teenread.com has great links as well as authors, reviews and newsletter
• What is the title (and author) of your favorite poem?
• 2001 Alex Awards
• Michael L. Printz Award
• Newbery Awards

A whole bunch of fun, free games to play online. Recommend Spelldown, Toki Toki Boom, Glinx and Literati.

1. Theme Scheme: All words must relate to a particular theme, such as Jungle (think monkey, safari, tree, insect) or House (stove, stairs, hall, couch).
2. Bigger Better: Ask friends to bring over their boards; lay down two or four for larger play area.
3. By the Numbers: Roll a die beforehand; word letter count must match the number thrown.
4. Border Patrol: Players must ring the board with words before working inward; whoever hits the center square first wins.

   For more lore and info visit Scrabble

You'll need a high speed connection to really enjoy this site. Check out the Web cartoon for some moments of mindless laughter. My pick: Hong Kong Phoey. There are also some basic games staring your favorite cartoon celebrities.

In addition to the usual games and animations, Shockwave also has some creatively playful programs, such as, Groove Blender, which allows you to create your own techno music. Some favorite are DJ Fu: Wax Attack 2. (You gotta love a game that combines skatboarding, Kung Fu, and vinyl records.)

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

1. Chess Variants
   The game we know today as "chess" is merely one of many variants played for over 15 centuries around the globe. This Web site provides extensive information on modern versions of the game, including the rules of Japan's "Shogi" and China's "Xianggqi." Links to online chess games and related sites are given.

2. Chess Clubs Give Kids New Skills -- and New Hope!
   Volunteers teach members of the Young Masters Chess Club in Reno, Nevada, how to play chess -- and much more! Indeed, chess is a game that can change kids' lives!

3. Scholastic Chess Program
   Find information page and resources/links for starting a school chess program.

4. Chess Is Fun
   Discover instruction for playing chess, plus an online chess game.

5. Chess Lesson Plans
   A great resource for bringing chess into the classroom.

6. A Case For Using Chess to Develop Children's Minds
   This article shares information that suggests that chess is one of the most powerful educational tools available to strengthen a child's mind.

7. A Look at Chess in the Public Schools
   Read about the explosion in the number of elementary and middle-school-level chess players.

8. Chess in Education Research Summary
   Dr Robert Ferguson offers this comprehensive summary.

9. Chess Makes Kids Smart
   Anne Graham, editor of the Virginia Chess Federation Newsletter, wrote this article.