Funny Signs

I like to collect humorous signs.

No…I don’t climb up on a pole, with a screwdriver and a wrench, and actually take them down, like a few college students I know, but I like to remember them. When I have a camera along, I make a point to keep them that way.

On a filming assignment in Virginia a few years ago, I found this one at a small airfield. We were about to go up to do some aerial video shooting.

Look at it for a moment. Now, does this mean that it’s okay to trespass…DURING business hours? That struck me funny.

What are some of the funniest signs you’ve seen?

Max Elliot Anderson
Action-Adventure & Mystery Author for Tweens

Readkiddoread

Here's a link to a Publishers Weekly article about a ten year-old reluctant reader boy. What’s interesting is that his father is author James Patterson.

I, too, grew up as a reluctant reader, and my father published over 70 books. That’s why I began writing action-adventures & mysteries especially for boys who may also struggle with reading today.

You’ll find the article interesting. http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6631120.html?nid=2788

Max Elliot Anderson

The Boys Project

Shortly after I began writing books for boys, I came across an organization while searching the Internet. It’s called
The Boys Project.

From their web site

The Boys Project


The mission of The Boys Project is to help young males develop their capabilities and reach the potential that their families and teachers know they have. The Boys Project seeks to accomplish for young men what the Girls Project so successfully accomplished for young women - to increase academic skills, to increase college success, and to develop the confidence, drive, and determination to contribute to American society.




The "Boy Crisis"


Since the late 1970's, young women have soared in college attendance while young men have stagnated. Young men's literacy is declining. Many young men are disengaging from school. Young men are less likely to be valedictorians, to be on the honor roll, and to be active in organizations like student government. Young men are more likely to get D's and F's, to be suspended or expelled from school, to drop out of school, and to commit suicide.
We are losing young boys to a sense of failure that comes from schooling poorly adapted to their needs. We are losing adolescent males to the depression that comes from feeling neither needed nor respected. We are losing young men to life tracks that include neither college nor any other energetic endeavor.

The Boys Project seeks to:


1. Showcase colleges, schools, teachers, and organizations that have succeeded in engaging young men, increasing their academic success, and developing drive and ambition.


2. Educate families, educators and the public about the challenges our young boys are facing.


3. Develop federal, state, and foundation initiatives that support relevant research and necessary legislative change.


I would encourage you to spend time exploring The Boys Project web site if you’re concerned about the education or the reading skills of the boys in your life. Read more about The Boys Project at http://www.boysproject.net/

Ordering Books For Boys

Some have asked about ordering my books. Here is what you need to know. You can find all the book covers at the end of this post.

LAY UPS AND LONG SHOTS is available through most bookstores and on Amazon, BarnesandNoble.com , and other online sites. I can’t sell individual copies of this title. It is also a Junior Library Guild selection, and I understand it may be going into its second printing soon.

NEWSPAPER CAPER is out of print, but I do have copies from the publisher available.
TERROR AT WOLF LAKE is out of print and I have no copies.

All other titles can be ordered on Amazon, or directly from me. If you order from me, books are $10.00 each and shipping is a flat fee of $5.00 until March 1, 2009.

If ordering from me, be sure to tell me who to sign the books to, and send your check to:

Max Elliot Anderson
P O Box 4126
Rockford, IL 61110

You can find over 50 pages of reviews at http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

All books are ranked by Accelerated Reader. Kids like this because of the points they can earn.

Extreme cold experiments for your kids today

All the schools in our area are closed today, due to the cold. But that doesn't mean that children can't learn something from it. So, if your kids are home from school, get them off the couch, away from the TV or computer and video games, and let them try a couple of extreme cold experiments if you also live where it's very cold this morning. Homeschoolers, this can be your science lesson for the day : ))

Here are some experiments your children can try.

1. In this photo, I've just thrown hot water into the sub-zero air in Rockford, IL. It instantly turns to snow and vapor. Boys might want to put lukewarm temperature water into their mouths and spray it into the air.

2. If you have any leftover bubbles from last summer, blow them into the air and see what happens.

3. Take a glass or cup of hot water, and one of cold. See which one forms ice first.

Please add yours here if you have others, and pass this link on to your friends http://booksandboys.blogspot.com/ .

