1. Merienda. Where else but in the Philippinesis it normal to eat five times a day? 2. Sawsawan. Assorted sauces that guarantee freedom of choice, enough room for experimentation and maximum tolerance for diverse tastes. Favorites: toyo't calamansi, suka at sili, patis. 3. Kuwan (Kwan), ano. At a loss for words? Try these and marvel at how Pinoys understand exactly what you want. 4. Pinoy humour and irreverence. If you're api and you know it, crack a joke. Nothing personal, really. 5. Tingi. Thank goodness for small entrepreneurs. Where else can we buy cigarettes, soap, condiments and life's essentials in small affordable amounts? 6. Spirituality. Even before the Spaniards came, ethnic tribes had their own anitos, bathalas and assorted deities, pointing to a strong relationship with the Creator, who or whatever it may be. 7. Po, opo, mano po. Speech suffixes that define courtesy, deference, filial respect--a balm to the spirit in these aggressive times. 8. Pasalubong. Our way of sharing the vicarious thrills and delights of a trip, and a wonderful excuse to shop without the customary guilt. 9. Beaches! With 7000 plus islands, we have miles and miles of shoreline piled high with fine white sand, lapped by warm waters, and nibbled by exotic tropical fish. From the stormy seas of Batanes to the emerald isles of Palawan--over here, life is truly a beach. 10. Bagoong. Darkly mysterious, this smelly fish or shrimp paste typifies the underlying theme of most ethnic foods: disgustingly unhygienic, unbearably stinky and simply irresistible. 11. Bayanihan. Yes, the internationally-renowned dance company, but also this habit of pitching in still common in small communities. Just have that cold beer and some pulutan ready for the troops. 12. The Balikbayan box. Another way of sharing life's bounty, no matter if it seems like we're fleeing Pol Pot everytime we head home from anywhere in the globe. The most wonderful part is that, more often than not, the contents are carted home to be distributed. 13. Pilipino komiks. Not to mention "Hiwaga," "Aliwan," "Tagalog Classics," "Liwayway" and "Bulaklak" magazines. Pulpy publications that gave us Darna, Facifica Falayfay, Lagalag, Kulafu, Kenkoy, Dyesebel, characters of a time both innocent and worldly. 14. Folk songs. They come unbidden and spring, full blown, like a second language, at the slightest nudge from the too-loud stereo of a passing jeepney or tricycle. 15. Fiesta. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow is just another day, shrugs the poor man who, once a year, honors a patron saint with this sumptuous, no-holds-barred spread. It's a Pinoy celebration at its pious and riotous best. 16. Aswang, manananggal, kapre. The whole underworld of Filipino lower class mythology recalls our uniquely bizarre childhood, that is, before political correctness kicked in. Still, their rich adventures pepper our storytelling. 17. Jeepneys. Colorful, fast, reckless, a vehicle of postwar Pinoy ingenuity, this Everyman's communal cadillac makes for a cheap, interesting ride. If the driver's a daredevil (as they usually are), hang on to your seat. 18. Dinuguan. Blood stew, a bloodcurdling idea, until you try it with puto. Best when mined with jalapeno peppers. Messy but delicious. 19. Santacruzan. More than just a beauty contest, this one has religious overtones, a tableau of St. Helena's and Constantine's search for the Cross that seamlessly blends piety, pageantry and ritual. Plus, it's the perfect excuse to show off the prettiest ladies--and the most beautiful gowns. 20. Balut. Unhatched duck's embryo, another unspeakable ethnic food to outsiders, but oh, to indulge in guilty pleasures! Sprinkle some salt and suck out that soup, with gusto. 21. Pakidala or padala. A personalized door-to-door remittance and delivery system for overseas Filipino workers who don't trust the banking system, and who expect a family update from the courier, as well. 22. Choc-nut. Crumbly peanut chocolate bars that defined childhood ecstasy before M & M's and Hershey's. 23. Kamayan style. To eat with one's hand and eschew spoon, fork and table manners--ah, heaven. 24. Chicharon. Pork, fish or chicken crackling. There is in the crunch a hint of the extravagant, the decadent and the pedestrian. Perfect with vinegar, sublime with beer. 25. Pinoy hospitality. Just about everyone gets a hearty "Kain tayo!" invitation to break bread with whoever has food to share, no matter how skimpy or austere it is. 26. Adobo, kare-kare, sinigang and other lutong bahay stuff. Home-cooked meals that have the stamp of approval from several generations, who swear by closely-guarded cooking secrets and family recipes. 27. Lola Basyang. The voice one heard spinning tales over the radio, before movies and television curtailed imagination and defined grown-up tastes. 28. Pambahay. Home is where one can let it all hang out, where clothes do not make a man or woman but rather define their level of comfort. 29. Tricycle and trisikad, the poor Pinoy's taxicab that delivers you at your doorstep for as little as P3, with a complimentary dusting of polluted air. 30. Dirty ice cream. Very Pinoy flavors that make up for the risk: munggo, langka, ube, mais, keso, macapuno. Plus there's the colorful cart that recalls jeepney art. 31. Yayas. The trusted Filipino nanny who, ironically, has become a major Philippine export as overseas contract workers. A good one is almost like a surrogate parent--if you don't mind the accent and the predilection for afternoon soap and movie stars. 32. Sarsi. Pinoy root beer, the enduring taste of childhood. Our grandfathers had them with an egg beaten in. 33. Pinoy fruits. Atis, guyabano, chesa, mabolo, lanzones, durian, langka, makopa, dalanghita, siniguelas, suha, chico, papaya, singkamas--the possibilities are endless! 34. Filipino celebrities. Movie stars, broadcasters, beauty queens, public officials, all-around controversial figures: Aurora Pijuan, Cardinal Sin, Carlos P. Romulo, Charito Solis, Cory Aquino, Emilio Aguinaldo, the Eraserheads, Fidel V. Ramos, Francis Magalona, Gloria Diaz, Manuel L. Quezon, Margie Moran, Melanie Marquez, Monsour del Rosario, Ninoy Aquino, Nora Aunor, Vilma Santos, Pitoy Moreno, Ramon Magsysay, Richard Gomez, San Lorenzo Ruiz, Sharon Cuneta, Gemma Cruz, Erap, Tiya Dely, Mel and Jay, Gary V. 35. World class Pinoys who put us on the global map: Lea Salonga, Paeng Nepomuceno, Eugene Torre, Luisito Espinosa, Lydia de Vega-Mercado, Jocelyn Enriquez, Elma Muros, Onyok Velasco, Efren "Bata" Reyes, Lilia Calderon-Clemente, Loida Nicolas-Lewis, Josie Natori. 36. Pinoy tastes. A dietitian's nightmare: too sweet, too salty, too fatty, as in burong talangka, itlog na maalat, crab fat (aligue), bokayo, kutchinta, sapin-sapin, halo-halo, pastilyas, palitaw, pulburon, longganisa, tuyo, ensaymada, ube haleya, sweetened macapuno and garbanzos. Remember, we're the guys who put sugar & franks (horrors) in our spaghetti sauce. Yum! 37. The sights. Banaue Rice Terraces, Boracay, Bohol's Chocolate Hills, Corregidor Island, Fort Santiago, the Hundred Islands, the Las Pinas Bamboo Organ, Rizal Park, Mt. Banahaw, Mayon Volcano, Taal Volcano. A land of contrasts and ever-changing landscapes. 38. Gayuma, agimat and anting-anting. Love potions and amulets. How the socially-disadvantaged Pinoy copes. 39. Barangay Ginebra, Jaworski, PBA, MBA and basketball. How the vertically-challenged Pinoy compensates, via a national sports obsession that reduces fans to tears and fistfights. 40. People Power at EDSA. When everyone became a hero and changed Philippine history overnight. 41. San Miguel Beer and pulutan. "Isa pa nga!" and the Philippines' most popular, world-renowned beer goes well with peanuts, corniks, tapa, chicharon, usa, barbecue, sisig, and all manner of spicy, crunchy and cholesterol-rich chasers. 42. Resiliency. We've survived 400 years of Spanish rule, the US bases, Marcos, the 1990 earthquake, lahar, lambada, Robin Padilla, and Tamagochi. We survived Erap. 43. Yoyo. Truly Filipino in origin, this hunting tool, weapon, toy and merchandising vehicle remains the best way to "walk the dog" and "rock the baby," using just a piece of string. 44. Pinoy games: Pabitin, palosebo, basagan ng palayok. A few basic rules make individual cunning and persistence a premium, and guarantee a good time for all. 45. Ninoy Aquino. For saying that "the Filipino is worth dying for,'' and proving it. 46. Balagtasan. The verbal joust that brings out rhyme, reason and passion on a public stage. 47. Tabo. All-powerful, ever-useful, hygienically-triumphant device to scoop water out of a bucket and help the true Pinoy answer nature's call. Helps maintain our famously stringent toilet habits. 