February 16, 2013

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Pick of the Day: The Diviners (Audiobook)

By on December 14, 2012 Leave a Comment
Blue cover with eye

The Diviners. By Libba Bray. 15 CDs. 15:15 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-449-80875-7. $60.
Gr 10 Up–Printz winner Libba Bray’s latest literary masterpiece (Little, Brown, 2012) is stunning, suspenseful, and sure to leave listeners utterly breathless. Thoroughly modern flapper Evie O’Neill’s psychic ability to divine secrets from inanimate objects gets her exiled from her stuffy Ohio town. Sent to stay with her Uncle Will in Prohibition-era New York City, the last thing [...]

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Pick of the Day: Crush: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Love (CD)

By on December 13, 2012 Leave a Comment
Illus of boy holding crushed bouquet behind his back

Crush: The Theory, Practice and Destructive Properties of Love. By Gary Paulsen. 2 CDs. 2:28 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4692-0311-9. $39.97.
Gr 5-8–Once again, Kevin Spencer (Liar, Liar and Flat Broke) tackles the problems of his world, this time with careful, scientific logic, and no lies. Kevin still has a crush on Tina Zabinski,. He’s sure that he is her perfect match, but he won’t approach her until he’s 100 percent positive that he can win her heart. This doesn’t [...]

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Pick of the Day: Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit (CD)

By on December 11, 2012 Leave a Comment
Illustrated audiobook cover of teen boy

Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Extra Credit. By Tom Greenwald. 4 CDs. 4:29 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-0309-5. $49.97.
Gr 5-7–In this followup (2012) to Tom Greenwald’s Charlie Joe Jackson’s Guide to Not Reading (2011, both Roaring Brook), a poor report card and a reputation for cutting up in school land Charlie Joe in his middle school counselor’s office. Things go from bad to worse, causing Ms. Ferrell to recommend that Charlie Joe attend “Camp Rituhbukkee,” a summer camp that [...]

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Pick of the Day: Carter’s Unfocused, One-Track Mind

By on November 29, 2012 Leave a Comment
Teen on stage acting with girl

Carter’s Unfocused, One-Track Mind. By Brent Crawford. 7 CDs. 8:06 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-61106-285-4. $59.97.
Gr 9 Up–Will Carter returns as a sophomore to Merrian High after summer vacation, and his 15-year-old male hormone induced ADD is at a record high. He’s still in love with Abby, who has been accepted into the prestigious New York Drama School. She encourages Carter to apply, much to the initial dismay of his mother—he’s leaving “just when he is getting fit to [...]

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Pick of the Day: World of Wonder (CD)

By on November 27, 2012 1 Comment
Illustrated CD cover with brunette on orange background

World of Wonder. CD. 32 min. CDBaby.com. 2012. ISBN unavail. $12.97.
PreS-Gr 3–San Francisco-based singer/songwriter Alison Faith Levy, formerly the lead singer of the kindie band The Sippy Cups, returns to the kid music scene with her first solo album. Each song has Levy’s trademark big production sound, whether a sensitive ballad, an up-tempo rocking number, or a middle-of-the-road tune. Lyrics of the ten original songs are smart and have lots of kid appeal. Highlights include a large-sounding rendition of “Itsy [...]

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Pick of the Day: Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy (CD)

By on November 15, 2012 Leave a Comment
Book cover girls working at factory

Flesh & Blood So Cheap: The Triangle Fire and Its Legacy. By Albert Marrin. 4 CDs. 4:21 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-449-01476-9. $30.
Gr 5 Up–Albert Marrin takes the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire of 1911 and uses it as a jumping-off point to discuss immigration and working conditions in the early 20th century in his powerful National Book Award nominee (Knopf, 2011). The fire, which was the most devastating disaster in New [...]

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Now You’re Talking!: Your collection won’t be complete without these must-have new audiobooks for tweens and teens

By on November 1, 2012 4 Comments
SLJ1211W_FT_Audio

Just how popular are audiobooks? Well, just check with your students. Along with the usual notebooks and textbooks in their backpacks, there’s bound to be tablets, ereaders, iPods, MP3 players, and, yes, audiobooks.

If the number of awards given to audiobooks—including the Audio Publishers Association’s Audie Award, the American Library Association’s (ALA) Odyssey Award, School Library Journal’s Best Audiobooks for Teens and Tweens, ALA’s Notable Audiobooks and Amazing Audiobooks, and a Grammy for the best spoken word album—is any [...]

