School Library Journal articles from August 2008

School Library Journal archives from August 2008

The Yin and Yang of 'SLJ': can two different but complementary professions share one magazine?(Editorial)
August 1, 2008... My first morning in Southern California--where I attended the American Library Association's (ALA) most recent conference--was glorious. The light was golden, the air gentle. I was almost ready to forgive ALA for sending us off to Disneyland....

Correction.(Letters)(Correction notice)
August 1, 2008... The June 2008 reference review of Encyclopedia of Disasters: Environmental Catastrophes and Human Tragedies listed Agnes M. Gunn as the author. The author is Angus M. Gunn.

Selznick, Schlitz rock ALA: Newbery, Caldecott winners deliver dazzling speeches.(Top Stories from slj.com)(Laura Amy Schlitz and Brian Selznick)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... For those lucky enough to attend the June 29 dinner at the Anaheim Hilton in California honoring this year's Newbery and Caldecott winners, it was clear that everyone had one word in mind to describe the acceptance speeches: electrifying. ...

Gettin' Jiggy with Laurie.(Top Stories from slj.com)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The wait is over. Laurie Berkner, the award-winning rock star for the diaper and sippy cup set, is releasing her first CD in six years. Rocketship Run (Two Tomatoes Records)--which features 20 new songs and...

AASL's Learning 4 Life.(Top Stories from slj.com)(American Association of School Librarians)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Maybe the title "Standards for the 21st-Century Learner" wasn't sexy enough, but the people in charge of implementing the American Association of School Librarians' new learning standards have chosen a catchier nickname: Learning 4 Life. The...

Talking books.(The Interview)(Interview)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Antiviolence campaigner Ronni Abergel helps combat racism and negative stereo-types through his Denmark-based Living Library, where users check out real people instead of books. Who are the most popular "books"...

Xanga, Bebo promote literacy.(Top Stories from slj.com)
August 1, 2008... THERE'S A LOT MORE TO MYSPACE and Facebook than meets the eye: teachers and librarians can use these and other social networking sites to boost students' technology, literacy, and communication skills, says a new report. "Young People...

Weetzie a winner.(Top Stories from slj.com)(Weetzie Bat)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Francesca Lia Block's Weetzie Bat (HarperCollins), about an offbeat heroine who shares a Hollywood cottage with three equally quirky companions, is the winner of the 1989/2009 Phoenix Award, given to the author of...

Spokane moms push for more moolah.(Top Stories from slj.com)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The Spokane Moms have something more to brag about. Thanks in part to their efforts, Washington is considering long-term funding for school librarians and educational technology. A joint task force on Basic Education Finance is currently...

Storytime preps kids for school.(Top Stories from slj.com)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... There's more evidence that reading aloud to young children--especially in an engaging manner-promotes emergent literacy and language development and better prepares them for school. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Reading Aloud to Children:...

You got game?(Top Stories from slj.com)(American Library Association plans to track and measure the impact of gaming on literacy skills)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... The American Library Association (ALA) plans to launch an innovative project to track and measure the impact of gaming on literacy skills. The project, funded by a $1 million grant from the Verizon Foundation, will serve as a national...

HP's mini-note reviewed: the 2133: built for schools, with crossover appeal.(Tech Knowledge)(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It's the height of the short-lived sunny season here in the Upper Midwest--and I'm admittedly giddy with it--so I hope you'll indulge me in one last summery simile as I sip sweet tea and write this review: ...

NECC 2008: www.necc2008.org.(Site of the Month)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I don't know about you, but conferences for me are oftentimes a sleepless whirlwind. Too many stimulating ideas, conversations, and iffy meals on the run--not to mention the airport trauma--make it difficult to...

NECC draws librarians.(Tech Knowledge)(National Educational Computing Conference)(Conference news)
August 1, 2008... More than 12,654 registered attendees flocked to San Antonio, TX, for the National Educational Computing Conference (NECC), held June 29 through July 2 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. So what was there for librarians? Plenty,...

My daughter meets the XO.(TECHNOLOGY Up CLOSE)
August 1, 2008... My daughter, Harper (below), has been playing with computers since she was old enough to cradle in my lap and clutch a mouse in her chubby hands. Now, at five years old, she surfs the Web, shoots email to her grandparents, and Skypes with...