48. Pandesal. Despite its shrinking size, still a good buy. Goes well with any filling, best when hot. 49. Jollibee. Truly Pinoy in taste and sensibility, and a corporate icon that we can be quite proud of. Do you know that it's invaded the Middle East as well? 50. The butanding, the dolphins and other creatures in our blessed waters. They're Pinoys, too, and they're here to stay. Now if some folks would just stop turning them into daing. 51. Pakikisama. It's what makes people stay longer at parties, have another drink, join pals in sickness and health. You can get dead drunk and still make it home. 52. Sing-a-long. Filipinos love to sing, and thank God a lot of us do it well! 53. Kayumanggi. Neither pale nor dark, our skin tone is beautifully healthy, the color of a rich earth or a mahogany tree growing towards the sun. 54. Hand-woven cloth and native weaves. Colorful, environment-friendly alternatives to polyester that feature skillful workmanship and a rich indigenous culture behind every thread. From the pinukpok of the north to the malong of the south, it's the fiber of who we are. 55. Movies. Still the cheapest form of entertainment, especially if you watch the same movie several times. 56. Bahala na. We cope with uncertainty by embracing it, and are thus enabled to play life by ear. 57. Papaitan. An offal stew flavored with bile, admittedly an acquired taste, but pointing to our national ability to acquire a taste for almost anything. 58. English. Whether carabao or Arr-neoww-accented, it doubles our chances in the global marketplace. 59. The Press. Irresponsible, sensational, often inaccurate, but still the liveliest in Asia. Otherwise, we'd all be glued to TV. 60. Divisoria. Smelly, crowded, a pickpocket's paradise, but you can get anything here, often at rock-bottom prices. The sensory overload is a bonus. 61. Barong Tagalog. Enables men to look formal and dignified without having to strangle themselves with a necktie. Worn well, it makes any ordinary Juan look marvelously makisig (good-looking). 62. Filipinas. They make the best friends, lovers, and wives. Too bad they can't say the same for Filipinos. 63. Filipinos. So maybe they're bolero and macho with an occasional streak of generic infidelity; they do know how to make a woman feel like one. 64. Catholicism. What fun would sin be without guilt? Jesus Christ is firmly planted on Philippine soil. 65. Dolphy. Our favorite, ultra-durable comedian gives the beleaguered Pinoy everyman an odd dignity, even in drag. 66. Style. Something we often prefer over substance. But every Filipino claims it as a birthright. 67. Bad taste. Clear plastic covers on the vinyl-upholstered sofa, posters of poker-playing dogs masquerading as art, over-accessorized jeepneys and altars--the list is endless, and wealth only seems to magnify it. 68. Mangoes. Crisp and tart, or lusciously ripe, they evoke memories of family outings and endless sunshine in a heart-shaped package. 69. Unbridled optimism. Why we rank so low on the suicide scale. 70. Street food. Barbecue, lugaw, banana-cue, fishballs, IUD (chicken entrails), adidas (chicken feet), warm taho. Forget hepatitis; here's cheap, tasty food with gritty ambience. 71. The siesta. Snoozing in the middle of the day is smart, not lazy. 72. Honorifics and courteous titles: Kuya, ate, diko, ditse, ineng, totoy, Ingkong, Aling, Mang, etc. No exact English translation, but these words connote respect, deference and the value placed on kinship. 73. Heroes and people who stood up for truth and freedom. Lapu-lapu started it all, and other heroes and revolutionaries followed: Diego Silang, Macario Sakay, Jose Rizal, Andres Bonifacio, Apolinario Mabini, Melchora Aquino, Gregorio del Pilar, Gabriela Silang, Miguel Malvar, Francisco Balagtas, Juan Luna, Marcelo H. del Pilar, Panday Pira, Emilio Jacinto, Raha Suliman, Antonio Luna, Gomburza, Emilio Aguinaldo, the heroes of Bataan and Corregidor, Pepe Diokno, Satur Ocampo, Dean Armando alay, Evelio Javier, Ninoy Aquino, Lola Rosa and other comfort women ho spoke up, honest cabbie Emilio Advincula, Rona Mahilum, the women lawyers who didn't let Jalosjos get away with rape. 74. Flora and fauna. The sea cow (dugong), the tarsier, calamian deer, bearcat, Philippine eagle, sampaguita, ilang-ilang, camia, pandan, the creatures that make our archipelago unique. 75. Pilipino songs, OPM and composers. "Ama Namin," "Lupang Hinirang," "Gaano Ko Ikaw Kamahal," "Ngayon at Kailanman," "Anak," "Handog,""Hindi Kita Malilimutan," "Ang Pasko ay Sumapit"; Ryan Cayabyab, George Canseco, Restie Umali, Levi Celerio, Manuel Francisco, Freddie Aguilar, and Florante--living examples of our musical gift. 76. Metro Aides. They started out as Imelda Marcos' groupies, but have gallantly proven their worth. Against all odds, they continuously prove that cleanliness is next to godliness--especially when those darned political candidates' posters have to be scraped off the face of Manila! 77. Sari-sari store. There's one in every corner, offering everything from bananas and floor wax to Band-Aid and bakya. 78. Philippine National Red Cross. PAWS. Caritas. Fund drives. They help us help each other. 79. Favorite TV shows through the years: "Tawag ng Tanghalan," "John and Marsha," "Champoy," "Ryan, Ryan Musikahan," "Kuwarta o Kahon," "Public Forum/Lives," "Student Canteen," "Eat Bulaga." In the age of inane variety shows, they have redeemed Philippine television. 80. Quirks of language that can drive crazy any tourist listening in: "Bababa ba?" "Bababa!" 81. "Sayang!" "Naman!" "Kadiri!" "Ano ba!?" "pala." Expressions that defy translation but wring out feelings genuinely Pinoy. 82. Cockfighting. Filipino men love it more than their wives (sometimes). 83. Dr. Jose Rizal. A category in himself. Hero, medicine man, genius, athlete, sculptor, fictionist, poet, essayist, husband, lover, samaritan, martyr. Truly someone to emulate and be proud of, anytime, anywhere. 84. Nora Aunor. Short, dark and homely-looking, she redefined our rigid concept of how leading ladies should look. 85. Noranian or Vilmanian. Defines the friendly rivalry between Ate Guy Aunor and Ate Vi Santos and for many years, the only way to be for many Filipino fans. 86. Filipino Christmas. The worlds longest holiday period. A perfect excuse to mix our love for feasting, gift-giving and music and wrap it up with a touch of religion. 87. Relatives and kababayan (countrymen) abroad. The best refuge against loneliness, discrimination and confusion in a foreign place. Distant relatives and fellow Pinoys readily roll out the welcome mat even on the basis of a phone introduction or referral. 88. Festivals. Sinulog, Ati-atihan, Moriones. Sounds, colors, pagan frenzy and Christian overtones. 89. Folk dances. Tinikling, pandanggo sa ilaw, karinosa, kuratsa, itik-itik, alitaptap, rigodon. All the right moves and a distinct rhythm. 90. Native wear and costumes. Baro't saya, tapis, terno, saya, salakot, bakya. Lovely form and ingenious function in the way we dress. 91. Sunday family gatherings. Or, close family ties that never get severed. You don't have to win the lotto or be a president to have 10,000 relatives. Everyone's family tree extends all over the archipelago, and it's at its best in times of crisis; notice how food, hostesses, money, and moral support materialises during a wake? 92. Calesa and karitela. The colorful and leisurely way to negotiate narrow streets when loaded down with a year's provisions. 93. Quality of life. Where else can an ordinary employee afford a stay-in helper, a yaya, unlimited movies, eat-all-you-can buffets, the latest fashion (Baclaran nga lang), even Viagra in the black market? 94. All Saints' Day. In honouring our dead, we also prove that we know how to live. 95. Handicrafts. Shellcraft, rattancraft, abaca novelties, woodcarvings, banig placemats and bags, bamboo windchimes, etc. Portable memories of home. Hindi lang pang-turista, pang- balikbayan pa! 96. Pinoy greens. Sitaw. Okra. Ampalaya. Gabi. Munggo. Dahon ng Sili. Kangkong. Luya. Talong. Sigarillas. Bataw. Patani. Lutong bahay will never be the same without them. 97. OCWs. The lengths (and miles) we'd go for a better life for our family, as proven by these modern-day heroes of the economy. 98. The Filipino artist. From Luna's magnificent "Spolarium" and Amorsolo's sun-kissed rice fields, to Ang Kiukok's jarring abstractions and Borlongan's haunting ghosts, and everybody else in between. Hang a Filipino painting on your wall, and you're hanging one of Asia's best. 99. Tagalog soap operas. From "Gulong ng Palad" and "Flor de Luna" to today's incarnations like "Mula sa Puso"--they're the story of our lives, and we feel strongly for them, MariMar notwithstanding. 100. Midnight madness, weekends sales, bangketas and baratillos. It's retail therapy at its best, with Filipinos braving traffic, crowds, and human deluge to find a bargain.

