Share a Story: Writing @ Reading our First Four Finalists

Each day during Share a Story ~ Shape a Future, we post a series of writing prompts. Each day of the tour has a main topic and we hope people chime in, but sometimes it helps to have a little nudge. That's where Writing @ Reading comes in. It is a way for us to expand the discussions and help those of us who just aren't sure what we want to write about.

Writing @ Reading also is the vehicle we use for our book giveaways. This year, thanks to our sponsors - Barefoot Books, Susanna Hill, PicPocketBooks.com, Reading is Fundamental, and the Reading Tub - we have books that range from classic to just released (last week!); picture, chapter, and easy readers; and traditional formats and apps. On Friday, Elizabeth Dulemba is hosting her own giveaway so be sure to stop by Dulemba.com tomorrow! Friday.

This year, our panel of judges include MrsP.com, Danielle Smith of There's a Book, and Judy B. Cheatham, VP for Literacy Services at Reading is Fundamental. I'm sure you've already figured this out, but Mrs. P. wrote her stories just for the fun of it ... she knows she's not eligible to win.

So who are our first four finalists? From the Monday and Tuesday nominees, our panel unanimously chose ...

Eric Van Raepenbusch, who shared the afternoon with Robot Zot, Mr. McGreely, and Harold (of Harold and the Purple Crayon fame). Read his post at Happy Birthday Author

Tif of Tif Talks Books, who, with a friend, transformed the loft of their barn into a boxcar and solved mysteries ... just like Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Bennie (The Boxcar Children). Read about the "loft" kids here.

Janice Durante, who wrote about A Garden for All Time, not only analyzing the classic The Secret Garden, but offering modern suggestions for younger audiences, too.  Read her post at Books of Wonder and Wisdom.

Roberta of Wrapped in Foil, who shared her list of five books that she would put in a package for a child. She put a lot of thought into her selections ... not just for content but for the value of the book over time.

We hope you'll stop by Books of Wonder and Wisdom, Happy Birthday Author, Tif Talks Books, and Wrapped in Foil to enjoy these fun, thoughtful posts (and offer your congratulations).

We'll be back Friday with the winner of Thursday's Writing @ Reading Prompts.