School Library Journal articles from May 2006

School Library Journal archives from May 2006

Eyes wide open: no, it's not perfect, but ALA can shape a life.(American Library Association)(Editorial)
May 1, 2006... EARLY THE OTHER MORNING AN OLD FRIEND, I'LL CALL HER CAROL, TELEPHONED from halfway across the country. It was Carol's first day at a new job--a big and intimidating one--at a library. Sitting at an empty desk, knowing few colleagues, she was...

Get real: with librarians losing their jobs, there's no time for navel gazing.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY ANY ENERGY IS spent discussing whether it is better to have an education degree than a library science degree. As long as the individual is licensed or credentialed by the state to work as a library media specialist in a...

Displeased with new WI law.(Letter to the editor)
May 1, 2006... I AM WRITING TO CLARIFY THE ARTICLE by Lauren Barack, "Drug Money Helps Libraries" (February 2006, p. 16), regarding a new law in Wisconsin. The law is not quite what it seems at face value. School libraries in Wisconsin are fortunate that...

Calendar.(Brief article)(Calendar)
May 1, 2006... May 2006 June 22-23. ALA (American Library Association) 2006 Annual Conference, New Orleans, LA. This year's special events include a closing session with Caroline Kennedy; a library relief event featuring Mary Chapin Carpenter; speakers...

Librarians a part of 65 percent rule? Texas moves closer to classifying librarians as instructional expenses; final decision in July.(slj news)
May 1, 2006... It may be a bit early to pop open the champagne, but Texas librarians are celebrating their state's decision to fund media specialists' salaries and materials under its 65 percent solution rule. If officially adopted, Texas will be the first...

Schools narrowing their curriculums: NCLB has forced schools to cut back on certain subjects to focus on reading, math.(slj news)(No Child Left Behind Act)
May 1, 2006... In order to meet the rigorous requirements of the No Child Left Behind act (NCLB), schools nationwide are reducing class time spent on many subjects to focus on reading and math-and school librarians are in a perfect position to help. More...

ALA Report: "State of American Libraries".(slj news)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Although ongoing budget cuts to school library programs have put a severe strain on the ability to provide them with adequate staffing and resources, media centers are still busy and thriving, according to the first "State of America's...

Harry and the Potters.(short takes)(rock group)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Harry Potter has launched yet another craze: wizard rock. Two brothers from Boston-Paul DeGeorge, 26, and Joe DeGeorge, 18-were so obsessed with J. K. Rowling's wizard that they formed the band Harry and the Potters. Paul impersonates Harry in...

Cream of the crop.(short takes)(best U.S. library schools)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Syracuse University offer the top three library graduate programs, respectively, according to U.S. News & World Report. The University of...

PLA rocks Boston: library conference offers stellar children's, YA programming.(slj news)
May 1, 2006... Librarians enjoyed an outstanding lineup of children's and young adult programs at the Public Library Association's (PLA) 11th national conference in Boston from March 21 to 25--and everyone (not just geeks) showed up for anything and...

Canada links libraries with achievement: Ontario Library Association study documents that libraries spark higher test scores.(slj news)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... In an effort to shore up funding for school libraries, the Ontario Library Association (OLA) recently released a study that links student achievement to well-stocked and professionally-staffed media centers. "School Libraries & Student...

Utah district phases out K-8 librarians: budget cuts force Provo to eliminate certified media specialists by 2008.(slj news)
May 1, 2006... The Provo City School District in Utah is in the process of phasing out most of its certified media specialists in elementary and middle schools over the next two years and replacing them with classified employees--nonteaching staff members who...

Billings, MT.(Censorship Roundup)(book banning)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Billings, MT: Parents are demanding more oversight to the district's book challenge policy following a recent complaint by parent Becky Malenowsky that four books in the Lockwood Middle School are too sexually explicit. For now, The Vanishing...

Geneva, IL.(Censorship Roundup)(Geneva Community Unit School District keeps objectionable book)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Geneva, IL: Despite objections from a group of parents about allusions to murder and sex, the Geneva Community Unit School District recently voted to keep the comic-book compilation Calvin and Hobbes (Andrews McMeel, 1987) by Bill Watterson on...

Miami, FL.(Censorship Roundup)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Miami, FL: The Miami-Dade County school board recently decided to keep a controversial book about life in Cuba, Vamos a Cuba (Heinemann/Raintree, 2000) by Alta Schreier, in elementary school libraries, reports the Miami Herald. The decision can...

