School Library Journal articles from October 2008

School Library Journal archives from October 2008

No politics, please, we're librarians: want to escape from the elections? Head to a public library.(Editorial)
October 1, 2008... It's not often in this country that something comes along that unites us as a people. But in its way, the upcoming presidential election is doing exactly that. This isn't just because we can't escape the media machines pumping out...

A censor's sensibility? Sarah Palin's flap with a librarian has everyone talking.(Top Stories from slj.com)(Report)
October 1, 2008... REPUBLICAN VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE Sarah Palin may not have banned any books as mayor of Wasilla or governor of Alaska, but allegations that she flirted with the idea and fired a library director for being disloyal has some librarians and...

Off the hook.(Top Stories from slj.com)(JoAn Karkos)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Officials in Lewiston, ME, have decided to halt prosecution of a woman who refused to return a library book on sex education that she calls obscene. JoAn Karkos still must pay a $100 fine and is barred from the Lewiston Public Library, but...

Show me some love.(Top Stories from slj.com)
October 1, 2008... School librarians are now eligible to apply for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/ New York Times I Love My Librarian Award, created seven years ago to recognize the work of public librarians. Each winner receives a $5,000 cash award, a...

Kinney report: kids are nuts about Jeff Kinney's Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007) and Rodrick Rules (2008, both Abrams/Amulet).(The Interview)(Interview)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Your books have remained on best-seller lists for months. How does it feel to be such a huge overnight sensation? It feels great! Sometimes, I feel like I don't belong at the table. I know how hard it is to...

Mesa (AZ) tables librarians.(Top Stories from slj.com)(Arizona)
October 1, 2008... School libraries in Mesa, AZ, don't look the same this fall. That's because more than half of last year's media specialists are gone, leaving only 31 certified librarians to serve a total of 87 schools. Some 47 teacher-librarians either...

Midnight Sun rises too early.(Top Stories from slj.com)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Best-selling author Stephenie Meyer is scrapping plans to finish the final book in her "Twilight" series after an incomplete version was leaked. "My partial draft of Midnight Sun was illegally posted on the...

Oregon moms make some headway.(Top Stories)(Fund Our Future Oregon)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Fund Our Future Oregon is making some headway. The founders of this campaign to save school libraries recently obtained word that Representative Peter Buckley (D-Ashland) will sponsor a bill to fund media centers at the state level. "It...

Vander Ark sunk.(Top Stories)(Steve Vander Ark's 'The Harry Potter Lexicon')(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Steve Vander Ark won't be publishing The Harry Potter Lexicon after all, U.S. District Judge Robert Patterson has ruled in favor of author J. K. Rowling, who sued Vander Ark last November to stop publication of his book. The print...

ACPL Mock Geisel: www.acplmockgeisel.blogspot.com.(Site of the Month)(Allen County Public Library)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A blog launched by the Allen County (IN) Public Library (ACPL) is still evolving, much like its subject, books for early readers. Since last year, the Mock Geisel site has provided a forum for discussing the year's...

Will ed tech win in '08? Supporters stump for 21st century skills during election.(Tech Knowledge)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PROPONENTS OF EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY ARE MOBILIZING DURING THIS YEAR'S presidential election, hoping to garner more support for teaching 21st century skills in K-12 schools. "Education in general has not been a...

Acer Aspire One: notebook.(Test DRIVE)(Product/service evaluation)
October 1, 2008... Operating system: Unpus Unux Ute, a customized version of Unux Fedora. Processor: 1.6 GHz Intel Atom. A model with 512 MB RAM, 8 GB solid state flash drive (expandable), Linux OS, and 3-cell lithium ion battery costs about $325....

A prescription for transforming libraries.(THE NEXT BIG THING)
October 1, 2008... Libraries are often considered part of the service industry, but perhaps it's time for that misconception to go the way of "Shhh!" Rising to the challenge presented by BlackPlanet founder Omar Wasow in his closing remarks at the American...

Web 2.0 smackdown: and the winners are ...(Cool TOOLS)
October 1, 2008... Which Web 2.0 tools are the best? Now there's the basis of a good argument. One effort to suss this out occurred at this year's NECC (the National Educational Computing Conference). The "Web 2.0 Smackdown"--or "Speed Demos"--involves fast and...

