We’ve got lots of books going — or we are about to get them going–at our house. Nothing escapes the necessity of multi-tasking in our wacky world, does it? Not even the relaxing practice of reading.

I can only imagine that Logan, our 5th grader, must have picked up the habit from me. I always have a short-stack of books on the nightstand, and books and magazines all over the house. I trace the habit to being in graduate school when he was just a baby. To maximize my time, I’d pick up a book where ever I happened to be sitting rocking or holding him. I continued to read all over the house–and even in the car–using any free moment.

Logan just received two books for his birthday that we are about to start, the first book of The 39 Clues series, The 39 Clues Book 1:The Maze of Bones and Zoobreak, the much awaited sequel to his all-time favorite read, Swindle.

The 39 Clues is an interactive book series that is paired with collectors cards, a website with online games that allow the readers to interact with the adventure-based storylines, and contests. The books are written by different authors, including NYT best-sellers Rick Riordan and Gordan Korman, two of my son’s favorites.39Clues_Mazecover

Scholastic Books, the publisher, says the series will comprise ten books to be released in first editions through Sept 2010 (the sixth was just released in August). They offer the first two chapters online for your review. Click here to give your kids a sample and see if they might like it.

This will be a great book to read collaboratively in the living room–and I think a quick read, too!

And speaking of author Gordan Korman…

Zoobreak“>Zoobreak just hit bookstores and promises to be another entertaining read for our entire family. zoobreak

It follows the characters we met in Swindle who worked together to foil a corrupt collectibles dealer who swindled young Griffin Bing. In this tale, the gang is back to right another wrong– Savannah’s pet monkey, Cleopatra, is kidnapped by an unscrupulous zookeeper, and they aim to get her back.

You can read the first chapter at The Official Gordan Korman website.
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As if this isn’t enough, Logan is also reading Louis Sachar’s Holes
with his class at school, an American Chillers book, and a book in the Alex Rider series. He also has a tall stack of books at his bedside, topped with a Post-it note that reads, ‘Books to read.” I’m sure he won’t tackle them in that order–before he makes much headway, he’ll likely end up starting something new…