School Library Journal articles from November 2009

School Library Journal archives from November 2009

With a little help from our friends: a conference that's both physical and virtual benefits all of us.(Conference news)(Editorial)
November 1, 2009... It's time to come clean. Yes, I love technology. But, at times, I'm also intimidated by it. Sure, I'm comfortable with all the stuff that supports me as an editor and a librarian, the tools that help me find and share information--everything...

Corrections.(Letters)(Correction notice)
November 1, 2009... In our "Pen Ultimate" feature (September 2009, pp. 40-41), we misspelled NaNoWriMo participant Kathleen Kohl's last name as "Koho." In addition, we stated that she was an eighth grader when she is in fact a high school freshman. [ILLUSTRATION...

Yes, they can: Google Lit Trips and games give kids a new perspective on social justice.(Tech Knowledge)
November 1, 2009... Children, especially girls, are finding supporters across the globe--some their own age--who are engaging with virtual education programs, an online game, and books that promote social justice and a better world. "Education seems like a...

Toshiba mini NB205-N230: Netbook.(Test Drive)(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Windows 7, Microsoft's answer to the ill-received Vista operating system, was released on October 22, just days before this review was due. I started using Windows 7 in beta last winter and was impressed by how well it...

Kid-friendly catalog: LS2 Kids features "cover flow" animation.(Test Drive)(The Library Corporation)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] After a soft launch this summer at the American Library Association annual conference, The Library Corporation (TLC) released its LS2 Kids catalog interface in October. LS2 Kids emphasizes book covers and "cover flow"...

Conferences are all a Twitter: live blogging, tweets help spread the joy of events.(The NEXT BIG Thing)
November 1, 2009... Conference season is upon us. But school and library budgets being what they are, funding for travel is scarce these days. But a growing trend toward bringing these events online makes it easier than ever to attend sessions virtually and even...

How are you doing?(e missives)(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... I fought for the retention of our elementary librarians this past year. I did everything I knew how to do and still 100 percent of the positions were cut (10 librarians covering 18 schools). We now have volunteers that are "running" the show....

Money hungry: need funding? These Web resources help you through the grant seeking process.(The Librarians's Internet)(library finance)
November 1, 2009... ALA Grants & Fellowships bit.ly/llNIAb The American Library Association (ALA) has created numerous grants and awards to help support programs and provide funds to individuals wanting to attend professional meetings. This handy page...

Props for the iPod.(The Buzz)(Apple iPod)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Another day, another stylish gizmo for the Apple line. Portable stand iBend props up an iPhone or iPod Touch for viewing a movie or video. There's a basic model ($4.99 for two) and three colorful artists' versions. Increasingly, schools are...

Psyching out Google Wave.(The Buzz)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Invites have started to go out for Google Wave, the much-anticipated new service that essentially turns email on its head, allowing users to text and collaborate in real time, creating documents called waves. But how the new tool will scale...

Wikipedia: anytime, anywhere.(The Buzz)(Wikireader)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A new, pocket-sized handheld lets you store more than three million English-language articles in Wikipedia for on-the-go access. The $99 WikiReader, a streamlined affair by former Apple designer Thomas Meyerhoffer,...

Clue me in.(The Buzz)(CLUE game)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... The classic game CLUE has a new feature: text messaging. In the latest Secrets & Spies edition, the usual suspects have been promoted to secret agents. Using their cell phones, players assume the identity of agents Scarlet, Mustard, Plum,...

Pulse Smartpen updated.(The Buzz)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Pulse Smartpen won high praise from Jeff Hastings in our Test Drive column last November (bit.ly/1UuPKc); now the line is expanding. Livescribe is adding 4- and 2GB models to boost storage capacity of the digital...

Wolfram/Alpha offers homework help.(The Buzz)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Computational search engine Wolfram|Alpha has created a homework site, where users can contribute ideas, lesson plans, and multimedia projects related to the resource, named one of the 50 best websites of 2009 by Time magazine. Led by...

When weeding is wrong: a principal asks for banned books to be removed from the collection.(Scales on Censorship)
November 1, 2009... A parent of one of our eighth graders came into the library and began pulling books off our shelves. She ended up stacking 15 books on the circulation desk--including The Giver, The Chocolate War, Monster, and Looking for Alaska--and demanded...

