School Library Journal articles from February 2011

School Library Journal archives from February 2011

Stuff by Duff.(Coming to SLJ.com)(Hilary Duff's 'Elixir')(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Actress/singer Hilary Duff can add successful author to her resume. Duff shares the skinny on her debut young adult novel, Elixir, a paranormal romance that's become a bestseller. (Week of February 1)

Buzzed on CES.(Coming to SLJ.com)(Consumer Electronics Show)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... Our coverage of the popular Consumer Electronics Show includes video demos, plus an extensive look at some of the most innovative products. (Week of February 7) [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Going viral.(Coming to SLJ.com)(Kathy Reichs)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kathy Reichs, author of the acclaimed "Bones" series, talks about her first novel for teens, Vitals (Razorbill, 2010), book one of a forensic mystery series. (Week of February 14)

Without you, we'll be nothing: a letter to new librarians.(Editorial)
February 1, 2011... It's not easy being a new librarian. We're in one of our nation's worst economic downturns, entry-level library positions are few, and when a position does become available, the competition can be fierce (which is why we're publishing Lisa Von...

Connecting backyard naturalists: Project Noah lets users upload and share images of local wildlife.(Tech Knowledge)
February 1, 2011... New online tool Project Noah (www.networkedorganisms.com) encourages amateur naturalists to post images of wildlife they find in their own backyard and see what others are discovering in their neighborhoods and across the globe. [ILLUSTRATION...

Are you accessible? People with disabilities need access to e-content.(The NEXT BIG Thing)
February 1, 2011... How do I manage to stay tip on the latest technology trends? A passion for the field and a reader filled with tech feeds help. But my secret sauce is participation in ALA's Office of Information Technology Policy (OITP) advisory committee, which...

Sifteo comes--and goes.(The NEXT BIG Thing)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... Sifteo (www.sifteo.com) debuted at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) January 6-9, but the new game incorporating computer technology and physical cubes proved so popular that an Early Access Program offering consumers the chance to buy it at a...

Game on: creating your own learning games is easy with these online services.(Cool Tools)
February 1, 2011... A quick web search for "educational games" or a variation thereof will yield thousands of results. Some of those games might suit your students' needs, but you could end up with nothing. So rather than spending hours searching for a great...

Overheard on Twitter.(TechKnowledge)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... Place of learning + community hub + internet access point + meeting place + local information source = your local library #savelibraries --@JenniWillows

Scholastic launches TrueFlix.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The classic Children's Press series True Books forms the basis of TrueFlix, a new online resource from Scholastic. With 47 digitized titles from True Books, a staple of libraries and classrooms for years, TrueFlix...

Atrix wins best phone.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Motorola Atrix)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Powerful dual-core processors and 4G, the ramped up next-gen wireless network, were the biggest news on the smartphone front. In devices debuting at CES, Motorola's Atrix embodied both innovations, capturing CNET's...

Sony camcorders boast built-in projectors.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Sony Handycam HDR-PJ series)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Unveiling a slew of new tricks within its camcorder line, Sony has introduced the Handycam HDR-PJ series, which includes a built-in video projector. The three camcorders in the series cost from $700 to $1,000, so the...

A tablet for the crib set.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Vinci Tab)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Parents commonly hand their iPad or smart phone over to their kids (http://bit.ly/gVwI5T). Now babies and toddlers have a tablet to call their own. Complete with tempered glass and a soft rubberized handle that...

ASUS tablets feature keyboards.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Asus Eee Pad Slider & Eee Pad Transformer)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... Tablets came in various forms at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), including a couple of 10.1-inch models from ASUS sporting physical keyboards. With the Eee Pad Slider (pictured), users have the option of a touchscreen or slideout Qwerty...

Shine a light.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Valkee headset)(Brief article)
February 1, 2011... A new headset claims to cure the winter blues. No, the Valkee headset doesn't pipe cheerful music into your ear, but rather a beam of bright light. The theory being that the ear canal, where the skull is thinnest, is the best route to the...

The kids are all right: can we post videos of our children reading picture books?(Carrie on Copyright)(Column)
February 1, 2011... Each of our elementary school grades performs a show for students and parents. Are we allowed to use a copyrighted song, such as a Beatles tune, and change its lyrics for the performance? Also, can we sell DVDs of the shows to parents? ...