Have fun.

Max Elliot Anderson
Author of action-adventures & mysteries especially for tweens.

Winter – I wonder About My Sanity – Wonderland

For those who live in warmer climates, I thought I’d give you a glimpse of winter in Illinois this season. When I woke up this morning it was -15 and the forecast for tomorrow is for -25. I understand that conditions are even worse in Minnesota.

Every few minutes I can hear a loud crack up on the roof, much like the sound of cracking ice on a great, frozen lake.

I’ve shoveled more “global warming” this winter than in the first two years we lived here, having moved to Rockford a little over 30 years ago, into a couple of the worst winters in years.

Our daughter is the smart one. She went to school at Auburn University, in Alabama, and accepted a teaching job in the Orlando area, although the temps down there are expected to be in the 30’s.

Our cat, Aubey, named after the mascot at Auburn, asked to go out this morning. Once she hit that Arctic air, she spun right around and darted back inside, choosing to use the litter in the basement instead.

But it’s our son and his wife I feel for the most this morning. They just returned to their home in Chicago, from a two-week missions trip to India, where the average temp each day was in the 80’s.

My son and I are hoping for a break in mid-February when we make our annual trip to the Daytona 500. With a year like this, I may not come back : ))

I hope you’ll post a comment about conditions at your house today.

Mentoring Boys with Books For Boys

I’d like to direct your attention to an organization that is mentoring boys. It’s called Boys Smarts. They have a newsletter, and other resources to help you. The following is taken from their web site:

“Educators and parents hoping to inspire boys to excel at school now have a new tool at their disposal; Boy Smarts - Mentoring Boys for Success at School. In this book, you will find 100 imaginative and practical guidelines for authentic engagement in meeting boys' varied learning needs. The guidance offered here can help parents and teachers in the challenging task of understanding each boy as an individual while also working toward a community plan to raise boys' school achievement. The common sense approach offers to lay the groundwork for an action plan to mentor boys for school success - a manual for kick-starting boys integrity.”

Their web site is located at http://www.mentoringboys.com/boy_smarts.html

My publisher is also having success with mentoring boys through the use of some of my action-adventures & mysteries. One of the books they use is Legend of the White Wolf. There are other related materials to help you, and you can reach the publisher at marvin@btconcepts.com to find out more. Put “mentoring” in the subject line.

Max Elliot Anderson
Author of Books for Boys.

The Dangerous Days of Daniel X by James Patterson

Because I’m an author of action-adventure and mystery books for boys, James Patterson’s publisher asked if I’d be interested in reviewing his new book, The Dangerous Days of Daniel X.

I’ve been a fan of some of Patterson’s work, but that was mostly because of the films that were made from his books. Remember, I’m still a bit of a reluctant reader. I also support his efforts to get kids reading through his new web site, http://www.readkiddoread.com/

I could talk about the fact that Daniel is an alien, and his parents were aliens too. After they are killed, Daniel takes up where they left off, with a list that his parents left behind.
But you’ll have no trouble finding reviews of this new book from other sources. Amazon alone has nearly 100 of them. I’d rather tell you about the book from the perspective of the reluctant boy reader.

My primary impression is that this would have been exactly the kind of book I wish I could have found as a boy. It has short chapters. Some are less than two pages, and the sentences tend to be short with a lot of dialog.

The book would be good for young readers as a gateway to reading. It‘s geared, in my opinion, to the same age of reader that I target; boys 8 and up.

If you have a tween boy in your family, or circle of family or friends, who likes science fiction stories about aliens, and heroes with super powers, you might try The Dangerous Days of Daniel X.

Max Elliot Anderson

How Can We Make Boys Love Reading?

Here is a link to a very interesting survey, How Can We Make Boys Love Reading? Some Answers from Literate Men. I think you'll find the information helpful and informative.

The web site states, "We recently surveyed several of our male authors and illustrators on their reading experiences and what they do to get boys to read, and will be posting their responses at the beginning of January. You can see it at http://www.leeandlow.com/p/boys.mhtml ."