Feel free to visit:
http://www.jeepneygang.com/bola/100pinoythings.html

1. Go to the zoo

2. Visit a farm

3. Go on a hike

4. Play with kittens or puppies

5. Catch a frog

6. Make a gigantic mess

7. Help clean up a gigantic mess

8. Master the monkey-bars

9. Swing high up into the sky all by themselves

10. Try ice-skating

11. Go sledding

12. Make a snow-man

13. Blow bubbles

14. Plant seeds and watch them grow

15. Have a pillow fight

16. Jump on a big bed

17. Jump on a trampoline or in a bounce house

18. Hang out in a tent

19. Spend days at the beach

20. Build sandcastles

21. Go fishing

22. Go out on a boat

23. Play with blocks and puzzles

24. Read the classic picture books

25. Read a classic chapter book

26. Check out library books with their own library card

27. Get a passport

28. Carve a pumpkin

29. Hold a newborn baby (to see how much they've grown)

30. Love a special doll or stuffed animal

31. Bake cookies and cakes

32. Help plan their own birthday party

33. Go to the circus

34. Go to a museum on a quiet weekday

35. Play hide-and-seek

36. Play a board game

37. Do nothing whatsoever all day

38. Try a sport

39. Watch a sporting event

40. Learn to swim

41. Be tickled in hysterics

42. Paint and draw as much as desired

43. Have the use of scissors and glue

44. Display artworks and other creations around the house

45. Learn to use a camera (and keep an album of the results!)

46. Play with clay

47. Pick flowers

48. Climb a tree

49. Gaze at the moon and stars

50. Toast marshmallows

51. Learn to eat an ice-cream cone

52. Watch a sunset

53. Learn to write their own names

54. Learn their addresses and telephone numbers

55. Learn their parents' full names

56. Set the table

57. Clear the table

58. Help wash the dishes

59. Learn to say their pleases and thank yous and excuse mes

60. Watch fireworks

61. Go to the ballet or theater or a puppet show

62. Put on a ballet or play or puppet show at home

63. Face paint

64. Dress up in costumes at will

65. Learn rhymes and poems and songs by heart

66. Have a dance party

67. Enjoy friends at preschool and at the park

68. Invite friends over to play

69. Get to know grandparents

70. Play with cousins

71. Become attached to a wonderful preschool teacher and/or babysitter

72. Learn the name of our president

73. Know the name of their town, state and country

74. Be familiar with a map of the world

75. Listen to music from many different ages and genres

76. Hear and learn words from a different language

77. Learn the difference between trash and recycling

78. Grow their own vegetables

79. Learn to ride a bike (or try!)

80. Take a road trip

81. Draw a self-portrait

82. Slurp alphabet soup

83. Learn to twirl spaghetti on a fork

84. Pick apples

85. Star in a home movie

86. Learn a magic trick

87. Try different hair-dos

88. Practice writing letters

89. Practice counting to 100

90. Make up stories

91. Send a letter

92. Receive a letter

93. Ride on a merry-go-round

94. Give away toys and books to less fortunate children

95. Learn the value of coins and bills

96. Keep a piggy bank

97. Try a musical instrument

98. Have a heartfelt wish granted

99. Have a heartfelt wish denied

100. Receive a million (make that a billion) heartfelt kisses and hugs from their parents!

Feel free to visit:
http://www.savvysource.com/savvyparent/beingsavvyarticle_14_6309_100-things-to-do-before-kindergarten

Feel free to visit:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/2551779/100-things-to-do-before-you-die-