A brave new world: the Earth still has many surprises to offer.(Nonfiction Booktalker)
February 1, 2011... While we might sympathize with Alexander the Great, who wept after his last battle because there were no more worlds to conquer, there's no need for sorrow. Exploration and technology may have scrubbed the modern world clean of secrets, but...

Young adult friction: Chris Lynch's 'Angry Young Man' examines a fragile psyche on the edge.(Under Cover)(Interview)
February 1, 2011... In your new novel, Alexander and Robert are two teenage brothers being raised by their struggling mom. Can you give us a thumbnail sketch of them? Sure. Alexander calls himself Xan because he likes the more exotic, outsiderish sound of it....

Help wanted: how to turn a passion for gaming into an exciting career.(The Gaming Life)
February 1, 2011... Computer and video game development and design is a rapidly growing career field. According to the Entertainment Software Association (theesa.com), video game software sales in 2009 reached $10.5 billion. And the good news for students...

Hang in there: how to get a library job against all odds.(Cover story)
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cash-strapped school districts? Shrinking budgets? School library positions under the ax? It's enough to make a resourceful media specialist wonder whether she'll still have a job at the end of the school year or will...

We interrupt this program: media theorist Douglas Rushkoff has second thoughts about our digital practices.
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ask any kid what Facebook is for and he'll tell you it's there to help him make friends. What else could he think? It's how he does make friends. He has no idea that the real purpose of the software, and the people...

Places in the heart: to celebrate black history month, we asked some top children's book creators to choose their favorite titles.
February 1, 2011... Talk about hitting the lottery. That's how we felt when we asked some of the top kids' book creators to choose their favorite children's book about the black experience. The title could be for kids of any age--from a picture book or graphic...

A storied past: the best tales are often found right inside your own front door.
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN I TELL PEOPLE I'm the daughter of two public school teachers, many wrongly assume I grew up in a house full of books. According to my earliest report cards, I had an active imagination and at times my teachers had...

Here, there, and everywhere: the United States Board on Books for Young People cites 40 international books for its 2011 honor list.
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In I Know Here, a young girl contemplates moving from northeastern Saskatchewan to Ontario: from rural to city life; from the known to the unknown. With her anticipated move, she joins a variety of characters from this...

The elephant in the school yard.(focus on: Bullying)
February 1, 2011... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] EVERY WEEK IT SEEMS WE HEAR OF ANOTHER INCIDENT OF CYBERBULLYING, or another school where hazing is nearly institutionalized, or tragically, another young life forfeited after repeated taunting and torment. Parents,...

Media picks.(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Bullies Never Win. DVD. 11:05 min. with tchr's, guide online. Spoken Arts. 2010. ISBN 0-8045-8130-4. $50; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 0-8045-4210-2. $29.95. Gr 1-3--Brenda the Bully berates Jessica whenever she does something well in this...

Bullying.(ON THE WEB)(Website list)
February 1, 2011... For Kids... Kids Against Bullying. www.pacerkidsagainstbullying.org. Pacer Center/National Center for Bullying Prevention. (Accessed 12/22/2010) K-Gr 5--Kid-friendly, but not condescending, this accessible website offers plenty for kids...

Young Entrepreneurs ... Be Your Own Boss.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Young Entrepreneurs... Be Your Own Boss. DVD. 30 min. Prod. by In the Mix. Dist. by Castle Works. 2010. $69.95. Gr 9 Up--Tommy, an aspiring magician, is our guide through this mash-up of an annual New York business competition and...

Danger Behind the Wheel: The Facts About Distracted Driving.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... * Danger Behind the Wheel: The Facts About Distracted Driving. DVD. 26 min. with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2010. ISBN 978-1-55548-873-4. $139.95. Gr 7 Up--Did you know that drivers on cell phones have the same risk of causing...

Deadly Driving Distractions: Texting, Cell Phones, and Other Killers.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Deadly Driving Distractions: Texting, Cell Phones, and Other Killers. DVD. 20 min. Prod. by Meridian Education. Dist. by Films Media Croup. 2010. ISBN 978-1-61616-626-7. $99.95. Gr 7 Up--Featuring a documentary filming style (no narration),...