Do you believe in magic? There's a good reason why so many families love storytimes.(First Steps)
November 1, 2009... A colleague put a lovely image into our heads at a recent discussion of best practices for family storytimes. Librarian Maria Lowe offers family storytimes in the evenings, and she always includes a time for "family boats." A morn and dad sit on...

Ordinary heroes: Barbara O'Connor's 'The Small Adventure of Popeye and Elvis' is a big treat.(Under Cover)(Interview)
November 1, 2009... Popeye lives with his grandmother, Velma, who recites the names of the kings and queens of England in chronological order so she won't go crazy. What else should we know about Popeye's life? Popeye lives in a small Southern town with nothing...

The future of gaming: gamers and gaming are changing with the times--are librarians?(The Gaming Life)
November 1, 2009... Gaming is not a passing fad. According to the NPD Group, a 35-year-old market research company that provides consumer and retail information for a wide range of industries including entertainment (which includes computer and video games), total...

This blog's for you: ten of the best blogs for folks who take kids' lit seriously (but not too seriously).(Product/service evaluation)
November 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A magazine article changed my life. Admittedly, that sounds like a bit of hyperbole, but it's true. There I was in New York City, with my shiny new MLIS degree, working at my very first children's librarian post. I...

A touch of grace: Grace Lin's new novel is a tribute to her late husband--and reminder of what really matters.('Where the Mountain Meets the Moon')
November 1, 2009... From Grace Lin's blog: June 19, 2007 Relief Even though I have been quiet about it, the last two weeks have been really brutal. Robert has suffered viciously, yet still soldiered on. I felt the least I could do was try to do the same....

A better safety net: it's time to get smart about online safety.
November 1, 2009... Online safety as we know it is obsolete. A concept little changed since the 1990s, it's one size fits all, emphasizing fear instead of facts, with young people stereotyped as potential victims in a hostile media environment. While kids and the...

The King and I: the Coretta Scott King Award has touched kids' lives in surprising ways.
November 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] AUTHOR SHARON FLAKE HAD SIGNED DOZENS OF BOOKS, T-shirts, posters, and even arms during a weeklong workshop at West Jefferson High School in New Orleans, when a starstruck 15-year-old approached her to ask how old she...

The inside story.(focus on: Metafiction)(children's and young adult fiction)(Buyers guide)
November 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Pardoner. Alexander T. Wolf. Penelope. What could they possibly have in common? All are protagonists in works of metafiction, a subgenre of literature that allows readers to enter into a world of fiction that...

Drawing Media: Getting to Know Art Media, Vol. 1.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Drawing Media: Getting to Know Art Media, Vol. 1. DVD. 24 min. with tchr's. guide online. Getting to Know. 2009. $29.95. K-Gr 4--The first title in a new series designed to introduce different art media to young children, this film covers the...

The Art of Soap Making.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... The Art of Soap Making (Homestead Blessings Series). DVD 50 min. Franklin Springs Family Media. 2008, 2009 release. $19.95. Gr 7 Up--The West Ladies, Vicki and her three teenage daughters, Jasmine, Hannah, and CeCe, present an informative and...

So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit: Cardio Funk.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit: Cardio Funk. DVD. 1:46 hrs. Paramount Home Entertainment. 2009. ISBN 1-4157-5063-7. $16.99. So You Think You Can Dance Get Fit: Tone and Groove. DVD. 1:49 hrs. Paramount Home Entertainment. 2009. ISBN...

Baby's First-Word Stories: House.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Baby's First-Word Stories: House. DVD. 30 min. with activity guide. Prod. by So Smart! Prods. Dist. by Echo Bridge Home Entertainment. 2009. $15.99. PreS--Simple animation and cute, colorful artwork presents four friends (a pig, a lion, a...

Gooby.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Gooby. DVD. 99 min. Prod. by Gooby Entertainment. Dist. by Monterey Media. 2008, 2009 release. ISBN 978-1-56994-343-4. $26.95. Gr all levels--Eleven-year-old Willy is a frightened kid who has figured out ways to feel safe in his house from a...

