Skratch Publishing Inc. - Kids Books & Reading Education

Free Kids Book!

2010-11-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

November 21st, 2010

Sweet! As a special promotion, Currclick is offering up Chicken Skratch as a free download on Monday, November 22nd (tomorrow!!!) Make sure you grab our flagship e-book!

-Skratch

Our Ebooks have landed!!!

2010-11-14T15:22:00.001-08:00

November 14th, 2010

It's true! It's true! Our first ebooks are now for sale at our partner site, Currclick.com! Our new titles Chicken Skratch, and The Man With No Face for a Face are sure to entertain and educate children everywhere!

We'll be sending out an official press release soon, but we wanted to tell you all first. Thanks for reading!

-Skratch

Book of the Moment: Windblowne

2010-10-15T14:59:00.000-07:00

October 15th, 2010

"Windblowne", by Stephen Messer, is an engaging new fantasy-adventure about a boy named Oliver who grows up in the treehouse town of Windblowne. The highlight of the year is the kite festival, but Oliver struggles to make even one kite fly - or even hold together - successfully. Just when he is too discouraged to go on, Oliver is thrown into the middle of a magical mystery, facing peril and as many twists as a kite's tail. Messer uses simple language and straightforward writing with great effectiveness, conjuring up a memorable world that can be approached by keen younger readers as well as readers aged 9-12 in search of something new. Additionally, this novel features cover art by Erwin Madrid which makes for one of the best covers we've seen in years.

-Skratch

September Newsletter!

2010-09-22T15:30:00.000-07:00

September 22nd, 2010

In case you missed it or are not in our database, our September newsletter is out! More book reviews and in honor of back to school month a feature article from our resident teacher/contributor!

If you like what you read, make sure you subscribe or sign up for SkratchTrack.com! Enjoy!

Oh, and as a reminder: If you did sign up and are not receiving our newsletter, make sure you check your junk folder! Sometimes our email can get deleted by accident.

-Skratch

Book of the Moment: The Quiet Book

2010-09-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

September 10th, 2010

"The Quiet Book", by Deborah Underwood, illustrated by Renata Liwska.

The Quiet Book is a gentle and observant book perfect for naptimes and bedtimes. The illustrations have a soft, nostalgic quality, and contain a few surprises. Readers learn about different kinds of quiet - some good, like "First snowfall quiet", and some more difficult, like "Jelly side down quiet". A clever and beautifully composed book, this is a wonderful addition to any collection. Since the author and illustrator share their favourite kinds of quiet on the back flap, we'd like to add our own:

The Gruffalo
The Gruffalo's Child
How to Catch a Star
There's a Wocket in my Pocket!

Book of the Moment: Blue Chameleon

2010-08-27T14:53:00.000-07:00

August 27th, 2010

"Blue Chameleon", by Emily Gravett.

Blue Chameleon, by Emily Gravett, is for very early readers or pre-readers to learn colours with the help of an unusual chameleon trying on a variety of different looks. The illustrations have all the liveliness we've come to expect from Ms. Gravett's books.

Free! Free! Our Literacy Software for Kids is now FREE!

2010-08-13T11:10:00.000-07:00

August 13th, 2010

It's finally happened! SkratchTrack.com is now totally free to use! We've gotten rid of limited accounts and premium accounts - Now anyone can sign up for a SkratchTrack account and help their kids learn to read! Teachers take note: Up to FIFTY KIDS can be added to a single SkratchTrack account - We wanted to give you enough room for your entire class to be added under a single administrator.

If you already had a free account, enjoy the upgrade!

Of course, if you'd like to help us out, we've added a handy dandy DONATE button that you can use to contribute to Skratch. Help us stay on the web and continue to develop our literacy software!

Book of the Moment: Bridget's Beret

2010-08-07T19:25:00.000-07:00

August 7th, 2010

"Bridget's Beret", by Tom Lichtenheld.

Tells the story of the very artistic Bridget, who faces a terrible case of artist's block when she loses her (very artistic) beret. The depiction of Bridget's artistic gloom, and the way she rediscovers her creativity through the help of lemonade and the great masters, is a delight for artistic children and adults alike.

Book of the Moment: Ella's Umbrellas

2010-08-01T19:23:00.000-07:00

August 1st, 2010

"Ella's Umbrellas" is by Jennifer Lloyd, with illustrations by Ashley Spires.

Ella is proud of her umbrella collection, but she has so many umbrellas that her mother makes a decision: no new umbrellas until Ella can get rid of the old! Ella's charming solution is also a positive message about generosity, and not becoming too attached to our possessions - with quirky illustrations and a satisfying ending.

Book of the Moment: Ladybug Girl

2010-07-21T19:19:00.000-07:00

July 21st, 2010

Ladybug Girl, by David Soman and Jacky Davis.

It's the first in a series of books about an imaginative little girl who overcomes the challenges of loneliness, older brothers, and new situations, in the name of adventure. The illustrations perfectly capture the feelings and expressions of a little girl.

Monkey see, Monkey Read!

2010-07-12T13:25:00.000-07:00

July 12th, 2010

No big announcement today, just a quick reminder: When was the last time your kids saw you reading? The newspaper, a book, a kindle? Whatever it is, make sure you read in front of your kids. As parents, it might be the last thing on your mind, but kids are great at making connections at what you are doing and what they should be doing. If all they ever see is you using a remote control, they might get the idea that's the only way to do things.

Monkey see, monkey read!

-Skratch

A must attend: Edinburgh Book Festival

2010-07-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

July 2nd, 2010

Granted, most of our readers won't find themselves in Scotland between August 14-30, 2010, but IF you do, please consider attending the Edinburgh International Book Festival! They do a great job including the whole family with their events, and have excellent programs centered on children's reading and literacy. Good excuse to get to Scotland this Summer...

-Skratch

Book of the Moment: The Penderwicks

2010-06-13T17:19:00.000-07:00

June 11th, 2010

The Penderwicks, by Jeanne Birdsall.

A book for kids grades 4-6: The characters feel so real in this funny little story. A fantastic Summer read, this is a book that will truly take you away from your daily life while you travel with this family.

Book of the Moment: The Rabbits

2010-05-28T10:20:00.000-07:00

May 28th, 2010

The Rabbits, by John Marsden. Illustrations by Shaun Tan.

Wow. Just wow. This book is an allegory of the history of colonization. It tells the story from the perspective of a native group of animals being overwhelmed by rabbits in their own homeland.

It's a dark story, but one that is not culturally specific, making it a fantastic introduction to some of the more difficult historical subjects to discuss with young children. Sure to be a conversation starter, and should be required reading for people of all ages and cultures.

As a post-script: The art is jaw dropping. Using hard lines contrasted with organic and over-exaggerated features, Shaun Tam has done truly evocative work in this piece. This book is hard to find new, but should be available at your local library. Highly recommended.

-Skratch

Real People, Real Stories, Real Pain

2010-05-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

May 17th, 2010

Most of the time, real life stories don't work out like the fictional ones - It's not so cut and dried. Robert Munsch, who has delighted children and parents alike with his wonderful books, has recently admitted to a decades-long struggle with bi-polar disorder and substance abuse. It's tough to reconcile the man with the myth - Here's a story on his recent public admission.