Keeping it real.(Tech Knowledge)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] While teens may appear to live their lives on social networking sites and in multiplayer games, their standing in the virtual world rarely trumps status in the real one, according to danah boyd, an expert on youth...

Beating information overload: personalized start pages help you manage the content fire hose.(Cool TOOLS)
August 1, 2008... Given the veritable tidal wave of information out there, I find it difficult to track the many discussions taking place online. Aggregators, such as Google Reader, help me manage numerous RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feeds, yet I always...

Texting fees skyrocket.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sure, everything's more expensive, but the price of text messaging is truly out of control. In recent years, all four major mobile carriers have stuck it to consumers, doubling the rate from 10 cents to 20 cents...

Up to your NETS in technology?(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(National Educational Technology Standards )(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... To keep pace with the fast developing trends of the digital age, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) has updated its National Educational Technology Standards for Teachers (NETS-T). The refreshed NETS-T, unveiled at...

Kid-friendly interface.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Destiny Quest, a new graphical search interface, made its debut at NECC. An integrated component of Follett Software's Destiny Library Manager solution, Destiny Quest features virtual shelf browsing, allowing students to view books on either...

Robotics for the younger set.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... After bringing its popular MINDSTORMS toolset to middle grade and high school classrooms, LEGO has tailored a robotics activity just for younger kids. Geared for students ages 7-11, LEGO's new WeDo product strives to meet a range of 21st...

Godin on the Kindle.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Seth Godin)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Amazon's Kindle has drawn plenty of comment, but there's more, this time from online marketing guru Seth Godin, who recently blogged his suggestions for enhancing the ereader. They include enabling access to links...

LCD on a budget.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Viewsonic VA2626WM)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A display the size of a luxury liner would be nice, but the corresponding price tag puts this item firmly in the optional purchase category for most of us. At least until now. View-sonic has introduced a...

Timeliner XE aids searches.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Tom Snyder Productions, a division of Scholastic, has launched Timeliner XE, a new online search tool. An update to existing Timeliner software, the XE product was developed with Adobe AIR technology and allows K-12 researchers to organize...

New MOO cards.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Online printer MOO now offers full-size business cards. A practical turn on MOO's popular mini-cards, the standard size option lets you print up to 50 different images on each card. Import photos from Flickr and Facebook or upload your own...

Sound Alert.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... High noise levels over extended periods of time can compromise hearing, according to studies by the National Institute on Deafness. Providing educators with the means to monitor student listening habits, the Sound Alert Headphone flashes a...

A new handheld polling solution.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... A new LCD screen-equipped handheld receiver for presenters, ResponseCard AnyWhere does not require a projector or computer. Simply pose a question to the group and press a button on the ResponseCard AnyWhere receiver to open polling. Students...

An unplanned problem: is it, like, cool to download Juno's screenplay for free?(Carrie on Copyright)
August 1, 2008... After we took our 11th and 12th graders to see the movie Juno, one of our teachers posted a link to the film's script. Since the screenplay is for sale online and at bookstores, is that OK? When I told him that downloading the entire script...

An extreme makeover: let's reverse the negative stereotypes associated with reading.(Teenage Riot)
August 1, 2008... What does a typical teen reader look like? Jonathan Douglas, director of the U.K.-based nonprofit National Literacy Trust, posed that question to more than 1,600 U.K. middle and high school students in a 2007 study called "Young People's Self...

My dinner with Laura: Schlitz's Newbery acceptance speech was fabulous ... except for one thing.(Consider the Source)
August 1, 2008... Laura Amy Schlitz, thank you. Your Newbery Medal acceptance speech was so spectacular that even when it stumbled, it soared. Ms. Schlitz is a master storyteller. With her cascading white hair and well-chosen words, she looks and sounds like a...

Going, going, gone! Kadir Nelson on 'We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball'.(Under Cover)(Interview)
August 1, 2008... The Negro leagues thrived from 1920 to 1947-the year Jackle Robinson became the first African American to play major league baseball. But given the segregation and racism the players encountered, .We Are the Ship is more than a sports story....

