June BOOK CLUBS ARE HERE! I knew we'd need a STELLAR READER to help us kick off our summer reading club, so I brought Erik along today! For those of you who don't know, Erik Weibel is a Super-Powered 12 year-old reader and writer! He sets astounding reading goals every year! This school year he set a goal to read enough books to get him to 1505 Accelerated Reader points! In addition, he also review books on his blog site at thiskidreviewsbooks.com and published his own book at age 11! Super-Powered for sure, right?!
Welcome, Erik! You amaze me!
Inquiring kids want to know: "Why should we read during the summer?"
You can go anywhere in a book!
When did you become a goal-setter?
I’ve pretty much always set goals for myself. I like the challenge of it and it helps me be organized too. My parents help by challenging me to meet the goals I set for myself by offering prizes if I make them. I set goals that I think are reasonable for me, and I work hard towards my goals. I do my best to exceed them.
Sounds like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! What an awesome support you have in your parents! Can you tell us a little bit about what reading and reviewing books has done for you?
Well, it has definitely made me a better writer. I practice writing with every review I post. It has also opened me up to the big world of publishing. I’ve learned a lot about how books are written and made. I’ve also learned a lot about self-publishing and I was able to self-publish my own book.
Because I read books to review them, sometimes I get a book and I think I’m not going to like it because of the subject or even just because of the cover (I know – I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but people really do ;) ) and I find out that I really do like the story. I think reading different types of books (poetry, non-fiction, classics) teaches me a lot. I read pretty much anything that comes into my in box as long as it’s okay for my age. Most of the books I review are actually self-published. :)
The most important thing reading and reviewing books has done for me is let me meet all kinds of people from all over the world and talk about books with them. That is just so cool!
Okay, we're dying to know! Did you reach your goal this year?
YES! I got 1524.9 AR points! I worked very hard to get it, and am very proud of myself. The old record (set by me last year) was 1503.9 points. I took tests on 180 books during the school year. I actually read more than that but a lot of them aren’t AR books yet. Sadly, new releases, self-published, most graphic novels and some older books don’t have tests for them.
How has reading inspired you to write?
I love reading stories. I get a ton of enjoyment out of a book. At age nine, I started writing about the main characters in my book “The Adventures of Tomato and Pea- Book one: A Bad Idea”. I liked the story so much that I kept adding and adding to it. I remember seeing author’s names printed on book covers and thinking I’d really like to see my name there. I really admire people who can write great stories. They really inspire me.
What would you like to tell the first graders (and beyond) in this world?
Figure out what it is you like to do and do it, even if it isn’t “popular.” I was always into books (okay I actually almost got sent to the principal’s office for reading too much in class so maybe I was too into books) and not everybody thought that was cool. But I did my own thing and got really good at it and now I have a popular site and I am doing what I really like to do. Also, listen to your first grade teacher! They know a lot. My 1st Grade teacher told my parents that she thought I would be a great public speaker, so she had me do reports and present them in front of the class for practice. I wasn’t really sure about the whole thing at the time, but I think it worked. Now, I’m a pretty good public speaker – well, at least I don’t get nervous talking to people. :)
Why will kids like your book, The Adventures of Tomato and Pea- Book one: A Bad Idea?
I wrote the book to be funny, full of action, and about aliens – pretty much what I like and I am a kid, so I think others will too. But that is only part of the answer. I think the main reason kids will like my book “The Adventures of Tomato and Pea- Book one: A Bad Idea” is that it was written by a kid, for kids. I hope my book inspires other kids to write. I hope it inspires them to read. I hope that more kids get into reading and writing. :)
THANK YOU for being with us today, Erik! Will you join us in reading this month? It's time to get our club on! So, HEEEEEEEEERE'S our Carrie On...June Book Club!
Welcome, Erik! You amaze me!
Inquiring kids want to know: "Why should we read during the summer?"
You can go anywhere in a book!
When did you become a goal-setter?
I’ve pretty much always set goals for myself. I like the challenge of it and it helps me be organized too. My parents help by challenging me to meet the goals I set for myself by offering prizes if I make them. I set goals that I think are reasonable for me, and I work hard towards my goals. I do my best to exceed them.
Sounds like the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! What an awesome support you have in your parents! Can you tell us a little bit about what reading and reviewing books has done for you?
Well, it has definitely made me a better writer. I practice writing with every review I post. It has also opened me up to the big world of publishing. I’ve learned a lot about how books are written and made. I’ve also learned a lot about self-publishing and I was able to self-publish my own book.
Because I read books to review them, sometimes I get a book and I think I’m not going to like it because of the subject or even just because of the cover (I know – I shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but people really do ;) ) and I find out that I really do like the story. I think reading different types of books (poetry, non-fiction, classics) teaches me a lot. I read pretty much anything that comes into my in box as long as it’s okay for my age. Most of the books I review are actually self-published. :)
The most important thing reading and reviewing books has done for me is let me meet all kinds of people from all over the world and talk about books with them. That is just so cool!
Okay, we're dying to know! Did you reach your goal this year?
YES! I got 1524.9 AR points! I worked very hard to get it, and am very proud of myself. The old record (set by me last year) was 1503.9 points. I took tests on 180 books during the school year. I actually read more than that but a lot of them aren’t AR books yet. Sadly, new releases, self-published, most graphic novels and some older books don’t have tests for them.
How has reading inspired you to write?
I love reading stories. I get a ton of enjoyment out of a book. At age nine, I started writing about the main characters in my book “The Adventures of Tomato and Pea- Book one: A Bad Idea”. I liked the story so much that I kept adding and adding to it. I remember seeing author’s names printed on book covers and thinking I’d really like to see my name there. I really admire people who can write great stories. They really inspire me.
What would you like to tell the first graders (and beyond) in this world?
Figure out what it is you like to do and do it, even if it isn’t “popular.” I was always into books (okay I actually almost got sent to the principal’s office for reading too much in class so maybe I was too into books) and not everybody thought that was cool. But I did my own thing and got really good at it and now I have a popular site and I am doing what I really like to do. Also, listen to your first grade teacher! They know a lot. My 1st Grade teacher told my parents that she thought I would be a great public speaker, so she had me do reports and present them in front of the class for practice. I wasn’t really sure about the whole thing at the time, but I think it worked. Now, I’m a pretty good public speaker – well, at least I don’t get nervous talking to people. :)
Why will kids like your book, The Adventures of Tomato and Pea- Book one: A Bad Idea?
I wrote the book to be funny, full of action, and about aliens – pretty much what I like and I am a kid, so I think others will too. But that is only part of the answer. I think the main reason kids will like my book “The Adventures of Tomato and Pea- Book one: A Bad Idea” is that it was written by a kid, for kids. I hope my book inspires other kids to write. I hope it inspires them to read. I hope that more kids get into reading and writing. :)
THANK YOU for being with us today, Erik! Will you join us in reading this month? It's time to get our club on! So, HEEEEEEEEERE'S our Carrie On...June Book Club!
SNEAK PEEK:
Here is a sneak peek into our June Book Club! That's right! You will want to read Erik's book and then sit down and start writing your own! If Erik can do it, so can you! Check out our June Book Club list here and then send in your art or reviews! Can't wait to hear from you!
Here is a sneak peek into our June Book Club! That's right! You will want to read Erik's book and then sit down and start writing your own! If Erik can do it, so can you! Check out our June Book Club list here and then send in your art or reviews! Can't wait to hear from you!
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