Fun on the Farm.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Fun on the Farm. DVD. 35 min. T M Books & Video. 2010, 2011 release. ISBN 978-1-932291-98-8. $14.99. PreS-K-While the animal mascots--Doodle Rooster, Bell Cow, and Harvey Horse--are rather lackluster and animated with very basic, limited...

Dos y dos, Vol. 1-3.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Dos y dos, Vol. 1-3. 3 DVDs. 65 rain. ea. Prod. by Latin American Multimedia Corp. Dist. by AV Cafe. 2010. $14.99 ca. Includes: Dos y Dos y Tu: Moviendose; Cosas Deferentes. PreS-K--An engaging cast that consists of Sofia, Fernando, Adriana,...

Flirting or Hurting? When Is It Okay, When Is It Harassment?(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Flirting or Hurting? When Is It Okay, When Is It Harassment? DVD. 20 min. with tchr's guide. Human Relations Media. 2010. ISBN 978-1-55548-859-8. $129.95. Gr 5-9--What's the difference between flirting and hurting? Two teenage hosts take...

Hazing and Harassment: Understanding It, Preventing It.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Hazing and Harassment: Understanding It, Preventing It. DVD. 23 min. with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2010. ISBN 978-1-55548-878-9. $139.95. Gr 7 Up--Hazing has evolved from harmless pranks to physical, emotional, and sexual...

The Realities of Sexting.(You Can't Unsend!)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... The Realities of Sexting (You Can't Unsend!) (Social Sensibilities Series). DVD. student video: 24 min., educator video: 15 min. with tchr's, guide online. Learning Seed. 2011. ISBN 1-55740-588-3. $149. Gr 8 Up--The potential consequences of...

Engaging Resumes & Cover Letters: How to Hook the Job You Want.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Engaging Resumes & Cover Letters: How to Hook the Job You Want (Career Compass Series). DVD. 26 min. with CD, tchr's, guide online. Learning Seed. 2011. ISBN 1-55740-589-1. $109. Gr 9 Up--Students learn about the components of a solid...

Your Annual Physical: What the Doctor Sees.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... * Your Annual Physical: What the Doctor Sees. DVD. 18 rain. with tchr's. guide. Human Relations Media. 2010. ISBN 978-1-55548-858-1. $99.95. Gr 3-6-This program gets high marks for both its adolescent appeal and content. Told from alternating...

My Necklace, Myself.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... My Necklace, Myself. DVD. 41 min. Prod. by Fallbrook Film Factory and Divine Trinity Films. Dist. by FilmWorks Entertainment. 2008, 2010 release. $14.95. Gr 7 Up--Lacie, 15, and her friend Serrin are deciding what she should wear on a first...

Yes Virginia.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2011... Yes Virginia. DVD. 24 min. New Video. 2010. ISBN 1-4229-9611-5. $9.95. Gr all levels--In 1897, an eight-year-old girl wrote to The New York Sun newspaper asking if there really was a Santa Claus. The result was one of the most famous...

Let's Hear It for the Laurie Berkner Band.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Let's Hear It for the Laurie Berkner Band. DVD. 44 min. Prod. by Nickelodeon/ Paramount. Dist. by Laurie Berkner. 2010. ISBN 1-4157-5023-8. $16.99. PreS-Gr 3--Laurie Berkner's lively music video features 16 participatory movement songs and...

One Bunny Band.(Brief article)(Book review)
February 1, 2011... One Bunny Band. DVD. approx. 60 min. Juno Baby. 2010. ISBN 978-1-936410-019. $17.99. PreS-K--Created by composer Belinda Takahashi, this production introduces young children to the musical concepts of tempo (allegro/adagio), dynamics...

Oscar's Orchestra, Vol. 1 & 2.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Oscar's Orchestra, Vol. 1 & 2. 2 volumes ca. with 2 DVDs. approx. 5 hrs. ca. Prod. by Tony Collingswood Prod. for Rubberneck Television. Dist. by Kultur. 2010. ISBN 978-0-7697-9038-1. $34.99 set; vol. 1, ISBN 978-0-7697-9020-6: $19.99; vol....