Puzzling? You bet! Games that give your brain a workout.(The Gaming Life)(Product/service evaluation)
August 1, 2008... For centuries, puzzles and gaines like Chinese Checkers and Dominoes have captivated people around the world. So it's not surprising that the puzzle genre has been embraced by video game designers. When Nintendo's hand-held GameBoy was...

Renaissance woman: she's too modest to admit it, but Carolyn Brodie has launched a revival in Ohio's youth services.(Biography)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If you are fortunate enough to meet Carolyn Brodie--the winner of this year s Scholastic Library Publishing Award--I can guarantee that in the first five minutes you'll be completely charmed by her soft-spoken...

Close encounters of the best kind: searching for great writing, timely topics, and clever commentary? Try the latest sci-fi.
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Not only is science fiction alive and well--it's flourishing. From the big screen (howdy, Wall-E) to the big books (like Suzanne Collins's The Hunger Games, which has attracted loads of prepublication praise), 2008...

A home away from home: for most homeschoolers, there's no place like the library.
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Homeschooling families are everywhere these days. They're on television, giving interviews after winning national spelling bees. They're in the paper, profiled after making Olympic trials. They're on the radio,...

Free for all: open source software has become a catchword in libraryland. Yet many remain unclear about open source's benefits--or even what it is.
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] So what is open source software (OSS)? It's software that is free in every sense of the word: free to download, free to use, and free to view or modify. Most OSS is distributed on the Web and you don't need to...

Hot topics.(focus on: Fire)(books about fire)(Young adult review)(Children's review)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... Fireworks explode in the night sky. Families gather around campfires. Signs in national forests gauge fire danger. Sirens blaring and lights flashing, fire engines speed through streets. Almost every day we experience fire's presence in many...

Media picks.(focus on: Fire)(books and video recordings about fire)(Young adult review)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... Dot the Fire Dog. video. 10 min. with tchr's, guide. Weston Woods (seholastic.com/westonwoods). 2003. ISBN 1-55592-514-6. $60; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 1-55592623-1: $29.95. PreS-Gr 2--Dot the Dalmatian lives in a fire station. When...

Resources for teachers.(ON THE WEB)(Brief article)
August 1, 2008... Fire Prevention and Firefighting: Polymers that Save Lives. www.pslc.ws/fire/hsteach. Polymer Science Learning Center, University of Southern Mississippi. (Accessed 6/24/08). Helpful notes and background information complement...

For students.(ON THE WEB)(Brief article)(List)
August 1, 2008... Smokey Bear.com. www.smokeybear.com. U.S. Forest Service, National Association of State Foresters, and the Ad Council. (Accessed 6/24/08). Gr 2 Up--Animated games and activities related to wildfires, information on tire science of...

Creating with Crayons.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Creating with Crayons. video or DVD. 20 min. Crystal Prods. 2008. video: ISBN 978-1-56290-580-4, DVD: 978-1-56290-581-1. $29.95. Gr 6 Up--Artist/teacher Peggy Flores uses crayons and simple techniques to inspire young artists. In the...

Business 101 ... Preparing the Heart and Mind of an Entrepreneur!(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Business 101... Preparing the Heart and Mind of an Entrepreneur! DVD. 23 min. with class set of workbooks, tchr's guide. Prod. by 101 Prods. Dist. by Smart Kids 101. 2007. ISBN 978-0-9767765-3-7. $94.95; DVD only: $19.95. Gr 7 Up--This...

Budgeting Basics.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Budgeting Basics. DVD. 24 min. Learning Seed. 2008. ISBN 1-55740-504-2. $99. Gr 10 Up--Students are shown how creating a budget and controlling spending can help them become more independent. Rachel, a young college graduate working at...

Help! They Stole My Name: The Impact of Identity Theft.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Help! They Stole My Name: The Impact of Identity Theft. DVD. 29 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Learning Seed. 2008. ISBN 1-55740-840-8. $99. Gr 7 Up--This classroom friendly program is divided into three parts to explain...

