School Library Journal articles from December 2011

School Library Journal archives from December 2011

The best is yet to come: spread the word--our top picks of the year are here.(Editorial)
December 1, 2011... Call me clueless. I've worked at SLJ for more than a decade, and I still have no idea how our review staff comes up with its best books list. From the outside looking in, it's a mystery wrapped in a riddle inside an enigma. It's like electing a...

Librarian Serves up 'Appy Hour': Iowa educator Kathy Kaldenberg hosts a get-together with colleagues around apps.(Tech Knowledge)(Kathy Kaldenberg)
December 1, 2011... Kathy Kaldenberg didn't stir any gimlets or martinis. But her November Appy Hour did serve up a taste of applications that enable note taking, formatting citations, and streaming news--all an effort to get local educators to infuse 21st-century...

Lenovo IdeaPad U300s: Ultrabook.(Test Drive)(Product/service evaluation)
December 1, 2011... As 2011 winds down, I find myself wondering: Where have all the netbooks gone? Maybe it was all those tablets that hogged the spotlight this year, but, for whatever reason, the netbook is yesterday's news. So chip giant Intel has created a whole...

Power to the patron: from system to services.(Test Drive)(Brief article)
December 1, 2011... From mobile apps that scan barcodes to QR codes for checking out books and placing holds, innovations are being tested by public and academic libraries nationwide. Join Library Journal December 8 for "Power to the Patron: From Systems to...

Gifts for the library: choice gadgets for ramping up service in 2012.(The NEXT BIG Thing)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2011... This holiday season, don't forget your favorite library. The following items are easy on the budget and can help your media center do great things in the coming year. Is your circ desk area a bit staid? Jazz things up with an interactive...

New digital picture book hub: UTales.(The NEXT BIG Thing)(Brief article)
December 1, 2011... New Digital Picture Book Hub: UTales UTales (utalesocom), a new, for digital picture books, provides young readers with an expanding library of offerings-and gives authors and illustrators an easy way to create, publish, and profit from their...

QR Codes Go to School: From student displays to scavenger hunts, Q R codes give class activities a 21st-century twist.(Cool Tools)(Quick Response)
December 1, 2011... From magazines to signs at the local supermarket checkout line, QR codes, those little square boxes of dotted patterns, are everywhere these days. But what purpose do they serve? And what can you do with them in your school? Quick Response or...

The way we wore: clothing and hairstyles throughout history make for excellent booktalks.(Nonfiction Booktalker)
December 1, 2011... It's all Louis XIII's fault. When the 23-year-old French king started going bald in 1624, he hid it under a long, curly wig. Wealthy men in England and France sought to imitate royalty and began wearing huge hairpieces--even if they had...

Fish of a different color: Pat Schmatz's novel 'Bluefish' features some unforgettable characters.(Under Cover)(Interview)
December 1, 2011... Thirteen-year-old Travis can't read. To make matters worse, he's moved to a new town far from his beloved woods. But when he meets good-hearted, outgoing Velveeta, his life takes an unexpected turn. It's a perfect story for you to write, given...

'Tis the season A wonderland of new games for classrooms, libraries, or just for fun.(The Gaming Life)
December 1, 2011... Meeples in colors and boards that are linen. Bright flashy game bits and knowing I'm winning. Unopened game boxes tied up with strings. These are a few of my favorite things! The winter season is filled with a special atmosphere...

Best books 2011.(Recommended readings)
December 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] We are pleased to present this year's 65 choices for the Best Books of 2011, chosen from the more than 6000 books reviewed this year. Novels were a standout, particularly those for teens, with themes of leadership,...

Best adult books 4 teens.(Recommended readings)
December 1, 2011... The "Adult Books 4 Teens" blog is designed to replace the "Adult Books for High School Students" print column. It launched on the School Library Journal website in October 2010, and has offered four or five book reviews each week ever since. The...

Apps.(SLJ's TOP 10 2011)(application software)(List)
December 1, 2011... Apps are everywhere, and we think they have the potential to play an important role in children's lives. That's why we launched our blog "Touch and Go: A Guide to the Best Apps and Enhanced Books for Children and Teens" last June. Since then,...

