harry Potter, titled The Tales of Beedle the Bard. These relate to five stories of wizard fairy tales that are given to Hermione in the Deathly Hallows. This latest book was published around the world in December 2008 and the proceeds will be donated to charity. Rowling has also illustrated the book. She had made seven original books; all handwritten and given them to people who had helped her bring Harry Potter to the world.

Book Shops

One of my favorite activities is browsing round book shops. Even in Prague and Rome, I wandered in to look at the books, unable to understand a word. I love the atmosphere and the air of scholarship. A lot of book shops have coffee areas now, where you are allowed to look at a book, whilst relaxing in a comfy chair drinking cappuccinos. My nearest book shop has a shiny, black piano on which young music students tinker jazz in the background.

They don’t just sell books these days. Good book shops have become part of the community. They have special evenings with authors giving readings and talks about their latest publication. I have been to a few of these and lined up to have my book signed. Meeting an author is always a thrill and it makes the book almost like a personal gift from the author. There are also reading groups and creative writing circles meeting in book shops.

Young children are not left out, and are invited in for story telling sessions. Book shops are nothing without a good children’s section, and a welcoming attitude younger readers. It goes a long way in encouraging children to read for pleasure.

One of my favorite haunts are dusty, old second hand book shops, particularly if the books are piled up high with no visible sign of organization. Sometimes, you want to chance upon a gem, like hunting in a treasure cave. An old man in a stained cardigan and wire rimmed glasses may amble through from the back room and enthusiastically congratulate you on your find.

Charities often run shops which specialize in book sales and I have found good authors there too. In amongst the pulp, romantic novellas and bodice ripping tomes, I have come across Joseph Conrad, DH Lawrence, and Tom Wolfe. The only thing that puzzles me is how people can throw away a book, to give to book shops in the first place. I have never managed to do it and consequently my bookshelves are overflowing. I seem to have a missing chromosome which allows you to throw books away.

I could really live in an oasis of literature and work my way steadily and alphabetically round the novels, poetry, travel books and art history. Book shops are a haven that the modern world can’t take away. They’re not bad as singles hangouts either. Consider the advantages. If you meet him or her in a certain department, you already know you have something in common. You can strike up a conversation, something like, Oh, I’ve just read that, it’s marvelous, or Tell me, can you recommend this poet? It won’t be long before you’re settling down to coffee and muffins for two. It wouldn’t be a good idea for me to work in book shops, I would be too easily distracted and be reading instead of selling.

Building your home library? Used hardcover books make that library grow quickly!

Book lovers now find themselves between a rock and a hard place when it comes to buying books. It can be a slow process if you’re starting to build a personal library, not for lack of choices, but due to the expense of each addition. Many people don’t consider the used hardcover book market. While it’s true that in some cases, you want to get the most recent publications, such as in the field of medicine, the majority of books you need for a well rounded personal library can be found in used bookstores.

For example, classic literature, grammar texts and geology books don’t change much in content. If you’ve got kids, such used hardcover books can be found at a fraction of the price of new books, serving as excellent reference resources. History and religion are other subjects in which there are established classics which have yet to be surpassed in quality. Philosophy, humanities and anthropology are yet other additions to your library which can be fulfilled with used hardcover books.

So where’s the best place to begin building your library? Almost every town in America has at least one good used bookstore. Make a habit of browsing these bookstores once a week. You’ll discover some gems this way. Many wonderful books are now out of print, but can be found through used booksellers. Make friends with the bookshop owner, who can lead you to some special finds in whatever subjects you’re seeking.

Public libraries usually have a yearly sale, which they use to make room for newer books to add to their shelves. Often, the used hardcover books are sold by the pound! Many select books are sold for less than a dollar. Garage sales, thrift stores, flea markets and estate sales are other good resources.

Once you become more practiced in recognizing the better quality used hardcover books, there are thousands of online booksellers, many of whom will find rare and out of print books for you. The eBay market always has a huge and ever-changing inventory of hundreds of thousands of books.