How Consumers Decide.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... How Consumers Decide. DVD. 23 min. with tchr's, guide. Learning Seed. 2008. ISBN 1-55740-838-1. $99. Gr 7 Up--Advertisers push consumers' "brain buttons," playing on our minds, emotions, and subconscious to sell products and services....

Taking Credit: Understanding Loans, Credit Cards, and Other Debts.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Taking Credit: Understanding Loans, Credit Cards, and Other Debts. video or DVD. color. 25 min. (closed captioned). with tchr's, guide online. Cambridge Educational. 2008. video: ISBN 978-1-4213-8276-0, DVD: ISBN 978-1-4213-8277-7. $89.95....

Dances of Tahiti for Children.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Dances of Tahiti for Children. DVD. 57 min. Prod. by Taina Prods. Dist. by Big Kids Prods. 2007. #M247-DVD. $24.95. K-Gr 4--This fun, instructional production is a great way to introduce children to the Tahitian tradition of dance. It...

Charlie Trash Truck.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Charlie Trash Truck. DVD. 30 min. Prod. by Dr. Jay Prods. Dist. by Big Kids Prods. 2006, 2008 release. $14.95. PreS--Charlie is a young trash truck (computer generated) introduces the work his Dad, a real garbage truck, performs in this...

Preschool Prep: Meet the Sight Words.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Preschool Prep: Meet the Sight Words. DVD. 40 min. Preschool Prep Co. 2007. ISBN 0-9770215-6-4. $14.95. PreS-K--Designed for youngsters ages 15 months to 6 years, this program introduces 23 sight words--words that don't follow basic...

Puppytown: Growing Up.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Puppytown: Growing Up. DVD. 35 min. with CD. 23 min Pro Quality DVD. 2008. $19.99. PreS-Gr 1--This follow-up to Puppytown: The Movie (June 2007, p. 64) introduces young children to a variety of different working dogs. Each type of dog is...

Shae by Air: Every Child Can Be a Good Little Traveler!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Shae by Air: Every Child Can Be a Good Little Traveler! DVD. 24 min. Prod. by Little Lima Bean Prods. Dist. by Instructional Video. 2004, 2008 release. $19.98. PreS--Parents of preschoolers who will be flying in an airplane for the first...

What Dads Say about: Boys.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... What Dads Say about: Boys. DVD. 17 min. Vizmo Films. 2007. $39.95. Gr 6 Up--A number of fathers of teenage daughters from diverse backgrounds in a variety of settings offer girls practical advice about relationships, dating, and more....

How Much Should I Eat?(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... How Much Should I Eat? DVD. 21 min. Learning Seed. 2008. ISBN 1-55740-831-9. $99. Gr 7 Up--To cope with the problem of obesity, students must become aware of harmful eating habits and develop portion awareness. This concise program...

The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)(Audiobook review)
August 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians. DVD. 11:55 min. with tchr's, guide. Spoken Arts. 2008. ISBN 0-8045-8079-0. $50; cassette with hardcover book, ISBN 0-8045-6965-7: $27.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN...

Call of the Wild.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Call of the Wild. DVD. 2 hrs. Allumination FilmWorks. 2000, 2008 release. $14.98. Gr 5 Up--Although this film is supposed to be based on Jack London's novel, it bears little resemblance to the classic. The hero of the book, John Thornton, is...

Max's Words.(Children's review)(Book review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Max's Words. video or DVD. 10 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Weston Woods. 2007. video, ISBN 978-0-545-04287-1: $60; DVD, ISBN 978-0-5450285-7: $59.95; cassette with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-04374-8: $24.95; CD with...

Oban Star-Racers.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Oban Star-Racers. Volume One & Two. 2 DVDs. 6 hrs. ea. Prod. by Sav! the World Prods. Dist. by Shout! Factory. 2008. $16.99 ca. Includes: The Alwas Cycle (ISBN 978-1-60399-070-7); The Oban Cycle (ISBN 978-1-60399-071-4). Gr 5 Up--It's...

Rapunzel.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Rapunzel. DVD. 20 min. Prod. by I Read Whale. Dist. by Victory Multimedia. 2008. ISBN 978-1-934566-04-8. $12.95. K-Gr 3--This modem retelling of The Brothers Grimm tale is set in an apartment building rather than a tower with an old woman...