Graphic novels.(SLJ's TOP 10 2011)(List)
December 1, 2011... For years, we've been hearing that comics are no longer for kids. Well, we've got some good news for you. Comics for young readers are back (not that they ever really left)--and they're better than ever. In the last two years alone, graphic...

DVDs.(SLJ's TOP 10 2011)(Buyers guide)
December 1, 2011... Mission impossible? That's the first thing that flashed through my mind when I was asked to pick this year's top 10 DVDs for children and teens. After all, during the last 12 months, we've reviewed nearly 400 DVDs, and the thought of limiting...

Tech.(SLJ's TOP 10 2011)
December 1, 2011... You know what? There's too much stuff. That might not be what you'd expect, coming from a technology editor. But looking back over the past year, I found myself wading through tons of gadgets, tools, and miscellaneous merch to get to the real...

A calendar of holidays.(focus on: Celebrations and Festivals)(childre's books)(Recommended readings)
December 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kids love holidays. Any kind of celebration or festival brings a break in routine, an excuse for a party, perhaps a chance to dress up. Multigenerational family gatherings and the enacting of annual rituals bring a...

On the web.(Website list)(Brief article)
December 1, 2011... For Teachers: Diversity Calendar. www3.kumc.edu/diversity. The University of Kansas Medical Center. Kansas City, KS. (Accessed 10/24/11). Developed by the Medical Center's Human Resources division, this searchable month-by-month listing of...

Media picks.('Holidays for Children,' 'National Observances,' and 'Winter Holiday Stories')(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Holidays for Children (Series). 26 DVDs. range: 12-23 min. with tchr's, guides. Library Video Co. 1994. $389.35 set., $14.98 ca. PreS-Gr 3--A lively mix of live-action, simple animation, photography, puppets, clever graphics, and still...

Epic audio: Odyssey Award-winning audiobooks provide a total listening experience.(listen in: Audiobooks and Learning)(Bibliography)
December 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE ODYSSEY AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE in Audiobook Production, named for Homer's epic poem, celebrates the oral tradition of storytelling. Now in its fifth year and jointly administered by the Association for Library Service...

Trust: Second Acts in Young Lives.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Trust: Second Acts in Young Lives. DVD. 78 min (+57 min. educ. version). Prod. by Kelly Yamamoto Films. Dist. by New Day Films. 2010. ISBN 978-1-57448-294-2. high school/community group: $95. Gr 9 Up--Marlin, an 18-year-old Honduran, tells...

Drinking Games, Alcohol Abuse and Overdose.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Drinking Games, Alcohol Abuse and Overdose. DVD. 23 min. with tchr's. guide. Human Relations Media. 2011. ISBN 978-1-55548-860-4. $149.95. Gr 7 Up--Medical professionals, police, parents, and youth discuss drinking games and the...

The Drug and Alcohol Addiction Test.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... The Drug and Alcohol Addiction Test. DVD. 24 min. with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2011. ISBN 978-1-55548-935-9. $149.95. Gr 7 Up--A pair of teen narrators, expert advice from an adult substance abuse counselor, dramatic...

Happy Valley, Vol. 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Happy Valley, Vol. 1. DVD. approx. 59 rain. Prod. by Dinamo Prods. Dist. by Organa Kids. 2007, 2011 release. ISBN unavail. $14.95. PreS-K--Not much happens in Happy Valley, which is the point. In these nine very simple stories, the highlight...

I Love My ABC's! Animals.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... I Love My ABC's! Animals. DVD. 32 min. Prod. by A Wrench in the Works Entertainment. Dist. by Big Kids Prods. 2011. ISBN unavail. $19.99. PreS-Gr 1--Mattie, an excessively cute-voiced yellow airplane narrates this program, introducing each...

Interest, Loans and Credit.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Interest, Loans and Credit. DVD. 18 min. VEA. 2011. ISBN unavail, public library: $54.95, school library: $99.95. Gr 7-10--A teen hostess describes her efforts to obtain money to replace her old and unreliable bicycle. She has been given a...

Spanish for Kids: Intermediate, Vol. 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Spanish for Kids: Intermediate, Vol. 1. DVD. 45 min. Language Tree. 2011. ISBN 978-0-9835037-0-5. $24.99. Gr 3-10--A family from the United States is planning to host Javier, an exchange student from Spain. Seven lessons follow tire...