1. Take a bicycle trip.
2. Make homemade ice cream or visit an ice cream parlor.
3. Bake a double batch of cookies and deliver one to a needy family.
4. Visit an airport and watch the planes take off and land, or go to a lake and watch the boats, while you have a picnic.
5. Go on a breakfast picnic.
6. Go to a park and hike or climb trees.
7. Make popcorn, maybe even caramel corn.
8. Enjoy the snow together by building a snowman, snow bears, a huge turtle or other animals, making a snow fort or throwing snowballs. How about making snow ice cream?
9. Go swimming or water skiing.
10. Plan a scavenger hunt for outside. Or plan one for in the house using every letter of the alphabet.
11. Bake plain sugar cookies and let each member of the family take part in decorating them.
12. Make playdoh and sculpt objects or people (even from Bible stories).
13. Read a good book aloud. (C.S. Lewis' "Tales of Narnia" appeals to children and adults alike.
14. Look through photo albums or view family slides, movies, or videos.
15. Play miniature golf or croquet.
16. Make a tape recording of the most recent news and send it to a close friend or relative whom you seldom see.
17. Make a "birthday flag" for the next upcoming birthday.
18. Go fishing.
19. Play a board game that all can enjoy---Monopoly, Sorry, Scrabble.
20. Work on a jigsaw puzzle.
21. Go roller skating or ice skating.
22. Make family silhouettes. Use a slide projector or a bright lamp to project the head profile on a blank wall. Hold paper against the wall and trace the silhouette. Cut out and glue it on a contrasting sheet of paper or poster board.
23. Have a candy treasure hunt.
24. Work on a crossword puzzle.
25. Play "Start a Story." One person starts the story and talks for three minutes (use timer). The next person must continue the story, and so on. After going around the family circle two or three times, the youngest child gets to end the tale.
26. Provide old magazines, scissors and glue. Pick a theme for your collage (families, God's creations, things to be thankful for, etc.). Everyone cuts out pictures and glues them onto a large piece of paper or poster board.
27. Go to the flea market or bright and early one Saturday morning visit ten garage sales and see who can come home with the best bargain for a dollar.
28. Sing favorite choruses, hymns or nursery rhymes around the piano or guitar. You could even use a tape or CD to follow along.
29. Make plaster of Paris hand prints. Put name, year and age on the back.
30. Make a family banner. The banner should be made of felt or the flag fabric found in fabric stores. Decorate with pictures that illustrate interests of family members.
31. Go to the zoo.
32. Go bowling.
33. Make your own homemade pizza. Add mushrooms, peppers, onions, black olives and crushed pineapple to the pizza sauce and cheese.
34. Invite another family over for a game of charades or "Guesstures."
35. Listen to recordings of your favorite music.
36. One sunny Saturday morning, get out the gardening tools and find someone (a shut-in, perhaps) who could use some free yard work. Everyone can pitch in and help.
37. Make a collage using seeds, rice, cereal, old buttons and sewing scraps.
38. Catch fireflies together, put them in a jar and watch them light up. Let them go.
39. Do needlework: cross-stitch, crewel, candle wicking, rug-hooking, smocking.
40. String popcorn and place on a tree for the birds.
41. Write the words and music to a chorus together.
42. Make puppets out of lunch bags, old socks, felt, wooden clothespins. Put on a puppet show.
43. Have a bonfire outdoors or in your fireplace and roast hot dogs and marshmallows.
44. Go to your nearest hospital and look at the babies in the maternity nursery. (Visiting hours only).
45. Visit a shut-in or an elderly friend or relative in a nursing home.
46. Pick wild flowers and press some of them to save.
47. Read a Psalm together. Then write a psalm of praise for your own family.
48. Play "I think you're nice because..." Someone thinks of a quality he likes in the person who's "it." Other family members try to guess by asking, "Does it begin with an "A?" and so forth.
49. Listen to a tape of a Bible story. You can tape good stories from Christian radio stations.
50. Share prayer requests that affect and concern the whole family, then pray about them.
51. Make a mobile. Gather special treasures (shells, nature objects, hollow, decorated eggs, valentines). Tie thread or yarn of varying lengths to the end of each and attach to a hanger.
52. Ask your children about their greatest fear, and talk about them.
53. Encourage little ones to color a picture to send to grandparents.
54. Make a list together of all the things in your house that use electricity. You might do this when you lose power sometime.
55. Build a village using blocks, Lincoln logs or Leggos. Get out the matchbox cars!
56. Enjoy a shopping trip for something little, but fun---a jar of bubbles, stickers, paper dolls, a matchbox car.
57. Play "20 Questions." One person chooses a Bible character or object to be guessed. The other members of the family take turns guessing what the secret object or person might be. No more than 20 questions can be asked and each one must be able to be answered with a simple yes or no. Whoever guesses first becomes "It" for the next round. Good for car trips too.
58. Visit a farm. Milk a cow, help to feed the animals. Take pictures.
59. Play badminton, volleyball, tennis, Frisbee, yard darts or ping pong.
60. Take the kids on a tour of where Dad works.
61. Play hide-and-seek (inside or outside).
62. Play "Bible Verse Scramble." One person chooses a favorite Bible verse and writes each word on a separate piece of paper. Scramble the order of the words and challenge each member of the family to see who can put it together the fastest. It could be one the family has memorized together.
63. Go camping in the backyard. Cook breakfast on the grill.
64. Draw a family tree on paper and complete it as a family. Add old photographs if available.
65. Go jogging or take a walk together.
66. Give each person a large piece of paper and take turns tracing the outlines of their bodies on it. Color in the outlines to look like you.
67. Using white shelf paper or the inside of brown grocery bags, design your own wrapping paper with crayons, magic markers or paints--even potato prints.
68. Go to the library. Check out books, records, tapes and art reproductions. Check out books showing how to make crafts with children. Fun!
69. Gather a variety of leaves and identify them.
70. Write a letter to a missionary family. Your children could write to a missionary's child his own age.
71. If you have a computer, create a family newspaper. Each child can write a story, Dad and Mom can write a column, and an older child or parent can edit and type. Send copies to the grandparents.
72. Make candy or caramel apples.
73. Fly a kite!
74. Jump rope.
75. Take pictures of all the houses in your neighborhood, then arrange the houses on a large poster board and identify the people living in the houses. Write their addresses and phone numbers at each house too.
76. Visit a friend.
77. Dig out a flower bed and give each family member his own "plot." Plant seeds, bedding plants, vegetables or bulbs and watch God's creations grow!
78. Read favorite poems aloud.
79. Put together a scrapbook describing a favorite vacation or any special event (pictures, writing, souvenirs).
80. Rake up a big pile of leaves to jump and play in. If it's warm outside, turn on the water sprinkler and run through it.
81. Write and act out a play centered on a specific holiday, a Bible story or a character quality. Mom, Dad or one child could be the production manager.
82. Pick apples and make apple sauce together.
83. Gather seashells. Mount and identify.
84. Make snowflakes out of lightweight white paper and hang from the ceiling with thread.
85. Create a traveling friendship basket. Fill an inexpensive basket with baked goodies, crafts, coupons, and so forth. Pass it on to a friend. Leave a note in the basket, directing it to be passed on (within the week) to someone else who could use some cheer.
86. Go to a ball game or play one---football, kickball, softball, baseball, basketball, soccer.
87. Finger paint on glazed paper (shelf paper, freezer paper) with chocolate pudding.
88. Go sledding.
89. Go skiing.
90. Take a trip to an amusement park, a museum or a planetarium.
91. Use fabric crayons to design individual T-shirts.
92. Set a Bible verse to a familiar tune and learn both the verse and song as a family.
93. Write and record an interview with a Bible character.
94. Build a tree house or fort.
95. Go horseback riding.
96. Write and illustrate a short story about an imaginary animal.
97. Build a robot out of empty boxes of all shapes and sizes. Oatmeal and salt boxes work well.
98. Work together on a model kit.
99. Work on a stamp collection together.
100. Play with sand toys and trucks in a sandbox.

Feel free to visit:
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/moodyfamily/100things.html

For a long time now, I’ve held one tenet to be true - do one thing a day you otherwise wouldn’t like to do and success will come of it. This doesn’t mean I do something that collides with my ethics or morals. It simply means I do some grunt work, push an idea through the grueling phases, like register for affiliate programs, and other things that take me one step closer to my goals. Why not, right?

We sometimes call upon spiritual guides to bring us nuggets of wisdom. Let the Boom tell you there’s no procrastination bomb shelter. We need to be on top of our game to succeed. We can look for inspiration outside ourselves, but motivation comes from within and explodes outward. A lot of times I motivate myself by asking ‘why not’ followed by some activity. So here are 100 different why not ideas to light your fuse today.

