School Library Journal articles from March 2005

School Library Journal archives from March 2005

2005 book prices: book prices are up, budgets are flat. How are you positioning yourself?(Editorial)
March 1, 2005... The average price of a hardcover children's and young adult book continues its inexorable climb, inauspiciously topping the $20 mark for the first time. At $20.52, the average hardcover price for 2003 has increased by six percent, a gain of...

Tech, Shmeck: a reader second-guesses federally funded studies.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... The article "Assessing Ed-Tech's Value" (January 2005, TechKnowledge, pp. 26-27), reported on the State Educational Technology Directors Association's examination of nine federally funded grant projects that evaluate technology's effect on...

Food for thought.(Letters)(Letter to the Editor)
March 1, 2005... A big thank-you to Anita Bowman and her What Works article, "Data and Dessert," in the October 2004 issue. I used her idea for a "cookies and data" session in my school, West Junior High, in Boise, ID. I organized the session to coincide with...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction Notice)
March 1, 2005... A January 2005 feature "What Grad Schools Can Do for Yon" (pp. 42-46) misidentified the University, of Texas at Austin as the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. The correct name is University of Texas at Austin, School of...

March 2005.(Calendar)
March 1, 2005... March 31-April 2. The Rabbit Hill Festival of Literature, Westport Public Library, Westport, CT, The fifth annual celebration of children's books will feature Linda Sue Park, Lesa Cline-Ransome, James E. Ransome, Pam Munoz Ryan, and Brian...

Educators upset over Bush's budget: president sends mixed message by increasing library aid, slashing education funds.(SLJ news)
March 1, 2005... Although President George W. Bush plans to eliminate 48 education programs in FY 2006, he's calling for a $221.3 million increase for library programs, a $15.4 million hike from last year. What's the rationale for this mixed message? "He...

Internet users overly confident, but naive: "Googlers" are happy with results, but not too search savvy, Pew study says.(SLJ news)
March 1, 2005... Internet users are far too cocky about their online search abilities, but in reality, most don't know tire origin or validity of the content they find, says a recent study by the Pew Interact & American Life Project. Some 92 percent of...

Tax relief for school librarians?(SLJ news)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... It sounds too good to be true, but Republican representative Ron Paul of Texas recently introduced the Professional Educators Tax Relief Act, a bill designed to "help raise educators' take-home pay by reducing educators' taxes:' The bill...

'Sugartime!' to hit bookstores: Little, Brown to turn controversial episode into a book next year.(SLJ news)
March 1, 2005... Despite controversy over a recent episode of the popular children's TV show Postcards from Buster, which featured lesbian mothers, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers still plans to publish a book based on the contentious episode as part of a...

Rowling warns fans.(short takes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Author J. K. Rowling is warning fans about a sinister plot-Internet hucksters are offering a bogus e-book version of her latest book in an effort to steal bank and credit-card information. Rowling's lawyers have since closed down the Web site...

Celebrate libraries.(short takes)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Libraries nationwide are gearing up for National Library Week, April 10-16, by offering the public a range of fun activities and events. This year's theme is "Something for Everyone @ your library:" The celebration, which honors the...

Has your library taken a 'giant step'?(SLJ news)(2005 Giant Step Award)
March 1, 2005... Thomson Gale and School Library Journal are accepting applications from school and public libraries for the 2005 Giant Step Award, an annual distinction given to a school and public library that has demonstrated the most improved service to...

Study: don't underestimate youth programs: libraries impart valuable life skills to teens, says University of Chicago study.(SLJ news)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Communities should take a closer look at the role that public libraries play in fostering the life skills of teenagers. That's the suggestion of a recent study by the Chapin Hall Center for Children at the University of Chicago highlighting the...

DOE school library grants available.(SLJ news)(Department of Education Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grants)
March 1, 2005... The U.S. Department of Education is now accepting applications for Improving Literacy Through School Libraries grants, the only federal program that funds school library materials and staff development. But before applying, make sure you...

