These links are to full-text children's stories that are out of copyright and are available online.

Hans Christian Andersen Fairy Tales

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Alice In Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
This unique web site takes the original text and includes illustrations done by a fourth-grade class. Alice In Wonderland has a special place in my heart, being one of the few books I owned as a child.

Children's Literature Web Guide
Looking for a good book? Want to know more about your favorite authors? Want to find even more stories you can read online? This is the web site to visit.

Young Writers' Clubhouse
There's a lot of great information packed into this web site. If author Deborah Morris and I wrote the same kinds of children's books I could even be a little jealous! Her Real Kids Real Adventures true adventure stories are exciting, and The Writers' Clubhouse gives you lots of good information about how to be a writer.

Poetry4Kids.com
Kenn Nesbitt's funny poems will tickle your funny bone. Use the online rhyming dictionary on this web site to help you compose your own poems. You might even want to enter the monthly poetry contest.

Writers' Window
This is a great place to get writing tips as well as publish your own writing online. Submissions are accepted from kids ages 5 to 18.

Children's Book Council- Writing Children's Books
Although this web site is designed for adults writing children's books, you'll still find lots of useful information about the publishing process.

Stone Soup
This is an excellent print magazine. All the stories and artwork are by kids for kids. Read a sample issue or learn how to submit your writing or artwork. You can even hear the authors read their stories aloud while you read along! Submissions are open to kids through the age of 13.

Smart Writers
This is a truly awesome website and deserves its status as one of the Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. You'll find information for writers of all ages!

Pics4Learning: Copyright-friendly images for education
Use these photos in school projects. They're great inspiration for writing!

For Teens & Adults- Writing Links

Merlyn's Pen
This site is the best site I’ve found for teens interested in writing. Merlyn's Pen publishes writing by teens. They also do something almost unheard of…they offer feedback to each writer who submits a manuscript to them. Read the online magazine, Merlyn’s Pen Monthly. Teachers can even print the magazine and make copies for their classrooms!

Push
Push is an imprint of Scholastic. Each year they sponsor a teen writing contest open to teens in grades 7 through 12. The winner has the chance to be published by Push.

WritersMarket.com
This is one of the best values for your money that I’ve found. Put out by the same people that bring you the annual print version of Writers Market, this is a tool that helps you get serious about your writing. A must-have for teen and adult writers interested in getting published!

Cicada Magazine
Yep, this print magazine has the same name as the bug. Kind of creepy, but kind of different too. The magazine publishes writing by teens as well as adult authors. If you're up to it, check out the online feature called The Slam. It’s just what it says, the chance to have your writing critiqued online by others…possibly slammed. You must be at least 14 to participate in The Slam.

The World of Druidawn
This online fantasy game helps you develop your writing skills while you play! Perfect for teens. Also check out this web site Creative Writing Solutions (and tell your teacher, too). You can submit stories and artwork for future editions of the book, Druidawn.

Young Writers Society
Listed by Writer's Digest as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for writers. This is a place for teen writers to get and give critiques.

Absyntemuse.com
The name of this web site is a bit misleading, because it has nothing to do with bars or absynthe, the drink. It is a place for 13 to 22 year olds who want to talk about their writing though. It is also listed by Writer's Digest as one of the 101 Best Web Sites for Writers.

SCBWI
The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators is a professional group for writers wishing to publish for children. There are regional groups across the globe, and members are wonderfully supportive!

North Central/Northeast Texas SCBWI
This is the regional SCBWI group I belong to. If you live in the North Central/Northeast area of Texas check it out. Monthly meetings are informative and fun, and the annual conference is worth the drive even if you live out of state!

Smart Writers
This is a truly awesome website and deserves its status as one of the Writer's Digest 101 Best Websites for Writers. You'll find information for writers of all ages!

Joan Upton Hall
Joan is a former English teacher and she really knows her stuff. I met Joan at a conference of the East Texas Writers' Association, where she and Stacey Hasbrook were presenting. Joan's books, "Rx for Your Writing Ills" and "50 Writers' Tips" proved invaluable when working on rewrites of my children's books.

Games Kids Play
This web site is worth sharing with all the grownups you know. There are rules to games you've probably never even heard of, but your parents or grandparents have probably played them. Hey, it's lots of fun watching old folks act silly!

Mojo's Musical Mouseum
This is part of the Kididdle's web site and includes lyrics to almost 2000 kids' songs! Some have downloadable music as well. Be sure to tell the grownups about this one so they can sing along.

Fact Monster
You'll find an almanac, atlas, encyclopedia and dictionary. Search by topic or keyword. Plus, current news and a "today in history" section. Designed just for kids!

FunBrain
OK, so it's not exactly homework help, but these fun games will help your brain when it comes time to tackle that homework.

Information Please
Brought to you by the same folks who put together the Fact Monster web site, this reference center has it all. When you need more detailed references and information check here.

Kids Homework Help
Math and Reading Help for Kids is a directory of articles offering tips for homework help, improving test scores, developing positive study habits, and more.

Teachers & Librarians

Storytime in the School Library
Learn how to make Storytime teaching time!
(To view just the Excel file or the sample lesson plan, open the PPT and go to Slide #18: Save Planning Time.)

TLA 2005 Handout

Web Sites to Encourage Writers
I will be adding more links to this section soon! I have a list of web sites to recommend, but no time to get them on the web site. I just had to let you know about this one now!

Creative Writing Solutions
This wonderful web site is put together by writers who have worked extensively mentoring kids. Some of those kids put together a book of fantasy stories,Druidawn, which is now available as a board game Legends of Druidawn, as well as online,The World of Druidawn. The games are especially good for encouraging reluctant tween and teen writers! Teens can even submit their stories or artwork for future editions of the next Druidawn anthology.

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking Across the Curriculum Project
If you've attended one of my storytime activity workshops, or if you heard my presentation at the TLA 2005 Conference, you've heard of this web site. It's one of my favorites! Learn how to ask questions that make kids think. This is a link from the Longview Community College in Lee's Summit, Missouri.

Bloom's Taxonomy & Storytime
Be sure to check out the PPT developed by Ruth Sunda & Kyrene de las Brisas at Longview Community College to see the discussion questions for Goldilocks and the Three Bears and Little Red Riding Hood.

Australian Council for Computers in Education
Activities and projects for the various levels of discussion questions you develop.

Quick Flip Questions for Critical Thinking
Do a keyword search to find this flip chart available from Highsmith, Inc. www.highsmith.com

ALA Great Web Sites for Kids
The hardest part about listing this link was deciding which category to place it with. These great librarian approved web sites are organized by subject area. The information about learning to evaluate web sites is great for kids and adults alike.

Rubistar
A free rubrics maker.

Big6
An information problem solving model you'll want to try. Big6 books are available from Linworth Publishing, the publisher of my literature activity books. www.linworth.com

Education World
This site has it all, including lesson plans and national education standards.

Kids Domain
Like the site says, this is a family resource. You'll find crafts, games, holiday ideas and lots of other resources for family fun.

Reading Rockets
Learn about ways to help your kids excel at reading.

The Librarian's Guide to Cyberspace for Parents and Kids Become web savvy with the help of the information experts - librarians!

Ready for Life
Find out why your child does the things he or she does and what you can do to help get your child off to the right start. Brought to you by KERA public television.

NAEYC- Choosing A Quality Childcare Program
Who knows better how to choose a quality childcare program than the National Association for the Education of Young Children? Follow their pointers or use their site to search for a facility near you that has NAEYC accreditation.

©2004 Blue Thistle Press, Linda Ayers

Updated 6/3/2006