Once again, Touch Press delivers an absorbing, in-depth look at a topic that will dazzle readers and viewers. This app takes viewers on a virtual tour deep inside the tombs and pyramids of Egypt’s Giza Plateau. 

On opening Pyramids 3D: Wonders of the Old Kingdom (Touch Press LLP; $13.99; Gr 6 Up), viewers soar over the Giza Plateau under the bright desert sun while the sounds of birds and the wind are heard in the background. In all, there are nine “Places” to visit at this ancient necropolis, from King Khafre’s Tomb to The Great Pyramid. Tapping on the entrance to a monument will bring viewers inside. Once there, they can take a virtual tour of the pyramid or tomb, methodically following arrows and using the floor plan as a guide, or swiping the floors and walls to move about independently within the labyrinths. The “Expert Intros” for each location, the only audio provided in this app, are informative, yet all too brief.

A menu at the top of each screen provides an alphabetized index of sites to explore and a “Quick tips” menu explains how to navigate within the monuments. Illuminated areas signal statues, wall carvings, and drawings that offer additional information. A tap on a picture label provides a description of the work. Titles, terms, and locales are defined and illustrated with maps. Throughout the app, scenes offer a “Then and Now” feature allowing users to toggle between the clean lines, vibrant colors, and the smooth surfaces that artists imagine these walls and items had millennia ago, and the fading colors and damage wrought by time, and in some cases, vandalism.

‘Statue of a Woman Making Bread’ from ‘Pyramids 3D’ (Touch Press) Photo by Sandro Vannini

An “Objects” option allows viewers to examine a collection of 40 artifacts, each of which can be enlarged and rotated 360 degrees. The clarity of detail is noteworthy. Particularly stunning is the “Golden Mask of Tutankhamun,” which shines as users tip their iPads to fully appreciate the pairing of ancient artistry and modern technology. Other artifacts include statues and statuettes, a gold-handled knife, and a piece of jewelry. For each item, details (size, material, etc.) and notes are provided.

The accompanying text offers an introduction and 10 chapters on topics ranging from “A Brief History of Ancient Egypt” and “The Pyramid Builders” to “The Mystery of the Queen’s Burial” and the 1954 “Discovery of the Solar Boats.” Fascinating details along with a timeline and photos of the site and artifacts are included. A postscript by the author—the noted archeologist Zahi Hawass—discusses recent political developments in Egypt and the plans for the Giza Plateau, its protection, and continued excavation.

Both the spectacular photography by Sandro Vannini and superb 3-D imaging will impress viewers, who will undoubtedly wish the app contained a larger collection of photos and locations to explore. A splendid production.—Deirdre Reddington, Uniondale High School, Uniondale, NY

Picture Book Apps

Emma Loves Pink (by Piret Raud/WingedChariot)

Go Away, Big Green Monster! (by Ed Emberly/Night & Day Studios)

Ladybug Girl (by David Soman and Jacky Davis/Trilogy Touch)

Hildegard Sings  (by Thomas Wharton/One Hundred Robots)

Harold and the Purple Crayon (by Crockett Johnson/Trilogy Studios)

Pat the Bunny (by Dorothy Kunhardt/Random Digital)

Don’t Let the Pigeon Run this App! (by Mo Willems/Smart Planet Digital)

Spot the Dot (by David Carter/Ruckus Mobile Media)

Otter on His Own (by Doe Boyle/Oceanhouse Media)

How Rocket Learned to Read (by Tad Hills/Random House Digital)

Moonbot Studios’ The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, The Numberlys, &
Imag.N.O.Tron

Ruckus Mobile Media’s many stories, folk tales and legends, including Johnny
Appleseed  & The Velveteen Rabbit

Where Do Balloons Go? (by Jamie Lee Curtis/Auryn, Inc.)

The Monster at the End of the Book…Starring Grover! (Sesame Workshop/Callaway
Digital Arts)

The Great Cookie Thief… A Sesame Street App Starring Cookie Monster (Sesame
Workshop/Callaway Digital Arts)

Press Here (by Hervé Tullet/Chronicle Books)

Sunday in Kyoto (Lyrics and Music by Gilles Vigneault/The Secret Mountain)

Moomin, Mymble and Little My (based on the title by Tove Jansson/Spinfy)

Pop Out! The Tale of Benjamin Bunny (by Beatrix Potter/Loud Crow Interactive)

Cinderella: A 3-D Fairy Tale (Illus. by Ed Bryan/Nosy Crow)

Will You Come for a Sleepover? (By Marianne Busser and Ron Schröder/Piccolo)

Tim on the Tiles (Tjibbe Veldkamp/Piccolo)

Boats (Byron Barton/Oceanhouse Media)

The Going to Bed Book (Sandra Boynton/Loud Crow)

Franklin Frog (by Barry Tranter and Emma Tranter/ Nosy Crow’s “Rounds”
series)

Parker Penguin (Nosy Crow’s “Rounds” series)

Goodnight Moon (by Margaret Wise Brown/Loud Crow Interactive)

Fiction & Literature

Frankenstein (by Dave Morris, based on Mary Shelley’s novel/Inkle)

Moby-Dick: A Digital Odyssey (based on Herman Melville’s novel/Arcade)

Treasure Island (abridged ed. of Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel/Space Dogs)

T. S. Eliot’s The Wasteland (Touch Press)

Jack Kerouac’s On the Road (Penguin, 1KStudios)

Chopsticks (Jessica Anthony and Rodrigo Corral/Penguin/ Citrus Suite)

Othello other titles from the “Shakesperience” series (Sourcebooks/iBooks)

Shakespeare’s Sonnets (Touch Press/ The Arden Shakespeare/ Faber and Faber Ltd.)