Author-illustrator Max Velthuijs dies at 81.(Obituary)(Obituary)
March 1, 2005... Award-winning Dutch children's author and illustrator Max Velthuijs, best known for his books about a frog, died January 25 of lung cancer in Amsterdam. He was 81. Born in The Hague in 1923, Velthuijs studied graphic design and art at the...

Libri Foundation helps rural libraries: Oregon-based nonprofit organization now accepting applications for children's books.(SLJ news)
March 1, 2005... In an era of shrinking budgets, it shouldn't be surprising that many librarians in rural America don't have enough cash to build their collections. But help is on the way--the nonprofit Libri Foundation is now accepting applications for its...

Learning on the road.(SLJ news)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Kids in Willow Springs, MO, are getting a unique learning experience, courtesy of a refurbished school bus that travels the town bringing books, games, videos, and storytimes to children of all ages. The Traveling Learning Center, equipped with...

Columbia, SC: Chris Crutcher recently met with South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Inez Moore Tenenbaum about her decision to remove his novel Whale Talk (Greenwillow, 2001) from a sophomore English reading list following parental complaints about its use of profanity.(Censorship Roundup)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Columbia, SC: Chris Crutcher recently met with South Carolina State Superintendent of Education Inez Moore Tenenbaum about her decision to remove his novel Whale Talk (Greenwillow, 2001) from a sophomore English reading list following parental...

New Lebanon, OH: Bill Stanley, the father of a student at Dixie Middle School, recently asked the New Lebanon Board of Education to remove The Drowning of Stephan Jones (Bantam, 1991) by Newbery Award-winning author Bette Greene from school library shelves, claiming that its language and subject matter are inappropriate.(Censorship Roundup)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... New Lebanon, OH: Bill Stanley, the father of a student at Dixie Middle School, recently asked the New Lebanon Board of Education to remove The Drowning of Stephan Jones (Bantam, 1991) by Newbery Award-winning author Bette Greene from school...

Norwood, CO: Norwood School Superintendent Bob Conder recently issued a letter of apology to the students, parents, and staff of Norwood High School for confiscating approximately two dozen copies of Bless Me, Ultima (TQS Publications, 1972) by Rudolfo A. Anaya from freshman English classes.(Censorship Roundup)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Norwood, CO: Norwood School Superintendent Bob Conder recently issued a letter of apology to the students, parents, and staff of Norwood High School for confiscating approximately two dozen copies of Bless Me, Ultima (TQS Publications, 1972) by...

Innovate: www.innovateonline.info.(Site of the Month)(Periodical Review)
March 1, 2005... The bimonthly online journal Innovate features thought-provoking articles on the use of information technology in education. The February/March 2005 issue of the peer-reviewed e-zine examines new literacies in the K-8 classroom--global,...

Bush cuts ed-tech funds: president's 2006 budget eliminates sole federal funding source for school technology.(Tech Knowledge)
March 1, 2005... School advocates are reeling from President Bush's proposed cuts to education in the FY 2006 federal budget, including the elimination of the Enhancing Education Through Technology (EEWF) program, the sole source of federal funding for K--12...

ProMax LWP 100 LCD writing panel.(Test Drive)(Product/Service Evaluation)
March 1, 2005... Promax Technology, 20700 Civic Center Dr., Suite 170, Southfield, MI 48076 (248) 663-2345 www.promax-tech.com. Windows 98 and up, Pentium III, 500 MHz or higher. $2,045 One of the little ironies about today's high-tech digital technologies...

Making pen pals through the PC.(Tech Knowledge)
March 1, 2005... A letter from a pen pal is not only a note from a friend--it can be a geography lesson, a foreign language tool, and a boost toward literacy. But in the age of bits and bytes, students have veered away from letter writing and embraced e-mail...