1. Why not write an extra blog post today?
2. Why not sign up for an affiliate program?
3. Why not comment on a blog in your niche today?
4. Why not read blogs outside your niche today?
5. Why not drop 300 Entrecards today?
6. Why not submit a guest post to a popular blog?
7. Why not enter a blog contest to up my exposure?
8. Why not create a blog posting schedule?
9. Why not read an ebook on Affiliate Marketing?
10. Why not take some time to brush up on SEO skills?
11. Why not learn how to Freelance like a Rockstar?
12. Why not digg an article?
13. Why not do something for someone else?
14. Why not thank your blog readers?
15. Why not cleanup your blog categories?
16. Why not backup your blog today?
17. Why not learn a little about writing headlines?
18. Why not experience a new blog submission network today?
19. Why not send a friendly email to a fellow blogger today?
20. Why not read through the backlog of feed subscriptions in your reader of choice?
21. Why not learn to make money online?
22. Why not drive traffic to your blog by writing a controversial post?
23. Why not write a recommendation for a blog you love?
24. Why not update your site’s stylesheet?
25. Why not consider your brand?
26. Why not check your site traffic?
27. Why not submit your RSS feed to a few directories?
28. Why not hold a contest on your blog?
29. Why not contract a new logo design?
30. Why not sign up for twitter?
31. Why not follow someone cool on twitter?
32. Why not setup a profile for yourself to network your blog on a social network?
33. Why not create an avatar that brands your site?
34. Why not write an ebook chapter on what you know?
35. Why not update your site’s keywords and title tags?
36. Why not install a helpful plugin to your WordPress blog?
37. Why not write a constructive About page?
38. Why not create custom business cards for offline marketing your site?
39. Why not write keyword rich content for your site?
40. Why not submit your blog to dmoz.org for consideration?
41. Why not backup your WordPress blog to your local hard drive?
42. Why not find a cheaper webhost?
43. Why not explore other money making endeavors online?
44. Why not search for your blog in Google?
45. Why not try out new blog networks to increase your readership?
46. Why not give a shout out to a blogger who has helped you recently?
47. Why not buy some exposure on the Project Wonderland ad network?
48. Why not buy some ads from recent blogs on Entrecard?
49. Why not increase your backlink numbers by visiting Aboutus.org?
50. Why not buy a keyword on OneBuckWiki.com?
51. Why not stretch our imaginations by creating an innovative marketing campaign?
52. Why not offer a prize for the top commenters on our blog for a month?
53. Why not install the Do Follow plugin for our comments?
54. Why not shop for Entrecard items through their marketplace?
55. Why not add a widget to your sidebar?
56. Why not submit your site to all the search engines?
57. Why not plan a blog attack for the next year?
58. Why not try to build a huge readership?
59. Why not follow everyone on Twitter who follows you?
60. Why not setup your comments as a contact form?
61. Why not remove non-used categories?
62. Why not learn about your blog post’s secret life after publishing?
63. Why not create a budget for your blog?
64. Why not monetize your blog in a new way?
65. Why not research new browser toolbars?
66. Why not come up with a new series of blog posts?
67. Why not encourage your readers to leave you feedback?
68. Why not strip your blog of useless badges?
69. Why not buy a notebook to write down blog post ideas for when you’re on the go?
70. Why not tell someone in the offline world about blogging?
71. Why not teach someone the basics of your chosen profession?
72. Why not write a blog post that will help others?
73. Why not write a blog post that reveals a little something about you personally?
74. Why not administer a poll to find out what direction readers would like to see the blog head?
75. Why not stumble other sites, creating positive karma your own site will get stumbled?
76. Why not sign up for Sphinn?
77. Why not create a contest for your blogging friends to all emphasize on their blogs?
78. Why not join a community on MyBlogLog?
79. Why not create a MyBlogLog account?
80. Why not boost your understanding of grammar rules?
81. Why not cement an understanding of common internet phrases?
82. Why not pump up your blog traffic by being Dugg?
83. Why not try your hand at Entrecard slots?
84. Why not do some exercise while blogging?
85. Why not come up with a memorable tagline for your blog?
86. Why not sift through your own archives to rejuvenate your blog purpose?
87. Why not seek out advice on your blog’s post quality?
88. Why not try a new meme you haven’t seen on any other blogs?
89. Why not check old posts for misspelled words?
90. Why not create a custom 404 page?
91. Why not submit a sitemap to Google, Yahoo, and MSN?
92. Why not suggest your blog for inclusion in a blog review site?
93. Why not buy a banner ad on a popular blog, if you can afford the space?
94. Why not add helpful information to your sidebar?
95. Why not add a line to your template so readers are reminded to subscribe to your blog?
96. Why not give a compliment to a new blogger?
97. Why not write about the services your enjoy using for free online?
98. Why not learn new ways to increase RSS subscriptions to your blog?
99. Why not seek advice from an old school blogger?
100. Why not write a list of 100 things to inspire others?

Feel free to visit:
http://hubpages.com/hub/100-Things-To-Do-For-Hubbers-And-Bloggers
.