It is important to remember that Munsch's contributions to the literary world are not discounted by his personal challenges. Lewis Carroll (author of Alice in Wonderland) was an opium addict, which hasn't stopped his work from inspiring and influencing millions of children.

As someone who grew up with Robert's stories, and had the chance to see him perform live at our local library's storytime, I choose to support him and the great works he has created over his lifetime, regardless of the troubles he has faced or the future struggles he will endure.

Thank you Robert Munsch, for everything you have given the children of the world.

-Skratch

Positive Momentum for Your Family!

2010-04-30T09:37:00.000-07:00

April 30th, 2010

Came across this website recently - If you are a parent, have a look! Positive Momentum is a combination parenting coaching/workshop service that helps you connect with your kids and improve communication within your family. They cover discipline, goal-setting, education...even food and nutritional advice on how to motivate your kids and improve your lives!

-Skratch

Book of the Moment: The Colour of Magic & The Light Fantastic

2010-04-23T09:49:00.000-07:00

April 23, 2010

The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic by Terry Pratchett

We usually blurb about one book at a time, but this is a special case. The best fantasy series we've ever read (it's currently at 30+ books and counting), Discworld is required reading for anyone who likes magic, comedy and adventure.

The first two books of the series, The Colour of Magic and The Light Fantastic have been bound together into one volume, so you can jump right into the amazing stories of Discworld. Highly recommended.

-Skratch

April Newsletter!

2010-04-22T09:00:00.000-07:00

April 22, 2010

Newest new newsletter for April! Remember to subscribe if you want to get your copy sent to you directly! (It also insures you get yours first!)

-Skratch

Kids Book of the Moment - Nick of Time

2010-04-21T10:31:00.000-07:00

April 21st, 2010

Nick of Time, by Ted Bell

Sure the title is a brutal pun, but that doesn't take away from the fact that this is a fantastic adventure novel for kids. Pirates, time travel, spies...did we say pirates already? A sweeping tale that will delight young and young at heart.

-Skratch

Face Your Books

2010-04-16T18:18:00.001-07:00

April 16th, 2010

Did you know we have a Facebook fanpage? That's one of those true things we say a lot around here!

Just log in to Facebook and search for "Skratch Publishing Fan Page!" No pressure though.

-Skratch

Kids Book of the Moment: Where Is The Green Sheep?

2010-04-15T10:25:00.000-07:00

April 15th, 2010

Where is the Green Sheep? by Mem Fox & Judy Horacek

Aha! So you thought sheep were only black or white? Guess again! This is a fantastic book for younger children at bedtime. We read it to our son, and he agrees that is probably one of the tastiest books to come around in a long time. Even if he's missing the point, we enjoy the rhymes and charming illustrations. Will stand up to concentrated gumming and/or drool application. You owe it to bedtime to give this one a try!

-Skratch

Kids Book of the Moment: Knightley Academy

2010-04-13T09:56:00.000-07:00

April 13th, 2010

We're starting up a new feature here on the Skratch Publishing blog: Our Kids Book of the Moment! Every time we come across a book that we think you or your kids will love, we paste it up here with our thoughts! We figured 'Pick of the Day' might be too much to handle, and 'Pick of the Week' didn't give us enough room!

Our full list will be added to the sidebar if you miss any and need to go back. If you think of a book you'd like to see up here, make sure you contact us, and let us know your thoughts!

First up! Knightley Academy by Violet Haberdasher.

Seriously? If you are one of those rare individuals who liked Harry Potter, then run, do not walk, to your nearest independent book store and get this for you or your kids! It's a similar premise to HP (boarding school, fish out of water young hero, etc...) but instead of learning to become wizards, the kids are learning to become knights! It's a rollicking adventure, and worth sacrificing some sleep trying to get to the end! (Plus, the hardcover artwork is awesome...)

-Skratch

Literacy Addict!

2010-04-09T11:37:00.000-07:00

April 9th, 2010

Hi everyone! We thought WE were obsessed with literacy! Have a look at this great blog that includes articles on all things reading. It doesn't focus on children's literacy like us, but there's definitely something for everyone!

-Skratch

Happy Birthday Hans!

2010-04-02T10:39:00.000-07:00

April 2nd, 2010

Hey! It's Hans Christian Andersen's birthday! He's 205 today, so you'll have to speak up if you are wishing him well.

Why not read some of his children's stories for free online? We like to think that if he were alive today he'd be writing and posting free stories on the web.

-Skratch

New SkratchTrack Trailer and Walkthru!

2010-03-30T10:38:00.000-07:00

March 30th, 2010

Starting a business is one of the hardest things we've ever done! One of the challenges we've faced has been describing our services, and what our awesome website SkratchTrack.com can offer kids, educators, and parents.

But no longer! We've just released our fun SkratchTrack Trailer! It will take 3 minutes of your time, and is by far the easiest way to understand what we do - Because we show you!

Take a look and we hope you enjoy it!

-Skratch

RESP! Find out what it means to me!

2010-03-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

March 21st, 2010

Hi there! Our new guest blog is up and running at More Than a Village this week! A little insight on RESPs and what they mean to your kids!

-Skratch

Catch Up Time!

2010-03-04T13:33:00.001-08:00

March 3rd, 2010

Phew! The Olympics take up a lot of time!

We're back! And we've been added to The University of Utah's College of Education "Links for Kids!" Section! Thanks so much to Ariana for hooking us up!

We've also recently been in touch with DigiBC! A great community of Digital Leaders in British Columbia - Of course, Skratch will have to join the party!

And a reminder that the Vancouver Sun Run (which promotes Literacy in BC!) is coming up fast! May 9th is race day, so make sure you start training (and fund raising) now!

-Skratch

Skratch: International Superstar

2010-02-21T10:03:00.000-08:00

February 21st, 2010

A really cool article on recent investor interest in Skratch Publishing! The weird and wonderful world of business....

-Skratch

Eco It Up!

2010-02-16T17:33:00.001-08:00

February 16th, 2010

In keeping with SkratchTrack.com's spirit of online kids' education, check out this fantastic website: Ecobuddies.com - A website devoted to giving kids a fun way to learn about the environment and connect with the greener side of life! Have a look and sign up today!

-Skratch

Reviews Fuel Our Ego!

2010-02-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

February 8, 2010

Hey! We're getting even more press! Check out this sweet review from IlearnTechnology.com!

Thanks to the crew over there for the kind words!

- Skratch

New Guest Blog!

2010-02-03T10:51:00.000-08:00

February 3, 2010

Our second guest posting at More Than a Village is up now! Have a look!

-Skratch

Instilling a love of reading early

2010-02-01T12:30:00.000-08:00

February 1, 2010

Happy Feb everyone! The very first article about Skratch Publishing Inc. comes out in today's Vancouver Province! You can go and buy a copy, or just follow the link to check out the story.

We've included the photo they printed here on the blog, because it looks like it didn't make it to the online version. So now you too can soak up the family love experience!

Thanks for your support everyone, and all the best!

-Skratch

Extra Extra!

2010-01-28T10:52:00.000-08:00

January 28th, 2010

Confirmed! Skratch Publishing will have a business feature in the Vancouver Province on Monday, February 1st! Make sure you buy 5 copies, laminate them and pin them up in every room!!