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Pick of the Day: Little Pig Joins the Band (CD)

By on October 26, 2012 Leave a Comment
Cartoon pig playing trombone

Little Pig Joins the Band. By David Hyde Costello. CD. 6:37 min. with hardcover book. Live Oak Media. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4301-1139-9. $29.95.
Pre-S-Gr 2–David Hyde Costello’s humorous story (Charlesbridge, 2011) about Little Pig who is too small to play any of the marching band instruments stored in a box at Grandpa’s house. Whenever Little Pig asks his siblings a question, it is comically misheard. For example, when he asks if there are any piccolos, the response is “There’s a jar in [...]

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Pick of the Day: Seraphina (CD)

By on October 25, 2012 Leave a Comment
Audiobook cover of dragon flying on red background

Seraphina. By Rachel Hartman. 11 CDs. 13:30 hrs. Prod. by Listening Library. Dist. by Listening Library/Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 978-0-307-96894-4. $50
Gr 7 Up–In the decades since the peace treaty was signed, a fragile amity has existed between humans and dragons. Or so it is believed. As the treaty’s 40th anniversary nears, a rogue dragon masterminds a dangerous scheme to reignite the ancient war between the two species. Caught unwillingly in the crossfire is Seraphina Dombegh, assistant music mistress of [...]

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Pick of the Day: Make Believers (CD)

By on October 23, 2012 Leave a Comment
Purple elephant riding a bike

Make Believers. CD. 41 min. 2012. ISBN unavail. $15.
Pres-Gr 5–Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is a children’s performer unlike any you’ve heard before. Filled with great beats and fresh rhymes, his newest album brings to mind Will Smith in his musical prime. Skidoo infuses hip-hop into children’s music using fantastic guest vocalists to keep the songs light while addressing such kid familiar topics as nightmares, being a friend to oneself, swimming, and even putting a truly fresh spin on Jack and the Beanstalk

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Pick of the Day: Dreamland Lullabies (CD)

By on October 19, 2012 Leave a Comment
Illustrated album cover of girl and night sky

Dreamland Lullabies. CD. 47:23 min. lullaballads.com. 2011. ISBN unavail. $9.99.
PreS-Gr 2–Classically trained Dina Layzis and Theresa San Luis co-wrote these 11 pop ballad lullabies, accompanied by full strings, piano, chimes, and xylophone. Born in the Ukraine, raised in New York, and trained in opera, Layzis’s voice has a breathy and ethereal quality. Perfect for bedtime and with a sound somewhere between easy listening and classical, the compositions are tranquil, peaceful, and restful. Songs include “Magic Unfolding,” “Caretaker’s Song,” “You Were [...]

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Pick of the Day: About Average (CD)

By on October 18, 2012 Leave a Comment
Illustrated audiobook cover with little girl in pink shirt

About Average. By Andrew Clements. 2 cassettes or 2 CDs. 2 hrs. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4703-0081-4, CD: ISBN 978-1-4703-0082-1. $25.75.
Gr 3-6–Jordan understands that it’s hard being average. Everyone around her seems to have a shining talent, or even two or three—but not Jordan. She realistically examines herself and recognizes her ordinariness. She is a C student and has average looks, but she hopes that her enthusiasm will make up for a lack of talent in sports and music. [...]

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Pick of the Day: The Fairy Ring, Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World (CD)

By on September 28, 2012 Leave a Comment
Audiobook cover with Girl staring at a fairy

The Fairy Ring, Or Elsie and Frances Fool the World. By Mary Losure. 2 CDs. 2:26 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-5194-2. $49.97.
Gr 4-8–This is the true tale of Elsie Wright, 15, and Frances Griffith, 9, who concocted a fairy hoax in the early 1900s that grew well beyond their expectations. Tired of being teased by their parents for their stories, Elsie painted and then cut out detailed illustrations of fairies. The girls photographed the “fairies” with themselves in the [...]

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Pick of the Day: All on a Sunday Afternoon (CD)

By on September 27, 2012 Leave a Comment
CD cover of two men lounging on a porch

All on a Sunday Afternoon.  CD. 36 min. with DVD. Sugar Free Allstars. 2012. ISBN unavail. $12.99.
PreS-Gr 3–On their third CD for families, the Oklahoma City-based Sugar Free Allstars—Chris (Boom!) Wiser and Rob (Dr. Rock) Martin—add to their bluesy, funky catalog of music. Many songs feature the talent of guest artists: vocals by Jack Forman (of Recess Monkey) and Shawana Kemp (of Shine & the Moonbeams) on “Gotta Get Up” (a kicking song sure to get you up and on [...]