Hi-tech harmony.(Tech Knowledge)(Wisconsin Center for Music Education)
March 1, 2005... Even a Rolling Stone recognizes the importance of music education. Keith Richards, the legendary guitar player for the Stones, recently donated more than $2,500 to the Wisconsin Center for Music Education (www.wsmamu sic.com/center), a digital...

Media specialist earns tech award.(Tech Knowledge)( Mark Deming)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... What do you do if your school closes its computer lab? If you're Mark Deming, library media specialist for Orchard Lake Elementary School in Lakeville, MN, you bring computers to the kids. "There was a space crunch," explains Deming, "and...

Language arts lesson plans: www.eduref.org/ cgi-bin/lessons.cgi/Language_Arts.(Cyber English)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... For top-notch lesson plans created by classroom teachers, check out this site. In addition to grammar and literature lessons, this source offers lessons on hard-to-find lessons on topics such as listening comprehension, storytelling, and...

Literature and language arts lesson plans: edsitement.neh.gov/tab_lesson.asp?subjectArea=4.(Cyber English)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Finding just the right lesson on this site is a snap. Under "Subject Navigator:' select the desired topic and grade level, then press the "Display" button. Topics include: American and British literature, biography, classics, essays, fiction,...

Outta Ray's head lesson plans: home.cogeco.ca/~rayser3/lessons3.htm.(Cyber English)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Here, Canadian librarian Ray Saitz offers his (and other teachers') literature, poetry, and writing lessons, which have been honed to perfection in the classroom. The "Links" section provides another selection of lessons, mostly from other...

Web English teacher: www.webenglishteacher.com.(Cyber English)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... These lessons are integrated with Web site links, activities, and worksheets on specific literature or language-arts topics. (This is great if you're gathering a variety of materials on a topic, but not so great if you just want lessons.) Pesky...

Literature and language arts lesson plans: www.atozteacherstuff.com/Lesson_Plans.(Cyber English)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... This site offers a huge number of lesson plans--almost 300 on language arts alone. However, there are banner advertisements, and some are not clearly labeled as such. There are no printer-friendly versions of lessons, but if you copy and paste...

Can you dig it? An archaeology unit can make scientific research inviting and fun.(What Works)
March 1, 2005... ARE YOUR STUDENTS FEARFUL OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION AND DATA? Then take advantage of the recent craze over popular TV series such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Crossing Jordan. I did so last semester by devising a unit to increase my...

Singing a different tune: kids are downloading more and more music--but is it legal?(Carrie on Copyright)
March 1, 2005... I often see students In our library downloading music from the Internet onto CDs during their lunch breaks. Is It legal for them to do that? What guidance can you offer us? --Suzanne Goodman, library media specialist Park High School...

Priority male: if we want boys to love books, it's important to recognize what they want.(Teen Talk)
March 1, 2005... Houston, we have a problem! No, I'm not talking about the Apollo 13 space mission. I'm referring to earthbound boys whose career choices are significantly limited because of a well-documented problem. The problem is poor literacy, and we've...

The mystery of history: there's nothing like an eternal puzzle to pique kids' curiosity.(Nonfiction Booktalker)(Bibliography)
March 1, 2005... WHEN I WAS A KID GROWING UP ON THE PRAIRIE IN WALNUT GROVE, MN, a group of nuns came down from the Twin Cities every summer to teach the children the basics of Catholicism. To us, the sisters were exotic creatures. One of them made a lifelong...

Going deep: a fan applauds a growing genre of YA sports novels.(Up For Discussion)(Bibliography)
March 1, 2005... AS A FIFTH GRADER AT CONLEE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN LAS CRUCES, NM, in the 1960s, I was too young for real sports and too old for playground games. Little League Baseball offered opportunities for live athletic competition in the summer, but that...

Answering the call: Meg Rosoff long ignored her deepest dream. That changed when she lost a loved one and finally began to her write.(Cover Story)(Biography)
March 1, 2005... By the time Meg Rosoff finally sat down at her computer, How I Live Now (Random/ Wendy Lamb Books) was spilling out of her. It was January 2003, and Rosoff, an American living in London, was still feeling the pain of the unexpected death of her...