Or just read it. Up to you.

-Skratch

Contest Winner Announcement!

2010-01-27T12:37:00.000-08:00

January 27th, 2010

Happy Literacy Day! And congratulations to Melissa O. for winning the children's literacy contest, run by our friends at More Than a Village! We hope you and your kids enjoy your free subscription to SkratchTrack.com!

-Skratch

In the Ink!

2010-01-26T09:55:00.000-08:00

January 26, 2010

Skratch Publishing will be in the papers! Looks like we'll have an article about us in the Vancouver Province next week. We'll announce the date closer to press time so we can be sure about the day!

-Skratch

Local Library Links

2010-01-20T15:53:00.000-08:00

January 20th, 2010

We took young Sam to a baby story time at a local branch of the Fraser Valley Regional Library! It was loads of fun, and he seemed to really enjoy the social time. If you live in the Fraser Valley, have a look at the FVRL's other children's literacy offerings!

They also have a great feature: NextReads! When you sign up for a particular genre, they will send you a newsletter suggesting what book you should read next. Good way to stay motivated, and you can use it even if you don't live locally!

-Skratch

New Blog Shoutout for SkratchTrack.com!

2010-01-19T15:46:00.000-08:00

January 19, 2010

Great news! SkratchTrack has been added to the 'Just for Kids' links section on the Mini-Skool Ontario Childcare Centres website! It's so great (and humbling!) being listed alongside fantastic sites such as Sesame Workshop, Robert Munsch's official site, and Thomas the Tank Engine! Thanks to the gang at Mini-Skool for making it happen!

-Skratch

SkratchTrack On The Air!

2010-01-18T09:34:00.000-08:00

January 18th, 2010

New SkratchTrack deal! In partnership with 106.5 Praise FM in Seattle, Washington, we are offering a limited number of SkratchTrack accounts for half price @ $9.99! All the bang for half the bucks. See Praise FM's Family Savers website or listen to their station for details!

Offer and supply is limited, so don't delay!

-Skratch

CBC is Booked

2010-01-17T15:47:00.000-08:00

January 17th, 2010

CBC has launched their Canada Reads 2010 Campaign! Read about it here. Over a period of 3 months, panelists defend their favourite work of Canadian fiction. Books are voted out until one is left standing and declared the winner!

-Skratch

Guest Blog - Buried in Books!

2010-01-15T14:48:00.000-08:00

January 15th, 2010

We have been invited to be a guest blogger on 'More Than a Village!' - Thanks so much to Laura for the opportunity to have another venue to speak our minds!

First post is called 'Buried in Books' and is up now. Enjoy!

-Skratch

SkratchTrack Contest Announcement!

2010-01-14T14:33:00.000-08:00

January 14th, 2010

It's true! In partnership with More Than a Village, Skratch Publishing is offering a free year's subscription to SkratchTrack.com through our Family Literacy Day Contest! Brush up on your children's book knowledge and head on over to More Than a Village now to enter!

-Skratch

Family Lit Day Returns!

2010-01-13T15:31:00.000-08:00

January 13th, 2010

Hi all! Just a reminder that Family Literacy Day is this month, January 27th, 2010! ABC Canada Literacy Foundation and Honda Canada created the day in 1999 to encourage families to read and learn together. Have a look at their website and try out some of the reading activities with your kids - Then remember to record what they read on your SkratchTrack account (of course!)

Here's one of their tips they've put up on their website:

Reading to your child for 20 minutes a day adds up to more than 1,450 hours of learning by the end of grade 6.

Sounds like a good investment to us!

-Skratch

More Than A Village, More Than A Blog

2010-01-07T13:28:00.001-08:00

January 7th, 2010

We've discovered a kindred spirit online! At a local business conference, we heard about the blog, "More Than a Village", a social networking and parenting site. They share many of our goals and beliefs, so if you enjoy reading our postings here, go check them out!

We've also been invited to be a monthly guest blogger at MTAV. We'll update you when our first posting goes up. Happy reading!

This is what they have to say about their important mission:

The More Than A Village blog is the first step in the creation of a social networking site specifically for parents. The site will offer resources to strengthen communities, tools to help families organize childcare, play-dates and car-pooling, and information on family issues and interests. Through advocacy, education, and community building, More Than A Village is committed to working toward a society where our communities are strong and family needs are met.

-Skratch

Surrey Reads 2010!

2010-01-06T13:08:00.000-08:00

January 6th, 2010

Happy New Year! Later this month is the Surrey Reads 2010 event at Guildford Town Centre, Jan 23rd, 12-4 pm. It promotes literacy for children (just like us!), has fun games and activities for kids and is a great way to connect to your local community. We've posted the flyer here for a full listing of all the fun!

Remember to bring a book to donate to the Surrey Food Bank!

-Skratch

What's Eating You?

2009-12-31T17:00:00.000-08:00

December 31st, 2009

Happy New Year's Eve! Here's a book about parasites, that has nothing to do with the holiday season...but it's still an awesome idea for a kids book! Learn about the things that live on your body, and then go have a few showers to feel clean again.

-Skratch

Media Meltdown!

2009-12-29T10:54:00.000-08:00

December 29th, 2009

Now this has got to be the coolest idea I've seen in a while. A graphic novel that teaches kids about how media is made and to question where information comes from. Maybe something we should all read...

There is some great information on media literacy on their main website, here. Check it out!

-Skratch

Facebook Ads!

2009-12-21T13:42:00.000-08:00

December 21, 2009

We took out an ad in the 21st century classified section: Facebook! It's actually been a huge hit so far, and we're a big fan of Facebook's ad design system. So if you see this:

That's us! And congratulations! You are in our target demographic.

All the best!

-Skratch

A Literacy Job Opportunity

2009-12-15T13:08:00.000-08:00

December 15th, 2009

Normally we don't post job opportunities, but this was too unique not to mention: We found a really great job posting for a unique position to research and promote literacy (Thanks to Bruno for that one!) - The Ontario Literacy Coalition is looking for a Subject Matter Specialist. It's a part-time gig, but it's a great way to contribute to family literacy in a proactive way, and maybe even make a little money at it too! Remember, it's not just what you read, it's what you do.

-Skratch

Connecting BC Parents Together!

2009-12-14T16:36:00.001-08:00

December 14th, 2009

'Tis the season to share! Thus, we're sharing links with some great local companies and websites. Our latest today is BC Parents Connection! A great community and family resource site, and don't forget to check out the latest recipe! Their logo is also totally cool.

Letters From Santa

2009-12-07T13:21:00.000-08:00

December 7th, 2009

This is a cool site for kids: Letters for Santa. They mail out personalized letters for your kids from Santa himself! They also have a ton of games, activities and links throughout their website. Since promoting children's literacy can never start too early, getting a letter in the mail from Santa is a great way to stoke a child's interest in reading!

-Skratch

Arts & Crafts - Skratch Style

2009-12-02T13:44:00.000-08:00

December 2nd, 2009

We can't believe it's December already! 2010 is almost here. When you're starting a new business the time goes by fast, since there's always something you haven't done yet!

