September 18, 2013

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Media Mania: Journeying to Oz—The New Film and a Whirlwind of Portal Fiction for Teens

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We have all fantasized about being transported to magical locations, and on March 8, Disney is giving everyone an excuse to revisit the 1900 novel and 1939 movie The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Oz the Great and Powerful (PG) tornadoes into theaters in traditional, 3D and IMAX 3D formats. Oscar Diggs (James Franco), an unscrupulous two-bit circus magician, is swept away via hot-air balloon to the Land of Oz. Teens can visit the movie website to browse videos and photos, play games, and access downloads. Then hook them in with a display of portal fiction that will not disappoint.

Picture Books + Math Concepts = Learning Fun

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Vibrant illustrations, illuminating representations of basic math concepts, and dynamic storytelling add up to offerings that entertain as they educate.

Why Can’t We Be Friends?: Tales of the Heart

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Filled with unlikely but enduring attachments, ostensibly incompatible Romeos and Juliets, and unexpected instances of true animal camaraderie, these books prove that affection can allow individuals to look beyond their differences and forge long-lasting bonds. Use these books to expand Valentine’s Day and friendship storytimes; tease out overarching themes; and initiate discussions of tolerance, compassion, and community.

Media Mania—Magic and Mayhem: Mesmerizing Fairy Tale Retellings for Teens

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Told and retold through the centuries, ever-evolving and repeatedly re-envisioned, folk and fairy tales continue to captivate imaginations. In fact, unwavering interest in these stories have sparked an onslaught of media offerings. Take the opportunity to booktalk or display a selection of splendid retellings of folk and fairy tales written for teens. The genre’s integral themes of transformation, self-realization, burgeoning independence, and first love are ready-made for a young adult audience, and these titles utilize a variety of writing styles, settings, and storytelling tones to explore timeless motifs in imaginative and appealingly contemporary ways.

Choice Books to Spark Discussion on Bullying

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Great titles that address bullying in a variety of ways, providing information, offering the comfort of knowing that others are facing similar challenges, and presenting strategies for surviving. Booktalk them and recommend them to teachers to share with their students to increase awareness and empathy, initiate discussion, and begin to bring about change.

Adventures with a Far-Wandering Hero | Homer’s The Odyssey

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Filled with harrowing monsters and fate-dictating deities, and all-too-human hubris and heartache, Homer’s ‘Odyssey’ has thrilled and edified audiences for centuries. Today’s readers have a host of imaginative—and artful—adaptations of the epic poem to choose from.

Media Mania: Beautiful Creatures and Recommended Paranormal Romance Reads for Teens

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Beautiful Creatures is a story of star-crossed lovers with a supernatural edge and atmospheric Southern setting. The film adaptation of the first novel in Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl’s fan-favorite series (2009, Little, Brown) is fittingly scheduled for release on Valentine’s Day, 2013. Tempt teens who just can’t get enough of these Beautiful Creatures to keep reading by booktalking or displaying a selection of page-turning tales forged with mystical wonder and touched by true love. Encompassing copious coming-of-age themes and a variety of writing styles, these titles also make excellent choices for book discussion groups.

Great Books for Celebrating Martin Luther King Day

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Looking for a way to bring Martin Luther King Day to life? These resources are the perfect way to shed light on King, as well as the Civil Rights Movement as a whole.

Media Mania: Got Gamers? Books Tie-ins to Teen-Favorite Video Games

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Tempt teens away from the screen and into the pages of a book with an appetizing array of offerings based on popular video games. You may even get them interested in history—the latest Assassin’s Creed is based on the American Revolution, set in the colonies in the mid-1700s.

Life Lessons from Aesop | Classic Connections

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Attributed to a man who lived in fifth-century-B.C. Greece, Aesop’s Fables abound with simple wisdoms and useful truths.