Ontario, Canada.(Censorship Roundup)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Ontario, Canada: School boards across the province have had mixed reactions to a request that Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak (Groundwood, 2006) by Deborah Ellis be removed from the reading curriculum and school library...

Palmdale, CA.(Censorship Roundup)(book collections)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Palmdale, CA: Although trustees of the Wilsona School District recently removed two dozen books, including J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Hall-Blood Prince (Scholastic, 2005), from a list of recommended school library books at Vista San...

Visible proofs: www.nlm.nih.gov/visibleproofs.(Site of the Month)(Visible Proofs)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... A grisly crime scene, a mangled corpse, and a bloody set of fingerprints. A classic recipe of elements sure to repel some--and just as sure to fascinate most kids. Even in pre-CSI days, youngsters have been intrigued by forensic medicine, the...

Virtual high school: MI to define online 'experience' now required of high school graduates.(Tech Knowledge)(Michigan Department of Education)
May 1, 2006... Just what constitutes an online learning "experience"? That's the question facing the Michigan Department of Education, after state legislators approved a measure requiring every Michigan high school student to have some online schooling prior...

Tangent VITA 7500S: all-in-one LCD PC.(Test DRIVE)(Product/service evaluation)
May 1, 2006... Tangent Computer, 197 Airport Blvd., Burlingame, CA 94010 (888) 826-4368 www.tangent.com $1,495. Please don't mention this to my principal, but I've been spending an awful lot of time at work lately just... daydreaming. In my mind's eye,...

A Wiki war on vandals.(Tech Knowledge)(Wikipedia)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia that allows virtually anyone to edit or add to its entries, is continually vulnerable to vandals, who wreak havoc with information on the site or intentionally insert errors. On occasion, these vandals have...

Fed up? Send your complaints to Snubster.(Tech Knowledge)(Snubster.com)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... What do Tom Cruise, America Online, and hot dogs have in common? They're among the pet peeves listed on Snubster.com. The new social networking site allows registered users to rant about almost anything--or anyone--they don't like. Some...

A history of caring for others: May is the 12th anniversary of the American Red Cross.(The Librarian's Internet)(Website list)
May 1, 2006... Florence Nightingale www.bbc.co.uk/schools/famouspeople/standard/nightingale/ index.shtml#focus Born on May 12, 1820, Florence Nightingale was a nurse, hospital reformer, and a statistical mathematician of note. She served on the...

Library 'superpatron' outsmarts Google.(Tech Knowledge)(Edward Vielmetti, Ann Arbor District Library)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Edward Vielmetti thought it was about time for Ann Arbor, MI, residents to be able to locate online the books that are available on their local library's shelves. Tweaking an existing program, Vielmetti did just that--allowing anyone who...

Aqui esta BrainPOP Espanol.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... BrainPOP, which offers animated learning content for grades K-8, has launched a new Spanish language site, BrainPoP Espanol. This new product uses BrainPoP's popular format to present films in science, math, social studies, language arts,...

Quality podcasting made easy.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(GarageBand 3)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Educators are praising the merits of GarageBand 3 as a nifty way to record quality podcasts and post them to the Internet. Features of GarageBand 3 include a built-in speech enhancer that optimizes sound for your Mac, gender, and vocal range....

NASA launches one for kids.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(National Aeronautics and Space Administration)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Calling all space cadets. NASA has formed a new online "Kids' Club," serving up games and activities for future explorers in grades K-4. The site, which launched last month, features interactive, animated games with five skill levels that keep...

Bluetooth for girls.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)
May 1, 2006... Have you been longing for a wireless accessory that's a bit more, uh, feminine? Or perhaps you need just a little something to match that animal-print ensemble. Then look no further. Blue-Pearls are Bluetooth headsets being marketed to women....

A tech guy worth knowing.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Wesley Fryer)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Wesley Fryer--self-described on his Web site as an educator, author, and digital storyteller--maintains a blog entitled "Moving at the Speed of Creativity." For providing comprehensive coverage of education technology and insightful discussion...

The biogosphere awaits.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)
May 1, 2006... Educators in increasing numbers are joining the ranks of bloggers; sharing classroom activities, student work, achievements, video clips, and more, all via the Web. Now, ePALS Classroom Exchange has launched a new, easy-to-use service that may...

Kid-proof laptop.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)
May 1, 2006... CDI Computers, in collaboration with RM PLC, a leading IT supplier to U. K. schools, has released a notebook computer designed specifically for the classroom. The RM Mobile One features a hard screen LCD to guard against poking fingers and...