As your library grows, you can fill out areas of your basic collection with some of the more obscure subtopics. For example, your section on cultural anthropology might be supplemented with books more specific in nature and which are of special interest to you, such as a book on the Maori tribe or the indigenous peoples of Australia.

Once you get started, it’s hard to stop. The more you learn, the more you want to know. Our natural curiosity is hard to squelch. You’ll also be surprised at how often your kids will gravitate towards a book, rather than the TV. Have fun!

Finding Poetry Publishers

If you write poetry, you may do it just for the satisfaction of writing out your feelings or writing about something that moves you. Most people try their hand at it at one time or another, but most don’t go much further than that. I know that I love to write some from time to time, but I do it for personal reasons. There are some very talented poets out there, and you may be one of them. If you are looking around for poetry publishers, you may have already found out that there are not many of them, and it is hard to get published.

Poetry is loved by many, but most people will not buy a book of poetry for some reason. Perhaps it is because they are only moved by one or two that they find in the book, and they don’t want to invest in the entire collection. Some just don’t understand poetry and they skip that section of the bookstore all together. Don’t let that stop you, however, as there are many poetry publishers that know there is a market that loves to buy poems, and that there is always room for some poetry on the shelves of any bookstore.

Those that publish poetry are going to be very picky about what they want to add to their line up. There are many who write good poetry, but the subject matter is so obscure that the poetry publishers can tell right away that they are not going to get a return on the investment, and might even take a loss. This is why it is so hard to find someone willing to take a chance on work that is good. If you believe in your work, keep trying. You may eventually come across poetry publishers that are interested in what you have to offer. As with everything else in life, you won’t know what will happen until you try.

You can publish your poetry on your own if you wish, but you should be careful when you do this. There are some vanity presses that have a great reputation, and poetry is often common because it is hard to find poetry publishers that will take on new clients. There are some things out there for poetry that are scams, so beware of contests and other types of unconventional ways of publishing your work. Do extensive research to be sure the poetry publishers you find are a good idea or if they are a scam. For many, this type of publishing works for them. It’s not always about the money, but rather, sharing something you love and have put a lot of work into finishing.

Join a paperback book club and read to your heart’s content

There are plenty of us who would rather read than watch television. While public libraries and bookstores might hardly be exhausted, libraries don’t usually stock the latest bestsellers and bookstores can be an expensive resource. Some people are just hooked on reading and that’s an excellent habit. Reading increases your knowledge, is highly entertaining and keeps your mind active. Joining paperback book clubs is an inexpensive way to feed your habit. Let’s take a look at some of the advantages.

First, you don’t have to do much to keep the ball rolling. Paperback book clubs send a monthly or semi-monthly catalog of choices, with the editor’s pick. Unless the subject matter holds absolutely no interest to your reading tastes, this selection is usually a good bet. If the editor’s pick agrees with you, you don’t have to do anything. They send it out and it’s in your mail before you know it.

If you want something else, take a look at the alternate choices. Check a box, return the postcard and it comes in the mail. Very simple. No searching around at the library or bookstore. Your good read comes to you.

Another advantage to joining paperback book clubs is that you receive substantial discounts over the retail price. We’re all into saving money and the constant reader can run up some money on books. You can save as much as 50% and sometimes more on special offers.

Today, books might almost be considered luxury goods, especially when you read all the time. Paperback editions are far less costly than hardback counterparts.  The paperback book clubs give you a chance to read the book and decide if you want to buy the hardback edition for your permanent library. While that mystery novel may be excellent, you don’t categorize it as a classic literary piece. In that case, you can read and enjoy it and then pass it on, to a friend, or donate it to the library, nursing home or school.

Another feature of belonging to a paperback book club is that you’ll run across a lot of quality books in that catalog that you might never have run across on your own. The book clubs often have a few obscure titles which prove to be an excellent read.

There are only a couple of points to consider before joining a book club. Be sure you understand whatever time or purchase commitments the book club requires. For example, you may have to agree to purchase six books in a two-year period. If that works for you, great. You also need to make sure you return the postcard indicating your choices within the time period stipulated. If you forget, you’ll end up with a book you may not want.

