ALSC: Exceptional Web Sites for Children

The Association for Library Service to Children ALSC announced the most exceptional websites for children.

"To make the cut and appear on the Great Web sites for Kids, a site must demonstrate commendable quality and reflect and encourage young people's interests in exemplary ways. Sites are put through a rigorous evaluation and voting process by the committee before being deemed "great" and added to the GWS page."

ALSC's GWS Committee voted to add the following sites in 2007:

Adoption Clubhouse - The Adoption Clubhouse is a program of the National Adoption Center, whose mission it is to expand adoption opportunities throughout the United States, particularly for children with special needs and those from minority cultures.

Afro-America Kids’ Zone -

Bookwink - Through podcasting and web video, Bookwink hopes to connect kids in Grades 3 - 8 with books that will make them excited about reading.

Bradshaw Foundation - Winner of many awards for anthropology and paleontology, this website explores the Journey of Mankind in a flash-based online exhibit presenting 160,000 years of human prehistory, tracing the exodus of our early ancestors from Africa and their migration across the globe. Its animated and interactive map with a timeline that shows the human migration out of Africa and onto other continents. It also clearly shows how some climate changes in the past had a profound impact on the human geography.

The Bubblesphere - The complex math chemistry, physics and anything else you want to find out about bubbles.

Sharon Creech’s Web site - Sharon Creech’s Web site has five main sections: Meet Sharon, Picture Books, Novels, What’s New, and Teach Creech. The site is easy to navigate and provides a great deal of information.

Diane deGroat’s Official Site - This website will connect you to information about Diane deGroat, her books, school visits and fun stuff to download.

Get Set 4 Kindergarten - Everything you want to know about preparing your child and yourself for Kindergarten.

International Digital Children’s Library

Just One More Book - Just One More Book is a thrice-weekly podcast which promotes and celebrates literacy and great children’s books and a lively, interactive community linking children’s book authors, illustrators, readers (children, parents, educators and librarians) and publishers.

Kids Boogaloo

Little Critter

Marc’s Observatory -

Math Playground - an action-packed site for elementary and middle school students. Practice your math skills, play a logic game and have some fun.

Math Slice

The Mint - Kids can discover all kinds of tips about what to do with your money.

Mr. Young’s Bouncy “A” - Nicely organized homework website with subjects including art, science, social studies, math, language, spelling, reading, misc.

My First Garden - A guide to the world of fun and clever gardening.

My Kids Corner - Kids Stories, Kids Rhymes, Kids Puzzles and Kids Games. Plus, new for 2007, an interactive story section where you and maybe a friend or brother or sister, can be a part of the story.

National Geographic My Wonderful World: Maps - Tools for Adventure -

Noggin - An online extension of the virtually commercial-free educational television channel dedicated solely to the pre-K set.

Pagina Junior

Planet Esme

Play Sports TV -

Professor Garfield -

Readergirlz - All about inspiring girls to read and experience what they read.

Savings Quest - A savings game where kids get a chance to save for they things they want while paying for they things you need.

Science Bob

Science Buddies - Fair science fair project ideas, answers and tools for serious students

Sur La Lune Storytime - A children's librarian shares all her resources on the web in conjunction with her long-lived fairy tales site.

Tox Town - Environmental health concerns and toxic chemicals for where you live, work and play.

TVO Kids

Chris Van Allsburg’s Web site - Author Chris Van Allsburg's website about him, his books, interactive features and a story writing contest.

World Almanac for Kids