Rock 'n Learn: Read Along Stories.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Rock 'n Learn: Read Along Stories. DVD. approx. 35 min. Prod. by Rock 'n Learn. Dist. by Big Kids Prods. 2008. ISBN 978-1-878489-77-7. $19.95. K-Gr 3--Simple, traditional versions of "The Three Little Pigs," "The Ugly Duckling," "Jack...

The Secret Garden.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... The Secret Garden. DVD. 8 hrs. DVD Bookshelf. 2008. ISBN 978-1-60362-0116. $12.95. Gr 4-8--When ten-year-old Mary Lennox's parents and their servants all die of cholera, she is sent from her home in India to live with her frequently...

Cooking Up Fractions Series.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Cooking Up Fractions Series. video or DVD. 44 min. (closed captioned). with tchr's, guide, worksheets. Prod. by LearningWave Communications. Dist. by Human Relations Media. 2007. ISBN 978-1-55548-228-2. $149.95. Gr 3-5--Join actor Chef J...

Danger Rangers: Where the Fun Never Stops.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Danger Rangers: Where the Fun Never Stops. DVD. 40 min. Prod. by Educational Adventures. Dist. by Big Kids Prods. 2007. #E306-DVD. $14.95. PreS-Gr 2--The latest episode in the series presents an engaging story while teaching young...

Teen Safety: Myths vs. Reality.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Teen Safety: Myths vs. Reality. DVD. 20 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's. guide. Learning ZoneXpress. 2008. ISBN 1-57175-556-X. $79.95. Gr 6 Up--It is a myth that being close to home or in the presence of familiar adults assures...

The Adventures of Monty the Moose.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... The Adventures of Monty the Moose. 2 DVDs. 40 min. ca. Prod. by Alaska Video Postcards. Dist. by AV Care. 2007. $14.95 ca. Includes: The Adventures of Monty the Moose: Alaska's Tundra Tails! (ISBN 0-945853-96-2); The Adventures of Monty the...

Animals A-Z: Sea Turtle/Octopus.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Animals A-Z: Sea Turtle/Octopus. video or DVD. 16 min. Prod. by SD Communications. Dist. by Landmark Media. 2007. $149. Gr 1-5--The titles in this 8-part series highlight the "details and curiosities of the natural world... in a simple...

Audubon Butterfly DVD: Essentials for Beginners and Gardeners.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Audubon Butterfly DVD: Essentials for Beginners and Gardeners. DVD. 2:30 hrs. Mastervision. 2008. ISBN 1-55919-205-4. $39.95 Gr 6 Up--Written by Paul Opler, the author of Peterson's Field Guides to Eastern and Western Butterflies, this...

Backyard Habitat: Alligators and Green Anoles.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Backyard Habitat: Alligators and Green Anoles. DVD. 20 min. Discovery Education. 2008. ISBN 1-60288-325-4. $49.95. Gr, 3-8--Created in partnership with the National Wildlife Federation and Animal Planet, the rifles in this series are...

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
August 1, 2008... Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! DVD. 8 min. with tchr's. guide. Weston Woods. 2008. ISBN 0-545-09211-1. $59.95; CD, ISBN 978-0-545-09445-0, $12.95; CD with hardcover book. ISBN 978-0-545-09453-5: $29.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PreS-Gr 2-Bob...

Core Chemistry.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Core Chemistry. DVD. color. 32 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Prod. by Centre Communications. Dist. by Ambrose Video. 2007. $49.99. Gr 7 Up--The discoveries, principles, and laws of physical and organic chemistiy and...

Environmental Science for Students (Series).(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Environmental Science for Students (Series). 6 DVDs. 23 min. ca. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guides. Prod. by Schlessinger Media. Dist. by Library Video Co. 2008. $39.95 ca. Includes: Air Quality (ISBN 978-1-4171-0921-0); Global Climate...

From Farm to Table.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... From Farm to Table. DVD. 21 min. with tchr's, guide online. Learning Seed. 2008. ISBN 1-55740-824-6. $99. Gr 7 Up--How do a few simple ingredients--wheat, tomatoes, and pork--become a sausage pizza? By deconstructing a ubiquitous dinner...