Max Elliot Anderson

A Legacy of Books for Boys

I should have known it.

Even though I grew up as a reluctant reader, my father was the author of over 70 books. Early in his writing career, he also wrote books for boys. Yet I never would have expected that I might start writing action-adventures & mysteries especially for tween boys.

In this picture, you can see two of his early titles. Winky solves a Mystery was published in 1948 by Zondervan, and Winky and the Ghost Lion was published in 1950. My father became my biggest supporter when I began writing in 2001. On the 23rd of this month, he would have been 91, and I really miss him. You can still buy some of the old copies of his books here: http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=ken+anderson&sts=t&tn=winky&x=31&y=14

I guess it takes a reluctant reader to understand one. That’s probably why my books are connecting with young readers, as reported by parents, librarians, teachers, grandparents, and the readers themselves. What interests me is that avid boy readers, girls, and even adults like the books I write today.

If you have any questions, just let me know.

Max Elliot Anderson
Author

The Truth About Boys (and Girls) and What To Do About It

As an author of action adventures & mysteries, written especially for boys, I'm always interested in finding articles where people, "get it." By that I mean that there is a very good reason why I write books for boys the way I do.

Boys are different. And when it comes to the material they like to read, they are really different.

I hope you enjoy this article, "The Truth About Boys (and Girls) and What To Do About It." After you read it, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

http://www.homeeducator.com/FamilyTimes/articles08/88-2.html

Max Elliot Anderson

Message in A Bottle

You might remember that I sent a message in a bottle last May. Here's a picture of that bottle. It was launched into the Rock River near my home in Rockford, Illinois. This was also the summer of some of the worst flooding on record. The finder will be given a free set of all of my books.

My bottle should have traveled along the Rock River, potentially reaching the Mississippi. However, no one has contacted me about finding it yet.

I have something a little different planned for this spring, but I thought you would enjoy reading about another message in a bottle that did make it into the hands of someone, 800 miles from where it was launched.

http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977537316&grpId=3659174697247731&nav=Groupspace

Who knows, my bottle might still be found one day.

Max Elliot Anderson

Reading is for Boys, Part I

This link takes you to an excellent article about books for boys and reading.

http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Reading-is-for-Boys-Part-I

Part 2 added 12/10/08

http://www.cbmw.org/Blog/Posts/Reading-is-for-Boys-Part-II

Talking About Books for Boys

One of the joys of writing books for boys, is the opportunity to speak, about writing, to students in elementary schools. Not long ago, I was invited to speak to a 4th grade class at Immanuel Lutheran School in Belvidere, Illinois. They sent me a letter, signed by all of the students, and this picture.

Boys Behavior & Books for Boys

I’d like to introduce you to Boys Behavior http://boysbehavior.com/ . This site is run by Troy Parish, and you can find many useful articles and resources for boys here.

Troy also has a recommended reading list of books for boys at http://boysbehavior.com/Reading-Books-for-Boys.html and I’m pleased to see that some of my action-adventures and mysteries are listed there along with many other books.

Books For Boys Make Great Gifts For Christmas!

This

Christmas

Remember

Books

For

Boys.

Max Elliot Anderson

Action-Adventures

& Mysteries especially

for tween boys,

that girls love reading too!

Author web page http://www.maxbooks.9k.com/

Over 50 Pages of Reviews

http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

There's Still Time To Get Signed Copies Of My Books For Boys, For Christmas

This is a final reminder in 2009 for you to order signed copies of my books for Christmas…but you’d better hurry.

SPECIAL PRICE: From now until Christmas 2009, my books are available for $10.00 each.

I’LL PAY SHIPPING: From now until Christmas 2009, I’ll pay the shipping costs.

Here are the titles I have available. Make sure to send me the name that each book is to be autographed for, along with your mailing address, and your check.
Mail to:

Max Elliot Anderson
P O Box 4126
Rockford, IL 61110

Do it today!

Action-Adventures & Mysteries by Max Elliot AndersonBooks that children love to read, especially boys. All books are rated by Accelerated Reader. Send your child on an exciting journey at this limited offer price.