Required beach reading.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Summer Reading Buzz)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Summer's just around the corner and you need a way to keep kids reading. That's why Scholastic has created the "Summer Reading Buzz." Debuting this month, it's a Web site filled with kid-friendly activities and contests, and resources for...

MySpace can be our space: let's turn the infamous networking site into a teachable moment.(Soapbox)
May 1, 2006... I'M SURE THAT THE HEADLINES AND THEIR DIRE WARNINGS ABOUT CYBERSTALKERS help sell papers and convince TV viewers to stay tuned to hear about the latest threat to their children, but this whole MySpace ban needs to stop. After all, the...

The replacements: what can you do when your videotapes are damaged?(Carrie on Copyright)
May 1, 2006... One of our school's educational videotapes Is cracked and won't play anymore. Is it legal for us to borrow the same selection from the public library and copy it, since we have already purchased a copy? Jana Fullerton, librarian Olympic...

Camp library: sleepovers can form a lasting relationship between kids and the library.(What Works)
May 1, 2006... SLEEPOVERS CAN BE FUN, BUT IMAGINE THE EXCITEMENT OF HAVING ONE at the public library? Our Brownie Sleepover program started 10 years ago when two local Brownie leaders approached Mary Kennedy, the former head of children's services, to ask if...

Howdy, partner: community alliances can help you reach the next generation of readers.(First Steps)
May 1, 2006... THE FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN HAS BEEN CALLED THE "STARTING GATE," the day all children begin learning what they need for academic and future success. In reality, the starting gate is about five years earlier--at birth. Regrettably, by the time...

Letting go: putting teens in charge of their own programming is the key to success.(Young Adult Library Services Association )
May 1, 2006... WE PLAN THE PROGRAMS, BUY THE BOOKS, AND DIRECT THE SERVICES. BOT isn't it time to give teens more power and control over their library experience? "For teens, by teens, with teens" has been young adult librarians' longstanding mantra--but...

The 'Criss Cross' conundrum: a look at the real-life implications of a "high" Newbery or a "low" Printz.(Up for Discussion)
May 1, 2006... WHEN I READ THE FIRST LINE OF LYNNE RAE PERKINS'S CRISS CROSS (Greenwillow, 2005)--"She wished something would happen"--I was enchanted. By the end of the first chapter, "The Catch," I was sure I was reading an award winner. But the catch that...

Hip chick, cool cat: artist Sara Varon talks about her first children's book--a sweet wordless wonder.(Under Cover)(Interview)
May 1, 2006... Chicken and Cat is a good-hearted tale of two friends--a chicken who lives In New York City and a country cat who pays him a visit, is the story autobiographical? It's totally autobiographical. The story not only takes place in my Brooklyn...

Movin' on up: Linebaugh Library was stuck at a crossroads--languish or reach out to kids in a big way.(2006 SLJ/THOMSON GALE GIANT STEP AWARDS: PUBLIC LIBRARY WINNER)
May 1, 2006... THE LINEBAUGH LIBRARY SYSTEM'S GIANT STEP in serving youth started with--of all crazy things--a strategic planning process. But unlike some libraries, Linebaugh didn't let its plan languish in a drawer or, more likely these days, sit unopened...

Research high: most of Middletown's kids used to think research was spelled G-o-o-g-l-e. My, how times have changed.(2006 SLJ/THOMSON GALE GIANT STEP AWARDS: SCHOOL LIBRARY WINNER)
May 1, 2006... IT'S A SUNNY SPRING MORNING, and Tom Brennan's history class is in the Middletown (NJ) High School South library, researching the Cold War. But you won't find his kids turning to Google as their main source of information--media specialist...

School library 2.0: say good-bye to your mother's school library. The Web is all about new possibilities.
May 1, 2006... A GROUP OF STUDENTS from Lakeview High School in Battle Creek, MI, is sitting down to a discussion of Elie Wiesel's Night (Hill & Wang, 1960). It's a fairly typical exercise--the Nobel Laureate's haunting memoir of the Holocaust has been widely...

Soul survivor: New Orleans is back in business, as ALA returns to one of its favorite cities.(American Library Association)
May 1, 2006... ALTHOUGH HURRICANE KATRINA did its best to devastate New Orleans, there's a lot of life left in the old town--or as locals have dubbed our surviving historic section, the "Sliver by the River." Some of the oldest parts of the city, built on the...