Watch and Read: Spotlight on Media Tie-ins—Rise of the Guardians

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The film “Rise of the Guardians,” based on William Joyce’s popular series “Guardians of Childhood” premieres on November 21. Fans of folk and fairy tales will delight in the characters found in both the original series, the film, and in new books inspired by the movie.

Severed Limbs, Devil’s Hairs, and Boys Turned into Beasts | A Delightfully Grimm Approach to Fairy Tales

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Blending modern-day sensibilities with an avid appreciation for the source material and an endless knack for inventiveness, two novels by Adam Gidwitz, make sound starting points for examinations of folklore.

Media Mania: Spy Novels for James Bond Fans

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With the release of Adele’s lushly orchestrated theme song and heaps of media coverage, the buzz is building for the opening of Skyfall (PG-13) on November 9, 2012. Take advantage of the Bond bonanza and display or booktalk a selection of recently published young adult spy thrillers. Impossible to put down, these titles feature an array of unforgettable protagonists, a mix of time periods and settings, and a teen-tantalizing variety of narrative styles.

Watch and Read—Spotlight on Media Tie-ins: Game On! Disney’s Wreck-It Ralph

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Wreck-it Ralph, the newest 3-D animated release from Disney, takes audience into world of video games to tell a humor-filled tale of friendship, heroism, and self-discovery. Fans of Ralph will also enjoy exciting but accessible picture books and chapter books based on the film.

Watch and Read—Spotlight on Media Tie-ins: Fairy Fanfare: TV’s Winx Club

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Fans of all things fey will enjoy Winx Club, a TV series about a flight of stylish teenage fairies with an updated look and an array of magical abilities. In addition to dolls, dress-up accessories, and video games, the franchise also includes fun, fast-moving chapter books and graphic novels based on the TV show.

Watch and Read—Spotlight on Media Tie-ins: How to Rock TV Shows and Book Series

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“How to Rock,” a comedy series based on Meg Haston’s novel, “How to Rock Braces and Glasses,” premiered on Teen Nick in February. Pitched toward the “Drake & Josh” crowd, the show combines storylines centered around school and friendship issues with pop/hip-hop music performances and an upbeat be-yourself message.

Fresh and Fun | Books for Emergent Readers

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Whether they are taking their first steps and beginning to sound out words or making leaps and bounds toward decoding longer sentences and more complex story plots, emergent readers benefit from high-quality books that grab their interest and support their efforts. Ranging from funny tales to nonfiction, these books are guaranteed to reel in developing readers and keep them turning pages.

Pitch Perfect—and a Roundup of Reads about Divas, Virtuosos, Rockers, and Other Music Mavens

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Perfectly pitched to fans of TV’s Glee and reality competition shows such as American Idol, The Voice, and X Factor, this musical comedy from Universal Studios opens nationally on October 5. Set in the fascinating—and surprisingly bodacious—world of collegiate a cappella singing, Pitch Perfect (PG-13) harmonizes crowd-pleasing acoustic production numbers with plenty of sassy and brassy girl-power attitude and ribald humor (hence the tagline—“Get Pitch Slapped”). The film is inspired by Mickey Rapkin’s nonfiction title, Pitch Perfect (Gotham, 2008; Gr 10 Up), which has been re-issued with an eye-catching movie-poster cover.

Watch and Read—Spotlight on Media Tie-ins: Go, Go Power Rangers: Refreshed Books and a New Graphic Novel Series

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First introduced in 1993 with Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers, this iconic live-action TV series starring a group of teens able to transform into a team of color-coded costumed superheroes is still going strong. Power Rangers: Samurai, the show’s l8th iteration, premiered in 2011 on Nickelodeon, followed by 2012’s Power Rangers: Super Samurai (TVY7), a second set of episodes featuring the same characters.

Watch and Read: Spotlight on Media Tie-ins: Monster Movie Mash: Frankenweenie and Hotel Transylvania

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Two new animated offerings—Frankenweenie and Hotel Transylvania—pay homage to classic Hollywood monsters with fresh interpretations and plenty of panache—just in time for Halloween.