TV series iCarly spawns techno line.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Who's got a new line of consumer digital equipment? The number one live-action TV show among kids ages six to 11, that's who. Nickelodeon is producing a webcam (pictured), camcorder, camera, and other electronics inspired by iCarly, its hit...

HP issues new photo printers.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(HP Photosmart A630 and A530 Compact Photo Printer)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Two new printers from Hewlett-Packard let you make photos up to 5 x 7 inches in size without a PC. The HP Photosmart A630 Compact Photo Printer sports a 4.8-inch touch screen, the largest available on a portable...

Bookshare.org.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... A collection of books digitally scanned for use by the disabled can be accessed for free by U.S. schools and students with qualifying disabilities. Bookshare.org, the online community for sharing the collection, has made gratis memberships...

USB retro wireless microphone.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Fancy yourself a throwback to the Golden Age of Radio? You can certainly look the part with this old-time, oversize microphone. A great desk item and working tool for podcasters, the USB Retro Wireless Microphone from Brando uses radio...

Fix your printer problems here.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Fixyourownprinter.com)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Paper jams and flashing lights--it's all a part of the experience when it comes to printers, not to mention those costly cartridges. Is that thing out of ink again? Fixyourownprinter.com let's you connect with...

A pen with juice.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(One Battery Mobile Charger Pen)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] So you're in the middle of a critical phone conversation when your cell starts to run out of power. Here's a new gadget that performs double duty--plug it into your cell phone and you get a single AA battery's...

The best in tweets.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Twitties)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Those proponents of the microblogging service Twitter know that 140 characters in a message can really go a long way. For the finest in the art of the tweet, there's the Twitties. Nominee for Best Tweet comes from lonelysandwich: "Whenever...

Geek reads.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)('Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives' and 'Remix')(Brief article)(Book review)
October 1, 2008... Two new books concerning youth and technology have recently become available. Born Digital: Understanding the First Generation of Digital Natives (Basic Books) bills itself as a practical guide to a brave new world, covering online safety,...

Katrina game.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Hurricane Katrina: Tempest in Crescent City)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] An educational game and social network about Hurricane Katrina involves young users in the personal stories of New Orleans residents and ongoing efforts toward reconstruction. Created by nonprofit Global Kids in...

Alien mouse.(The Buzz: Tools, trends, and gizmos)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Though rather severe in appearance, the Alien Mouse is a friendly device intended to soothe those overworked hands and wrists. Graphic designer Mizanur Rahman rendered this mockup of his creation. It features a finger joystick, which frees...

A common cover-up: is it really legit for libraries to make copies of DVD covers?(Carrie on Copyright)
October 1, 2008... We'd like to display our DVDs--Just the cases, not the contents. Can we make copies of the original covers (which have the bar codes) to circulate along with the actual discs? --Susan Clayton, assistant county librarian Lake County...

Blurring the lines: urban library problems have gone suburban.(Teenage Riot)
October 1, 2008... Poverty and lack of resources--two problems that typically affect school and public libraries in urban cities--were recently the topics of discussion between me and a longtime friend, who is a middle school librarian near where I grew up. ...

Being and nothingness: high school students aren't getting an opportunity to dig deep.(Consider the Source)
October 1, 2008... I was on the phone the other day with one of our nation's leading education professors. I muttered something about the fact that elementary school teachers have very little training in teaching history--in fact, in teaching any nonfiction...

A new era of Gothic horror: a look at the subversive power of the genre and its appeal to today's teens.(Up for Discussion)
October 1, 2008... Gothic horror fiction has become wildly popular in my high school library over the past few years, and series like Darren Shan's "The Demonata," Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" (both Little, Brown), and Libba Bray's "Gemma Doyle" trilogy...

The woman warrior: Kristin Cashore's marvelous new fantasy features a killer with a heart of gold.(Under Cover)(Graceling)(Interview)
October 1, 2008... When readers of Graceling first meet Katsa, she's working as a hit man for her ruthless uncle, King Randa. That reminds me of the Corleone family, in The Godfather. That might have been my Sicilian roots coming out. My mother's family is...