Baseball.(Focus On: Tropical Resources for Curriculum Needs)(sports books)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Baseball offers a haven from the complex struggles of the world beyond the ballpark. Within its well-ordered domain, players can hone their physical and mental talents. Writers from Mark Twain to Walt Whitman have realized how the stories of...

Bowen, Fred. Playoff Dreams.(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... BOWEN, Fred. Playoff Dreams. Peachtree. 1997. pap. $4.95. ISBN 1-56145-155-X. Gr 2-5--In this short chapter book, Brendan is the best player on his team, but unless his teammates improve their game, the Cubs won't make the Little League...

Burke, Jim. Take Me Out to the Ballgame.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... BURKE, Jim. Take Me Out to the Ballgame. lyrics by Jack Norworth. illus, by author. Little, Brown. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0316-75819-1. Gr 1-4--Using the text of the classic "Take Me Out to the Ball Game," Burke has created a rollicking...

Curtis, Gavin. The Bat Boy & His Violin.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... CURTIS, Gavin. The Bat Boy & His Violin. illus, by E. B. Lewis. S & S. 1998. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-689-80099-1; pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-689-83012-2. Gr 1-4--Reginald has a gift for playing the violin, but his father thinks he should prefer baseball...

Egan, Tim. Roasted Peanuts.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... EGAN, Tim. Roasted Peanuts. illus, by author. Houghton. 2006. RTE $16. ISBN 0-618-33718-0. K-Gr 3-Sam, a horse, and Jackson, a short, round cat, love nothing more than spending time together at the ballpark. Their friendship is tested when...

Gutman, Dan. Satch & Me.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... GUTMAN, Dan. Satch & Me. HarperCollins. 2006. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-059491-8; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-059492-6. Gr 3-6--In this seventh book in the "Baseball Card Adventures" series, Joe and his coach travel to 1942 with the aim of clocking...

Hubbard, Crystal. Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... HUBBARD, Crystal. Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl's Baseball Dream. illus, by Randy DuBurke. Lee & Low. 2005. RTE $16.95. ISBN 1-58430-243-7. K-Gr 3--Hubbard bases her tale on the childhood of Toni Stone (1921-1996), who grew...

Hurwitz, Johanna. Baseball Fever.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... HURWITZ, Johanna. Baseball Fever. Avon. 1981. pap. $4.95. ISBN 0-380-73255-6. Gr 3-5--Young fans will relate to Mets' fan Ezra Feldman, who wishes that his scholarly father could come to enjoy baseball just a little. Ezra likes baseball...

McDonough, Yona Zeldis. Hammerin' Hank: The Life of Hank Greenberg.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... MCDONOUGH, Yona Zeldis. Hammerin' Hank: The Life of Hank Greenberg. illus. by Malcah Zeldis. Walker. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-8027-8997-8; RTE $17.85. ISBN 0-8027-8998-6. Gr 1-4--Greenberg put together an impressive string of firsts in his...

Mochizuki, Ken. Baseball Saved Us.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... MOCHIZUKI, Ken. Baseball Saved Us. illus, by Dom Lee. Lee & Low. 1993. Tr $15.95. ISBN 1-880000-01-6. Gr 2-4--Text and pictures capture the raw emotions experienced by a young Japanese-American internee in World War II. When his older...

Moss, Marissa. Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... MOSS, Marissa. Mighty Jackie: The Strike-Out Queen. illus, by C. F. Payne. S & S. 2004. RTE $16.95. ISBN 0-689-86329-2. K-Gr 3--On April 2, 1931, 17-year-old Jackie Mitchell, a "mighty good" pitcher, got a chance to prove her talent by...

Patneaude, David. Haunting at Home Plate.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... PATNEAUDE, David. Haunting at Home Plate. Albert Whitman. 2000. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-8075-3181-2; pap. $6.95. ISBN 0-8075-3182-0. Gr 3-7--Fifty years ago, a boy died while watching his brother play baseball at the ballpark where Nelson and his...

Tavares, Matt. Mudball.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... TAVARES, Matt. Mudball. illus, by author. Candlewick. 2005. RTE $15.99. ISBN 07636-2387-3. Gr 1-4--This lighthearted picture book humorously recounts the legend of baseball's shortest home run. In a game in Minneapolis in 1903, Andy Oyler...

Brooks, Bruce. Throwing Smoke.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... BROOKS, Bruce. Throwing Smoke. HarperCollins. 2000. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-06028972-4; PLB $15.89. ISBN 0-06-0283203; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-06-440774-8. Gr 4-6--Whiz and his teammates have cheerfully endured a losing season when Whiz happens upon...

