Thursday, September 25, 2008

"Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen

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Okay, I'm really, really excited about posting this novel (we're almost done... the first 11 chapters so far). Click here to read and LISTEN to Chapter 1 of "Northanger Abby" by Jane Austen.

Anyway, what is different from other sites is that we incorporate not only the novel's text, but also visitors can click to listen to the audio as they are reading.

And, let's just say, a visitor doesn't understand a particular word within the text. Well, now all you have to do is click the word, and the definition will pop-up. FOR EVERY WORD!

It's taken a great deal of programming to complete this (what we are calling) AudioText experience, but we think it will be well worth it for students reading this classic piece of literature.

In fact, we love the ability for students to be able to define any word they click within our text so much, that we've added it to just about every etext we've posted.

Anyway, please enjoy Austen's "Northanger Abbey" and let us know what you think about our latest AudioText pages, with the enhanced ability to be able to define any word. Love that!



Monday, September 22, 2008

Complete Collection of Aesop Tales


This was a monster undertaking. We put a complete collection of famous Aesop Fables online with text and narration on the same page.

Parents, teachers and students can now read and listen to the Aesop Fables. The list includes:

* "The Ant and the Grasshopper"
* "Avaricious and Envious"

* "The Bald Man and the Fly"
* "The Bat and the Weasels"
* "The Bats, the Birds, and the Beasts"
* "The Bear and the Fox"
* "Belling the Cat"
* "The Belly and the Members"
* "The Boy Hunting Locusts"
* "The Boy Who Cried ‘Wolf'"
* "The Bundle of Sticks"

* "The Cat-Maiden"
* "The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller"
* "The Crow and the Pitcher"

* "The Dog and the Shadow"
* "The Dog and the Wolf"
* "The Dog in the Manger"
* "The Donkey and the Grasshopper"
* "The Donkey in the Lion's Skin"
* "The Donkey, the Fox, and the Lion"

* "The Farmer and the Cranes"
* "The Farmer and the Snake"
* "The Father and His Sons"
* "The Fawn and His Mother"
* "The Fisher and the Little Fish"
* "The Flies and the Honeypot"
* "The Four Oxen and the Lion"
* "The Fox and the Cat"
* "The Fox and the Crow"
* "The Fox and the Grapes"
* "The Fox and the Lion"
* "The Fox and the Mosquitoes"
* "The Fox and the Stork"
* "The Fox, the Rooster, and the Dog"
* "The Fox Without a Tail"
* "The Frog and the Ox"

* "The Goose with the Golden Eggs"

* "The Hare and the Tortoise"
* "The Hart and the Hunter"
* "The Hart in the Ox-Stall"
* "Hercules and the Wagoner"
* "The Herdsman and the Lost Bull"
* "The Horse, Hunter, and Stag"

* "The Jay and the Peacock"

* "The Kingdom of the Lion"

* "The Labourer and the Nightingale"
* "The Lion and the Mouse"
* "The Lion and the Statue"
* "The Lion in Love"
* "The Lion, the Fox, and the Beasts"

* "The Man and His Two Wives"
* "The Man and the Lion"
* "The Man and the Satyr"
* "The Man and the Serpent"
* "The Man and the Wood"
* "The Man, the Boy, and the Donkey"
* "The Milkmaid and Her Pail"
* "The Miser and His Gold"
* "The Mole and His Mother"
* "The Mountain in Labor"

* "The Nurse and the Wolf"

* "The Peacock and Juno"
* "The Piglet, the Sheep, and the Goat"
* "The Pomegranate, Apple-Tree, and Bramble"

* "The Rooster and the Pearl"
* "The Raven and the Swan"

* "The Salt Merchant and His Donkey"
* "The Serpent and the File"
* "The Sick Lion"
* "The Swallow and the Crow"
* "The Swallow and the Other Birds"

* "The Tortoise and the Eagle"
* "The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse"
* "The Traveler and His Dog"
* "The Tree and the Reed"
* "The Two Crabs"
* "The Two Fellows and the Bear"
* "The Two Pots"

* "The Wolf and the Crane"
* "The Wolf and the Kid"
* "The Wolf and the Lamb"
* "The Wind and the Sun"
* "The Wolf in Sheep's Clothing"
* "The Woodman and the Serpent"

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

"Brownies on Skates" -- Elementary School Reading


We've had an overwhelmingly positive response from teachers and parents regarding our Palmer Cox "Brownies" series. So, we'd like to add one more story parents and teachers can reading to children, which always bring a smile to their face.

In "Brownies on Skates," Palmer Cox follows the Brownies as they come up with idea that they'd like to skate, break into a store for skates, skate in the moonlight, and return the skates to the store before dawn.

To read the story, with beautiful, original illustrations, click here.

Monday, September 15, 2008

"Brownies' Good Work" by Palmer Cox


For those that love classic literature with a moral bent, Palmer Cox's "Brownies' Good Work" is a wonderful example that should be read to all children. In the poem, the Brownies find a farmer unable to work his fields, due to injury. Knowing that if something isn't done for the farmer the field's yield will be lost, the Brownies chip in and help.

You can read the story here, complete with some of Palmer Cox's illustrations.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry


Yes, yes, we know. It's entirely too early to be thinking of Christmas in September. But, apart from being one of the great Christmas stories for kids, "The Gift of the Magi" is also a story of love and giving -- no matter what the season. O. Henry shows us to what ends couples, or love ones, or maybe just people will go to give to one another. In this classic short story, a young couple, Jim and Della, sell their most prized possessions in order to buy a Christmas gift for the other.

You can watch a short trailer of the full movie here.

Or, you can read the illustrated etext of the story here.

Thursday, September 4, 2008

The Brownies Repair the Streets


We have been getting an awful lot of positive response from posting The Brownies. So, we'd like to follow-up with another great story to read, Brownies Repair the Streets. (And, for those of you interested in doing a little narration, please contact us at our website: AdamSmithAcademy.org)

In this wonderful little tale, the Brownies come upon a street in total disrepair, and decide to help the townsfolk out by doing some service like Brownies true. The illustrations, by the author Palmer Cox, are wonderful and will bring a smile to your face.  

Wednesday, September 3, 2008

Tobermory


Tobermory, by Saki (or H.H. Munro) tells the story of how a cat either is taught how to speak by a visiting Professor, or perhaps has been capable all along. Trouble is cats have an uncanny ability to lay under tables and chairs without being seen, as the guest of a dinner party soon find out after dear Tobermory begins to share a number of the guest's secrets and overheard conversations to all. In short, it's a brilliantly wicked little tale that is sure to amuse both children and adults alike.

To view an excerpt of the movie, click here.

To view the illustrated text, click here.

Tuesday, September 2, 2008

Back to School with The Brownies


The Adam Smith Academy is going back-to-school this new school year with The Brownies! The Brownies are Palmer Cox's brilliantly funny and fun illustrated Brownies, that are always getting themselves in and out of adventures. If you love to read kids verse, that is sure to bring a smile to their face, The Brownies are the ticket. To get your feet wet for the new school year, enjoy The Brownies at School!