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[|RIF Reading Planet] [|Epals] [|The Reading Zone] [|Whyville] = = =**Las Digital Muchachas**=

Audrey Frankel, Roseann Bayer, Robin Gerstenblatt, Kelly Waitkus, Carmen DelValle, Kathleen Fleischmann, Denise Bieniek, Naomi Cortez, and Minnie Aponte

[|RIF Reading Planet] RIF is a nonprofit organization, promoting literacy among children and families who need them most. They offer free books and other literacy resources through the generous donations of organizations like Target and Macy’s. The RIF site is colorful, engaging, and well-formatted. Sections are clear and cleverly named. Interactivity is encouraged through children’s ability to vote on favorites, write book reviews, and choose their own categories in Book Zone and other sections. RIF supports literacy through many of its features: Activity Lab, Book Zone, Game Station, and Express Yourself. There are also ever-changing features such as Kids’ Poll, This Month…, Ooo and Goo, and a different culture’s literature and music,. The site appeals to all levels of readers from nonreaders to accomplished readers. The site can read stories to children, children can write book reviews, and there are lists of recommended books. There are resources for all ages (including parents, coordinators, and teachers).

The last update for the site is 2007. We suspect the site is updated every month or so due to the multicultural feature wherein African-American, Hispanic, and Native American cultures are highlighted. As stated previously, the RIF site has something for everyone; links are viable, each page is user-friendly. There are links to sections for educators, coordinators, and parents. On the children’s pages, books can be read by children or read to them (perfect for reluctant, ELL, or low-level readers). Safety is a priority. Although there are sections for children to vote, send emails to friends, and write an About Me profile, there are no free writing activities in which children could compromise their privacy and safety. There are no outside links for children, only for educators, coordinators, and parents. Minnie Aponte, Denise Bieniek, Naomi Cortez

Epals is an online resource that connects K through 12 learners from around the world. The main page is both informative and appealing. Two tools offered are the Epals Bookclub and Book Review. Through this free source you can communicate with classrooms around the world. You can search for a classroom by location, grade level, and by class type (ELL, special ed., gifted). Also, you can search for a book club by book or author. There are videos that show project ideas using Epals to spark your imagination as well as links to project designed by educators. Teacher's guides are also a click away. Epals offers two main communication tools: school blog and school mail. Unlike the book club and book review services, these require a fee. For $40, a class of thirty can sign up for email for a school year. Included in the cost is the ability to build discussion boards, share files and create customizable homepages. With its built in translation ability, students from around the world can communicate with each other. Spam,virus control and filters are also included. Additionally, a school blog is available, the safety of which is secured by limiting access to classmates and parents. Epals has a distinguished advisory board composed of published experts in the fields of emergent literacy and English Language Learners. The site is quite comprehensive but easy to navigate. Support and help are easily available and the dates of postings are current. Audrey Fraenkel, Roseann Bayer
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[|IPL - Kidspace - The Reading Zone] Opening this page, you see a very clear and concisely designed site. It is not highly colorful or appealing to young children visually, but this site would be well-suited to students of grade two or above. Students would need to be able to read in order to use Reading Zone. The page is very well-organized, with subject matter and special feature menus. This site is a tool for students, teachers, and parents. It provides relevant links based on subject matter. Each active link is accompanied by an annotation describing what the site has to offer. The sites were very high quality, pre-screened sites. Using this site was very easy and user-friendly. Some very special features include: Story Hour, Culture Quest, and an Ask a Question form. The IPL’s Kidspace Reading Zone was created by the iSchool at Drexel University, the College of Information of Florida State University, and the University of Michigan’s School of Information. The mission statement of the IPL demonstrates their conviction to literacy. This was an excellent site, that can be a useful tool to have for any school librarian. Carmen DelValle, Kathleen Fleischmann

[|Whyville] Whyville.net is an active virtual supervised social space owned by Numedeon.Inc. It has an appealing, colorful and vibrant space that allows for interactive design of your own avatar, allowing you to “pick your nose.” This website is targeted for TWEENS (ages 8-14) primarily girls. The educational content mostly science based is fun. The virtual city allows for students to earn a chat license, earn money to play games, contribute to the Whyville Times newspaper. They provide links to the events of the week, newbie center, FAQs, chat rooms and Ymail.

Safety is a huge issue for this tween website. New members need to get permission slips filled out by parents in order to participate. Teachers are also verified and screened. Navigation and accessibility is good, the bus has a destination menu that can take you where you need to go. Help is only a click away. Kelly Waitkus, Robin Gerstenblatt