The Adventures of Carlos Caterpillar #8: Batter Chatter.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... The Adventures of Carlos Caterpillar #8: Batter Chatter. DVD. 25 min. Prod. by Kid House Entertainment. Dist. by Vision Video. 2006, 2009 release. #501314D. $9.99. PreS-Gr 2--Carlos, a caterpillar, and his friends take part in a pie-baking...

Making the Most of Middle School.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Making the Most of Middle School. video or DVD. 19 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's guide. Human Relations Media. 2009. ISBN 978-1-55548-609-9. $129.95. Gr 5-7--This program helps middle schoolers overcome their fears by tackling them...

Your Life, Your Money: Empowering Young Adults to Get Their Money Right.(Brief article)(Book review)
November 1, 2009... * Your Life, Your Money: Empowering Young Adults to Get Their Money Right. DVD. 1 hr. (closed captioned). Prod. by WNED-TV Buffalo/Foronto and Working Dog Prods. Dist. by PBS Home Video. 2009. ISBN 079-36-7079-9. $24.99. [ILLUSTRATION...

Breakfast Because!(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Breakfast Because! DVD. 24:15 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's. guide. LearningZoneXpress. 2008. ISBN 1-57175-730-9. $99.95. Gr 5 Up--A healthy amount of practical, nutritionally sound information is assembled in this engaging, lively...

Elements of Human Nutrition.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Elements of Human Nutrition (Series). 6 DVDs. range 21-30 min. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Learning Seed. 2009. $494 ser., $99 ea. Includes: Carbs (ISBN 978-1-55740-542-5); Fat (ISBN 978-1-55740-543-2); Minerals (ISBN...

Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Body Image.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Teen Truth: An Inside Look at Body Image. DVD. 23 min. with tchr's, guide. Human Relations Media. 2009. ISBN 978-1-55548-398-0. $139.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 7 Up--This powerful film begins by defining body image as "a picture of...

Helping Children Grieve.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Helping Children Grieve. DVD. 55 min. Paraclete Press. 2009. ISBN 978-1-55725-649-1. $59.99. Gr adult--Khris Ford, founder and director of My Healing Place (a center in Austin, Texas, for grief, loss, and trauma counseling) and a certified...

Green Lantern: First Flight.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Green Lantern: First Flight. 2 DVDs. 1:17 hrs. Prod. by Warner Premiere, DC Comics, and Warner Bros. Dist. by Warner Home Video. 2009. ISBN 1-4198-8189-2. $24.98. Gr 7 Up--In this adaptation of the DC Comic, Hal Jordan leaves on a test...

Moby Dick.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Moby Dick. DVD. 1:30 hrs. Library Video Co. 2003, 2009 release. $29.95. Gr 9 Up--Call him Ishmael, Ahab, Starbuck, and more. Jack Aranson plays all the characters in this one-man theatrical adaptation of Herman Melville's classic tale....

Those Shoes.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Those Shoes. DVD. 12 min. with tchr's. guide. Nutmeg Media. 2009. ISBN 1-933938-64-1. $49.95. K-Gr 3--Maribeth Boelts's award-winning picture book (Candlewick, 2007) offers a kid's-eye view of shoe envy as well as a message about generosity....

When Mama Comes Home Tonight/When Papa Comes Home Tonight.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... When Mama Comes Home Tonight/When Papa Comes Home Tonight. DVD. 10 min. with tchr's guide. Nutmeg Media. 2009. ISBN 1-933938-65-X. $49.95. PreS--Based on Eileen Spinelli's companion picture books, When Mama Comes Home Tonight (1998)...

Connect Through Music.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Connect Through Music. DVD. 35 min. In-Focus Media. 2009. $14.95. PreS-Gr 1, adult--Holly Lesnick, a music teacher and music therapist, shows parents fun musical ways to play with their children at home. The DVD, which has good audio and...

Bill Harley.(Media NEWS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Bill Harley, Grammy Award-winning singer/storyteller is encouraging kids, classes, after school programs, and families to make a video based on a song by Harley. The video can be comprised of live-action, animation, a slide show of photos and...