Genetics, Stem Cells and Society.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Genetics, Stem Cells and Society. DVD. 33 min. with tchr's, guide online. VEA. 2007. #RORGENST. $89.95. Gr 10 Up--This Australian production presents an interview with Dr. Alan Trounson, a world-renowned scientist in the field of stem...

Gimme Green.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Gimme Green. DVD. 28 mix. Cinema Guild. 2008. ISBN 0-7815-1167-4. $89.95 (Rental $65). Gr 6 Up--This documentary uncovers the costs of the American obsession with the suburban lawn. Filmed in the American southwest, where lawn...

Kid Guides: Zoos.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Kid Guides: Zoos. DVD. 1:50 hrs. Prod. by Echo Entertainment. Dist. by Janson Media. 2007. ISBN 978-1-56839-296-6. $19.95. Gr 1-6--Tour three of the country's most exciting zoos with Matt and Brittney and go behind the scenes to share...

King Corn.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... King Corn. video or DVD. 90 min. (closed captioned). Prod. by Mosaic Films. Dist. by Bullfrog Films. 2007. video: ISBN 1-59458-700-0, DVD: ISBN 1-59458-701-9. $295. G 8 Up--Two college friends, Ian Cheney and Curt Ellis, with family ties...

Ping and Pong: Learn about Plants and Animals.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Ping and Pong: Learn about Plants and Animals. DVD. 27 min. Discovery Education. 2008. ISBN 1-60288-395-5. $49.95. K-Gr 2--Two wide-eyed claymation bunnies named Ping and Pong learn a few scientific facts about topics from anthropomorphic...

America's National Monuments: The Historic South (Series).(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... America's National Monuments: The Historic South (Series). 4 DVDs. 40 min. ea. with tchr's, guide. Prod. by Centre Communications. Dist. by Ambrose Video. 2008. $129.99 ser. Includes: Prehistoric American Indians; Southern Spanish Colonies;...

Big Boats & Busy Harbors.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Big Boats & Busy Harbors. DVD. approx. 30 min. Prod. by Little Hardhats. Dist. by Big Kids Prods. 2007. #B307-DVD. $19.95. PreS-Gr 3--The latest release in the "Little Hardhats" series focuses on activities around harbors. Host Rusty...

Buying and Selling: How Trading Shapes Our World.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Buying and Selling: How Trading Shapes Our World. DVD. 24 min. Learning Seed. 2008. ISBN 1-55740-532-8. $99. Gr 9 Up--This production offers a basic introduction to trade and explains its importance as the engine of economic growth. It...

Dancing from the Heart: Journey of a Pueblo Dance Family.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Dancing from the Heart: Journey of a Pueblo Dance Family. DVD. 44 min. Mother Earth Prods. 2007, 2008 release. $200 Gr 7 Up--This award-winning, amazing ethnographic documentary is about a family struggling to ensure that Tewa Pueblo...

Erie Liddell: Champion of Conviction.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Erie Liddell: Champion of Conviction. DVD. 55 min. Vision Video. 2007. #501234D. $19.99. Gr 10 Up--Eric Liddell was a Scottish Olympiad who refused to run his favored race in the 1924 Paris Olympics because it was held on the Sabbath....

Families of Costa Rica (Families of the World Series).(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... Families of Costa Rica (Families of the World Series). video or DVD. approx. 30 min. (closed captioned). Master Communications. 2008. ISBN 978-1-60480-055-5. $29.95. K-Gr 4--This two-part program examines life in this Central American...

I'm Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... I'm Still Here: Real Diaries of Young People Who Lived During the Holocaust. DVD. 48 min. with tchr's. guide. Sisu Home Entertainment. 2008. ISBN 1-56086-567-9. $24.95. Gr 9 Up--A remarkable collection of portions from ten actual diaries...

The Little Travelers: Japan.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
August 1, 2008... The Little Travelers: Japan. DVD. 1 hr. The Little Travelers. ISBN 978-1-4243-3837-5. $19.95. PreS-Gr 3--Two young American sisters, Chantelle and Nakia, travel to Japan for three months and explore the country's food, culture, and...