Butler, Dori Hillestad. Sliding into Home.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... BUTLER, Dori Hillestad. Sliding into Home. Peachtree. 2003. Tr $14.95. ISBN 1-56145222-X; pap. $5.95. ISBN 1-56145-341-2. Gr 4-8--When Joelle decides to go out for baseball rather than softball at her middle school, she finds herself at the...

Corbett, Sue. Free Baseball.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... CORBETT, Sue. Free Baseball. Dutton. 2006. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-525-47120-0. Gr 4-7--Felix Piloto shares a love of baseball with his father, a great Cuban ballplayer. Felix, however, has never met his dad, and his mother refuses to explain...

Haven, Paul. Two Hot Dogs with Everything.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... HAVEN, Paul. Two Hot Dogs with Everything. illus, by Tim Jessell. Random. 2006. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-375-83348-)(; PLB $17.99. ISBN 0-375-93348-4. Gr 4-8--It's been 107 years since the Sluggers won a championship; nevertheless, Danny Gurkin...

Lupica, Mike. Heat.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... LUPICA, Mike. Heat. Philomel. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-399-24301-1. Gr 5-8--When they fled Cuba for a new life in the United States, Michael Arroyo and his dad dreamed that Michael's pitching talent would lead to a major-league career. After...

Lynch, Chris. Gold Dust.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... LYNCH, Chris. Gold Dust. HarperCollins. 2000. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-06-028174-X; PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-028175-8; pap. $7.99. ISBN 0-06-447201-9. Gr 5-8--In this vividly realized novel, the 1975 season opens on a hopeful note for Boston Red Sox...

Mackel, Kathy. MadCat.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... MAGKEL, Kathy. MadCat. HarperCollins. 2005. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-06-054869-X; 1 PLB $16.89. ISBN 0-06-054870-3. Gr 5-8--MadCat and her friends play competitive fast-pitch softball, but there's nothing soft about the way they play. When the...

Ritter, John H. The Boy Who Saved Baseball.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... RITTER, John H. The Boy Who Saved Baseball. Philomel. 2003. Tr $17.99. ISBN 0-399-23622-8; pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-14240286-9. Gr 5-8--Tom Gallagher loves Dillontown--the tight-knit community, the beautiful hills, and idyllic Lucky Strike Park....

Roberts, Kristi. My 13th Season.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... ROBERTS, Kristi. My 13th Season. Holt. 2005. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-8050-7495-3. Gr 6-9--Despite her awesome hitting and fielding abilities, Fran has had to overcome the objections of her coach and teammates to win a spot as the only girl on...

Testa, Maria. Some Kind of Pride.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... TESTA, Maria. Some Kind of Pride. Delacorte. 2001. Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-385-32782X; pap. $4.99. ISBN 0-440-41669-8. Gr 4-6--Ruth has always dreamed of playing baseball, her first love, not softball. When she overhears her father remark that...

Wolfe Virginia Euwer. Bat 6.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... WOLFE Virginia Euwer. Bat 6. Scholastic. 1998. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-590-89799-3; pap. $4.99. ISBN 0-590-89800-0. Gr 5-7--For the past 50 years, the girls of Barlow and Bear Creek Ridge have met in a softball game, the culminating event of the...

Bennett, James W. Plunking Reggie Jackson.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... BENNETT, James W. Plunking Reggie Jackson. S & S. 2001. RTE $16. ISBN 0689-83137-4. Gr 9 Up--Coley seems to have it made. He's popular, and his pitching abilities have drawn the interest of college and big-league scouts. His father,...

Chabon, Michael. Summerland.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... CHABON, Michael. Summerland. Miramax. 2002. Tr $22.95. ISBN 0-7868-08772; pap. $8.95. ISBN 0-7868-1615-5. Gr 8 Up--In this heartwarming fantasy, Ethan Feld, the worst player in the Clam Island Little League, goes on a quest through magical...

Deuker, Carl. High Heat.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... DEUKER, Carl. High Heat. Houghton. 2003. Tr $16. ISBN 0-618-31117-3. Gr 7 Up--When Shane Hunter's father is indicted on money-laundering charges, Shane sees his life of privilege dissolve. The teen is a talented relief pitcher and baseball...