Your ticket to success: National Board Certification can work wonders for your personal, professional, and financial life.
March 1, 2005... LIKE MANY MEDIA SPECIALISTS, I had a master's degree, years of work experience, and a strong work ethic. But as school library cuts became more widespread, I started to worry about my job security and whether others valued my contribution to...

ALA book picks 2005.(Bibliography)
March 1, 2005... Notable Children's Books. Younger Readers BAKER, Jeannie. Home. illus, by author. Greenwillow. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-623935-4. BEAUMONT, Karen. Baby Danced the Polka. illus, by Jennifer Plecas. Dial. Tr $12.99. ISBN 0-8037-2587-6....

Cross-cultural understanding.(Focus on: topical resources for curriculum needs)
March 1, 2005... As products of our own distinct cultures and upbringings, each of us sees the world through a different lens. However, in view of the violence and unrest of the last few years, many people living in the United States are mystified by the...

Hoffman, Mary. The Color of Home.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... HOFFMAN, Mary. The Color of Home. illus. by Karin Littlewood. Dial. 2002. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-8037-2841-7. K-Gr 3--When young Hassan, a Muslim boy attending his first day of school in America, paints a picture of the destruction of his...

Krishnaswami, Uma. Monsoon.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... KRISHNASWAMI, Urea. Monsoon. illus. by Jamel Akib. Farrar. 2003. Tr $16. ISBN 0-374-35015-9. PreS-Gr 4--Like people all across India, a child and her family wait through the dusty heat, hoping for the promised monsoon to come. The...

Landowne, Youme. Selavi: a Haitian Story of Hope.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... LANDOWNE, Youme. Selavi: A Haitian Story of Hope. illus. by author. Cinco Puntos. 2004. Tr $17.95. ISBN 0-938317-84-9. K-Gr 4--Displaced by army troops, a Haitian orphan finds a home with other children on the streets of Port-au-Prince....

Look, Lenore. Ruby Lu, Brave and True.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... LOOK, Lenore. Ruby Lu, Brave and True. illus. by Anne Wilsdorf. S & S. 2004. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-689-84907-9. Gr 1-4--Almost every day is a good day for seven-year-old Ruby Lu, even when she has to go to Chinese school on Saturday, or her...

Marsden, Carolyn. The Gold-Threaded Dress.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... MARSDEN, Carolyn. The Gold-Threaded Dress. illus. by author. Candlewick. 2002. RTE $14.99. ISBN 0-7636-1569-2. Gr 2-4--The gold-threaded dress that makes her look like a Thai princess causes problems for Oy, now called Olivia, in her new...

Stuve-Bodeen, Stephanie. Babu's Song.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... STUVE-BODEEN, Stephanie. Babu's Song. illus. by Aaron Boyd. Lee & Low. 2003. RTE $16.95. ISBN 1-58430-058-2. PreS-Gr 3--In this gentle story set in Tanzania, Bemardi longs to go to school and play soccer. Instead, he helps sell the toys his...

Andrews-Goebel, Nancy. The Pot That Juan Built.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... ANDREWS-GOEBEL, Nancy. The Pot That Juan Built. illus. by David Diaz. Lee & Low. 2002. RTE $16.95. ISBN 1-58430-038-8. K-Gr S--On facing pages, a reworking of a familiar nursery rhyme parallels a more complex account of the life and work of...

Krull, Kathleen. Harvesting Hope: the Story of Cesar Chavez.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... KRULL, Kathleen. Harvesting Hope: The Story of Cesar Chavez. illus. by Yuyi Morales. Harcourt. 2003. RTE $17. ISBN 0-15-201437-3. Gr 1-4--After economic hardship forced his family to leave their home and labor as migrant workers, Chavez...

