School Library Journal articles from March 2009

School Library Journal archives from March 2009

Mamma Mia: tough times present unprecedented opportunities.(Editorial)(Editorial)
March 1, 2009... "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...." Yes, it's a tired cliche, but when it comes to today's libraries-both school and public-it's like that ABBA song I hear on the way to work. I just can't get it out of my head. You...

All students are not equal: no amount of technology can raise kids' intelligence levels.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... TECHNOLOGY, TECHNOLOGY: THIS SEEMS to be the mantra sung to propitiate the gods of learning these days in American public schools ("Flip This Library," November 2008, pp. 46-48). Given enough technology and "collaborative teaching," wonders are...

Insurmountable obstacles.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... WHILE DAVID LOERTSCHER'S ARTICLE "Flip This Library" has several wonderful ideas, when I hit the first "teacherlibrarian," I very nearly stopped reading. Can we please get away from this title? Why can't we use "school librarian" or "media...

Varied gaming.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I HAVE BEEN DOING RESEARCH ON GAMES in libraries since late 2006 and have two concerns about your December 2008 column "Zero Budget?" (pp. 28-29) on the use of video games in school libraries. The first concern is about the authors'...

Sucker punched.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I HAVE JUST READ THE FIRST 20 PAGES of Suckerpunch by David Hernandez, and I cannot believe you would recommend this book for a high school library. I depend on SLJ for reviews before ordering books. You certainly let this one slip by, or you...

Shotgun wedding.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
March 1, 2009... I SINCERELY HOPE THAT NASHVILLE'S attempt to put school libraries under the control of public libraries is unsuccessful and not repeated ("A Shotgun Wedding," December 2008, p. 9). In Philadelphia, most schools do not have a school library...

Corrections.(Letters)(Correction notice)
March 1, 2009... CORRECTIONS: Amber Kizer's Gert Garibaldi's Rants and Raves: From Butt to Booty (Delacorte), reviewed in our February 2009 issue (p. 102), will not be published until July 2010. On page 116 of the December 2008 issue, Ruth Freeman Swain's...

The Graphic Classroom: graphicclassroom.blogspot.com.(Site of the Month)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Chris Wilson, founder and editor of the blog "The Graphic Classroom" is a man on a mission. "I want to be the comic literature site for teachers, librarians, administrators, and even parents-that place where they...

Authors connect on twitter: children's/YA writers network, meet fans via tweet.(Tech Knowledge)
March 1, 2009... While Coe Booth admits that Twitter is a fun way to procrastinate, she's well aware of the tool's networking potential. "It definitely helps me connect to librarians," says the author of young adult novels Tyrell (Scholastic, 2006) and Kendra...

Moderro Xpack/internet "cloud" computer.(Test DRIVE)(Product/service evaluation)
March 1, 2009... Details available at www.moderro.com/Product/index.html $395. If you haven't yet read my article "Don't Worry, Be Scrappy" (pp. 34-35), outlining some of the cheaper/greener/smarter computing solutions, you may want to hit that first. For...

The power of PowerPoint.(THE NEXT BIG THING)
March 1, 2009... PowerPoint has an undeservedly bad reputation. To be honest, I, myself, have knocked the tool when my scorn should have been directed at really bad presentations, and I've sat through quite a few. And it's an important distinction; we can't...

Texas libraries grok tech.(Tech Knowledge)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... To Texans, public and school libraries are crucial to their communities--especially for the technology they provide, according to a survey sponsored by the Texas Library Association (TLA). Access to computers as well as the Web proved important...

Driving force: resources on the automobile industry.(THE Librarian's INTERNET)(Website overview)
March 1, 2009... America on the Move americanhistory.sl.edu/onthemove Try to imagine a world without fast food restaurants, suburbs, and factories-all common elements of modern life made possible by the car. This excellent site, including a helpful...

Cheap and cute tunes to go.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Philips GoGear Spark)(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Among the latest in MP3 players: the pocket-sized GoGear Spark. Created by Philips, the Spark is competitive with the iPod Shuffle--as in cheap and wearable--but this cutie does the Apple device one better with its...

Follett's new ebook solution.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Follett Software Co.)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Follett has just released new software intended to enhance the ebook experience in schools and libraries. The offline Follett Digital Reader is available for downloading and installation by users of Follett eBooks...

