[ghost]

Congrats. Looks terrific and has great potential. Frankly, even though I'm a well published author, co-author, and ghostwriter of books for children, I'm picky when it comes to what blogs and such I read on a regular basis --- For what it's worth, I suspect yours will be added to my list.

Good luck.

[Just Jodi Posts: 368 Status: Offline Children's books are hard-bound hugs! WWW]

The site is amazing!    So much great information...so much more to come!

So happy for all of you!  

Congratulations and major hugs, Jodi  

[Barbara Etlin Posts: 2,255 Status: Offline WWW]

Looking good! Congrats to all of you!

[H. Pinski Posts: 1,355 Status: Offline]

The site is amazing and so needed!  Thank you, thank you, to all the authors involved!  I've posted the link everywhere I can and will do what I can to spread the word! 

[kposa]

Congrats on the new site! YAY for MG!!!   

[Juliarts2003@yahoo.com Posts: 1,564 Status: Offline Truth, Puffin/Speak, 1/19/2012 WWW]

Fabulous website! I love it!

[J-Bert Posts: 257 Status: Offline WWW]

Great job with this blog! It's a can't miss spot for middle grade enthusiasts. I linked to you on my blog as well. Looking forward to seeing everything you guys do!

Jenn

[Wendy Martin Posts: 428 Status: Offline Got art? WWW]

Hooray, you guys did it! Love the banner and graphics of the reading file cabinets, etc. All very creative.

Congrats!

Those little critters are my creations. I am one of the illustrators of the Files group. Thank you, I am so happy to hear you like them.

[Aviv]

Brilliant!  Thank you for this.

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,602 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

What Makes a Middle-Grade Novel Timeless?

How can books I loved as a child remain popular, when society changes so quickly? Nobody had cell phones or internet when I was in elementary school. So how can books written at that time still appeal to today’s kids? I believe the books that stand the test of time have unique characters readers can relate to, cheer for, and fall in love with, combined with situations that kids still have…like annoying siblings, school issues, fights with friends, and trying to see where you fit in our world.

I blogged about this on the Mixed-Up Files...of Middle-Grade Authors site today. http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/06/what-makes-a-middle-grade-novel-timeless-2/  

Hop on over and see which book I believe will become timeless, and find out what amazing authors like Lauren Myracle, Wendy Mass, Bruce Hale, Laurie Friedman, and Lisa Yee think about timeless middle-grade books.  I'd love to know why you think some middle-grade books remain popular for over thirty years, and which current books you believe will become timeless.

Don't forget to check out our second summer giveaway, where one lucky reader will win these three fabulous middle-grade books:

The Reinvention of Edison Thomas by Jacqueline Houtman (ARC)
Mallory Goes Green by Laurie Friedman (hardcover)
A Dog's Way Home by Bobbie Pyron (ARC)

[Hélène Boudreau Posts: 699 Status: Offline *yawn* WWW]

Today on the Mixed-Up Files...Audiobooks: Great sounding middle-grade books

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/06/audiobooks-great-sounding-middle-grade-books/

I  audiobooks and listen to several each month during my daily walks. It's a great way for me to multi-task and keep up with my 'reading'. My kids really love them too and I've seen the benefit of using audiobooks to augment/complement their daily reading. 

I've listed some of my all time faves as well as recs from our Mixed-Up authors. Please pop by and share some of your favorites as well!

[Dragonfly97]

The Care and Feeding of Young Library Patrons

While libraries across the countries are facing budget cuts, they are still in the business of buying books.  Find out what makes one librarian, who makes all the purchasing decisions for children's books for Virginia's largest library system, buy a book.  

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/06/the-care-and-feeding-of-young-library-patrons/

[hairaplenty Posts: 1,454 Status: Offline Don't ever quit!]

Great website!  I stayed too long!       

[Cali Posts: 187 Status: Offline Twitter: (csuefrye) WWW]

I love, love, love your websites! Audio books is a fab idea. I haven't listened to an audio book yet but I intend to do so soon. Thanks for sharing so much useful information. Keep up the good work.
 
  Cali

[dwrites]

You are all doing a fantastic job with this blog. If the membership waitlist is any indication of success, I'd say you're in for a long blog life. Keep up the great work! Got it bookmarked. 