Rumford, James. Sequoyah: the Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... RUMFORD, James. Sequoyah: the Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing tr. by Anna Sixkiller Huckaby. illus. by author. Houghton. 2004. Tr $16. ISBN 0618-36947-3. Gr 2-4--Sequoia trees stand tall, a fitting monument to the crippled...

Stanley, Diane. Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... STANLEY, Diane. Saladin: Noble Prince of Islam. illus. by author. HarperCollins. 2002. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-688-17135-4; PLB $18.89. ISBN 0-688-17136-2. Gr 3-7--Saladin, a model king for any age, led the Muslim world from 1185 to 1193,...

Alvarez, Julia. Before We Were Free.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... ALVAREZ, Julia. Before We Were Free. Knopf. 2002. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-375-81544-9; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-375-91544-3. Gr 5-8--Twelve-year-old Anita de la Torres's physical maturation is matched by an increasing social awareness, not only of the...

Clinton, Cathryn. A Stone in My Hand.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... CLINTON, Cathryn. A Stone in My Hand. Candlewick. 2002. RTE $15.99. ISBN 0-7636-1388-6. Gr 5-8--After her father vanishes, presumably killed in one of the many Islamic jihad bombings in 1988, 11-year-old Malaak takes refuge on the roof of...

Ellis, Deborah. Parvana's Journey.(Brief Article)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... ELLIS, Deborah. Parvana's Journey. Groundwood. 2002. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-88899-514-8; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-88899-519-9. Gr 5-8--After her father dies, 13-year-old Parvana, disguised as a boy, wanders alone through war-tom. Afghanistan. As she...

Fama, Elizabeth. Overboard.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... FAMA, Elizabeth. Overboard. 2002. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-8126-2652-4. Gr 5-8--Running away from her expatriate parents and her unhappy life in Banda Aceh, on the northern tip of Indonesia, 14year-old Emily Slake takes an overloaded ferry that...

Ho, Minfong. The Stone Goddess.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... HO, Minfong. The Stone Goddess. Scholastic. 2003. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-439-38197-5. Gr 5-8--An aspiring classical dancer, 12-year-old Nakri is forced by the Khmer Rouge to leave Phnom Penh on a nightmare journey that leads from her home to...

Naidoo, Beverley. Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... NAIDOO, Beverley. Out of Bounds: Seven Stories of Conflict and Hope. HarperCollins. 2003. Tr $16,99. ISBN 0-06-050799-3; PLB $17.89. ISBN 0-06-050800-0. Gr 6 Up--Seven short stories set in South Africa between 1948 and 2000 focus on...

Ryan, Pam Munoz. Becoming Naomi Leon.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... RYAN, Pam Munoz. Becoming Naomi Leon. Scholastic. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-439-26969-5. Gr 4-7--When fifth grader Naomi Outlaw's mother reappears in her life and threatens to take her away from her little brother and the great-grandmother...

Williams-Garcia, Rita. No Laughter Here.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... WILLIAMS-GARCIA, Rita. No Laughter Here. HarperCollins. 2004. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-688-16247-9; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-688-16248-7. Gr 4-9--Ten-year-old Akilah straggles to understand why her best friend, Victoria, has returned from a summer in...

Armstrong, Jennifer, ed. Shattered: Stories of Children and War.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... ARMSTRONG, Jennifer, ed. Shattered: Stories of Children and War. Knopf. 2002. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-375-81112-5; pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-440-23765-3. Gr 5-9--Twelve short stories, mostly by well-known authors of fiction for young readers, describe...

Kurtz, Jane, ed. Memories of Sun: Stories of Africa and America.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... KURTZ, Jane, ed. Memories of Sun: Stories of Africa and America. Greenwillow. 2004. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-051050-1; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-051051-X. Gr 5-10--This nicely balanced collection of 12 short stories and 3 poems explores the...