NEWSPAPER CAPER $10.00 0-9729256-4-3Tom Stevens was a super salesman. He and his friends delivered newspapers early every morning. Along their route, the boys often saw some pretty strange things. Then one day they actually became the story. Readers will like the humor, attack dogs, car thieves, and the chop shop Tom and the others uncover. This story reminds us of how important friendship is. It also teaches God isn't just for emergencies. He wants to guide our lives every day.

NORTH WOODS POACHERS $10.00 0-9729256-8-6The Washburn families have been coming to the same cabins, on the same lake, catching the same fish, for about as long as Andy can remember. And he's sick of it. This summer would be different he decided. Only he never imagined how different. The story is filled with excitement, danger, humor, and drama. In the end, Andy learns the concepts of family tradition, that God loves justice while He hates injustice, and it is important to follow the rules. Readers will enjoy the gigantic, jet-powered floatplane, computers, home made radio transmitter, and naturally, no one will ever forget Big Wally. He’s a fish of course.

MOUNTAIN CABIN MYSTERY $10.00 0-9729256-3-5Scott and his friends had dreamed and prepared for their first wilderness camping adventure. When they become separated from their group in a mountain fog, trouble begins. There was that bear, the decrepit suspension bridge over a bottomless gorge, the sheer cliff in the dark, those terrorists in the remote cabin, the Army, the helicopter ride, and…This story reminds us what happens if one of God's lambs is lost.

BIG-RIG RUSTLERS $10.00 0-9752880-1-6Todd and Amanda live with their parents in a Midwestern city. The family doesn’t go to church. The children are invited to visit their uncle, aunt, and cousin Drew, on their Wyoming ranch over spring break. Todd learns, in a unique way, why stealing is wrong. He decides to choose a new path for his life because of his uncle’s Christian example. A band of high-tech cattle rustlers are caught, revealing that Todd was also wrong about Travis, a shadowy character.Read about the round up, rattlesnake, and rustlers.

SECRET OF ABBOTT'S CAVE $10.00 0-9752880-0-8A detective, a police scanner, and a cave offered possibilities for danger and excitement. Who are the real heroes in America? Randy and his friends pooled their resources to go cave exploring, discovered the hidden loot from a bank robbery, and learned they weren't heroes at all.

LEGEND OF THE WHITE WOLF $10.00 0-9752880-3-2They didn’t call him a liar; they just couldn’t believe his story. Brian Fisher was determined to prove it was true even though it involved the risk to his own safety. His rescue of a wolf pup from a steel trap results in a mysterious relationship with surprising results. The story is set in the lower elevations near Yellowstone

Over 50 Pages of Reviews http://maxbookreviews.blogspot.com/

Happy Thanksgiving

These are a few that got away.

Have a great day!

Max

Maybe Next Year

It wasn't the best year for the # 24 this season, but at least he was in the chase.

My son and I make the annual trek to Daytona, each February, for the start of the NASCAR season. Already have our tickets for February, 2009.

I’ve been following Jeff Gordon since his rookie season in the sport. My son is a lawyer in Chicago, and he cheers for Earnhardt Jr.

Do you have a favorite driver? Leave a comment if you do.

Max Elliot Anderson

A Great Books For Boys Ad I Agree With

That's an ad I agree with.

This ad, and its web site, were inspired by James Patterson, because his son didn't like to read. I encourage you to check out his site.

After a recent Christmas, I received the following email.

“I gave my son (11) a couple of your books for Christmas. He is definitely a reluctant reader...I have to be on his case constantly to get him to read. When he opened the package I could tell he was not too thrilled with getting books until he saw that you wrote them. "

"Oh, these are THAT guy's books...thanks, Mom!"

"Later in the day I mentioned to him that I expected him to read the books."

He said "You don't have to tell me that, Mom...I want to read them!"

"As a Mom who is almost never without a book in her hand, it really warmed my heart to see him excited about reading!

Thanks, Max! And please, keep them coming!”

So, I hope you'll consider giving some of my books to the children in your life this Christmas too.

Max Elliot Anderson

See the above web site at http://www.readkiddoread.com/