Game Day


I just discovered some very cool word games at Merriam-Webster’s Word Central. The games are specifically designed for kids with fun sounds and cool graphics.

In Alpha-Bot, a robot challenges you to a spelling contest.

In Robo-Bee, a bee sends you flying after just the right word–synonyms, antonyms, and more.

Bigbot involves hand-eye coordination as well as a good command of vocabulary, as you try to feed the ravenous robot.

And finally, my favorite game–JUMBLE KIDS. I tried to do my own version on July 27.
You’ll love the Merriam-Webster version. You earn puzzle points and play against the clock.
Don’t wait to explore the possibilities…

Grammar Games


Hey, I had a really nice thank you note today from a mom who bought a copy of DOGGIE DAY CAMP. When she shared it with her stepson, who was struggling a bit recognizing adverbs, Bubba’s story seemed to flip the adverbial light on for him.

Hip-hip-hooray for all THE PET GRAMMAR PARADE critters! Their mission is to make learning fun for kids– KITTY KERPLUNKING and HAMSTER HOLIDAYS.
Check out these online grammar games for more grammar fun:
Grammar Blast from Houghton Mifflin

February Fun


HIGHLIGHTS has a “click and play” Hidden Pictures interactive game just in time for Valentine’s Day. See if you can find all the hidden pictures and make the illustration transform into bright colors–“Making Valentines.”

For more interactive kid computer fun, check out Guardian Angel Publishing’s new online magazine GUARDIAN ANGEL KIDS. Here is the link to their Games. You can draw and paint, solve puzzles, and find matches. Or watch one of the book videos. Or download one of the free books or coloring pages. There’s more than enough fun stuff to fill your week as you countdown to Valentine’s Day.
And don’t forget to read “The Foolproof Valentine’s Plan” right here on my website.


HAPPY ST. PAT’S DAY!

Holly has been celebrating, as you can see. Hope you have a great day.
Highlights Magazine has some great St. Pat’s Day fun. Here is a link to their Hidden Picture.  And this link will help you create and play the HAT O’ GOLD Game.
Don’t forget to try writing your own Limerick. You’ll probably want to try it on the Shamrock at Limerick Fun.  Or maybe the Leprechaun Puzzle–all of those treats are right here on my website.
May the luck o’ the Irish be with you!

Free Online Games and Crafts for Kids

This site provides fun online games for you to try: POP CAP GAMES. You can download them or play them online.

Author illustrator Eric Carle has a cool craft activity for you to try at his website. Make a collage  

like he sometimes uses for his illustrations. To see examples of his art work, read THE VERY HUNGRY CATERPILLAR or one of his other books.  
I hope you are able to find time for fun this holiday season–and the best fun is always shared with family and friends.

National Gaming Day at Your Library

This Saturday libraries across the United States are sponsoring a NATIONAL GAMING DAY.  Of course, we all know how much fun it can be to visit a library on a regular day–with all the books, magazines, computers, videos.  Not to mention story times, book talks, and special programs.

NATIONAL GAMING DAY will be “the largest, simultaneous national video tournament ever held.” How cool is that? This could possibly make it into Ripley’s Believe It or Not, don’t you think?
And Hasbro has donated a PICTUREKA game to every public library branch in the U.S. so board games can be played as well. They’ll try to set a record for the most people playing a board game in the U.S. as well as a video game. It sounds like your local public library is the place to be this Saturday.
To find out more information about NATIONAL GAMING DAY at your library, call your closest branch. Or click on the link above and read all about it. There is an online map you can use as well.
If you can’t join in the fun on this Saturday (or if your library isn’t taking part in National Gaming Day), you can try The Library Camp Out game at my website.  Or the Breezy Geography Match Up game would be great one to take along to the library. And if you want to check out one of the coolest stories about gaming, try Jody Feldman’s THE

Here’s to good games and good reading!

Online Games for Educational Fun


I’ve discovered a treasure house of free online games at Primary Games.

This site offers games that cover the curriculum from Math, Science, Language Arts, and more. Plus, there are curriculum guides for the games to help match up the difficulty level and subject interest.
I tested a few of the games. CODE BREAKING was fun–trying to figure out which letter stood for which symbol without using too many “hints.” I did good on THE TYPING OF THE GHOSTS which really tested my typing skills–and I consider myself something of a typing whiz. It was a challenge even for me. NAME THAT PRESIDENT was a cinch, but DRAGON UNIVERSITY left me all washed out trying to stay afloat on the word logs. I’m not really that awful of a speller. I think maybe I didn’t move quickly enough. 
Allow yourself plenty of time when you visit Primary Games. And if you haven’t already explored some of the games on my website, please do so. If you’re planning a Halloween party for next month, check out my list of spook-tacular games. One of my favorites is the EYEBALL RELAY. There’s also a monster-licious Halloween Crossword Puzzle. I triple-dog dare you to solve that one.
The monster coloring page at the top right is courtesy of artist, John Blackford. You can see more of his illustrations at his blog.