School Library Journal articles from April 2009

School Library Journal archives from April 2009

The trouble with Google: why have school libraries been left out in the cold?(Google Book Search)(Editorial)
April 1, 2009... For the most part, Google Book Search hasn't made it onto most school librarians' radar screens. The tool, which searches the full text of scanned books (Google claims that seven million books are searchable) serves up content that ranges...

A dirty little fact: limited budgets make controversial literature an easy target.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I FELT THAT "A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET" (February 2009, pp. 26-30) was trying to justify controversial literature and chastise librarians. The "dirty" fact is that there probably isn't a library in the country that has unlimited funding to purchase...

Censor shock.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... As A PRE-K--6 LIBRARY TEACHER AND A longtime subscriber to SLJ, I find it sad and ironic that what I must self-censor in my school library is SLJ, in particular the February 2009 issue with "A Dirty Little Secret" as the cover story. In recent...

Lucky librarian.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I JUST FINISHED "A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET" and felt I needed to write. I am proud to say I have almost every book cited in the article, and although I don't always put them first in recommendations to my teenage students, I do put them on display...

Self-esteem solution.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I FIND MY SELF-ESTEEM LOWERED BY recent articles in SLJ: apparently I'm a self-censoring hypocrite, l didn't purchase Boy Toy although hopefully I'm redeemed by including Lolita, Election, and All Souls in my library collection. Also, I...

Next stop, porn.(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I CANNOT STAND THIS ANY LONGER. Film, literature, clothing etc., is moving to the realm of "anything goes, so why don't we stop the debates and not have standards?" Should we try and shelter our kids anymore? I guess not. If the reality of...

Who are you to say?(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... IN "A DIRTY LITTLE SECRET," YOU write that if we don't select the books you think we should, then we are self-censors. Who are you to say that you know our students and parents better than we do? Who are you to say that you know our community...

Darwin defense.(What Darwin Saw: The Journey That Changed the World)(Letter to the editor)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... I REALIZE THAT IT'S BAD FORM TO OBJECT to a review of one's own book, but there is such a serious error in Ellen Heath's review of my book What Darwin Saw: The Journey That Changed the World that I believe it harms my credibility as an author....

Our reviewer replies.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I AM DISMAYED BY ROSALYN SCHANZER'S response to my review. The statement that she considers negative was not intended to be. As a reviewer of many books about Darwin, I was sensitive to the need of librarians to know if the books they....

Teaching with TED: Teachingwithted.pbwiki.com.(Site of the Month)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TED, the annual gathering of the world's leading "thinkers and doers" (www. ted.com), has inspired many. Now, thanks to educator Jackie Gerstein, there's "Teaching with TED," a recently launched wiki that aims to...

Twittering Dante: new models for student writing in the digital age.(TechKnowledge)
April 1, 2009... Cracking Dante's Inferno is a tough row to hoe for airy high school student--but what if the reading assignment was conducted via Twitter? The exercise "Twitter in Hell" was handed to some lucky seniors at University Laboratory High School...

Plustek Book Reader V100: book scanner, reader.(Test DRIVE)
April 1, 2009... Details available at www.plustek.com/product/bookreader_v100.asp. $699. Already miffed by the text-to-speech feature built into the Kindle 2, the Authors Guild might get downright peeved if they catch wind of some of the hype surrounding...

Blogging from beyond the grave.(THE NEXT BIG THING)
April 1, 2009... With the release of Amazon's Kindle 2 and the continued expansion of Google's scanning project, the traditional concept of the book is undergoing a radical redesign. Why then would we assume that the structure of the story would remain the...

Fracas.(facebook)
April 1, 2009... Our story "WI Schools Ban Facebook, IM Fraternizing Between Staff, Students" (tinyurl.com/c5xz7g) inspired readers, who weighed in on all sides of the debate over social media use. "Our independent school recently came to the same...

The best of the Web--for shutterbugs: share, fix, and style your images with these free tools.(Cool TOOLS)
April 1, 2009... I picked up my digital camera the other day to find that my teenage daughter had taken several hundred photos in just a few hours, as she does with some regularity. Whether it's trying to capture midair poses with a friend jumping on her bed or...

