The Book Club Shed

ruckus — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 15:46:50 +0000

07/13/2011

by Allyson Kane, Ruckus Media Staff Marketing Specialist

July 13, 2011

I grew up in a small town. There weren’t any traffic lights or sidewalks. Houses were typically situated on a couple of acres that were scattered with families of deer from dusk till dawn. In the summer, we were left to create our own fun as we weren’t able to take a walk into town or to the local park.

Our property bordered a 13-acre farm and the farm owners worked hard well into their 70’s growing strawberries, blackberries, and fresh veggies to sell at the roadside stand in the summer. I was friends with their granddaughter Stephanie whose family lived in a house at the back of the farm’s property. Her grandfather cut a path through the brush so that we could freely roam between my family’s property and theirs. We spent summer after summer stealing strawberries off the vine, swimming in the pool, climbing apple trees, and catching lightening bugs in the field.

As we got older, the apple trees became the shade that we’d lay under to read a book after a dip in the pool. We’d often talk about the characters in our books as if they were with us on those hot, sticky summer days. A year ahead of me in school, Stephanie had already read the books that were typically on my summer reading list so she always had clever insight to add or could help me understand a heavy plot line (and ironically, she grew up to be a teacher!).

Along the property’s edge, there was a small metal tool-shed. Since the farm had long stopped running, the tool shed was empty save for a couple of pool floats and foam survival rings. We spent one day cleaning it out and realized that two small benches fit perfectly at each end. We decided it was our clubhouse. We’d meet there every day, rain or shine, and read for a while before embarking on whatever adventure we would invent for that particular day.

The inside of the shed had built-in shelves which we lined with books. Books we loved, books we read, books we hadn’t yet read. They were all categorized and we each had our own shelves. We papered the metal walls with Teen Beat pull-out posters of whatever embarrassing late 80’s and 90’s boy band or teen actor was popular that summer. We’d spend hours in there. Talking. Laughing. Reading. It was our spot. Our little Zen sanctuary. And for a couple of 11-year olds, it was somewhere we could go to change up the scenery of our bedrooms and escape our siblings.

To remember the character of that shed some 23-years later speaks to its importance in my childhood – in my life. It was something I can vividly recall when thinking about those summer days and how they weren’t only tied to playing, but to reading and learning.

What are you doing to keep your kids reading this summer? Does your child’s school have a summer reading list? What’s on it?

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Here are some ideas to keep your kids’ love for books active between trips to the beach, pool, or lake:

Download a few of Ruckus’ interactive storybook apps. Five are on sale until Thursday, July 14^th.

Contact your local library to see if they’re offering any Summer Reading programs

Start a community book club with the kids in the neighborhood. Maybe there’s an old tool shed you can use as their clubhouse…

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Photo Credit: Dan Kane Photos

“Tap a Good Book” This Summer for just $0.99!

ruckus — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:40:07 +0000

07/07/2011

by Allyson Kane, Ruckus Media Staff Marketing Specialist

July 7th, 2011

If you’ve been waiting for a reason to try a Ruckus app, wait no longer. For one week only (7/7/11 – 7/14/11) we are offering a select few recommended summer reading interactive storybook apps at a discounted price of $0.99.

Keep kids engaged this summer and help prepare them for returning to school in the fall as they read along, tap, learn and discover with Ruckus Media Group’s interactive storybooks for iPhone and iPad. Traveling by car or by air? These apps make the perfect travel campanions for kids keeping them entertained while on the way to your favorite summer escape spot!

For one week, we’ve discounted prices on stories for every age group. Toddlers will adore the award winning A PRESENT FOR MILO. Learn colors and shapes with SPOT THE DOT from New York Times best selling pop-up artist David A. Carter. Laugh out loud with ANDREW ANSWERS as you follow his journey from the classroom to the White House. Take the ultimate challenge and discover all the creatures and species with the RAINFOREST SURVIVAL CHALLENGE. And adults and children alike will fall in love with Meryl Streep’s narration of the classic story, THE VELVETEEN RABBIT.

Let the cool-factor of technology keep your kids at the top of the class – even during the summer!

Get yours today and don’t forget to spread the word.

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The Book Club Shed

“Tap a Good Book” This Summer for just $0.99!