One thing we've finally gotten to is our "Tear Sheet" - We wanted to start Skratch Publishing and SkratchTrack from a grass roots level, and that means getting to people in grocery stores, gyms, community centers, bookstores and anywhere else with a bit of free bulletin board space. To that end, we created a tear sheet with our website on it!

We've posted our tear sheet right here, in case you have a moment to support children's literacy and Skratch! It looks great in colour or black & white, depending on what kind of printer you have. If you can think of a place that parents will see our posting, don't be shy! Print one out and stick a pin in it!

Thanks for your continued support, and thanks for Reading!

-Skratch

Our Hidden Heroes - Children & Social Responsibility

2009-11-26T16:43:00.000-08:00

November 26, 2009

We met lots of great people at the BCCPAC conference, but someone we'd like to introduce to you is Bill Robinson, who was a speaker at the event. He runs a fantastic program called Our Hidden Heroes, which provides social responsibility and character education for kids grades 1-8. We recommend you go to their website and have a look!

-Skratch

Free Book Prize Winner!

2009-11-19T11:36:00.000-08:00

November 19th, 2009

Congratulations to Lisa Hemeon from Mission, BC for winning the Skratch Publishing Free Book Prize Pack at the BCCPAC Conference!

Lisa takes home with her two big boxes of previously beloved children's books, and 5 free subscriptions to SkratchTrack.com! Lisa gets to distribute the winnings to the community centre, school or public library of her choice! (Of course, she gets to use a SkratchTrack subscription for her own family!)

All of us at Skratch Publishing hopes that the books and free access to our reading education website will inspire children in Lisa's community for years to come.

Thanks to everyone who visited Skratch Publishing's table, and we'll see you all again next time!

-Skratch

BCCPAC Conference Photos!

2009-11-18T11:12:00.000-08:00

November 18th, 2009

A collection of photos from Skratch Publishing's first conference at the Metro Hilton, Vancouver!

Our day, in a nutshell.

The family table!

The spread - Good eating too.

Our boy hung in there!

Mostly.

-Skratch

Conference Win!

2009-11-16T10:25:00.001-08:00

November 16th, 2009

Well the intention was to post updates during the conference, but there was so much activity at the Skratch booth we couldn't get the time to upload one! The BCCPAC conference was a huge success, and we met some fantastic people from all parts of BC! Thanks to all of the parents, educators and other exhibitors who took the time to say hello to the Skratch team (including our smallest, Sam). And thanks for all of the positive comments on our website! We're super-proud of SkratchTrack.com, and we're glad it made such a great impression!

We'll be posting some photos from the event soon and announcing the winner of the Skratch Free Kids Book Prize Pack! Stay tuned!

-Skratch

Skratch Publishing Donating Free Books for Children

2009-11-12T09:15:00.001-08:00

November 12th, 2009

Exciting News! Skratch Publishing will be attending the BCCPAC Conference this Saturday, November 14th! The BC Confederation of Parent Advocacy Councils is a great organization that pulls together parents from all over BC to better children's educational experiences.

We'll be showcasing SkratchTrack.com all day, and we're also contributing a door prize for the weekend draw! It will include two boxes of previously beloved kids books, to be donated to the winner's school or public library of their choice, and 5 free SkratchTrack accounts - A $100 value! Eligible winners are conference attendees and BCCPAC members. We'll announce the winner in this space following the conference!

10 Best Websites For Kids

2009-11-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

November 10th, 2009

In the great web we live in, there are good websites for kids and there are great websites for kids.

We decided to pull together some of the best stuff the web has to offer children today. We've tried to make it a mix of education and fun but most importantly, the sites listed here have to offer something unique for kids! Most are free (or free to try), so check them out today!

Without further ado, the 1st annual Skratch Publishing 10 Best Websites for Kids (In no particular order:)

Club Penguin: It's hard NOT to hear about Club Penguin if you're a parent! Part online chat room, part shopping spree, the designers have made a fantastic (and safe!) children's onlinw environment.

HowStuffWorks: We wouldn't recommend it if we hadn't tried it ourselves, and we find ourselves on this site more often than is probably healthy! A huge database of well written articles about how the world really works.

KidsHealth: Especially with H1N1 in the news lately, interest in kids health has reached new heights. Not only will this site teach you the facts about the flu, it also covers more basic items like proper nutrition and hand washing. Good for kids, and good for the whole family.

Google Earth: If you went back in time about 10 years and told yourself this kind of technology would be available for free, you wouldn't have believed it. A 3D interactive Uber-Atlas. Great for kids, parents, schools and everyone else.

Puzzle Pirates: There are lots of game sites out there, but this one is pretty unique. You create a little pirate character, interact with other players and solve puzzles and get loot! Some of the mini-games can get pretty strategic, so there is plenty of problem solving to be had here. Plus, it's pirates! What more could you ask for?

Shakespeare Online: Wow! Every play written by the Bard, lists of characters, plot devices, who did what to whom...everything you could possibly want to know about the playwright can be found here!

Math.com: Something we wish was around when we were kids! Math tutoring, grading, calculators and tools, homework help - It's all here. Great for the numerically challenged.

McGruff.org: A fantastic site for kids, it teaches safety, crime prevention, what to do if you're being bullied and so on. Includes educational games and insightful stories.

PBS Kids : From one of the most trusted names in children's entertainment, PBS Kids' website features fun activities, coloring books and more.

SkratchTrack: We couldn't talk about the best websites for kids and not talk about our own SkratchTrack! A website that rewards kids for reading more books, SkratchTrack allows parents to watch their child's interest and skills in reading grow!

That's it! 10 sites that will entertain your child, add to their education or both! Try them out today, and see what your kids think!

Thanks for Reading!

-Skratch

Find Any You Know?

2009-10-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

October 29th, 2009

This is an interesting project: An ongoing list of all read-along books ever published. Some long lost favourites in here!

-Skratch

The Future of Books?

2009-10-28T13:06:00.000-07:00

October 28th, 2009

When Google and Amazon start trading blows, duck and cover. Still, giving people cheap or free access to books is something that can really help literacy around the world. That's why we do it here.

-Skratch

SkratchTrack 2.0!

2009-10-27T12:55:00.000-07:00

October 27th, 2009

Some SkratchTrack.com news for you! We've just added a whole bunch of new features and updates which make our website even more useful for you and your kids! Now included is an online dictionary, new information available to the parent's report card sections, art updates, database refinements and more!

If you haven't signed up for a free trial yet, give it a shot!

Thank you all for your continued support, and as always,

Thanks for Reading!

-Skratch

Drop Everything And Read Day

2009-10-26T12:53:00.000-07:00

October 26th, 2009

Okay, granted this was back on April 12th, but it will come around next year and we just heard about it - So now we share it with you! It's a fun idea!

-Skratch

National School Library Day

2009-10-26T12:51:00.000-07:00

October 26th, 2009

Today is the day! Remember to hug your librarian and bring your books back on time!

-Skratch

New Skratch Story!

2009-10-19T13:25:00.001-07:00

October 20th, 2009

The continued and varied adventures of our dear business Skratch continue unabated!

-Skratch

Skratch Publishing & SkratchTrack now online!

2009-10-19T13:01:00.000-07:00

October 19th, 2009

Usually we try to send out news about reading events and education that are happening out there in the world, but today we would like to announce something closer to home.