101 Things To Do List

1. Add useful information to your sidebar. Here at HubPages you can use the various capsules to get this result.

2. Add a line to your article so that the readers are reminded to subscribe to your articles.

3. Backup your articles. Not all sites will stay up forever.

4. Buy some exposure with Google Adwords. You will get targeted traffic.

5. Buy some ads from popular blogs on Entrecard.

6. Boost your understanding of grammar. Some people are turned off by bad grammar.

7. Buy a keyword on OneBuckWiki.

8. Backup your WordPress blog to your local hard disc.

9. Create a custom 404 page for your blog.

10. Check old articles for 'smelling pistakes'.

11. Create a MyBlogLog account.

12. Create an avatar that reflects your outlook.

13. Create a poll. Currently we don't have this feature here. But you can do it on your blogs.

14. Create a contest for your friends and visitors.

15. Check your site traffic. Observe the trends.

16. Cleanup your article categories. Group them in interesting categories.

17. Comment on an article today.

18. Create an article posting schedule.

19. Decide on the budget for your blog.

20. Design a custom business card for offline marketing your blog.

21. Design a new logo for your blog.

22. Drop some fanmail on your favorite hubber's profile.

23. Drive traffic to your blog by writing on a controversial subject.

24. Digg an article.

25. Do something for someone else.

26. Exercise while blogging.

27. Explore a new site.

28. Explore new browser toolbars.

29. Enter a blog contest to get more exposure.

30. Encourage your readers to leave comments.

31. Explore other money making opportunities online.

32. Find a cheaper web hosting service.

33. Follow everyone on Twitter who follows you.

34. Give a shout out to a hubber who has helped you recently.

35. Give a compliment to a new hubber.

36. Go through your own archives to reinvent your blog purpose.

37. Increase your backlink numbers by commenting on do follow blogs.

38. Improve your traffic by getting Dugg.

39. Install a helpful plugin for your WordPress blog.

40. Install the Do Follow plugin for comments.

41. If you can afford it, buy a banner ad on a popular blog.

42. Join mySpace.

43. Learn how to freelance like a rockstar.

44. Learn about writing headlines.

45. Learn to make money online.

46. Learn new ways to increase your RSS subscribers.

47. Learn about your article’s secret life after publishing.

48. Monetize your blog in a new way.

49. Offer a prize for the top commenters on your blog for a month.

50. Plan a new blog for next year.

51. Post a new series of blog posts.

52. Request for inclusion your blog in a blog review site.

53. Read through the backlog your favorite hubbers' articles.

54. Read through the backlog of feed subscriptions.

55. Read articles outside your niche today.

56. Remove useless badges on your blog.

57. Remove unused categories.

58. Read an ebook on your computer.

59. Start following someone on twitter.

60. Send a friendly email to a fellow Hubber today.

61. Sign up for an affiliate program.

62. Submit a guest post to a popular blog.

63. Shop at ebay.

64. Submit your RSS feed to a few directories.

65. Submit your blog to dmoz.org for evaluation.

66. Shop for Entrecard items through their marketplace.

67. Submit your articles to some the search engines.

68. Stumble other sites, and write reviews.

69. Sign up for Plime.

70. Submit a sitemap to Google, Yahoo, and MSN.

71. Search for your articles in Google.

72. Setup a profile for yourself to network your blog on a social network.

73. Sign up for Google Analytics.

74. Seek advice on your article's quality.

75. Stretch your imaginations by creating an innovative idea for getting more traffic.

76. Search the idea bank for something that you can write about.

77. Seek advice from old Hubbers.

78. Thank your article readers.

79. Try out a new article submission site today.

80. Try a new meme you haven’t seen on any other blogs.

81. Take some time to learn SEO skills.

82. Try out new blog networks to increase readership.

83. Tell someone in the offline world about Hubbing.

84. Teach someone the basics of your profession.

85. Try to build a huge readership.

86. Think of a striking tagline for your blog.

87. Try to understand common internet phrases, if you don't already.

88. Think of a free gift for your fellow bloggers and hubbers.

89. Try out a new template on your blog.

90. Update your keywords and title tags.

91. Write about the free online services your enjoy.

92. Write a constructive profile page.

93. Write a recommendation for a blog you like.

94. Write an ebook chapter on what you know.

95. Write keyword rich content.

96. Write a list of 100 things to inspire others.

97. Write an extra blog post today.

98. Write an article that will help others.

99. Write an article that reveals a little about you personally.

100. Write on a notebook about blog post ideas when you are on the move.

Feel free to visit:
http://hubpages.com/hub/100-Things-To-Do-For-Hubbers-And-Bloggers

Feel free to visit:
http://www.familyfunshop.com/100funfamilyactivities.htm

ALL OF A KIND FAMILY - A Jewish family finds life in New York City in the early 20th century a joyous and adventurous experience. by Sydney Taylor

BULL RUN - Northerners, Southerners, generals, couriers, dreaming boys, and worried sisters describe the glory, the horror, the thrill, and the disillusionment of the first battle of the Civil War. by Paul Fleischman

I, JUAN DE PAREJA - A fictionalized biography of the African slave of the great Spanish painter Velazquez. by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino

LETTERS FROM RIFKA - In letters to her cousin, a young Jewish girl chronicles her family's perilous 1919 flight from Russia to America, and her own experiences when she has to be left behind in Belgium. By Karen Hesse

LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS - Laura and her pioneer family share a home in the wilderness of Wisconsin in this first of a beloved series. by Laura Ingalls Wilder

THE MASTER PUPPETEER - In 18th century Osaka, the thirteen-year-old son of a poor puppet-maker becomes a theater apprentice and discovers the identity of the mysterious bandit who robs the rich and helps the starving poor in famine-struck Japan. by Katharine Paterson

>>>A Guide for Using the Master Puppeteer in the Classroom

THE MIDWIFE'S APPRENTICE - In medieval England, a nameless, homeless girl is taken in a sharp-tempered midwife, and in spite of obstacles and hardship, eventually gains the three things she most wants: a full belly, a contented heart, and a place in this world. 1996 Newbery Award. by Karen Cushman

>>>The Midwife's Apprentice: A Unit Plan

MORNING GIRL - Morning Girl, who loves the day, and her younger brother, Star Boy, who loves the night, take turns describing their life on a Caribbean island just before Columbus lands. by Michael Dorris

ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY - A black family living in Mississippi in 1933 is faced with prejudice. 1977 Newbery Award. by Mildred Taylor

>>>Literature Circle Guide: Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry (Literature Guides, Grades 4-8)

>>>Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry [UNABRIDGED] -- Audio Cassette

THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND - A sixteen-year-old girl from Barbados moves to a Puritan colony in Connecticut and is accused of being a witch. by Elizabeth George Speare

>>>A Guide for Using The Witch of Blackbird Pond in the Classroom

>>>The Witch of Blackbird Pond : A Unit Plan

>>>The Witch of Blackbird Pond Study Guide

BULLY FOR YOU, TEDDY ROOSEVELT! - The dynamic life of the 26th president who hunted big game animals and fought for conservation. by Jean Fritz

CHARLES A. LINDBERGH: A HUMAN HERO - A fascinating portrait that explores the accomplishments and shortcomings of the adventurous American aviator, enhanced. by James Cross Giblin

THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL - The secret journal of a Dutch Jewish girl written during the time her family went into hiding from the Nazis during World War II. by Anne Frank

>>>Teaching the Diary of Anne Frank (Grades 5 and UP)

>>>The Diary of Anne Frank ; Play and Related Readings

>>>A Guide for Using Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl in the Classroom

>>>Anne Frank Diary of a Young Girl : A Unit Plan

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: A LIFE OF DISCOVERY - Photographs and insight portray a dynamic first lady devoted to public service and humanitarian causes. by Russell Freedman

>>>Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery - AUDIO

EZRA JACK KEATS - Fans and young readers alike will be delighted with this insightful story of the beloved picture book author and illustrator. by Dean Engel

HOMESICK: MY OWN STORY - The author's memoir of her childhood in China in the 1920's. by Jean Fritz

LEONARDO DA VINCI - A recreation of the life of the Renaissance painter and inventor through handsomely detailed illustrations. by Diane Stanley

>>>How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci: Seven Steps to Genius Every Day

LINCOLN: A PHOTOBIOGRAPHY - The life of the 16th president movingly portrayed in words and pictures. 1988 Newbery Award. Russell Freedman

LITTLE BY LITTLE: A WRITER'S EDUCATION - Recollections of her childhood in Taiwan and Canada and what it was like to be almost blind reveal the source for the strength and feelings in her books. by Jean Little

LIVES OF THE MUSICIANS - Good times, bad times (and what the neighbors thought) - a witty collection. First in a series. by Kathleen Krull

SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL - Caleb and Anna hope that the mail-order bride who comes from Maine to their prairie home will stay. by Patricia MacLachlan

>>>Reading Guide To Sarah, Plain and Tall

>>>A Guide for Using Sarah Plain and Tall/Journey in the Classroom

>>>Sarah, Plain and Tall: A Play in Two Acts

THE BOGGART - When an ancient and mischievous spirit is accidentally transported from Scotland to Toronto, it wreaks havoc for Emily and her brother Jessup.
by Susan Cooper

CHARLOTTE'S WEB - The story of a little girl named Fern who loves a little pig named Wilbur and of Wilbur's dear friend, Charlotte A. Cavatica, a beautiful, large gray spider who lives with Wilbur in the barn. by E. B. White

>>>A Guide for Using Charlotte's Web in the Classroom

THE DARK IS RISING - Will Stanton's 11th birthday is the beginning of a frightening yet wonderful discovery of a special gift - immortality and power against the forces of evil. by Susan Cooper

FALCON'S EGG - A girl finds a large, hot, red egg in Central Park and cares for the remarkable creature which hatches from it. by Luli Gray

THE HAUNTING - After a shy and rather withdrawn eight-year-old begins receiving frightening supernatural images and messages, he learns about a family legacy which could be considered a curse or a rare gift. by Margaret Mahy

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE - Four English children go through a wardrobe door to Narnia where Aslan, the noble lion, fights the spell of the white witch. First in the Chronicles of Narnia series. by C. S. Lewis

THE LION, THE WITCH, AND THE WARDROBE - Spanish Edition

>>>A Guide for Using The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in the Classroom

>>>The Lion, Witch & Wardrobe Study Guide

>>>The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Picture Book

THE MOORCHILD - Feeling that she is neither fully human nor "Folk," a changeling learns her true identity and attempts to find the human child whose place she had been given. by Eloise McGraw