Databases that talk.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(WilsonWeb adds text-to-audio to its databases)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... WilsonWeb has added a new text-to-audio function to its full-text databases. ReadSpeak, now featured on 20 Wilson products, converts HTML content to streaming audio or save it to MP3 format for later listening. Ideal for the sight-impaired,...

TOC: a tipping point for books?(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing Conference)(Brief article)(Conference notes)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Without a strong grasp of the way users engage information, publishers and librarians stand to lose their audience. That was the message presenters delivered at last month's O'Reilly Tools of Change for Publishing...

NASA launches DIY resources.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(National Aeronautics and Space Administration offers do-it-yourself audio and video services)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Attention podcasters. NASA is offering audio and video clips for do-it-yourselfers in the ed community to adapt in creating their own podcasts or video projects. Video of astronauts working in space and other cool...

Plastic Logic vies with kindle.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Plastic Logic Reader)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... Already considered a potential Kindle killer, the Plastic Logic Reader continues to generate buzz. The ereading device, due in 2010, is about the size of an 8.5 X 11 pad of paper and weighs less than many print magazines. At the O'Reilly TOG...

Better safe than sorry: does your library have an online acceptable-use policy?(Scales on Censorship)(Column)
March 1, 2009... I heard a speaker say the Supreme Court had ruled that as long as schools and other public entitles have CIPA safeguards In place, they can't be sued if a minor accesses an "inappropriate" Web site. I'm a high school librarian, and I need help...

Make a joyful noise: a simple song has the power to bring people together.(First Steps)(Column)
March 1, 2009... The mothers and children enter the neighborhood meeting room. A raw, icy blast of wind follows the families through the door. Mothers unlayer little ones. Off come the boots and hats and mittens and coats. Babies are unswaddled from the...

Presidential power: with Obama in the oval office, it's time to rethink how we teach history.(Consider the Source)(Barack Obama)(Essay)
March 1, 2009... Even as President Obama's first major initiative, his stimulus plan, fights its way through Congress, I can see at least three ways in which his administration will influence how we teach history in our schools. The most obvious way, of course,...

LAN party, anyone? It's easy to host Local Area Network gaming sessions in your library.(The Gaming Life)(Column)
March 1, 2009... In the old days (more than five years ago in computer time), a LAN (Local Area Network) party was simply all the school's computer geeks getting together with their own PCs to play video games against each other on a network. Someone would...

Saint in the city: Francisco X. Stork's latest novel is 'Marcelo in the Real World'.(Under Cover)(Interview)
March 1, 2009... Marcelo is a bright 17-year-old who works with therapy horses, is wild about religion, and stumbles humorously into his first romantic relationship. You once lived at a home that was part of L'Arche, a faith-based community In which so-called...

It's good to be Gaiman: Neil Gaiman is on a roll. He's nabbed the Newbery, walked the red carpet for Coraline, and then there's that effing tweet.(Interview)(Cover story)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NEIL GAIMAN HAS BEEN A BUSY BOY. I caught up with him by phone at his Wisconsin home, to which he had returned the night before from the film premiere of Coraline in Portland, OR. The movie hoopla, of course, was but...

Don't worry, be scrappy: it's the perfect time to try cheap new technologies.(educational technology)(Essay)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WHEN ASKED TO WEIGH IN ON WHAT MIGHT BE THE NEXT BIG THING in educational technology, I first did what I felt an SLJ gadget guy should do: I scanned the horizon for the next gizmo or software advance that would...

Remembering Kate and Kathy: two passionate youth librarians leave behind a lasting legacy.(Kate McClelland and Kathy Krasniewicz)(In memoriam)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] For children's book lovers, the world was infinitely glorious on Monday, January 26, 2009, as the winners of the American Library Association's (ALA) awards were announced at the midwinter...

Notable children's books.(ALSC NOTABLES)(List)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] YOUNGER READERS BECKER, Bonn),. A Visitor for Bear, illus, by Kady MacDonald Denton. Candlewick. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-2807-9. BEE, William. Beware of the Frog. illus. by author. Candlewick. Tr $15.99....

