Grow Up With Books

2010-10-24T10:56:00.001-04:00

Announcing Grow Up With Books (GUWB) Kindle Raffle. Winning a Kindle could never be easier. Simply sign up as a member to GUWB, purchase, a book through GUWB (you don't have to be a member to do this), or simply refer-a-friend that becomes a member and you will be automatically entered into our Kindle raffle! Due date to be entered is 12/1/10 with the winner announced on 12/3/10. The winner

National Punctuation Day!

2010-09-18T13:37:00.000-04:00

Mark your calendars for September 24th as it's not too late to make plans for National Punctuation Day! Moira Rose Donohue has additional ideas for ways to celebrate and be sure to check out her books at GUWB. To kick-off your celebration, why not share this Skype experience of Ms. Donohue showing some personality behind some common punctuation marks. Check out the Queen of Punctuation at her

Bats in the Air, Bats in My Hair

2010-08-22T21:56:00.021-04:00

Bats? In my hair? That's right! At the Virginia Festival of the Book held in March, 2010, Grow Up with Books team members had the opportunity to meet a local author of children's books. Martha Hamlett of Lynchburg, Virginia wrote and published Bats in the Air, Bats in My Hair and has visited many schools and bookstores in Virginia to read her story and talk with kids about writing and publishing

Kids' Corner Reporters...Just Who is Bob Boyle?

2010-07-31T10:53:00.000-04:00

Many people have heard of the recent story by Bob Boyle entitled Hugo and the Really, Really, Long String. You may also know that his idea for that story came from a walk where he saw power lines and wondered where they might lead...like a really, really, long string. However, our "Kids' Corner" reporters had a chance to find out some information that you may not know about the amazing Bob

GUWB meets Hugo and the Really, Really, Really Long String!

2010-07-22T14:42:00.000-04:00

How do you sum up an event that was beyond your wildest dreams? An event that started with Twitter? An event that changed the lives of many young boys and girls? I think that the best way is to just say...WOW! Wow, wow, Bob Boyle! Bob Boyle, the creator of Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and the new book Hugo and the Really, Really, Really Long String, spent the day with GUWB at South Anna Elementary

Making the Most of Your Grow Up with Books Subscription!

2010-07-13T20:35:00.000-04:00

At Grow Up with Books we want to help families foster the love of reading! Families that sign up for a subscription with Grow Up with Books receive a lot more than just great books at the click of a mouse. No matter what reading plan you choose, be sure to get the most out of your subscription by remembering the following tips: Be sure to keep your book queue full! That way we always have a

"Cat"ch the World Cup Fever

2010-07-04T06:50:00.000-04:00

What an exceptional World Cup this has been! The GUWB Team has watched the US team through its ties, victories, and it's final loss. However, the semi-final and final matches have yet to be played. With that in mind, why not introduce your child to a simple chapter book entitled Soccer Cats: Switch Play! (by Matt Christopher)? As a subscriber to GUWB, you can have it sent directly to your

Tips for Summer Reading

2010-07-01T13:43:00.002-04:00

Make even more summer memories with your family by trying out some of our Summer Reading Tips! 1. Family Storytime: Choose a crowd-pleaser like Charlotte's Web or Clementine from the GUWB collection. Each day read the story together as a family. Either read the story to your children, or have the family take turns as "Guest Reader" for the evening. After reading, have a conversation with

A Message from our CEO

2010-06-24T14:09:00.003-04:00

As the US advances through the World Cup, GUWB’s Summer Reading and Reach-a-Reader Programs push forward as well. With our Summer Reading Program, we are providing a quick and easy way for parents to continue their children reading over the summer with a little incentive...ice cream ($10 gift card to Dairy Queen). Who doesn’t like ice cream over the summer; by the way, it was 99 degrees today

A "World Cup SCORE" with Summer Reading at GUWB!

2010-06-03T13:59:00.000-04:00

SCORE with GUWB's Summer Reading Program! World Cup Soccer is almost here! We know Team USA will do their best to kick goals and win matches. We want you to get a "kick" out of reading this summer and "win" with Grow Up with Books Summer Reading Program! This is our first summer at Grow Up With Books. As we look back over the past few months we have helped many families grow with reading

The Story Behind the Story-Moira Rose Donohue

2010-05-24T01:01:00.001-04:00

Moira Rose Donohue What a pleasure it is to introduce Moira Rose Donohue, author of Penny and the Punctuation Bee and Alfie the Apostrophe. We first discovered Moira while attending the Kidlitosphere Conference 2009 and are thrilled to tell you that her books are available at Grow Up With Books--the Netflix of children's books! Reading her two stories was truly a pleasure and delight. I

Partners in Education

2010-05-21T13:26:00.000-04:00

Lara Ivey and Ray Heatwole (Assistant Principal at South Anna Elementary) Grow Up With Books has had the pleasure of being a Partner in Education with Hanover County Public Schools and South Anna Elementary. During our year with them, we have donated books, resources, consulting, and supported South Anna's First Annual Spirit Run! We are the Netfilx of children's books and are dedicated to

Celebrating Books!