Viz Media.(Media NEWS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Viz Media (viz.com) has teamed up with Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group to televise the animated series, Naruto Shippuden, on Disney XD (DisneyXD.com), a new cable channel that features both animated and live-action programming for kids ages 6 to...

Media Infusion.(Media NEWS)(Janet English )(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Media Infusion (pbs.org/mediainfusion), PBS's Teacher's blog that "focuses on practical ways to integrate multimedia resources and technology into the classroom," has added Janet English to their roster of bloggers. English, an educator and...

Dive Olly Dive: The Adventure Begins in the Sea.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Dive Olly Dive: The Adventure Begins in the Sea. DVD. 55 min. Prod. by Mike Young Prods. Dist. by NCircle Entertainment. 2006, 2009 release. $14.99. PreS-Gr 2--Olly and his friend Beth are mini submarines that help Diver Doug and many sea...

Easy Being Green.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Easy Being Green. DVD. 20 min. with tchr's guide. Learning ZoneXpress. 2009. ISBN 1-57175-842-9. $79.95. Gr 6 Up--Divided into four chapters--"In Your Planet: Love It or Leave It," "What Color Are Your Wheels? Getting Around Green," "Living...

Fantastic Field Trip to the Planets.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Fantastic Field Trip to the Planets (rev. ed.). DVD. 90 min. Wonderscape Entertainment. 2009. ISBN 0-9770520-1-X. $16.98. K-Gr 3--A young boy takes an imaginary rocket trip into space and meets the sun and the planets who all have faces and...

Investigating Earth's Natural Resources.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Investigating Earth's Natural Resources. video or DVD. 14 min. with tchr's. guide. Visual Learning Co. 2008. video: ISBN 978-1-5923-4238-9, DVD: ISBN 978-1-5923-4239-6. $79.95. Gr 3-5--Photos, animation, and live-action video introduce some...

Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Living Sunlight: How Plants Bring the Earth to Life. DVD. 14 min. with tchr's. guide. Nutmeg Media. 2009. ISBN 1-933938-63-3. $49.95. K-Gr 3--In this stunning picture book by Caldecott Honor artist Molly Bang and...

Loose at the Zoo.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Loose at the Zoo. DVD. 1:19 hrs. Prod. by Smithsonian Networks. Dist. by Infinity Entertainment Group. 2009. $14.98. Gr all levels--Three episodes--"Baby New at the Zoo," "Golden Lion Tamarins," and "Tiger Tales"--feature animals at...

Microscopic Life.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Microscopic Life. video or DVD. 14 min. with tchr's. guide. Visual Learning Co. 2008, 2009 release, video: ISBN 978-1-5923-4220-4, DVD: ISBN 978-1-5923-4221-1. $79.95. Gr 3-5--Basic information about organisms too small to be seen by the...

Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens. DVD. 1:55 hrs. Prod. by Jim Henson Co. and KCET Los Angeles. Dist. by NCircle Entertainment. 2008, 2009 release. $12.99. PreS--These four episodes from the PBS Kids series focus on scientific principles...

Why Frogs Call and Why We Should Listen.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Why Frogs Call and Why We Should Listen. DVD. 30 min. Ravenswood Media. 2009.$20. Gr 9 Up--Twenty species of calling flogs and toads in the United States and Africa are investigated in this informative film. The biology, evolution, habitats,...

Barack Obama: People's President.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... Barack Obama: People's President. DVD. approx. 1:30 hrs. with lesson plan/guide. Choices Inc. 2009. ISBN 978-1-933724-27-0. $24.95. Gr 7 Up--This in-depth look at Barack Obama's 2008 campaign for United States President features the many...

When the Water Tap Runs Dry.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... * When the Water Tap Runs Dry. DVD. 40 min. (closed captioned). with tchr's. guide. Prod. by Centre Communications. Dist. by Ambrose Video. 2009. $49.99. Gr 7 Up--Water is the new oil. This striking, thought-provoking documentary clearly...

The Diary of Anne Frank.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
November 1, 2009... * The Diary of Anne Frank. DVD. 1:40 hrs. Well Go USA. 2009. #WD-98. $19.98; miniseries version: $24.98. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 7 Up--Although there have been a number of productions of The Diary of Anne Frank over the past...