Fueltank, for juice on the go.(the Buzz)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For all you demanding power users, there's a new portable charger called Fueltank. Capable of charging two small electronic devices outlet-free, Fueltank's rechargeable lithium ion battery boasts seven times the...

National Poetry Month online.(the Buzz)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A trove of online resources awaits students, educators, and others celebrating National Poetry Month (NPM). On the Academy of American Poets site (poets.org), users can find free poems to download, a signup list to...

New tool for laptop users.(the Buzz)
April 1, 2009... We love our laptops. But hunching over to use them, not so much. Enter the Logitech Notebook Riser N110. With an ergonomic design, the riser elevates your notebook to an optimal viewing position and folds flat for easy storage. An adjustable...

SXSW irks educators.(the Buzz)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The South by Southwest conference (SXSW), best known as a convergence of media, technology, and culture, addressed education at the March event in Austin, TX, to mixed reviews. At the "Blackboards and Backchannel"...

Heading off the 'summer slide'.(the Buzz)
April 1, 2009... A new, Web-based program is set to help kids maintain critical reading skills during the summer. Through the Scholastic Summer Challenge, kids can join a virtual reading camp, log on for help in selecting books to read, access free...

Mimio makes music.(the Buzz)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A sixth-grade Iowa class created an original piece of music last month, thanks to a grant that helped fund the Mimeo Interactive technology the kids used to compose songs together. Sarah Holten, music teacher at...

Lights, camera, action! Is it fine to film folks reading picture books out loud?(Carrie on Copyright)
April 1, 2009... Several teachers want to make podcasts of some of the poems and short stories In one of our textbooks. They plan to post the audio files online for students to access. I looked at the TEACH Act, but the wording is confusing. Can you please let...

For the love of art: the road to fame was long and hard for some of the best artists.(Nonfiction Booktalker)(biographies of artists)(Book review)
April 1, 2009... The words "starving" and "artist" are a too-familiar pair. Some creators are willing to suffer whatever if takes. But the grit and sweat that challenge artists also make them fascinating, compelling, and unforgettable. Children in grades 2-5...

The universe is expanding: many of our most cherished truths are changing.(Consider the Source)(Column)
April 1, 2009... Here's something for all of you who work in schools to think about. Educators often debate how to teach kids: progressives want them to "learn by doing," while traditionalists focus on skills. But if you read the academic or even the serious...

Lookin' for, trouble: K.L. going talks about her latest novel, 'King of the Screwups'.(Under Cover)(K. L. Going)(Interview)
April 1, 2009... You excel at creating teen troublemakers-Troy Billings in Fat Kid Rules the World, Iggy Corso in Saint Iggy, and now Liam Geller, a kindhearted, drop-dead gorgeous guy who's a first-class screwup. Growing up, you were a straight-A student and...

Gamers are readers: capitalize on the popularity of video games.(The Gaming Life)
April 1, 2009... Libraries across the country are jumping on the gaming bandwagon, and some librarians are thrilled with this revolution. We grew up playing video games. Although these games were not nearly as impressive as the ones available today, we still...

Straight talk on race: challenging the stereotypes in kids' books.
April 1, 2009... As a teenager, I lived in two worlds: the traditional Bengali heritage inside our home and the contemporary California of my suburban peers. Sometimes the gap between those two worlds seemed huge. Apple pie? Didn't taste it till I got to...

2009 ALSC Notable Videos and Recordings for Children & Great Interactive Software for Kids.(Bibliography)
April 1, 2009... The Notable Children's Videos, Recordings, and Great Interactive Software for Kids lists are compiled anually by committees of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). These...

2009 YALSA Fabulous Films & Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults.(Young Adult Library Services Association)(Bibliography)
April 1, 2009... The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), announced its 2009 annual lists of Fabulous Films for Young Adults and Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults ages 12 to 18. The titles...

School Library Journal's spending survey: despite the recession, media specialists are making the best of a bad situation.
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's been a Dickens of a year for school librarians--the best of times and the worst of times. Although our nation's economy has gone down in flames, we're hoping that the new administration will turn things around....