2010-05-11T22:21:00.011-04:00

Children's Book Week 2010May 10-16At GUWB, we celebrate books and children EVERY day and are behind Frederic Melcher when he declared, "A great nation is a reading nation." This week we would like to take a moment to focus on Children's Book Week.This tradition began way back in 1919 and was originally celebrated the week before Thanksgiving, being moved to May in 2008. Children's Book Council

What are People Saying About GUWB?

2010-05-04T23:07:00.009-04:00

Wondering what subscribers are saying about GUWB? Wonder no more! Here is what Elaine Johnson has to say...“I love Grow Up With Books! I’m a busy mom of three. I work at my own business, deal with two different schools, multiple sports teams, playdates, cooking, homework, etc. Education and a love for reading is a high priority for me. Fitting that around my schedule is difficult. I can’t

What is your "Betty Doll?"

2010-05-02T23:08:00.010-04:00

The second Sunday of May is the official time to remember our mothers.One book that does an amazing job of this is Patricia Polacco's Betty Doll. This delightful picture book begins with a letter from Patricia Polacco explaining the history of Betty Doll from her mother, Mary Ellen. Due to a fire, all of Mary Ellen’s dolls were gone and her mother (Polacco’s grandmother) saw how much pain this

Celebrate Earth Day with GREAT Books!

2010-04-18T22:35:00.006-04:00

Can you believe that forty years has passed since the first Earth Day? Celebrate on April 22nd by reading a few special stories from GUWB.10 Things I Can Do to Help My World by Melanie Walsh is a great way to approach Earth Day with young children. Read about ten simple things we can all do to help the world we live in, fun and easy eco-tips printed on 100% recycled material.Recycle by Gail

A Message from our CEO!

2010-04-14T13:53:00.004-04:00

It has been exactly one year since the inception and launch of Grow Up With Books and we are succeeding in our mission to provide access to rich literature for families in a very reasonable and exciting manner. Creating the Netflix-style program allows parents to sign up for a reading experience that fits both their family size and budget, saving them time in the process by simply logging-on,

The Battle Begins...Book or Movie?

2010-04-06T09:07:00.004-04:00

GUWB is getting ready to feature the Percy Percy Jackson series on our blog. To start us off, we've asked Jacob Ivey to share his 9-year-old thoughts about how the book, The Lightning Thief (by Rick Riordan) compares to the movie.Lara: I understand that you read the book twice before seeing the movie. In your opinion, which one do you feel is better?Jacob: I would have to say the book, because

Naples, Florida...Here we come!!!

2010-03-30T13:24:00.006-04:00

It's time for The Authors and Books Festival! For those Naples residents or tourists that will be in the area on April 10th, drop by Lulu's Little Market (531 5th Avenue South) and say hello to a Grow Up With Books associate. Learn first-hand about our children's reading experience--Netflix style. You'll hear about some amazing books as well as great gifts and ideas! GUWB will be present from

Are your Easter baskets ready?

2010-03-29T12:58:00.013-04:00

Can you believe it's time to get those Easter baskets ready? I'm all about some good chocolate and filling baskets with a little candy, but do we really need to load them up with all that sugar? Probably not. Why not consider some other options as you get ready for the Easter Bunny!Gift subscription to Grow Up With Books... Is there anything better than books? What about books delivered to

Spring is here and so is GUWB!

2010-03-22T11:33:00.015-04:00

This past weekend Grow Up With Books had the opportunity to participate in two great events.First, we participated in The 16th Annual Virginia Festival of the Book in Charlottesville, Virginia. We were in Vendor Hall at the Charlottesville Omni sharing about the "ins and outs" of GUWB.Book Festival "Comments of the day..." ▪ Best Statement: "That's a great idea! Why didn't I think of that?" ▪

What's on your checklist?

2010-03-14T14:16:00.011-04:00

Today's Checklist... 1. Set clocks ahead an hour....DONE! 2. Check all of our smoke detectors...DONE! 3. Share a few recently added books to GUWB's selection... That Girl Lucy Moon by Amy Timberlake (9-12 year olds)Lucy Moon is the kind of girl who champions animal rights--during hunting season. She is the kind of girl who spots injustice and isn't afraid to fight it. But now that

Subscriber Benefits at GUWB

2010-03-06T22:55:00.008-05:00

If you are a subscriber to GUWB (the Netflix of children's books), one of the many benefits you have is access to our Reading Consulting Team (RCT). The information below shares a little bit about what the RCT can offer.A few years ago a parent asked me, “How do you know what books to read to your child?” My answer was, “Well, I’m a reading teacher. I just know.” But as the conversation

Olympic Fever

2010-02-20T17:03:00.006-05:00

I don't know if this is happening in your house, but we can't get enough of the Olympics! Obviously with children almost 7 and 9, the last winter Olympics weren't a big deal. However, the enthusiasm is beyond crazy. We have even had tears when told that they had to go to bed and would have to miss seeing the finals. Why? Why the drama? No, it's not just that they are tired.The other morning

The Countdown is Underway!