Along for the Ride.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Along for the Ride (unabr.). 11 cassettes or 11 CDs. 12:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-3023-8: $88.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3027-6: $108.75. Gr 8 Up--Studious and successful but socially awkward, 17-year-old Anden has...

The Big Field.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... The Big Field (unabr.). 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 5:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-3852-4: $51.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3856-2: $66.75. Gr 5-8--Keith "Hutch" Hutchinson loves the game of baseball and plays like a...

The Alvin Ho Collection, Books 1 & 2.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... * The Alvin Ho Collection, Books 1 & 2 (unabr). 4 CDs. 4 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-7997-4. $38. Gr 2-4--Alvin Ho, a quirky Asian-American second grader, is articulate...

The Black Book of Secrets.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... * The Black Book of Secrets (unabr.). 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 6:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-3110-5: $51.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3114-3: $66.75. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 5-8--In F. E. Higgins's mysterious medieval...

Bog Child.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... * Bog Child (unabr.). 7 CDs. 8:43 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-8540-1. $45. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 8 Up--In Bog Child (David Fielding Bks., 2007), Siobhan Dowd has...

Captain Nobody.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Captain Nobody (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:34 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-8031-4. $30. Gr 3-7--Newt Newman's life is overshadowed by his older brother Chris's gridiron glory. When...

Castle in the Air.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Castle in the Air (unbar.). 7 cassettes or 7 CDs. 8 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4361-6113-8: $56.75; CD ISBN 978-1-4361-6118-3:$77.75 Gr 6 Up--Jenny Sterlin is the perfect narrator for Diana Wynne Jones's companion book...

A Dog on His Own.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... A Dog on His Own (unabr.). 3 CDs. 3 hrs. Full Cast Audio. 2009. ISBN 978-1-934180-87-7. $34. Gr 2-5-K--10 is an independent dog and doesn't need humans to take care of him. In and out of shelters and on the run, K-10 encounters trouble at...

The Dragon Heir.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... The Dragon Heir (unabr.). 13 cassettes or 13 CDs. 15:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4361-8764-0: $102.75; ISBN 978-1-4361-8768-8: $108.75. Gr 7 Up--The concluding volume (2008) in Cinda Williams Chima's trilogy that...

The Everafter War: Sisters Grimm, Book 7.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... The Everafter War: Sisters Grimm, Book 7 (unabr.) 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 6:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-2132-8: $56.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-2136-6; $77.75. Gr 5-8--In this installment (Amulet Books, 2009) in the...

Forever Princess: The Princess Diaries, Book 10.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Forever Princess: The Princess Diaries, Book 10. 9 cassettes or 9 CDs. 10:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 987-1-4361-8754-1: $67.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4361-8758-9: $97.75. Gr 7-10--In Meg Cabot's tenth installment (HarperTeen, 2009)...

Freaky Monday.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Freaky Monday (unabr.). 3 CDs. 4 hrs. Harper Children's Audio. 2009. ISBN 978-0-06-176008-2. $17.99. Gr 5-8--Thirty-five years after the release of Freaky Friday (HarperTrophy, 1972), Mary Rodgers has teamed up with Heather Hach (screenwriter...

Ghostgirl.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Ghostgirl (unabr.). 5 cassettes or 5 CDs. 6 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-4407-3086-3: $41.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3090-0:$51.75. Gr 7 Up--Charlotte Usher's mission for the new school year is to get Damen, the hottest guy in...

Giant John.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Giant John. cassette or CD. 6:47 min. with hardcover book. Spoken Arts. 2009. cassette, ISBN 0-8045-6978-9: $27.95; CD, ISBN 0-8045-4203-1: $29.95. K-Gr 2--Gentle Giant John and his mother, Mrs. Giant, live in an enchanted forest along with...

Graceling.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... * Graceling (unabr.). 11 CDs. 12:30 hrs. Full Cast Audio. 2009. ISBN 978-1-934180-70-9. $65. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 9 Up--Certain people in Katsa's world are born with a particular Grace--a superhuman skill-and are identified by having...

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... * Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side (unabr.). 9 cassettes or 9 CDs. 11 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4407-3888-3: $67.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3892-0: $97.75. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 7 Up--Seventeen-year-old...

