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From Booker T. Worm
(T stands for Text)
Booker T. Worm is the cyber authority for great books, fun facts, and good times.

Hello!

Yesterday evening after dinner, I heard a bunch of wormlings laughing outside in the front of my house. I went out to see what they were doing, and they were having a lot of fun drawing pictures on the sidewalk with colorful chalk. Arthurine, the little wormling who lives next door, had been sharing one of her favorite poetry books with her friends. She had a tea party that afternoon, and the girls took turns reading the poems to each other as they sipped iced tea and ate tiny little fancy cakes her mother had baked for them.

They loved the poems so much, they decided to go home and change into some shorts, and then come back this evening, and decorate the sidewalks. They drew pictures to go with the poems in the book. I have to admit, they did a wonderful job, and I will hate to see the pictures disappear the next time it rains! Maybe I can talk them into making pictures to other books when these are gone. Oh yes! I forgot to tell you the name of the poetry book they illustrated on the sidewalk was SIDEWALK CHALK by Carole Boston Weatherford. You might want to get some sidewalk chalk, and decorate the sidewalks in your neighborhood, too.

And now for my news this week...

--Booker T. Worm

VOTE IN THE POLL!
This week's poll question is:

Are you ready to go back to school?

You can vote by selecting your answer from the front screen of kidsreads.com.

Back to School!
School has already started for some kids in the United States and for others it's just around the corner. Don't you just love getting ready for the first day of school? And picture day? You've probably already begun shopping for notebooks, pens, folders, and new clothes, right?

Well, in honor of the season, we've gathered some books that can help you out with ideas for turning your bedroom into the perfect place to do homework or de-stress from a test, decorating your locker, staying healthy and rested during the school year, making great friends, and looking your best when you head to class (no $$$ required). Check 'em out --- and have a great year!

The Left Behind Series
What would you do if one morning you woke up to find that millions of people around the world --- including your loved ones --- had disappeared in the night, leaving you behind? Well, this is exactly what happened to Judd, Ryan, Lionel and Vicki in the Left Behind series.

Hank the Cowdog Series
Home, home on the range. Where Hank, the bumbling but well-meaning Head of Ranch Security and all his wacky animal and human friends get into all sorts of trouble and play. Where seldom is heard, an unfunny word, and justice is served at the end of the day...

Alright, so that's not how the song actually goes. But it does describe John R. Erickson's imaginative and hilarious Hank the Cowdog book series pretty well, don't you think?

TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR
This book is a fascinating look at a young boy’s journey from self-destructive anger to forgiveness. Indeed, he changes so dramatically throughout the book that it is hard to believe that the Cole who leaves the island is the same boy who was so incredibly angry at the start of the book. The author of TOUCHING SPIRIT BEAR, Ben Mikaelson, also gives us a wonderful glance into Native American wisdom, especially the idea that everything in life is connected.

NOWHERE TO CALL HOME
This book is set in 1930, the beginning of the Great Depression. Frances Elizabeth Barrow lives comfortably with her businessman father in a large house with four servants. One night Frances' father breaks every rule that he has taught Frances  --- he kills himself. Frances is determined to become a hobo, she would rather be that than live with her aunt. Find out more about what happens to Frances in NOWHERE TO CALL HOME.

Question of the Week
Here's this week's Question of the Week:

Of all the books you read this summer, which was your favorite?

Send your answer to BookerTWorm@aol.com. Write "Question" in the subject line. We'll post your answers online!

We Asked, You Said
To see everyone's answers to the last Question of the Week "What books are on your school reading list?" Check out the responses at We Asked, You Said.

Quote of the Week
Sorrow was like the wind. It came in gusts. --Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings

Mailbag

Rules for submitting to Mailbag: We are not allowed to post anyone's e-mail address, real name, street address, phone number, school name or information, or any other information that is private about that individual. There is a law called the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act which prohibits us from publishing private information about our readers in our newsletter. Also, we will not publish anything in the newsletter that has bad words in it. All submission for Mailbag must be received by Noon on Wednesday in order to make it in the next newsletter.

Poems from fellow Bookworms

The Rainbow

The rain pours down like waterfalls,
In summer's lovely evening.
I watch and watch, it will never stop,
A thought of dreary days.

And then behold, the water calms,
And slowly in the sky,
The clouds will part, as clear as day,
The sunlight shining through.

And if I will wait long enough,
It is a delight to see,
A rainbow will appear, and look!
As beautiful as can be.

Stay safe! Always!
Remember to be safe online. NEVER tell anyone personal information --- which includes your real name, age, address, phone number or school. Hey, pretend you are undercover when you go online and protect yourself!