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Pick of the Day: Love, Mouserella (CD)

By on September 25, 2012 1 Comment
Illustrated book cover of mouse and letters

Love, Mouserella. By David Ezra Stein. cassette or CD. 30 min. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4640-4034-1, CD: ISBN 978-1-4640-4033-7. $15.75; book, ISBN 978-0-3992-5410-9. $15.99.
PreS-Gr 1–Mouserella’s letter to her Grandmouse describes her days with the meandering topics of a child, occasionally concluding “and that’s all…but” as she continues with descriptions of her daily activities. Listeners learn about her pet caterpillar and the ladybug she has taught to fetch, a visit to the zoo with a scary cat, a blackout, and [...]

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Pick of the Day: Can You Canoe? A Mississippi River Adventure Album (CD)

By on September 21, 2012 Leave a Comment
CD cover with 2 men playing bajo on a canoe

Can You Canoe? A Mississippi River Adventure Album. CD. 38 min. with DVD (41 min.). RedEye Dist. 2012. ISBN unavail. $14.99.
K-Gr 5–Grab your fishing gear and your tent, leave technology behind, and join the award-winning Okee Dokee Brothers (Justin Lansing and Joe Mailander) on a leisurely canoe trip down the Mississippi River. These mostly folk, country, and bluegrass tunes are enhanced by virtuoso performances on banjo, guitar, fiddle, mandolin, upright bass, accordion, tuba, trombone, piano, organ, udu, balafon, auto-harp, melodica, [...]

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Pick of the Day: Same Sun Here (Audiobook)

By on August 31, 2012 Leave a Comment
Orange and black Audiobook cover with kids in silohuette

Same Sun Here. By Silas House and Neela Vaswani. 5 CDs. 5:49 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-2231-7. $49.7.
Gr 4-7–Meena, a recent immigrant from India, lives in Manhattan’s Chinatown with her family. Through a program arranged by their schools, she becomes a pen pal with River, who lives in rural Kentucky and is the son of a coal miner. They exchange letters via snail mail and, as a result, learn about each other and themselves. Sharing day-to-day activities, secrets, opinions, [...]

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Pick of the Day: My Name Is Not Easy (Audio)

By on August 30, 2012 Leave a Comment
Audiobook cover: Eskimo boy writing title on foggy glass

My Name Is Not Easy. By Debby Dahl Edwardson. 6 CDs. 6:30 hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 978-1-4558-7955-7. $64.97.
Gr 7 Up–In the early 1960s, children from Iñupiaq, Athabaskan, and Caucasian backgrounds are enrolled at a Catholic boarding school in Alaska in Debby Dahl Edwardson’s National Book Award finalist (Marshall Cavendish, 2011). Luke (white people can’t pronounce his Iñupiaq name) and his brothers Bunna and Isaac are flown to Catholic sponsored Sacred Heart School far from their village. Six-year-old Isaac is [...]

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Pick of the Day: Mr. Hynde Is Out of His Mind: My Weird School, Book 6 (CD)

By on August 28, 2012 Leave a Comment
Book on CD cover- kid and teacher

Mr. Hynde Is Out of His Mind: My Weird School, Book 6. By Dan Gutman. cassette or CD. 45 min. Recorded Books. 2012. cassette: ISBN 978-1-4498-6426-2, CD: ISBN 978-1-4498-6427-9. $15.75.
Gr 1-3–In the funniest book (HarperCollins, 2005) yet in Dan Gutman’s series, second grade king of hyperbole, A. J., complains that he hates school, dislikes reading, and particularly despises Andrea Young, a geeky brown-noser, and her crybaby sidekick, Emily. Good news arrives when their music teacher, “boring, snoring Mr. Loring,” is [...]

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Pick of the Day: Anansi Story Favorites (CD)

By on August 24, 2012 1 Comment
CD cover in orange with folksinger

Anansi Story Favorites.CD. 43:55. Kunama Mtendaji. 2012. ISBN unavail. $10.
PreS-Gr 5–Over the ages, storytellers across the globe have told stories about Anansi the spider and his antics. Anansi is known for his tricks as well as his greed and laziness. In this CD, Kunama Mtendaji uses musical accompaniment, singing, and different voices to retell some Anansi stories, such as “How Anansi Got a Narrow Waist,” “Anansi and the Moss Covered Rock,” and “Anansi and His Six Sons.” Kunama is [...]

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