Best books for young adults.(YALSA BOOKLISTS)(List)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Denotes top 10 selections FICTION ALMOND, David. The Savage. Candlewick. Tr $1799. ISBN 978-0-7636-3932-7. ANDERSON, Laurie Halse. Chains. S & S. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-0585-1. ANDERSON, M....

Great graphic novels for teens.(YALSA BOOKLISTS)(List)
March 1, 2009... * Denotes top 10 selections FICTION * ABEL, Jessica & Gabe Sofia. Life Sucks. illus, by Warren Pleece. First Second. pap. $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-107-2. *ASHIHARA, Hinako. Sand Chronicles, Vol. 1. ISBN 978-1-4215-1477-2. --....

The top 10 quick picks.(YALSA)(Brief article)(List)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ABEL, Jessica & Gabriel Soria. Life Sucks. First Second. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-59643-107-2. FRANZINI, Michael. One Hundred Young Americans. 2007. HarperCollins. pap. $29.95. ISBN 978-0-06-119200-5. FULBECK,...

An intrepid traveler.(focus on: Charles Darwin)(List)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Every century or so, a scientist comes along and opens a can of worms. Copernicus is a prime example, but we've all pretty much come to terms with his radical theories about the Earth traveling around the Sun. On the...

On the web.(web sites that focus on Charles Darwin Online)(Website overview)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... AboutDarwin.com. http://aboutdarwin. com. David Left. (Accessed 1/25/09) Gr 4 Up-Created and maintained by an amateur scholar, this site is extensive. Most impressive (and fun) are the photos of places Darwin spent his time. Don't miss the...

Evolution.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Evolution. DVD. 41 min. with tchr's. guide. Hawkhill Assocs. (hawkhill.com). 2007. $129. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 10 Up-This live-action production presents the history and achievements of Charles Darwin, highlights his theories, and...

Evolution: Darwin's Dangerous Idea.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Evolution: Darwin's Dangerous Idea. DVD. 2 hrs. PBS Home Video (shoppbs.org). 2001. $19.95. Gr 10 Up-This intriguing documentary begins by presenting key moments in Charles Darwin's life (played by actors) and intersperses clips of...

Evolution: Why Bother?(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Evolution: Why Bother? DVD color. 28 rain. Why Bother Films (whybotherfilms.com). 2005. $34.95 (home/ school use). Gr 7 Up-The film effectively explains how evolution affects research in areas such as medicine and pharmaceuticals;...

Icons of Science: Evolution.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Icons of Science: Evolution. DVD. 20 rain. Discovery Education (store.discoveryeducation.com). 2007. ISBN 1-60288-215-0. $59.95. Gr 9 Up-Evolution is presented in six catchy chapters in this animated program. For example, "Darwin, the...

Rules of the Road.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Rules of the Road. 2 DVDs. 3:12 hrs. Vat 19. 2008. $34.95. Gr 10 Up--This revised version features new content and offers a comprehensive guide to driving. The information is divided into three broad categories. The segment on preparation...

As I Grow.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... As I Grow (Series). 6 DVDs. range: 15-35 min. Egghead Learning Systems. 2008. $79.99 ser. PreS-Dr. Ilham Algayed, a pediatrician, consulted with a team that included clinical psychologists, a speech pathologist, and early childhood...

Fireman Sam: Saves the Day!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Fireman Sam: Saves the Day! DVD. approx. 50 min. Prod. by Lionsgate. Dist. by HIT Entertainment. 2009. $14.98. PreS-K--Launched in England in 2004 and now airing on PBS Kids Sprout in the U.S., this charming program features five Fireman...

Live at the Noodle Factory.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Live at the Noodle Factory. DVD. 31 min. AV Cafe. 2008. $12. Pres-Gr l--David Landau plays his acoustic guitar and sings in front of a small audience of preschool children at RP's Pasta Company in Madison, WI. In this cozy venue, he shares...

Lots & Lots of Fire Songs & Safety Tips.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Lots & Lots of Fire Songs & Safety Tips. DVD. approx. 30 min. Marshall Publishing & Promotions. 2008. ISBN 978-0-9814909-202. $19.95 (home use); $24.95 (pub. perf.). PreS-Gr 2--This DVD contains four songs and lots of footage of fire...