Gratz, Alan. Samurai Shortstop.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... GRATZ, Alan. Samurai Shortstop. Dial. 2006. Tr $17.99. ISBN 0-8037-3075-6. Gr 9 Up--In a hypnotic opening scene, Toyo and his father assist as the teen's uncle, a samurai, performs ritual suicide, or seppuku. It is 1890, and Toyo is...

Johnson, Scott. Safe at Second.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... JOHNSON, Scott. Safe at Second. Philomel. 1999. Tr $17.99. ISBN 0-399-23365-2; pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-698-11877-4. Gr 8 Up--Paulie Lockwood lives and breathes baseball; at the drop of a hat, he can reel off a string of facts and statistics. In...

Kahn, Roger. The Boys of Summer.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... KAHN, Roger. The Boys of Summer. Perennial. 1998. pap. $15. ISBN 0-06-091416-5. Gr 9 Up--In this bittersweet memoir, Kahn recounts the exciting seasons, 1952 and 1953, he spent as a young sportswriter covering the Brooklyn Dodgers. As he...

All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.(E-book review)(Brief article)(Children's review)
May 1, 2006... All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. www.aagpbl.org All American Girls Professional Baseball League Players Association, Inc. (Accessed 3/19/06) Gr 4 Up--The league operated from 1943 to 1954, and this virtual scrapbook offers...

Baseball Almanac.(E-book review)(Brief article)(Children's review)
May 1, 2006... Baseball Almanac www.baseball-almanac .com Producer: Sean Holtz (Accessed 3/19/06) Gr 5 Up--This site offers over 110,000 pages of well-organized and highly readable history. Fans and novices will be fascinated by its chapters of trivia,...

JockBio.com www.jockbio.com.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... JockBio.com www.jockbio.com Black Book Partners, LLC. (Accessed 3/19/06) Gr 8 Up--Conceived and executed by sportswriters Mark Stewart and Mike Kennedy and layout designer Ron Jaffe, this site offers smart, up-to-date biographies of...

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. www.baseballhalloffame.or g National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Inc. (Accessed 3/12/06). Gr 4 Up--Video biographies of Hall of Famers; primary documents including photographs and...

Science of Baseball www.exploratorium.edu/baseball.(Product/service evaluation)(Brief article)
May 1, 2006... Science of Baseball www.exploratorium .edu/baseball Exploratorium: The Museum of Science, Art and Human Perception, San Francisco, CA. (Accessed 3/19/06) Gr 4 Up--Exhibits and activities focus on the physics behind hitting, pitching, and...

Powell, Randy. Dean Duffy.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... POWELL, Randy. Dean Duffy. Farrar. 2003. pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-374-41698-2. Gr 9 Up--At 18, Dean Duffy is going nowhere. In high school, he'd been a star, but an injury ended his pitching career, and he finished in a batting slump that put an...

Thayer, Ernest Lawrence. Casey at the Bat.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... THAYER, Ernest Lawrence. Casey at the Bat. illus, by Joe Morse. Kids Can. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 1-55337-827-X. Gr 9 Up--Morse updates Thayer's classic to a modern, urban setting with a multiracial cast. Confined behind thick fences and...

Tocher, Timothy. Chief Sunrise, John McGraw, and Me.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... TOCHER, Timothy. Chief Sunrise, John McGraw, and Me. Cricket. 2004. Tr $15.95. ISBN 0-8126-2711-3. Gr 6-10--In 1919, Hank Cobb is fleeing his abusive father when he hooks up with Chief Sunrise, who introduces himself as "the greatest...

Tunis, John R. The Kid from Tomkinsville.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... TUNIS, John R. The Kid from Tomkinsville. Harcourt. 1990 Tr $14.95. ISBN 0-15242568-3; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-15-205641-6. Gr 9 Up--This timeless novel follows rookie pitcher Roy Tucker as he reports to the Dodgers' spring training camp and...

Weaver, Will. Striking Out.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Book review)
May 1, 2006... WEAVER, Will. Striking Out. HarperCollins. 1995. pap. $6.99. ISBN 0-06-447113-6. Gr 9 Up--Marked indelibly by a shocking tragedy, Billy Baggs and his parents lead lives of toil and isolation on their Northern Minnesota farm. It's 1970, and...

Ish.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
May 1, 2006... Ish. video or DVD. color. 7 min. (closed captioned). Weston Woods. 2005. video, ISBN 0-439-80432-9: $60; DVD, ISBN 0-439-80427-2: $59.95; cassette with hardcover book, ISBN 0-439-80428-0: $24.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 0-43980429-9:...