Getting In: The Truth About College Admissions.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Getting In: The Truth About College Admissions. DVD. 23 min. with tchr's. guide. Human Relations Media. 2011. ISBN 978-1-55548-934-2. $149.95. Gr 7 Up--A diverse group of high school students discuss their concerns about selecting the right...

Customer Service Basics: Service with a Smile.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Customer Service Basics: Service with a Smile. DVD. 22 min. with tchr's, guide online. Learning ZoneXpress. 2011. ISBN unavail. $79.95. Gr 9 Up--Basic customer service practices are presented in this amusing live-action film. The fictitious...

Mission: Employable Series.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Mission: Employable Series. 2 DOs. approx. 18 min. ea. VEA. 2010, 2011 release. ISBN unavail, public library: $54.95 ea., school library: $99.95 ea. Includes: Universal Rules for a Successful Interview; Interview Scenarios and Questions to...

Achoo! Stop the Flu.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... * Achoo! Stop the Flu. DVD. 30 min. Prod. by Rolling River Prods. Dist. by TMW Media Group. 2011. ISBN unavail. $64.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] K-Gr 6--Flu season is here and germs abound. How can you stay healthy? The Kingston Trio, Grammy...

MyPlate: Dietary Guidelines for Elementary Students.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... MyPlate: Dietary Guidelines for Elementary Students. DVD. 23 min. with tchr's guide online. Learning ZoneXpress, 2012, 2011 release. ISBN unavail. $49.95. Gr 1-6--The food pyramid has been replaced by an easier to understand "MyPlate" icon,...

Scooter & Me: Possum's Tail.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Scooter & Me: Possum's Tail. DVD. 25 min. Prod. by Move with Me Action Adventures. Dist. by AV Cafe. 2010, 2011 release. $19.95 PreS-Gr 2--In this yoga program that helps develops balance, instructor Wendy Phillips Piret guides a class of...

What's on My Plate?(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... What's on My Plate? DVD. 12 min. Slim Goodbody. 2011. ISBN uuavail. $19.95. Gr 1-4--The Food Pyramid has been replaced by the ChooseMyPlate nutrition guidelines released by the federal government in June, 2011. The hope is to simplify good...

Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask of Amontillado. DVD. approx. 22 min. Prod. by DijitMedia. Dist. by Library Video Co. 2011. ISBN unavail. $29.95. Gr 9 Up--This interpretation of "The Cask of Amontillado" closely follows the text of Poe's classic...

Squaresville Episode 1.001: Sometimes You Have to Round Down.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Squaresville Episode 1.001: Sometimes You Have to Round Down. DVD. 30 min. SquaresvilleMath.com. 2011. ISBN unavail. $27.95. Gr 3-5--Squaresville is a town where math pops up all over. In this live-action program, several groups of children...

Caterpillar to Butterfly: Adventures in Science, Music, and Dance.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Caterpillar to Butterfly: Adventures in Science, Music, and Dance. DVD. 80 min. Prod. by Missarmia Prods. Dist. by Moving Through Science. 2011. ISBN 978-0-9830-5250-0. $35. PreS-Gr 4--Renowned educator Marcia Daft debuts a new series based...

Kids@Discovery: Creepy Creatures!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... * Kids@Discovery: Creepy Creatures! DVD. 23 min. Prod. by Exploration Prod. Dist. by Cerebellum. 2011. ISBN unavail. $39.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 2-5--Experts from museums in the United States and Canada introduce those incredibly...

The Seasons.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... The Seasons (Series). 4 DVDs. 10 min. ea. with tchr's, guides. Visual Learning Systems. 2011. $79.95 ea. Includes: Fall (ISBN 978-1-59234-663-9); Winter (ISBN 978-1-59234-666-0); Spring (ISBN 978-1-59234-6574); Summer (ISBN 978-1-59234-660-8)....

Yucky Worms.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... * Yucky Worms. DVD. 17 min. with tchr's, guide. Nutmeg Media. 2011. ISBN 1-933938-84-6. $49.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PreS-Gr 2--Vivian French's fresh and interesting book (Candlewick, 2010) offers fascinating facts about earthworms. The...