The Super Fun Show!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... The Super Fun Show! DVD. approx. 25 min. Role Model Prods. 2008. $14.98. PreS-Gr 2--Shawn Brown, a children's entertainer from the Atlanta area, stars in this variety-style title. Featuring both live action and animation, the program seeks...

Little Pim: Spanish.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Little Pim: Spanish. 3 DVDs. 35 min. ea. Little Pim. 2008. $49.95. Includes: Playtime; Wake Up Smiling; Eating and Drinking. PreS-Gr 1--The Little Pim series is one of the more professionally constructed and executed approaches to the total...

Going on 13.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... * Going on 13. DVD. 1:45 hrs. 1:13 hrs. (closed captioned), with tchr's. guide. Vaquera Films. 2008. ISBN 9781-57448-232-4. high schools/public libraries: $125 (Rental: $75). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 6 Up--Four girls living in the San...

Journeyman.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Journeyman. DVD. 57 min. with booklet. Prod. by MirrorMan Films. Dist. by Victory Multimedia. 2008. #MM0178. $39.95 (+ $5 s/h). Gr 9 Up--This insightful documentary examines "father absence, rites of passage, mentoring, and male culture in...

Nobody's Perfect: Learning Self-Acceptance.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Nobody's Perfect: Learning Self-Acceptance. DVD. 20 min. with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2008. ISBN 978-1-55548-622-8. $129.95. Gr 5-9-This well-paced program features a teenager discussing the challenges faced by adolescents....

Seven Competency Skills for the Workplace.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Seven Competency Skills for the Workplace, video or DVD. 20 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2008. ISBN 978-1-55548798-0. $139.95. Gr 7 Up--Teens learn about the seven competency skills-oral and written...

Human Reproduction and Childbirth.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Human Reproduction and Childbirth. video or DVD. 20 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2008. ISBN 978-1-55548681-5. $139.95. Gr 7 Up--A young host and hostess, with the help of animated graphics, explain...

Animalia: The Land Where Literacy Lives.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Animalia: The Land Where Literacy Lives. 10 DVDs. 25 min. ca. with tchr's, guide. Porchlight Learning. 2008. #001-101. $149 set. Includes: Hello, We Must Be Going; Goodbye, We Must Be Staying; The Mist of Time; Catcher in the Rhyme;...

Blue Dragon, Volume 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Blue Dragon, Volume 1. DVD. 1:40 hrs. Viz Media. 2008. ISBN 1-4215-2136-9. $14.98. Gr 5 Up--The popular XBox 360 console video game has been transformed into an anime production accessible for all ages. The five episodes on the first...

Little Quack.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Little Quack. DVD. 15 min. with tchr's. guide. Nutmeg Media. 2008. ISBN 1-933938-59-5. $69.95. PreS-K--Little Quack and his four siblings-Widdle, Waddle, Piddle, and Paddle-star in this iconographic rendering of Lauren Thompson's picture...

National Youth Storytelling Showcase 2008.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... National Youth Storytelling Showcase 2008.3 DVDs. 4:08 hrs. Prod. by Umbra Strategic Media. Dist. by National Youth Storytelling Showcase. 2008. $39.95. Gr 4 Up--The winners of the 2008 National Youth Storytelling Festival, 21 of America's...

Woolbur.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Woolbur. DVD. 9:51 min. with tchr's, guide. Spoken Arts. 2008. ISBN 0-8045-8104-5. $50; cassette with hardcover book, ISBN 0-8045-4196-: $29.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 0-8045-4196-5: $29.95. PreS-Gr 2--Woolbur is not your typical...

Counting Crocodiles & Monster Math.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Counting Crocodiles & Monster Math. DVD. 14 min. with tchr's, guide. Nutmeg Media. 2008. ISBN 1-933938-57-9. $69.95. PreS-Gr 1--Two humorous counting books are paired with disappointing results. Judy Sierra's Counting Crocodiles (Gulliver,...

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian.(Media NEWS)(2009 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, written and narrated by Alexie Sherman and produced by Recorded Books, won the 2009 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production, given jointly by the...

The 2009 Andrew Carnegie Medal.(Media NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The 2009 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Children's Video has been awarded to Paul R. Gagne and Melissa Reilly of Weston Woods Studios, producers of March On! The Day My Brother Martin Changed the World,...