Nye, Naomi Shihab. 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... NYE, Naomi Shihab. 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East. HarperCollins. 2002. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-06-009765-5; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-009765-5; pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-06-050404-8. Gr 6 Up--In this collection of poetry, half appearing...

Adichie, Chimamanda Ngozi. Purple Hibiscus.(Brief Article)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... ADICHIE, Chimamanda Ngozi. Purple Hibiscus: A Novel Algonquin. 2003. Tr $23.95. ISBN 1-56512-387-5. Gr 9 Up--Kambili, 15, and her brother Jaja live a privileged life thanks to their father, a wealthy and devoutly Christian businessman, who...

Cofer, Judith Ortiz. The Meaning of Consuelo.(Brief Article)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... COFER, Judith Ortiz. The Meaning of Consuelo. Farrar. 2002. Tr $20. ISBN 0-374-20509-4. Gr 10 Up--As her family copes with the changes in 1950s Puerto Rican culture, Consuelo's family and friends change too: her favorite cousin reveals his...

Hidier, Tanuja Desai. Born Confused.(Brief Article)(Young Adult Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... HIDIER, Tanuja Desai. Born Confused. Scholastic. 2002. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-439-35762-4; pap. $7.99. ISBN 0-439-51011-2. Gr 9 Up--Seventeen-year-old photographer Dimple Lala struggles to find a balance between her Indian and American...

Placide, Jaira. Fresh Girl.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... PLACIDE, Jaira. Fresh Girl. Dell. 2002. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-385-32753-6. Gr 8 Up--Mardi's sunlit childhood in Haiti disappeared in the violence that forced President Aristide and thousands of other Haitians, including members of her own...

Saenz, Benjamin Alire. Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... SAENZ, Benjamin Alire. Sammy and Juliana in Hollywood. Cinco Puntos. 2004. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-938317-81-4. Gr 8 Up--Growing up in a barrio in small-town New Mexico, Sammy Santos experiences a series of losses: his mother to illness; his...

Stein, Tammar. Light Years.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... STEIN, Tammar. Light Years. Knopf. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-375-83023-5; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-375-93023-X. Gr 9 Up--Haunted by the death of her boyfriend who dies in a suicide bombing that she feels was her fault, Maya leaves her native...

Thuy, Le Thi Diem. The Gangster We Are All Looking For: a Novel.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... THUY, Le Thi Diem. The Gangster We Are All Looking For: A Novel. Knopf. 2003. Tr $18. ISBN 0-375-40018-4; pap. $11.95. ISBN 0-375-70002-1. Gr 9 Up--In fragments of memory, a Vietnamese girl recalls her life before and after immigration to...

Lekuton, Joseph Lemasolai. Facing the Lion: Growing up Maasai on the African Savanna.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... LEKUTON, Joseph Lemasolai. Facing the Lion: Growing up Maasai on the African Savanna. National Geographic. 2003. RTE $15.95. ISBN 0-7922-5125-3; PLB $23.90. ISBN 0-7922-8328-7. Gr 8 Up--The youngest son in a family of cattle herders in...

Satrapi, Marjane. Persepolis: the Story of a Childhood.(Brief Article)(Children's Review)(Book Review)
March 1, 2005... SATRAPI, Marjane. Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood. illus. by author. Pantheon. 2003. Tr $17.95. ISBN 0-375-42230-7. Gr 8 Up--Satrapi, great-granddaughter of an emperor and daughter of Marxist revolutionaries, uses a graphic-novel...

The American Dream: Puerto Ricans and Mexicans in New York.(Video Recording Review)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
March 1, 2005... The American Dream: Puerto Ricans and Mexicans in New York. video. 30 min. Cinema Guild (www.cinemaguild.com). 2003, 2004 release. ISBN 0-7815-1023-6. secondary schools: $117 (Rental: $55). Gr 7 Up--Highlighting the Latino experience in...