Skratch Publishing Inc. is now fully online! Our home site has launched with all sorts of reading services and links to (of course) our primary reading product SkratchTrack!

It has been months of planning, research and design and we're finally there. Please head on over and take a look at what Skratch can do for you and your kids!

Of course, Skratch is not one to sit still - We're already working on SkratchTrack 2.0! We'll be adding updates and new features as we go along, making a great educational product even better!

Special mention has to go out to Elle Skinner and Beth Gonzalez, our artists and illustrators for both websites. They truly knocked it out of the park on this one. And no thank you section would be complete without mention of Inno Software, the men and women with the code! They have truly turned our vision into a vibrant reality.

Finally, thanks to you - All of our readers and subscribers. We wouldn't get very far without your ravenous support!

And as always, Thanks for Reading!

-Skratch

The Big Bad Wild Things

2009-10-15T12:47:00.001-07:00

October 15th, 2009

Turns out Where the Wild Things Are was not originally seen as it is today. Makes you think what people will look back on 30 years from now and see as 'quaint.'

-Skratch

VPL Sale Starts Today!

2009-10-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

October 15th, 2009

Remember! The Vancouver Public Library kicks off their Fall Book Sale today! Stock will go fast!

-Skratch

New Finds

2009-10-14T23:25:00.000-07:00

October 14th, 2009

The Gruffalo - We don't know where this book has been our whole lives, but it is fantastic! A must read for kids and adults alike!

-Skratch

Deep Cuts to Literacy

2009-10-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

October 10, 2009

As many of you might already know, Skratch Publishing makes it's home in beautiful British Columbia. Recently, it was announced that our provincial government has made deep cuts to our literacy groups and programs. The Globe & Mail article can be found here.

-Skratch

A Gift!

2009-10-05T11:08:00.000-07:00

October 5th, 2009

Our lead Skratch artist was kind enough to whip up this little piece in congratulations on our new delivery. It was so sweet, we thought we'd share it with you!

-Skratch

It's a boy!

2009-10-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

October 5th, 2009

We haven't made a blog entry in quite some time! SkratchTrack is getting the final polish and shine put on it, and will be launching this week!

But while we launch a business, we've also launched a family. The owners of Skratch Publishing would like to announce the arrival of their baby boy, Samuel Barrett. Although not quite ready for management, we have tried to enforce the importance of reading on him from day 1. His favourite book so far is The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. Highly recommended!

Welcome to the World Sam! We hope you enjoy your stay.

-Skratch

Massive Vancouver Public Library Sale!

2009-09-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

September 23, 2009

The Vancouver Public Library is having a GIANT book sale from October 15-18 at their central branch. Their prices are ridiculously low. Come on by and support the VPL!

-Skratch

A third of kids still can't read well enough to succeed in high school

2009-09-23T11:17:00.000-07:00

September 22, 2009

A really interesting editorial over at the Globe & Mail about reading and the state of our educational system.

-Skratch

Philadelphia Free Library

2009-09-14T09:32:00.001-07:00

September 14th, 2009

Usually we try and post news that relates to reading and learning in a positive light. However, sometimes even bad news is important to share.

It appears that due to budgeting issues, the Philadelphia Free Library system is shutting down on October 2nd, 2009. You can read their statement here.

It's a surprising turn of events when an entire city's library system shuts down completely - Especially in one of those most wealthy and influential countries in the world.

This post poetically delves into the ramifications of such an occurrence.

-Skratch

Not a Good Report Card

2009-09-08T12:32:00.001-07:00

September 8th, 2009

On the same day as UNESCO Literacy Day (see below) the Canadian Council on Learning has released this report and map, detailing literacy levels in Canada.

The results could be better. According to the site, 48% of adults in Canada have low literacy levels. That means 48% of adults would have difficulty fully understanding this blog post.

This is a huge issue - One that has been kept relatively quiet in the past, due in part to adults with reading difficulties not wanting to discuss the topic. But the problem extends past adults - Studies have shown that kids raised in a home where parents don't read are much more likely to disregard reading of their own, stunting their own literacy skills.

In order to break the cycle, children must be encouraged to read more on their own so that future generations of Canadians can rise above these numbers and secure a strong education.

-Skratch

Happy Literacy Day!

2009-09-08T12:28:00.001-07:00

September 8th, 2009

Today is UNESCO Literacy Day.

This year’s theme, Literacy for Empowerment, highlights the staggering 776 million – or one in five - adults worldwide who still lack basic reading and writing skills. Two thirds of them are women.

You can get more information about UNESCO's important mission here.

If you happen to be reading a book today (and good for you!), remember how lucky we all are to have the ability and the choice in that regard.

-Skratch

The Best Thing Since the Press

2009-09-04T15:08:00.000-07:00

September 4th, 2009

This week we wanted to give a big shout out to Project Gutenberg. If you haven't heard of them, they are a volunteer effort to digitize and archive literary works that have slipped into 'Public Domain': Books that are old enough to be owned by everyone in the world.

It's a very important project - The upside of which is that you have access to thousands of free titles online, whenever you want. In these cash strapped times, access to free books through these kinds of resources is a welcome relief. You'll find hundreds of classic children's books on this site. Head on over, print a few and hand them over to your kids! (Or read them yourself. We won't tell.)

If you don't know where to start, our selection of classic kids books will give you some direction. All entries are referenced to Project Gutenberg, so if you like something start reading!

-Skratch

Graphic Novels & Early Reading

2009-08-28T10:42:00.000-07:00

August 28th, 2009

We just posted an insightful article on the marriage between art and reading, and what it means for your child's learning development. Have a look!

-Skratch

Building Minds - New Article Up!

2009-08-23T09:28:00.000-07:00

August 23rd, 2009

Our next article is up and ready for your reading pleasure! As always, thanks to all of our contributors for their time and effort.

-Skratch

We're learning...

2009-08-18T14:42:00.000-07:00

August 18th, 2009

Today our little company learns the value of chartered accountants and corporate restructuring.

-Skratch

More literacy events

2009-08-16T10:22:00.000-07:00

August 16th, 2009

New event posted: The Word on the Street Festival! September 27th, 2009. A national celebration of literacy and the written word. Events are across Canada. Be sure to check out the family sections - Plenty for the whole family to do!

-Skratch

First Events & Contests posted

2009-08-12T10:35:00.001-07:00

August 12th, 2009

Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival - October 18-25. A chance for authors and young readers to meet and talk, and to encourage children to read! Financing based on ticket sales and donations, so consider giving today!

CBC Literary Awards - Deadline for entries November 1st, 2009. There are awards for short stories, poetry and creative non-fiction in both official languages. Support Canada's art scene and make an entry!

-Skratch

New section added!

2009-08-12T10:30:00.001-07:00

August 11th, 2009

We've added a 'Literary Events' link under our resources tab. We'll be adding information for national and provincial reading/writing events and contests in this section periodically, including links to websites.

-Skratch

Treasure Hunting for Writers

2009-08-07T16:10:00.000-07:00

August 7th, 2009

Do you have a special story about being read to as a child? Or reading to your own children? Perhaps you have advice for would be parents on reading, or a series of books they should check out? We are now taking submissions for our Articles section. This is a volunteer writing assignment, but you'll be contributing to a wider body of knowledge and be encouraging parents and kids to read together. What could be better?