Dig it!(focus on: Jazz)(books)(Recommended readings)
April 1, 2009... "Then, like a chef stirring dinner in a pot, he lint it all together and dished it out hot: 'Zop. TINC! Zop-a doom baby. SWISH-zapa BOOM-zapa, ZEE-zah Ooooo! Matthew Gollub's Jazz Fly knows that the secret to cool jazz is a hot mix of sounds...

Art.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... * Art. DVD. 5 min. (closed captioned). with tchr's, guide. Weston Woods. 2008. ISBN 978-0-545-10635-1. $59.95; CD, ISBN 978-0-54-5-10693-1: $12.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-10697-9: $29.95. PreS-Gr 3--Patrick McDonnell, the...

Dropping in on Grandma Moses.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Dropping in on Grandma Moses. DVD. 20 min. with hardcover book. Crystal Prods. 2008, 2009 release. ISBN 978-1-56290-597-2. $41; DVD only: $29.95. Gr 4-7--Based on the book (Crystal Prods., 2008) by Pamela Stephens, Anna Mary Robertson...

Lascaux, a New Look: The Walls of Lascaux Cave.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Lascaux, a New Look: The Walls of Lascaux Cave. DVD. 53 min. Crystal Prods. 2008. ISBN 978-1-56290-550-7. $29.95. Gr 7 Up--The Lascaux Caves in southwest France, discovered in 1940, have been closed to the public for over 40 years. This...

Learn from Nature: Respecting.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Learn from Nature: Respecting. DVD. 12 min. (closed captioned). Prod. by Imira Entertainment. Dist. by Film Ideas. 2008. ISBN 978-1-60572-133-6. $135. PreS-Gr 1--The titles in this three-part animated series feature animals whose behaviors...

Teamwork and Team Play: How to Be a Good Sport.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Teamwork and Team Play: How to Be a Good Sport. video or DVD. 15 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2008. ISBN 978-1-55548-227-5. $99.95. Gr 3-6--While teamwork isn't limited to the sports fields, this film...

Eat Healthy, Be Healthy: Beginning Nutrition for Kids: Vegetables 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Eat Healthy, Be Healthy: Beginning Nutrition for Kids: Vegetables 1. DVD. 12 min. Prod. by Imira Entertainment. Dist. by Film Ideas. 2009. ISBN 1-60572-149-2. $135. PreS-Gr 3--"A donkey loves pumpkins." Although the accuracy of this...

Understanding Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... * Understanding Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. video or DVD. 20 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2008. ISBN 978-1-55548-764-5. $139.95. Gr 7 Up--Delivering a strong message about the dangers of alcohol...

Storyteller's Favorite Fables.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Storyteller's Favorite Fables (Folktales from Around the World Series). DVD. 62 min. Organic Kids Co. 2008. $16.95. PreS-Gr 4--In the first production by Organic Kids Company, a group of moms who seek a "healthy alternative to cartoons and...

A Visit with Lois Duncan.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... A Visit with Lois Duncan. DVD. 35 min. Prod. by Silver Moon. Dist. by Lois Duncan. 2008. $25. Gr 7 Up--With her daughter conducting the interview, Louis Duncan, the author of more than 50 books and the recipient of many literary awards,...

The War of the Worlds.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... The War of the Worlds. DVD. 7 hrs. DVD Bookshelf. 2008. ISBN 1-60362-005-5. $12.95. Gr 7 Up--Originally published in 1897, H. G. Wells's classic depicting an alien invasion of the Earth is still popular today. The text, divided into two...

Adaptations.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Adaptations (Elementary Life Science Series). video or DVD. 14 min. with tchr's. guide. Visual Learning Co. 2008. ISBN 978-1-59234-194-8. $79.95. Gr 3-5--This interesting film opens with an overview of adaptations and why they are...

Arctic Dinosaurs: Warm-Blooded Creatures of the Cretaceous?(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Arctic Dinosaurs: Warm-Blooded Creatures of the Cretaceous? (NOVA Series). DVD. approx. 1 hr. (closed captioned). Prod. by Big Island Pictures. Dist. by WGBH Boston. 2008. ISBN 978-1-59375866-0. $24.95. Gr 7 Up--Join paleontologists and...