Families of the Philippines.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Families of the Philippines (Families of the World Series). DVD. 30 min. with tchr's, guide online. Prod. by Arden Media Resources. Dist. by Master Communications. 2011. ISBN 978-1-60480-112-5. $29.95. Gr 1-5--Viewers curious about how...

First Face: The Buck Starts Here.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... First Face: The Buck Starts Here. DVD. 26 min. firstfacefilms.com. 2011. ISBN 978-0-9727088-2-1. $29.95. Gr 5 Up--Part biography and part art lesson, this program expounds on the image of George Washington that appears on our one dollar bill...

Irena Sendler: In the Name of Their Mothers.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Irena Sendler: In the Name of Their Mothers. DVD. 57 min. Prod. by 2B Prods. Dist. by PBS Dist. 2011. ISBN 978-1-60883-482-2. $24.99. Gr 9 Up--Some of the worst anti-Jewish atrocities took place in Poland during World War II. Millions of...

Secrets of the Dead: Lost in the Amazon.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... Secrets of the Dead: Lost in the Amazon. DVD. approx. 60 min. Prod. by Lost World Films. Dist. by PBS Dist. 2011. ISBN 978-1-60883-450-1. $24.99. Gr 9 Up--In 1925, an expedition led by celebrated explorer Col. Percy Fawcett disappeared in the...

The War of 1812.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
December 1, 2011... The War of 1812. DVD. 2 hrs. Prod. by WNED-TV, Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Holt Prods. Dist. by PBS Dist. 2011. ISBN 978-1-60883-495-2. $24.99. Gr 9 Up--As the young American state began its struggle for a national identity in the...

All These Things I've Done.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... All These Things I've Done (unabr.). 8 CDs. 10 hrs. Macmillian Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4272-1358-7. $29.99. Gr 8 Up--Despite being the daughter of New York's most notorious crime boss, Anya Balanchine's life is fairly normal. That is, as...

Bailey Goes Camping.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Bailey Goes Camping. CD. 5:14 min. with paperback book. Live Oak Media. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4301-0989-1. $18.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-1-4301-0990-7: $29.95. PreS-K--Bailey wants to go camping with his older brother and sister who are...

Belladonna.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Belladonna (unabr.). 7 CDs. 8:34 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-61106-545-9. $49.97. Gr 7-10--In rural England in 1757, Thomas Rose is on the verge of becoming a man. Clever, but unable to learn reading and writing like other boys,...

Cleopatra's Moon.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... * Cleopatra's Moon (unabr.). 10 CDs. 12:29 hrs. Oasis Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-5985-9948-0. $29.99. Gr 9 Up--Cleopatra Selene, the daughter of Cleopatra and Marcus Antonius, is horn into wealth and privilege in Egypt. She and her brothers are...

Cracked Up to Be.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Cracked Up to Be (unabr.). 6 CDs. 6:23 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-14558-1737-5. $59.97. Gr 10 Up--Parker Fadley was the perfect high school student. During a wild party, Parker sees her best friend Jessica's boyfriend kissing...

Cyrano.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Cyrano (unabr.). 3 CDs. 2:30 hrs. Full Cast Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-936223-15-2. $34. Gr 7-10--Geraldine McCanghrean's charming re-imagining (Harcourt, 2006) of Edmond Rostand's 1897 play is perfect for a full-cast audio production. Cyrano,...

The Cruisers: Cheekmate.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Cruisers: Cheekmate (unabr.). 2 CDs. 2:28 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4418-6334-8. $49.97. Gr 5-8-After successfully diffusing racial tensions and a potentially explosive atmosphere in their school the previous year in The...

Dead Is Not an Option.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Dead Is Not an Option (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:10 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-4558-2397-0. $54.97. Gr 6-9-Psychic sleuth Daisy Giordano has a new mystery to solve, and it's not just whether or not she got into her college of choice....

Desert Crossing.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Desert Crossing (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:55 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4418-1356-5. $49.97. Gr 8 Up--Spring break has just begun for 14-year-old Lucy Martinez. She's traveling with her 18-year-old brother, Jamie, from Kansas to...