If interested, use our contact form to submit your idea for an article. We'll be in touch if we think we can use your idea!

Thanks for writing!

-Skratch

Atmosphere and reading - New article!

2009-08-06T15:55:00.000-07:00

August 6th, 2009

A detailed article on how to enhance your child's storytime!

-Skratch

Contact!

2009-08-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

August 5th, 2009

We've added a new contact page! Kids books recommendations, educational link, ideas for articles - Please feel free to send us your comments, insights and so on.

-Skratch

The Skratch Sage Rolls On...

2009-08-04T15:50:00.000-07:00

August 4th, 2009

You better believe it. Chapter 4! Ready for your reading pleasure.

-Skratch

Forging Links

2009-07-28T15:37:00.000-07:00

July 28th, 2009

We've continued scouring the web for helpful websites regarding reading to kids, kids education, literacy charities and the like. More links have been added. Have a look!

-Skratch

Our story continues!

2009-07-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

July 21st, 2009

Now Skratch is getting into bigger and better things. Let's see what he's up to...

-Skratch

Must-Read Books!

2009-07-14T15:21:00.000-07:00

July 14th, 2009

Our book recommendations are now available - Starting with Classic Children's Books! They are all copyright free, so please click on a book and read away.

A big thank you to Project Gutenberg for use of their book links.

We'll be adding to this section as time goes on, and add entries for more modern tales as well.

-Skratch

New Material Abounds

2009-07-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

July 7th, 2009

Our second article is up! How early should you start reading to your kids? Probably earlier than you thought

The second chapter of our riveting story: Skratch Publishing is now available. What will become of our brave little company?

-Skratch

1st Article!

2009-07-01T14:49:00.000-07:00

July 1st, 2009

Our first article is up! 11 Tips for Reading to Kids! On the left - Enjoy!

-Skratch

Skratch Publishing - The Story

2009-07-01T12:34:00.000-07:00

July 1st, 2009

What better way to tell the story of a company that's all about children's stories than with a children's story? The first chapter of our company's story is up! You can read it here.

-Skratch

Chapter the Sixthe

2008-10-19T13:14:00.000-07:00

October 19th, 2009

Skratch toiled and worked and sweated and pushed. Being a business was hard work! But over the weeks all of its efforts came together. The artists wove their magic with programmers and coders. Cheques were checked and press releases released.

Skratch felt that it should have some kind of ribbon cutting ceremony. It bought itself an ice cream cake and celebrated with its friends and family. After all, a business can't do it all by itself!

Finally, late at night when no one was around, the sheet that Skratch had covered SkratchTrack with stirred and shifted. Skratch Publishing's own SkratchTrack finally woke up and saw the world for the first time.

SkratchTrack was big, but not at all scary and had a pleasant voice.

'I'm ready to help!' it exclaimed! And it got up from bed and started to work.

Skratch looked in from the next room and nodded. This would work out just fine...

Months and months of planning go into building a business, and when you finally get to a point where you can open your doors to the world there's a sense of loss. All of that effort leading up to one day, and then that day comes and goes and you just get on with whatever it was that you were doing. The secret is that there's no start and end point for anything - Just keep trying to deliver the best service or product you can, and the rest will sort itself out.

-Skratch

Graphic Novels and Early Reading

2008-08-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

August 28, 2009

As a kid I hated reading. I think it was because books didn’t stimulate my mind enough. I was distracted by thoughts and ideas swimming around in my head and after five pages I’d realize that I'd absorbed nothing. So for my entire adolescent life I barely read anything - until the day I was introduced to graphic novels.

A graphic novel is a story told entirely by a sequence of pictures and bubbles of text - commonly known as a comic book. Essentially a graphic novel is an overgrown comic book. Sometimes it’s a collection of many shorter comic issues, other times it is an adaptation of stories in comic book form.

Unfortunately, the term ‘comic book’ can carry a negative connotation for those who aren’t familiar with them. Some people assume that 'comic book' = Guy in Tights Fights Bad Guy and Wins…The End. Just because Spiderman is a cartoon comic - a Superhero - doesn't negate the fact that he is a character with emotion and passions that drive him to do the things he does, the same as a character in any novel. His actions speak to a certain audience - the same way science fiction or crime novels speak to their audiences. Spiderman's audience is usually youth, and if that gets them to read, then read on I say!

Many people don't think of comics as very important contributors to literature, but there is no other type of book that can get kids turning pages faster than a graphic novel; appealing to them with the neatly timed panels telling a story and designing an adventure in ways no other medium can. It lays out the story for you - grabbing hold of your imagination while you read furiously to find out what happens on the next page.

If you are concerned that by indulging in graphic novels your child is not developing important reading skills, be reassured that a) your child reading anything is a good thing, and b) comics offer a visually unique perspective on reading. Graphic novels are not only a great way to get kids hooked on reading, they are also a means for children of all ages to become fascinated with adventure and creativity in a way that’s directly accessible to them. Studies have shown that reading graphic novels at a young age trains the mind to be able to read between the lines more easily and pick up on the subtleties of characters' actions; to discern what isn’t written, like understanding a characters motives. So not only are graphic novels a great way for kids to get into reading and have fun doing it, they help kids grasp the greater ideas behind what it is to read and enables them to enjoy it.

My passion for animation was stimulated by my interest in graphic novels as a young person. When I looked at comics growing up, I tried to mimic the artist by copying the panels. It taught me a lot about drawing and art which got me started into my computer animation career. I might not have been reading fine literature when I was young, but my reading skills were being shaped and cultivated just as much as if I had been reading any other type of book. Now, as an adult, I enjoy all genres of fiction and non-fiction as well as graphic novels written for adults.

Children who are having a particularly difficult time reading traditional books may benefit in additional ways from reading graphic novels. Growing up I had a friend who struggled with dyslexia. He told me he used to read comic books exclusively because he found it easier to associate the words with the pictures. Instead of forcing himself to read paperback novels (which were frustrating) he was drawn to graphic novels which helped him learn to read faster and with more confidence.

As with anything, discretion should be used in letting your child decide which graphic novels they will read. There are a lot of adult graphic novels out there that aren’t appropriate for a younger audience, but there are also a lot of excellent choices for younger readers. Owly by Andy Runtan is a perfect selection for children just starting out, and Bone by Jeff Smith is also ideal for young kids and adults alike.

Jason Hopkins is a 12 year veteran of the computer animation industry. He graduated from VFS in 1997 and has since been working on a wide variety of projects. He currently works in Vancouver and his favorite kids book is Green Eggs and Ham. He's currently in love with the comic series Wolfman by Robert Kirkman (not suitable for a younger audience).

Building Minds - The Importance of Reading

2008-08-23T09:19:00.000-07:00

August 23rd, 2009

As an educator I am always pleased when I hear a child tell me about their experiences reading with a family member. It is a practice that should be so highly valued that it rarely gets missed. This should be a time for parents and children to bond by sharing the adventures and laughs in books, by allowing children time to ask questions and receive answers, and by creating a safe environment for one another’s attentive company.

