Go Back to School with ArcaMax Publishing

Parents helping their kids prepare for school have free access to a Web page full of of advice, money-saving tips, and free classic books available from ArcaMax Publishing.

ArcaMax, a leading source of family-friendly content, launched their free Book Club ( http://www.arcamax.com/books/ ) last December, and it has grown considerably since then, both in size and readership. Thousands of subscribers are taking advantage of the opportunity to read more than 600 books free by e-mail, sent one chapter a day.

Hugh Spain, Managing Editor of ArcaMax Publishing, understands the appeal. "It's so much more convenient," he says, "especially in a day and age where we 'just can't make time' to read something. It's a lot more encouraging to receive it bit by bit, right where you're bound to see it."

While reading by e-mail is the main service of the Book Club, kids will more likely be attracted to the other features. Another way to read, for example, is chapter-by-chapter directly from the Web site. When they are done for the day, they (or their parents) can enter an e-mail address to which the Book Club will send the next chapter the following day, making it easy to keep one's place when reading more than one section at a time. For help with reports and research, the Book Club also has a listing of 100 featured authors, including photos, a short biography, and available books for each. These — as well as literary quizzes and quotes from classical and modern authors — are also available in the weekend Book Club ezine, which all subscribers receive automatically.

A list of books favored by teachers in schools across the country is just one part of the ArcaMax Back to School section ( http://www.arcamax.com/backtoschool/ ). The Web site also offers fun trivia quizzes, current stories on children's health issues both in and out of school, and money-saving tips, including how to plan ahead for college. In addition, ArcaMax readers have contributed parenting and school advice, from how to save time in the morning to getting kids to do their homework.

Spain adds, "This time of year tends to be stressful for both parents and kids, but why should it be? Our business is offering free, fun information to the entire family. We're helping the kids by making learning through reading more accessible, and we're giving parents advice that will make the transition into the school year much easier."

In addition to the Book Club and Back to School feature, ArcaMax publishes more than 40 online newsletters featuring "family-friendly news and fun" ranging from puzzles like crosswords and sudoku to around-the-house tips like free recipes and pet advice. For more information or to subscribe, visit http://www.arcamax.com/cgi-bin/reg .