NetLibrary Media Center.(Media NEWS)(Brief article)
March 1, 2009... NetLibrary Media Center, a new desktop application that allows library patrons to "search, manage, transfer and listen to downloadable eAudiobooks," has been released by OCLC, a nonprofit library service and research organization (oclc.org)....

Animal Atlas, Best of Season 3: Volumes 1-3.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Animal Atlas, Best of Season 3: Volumes 1-3. 3 DVDs. 68 min. ea. Prod. by Longneedle Entertainment. Dist. by Library Video Co. 2008. $9.95 ea. Gr 3 Up--Animal Atlas is a nationally syndicated TV show, and this volume includes nine episodes...

The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide (Series). 6 videos or 6 DVDs. range: 26-30 min. (closed captioned). Prod. by Open University. Dist. by Films Media Group. 2007, 2008 release. video: ISBN 978-1-60467-120-9, DVD: ISBN 978-1-60467-121-6. $539.70...

Elementary Science: Magnets and Electromagnetism.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Elementary Science: Magnets and Electromagnetism. video or DVD. 14 rain. with tchr's guide, blackline masters. Visual Learning Co. 2008. video: ISBN 978-1-59234-188-7, DVD: ISBN 978-159234-189-4. $79.95. Gr 3-5--Live-action footage aim...

How'd They Build That?(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... How'd They Build That? 2 DVDs. range: 50-58 min. Marvelous Media. 2008. $8.99 ea. Includes: Big Truck; Fire Truck. Gr 1-6-Featuring live-action footage and 3D computer animation, viewers are taken to the factories where large trucks are...

Human Impact on Our Ecosystems: Surface and Subsurface Waters.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Human Impact on Our Ecosystems: Surface and Subsurface Waters. video or DVD. 30 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. New Dimension Media. 2008. ISBN 1-59522-645-1. single site: $49, multi site: $159. Gr 7 Up-The connection between...

Marine Biology: Wonders of the Sea.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Marine Biology: Wonders of the Sea. DVD. 50 min. Prod. by CCI Releasing. Dist. by Chip Taylor Communication. 2008. $99.99. Gr 6 Up-Featuring live-action underwater photography, this informative film offers close-ups of diverse marine...

Ancient History: Rome Reexamined.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Ancient History: Rome Reexamined (Series). 4 DVDs. 27 min. ea. Prod. by Centre Communications. Dist. by Ambrose Media. 2008. $99.99 ser. Includes: The Rise of the Roman Republic; Military Triumphs and the Death of the Roman Republic; The Rise...

Ballou.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... * Ballou. DVD. 86 min. Prod. by Garden Thieves Pictures. Dist. by Victory Multimedia. 2008. ISBN 9780-9819149-0-0. $24.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 6 Up-The tremendous impact of the Ballou Senior High School Marching Band on an...

The Bradford Heritage: How the Light of Liberty Came to America.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... The Bradford Heritage: How the Light of Liberty Came to America. DVD. 37 min. Bradford Heritage. 2008. $19.50. Gr 8 Up--Allyn Bradford, twelfth generation descendent of Puritan leader William Bradford, is the producer, narrator, and star of...

A Child Shall Lead Them: The Desegregation of Nashville Public Schools, 1957.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... A Child Shall Lead Them: The Desegregation of Nashville Public Schools, 1957. DVD. 23 min. Filmakers Library. 2008. $99. Gr 8 Up--Three years after the landmark 1954 Supreme Court decision which banned separate public school systems based...

China Inside Out: New World Power, Old World Politics.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... China Inside Out: New World Power, Old World Politics. DVD. 42 min. (closed captioned). WGBH Boston. 2008. ISBN 978-1-59375-856-1. $24.95. Gr 9 Up--Veteran reporter Bob Woodruff examines the remarkable economic changes in the world's most...

Diplomacy.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Diplomacy. video or DVD. 44 min. Cinema Guild. 2007, 2008 release. ISBN 0-78151267-0. $99.95. Gr 9 Up-In the more than six decades since its founding, the United Nations has experienced a mixed record of success in its goal of maintaining...