The biggest reason to read to your child, beyond creating a positive relationship, is modeling the importance and the privilege of the ability to read. If the family regards reading time as important, then so will the child. If a family goes for long stretches of time without touching a book, the child will learn that books and the information or stories they hold are not valued. Sometimes we forget how astute children can be; consequently, your actions as a parent speak louder than words ever could. And these actions will carry implications farther into their schooling than we like to think.

Some children learn much of their “reading readiness” before they go to sleep each night. “reading readiness” refers to the simple parts of book handling that does not include decoding, or figuring out what the words are. For example, children who have been read to daily at home, know how to hold a book, turn the pages from the corners and that in English, we read from left to right and top to bottom. Sadly, increasing numbers of children are entering Kindergarten without this invaluable knowledge. “Reading readiness” sets children on the right path from the beginning of formal schooling; in fact it has strong correlations to success in reading further along in the primary grades.

Children in primary grades continue to show correlations in the research when comparing ability to decode and comprehend written material with time spent practicing reading. Children who read each day, either to themselves or to a family member are more likely to be successful in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies. They are better problem solvers because they have acquired more language to express their needs and feelings. These kids are more successful with just 20 minutes of reading a day. It is also incredible to see the research on how increased time spent reading will increase one’s ability to write.

When a family member, reads to, or with, a child they create desire. This desire is to learn more, enjoy more and experience more. Children are always curious beings who find and keep so much knowledge through books and in particular, story. Background knowledge (things we already know and can use to help understand other things) is built when reading. More background knowledge makes comprehending new material easier. The more a parent reads to their child, the more knowledge they give. This knowledge is then used to make sense of other things, in life and in books. Reading with your child will help them understand how characters of other books might be feeling or help them guess what might be a logical outcome of a similar situation in a different book.

Throughout most of humans’ existence we have passed on history through story. In the past these stories were told orally and passed through generations. Now we have written word, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of tales. Narratives are a way that the human brain can remember. When facts are put into a story, the facts are more easily remembered. The stories that are read to children at young ages teach them many lessons that are more readily recalled. If we just told our children to be nice to others, they likely will not remember. If we relate being kind to others through the story of the ugly duckling, then a child will remember the feelings, discussions, and actions of others when it is brought up in a real life situation. Reading with a child helps them learn lessons of life and make sense of the world.

There are so many reasons to read to and with a child. Mainly it is time well spent together that can never be regained when they are older. For their future, it is a priceless experience that will lead them on the path to success. As an educator it is plainly obvious which families value reading time and which families put it off for another day. As a parent would monitor a child’s internet use, so must they also have input into the quality of books they read and the value they set on the stories and information within the pages. Reading with a child leads them to more choices and more opportunities in the future.

Who wouldn’t want that for their special little one?

Bonnie Patterson is a grade 1-2 teacher in Burnaby, British Columbia. Currently she resides in Surrey with her husband and new puppy. She loves reading all sorts of books from children's picture books to big, beefy novels. Her favourite book is Knuffle Bunny, by Mo Willems, which is meant for young children, but holds a special place in her heart.

Skratch Publishing: Chapter the Fifthe

2008-08-18T14:37:00.000-07:00

August 18th, 2009

The funny little company was elated! Helpers from all over the land were tinkering with his website and skilled artisans were crafting the images to be used in all of its products. Everything was going as planned!

So why was our little hero locked in a small room in front of an abacus wearing a green tinted visor? Like all good little businesses, it was doing numbers. It found that they were hard. It felt good to build and manage its future, and knew the more it learned the stronger it would get.

And yet, it was only one little company. When it ran smack straight into the wall of something called 'capital gains tax' it stopped and had a glass of milk to cool off.

"I'm only one company!" It exclaimed. "Wouldn't it make sense if I worked on my work, and another company did this for a living? Wouldn't that mean I have more time in figuring out ways to help kids read?"

Skratch brought out its giant magnifying glass and began inspecting the 'Registry of All Known Businesses and Associates in the World, Ever' and found out there was help.

Best thing we've learned in starting a business is to know when to do things yourself and when to hire people who know their turf inside and out. Web designers design, artists art, and accountants account. Makes life simpler for us and keeps Skratch Publishing focused on developing products and services for kids and their parents.

Material on the blog is growing steadily, which is fantastic! New sections have been added, and new articles are on the way - So many people we talk to have great stories about reading, books and their connection to literacy and we look forward to sharing some of those experiences with all of you!

Literary Events

2008-08-12T10:22:00.000-07:00

A running list of literary events and contests in British Columbia and Canada.

The Word on the Street Festival! September 27th, 2009. A national celebration of literacy and the written word. Events are across Canada. Be sure to check out the family sections - Plenty for the whole family to do!

Vancouver International Writers and Readers Festival - October 18-25. A chance for authors and young readers to meet and talk, and to encourage children to read! Financing based on ticket sales and donations, so consider giving today!

CBC Literary Awards - Deadline for entries November 1st, 2009. There are awards for short stories, poetry and creative non-fiction in both official languages. Support Canada's art scene and make an entry!

Reading & Kids - Adding Atmosphere

2008-08-09T15:53:00.000-07:00

August 6th, 2009

Red Riding Hood ran down the forest path. Whatever it was…that thing in the dark that tried to grab her, was close by. She could feel it. The dim light from the moon became even more muffled as black clouds rolled in and obscured the glowing disc.

Red Riding Hood glanced back down the path – The twisted trees seemed to crowd overhead, as if they were reaching for each other. Or perhaps they were reaching for her.

Her breath caught in her throat as a branch somewhere behind her went “crack!” She quickly moved along, looking for a way to her grandmother’s cottage.

Picture this: You’re watching a scary movie in a dark room all alone. The curtains are drawn, its night and there’s a roll of thunder outside. Maybe it’s the movie where the call is coming from inside the house! Then your phone rings!

Scary right?

Now picture yourself watching that same scary movie on a bright cheery day with the warm sun streaming in through the windows and kids playing outside, laughing. What happened? It’s the same story. The same B-Movie actress that never seems to land anything big. The same demented music.

Atmosphere is everything in storytelling that isn’t the storyteller himself. It’s the crackling fireplace and the big dog curled up in the flickering shadows while you hear a ghost story. It’s the sun drenched park where you tell your children about a beautiful castle in the sky while they lie back and stare up at the white fluffy clouds. Or maybe it’s just you and your child cozy in their bedroom with the lights dimmed to create an extra sense of mystery and wonder.

Atmosphere doesn’t have to be complex, and all it takes is a little planning and creativity. For a child, any effort you make in this area turns storytime into a magical adventure. Here are ten ways to make your child’s next bedtime story become something they will carry with them for a long time.

Lighting

Hollywood uses it, why shouldn’t you? Okay, granted you don’t have a huge budget (or employees running around to set up mood lighting,) but do you have a dimmer switch? Cutting light levels even slightly can make the whole experience more cozy and special. It’s also a great way to transition your child from awake to dreamland in no time. If you don’t have a dimmer, cutting the overhead lights and turning on a small corner lamp can have the same effect. Or for maximum atmosphere, a few candles in the room will give everything a cheery glow, or a sinister edge depending on what you read. Remember to blow out the candles and take them out of the room when you’re finished for the night!