Shared worlds: where creative writing, art, and game design come together.(The Gaming Life)
October 1, 2008... Shouts of joy erupted from a group of teens when they were told that they were going to the local Barnes & Noble bookstore to buy Stephenie Meyer's Breaking Dawn, the fourth book in the Twilight series (Little Brown, 2008). Were these...

Has the Newbery lost its way? Snubbed by kids, disappointing to librarians, the recent winners have few fans.(Cover story)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RIGHT BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THIS YEAR'S NEWBERY winner, I had two surprising encounters. First, a librarian at my local public library confessed that she had no interest in learning "what unreadable Newbery...

Who's afraid of the big bad (C)? It's time to make some risky choices.
October 1, 2008... Few subjects spark more disagreement and confusion than copyright. As an information professional, I'm often not certain that I have a firm grasp of it. And I'm not alone. The authors of the 2007 report "The Cost of Copyright...

How reader girl got her groove back: one woman's heroic quest to overcome the classics.
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It was the same pretense every night. "Good night, dear," said Mom. "Good night, Mom," said little Shannon. Mom turned off the light. She walked down the hall. I counted her footsteps... one, two,...

10 tips about 23 things: how to make the most of the famed online 2.0 tutorial from the program mastermind, Helene Blowers.
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I've often joked with colleagues that my best brainstorm-in-the-shower idea had nothing to do with helping staff learn about new technologies and everything to do with a simple prime number. "Twenty-three things"...

Harvest mood.(focus on: Celebrating Fall)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When summer's seams Have come undone, Then greens to reds And purples run. --From "Awe-tumn" by Douglas Florian, Autumnblings (HarperCollins, 2003) It's fall, and change is in the air....

Tissue Paper Creations.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Tissue Paper Creations. video or DVD. 22:25 min. Crystal Prods. 2008. video: ISBN 978-1-56290-578-1, DVD: ISBN 978-1-56290-579-8. $29.95. Gr 7 Up--Artist/teacher Peggy Flores demonstrates how tissue paper can be used to create works of...

The Alphabet Games.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... The Alphabet Games. DVD. 22 min. Sporty Minds. 2007. $17.99. PreS--The alphabet is the star of the sportscast in this program featuring puppet characters and a few animated segments. Sports announcers Champ Smart and Lisa Learnwell...

Barney: Hi! I'm Riff!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Barney: Hi! I'm Riff! DVD. approx. 57 min. HIT Entertainment. 2008. $14.98. PreS--There's a new dinosaur in Barney's neighborhood--a music-loving, orange hadrosaur named Rift who decides to organize a "Best Friends Club." He explores the...

Bob the Builder: Building Bobland Bay.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Bob the Builder: Building Bobland Bay. DVD. 54 min. HIT Entertainment. 2007, 2008 release. $14.98 PreS-Gr 2--Bob the Builder and his crew continue their adventures in six new animated episodes where they work on building the beach town...

Don't Bite!(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Don't Bite! DVD. approx. 24 min. Shout for Joy Video. 2008. $19.95. PreS--Muppet-style puppets, multiethnic actors, songs, and short vignettes combine to teach youngsters that biting is not an appropriate response when they are cranky,...

Lots to Learn, Vol. 4: Buster Loves Music.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Lots to Learn, Vol. 4: Buster Loves Music. DVD. 30 min. Prod. by Lots to Learn. Dist. by Big Kids Prods. 2008. #1287-DVD. $19.95. PreS-K--Hosted by puppets Buster the dog and Gato the cat, viewers are introduced to a wide array of musical...

7 Ways to Block a Cyberbully.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... 7 Ways to Block a Cyberbully. DVD. 19 min. Learning ZoneXpress. 2008. ISBN 1-57175-633-7. $79.95. Gr 6 Up--Seven strategies for dealing with cyberbullies are presented in this two-part program. The 12-minute segment is in tended for...

Food Safety.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Food Safety. DVD. 22 min. with tchr's. guide. Learning Seed. 2007, 2008 release. ISBN 1-55740-822-X. $99. Gr 7 Up--Cleverly testing the bounds of viewers' imaginations, this production begins with a terrorist attack that has left the...