Astronomy for Kids: Space Trek.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Astronomy for Kids: Space Trek (The Astronomy Series). DVD. 15 min. Prod. by TV Ontario. Dist. by Chip Taylor Communications. 2008. $89.99. Gr 1-5--Captain Kent, with a modified Star Trek uniform and a bad Captain Kirk impression, takes...

Battle of the Bag: Deconstructing a Consumer Culture Icon.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Battle of the Bag: Deconstructing a Consumer Culture Icon. video or DVD. 44 min. (closed captioned). Prod. by Films for the Humanities & Sciences. Dist. by Films Media Group. 2008. video: ISBN 978-1-60467-444-6, DVD: ISBN 978-1-60467-445-3....

Billy the Bean.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Billy the Bean. DVD. 35 min. with seeds and peat moss. Prod. by SmartSongs. Dist. by Victory Multimedia. 2008. $12.95. PreS--Billy the Bean is sad and lonely until Butterfly Rita introduces him to Mr. Soil, Mr. Rain, Cloud, Mr. Sun, and Mr....

Complex Animals.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Complex Animals (Life Science Series). video or DVD. 14 min. with tchr's, guide. Visual Learning Co. 2008. ISBN 978-1-59234-217-4. $79.95. Gr 3-5--The characteristics of the major groups of vertebrates--reptiles, birds, amphibians,...

Homeostasis.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Homeostasis. DVD. 25 min. VEA. 2008. $89.95. Gr 7-10--In five chapters, this film explains what homeostasis is, how it works, and why it is important. Each section includes onscreen definitions, graphics, animation, and a summary of facts...

Mama Earth: Her Destiny--Our Hands.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Mama Earth: Her Destiny--Our Hands. DVD. 23:30 min. Prod. by EarthWalk Media. Dist. by Green Planet Films. 2007, 2009 release. $99.95 (pub. perf.), $19.95 (home use). Gr 9 Up--This introduction to ecological economics argues that a...

Our Distant Neighbors.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Our Distant Neighbors (Elementary Earth Science Series). video or DVD. 14 min. with tchr's, guide. Visual Learning Co. 2008. video: ISBN 978-1-59234-212-9, DVD: ISBN 978-59234-213-6. $79.95. Gr 3-5--This overview of our solar system...

The Science of Disney Imagineering.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... The Science of Disney Imagineering (Series). 3 DVDs. 30 min. ca. with tchr's, guide. Disney Educational Prods. 2008. $49.95 ea. Includes: Gravity (#77D58VL00); Levers and Pulleys (#77D57VL00); Trajectory (#77D58VL00). Gr 5-8--Gravity,...

Water First.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Water First. video or DVD. 46 min. (closed captioned). Prod. by Hart Prods. Dist. by Bullfrog Films. 2008. video: ISBN 1-59458-789-2, DVD: ISBN 1-59458-790-6. $250 (Rental: $85). Gr 7 Up--One billion people in the world do not have access...

Weathering and Erosion.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Weathering and Erosion (Elementary Earth Science Series). video or DVD. 14 min. with tchr's, guide. Visual Learning Co. 2008. ISBN 978-1-59234-204-4. $79.95. Gr 3-5--Well-chosen nature footage is joined with clear explanations and examples...

American Sign Language for Kids and Adults, Vol. 1: Everyday Lessons.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... American Sign Language for Kids and Adults, Vol. 1: Everyday Lessons. DVD. 2:20 hrs. Prod. by Everyday ASL Prods. Dist. by AV Cart. 2008. $16.95 Gr 7 Up--American Sign Language (ASL) is taught using a "three-way visual aid" concept....

American Feud: A History of Conservatives and Liberals.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... * American Feud: A History of Conservatives and Liberals. DVD. 90 min. American Feud. 2007, 2008 release. $15 (home use), $195 (pub. perf.) Gr 9 Up--American Feud offers an insightful and refreshingly unbiased review of how we got to where...

America's Heart & Soul.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... America's Heart & Soul. DVD 88 min. (closed captioned). Disney Educational Prods. 2004, 2008 release. ISBN 1-59753-212-6. $49.95. Gr 5 Up--Some of the Americans who make up the "heart and soul" of our country and use the freedoms it offers...