A flashlight

While on the topic of lighting, why not use a flashlight? This one little tool can have a great number of uses. Ghost stories at Halloween? A little under the face lighting will insure that your child won’t forget the experience anytime soon! (The unfortunate side effect is that you might find them sleeping in your bed later that night, and your spouse has sent you to the couch for being too scary). Light against the wall? A few shadow puppets can add an almost dream-like quality to your storytelling. Or how about a fort? Set up some cushions and a sheet overhead, switch on your flashlight and all of a sudden your bedtime telling of Treasure Island becomes a whispered story in a secret cave that you and your child share.

Music

So many of our memories are linked to songs we hear – it’s no different when we read. A story can become magnified in drama, excitement or even comedy with a few well chosen songs playing in the background. Try orchestrated music - Classical composers or movie scores are a great source of mood music, and you won't have to compete with anyone else's vocals. Your child will forever associate certain delightful adventures, daring escapes and stories of true love with the music that you expose them too. This has the added benefit of promoting an interest of music in your child, something which will pay off dividends for the rest of their lives.

Sound Effects

We’re not talking about the ones you’ll throw into the story using your voice. Those are assumed (and if you don’t do them all the time your child will remind you that you should be…) What we’re talking about here are ambient sound effects – which just means stuff you put in the background. It’s easier than you think – Relaxation CDs are readily available with sounds of nature and exotic locales. An adventure through the mountains takes on a whole new dimension for a child who can hear the chill wind blowing. Or what story of pirates is complete without sounds of the ocean?

Smell and Taste

The absolute masters of our memory senses, our deepest emotions are linked through smell and taste (which in turn are heavily linked to each other). Books like The Hobbit by Tolkien, the Redwall series by Brian Jacques and the Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis make liberal use of references to the food and drink the characters eat and the powerful and beautiful scents that envelop their world. Of course, you could just read about the Turkish delights in The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe, but your child may have the inevitable question, “What’s a Turkish delight?” What if you had one for your son or daughter to try? All of a sudden the book becomes something much more real and relevant. This tactic might not be the best if they’ve already brushed their teeth, but you get the idea.

Scents too can be handled the same way. If the adventure takes your heroes deep into a pine forest, having a small branch of real pine or a cup of crushed pine needles to let your child sniff could complete the picture for them in a way that words never could. Your child now builds a link in their mind, and feels the story in an entirely new way.

Props

Again, you’re not competing with Hollywood here. Simpler is better! Your hero has a sword, you have a broom handle. The princess gets her crown, your daughter gets the paper version you made earlier in the day. The stranger wears a mysterious cloak and hood? What about that hoodie sweater you’re always wearing? Children amplify their surroundings with their imagination, as long as you feed and nurture it.

Texture

Rounding off our senses is touch. A child listening to your story may yearn to feel what the characters do: What does a horse mane actually feel like? A plush magic carpet? The scales of a dragon? Assembling a few household items can answer these questions and more.

Here's a trick for the dragon scales: Cut out pieces of cardboard into 'scales' the length of your index finger. Make a dozen or so. Wrap each tightly with tinfoil and then put them all into a cloth bag (something dark and mysterious looking). Sprinkle in some craft-store sparkles and close the bag. Later on when you're reading to your child and the knight enters the dragon cave and finds the dragon's scales, dramatically pull out the bag. Tell your child that this is a very old bag of dragon scales that you bought from a mysterious stranger - They can reach in and feel the scales, but if they pull them out they'll turn into cardboard.

That story just got a LOT more real!

Your voice

We cover the art of reading to your child in an earlier article, but it bears repeating here: You are the most important part of the story. Especially before your child can read, you are their only link to the great adventures locked inside the book covers. Play it up, be outgoing and be confident. Your child isn’t judging you, he or she is loving you for just showing up. It’s rare in life we get a chance to do something and be 100% sure we can’t mess it up.

David Tilgner is the president of Skratch Publishing Inc., and a regular contributor to the Skratch Blog. His favourite kids book is 'Alice in Wonderland' by Lewis Carroll.

Skratch Publishing: Chapter the Fourthe

2008-08-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

August 4th, 2009

While SkratchTrack slept and the books were being pressed and ironed, Skratch Publishing Inc. continued to grow bigger and stronger. It drank orange juice every day and did push-ups and yoga. It wanted to be ready to take on anything!

It got itself a phone number and an email address. It spoke to friendly businesses that wanted to help. Everything seemed to be going well for Skratch Publishing Inc.

But Skratch was lonely. It would take time for the books to be finished and SkratchTrack to wake up. Skratch needed some way to talk to people out there, parents who wanted to know about how important it is to read to kids. Skratch needed to tell them not to feel silly reading books in funny voices and what good books they might have missed on the shelf.

So Skratch got together wood and glue and some sparkles and made itself a blog.

“Now all I have to do,” Skratch thought, “Is let people know I’m here!”

The little company thought about that, and then dreamed some more.

Here we are with business cards and everything! Every week that goes by seems to make things a little more real at Skratch. New contacts, new developments new letterhead. It's exciting! Some of the companies we've spoken to, web developers, book printers, credit unions, have been outstanding in their support and advice. It takes a village to raise a child, or a small incorporated financial concern.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed articles on reading and children so far. The advice is fun and we think there's some really important information in there.

This blog is so important to us at Skratch, because it gives us a chance to put our story out to all of you. It also allows us to start some of our web services early like book recommendations, educational links and the like. When we launch fully in September, those services won't go away, but we will be adding to them! So, stay tuned and as always, thanks for reading!

Skratch Publishing: Chapter the Thirde

2008-08-08T15:30:00.000-07:00

July 21st, 2009

Later, our tiny little company that was now a bit bigger and older and named Skratch Publishing Inc. finished its second book.

“These are great!” Skratch said as it toiled away. “I can’t wait for people to read them!”

But the words of the great big grand companies echoed in its head. “Why sell books if people don’t read?”

Skratch nodded once and set to work. If grown-ups were reading less, it meant that kids were reading less too. That was a big problem for a little company who writes children's books.

What Skratch needed to do was build something. Not a house or a boat but something that would make kids want to read more. Something fun for children but helpful for parents too. Something to keep track of all the books in all the world for all the kids. Something that would reward them for reading!

Skratch finished writing all of this down and came up with a name for this something. It was called SkratchTrack.

Skratch looked at what he had made. It was big and it snored loudly. It was still sleeping, but it looked like it could really help families. Skratch quietly set the alarm for the middle of September, 2009 and tiptoed out of the room. When SkratchTrack woke up, it would be ready to work!

It was decided early on that we can't just be another small press and publisher. The top ten publishing companies in the world supply more than 85% of the books you read. The rest of us fight over the last 15%.

So as we registered our name and incorporated our company in the beautiful province of British Columbia, as we wrapped up design on book number one and books two and three started up, we realized that we could offer so much more than just books. Don't get us wrong, books are hugely important for kids and grown-ups alike. But we've seen the statistics on how little children, teenagers, and adults are reading today and they are troubling to say the least. Why try to sell books if people don't want to read?

That's why we invented SkratchTrack. We'll be talking about it more in the weeks ahead, but Skratch Publishing has something special up its sleeve. Don't worry, you'll hear about it first right here.

Thanks for reading!