The Character Chronicles.(Children's review)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... * The Character Chronicles (Series). 6 DVDs. approx. 25 min. ca. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide. Prod. by Elkin+Sweet Communications. Dist. by Live Wire Media. 2008. $359.50 ser., $69.95 ea. Includes: The Trust Connection (ISBN...

Real Food: The Cost of Convenience.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Real Food: The Cost of Convenience. DVD. 24 min. with tchr's, guide. Learning Seed. 2008. ISBN 1-55740-527-1. $99. Gr 6 Up--What do we pay the most for at the store, food or convenience? Did you know that water and air are the number one...

This Is My Body: A Film by High School Girls.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... This Is My Body: A Film by High School Girls. DVD. 34:49 min. Prod. by T.R.U.E. Power Media. Dist. by National Film Board of Canada. 2007. #153C0107223. $195. Gr 8 Up--Produced by a group of Canadian high school girls, this film opens...

Understanding Fabrics.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Understanding Fabrics. DVD. 21 min. with tchr's, guide. Learning Seed. 2008. ISBN 1-557405220. $99. Gr 7 Up--This revised and updated title is divided into four components--a concise definition of fabric, an explanation of how fabric is...

The Boy Who Cried Wolf.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... The Boy Who Cried Wolf. DVD. 8 min. with tchr's, guide. Prod. by Remir Prods. and Weston Woods. Dist. by Weston Woods. 2008. ISBN 0-545-09210-4. $59.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-09452-8: $29.95; CD, ISBN 978-0-545-09442-9:...

Eon Kid, Vol. 1.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Eon Kid, Vol. 1. DVD. approx. 1:50 hrs. Prod. by Manga Entertainment. Dist. by Starz Home Entertainment. 2008. $16.98. Gr 3 Up--When the Robot Wars ended 100 years ago, the planet was decimated. But the greatest weapon of the wars, the...

Halloween Treats: The Runaway Pumpkin and Pumpkin Heads!(Brief article)(Audiovisual review)
October 1, 2008... Halloween Treats: The Runaway Pumpkin and Pumpkin Heads! DVD. 9 min. with tchr's, guide. Nutmeg Media. 2008. ISBN 1-933938-56-0. $69.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PreS-Gr 2--Get ready for Halloween with these two picture book stories....

The Legend of Tillamook's Gold.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... The Legend of Tillamook's Gold. DVD. 1:47 hrs. Questar. ISBN 978-1-59464-373-6 $14.99. Gr 5 Up--Julie's family has just moved to Manzanita, Oregon, where her grandparents live because her father is out of work. Her parents always fight,...

The Ugly Duckling.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... The Ugly Duckling. DVD. 14 min. Prod. by I Read Whale. Dist. by Victory Multimedia. 2008. ISBN 1-934566-00-8. $12.95. PreS-Gr 2--This videobook combines illustrations, narration, music, sound effects, and karaoke-style subtitles to...

Voyage to the Bunny Planet.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... * Voyage to the Bunny Planet. DVD. 19 min. Weston Woods. 2008. ISBN 978-0--454-09219-7. $59.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 978-0-545-09458-0: $29.95. CD, ISBN 978-0-545-09451-1: $12.95. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PreS-Gr 2--Ever had a...

American Experience: Walt Whitman.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... American Experience: Walt Whitman. DVD. approx. 2 hrs. (closed captioned). Prod. by WGBH Educational Foundation. Dist. by PBS Home Video. 2008. ISBN 0--7936-9436-1. $24.99. Gr 9 Up--Walt Whitman is often considered America's first great...

Virginia Lee Burton: A Sense of Place.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Virginia Lee Burton: A Sense of Place. DVD. 30 min. Weston Woods. 2008. ISBN 978-0-545-09220-3. $39.95. Gr 6 Up--This well-done, richly textured documentary explores the life and work of Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator...

The Spirit of America.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... The Spirit of America. DVD. 1:40 hrs. Prod. by Uniquely Florida. Dist. by AmericaTheBeautiful.com. 2007. #S0A101. $19.95. Gr 4 Up--Produced to "ignite patriotism in America," this film offers a selection of patriotic songs which are...