All in all, if you like to read, paperback book clubs are a great deal. Look online for a variety of these book clubs, offering just your taste in reading materials.

Novel Writing

Novel writing is a very noble pastime, but a very difficult career. For many people, writing a novel is the hardest thing they ever do in their life. This is especially true with your first novel. Organizing that much plot, character, and description into a coherent whole is something way beyond the scope of what most people do in their professional lives. Nonetheless, if you can get to it and write a novel, you can do anything. Once you have completed your masterwork, the world is your oyster.

I’ve known too many people who have cut their teeth writing fiction only to give up when it gets time to publish it. They get all the best novel writing software, organize their ideas well, take writing classes and workshops with the best people they can find, and manage to finally get it done successfully. Maybe they haven’t written a polished final draft, but they have gotten a working version together. They work through thick and thin, meeting every challenge with renewed vigor, but never manage to publish their writing.

The reasons for this very. One of them is just that many people lack faith in their novel writing. Often, the most intelligent people are also those with the worst self-esteem problems. They are more likely to be hyper critical of themselves because they’re more likely to be aware of their own faults than less intelligent folks are. These are folks who can believe in their abilities enough to learn how to write novels, but they don’t believe that other people want to see what they write. Then there are other people who just tackle novel writing for the joy of putting together a story and don’t particularly care if it ever gets published. They are writing for the desk drawer, as people used to say.

With changes in the way the writing industry works, there’s no reason that either of these types shouldn’t get published. Although it is respectable to write for yourself, anyone who wants to can get their work out there. Compared to writing a book, publishing is actually pretty easy nowadays. Don’t get me wrong – it is still very difficult to get picked up by one of the best publishers. If you want to go through a major publishing house, you will have to go through as much hassle is ever before. If, on the other hand, you want to have your book published online, you can do it easily. You can set up your own website, sell your book on Amazon or some related site, or even simply make it available for downloading on bit torrent. Making money online this way requires some strategy, but getting your book out there is a cinch.  If you go through all the work of novel writing, you might as well at least make your work available.

It is amazing how quickly temptation will grab the souls of the desperate. I am not talking about someone starving, overcome with unrequited love, or subject to some other classical plight. I am talking about myself –  a graduate student at the end of my rope, with an angry adviser breathing down my neck. My problems all started with a literature review. You see, literature reviews have never been my strong suit. I am great at coming up with new ideas, and I’m also pretty good at synthesizing ideas from a few examples of diverging viewpoints. Once I’m confronted with a large body of literature on a topic, however, I rapidly lose focus. There is no other way to explain it: I freeze.

I tried looking at examples of sample literature reviews online, but they weren’t helpful. The ones that people were showing for free were just not written at a professional level. Writing a review of literature in linguistics is uniquely challenging. From the outside, many people miss this, but the field of linguistics is an extremely divisive academic pursuit. Basically, people are either with Chomsky or against Chomsky. Everyone acts as if their opinion is the only valid one. If you are like me – someone willing to draw bits and pieces from both sides – everyone sees you as a traitor. It is almost impossible to synthesize the work of East Coast and West Coast linguists into a coherent whole. I tried and tried, but I failed. I tried, in fact, until I almost failed my class.

In desperation, I went beyond looking at an online literature review. I went to a custom paper writing service. I had the money saved up for an emergency, and this was definitely an emergency! I did not have high hopes. I figured that the literature review that they gave me would be somewhat ignorant of the subject matter, and the custom thesis paper would require a great deal of revision. Nevertheless, it was my only choice. It was the 11th hour so to speak, and if I didn’t have the background for my thesis ready soon, all would be lost.

I was actually surprised by the quality of the paper they gave me. The APA style literature review summarized succinctly – albeit loosely – the major finding of linguistics in the last several decades. The paper was not professional, But it was written as if a solid and interested amateur had spent some time researching the subject matter. In the end, I was able to revise it into something more high-level and professional.