Healthy Steps for Teen Parents.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Healthy Steps for Teen Parents (2nd ed.). 3 DVDs. approx. 31 min. ea. with facilitator's guide online. Injoy Birth & Parenting Education. 2010. $499.95 ser., $199.95 ca. Includes: Pregnancy; Labor and Birth; Postpartum. Gr 9 Up--This...

18 Voices Sing Kol Nidre.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... 18 Voices Sing Kol Nidre. DVD. 40 min. Voices of Kol Nidre. 2010. $24.95. G r 9 Up--Kol Nidre is a solemn prayer, an invocation at the start of Yom Kippur, the Jewish world's holiest day of the year. On this Day of Atonement, worshippers reflect...

Read and Share DVD Bible.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Read and Share DVD Bible. 2 DVDs. 3:28 hrs. Tommy Nelson. 2010. $29.99. K-Gr 2--This set includes 52 animated three-minute Bible stories. The tales on the first disc are chronologically arranged from Creation to Pentecost, and feature...

Atom.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Atom (Series). 3 DVDs. 60 min. ea. with tchr's, guide. Prod. by BBC. Dist. by Ambrose Video. 2007, 2010 release. $99.99 ser. Includes: Clash of the Titans; Key to the Cosmos; Illusion of Reality. Gr 9 Up--This series delves into the history...

Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... * Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures. 5 DVDs. approx. 11 hrs. Prod. by KQED/OFS. Dist. by PBS Distribution. 2010. ISBN 978-160883-307-8. $49.95 ser. Includes: Sharks at Risk/Gray Whale Obstacle Course; Sea Ghosts/Call of the Killer Whale;...

Science Fundamentals: Habitats.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Science Fundamentals: Habitats. DVD. 15 rain. Prod. by Mazzarella Media. Dist. by Cerebellmn. 2010. ISBN 1-58565-3527. $39.95. Gr 2--6-This brief production introduces biological diversity. A bubbly female narrator looks at six types of...

Science Fundamentals: Seeds and Plants.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Science Fundamentals: Seeds and Plants. DVD. 15 min. Prod. by Mazzarella Media. Dist. by Cerebellum. 2010. ISBN 1-58565-349-7. $39.95. Gr 2-6--Using still photos, live-action footage, and computer animation, this film briefly describes why...

Families of Afghanistan.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... * Families of Afghanistan (Families of the World Series). DVD. approx 30 rain, with tchr's, guide. Prod. by Arden Media Resources. Dist. by Master Communications. 2010. ISBN 978-160480-111-8. $29.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 2-6--This...

Filling the Gap: Forgotten Chapter of American History.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Filling the Gap: Forgotten Chapter of American History. DVD. 1:23 hrs. Essence of History. 2009, 2010 release. $150. Gr 7 Up--Numerous African Americans have contributed to the betterment of the broader American culture. The names of many of...

Inside Hana's Suitcase.(Children's review)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... * Inside Hana's Suitcase. DVD. 90 min. or 60 min. edited version, with tchr's, guide online. Menemsha Films. 2010. $75. Gr 5 Up--Karen Levine's Hana's Suitcase (Albert Whitman, 2003), winner of numerous literary awards, is the foundation for...

Life in Occupied Palestine: Eyewitness Stories & Photos (School Version).(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Life in Occupied Palestine: Eyewitness Stories & Photos (School Version). DVD. 55 min. Knowledge Unlimited. 2010. ISBN 1-55933-320-0. $29.95. Gr 6 Up--Even though the Israeli-Palestinian contentiousness is well into its fourth generation,...

The Storytelling Class.(Young adult review)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... * The Storytelling Class. DVD. 59 min./47 min. Prod. by Sedna Pictures. Dist. by Bullfrog Films. 2009, 2010 release. ISBN 1-59458-963-1. $295. Gr 9 Up--As the film opens, Ishmael Beah, author of A Long Way Gone (Farrar, Straus, 2007), an...

Unforgettable: The Korean War.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... Unforgettable: The Korean War. DVD. 56 min. Prod. by Arizona Public Media. Dist. by PBS Distribution. 2010. ISBN 978-160883-289-7. $24.99. Gr 9 Up--This documentary honors the 60th anniversary of the Korean War through a collection of...