That Baby.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... That Baby. DVD. 30 min. Prod. by OyBaby. Dist. by AV Cart. 2007. $24; CD: $15. PreS--This DVD features songs performed by lead singer Stephanie Schneiderman mirroring rock classics made popular by The Beatles, Paul Simon, Bruce...

Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live. DVD. 1:52 hrs. Prod. by Round River Prods. Dist. by Bill Harley Music. 2008. DVD, ISBN 978-1-878126-52-8: $14.99; 2 CDs, ISBN 978-1-878126-53-5: $17.99. PreS-Gr 3--Well-known children's performing artist...

All About Forensic Science.(Forensic Science in Action: From Crime Scene to Courtroom)(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... All About Forensic Science. DVD. 27 min. with tchr's, guide online. VEA. 2007. #CLVINTER2. $89.95. Forensic Science in Action: From Crime Scene to Courtroom. DVD. 21 min. with tchr's, guide online. VEA. 2007. #CLVFOREN. $89.95. Gr 9...

Build Green.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Build Green. video or DVD. 44 min. (closed captioned). Prod. by CBC's The Nature of Things. Dist. by Bullfrog Films. 2007, 2008 release, video: ISBN 1-59458-760-4, DVD: ISBN 1-59458-761-2. $250 (Rental: $85). Gr 10 Up--David Suzuki,...

Everything's Cool.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Everything's Cool. video or DVD. 1:29 hrs. (closed captioned). Prod. by Toxic Comedy Pictures. Dist. by Bullfrog Films. 2008. video: ISBN 1-59458-704-3, DVD: ISBN 1-59458-705-1. $295 (Rental: $95). Gr 9 Up--This program examines the...

Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures: Return to the Amazon.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Jean-Michel Cousteau: Ocean Adventures: Return to the Amazon. DVD. 2 hrs. (closed captioned). Prod. by KQED/OFS. Dist. by PBS Home Video. 2008. ISBN 0-7936-9434-5. $24.99. Gr 9 Up--In the early 1980s, documentary explorer Jean-Michel...

Muscles.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Muscles. DVD. 30 min. VEA. 2008. $89.95. Gr 9 Up--In the opening moments, a goofy young man who appears to have a lot of time on his hands kisses himself on the bicep as a narrator explains the wonderful things that muscles can do. This...

Ping and Pong: Learn about Earth and Space.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Ping and Pong: Learn about Earth and Space. DVD. 27 min. Discovery Education. 2008. ISBN 1-60288-393-9. $49.95. K-Gr 2--The three episodes in this film, done in computer-generated claymation, have only minor science applications and are...

Ping and Pong: Learn about the Body.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Ping and Pong: Learn about the Body. DVD. 27 min. Discovery Education. 2008. ISBN 1-60288-394-7. $49.95. K-Gr 2-In six brief episodes, animated characters Ping and Pong teach youngsters about bones, belly buttons, hands, scabs, sneezing,...

Benazir Bhutto: Daughter of Power.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Benazir Bhutto: Daughter of Power. DVD. 65 min. Pathfinder Home Entertainment. 2008. $19.98. Gr 9 Up--The life of Benazir Bhutto, the most influential Pakistani woman in history, is detailed in this documentary. Drawing from candid...

Gettysburg Monuments and Statues and Their Stories II.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Gettysburg Monuments and Statues and Their Stories II. DVD. 45 min. Mial Prods. 2008. $7.10. Gr 7 Up--Gettysburg, the site of the pivotal battle of the Civil War, is one of our country's most frequently visited historical points of...

Journey of a Red Fridge.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Journey of a Red Fridge. video or DVD. 52 min. Cinema Guild. 2005, 2008 release. ISBN 0-7815-1255-7. $99.95. Gr 9 Up--Produced with support from the Global Fund for Children, this documentary explores the issue of child labor-particularly...

The Little Travelers: Bali.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... The Little Travelers: Bali. DVD. 1 hr. The Little Travelers. ISBN 978-1-4243-3837-5. $19.95. K-Gr 3--Young sisters Chantell and Nakia travel to Bali and learn about the daily lives of children on this Indonesian island. The girls...