Capitalism and Democracy.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Capitalism and Democracy (Democracy: The Basics Series). DVD. 50 min with tchr's, guide, quiz. Hawkhill Assocs. 2008, 2009 release. ISBN 1-55979-222-1. $109. Gr 9 Up--While many individuals may assume that capitalism and democracy are only...

Grandfather's Journey.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... * Grandfather's Journey. DVD. 10 min. with tchr's, guide. Weston Woods. 2008. ISBN 978-0-545-10640-5. $59.95; CD, ISBN 978-0-545-10694-8: $12.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-10696-2: $29.95; CD with paperback book, 978-0-545-12708-0:...

Iron Ladies of Liberia.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Iron Ladies of Liberia. DVD. 52 min. Cinema Guild. 2007, 2008 release. ISBN 0-7815-1278-6. $99.95 (Rental: $65). Gr 9 Up--Liberia has had a violent, troubled history since it was founded in the early 1800s. A series of corrupt and cruel...

My Life on the Farm: Dermot in Australia.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... My Life on the Farm: Dermot in Australia. DVD. 13 min. (closed captioned). Prod. by Marathon Int'l. Dist. by Film Ideas. 2009. ISBN 1-60572-104-2. $175. Gr 1-4--Each title in this 13-part series about life on farms around the world is...

The New China: Shanghai, Shanghai.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... The New China: Shanghai, Shanghai. DVD. 50 min. Prod. by RTSI/Televisione Svizzera and United Colors Communications SA. Dist. by Chip Taylor Communications. 2008. $99.99. Gr 9 Up--Shanghai, China's largest city and one whose economy is...

New York Noir: The History of Black New York.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... New York Noir: The History of Black New York. DVD. 50 min. Prod. by North Shore Entertainment and The Metro Channel. Dist. by Little Dizzy Home Video. 2009. $14.99. Gr 9 Up--The significant contributions African Americans have made to New...

Please Vote for Me (Why Democracy? Series) DVD.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Please Vote for Me (Why Democracy? Series) DVD. 52 min. Cinema Guild. 2007, 2008 release. ISBN 0-7815-1300-6 $99.95 (Rental: $65). Gr 9 Up--Elementary students in Wuhan, China, engage in an experiment in democracy in this film. Third...

Schoolhouse Rock: Election Collection.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
April 1, 2009... Schoolhouse Rock: Election Collection. DVD. 42 min. with tchr's, guide. Disney Educational Prods. 2008. ISBN 1-59753 209-6. $29.95. Gr 1-8--Who can forget Schoolhouse Rock? Its catchy, award-winning tunes both entertained and educated....

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... * The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (unabr.). 6 CDs. 7:15 hrs. Tom Sawyer Audio. 2008. $59.95. Gr 7 Up--Mark Twain's American classic is performed by veteran actor Michael Beattie, whose 1840s dialect and Southern accent is infallible. Tom,...

American Listener's Theatre: Telling Tales of Civil Warriors.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... American Listener's Theatre: Telling Tales of Civil Warriors. 3 CDs. 3:06 hrs. CD Americana Prods. 2008. ISBN 978-0-9649040-2-6. $9.99. Gr 7 Up--Ambrose Bierce's tales reflect his experiences as a Union soldier during the American Civil...

Anne of Green Gables.(Audiobook review)(Children's review)(Book review)
April 1, 2009... * Anne of Green Gables (unabr.). 8 CDs. 10:21 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-6721-6. $50. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 5-8--Anne never fit in at any of the foster homes she...

The Big Splash.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... The Big Splash (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:52 hrs. Scholastic Audio. 2008. ISBN 0-545-09107-7. $49.95. Gr 6-8--Who took down Nikki Fingers? That's the mystery that seventh grader Matt Stevens is retained to uncover in Jack D. Ferraiolo's debut...

Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
April 1, 2009... Brendan Buckley's Universe and Everything in It (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:15 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7912-7. $38. Gr 4-6--Ten-year-old Brendan Buckley loves science, Tae Kwan...