World Food Markets: China.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
February 1, 2011... World Food Markets: China. DVD. 24 min. with tchr's, guide online. Learning ZoneXpress. 2010. ISBN 1-57175-845-3. $49.95. Gr 7 Up--Paulette Mitchell, cookbook author, narrates a short history and current status of Hong Kong, Zhujiajiao (the...

Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat. 2 CDs. approx. 2 hrs. Prod. by East Coast Record Co. Dist. by healthyfoodforthought. com. 2010. $10 (+ $3 s/h). PreS-Gr 4--This compilation, nominated for a Grammy award for best spoken word...

All the Broken Pieces.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... All the Broken Pieces (unabr.). 2 CDs. 1:51 hrs. Scholastic Andiobooks. 2010. ISBN 978-0-545-24839-6. $29.99. Gr 6-8--Sensitively read by Tobias Christian Wong, Ann E. Burg's historical fiction in verse (Scholastic, 2009) illuminates a...

Annexed: A Novel (unabr.).(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... * Annexed: A Novel (unabr.). 8 CDs. 9:07 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-7809-0. $79.97. Gr 7 Up--Based on Anne Frank's diary, Sharon Dogar's compelling story (Houghton Mifflin, 2010) is told from the viewpoint of Peter Van Pels,...

The Atlantis Complex: Artemis Fowl, Book 7.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... The Atlantis Complex: Artemis Fowl, Book 7 (unabr.). 6 CDs. 7:38 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2010. ISBN 9780-3077-1161-8. $37. Gr 4-8--Artemis Fowl is not himself in Eoin Colfer's latest addition...

Beat the Band.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Beat the Band (unabr.). 7 CDs. 8:14 hrs Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-44181494-4. $69.97. Gr 9 Up--Narrator Nick Podehl excels at embodying hilarious teenage male characters, and his voicing of 15-year-old Cooper Redmond is no exception....

Black Star, Bright Dawn.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Black Star, Bright Dawn (unabr.). 3 CDs. 4 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-14418-7145-9. $39.97. Gr 6-10--Intensity, frigid cold, a girl coming of age, and an independent-minded huskywolf mix dominate Scott O'Dell's story (Houghton...

Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Boys, Bears, and a Serious Pair of Hiking Boots (unabr.). 7 CDs. approx. 8 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-8977-5. $54.97. Gr 9 Up--Jenna, a member of the Green Teen club, plans to spend the summer at home in New Jersey working...

The Cruisers.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... The Cruisers (unabr.). 2 CDs. 2:13 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-44186328-7. $49.97. Gr 6-9--The Cruisers attend the DaVinci Academy for the Gifted and Talented in Harlem, but Zander and his crew--Kambui, LaShonda, and Bobbi--don't...

The Dragon Princess: Tales of the Frog Princess, Book 6.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... The Dragon Princess: Tales of the Frog Princess, Book 6 (unabr.). 4 cassettes or 4 CDs. 4:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2010. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-6757-9: $33.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-6761-6: $46.75. Gr 3-6--What if you turned into a...

Eleventh Grade Burns: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #4.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Eleventh Grade Burns: The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod #4 (unabr.). 8 CDs. 8:59 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-14418-6860-2. $54.97. Gr 6-10--Never judge a book by its cover or a vampire by his fangs. Vladimir Tod, 16, is not your...

Finnikin of the Rock.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Finnikin of the Rock (unabr.). 11 CDs. 12:26 hrs. Brilliance Andio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-8871-6. $74.97. Gr 8 Up--Before the "five days of the unspeakable," Finnikin's homeland of Lumatere was a peaceful and plentiful kingdom. Then the royal...

Half Brother.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Half Brother (unabr.). 8 CDs. 9 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-44187150-3. $87.97. Gr 7-11--Ben, 13, and his family move from Toronto to Victoria, British Columbia, where his father, a behavioral scientist, is undertaking the most...

A Kiss in Time.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... A Kiss in Time (unabr.). 7 CDs. 8:12 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-44184973-1. $69.97. Gr 6-9--Princess Talia of Euphrasia lives with the shadow of a curse placed on her at birth by the witch Malvolia in Alex Flinn's delightful...