[Liz Straw Posts: 981 Status: Offline That was a yummy book!]

I haven't listened to an audio book yet but I intend to do so soon. 

Audio books are great for car trips, use them all the time.  Although I am running into the problem of having a 1997 vehicle with only a tape player and the majority of new books are on cds. oy

[Vonna Posts: 1,799 Status: Offline WWW]

Today on the Mixed-Up Files...Audiobooks: Great sounding middle-grade books

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/06/audiobooks-great-sounding-middle-grade-books/
My kids really love them too and I've seen the benefit of using audiobooks to augment/complement their daily reading. 

I credit audio books as being one of the reasons my son has become such an avid reader. From the time he was born, we listened to the Harry Potter, Artemis Fowl and His Dark Materials books on long car rides. He listened and paid attention to a story for hours at a time, so when he learned to read, long stories didn't phase him. He is in middle school now and his appetite for reading continues to grow. Now I'm getting sneaky and slipping in audios of books he wouldn't pick on his own.

[Karen Bly Posts: 145 Status: Offline]

check out my post on The Hunt for Big Kid Books in the Middle-Grade section:

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/

[hazelnut Posts: 285 Status: Offline Write with faith, hope and clarity.]

Great post, Karen! You must be thrilled your son is clamoring to read bigger-kid books! 

[Karen Bly Posts: 145 Status: Offline]

Thanks! Yes, he is quite the reader. He loved the first Harry Potter, but the second one scared him so bad with a particularly sinister scene at the end. That's what got me thinking so much about the different levels of middle grade.

[JennaWren Posts: 1,779 Status: Offline WWW]

Karen, great post.  I have similar issues with my 7 & 8 year olds.  Two new terrific books to add to your list:  Camille McPhee Fell Under the Bus, and How to Survive Middle School.  Hilarious reads, great pace, and nothing that my kids couldn't read.

[Karen Bly Posts: 145 Status: Offline]

Thanks, Jenna!

[Tracy Abell / Vinca Posts: 717 Status: Offline]

My post School Book Clubs and the Lifelong Reader is up today:
http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/07/school-book-clubs-and-the-lifelong-reader/

Some people from this board shared memories with me, so I hope you can stop by.

Tracy

[Stephanie J. Blake Posts: 1,542 Status: Offline WWW]

Loved the post on book orders!

[elissacruz Posts: 726 Status: Offline]

We have another large giveaway starting today...six MG books to one lucky reader!

Stop in and enter by leaving a comment.  We'd also love it if you spread the news to others.  Thanks!

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/07/third-summer-giveaway-winner-and-our-fourth-summer-giveaway/

[Hélène Boudreau Posts: 699 Status: Offline *yawn* WWW]

Any bibliovideophiles out there?

I’m blogging about middle-grade book-to-movie adaptations over on the Mixed-Up Files.

http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/08/middle-grade-book-to-movie-picks/

[anniedc]

Just discovered your blog! Fantastic! Congratulations!

[Mindy Alyse Weiss Posts: 3,602 Status: Offline A long journey - but I'm determined to get there!]

Thanks--we're glad you found us!

We have two awesome giveaways going on now.  There's an amazing interview of author Tom Angleberger with a chance to win a signed copy of Origami Yoda AND an original illustration!  The winner will be announced on Thursday.
http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/08/interview-with-origami-yoda-author-tom-angleberger-and-an-original-illustration-giveaway/

We're announcing the winner of our Summer Giveaway number 6 on Tuesday, August 31st.  Hop on over and leave a comment for your chance to win these three great middle-grade novels!
* Karma Bites by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas
* Shooting Kabul ARC by N.H. Senzai
* Goddess Girls #3: Aphrodite the Beauty by Joan Holub and Suzanne Williams
http://www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/2010/08/fifth-summer-giveaway-winner-and-sixth-summer-giveaway/

Don't forget to check out all the great new middle-grade releases for September, that we'll post on Wednesday, September 1!

[Cat]

Ooh, it's shiny! Really pretty, and awesome. How exciting!!

[lab Posts: 49 Status: Offline Savor each second! WWW]

This looks great!! What an asset for MG writers!