The Dragon's Tooth: Ashtown Burials, Book 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Dragon's Tooth: Ashtown Burials, Book 1 (unabr.). 11 CDs. 13:09 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-94152-7. $48. Gr 5-8--While trying to manage a rickety old roadside motel,...

Dreamland Social Club.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Dreamland Social Club (unabr.). 9 cassettes or 9 CD. 10 hrs. Recorded Books. 2011. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4618-1301-9, CD: ISBN 978-1-4618-1302-6. $97.75. Gr 5-7--Tara Altebrando's story (Dutton, 2011) interweaves family sorrows, the history of...

Eight Keys.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Eight Keys (unabr.). 4 CDs. 5:12 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-94166-4. $38. Gr 5-7--Adjusting to middle school is tough for many kids, but it is especially difficult for Elise....

Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Emily Windsnap and the Siren's Secret (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:50 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-917041-1. $28. Gr 4-6--Follow Emily, half-human/half-mermaid, as she embarks on...

Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret UFO.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Secret UFO (unabr.). cassette or CD. 1:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2011. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4407-6236-9, CD: ISBN 978-1-4407-6240-6. $15.75. Gr 3-5--Ten-year-old amateur detective Leroy "Encyclopedia"...

The Flight of Dragons: The Fourth Tale from the Five Kingdoms.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Flight of Dragons: The Fourth Tale from the Five Kingdoms (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:54 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-0978-3. $44.97. Gr 4-6--Cool, spooky music introduces this classic good-versus-evil battle that is replete with...

The Fox Inheritance.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Fox Inheritance (unabr.). 8 CDs. 9 hrs. Macmillan Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4272-1379-2. $29.99. Gr 8 Up--Fans of Mary Pearson's The Adoration of Jenna Fox (2008) will relish this futuristic sequel (2011, both Holt). Two hundred and sixty...

The Freak Observer.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Freak Observer (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:36 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-1639-2. $54.97. Gr 8 Up--Jessica Almasy brings to life Blythe Woolston's William C. Morris Debut Award-winning novel (Carolrhoda, 2010) with a dark tone...

Ghetto Cowboy.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... * Ghetto Cowboy (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:10 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-2150-1. $49.97. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 5-8--Cole has lived in Detroit with his mother for as long as he can remember. His father has never been part of...

The Gold-Threaded Dress.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Gold-Threaded Dress (unabr.). CD. 57 min. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-61106-630-2. $24.97. The Quail Club (unabr.). 2 CDs 1:51 min. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-61106635-7. $39.97. Gr 3-5--Oy's family recently moved to a new...

Henry David's House.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
December 1, 2011... Henry David's House. CD. 8:38 min. with paperback book. Spoken Arts. 2011. ISBN 0-8045-4230-9. $19.95. Gr 2-5--Although Steven Schnur has edited them down to fit the lovely simplicity of a picture book (Charlesbridge, 2002), the words here...

Ironside: A Modern Faerie Tale.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Ironside: A Modern Faerie Tale (unabr.). 6 CDs. 7:10 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-1330-8. $49.97. Gr 9 Up--The life of a faery isn't always full of glittering pixie dust. Kaye, a pixie, knows that all too well. In a drunken...

It's Not the End of the World.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... It's Not the End of the World (unabr.). 3 CDs. 3:38 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-74770-9. $28. Gr 4-6--Becca Battoe brings Judy Blume's characters to life in this story...

Juliet Immortal.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Juliet Immortal (unabr.). 8 CDs. 9:19 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-94261-6. $40. Gr 9 Up--Stacey Jay's re-examination of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (Delacorte, 2011)...

A Long Long Sleep.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... A Long Long Sleep (unabr.). 8 CDs. 9:13 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-2051-1. $59.97. Gr 9 Up--Rosalinda Samantha Fitzroy is a girl out of time in Anna Sheehan's futuristic retelling (Candlewick, 2011) of Sleeping Beauty....

The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie: The Ashbury/Brookfield Series, Book 3.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Murder of Bindy Mackenzie: The Ashbury/Brookfield Series, Book 3 (unabr.). 11 cassettes or 11 CDs. 12:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2011. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4498-4125-6: $88.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4498-4126-3: $108.75. Gr 7 Up--Stellar student...