Families Around the World (Series).(Video Recording Review)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
March 1, 2005... Families Around the World (Series). 24 videos. 13 rain. ca. with tchr's, guides. Prod. by Schlessinger Media. Dist. by Library Video Co. (www.libraryvideo.com). 2003. $19.95 ea. Includes: My Family from Brazil (ISBN 1-57225-631-1); Burkina Faso...

Families of Vietnam (Families of the World Series).(Video Recording Review)(Brief Article)(Children's Review)
March 1, 2005... Families of Vietnam (Families of the World Series). video. 30 rain. (closed captioned), with tchr's. guide. Prod. by Arden Media. Dist. by Master Communications (www.familiesof theworld.com). 2004. ISBN 1-888194-45-6. $29.95. K-Gr 5--In...

North of 49.(Video Recording Review)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... North of 49. video. 55 min. Filmakers Library (www.filmakers.com). 2003. building level schools: $99; regional media centers: $295. Gr 10 Up--In the aftermath of September 11th, our country has witnessed a number of incidents of racial...

Too Many Tamales.(Video Recording Review)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Too Many Tamales. video. 8 rain. with tchr's. guide. Weston Woods. (www. scholastic.com/westonwoods). 2002. ISBN 0-78620-980-9. $60. K-Gr 3--Gary Soto's warm, humorous tale of a close-knit Hispanic family at Christmas time comes to life in...

Two Children, Two Cultures.(Video Recording Review)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Two Children, Two Cultures. video. 24:36 min. (closed captioned). Discovery Channel Films (www.discoveryschool.com). 1999, 2001 release. ISBN 1-56331-970-5. $49.95. Gr 3-5--Travel to Africa and Asia in this live-action video introducing...

Turbans.(Video Recording Review)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Turbans. video. 29 rain. Prod. by National Asian American Telecommunications Assn. and Different Drum Prods. Dist. by Filmakers Library (www.filmakers.com). 2000, 2001 release, building level schools: $99, regional media centers: $295. Gr...

Indigenous Peoples.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Indigenous Peoples. www.un.org/cyber schoolbus/indigenous/index.asp. United Nations Cyberschoolbus. (Accessed 1/11/05). Gr 6-10--With this site, students examine the cultures of five indigenous peoples--the Maya of Guatemala, the Amazon...

Mix It Up.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Mix It Up. www.tolerance.org/teens/in dex.jsp. Southem Poverty Law Center. (Accessed 1/14/05). Gr 9 Up--"Mix It Up at Lunch" is held each November in schools across the country to get students to step out of the comfort zones of their...

Peace Corps Kids World.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Peace Corps Kids World. www.peace corps.gov/kids/index.html. Peace Corps. (Accessed 1/21/05). Gr 3-5--This inviting site introduces young students to places the Peace Corps visits through a variety of activities. Kids can play the quiz...

Speaking of Faith.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Speaking of Faith. www.speakingof faith.org. American Public Media. (Accessed 1/9/05). Gr 10 Up--Krista Tippett founded the NPR radio show Speaking of Faith to start a "national conversation about belief, meaning, ethics, and ideas." The...

World Wise Schools.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... World Wise Schools. www.peacecorps.gov /wws/students.html. Peace Corps. (Accessed 1/9/05). Gr 7 Up--This treasure trove of resources has several sections that are suited for student use. "Global Card," a collaboration with The NewsHourwith...

Deep in the Bush, Where People Rarely Ever Go.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Deep in the Bush, Where People Rarely Ever Go. www.phillipmartin.inf/liberia/. Phillip Martin. (Accessed 1/15/05). Gr 4 Up--As a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia, West Africa, Phillip Martin collected folktales in and around the rainforest...

Encyclopedia Mythica.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2005... Encyclopedia Mythica. www.pantheon .org/mythica.html. Encyclopedia Mythica Online. (Accessed 1/15/05). Gr 6 Up--Currently containing over 6,800 entries, this online encyclopedia is a one-stop shop for "gods, goddesses, heroes, legendary...