THE RETURN OF THE TWELVES - In his new home, a young boy finds twelve old wooden soldiers (all alive) that once belonged to the famous Bronte children. by Pauline Clarke

TUCK EVERLASTING - The Tuck family is confronted with an agonizing situation when they discover that a ten-year-old girl and a malicious stranger now share their secret about a spring whose water prevents one from ever growing any older. by Natalie Babbitt

>>>Tuck Everlasting Study Guide

>>>A Guide for Using Tuck Everlasting in the Classroom

>>>Literature Circle Guides: Tuck Everlasting (Grades 4-8)

>>>Tuck Everlasting: A Unit Plan

ABEL'S ISLAND - Castaway on an uninhabited island, Abel, a very civilized mouse, finds his resourcefulness and endurance tested to the limit as he struggles to survive and return home. by William Steig

BABE, THE GALLANT PIG - A piglet destined to be butchered arrives at the farmyard, is adopted by an old sheep dog, and discovers a special secret to success. by Dick King-Smith

BUNNICULA - Though scoffed at Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny is a vampire. by Deborah Howe

THE CRICKET IN TIMES SQUARE - A fast-talking mouse and a city-wise cat welcome a country cricket to a new home in a NYC subway station. by George Selden

THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY - Two dogs and a cat support each other through hardships, hunger, and danger as they travel two hundred and fifty miles across Canada to reach home. by Sheila Burnford

>>> Homeword Bound - The Incredible Journey

MRS. FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH - In need of help for her children, a widowed mouse visits the rats whose former imprisonment in a laboratory has given them wisdom. 1972 Newbery Award. by Robert O'Brien

>>>A Guide for Using Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH in the Classroom

>>>Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh: A Study Guide

>>>LA Senora Frisby Y Las Ratas De Nimh/Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh (Coleccion El Barco De Vapor, 82)

>>>Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh: Student Packet Grades 7-8

POPPY - A courageous girl mouse embarks on a journey to save her family and defeat the tyrannical horned owl who rules the forest.by Brian Floca Avi

SHILOH - When he finds a lost beagle in the hills behind his West Virginia home, Marty tries to hide it from his family and the dog's real owner, a mean-spirited man who shoots deer out of season and mistreats his dogs.1992 Newbery Award. by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

>>> SHILOHA

>>>Guide for Using Shiloh in the Classroom

SOUNDER - Angry and humiliated when his sharecropper father is jailed for stealing food for his family, a young black boy grows in courage and understanding with the help of his devoted dog Sounder. 1970 Newbery Award. by William Armstrong

>>> SOUNDER

>>>A Guide for Using Sounder in the Classroom

THE WAINSCOTT WEASEL - A sensitive but heroic young weasel finds a way to save his seaside community on Long Island. Beautifully illustrated. by Tor Seidler

FREAKY FRIDAY - A thirteen-year-old girl gains a much more sympathetic understanding of her relationship with her mother when the two switch bodies. by Mary Rodgers

>>> FREAKY FRIDAY

HARRIS AND ME: A SUMMER REMEMBERED - Pig wrestling and mouse hunting are just two of a young boy's raucous escapades the summer he lived on his cousin's farm. by Gary Paulsen

HOW TO EAT FRIED WORMS - Two boys set out to prove that worms can make a delicious meal. by Thomas Rockwell

KNIGHTS OF THE KITCHEN TABLE - A magic book transports three boys back to the days of King Arthur in the first book of the "The Time Warp Trio."
by Jon Scieszka

LIZARD MUSIC - When left to take care of himself, a young boy encounters a community of intelligent lizards who tell him of a little known invasion from outer space. by Daniel Manus Pinkwater

ORDINARY JACK - An eleven-year-old English boy, Jack, the only "ordinary" member of the talented and eccentric Bagthorpe family, concocts a scheme to distinguish himself as a modern-day prophet. The first book in The Bagthorpe Saga.
by Helen Cresswell

THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH - Milo, a little boy who didn't know what to do with himself, goes through the phantom tollbooth, behind which lies a strange land and even stranger adventures. by Norton Juster

>>>A Guide for Using The Phantom Tollbooth in the Classroom

SQUASHED - Ellie is determined that Max, her 600 pound pumpkin, will win the big weigh-in at the County Fair. by Joan Bauer

THE TWITS - The misadventures of two terrible old people who enjoy playing nasty tricks and are finally outwitted a family of monkeys. by Roald Dahl

UNREAL! - Magic underpants, a ghost that haunts an outhouse, and ice cream that can make you smart are some of the ingredients in these "eight surprising stories.
by Paul Jennings

THE DOLLHOUSE MURDERS - A dollhouse filled with a ghostly light in the middle of the night and dolls that have moved from where she has left them lead Amy and her sister to unravel the mystery surrounding grisly murders that took place years ago.
by Betty Ren Wright

DOWN A DARK HALL - Suspicious and uneasy about the atmosphere at her new boarding school, fourteen-year-old Kit slowly realizes why she and the other three students at school were selected. by Lois Duncan

THE EGYPT GAME - Melanie and her new friend April enjoy a common interest in ancient Egypt and develop a land of Egypt in an abandoned storage yard.
by Zilpha Keatley Snyder

>>>The Egypt Game Literature Unit

>>>Spend the Day in Ancient Egypt : Projects and Activities That Bring the Past to Life

ENCYCLOPEDIA BROWN: BOY DETECTIVE - The first in a series of detective stories in which the reader is challenged to match wits with the ten-year-old mastermind of Idaville's war on crime. by Donald J. Sobol

FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER - A twelve-year-old girl and her brother run away to The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 1968 Newbery Award. by E. L. Konigsburg

>>> FROM THE MIXED-UP FILES OF MRS. BASIL E. FRANKWEILER

>>>A Guide for Using From the Mixed up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler in the Classroom

>>>Literature Circle Guide: From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler

THE HOUSE OF DIES DREAR - Thirteen-year-old Thomas and his family move from North Carolina to a strange, old mansion in Ohio which was once a station on the Underground Railroad. by Virginia Hamilton

>>> THE HOUSE OF DIES DREAR

THE HOUSE WITH A CLOCK IN ITS WALLS - A boy goes to live with his magician uncle in a mansion that has a clock hidden in the walls which is ticking off the minutes until doomsday. by John Bellairs

THE RUBY IN THE SMOKE - In nineteenth-century London, sixteen-year-old Sally, a recent orphan, becomes involved in a deadly search for a mysterious ruby.
by Phillip Pullman

THE VIEW FROM THE CHERRY TREE - Rob admits to having seen a murder, but in the confusion of his older sister's wedding no one believes him - except the murderer.
by Willo Davis Roberts

THE WESTING GAME - The mysterious death of an eccentric millionaire brings together an unlikely assortment of heirs who must uncover the circumstances of his death before they can claim their inheritance. 1979 Newbery Award. by Ellen Raskin

>>>The Westing Game (Teaching Resource) Novel Vocabulary

>>>The Westing Game (Teaching Resource) Assessment Pack

ANNA TO THE INFINITE POWER - A twelve-year-old math whiz accidentally learns the startling facts about her true identity and her role in an important secret experiment. by Mildred Ames

>>> ANNA TO THE INFINITE POWER

THE EAR, THE EYE, AND THE ARM - In 2194 Zimbabwe, General Matsika's three children are kidnapped and put to work in a plastic mine, while three mutant detectives use their special powers to search for them. by Nancy Farmer