Writings on the Wall.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Writings on the Wall. DVD. 25 min. Prod. by Time of Day Prods. Dist. by New Day Films. 2008. ISBN 978-1-57448-223-2. $90 (Rental: $50). Gr 10 Up--Set in India, this documentary explores three forms of public art that are all connected to...

Aut-erobics.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
March 1, 2009... Aut-erobics. DVD. 68 min. Victory Multimedia. 2007, 2008 release. #AE 0769. $24.99. PreS-Gr 6, adults--Developed by autism special education expert Joanne Lara to empower children ages 3 to 15 with autism, aut-erobics is a specially...

Salsa for Kittens & Puppies/Salsa para gatitos y perritos.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)(Children's review)
March 1, 2009... Salsa for Kittens & Puppies/Salsa para gatitos y perritos. CD. 45 min. with board book. Prod. by Baby Loves Everything. Dist by Baby Loves Music. 2008. $15. PreS-K-The Baby Loves series does a yeoman-like job of acquainting toddlers and...

Swimming with the Dolphins.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... Swimming with the Dolphins. CD. 33 min. with tchr's, guide. Old Me, New Me. 2006, 2008 release. ISBN 978-0-94512303-3. $20. Gr 1-8-In this three-part exercise, children are given some techniques to assist them in dealing with divorce....

An Acceptable Time.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... An Acceptable Time (unabr.). 8 CDs. 9:42 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7203-6. $55. Gr 6 Up-In the fifth title (Farrar, 1989) in Madeleine L'Engle's Time Quintet, Polly is...

Beacon Street Girls Special Adventure: Katani's Jamaican Holiday.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... Beacon Street Girls Special Adventure: Katani's Jamaican Holiday (unabr.). 5 CDs. 4:58 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7898-4. $32. Gr 4-7-When Aunt Faith asks Katani for...

Cairo Jim and the Alabastron of Forgotten Gods.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... Cairo Jim and the Alabastron of Forgotten Gods (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:15 hrs. Bolinda Audio. 2008. ISBN 978-1-74093-328-5. $40. Gr 3-5--When an ancient alabastron (vase) is stolen from the Greek Archaeological Museum, archaeologist, and...

The Devil's Breath: Danger Zone, Book 1.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... * The Devil's Breath: Danger Zone, Book 1 (unabr.) 9 CDs. 11:28 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7272-2. $55. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 6-9--When Max Gordon finds himself...

The Dragonfly Pool.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... * The Dragonfly Pool (unabr.). 9 CDs. 10 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4361-5208-2. $97.75 Gr 5-8--In Eva Ibbotson's novel (Dutton, 2008), set in pre-World War II Europe, ll-year-old Tally is sent to a boarding school outside of...

Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
March 1, 2009... Encyclopedia Brown Cracks the Case (unabr.). 2 cassettes or 2 CDs. 1:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette: ISBN 9781-4281-7, CD, ISBN 978-1-4281-8796-2. $25.75. Gr 3-5--Encyclopedia Brown solves ten brief mysteries in this audio version...

Fiendish Deeds: The Joy of Spooking, Book 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... Fiendish Deeds: The Joy of Spooking, Book 1 (unabr.). 5 cassettes or 5 CDs. 6 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4361-3760-7, CD: ISBN 9781-4361-3755-3. $51.75. Gr 4-6--Eerie mystery and wry humor briskly carry along the plot...

Gone Missing.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... Gone Missing (unabr.). 3 CDs. 3:25 hrs. Prod. by Chivers Children's Audiobooks. Dist. by BBC Andiobooks America. 2007. ISBN 978-1-4056-5745-7. $29.95. Gr 5-8--Shy, quiet, mousy Honey de Vito would never have had the courage to run away...

The Graveyard Book.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... * The Graveyard Book (unabr.). 7 cassettes or 7 CDs. 7:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette, ISBN 978-14361-5879-4: $56.75; CD, ISBN 9781-4361-5884-8: $76.75. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 5-8--"There was a hand in the darkness, and it...

Great Expectations.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
March 1, 2009... Great Expectations (unabr.). 15 CDs. 18 hrs. Tantor Media. 2008. ISBN 978-14001-0632-5. $44.99. Gr 7 Up--A young man's burning desire to fulfill his "great expectations" of fame and fortune is presented in Charles Dickens's classic tale of...