Cybele's Secret.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... Cybele's Secret (unabr.). 11 CDs. 13:51 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7936-3. $70. Gr 8 Up--In Juliet Marillier's sequel (2008) to Wildwood Dancing (2007, both Knopf),...

Frogs & French Kisses.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... Frogs & French Kisses (unabr.). 7 CDs. 8:14 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7943-1. $55. Gr 6-9--Life just isn't fair. In Sarah Mlynowski's Bras & Broomsticks (Delacorte,...

Genius Squad.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... * Genius Squad (unabr.). 13 CDs. 15:43 hrs. Prod. Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-71268. $75. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 7 Up--In Catherine Jinks's engrossing sequel (2008) to Evil...

The Hunger Games.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... * The Hunger Games (unabr.). 9 CDs. 11:11 hrs. Scholastic Audio. 2008. ISBN 978-0-545-09106-0. $84.951 Gr 7 Up--Suzanne Collins's first book (Scholastic, 2008) of a planned trilogy introduces an easy-to-imagine, cruel future society...

Judy Moody Goes to College.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... Judy Moody Goes to College (unabr.). 2 cassettes or 2 CDs. 1:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4361-5901-2, CD: ISBN 978-1-4361-5906-7. $25.75. Gr 2-4--In an effort to improve her math proficiency, Judy Moody's parents...

The Juvie Three.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... The Juvie Three (unabr.). 5 cassettes or 5 CDs. 5:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4361-5923-4: $41.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4361-5928-9: $51.75. Gr 6-10--Gecko, Terence, and Arjay are serving time in juvenile delinquent...

Kissing the Bee.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Book review)
April 1, 2009... Kissing the Bee (unabr.). 3 CDs. 2:45 hrs. Full Cast Audio. 2008. ISBN 978-1-934180-39-6. $34. Gr 7 Up-Dana, an introverted high school senior, speculates about how her life will change upon graduation as this novel (Farrar Straus, 2007)...

Larry and the Meaning of Life.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... Larry and the Meaning of Life (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:31 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7276-0. $38. Gr 8 Up--This is another hilarious installment (Holt, 2007) by Janet Tashjian...

The New Girl: Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls, Book 2.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
April 1, 2009... The New Girl: Allie Finkle's Rules for Girls, Book 2 (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:10 hrs. Scholastic Audio. 2008. ISBN 978-0-545-14281-6. $49.95. Gr 3-5--Allie Finkle recently moved into a big old house with her parents and two brothers and is...

The Porcupine Year.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
April 1, 2009... The Porcupine Year (unabr.). 4 cassettes or 4 CDs. 4:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008: cassette, ISBN 978-1-4361-5890-9: $33.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4361-5895-4: $46.75. Gr 5-8--A Native American family makes the arduous journey from Wisconsin to...

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
April 1, 2009... * Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You (unabr.). 6 CDs. 7:07 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7253-1. $50. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 10 Up--Peter Cameron has crafted a...

The Split Second: The Seems, Book 2.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
April 1, 2009... The Split Second: The Seems, Book 2 (unabr.). 6 CDs. 7:43 hrs. Scholastic Audio. 2009. ISBN 978-0-545-09105-3. $29.95. Gr 4-8--The adventures of Becket Drane, 13, who lives both in the Real World and in the world of The Seems, continues in...

Talia Talk.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
April 1, 2009... Talia Talk (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:20 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7159-6. $38. Gr 4-7--Talia's mother is the co-host of a morning television show and talks about everything...

Tales from the Hood: The Sisters Grimm, Book 6.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
April 1, 2009... Tales from the Hood: The Sisters Grimm, Book 6 (unabr.). 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 6:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4361-5912-8: $51.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-5317-3: $66.75. Gr 4-7--Humans are being forced out of Fairy-port...

A Taste of Colored Water.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
April 1, 2009... A Taste of Colored Water. cassette or CD. 11:06 min. with hardcover book. Spoken Arts. 2008. cassette, ISBN 0-8045-6976-2: $27.95; CD, ISBN 0-8045-4201-5: $29.95. Gr 1-4--In this tale of childhood innocence (S & S, 2008), written and...