Madam President.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... * Madam President. DVD. 9 min. Weston Woods. 2008. ISBN 0-545-10644-3. $59.95; CD, ISBN 0-545-10684-2: $12.95; CD with hardcover book, ISBN 0-545-10688-5: $29.95. Gr 1-4--Lane Smith's unique take on the presidency (Hyperion, 2008) will...

16th & 17th Century Turning Points in U.S. History.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... * 16th & 17th Century Turning Points in U.S. History. 2 DVDs. approx. 2 hrs. (closed captioned), with tchr's, guide, blackline master quizzes, time line on CD. Prod. by Centre Communications. Dist. by Ambrose Video. 2008. $79.99 set....

Two Nations of Black America.(Brief article)(Video recording review)
October 1, 2008... Two Nations of Black America (Frontline Series). DVD. approx. 60 min. Prod. WGBH Educational Foundation. Dist. by PBS Home Video. 1998, 2008 release. ISBN: 0-7936-9420-5. $24.95. Gr 10 Up--Henry Louis Gates Jr., Du Bois Professor of the...

A Company of Swans.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... A Company of Swans (unabr.). 9 cassettes or 9 CDs. 10:30 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4361-1507-0: $67.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4361-1512-4: $97.75. Gr 9 Up--In Eva Ibbotson's romance novel (St. Martin's Pr., 1985; Puffin,...

Encyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... Encyclopedia Brown Tracks Them Down (unabr.). 2 CDs. 1:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4361-1458-5, CD: ISBN 978-1-4361-1463-9: $25.75. Gr 3-6--Leroy "Encyclopedia" Brown, the fifth-grade sleuth, is busy investigating...

How to Build a House.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... How to Build a House (unabr.) 5 CDs. 5:24 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-6412-3. $45. Gr 9 Up--Dana Reinhardt's novel (Wendy Lamb Books, 2008) is well suited to the audio...

In Search of Mockingbird.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... In Search of Mockingbird (unabr.). 4 cassettes or 4 CDs. 4:15 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette, ISBN 978-1-43611601-5: $33.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4361-1606-0: $46.75. Gr 7-10--Erin's mother died when she was a baby and with a father and...

The Joys of Love.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... The Joys of Love (unabr.). 6 CDs. 7 hrs. Macmillan Audio. 2008. ISBN 978-1-4272-0464-6. $29.95. Gr 8 Up--During her apprenticeship at a summer theater company, 20-year-old Elizabeth begins to discover what acting and actors are all about...

The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... The Magician: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel (unabr.). 9 CDs. 10:59 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-6493-2. $60. Gr 6-9--Michael Scott's tense sequel...

Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... Miss Spitfire: Reaching Helen Keller (unabr.). 6 cassettes or 6 CDs. 6:45 hrs. Recorded Books. 2008. cassette, ISBN 978-1-4361-1318-2: $51.75; CD, ISBN 978-1-4361-1320-5: $66.75. Gr 5-9--In the spring of 1887, Anne Sullivan, a half-blind...

Once upon a Time in the North.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... Once Upon a Time in the North (unabr.). 2 CDs. 2:17 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-6700-1. $30. Gr 7 Up--This novella (Knopf, 2008) is partly a prequel to Philip Pullman's...

The 100-Year-Old Secret: The Sherlock Files, Book 1.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... The 100-Year-Old Secret: The Sherlock Files, Book 1 (unabr.). 3 CDs. 5:50 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-6763-6. $24. Gr 4-7--Shortly after 12-year-old Xena and her younger...

Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers and the Great Guinea Pig Express.(Brief article)(Children's review)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... Stink and the World's Worst Super-Stinky Sneakers and the Great Guinea Pig Express (unabr.). 2 CDs. 1:37 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-6387-4. $24. Gr 2-4-Youngsters will...

Story of a Girl.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... * Story of a Girl (unabr.). 4 CDs. 4:48 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-7133-6. $38. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Gr 9 Up--This heart-wrenching, realistic debut novel (Little...

Sweethearts.(Young adult review)(Brief article)(Audiobook review)
October 1, 2008... Sweethearts (unabr.). 5 CDs. 5:48 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2008. ISBN 978-0-7393-6776-6. $45. Gr 7 Up--Jennifer Harris was a mousy little girl, an outcast, bullied by her classmates,...