The Naming: The First Book of Pellinor.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... * The Naming: The First Book of Pellinor (unabr.). 16 CDs. 19:45 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4418-6275-4. $69.97. Gr 7 Up--The first book (Candlewick, 2005) of a projected quartet from award-winning Australian author Alison...

Now Playing Stoner & Spaz II.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Now Playing Stoner & Spaz II (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:56 min. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-2057-3. $49.97. Gr 9 Up--If opposites attract, Ben and Colleen are prime examples in Ronald Koertge's sequel (2011) to Stoner & Spaz...

Rotters.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... * Rotters (unabr.). 13 CDs. 16:18 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. ISBN 978-0-307-94182-4. $65. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 10 Up--There exist monsters--ones with dripping fangs and razor sharp...

Scab for Treasurer?: Secrets of a Lab Rat, #3.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Scab for Treasurer?: Secrets of a Lab Rat, #3 (unabr.). 2 CDs. 2:26 hrs. Scholastic Audiobooks. 2011. ISBN 978-0-545-26766. $29.99. Gr 2-4--Scab McNally is fed up with Missy Malone who is a perfect student and possibly an alien. So when Missy...

The Secret Kingdom: Chronicles of the Red King, Book 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Secret Kingdom: Chronicles of the Red King, Book 1 (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:43 hrs. Scholastic Audiobooks. 2011. ISBN 978-0-545-32145-7. $54.99. Gr 4-6--Jenny Nimmo chronicles the life and adventures of Charlie Bone's magical ancestor, the...

Shark Wars.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Shark Wars (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:31 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-91687-7. $30. Gr 3-6--Gray, a young reef shark with an insatiable appetite and an unbridled sense of adventure,...

Some Girls Are.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... * Some Girls Are (unabr.). 6 CDs. 5:50 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-1733-7. $59.97. Gr 8-10--"You're either someone, or you're not." Regina Alton is someone. She's a member of the Fearsome Foursome, a controlling clique, and...

Storm Runners.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
December 1, 2011... Storm Runners (unabr.). 3 CDs. 3:08 hrs. Scholastic Audiobooks. 2011. ISBN 978-0-545-28293-2. $39.99. Gr 5-8--After the death of Chase Masters' mother, his father goes through some changes that lead him to become a storm runner. Chase joins...

The Summer I Learned to Fly.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... The Summer I Learned to Fly (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:25 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-91577-1. $30. Gr 6-8--Fatherless teens' paths cross in Dana Reinhardt's story (Wendy Lamb Books,...

Tiger Eyes.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Tiger Eyes (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:59 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2011. ISBN 978-0-307-64778-5. $30. Gr 7 Up--The most remarkable thing about Judy Blume's book (Atheneum, 1982) is how well it has...

Titanic, Book 2: Collision Course.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Titanic, Book 2: Collision Course (unabr.). 3 CDs. 3:14 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-1788-7. $39.97. Gr 5-8--The stakes are even higher for the four teens in the second tide (Scholastic, 2011) in Gordon Korman's trilogy. The...

Undercurrent: A Siren Novel.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... Undercurrent: A Siren Novel (unabr.). 8 CDs. 9:13 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4558-2415-1. $54.97. Gr 8 Up--Vanessa Sands knows life will never be normal after her horrible summer in Winter Harbor, Maine. Her family is still...

When It Happens.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
December 1, 2011... When It Happens (unabr.). 6 CDs. 6:41 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2011. ISBN 978-1-4418-6235-8. $69.97. Gr 9 Up--Sara is thrilled when her crush, Dave, finally asks her out. But dating him isn't nearly as amazing as she imagined it would be. Sara...

Wildwood: The Wildwood Chronicles, Book 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)(Book review)
December 1, 2011... * Wildwood: The Wildwood Chronicles, Book 1 (unabr.). 13 CDs. 15 hrs. HarperAudio. 2011. ISBN 978-0-06-204706-9. $36.99. Gr 4-7--As a young girl, Pine McKeel first noticed the Impassable Wilderness on her father's map of Portland. When Mac,...