2010-02-05T22:45:00.007-05:00

Here comes Percy!Ask any middle grade reader what February 12, 2010 is and more than likely they'll say..."The Lightning Thief movie comes out!" My son is one of those. I knew last month that it was soon, but he knew the exact date. He even asked me, "Hey Mom, you do know what Feb. 12th is, right?" To say that the excitement

Read and Connect NOW!

2010-02-02T12:18:00.007-05:00

Read NOW!Today is when we will get our hands on the next installment of The 39 Clues series...Book 7: The Viper's Nest by Peter Lerangis. In order to best prepare yourself, read/re-read The 39 Clues Book 6: In Too Deep by Jude Watson. My son is re-reading it right now and can't wait to see what happens next to Dan and Amy in Book 7. Check out the GUWB summary AND the amazing connection ideas

Snowy Day Indoor Ideas

2010-01-30T14:57:00.007-05:00

Snowy Day INDOOR Ideas...WOW! I thought that December's snow was a doozy, but I'm thinking that this one is going to make quite an impact here in Richmond, Virginia. It got me to thinking about what to do with your children IF the weather is too cold to go outside and too snowy to drive anywhere.So, here is my list of ideas to help those of you stuck indoors.* Get a head start on your

Beyond Blessed

2010-01-22T22:02:00.017-05:00

Beyond blessed... Last night I sat here and listened to Hope for Haiti Now. Through tears, I was reminded of the importance of the basics. Needs vs. wants. Food. Clothing. Shelter. I truly believe that my children are beginning to know the difference, although they may not always remember it in the toy aisle at Target. I'm also reminded of the importance of standing up and leading by

National Puzzle Month

2010-01-16T11:06:00.007-05:00

January is "Puzzle Month" with January 29th being National Puzzle Day. Puzzles offer many educational benefits such as...-helping children see parts to a whole (like with words)-developing spatial awareness-improving problem solving skills-eye-hand coordination-coming in different levels-plain ol' funIn honor of "Puzzle Month," GUWB would like to feature several of our "puzzling books." These

Reading Aloud: What are YOU reading?

2010-01-09T10:53:00.010-05:00

Reading aloud to your children is of utmost importance. It's the beginning of a meaningful relationship with your child that is just waiting to be nurtured. No matter if they are an infant or a middle grade reader, all children need to be read "TO." It's the "T" in our "Read TWO Experience" at Grow Up With Books.Patricia Polacco is the author of close to 50 children's books. In a recent

10 for 2010 Making Reading a Resolution Reality

2010-01-01T11:35:00.019-05:00

It's that time of year again when we make our New Year's Resolutions only to drop them within weeks, days, or even minutes. When we stop to ask ourselves why, it's usually because it wasn't convenient. So, our million dollar question...How do you make reading convenient for your family? Or maybe the question should be....How can we afford NOT to make it convenient. I'd like to offer several

We've Got a Winner!!!!

2009-12-24T11:22:00.002-05:00

A big thank you to Michelle Batty for her support of GUWB! Not only did she Tweet (actually it was a re-tweet ) us, she is a fan on Facebook. You are our winner of GUWB's first giveaway. Your crew will receive a free month subscription of 5 books at a time as well as 2 additional titles. The first is 10 Things I Can Do to Save My World by Melanie Walsh. The second is Recycle!: A Handbook for

Gift Giving...Simple + Unique = Perfect!

2009-12-17T21:24:00.007-05:00

At this time of year we tend to get into a rush and begin to feel rather overwhelmed. GUWB has a recipe for the perfect solution to any gift giving troubles you may have! A gift subscription to GUWB offers so much.IT'S SIMPLE. Signing up for a gift subscription is quite easy. Use the "present" icon to guide you in the right direction. Follow the steps and your gift is done! No need to worry

Friday Features!

2009-12-11T09:00:00.003-05:00

It's our FIRST official posting for Grow Up With Books (GUWB)! Our "Friday Features" this week will focus on several of the great titles we have to offer at our website. Also, we'd love to hear from you and what some of your favorites are during this time of year--from books to traditions and more.While we offer many of the classics, including The Polar Express and How the Grinch Stole