The Mercy Watson Collection, Vol. 3.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Children's review)
November 1, 2009... The Mercy Watson Collection, Vol. 3. CD. 49 min. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-6266-2. $24. Gr 1-3--Mercy Watson, porcine wonder, stars in these two amusing tales by Kate DiCamillo...

The Reformed Vampire Support Group.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... The Reformed Vampire Support Group (unabr.). 9 CDs. 11:32 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-8530-2. $65. Gr 8 Up--Nina Harris was fanged at 15. Thirty something years later, she...

Silvertongue: The Stoneheart Trilogy, Book 3.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... * Silvertongue: The Stoneheart Trilogy, Book 3 (unabr.). 9 CDs. 10:47 hrs. Scholastic Audio. 2009. ISBN 978-0-545-03321-3. $84.95. Gr 5-8--In the final installment (Hyperion, 2009) of Charlie Fletcher's trilogy, time has frozen and the war in...

The Stone Testament.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... The Stone Testament (unabr.). 10 CDs. 11:33 hrs. Bolinda Audio. 2009. ISBN 978-1-7421-4130-5. $80. Gr 9 Up--Celia Rees's fantasy (Scholastic, 2007) is a multilayered tale based on the mythology of the Mayan Long Count. To stop the End Time...

Tikki Tikki Tembo.(Brief article)(Audiobook review)(Book review)
November 1, 2009... Tikki Tikki Tembo. CD. with paperback book. Macmillan Audio. 2009. ISBN 9781-4272-0724-1. $9.99. PreS-Gr 3--In this classic Chinese folktale, retold by Arlene Mosel and illustrated by Blair Lent (Holt, 1968), Tikki tikki tembo-no sa...

The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... The Treasure Map of Boys: Noel, Jackson, Finn, Hutch, Gideon--and Me, Ruby Oliver (unabr.). 5 CDs. 6 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978-0-7393-8111-3. $45. Gr 9 Up--Sixteen-year-old Ruby...

White Sands, Red Menace.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... White Sands, Red Menace (unabr.). 7 cassettes or 7 CDs. 8:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2009. cassette, ISBN 978-1-44073074-0: $56.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4407-3078-8: $77.75. Gr 5-9--In Ellen Klages's sequel (Viking, 2008) to The Green Glass Sea...

Willow.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Willow (unabr.). 8 CDS. 9:59 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2009. ISBN 978- 0-7393-8647-7. $65. Gr 9 Up--When barely existing becomes too difficult, Willow Randall knows what to do. She carries her...

Grinning Streak.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Grinning Streak. CD. 48 min. Prod. by Juggletunes Music. Dist. by CDBaby. com. 2008. $15. PreS-Gr 3--Linda Severt presents 16 songs in musical styles ranging from rock to country to jazz. While the instrumental performances on guitar,...

Pirates Do the Darndest Things.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Pirates Do the Darndest Things. CD. approx. 53 rain. CDBaby.com. 2008, 2009 release. $12.97. PreS-Gr 3--In this fun collection of all things pirate, Mike Mennard offers a terrific mix of his own work and traditional/recognizable songs. There...

Shana Banana Presents Banana Bedtime.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Shana Banana Presents Banana Bedtime. CD. approx, 1:10 hrs. Big Kids Prods. 2009. $12.95. PreS-Gr 3--Shana Banana (Shana Smith) sings 21 songs organized into three categories: "Getting Ready for Bed," "Transition Songs and Stories," and...

Somersault Season.(Sound recording review)(Brief article)
November 1, 2009... Somersault Season. CD. approx. 36 min. Prod. by Laura Freeman Music. Dist. by CDBaby.com. 2009. $16. PreS-Gr 1--Laura Freeman sings 12 songs about the seasons on her third album for children. Her music and lyrics meet established preschool...

Mendeleyev and the Periodic Table.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
November 1, 2009... Mendeleyev and the Periodic Table (Primary Sources of Revolutionary Scientific Discoveries and Theories Series). CD. 1:14 hrs. Brilliance Andio. 2009. ISBN 978-1-4233-8214-0. $39.97. Gr 4-8--Dmitri Mendeleyev surmounted numerous obstacles en...