>>> THE EAR, THE EYE, AND THE ARM - AUDIO CASSETTE

ENCHANTRESS FROM THE STARS - Three civilizations from different planets in widely varying stages of development clash in what could be either a mutually disastrous or beneficial encounter. by Sylvia Engdahl

EVA - After a terrible accident, a young girl wakes up to discover that she has been given the body of a chimpanzee. by Peter Dickinson

THE GIVER - At the Ceremony of the Twelves, Jonas begins to learn the horrifying truth about the perfect society in which he has grown up. 1994 Newbery Award.
by Lois Lowery

INTERSTELLAR PIG - Barney's boring seaside vacation suddenly becomes more interesting when the cottage next door is occupied three exotic neighbors who are addicted to a doomsday game. by William Sleator

STINKER FROM SPACE - An agent of the Sylon Confederacy who is fleeing from enemy ships, crash lands on Earth, transfers his mind to the body of a skunk, and enlists the aid of two children in getting back to his home planet. by Pamela Service

THE WHITE MOUNTAINS - The harrowing escape of a young boy from a futuristically mechanized tyranny is compellingly described. First book of the author's trilogy about the Tripods, of which The City Of Gold and Lead, and The Pool Of Fire form the second and third books respectively. by John Christopher

A WRINKLE IN TIME - A trio of whimsical characters, intent on helping Meg find her father, take her, her brother, and a friend on an interplanetary voyage to a distant planet where an omnipotent brain has robotized everyone. by Madeleine L'Engle

>>>Literature Circle Guide: A Wrinkle in Time

>>>A Guide for Using A Wrinkle in Time in the Classroom

A GIRL NAMED DISASTER - While journeying to Zimbabwe, eleven-year-old Nhamo struggles to escape drowning and starvation and in so doing comes close to the luminous world of the African spirits.

HATCHET - After a plane crash, thirteen-year-old Brian spends fifty-four days in the wilderness, learning to survive initially with only the aid of a hatchet given his mother, and learning also to survive his parents' divorce. by Gary Paulsen

ISLAND OF THE BLUE DOLPHINS - When her younger brother dies in 1800, Karana, an Indian girl, spends eighteen years alone on the Island of San Nicholas, far off the coast of California. 1961 Newbery Award. by Scott O'Dell

>>>Island of the Blue Dolphins (Literature Circle Guides, Grades 4-8)

JULIE OF THE WOLVES - While running away from home and an unwanted marriage, a thirteen-year-old Eskimo girl becomes lost on the North Slope of Alaska and is befriended a wolf pack. 1973 Newbery Award. by Jean Craighead George

>>>Literature Circle Guides: Julie of the Wolves (Grades 4-8)

>>>Reading Guide To Julie Of The Wolves

>>>Julie of the Wolves : A Unit Plan

>>>A Guide for Using Julie of the Wolves in the Classroom

SAVE QUEEN OF SHEBA - After miraculously surviving a Sioux Indian raid on the trail to Oregon, a brother and sister set out with few provisions to find the rest of the settlers. by Louise Moeri

SLAKE'S LIMBO - Thirteen-year-old Aremis Slake, hounded his fears and misfortunes, flees them into New York City's subway tunnels, never again--he believes--to emerge. by Felice Holman

STONE FOX - Willy tries desperately to win a sled dog race against an enigmatic Indian. by John Reynolds Gardiner

>>>A Guide for Using Stone Fox in the Classroom

THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE - As the lone "young lady" on a transatlantic voyage in 1832, Charlotte learns that the captain is murderous and the crew rebellious.

THE WHIPPING BOY - A bratty prince and his whipping boy have many adventures when they inadvertently trade places after becoming involved with dangerous outlaws. 1987 Newbery Award. by Sid Fleischman

Z FOR ZACHARIAH - Seemingly the only person left alive after the holocaust of a war, a young girl is relieved to see a man arrive into her valley until she realizes that he is a tyrant and she must somehow escape. by Robert O'Brien

>>>Letts Explore for GCSE: "Z for Zachariah"

ARE YOU THERE GOD? IT'S ME MARGARET - Faced with the difficulties of growing up and choosing a religion, a twelve-year-old girl talks over her problems with her own private God. by Judy Blume

THE FRIENDS - A young West Indian girl in Harlem, New York recognizes that her own selfish pride rather than her mother's death and her father's tyrannical behavior created the gulf between her and her best friend. by Rosa Guy

THE GOATS - Abandoned on an island by their fellow campers, a boy and a girl learn to survive both physically and emotionally. by Brock Cole

HARRIET THE SPY - Precocious, overpriviledged Harriet darts around her Manhattan neighborhood ferreting out the "scoop" on the moving scene. by Louise Fitzhugh

>>> HARRIET THE SPY

>>>Harriet The Spy - Movie Poster

>>>A Guide for Using Harriet the Spy in the Classroom

MANIAC MAGEE - After his parents die, Jeffrey Lionel Magee's life becomes legendary, as he accomplishes athletic and other feats which awe his contemporaries. 1991 Newbery Award. by Jerry Spinelli

>>>Literature Circle Guides: Maniac Magee (Grades 4-8)

>>>Maniac Magee Study Guide

>>>Maniac Magee (Literature Unit Series)

MOTOWN AND DIDI - Motown and Didi, two teenage loners in Harlem, become allies in a fight against Touchy, the drug dealer whose dope is destroying Didi's brother, and find themselves falling in love with each other. by Walter Dean Myers

SHABANU: DAUGHTER OF THE WIND - When eleven-year old Shabanu, the daughter of a nomad in present-day Pakistan, is pledged in marriage to an older man whose money will bring prestige to the family, she must either accept the decision, as is the custom, or risk the consequences of defying. by Suzanne Fisher Staples

TONING THE SWEEP - On a trip to the desert to bring her dying grandmother home, Emily learns about the family's tragic past and gains pride as a third generation black woman. by Angela Johnson

WALK TWO MOONS - After her mother leaves home suddenly, thirteen-year-old Sal and her grandparents take a car trip to Idaho retracing her mother's route. 1995 Newbery Award. by Sharon Creech

>>>Walk Two Moons: Literature Unit: A Guide for Using in the Classroom

WHAT JAMIE SAW - Having fled to a family friend's hillside trailer after his mother's boyfriend tried to throw his baby sister against a wall, nine-year-old Jamie finds himself living an existence full of uncertainty and fear. by Carolyn Coman

AND THE GREEN GRASS GREW ALL AROUND: FOLK POETRY FROM EVERYONE - Teases and taunts, wishes and warnings - a buoyant collection of beloved childhood nonsense. by Alvin Schwartz

THE DREAM KEEPER AND OTHER POEMS - Lyrical poems, songs, and blues explore the black experience. by Langston Hughes

I AM THE DARKER BROTHER - An anthology of African-American poets.
by Arnold Adoff

JOYFUL NOISE - The world of insects captured in poems for two voices that are perfect for reading aloud. 1989 Newbery Award. by Paul Fleischman

A PIZZA THE SIZE OF THE SUN - Humor, rhythm and rhyme abound in nearly 100 poems. by Jack Prelutsky

SOUL LOOKS BACK IN WONDER - Tom Feelings and poems such writers as Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, and Askia Toure portray the creativity, strength, and beauty of their African American heritage.

WHAT TO DO WHEN A BUG CRAWLS IN YOUR MOUTH AND OTHER POEMS TO DRIVE YOU BUGGY - Roaches, bees, ants, beetles – silly verse to chuckle over in a colorfully illustrated book. by Rick Walton

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS - A boy who turns into a TV set and a girl who eats a whale are only two of the characters in a collection of humorous poetry illustrated with the author's own drawings. by Shel Silverstein


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