Letters from Rifka.(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Letters from Rifka (unabr.). 3 CDs. 3:03 min. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-14418-1812-6. $62.97. Gr 4-8--Listeners will be immediately drawn into this compelling and touching story of Rifka, a 12-year-old girl fleeing to America from a...

The Magician's Elephant.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... * The Magician's Elephant (unabr.). 3 CDs. 2:55 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-8905-8. $49.97. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 4-6--When a fortuneteller informs Peter Augustus Duchene, a 10-year-old orphan, that his younger sister...

Midnight Magic.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Midnight Magic (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:30 hrs. Scholastic Audiobooks. 2010. ISBN 9780-545-03324-4. $49.99. Gr 5-8--Mangus the magician and his faithful servant, Fabrizio, find themselves at the center of a complicated court intrigue when the king...

Monster High.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Monster High (unabr.). 5 CDs. 6:09 hrs. Prod. by Hachette. Dist. by AudioGo. 2010. ISBN 978-1-60788-955-7. $64.99. Gr 7 Up--Welcome to Monster High! It's a place where movie monsters' descendants attend high school right along with the...

Museum of Thieves: The Keepers Trilogy, Book 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... * Museum of Thieves: The Keepers Trilogy, Book 1 (unabr.). 6 CDs. 6:48 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-1083-3. $34. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 4-8--In the city of Jewel, all...

My Worst Best Friend.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... My Worst Best Friend (unabr.). 6 CDs. 6:30 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-8911-9. $54.97 Gr 7 Up--Gracie believes that there are only two kinds of girls: "Those Girls," who make heads spin and horns beep, and everyone else. She...

Phoenix Rising.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Phoenix Rising (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:36 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-44181818-8. $62.97. Gr 6-8--The dangers of nuclear power are explored in this environmental drama (Holt, 1994) by award-winning author Karen Hesse. Nyle, 13, lives...

Plain Kate.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Plain Kate (unabr.). 8 CDs. 8.51 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-44182134-8. $59.97. Gr 6-9--Kate, whose father was a woodcarver, learned to use a carving knife before she could use a spoon. She is so talented that some of the...

Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings (unabr.). 5 CDs. 4:48 hrs. Dreamscape Media. 2010. ISBN 978-1-61120-004-1. $34.99. Gr 5-8--Jade, 14, finally gets her first period-in the dressing room at the mall. She shoves napkins in her panties and...

The Realms of the Gods: The Immortals, Book 4.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... The Realms of the Gods: The Immortals, Book 4 (unabr.). 8 CDs. 7:45 hrs. Full Cast Andio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-93418027-3. $55. Gr 7-10--In the final installment (Atheneurn, 2003) of Tamora Pierce's Immortals quartet, Daine and her mentor/friend...

Reckless.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Reckless (unabr.). 6 CDs. 6:46 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2010. ISBN 9780-3075-8328-4. $40. Gr 7-10--Ever since his father's disappearance when he was a child, Jacob Reckless has used the mirror...

The Replacement.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... The Replacement (unabr.). 9 CDs. 10:37 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-14418-8845-7. $69.97. Gr 9 Up--Being a teenage boy is difficult enough, but Mackie Doyle has a secret that sets him apart from other teens in this novel (Razorbill,...

Rush.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Rush (unabr.). 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 6:45 hrs. Recorded Books.. 2010. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4498-0715-3: $56.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4498-0707-8: $77.75. Gr 8 Up--Jake King, 18, relies on extreme sports for the adrenaline rash that clears his...

Sophomore Switch.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Sophomore Switch (unabr.). 8 CDs. 7:09 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2010. ISBN 978-1-4418-8971-3. $54.97. Gr 9 Up--What happens when a UC Santa Barbara college student agrees to a last-minute study abroad switch with a straight-laced political...

Spellbinder.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
February 1, 2011... Spellbinder (unabr.). 7 CDs. 9 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2010. ISBN 978-0-3077-4574-3. $50. Gr 5-7--Belladonna Johnson, 12, can see ghosts. While this unnecessary trait comes from her mother's...