Chasing Fireflies: A Haiku Collection (trans. by Peter Beilenson/Honeybee Labs)

Horrible Hauntings (by Shirin Yim Bridges/Trigger)

Bottom of the Ninth (Ryan Woodward/Ryan Woodward Art & Animation)

Nonfiction & Reference Apps

Bats! Furry Fliers of the Night (by Mary Kay Carson /Bookerella, Story Services Ltd.)

Bobo Explores Light (by Craig Fusco/Game Collage, LLC; Juraj Hlaváč )

My First Classical Music App (by Genevieve Helsby and Jason Chapman/Naxos Digital)

X Is for X-Ray: An A to Z Look inside Everyday Objects (by Paul Rosenthal/Touch Press)

Barefoot World Atlas (by Nick Crane/Touch Press)

Britannica Kids: Ancient Egypt, Knights and Castles, Snakes, etc.

D-Day, Pearl Harbor, Gettysburg, and other titles in the “Great Battles” series (various/Amber)

Weird but True!  (National Geographic Society)

Brooklyn Bridge, The Parthenon, and The Taj Mahal (by Elizabeth Mann/ iBooks)

Annie Fox’s “Middle School Confidential” series (Free Spirit/Electric Eggplant)

“Our Amazing World” series: Antarctica, Penguins, and Owls  (Wayne Lynch/ Matchbook Press)

Beware Madame La Guillotine (by Sarah Towle/Time Traveler Tours, LLC)

Journey into the Deep (by Rebecca Johnson/Lerner)

The Wonders of Geology (by Michael Collier/Mikaya Press)

Al Gore’s Our Choice (by Al Gore/Melcher Media/Push Pop Press)

Fragile Earth (Collins)

Elements (Touch Press)

Journey to the Exoplanets (by Edward Bell, Ron Miller/FSG, Scientific American & Brandwidth)

Solar System (by Marcus Chown/Touch Press)

March of the Dinosaurs (hybrid fic/nonfic; Touch Press LLC, in conjunction with National Geographic &     Wide-Eyed Entertainment)

Gems and Jewels (by Lance Grande & Allison Augustyn/Touch Press)

Pyramids 3D (Touch Press)

Leonardo Da Vinci: Anatomy (by Martin Clayton/Touch Press)

Skulls (by Simon Winchester, Touch Press)

Building Titantic (National Geographic)

DK Human Body (by Steve Parker/Medi-Motion, Dorling Kindersley)

Tate Guide to Modern Art (by Simon Wilson with Jessica Lack and the Tate staff/ Tate Publishing/   Aimer  Media

Mini-Monsters (3D 4 Medical Science)

Fiske Interactive College Guide 2012 (Sourcebooks)

And finally, a few book-inspired game apps

Bunny Fun: Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes (by Rosemary Wells/ Auryn, Inc./Fourth Story Media)

Dr. Seuss Band (Oceanhouse Media)

Elmo Calls (Sesame Workshop)

Where Is My Frog? (by Mercer Mayer/ Sterling Publishing)

Eric Carle’s My Very First App (Philomel/Night & Day Studios)

Counting with the Very Hungry Caterpillar (by Eric Carle/Penguin/Night & Day Studios)

Big Nate Comix by U! (by Lincoln Peirce /Night & Day Studios)

How to Rock Braces and Glasses (by Meg Haston/Hachette/Alloy Entertainment)

High School Bites (by Heather Brewer/Penguin)

At the center is the Can*TEEN Trivia Wheel Library Interactive game, a new spin on the classic gaming style of multiple choice trivia questions, developed by the Carnegie Science Center. AASL, working with the Carnegie Science Center, and with support from the Motorola Foundation, will distribute Can*TEEN Trivia Wheel Library Interactive toolkits to more than 2,500 school librarians serving children ages 10 to 14.

Participating school librarians will receive a free kit for their library and will be asked to complete a follow-up survey at the end of the school year. The survey will evaluate how frequently the toolkit was checked out and how it was used in the school. More information and an opt-in form can be found on AASL’s website, and you can review clips from recent play tests, featuring two of the women who helped make the Can*TEEN Interactive, at www.canteengirl.org.

“

Financial Literacy

Grade Level 7 Up

Cost Tiered pricing begins at $595 for an annual subscription for schools and public libraries, and is based on student enrollment or cardholder numbers.

Overview Don’t let the simple homepage layout fool you—there is a ton of information in this database. Rosen has revised and updated material from more than 500 new and backlist titles, readying it for online use—and that effort shows.

Topics are timely, relevant, and made accessible to the intended audience. The homepage displays a list of seven broad financial topics that users can select; these range from “Entrepreneurship and Career Skills” to “Role of Government” to “The Market Economy.” The homepage also offers two featured articles: “Making Sense of It” discusses a current event, while “Take a Closer Look” typically contains a story with video; the one displayed at the time of the review, for example, stars teenage girls discussing how to start and market a small business. Users can also try one of six different financial calculators or get involved by answering the daily quiz or poll. Resources for teachers and librarians include Common Core and state-specific standards correlations, promotional materials, and Web buttons.

Content and Usability To get an idea of the content available here, users will want to browse by simply drilling down into a topic of interest. For example, clicking on the homepage topic “Personal Finance” brings up a list of related issues, which include “Credit and Debt,” “The Economy and the Individual,” and “Income and Careers,” to name a few. Under “Credit and Debt” are four relevant articles including “First Credit Card and Credit Smarts,” which is presented in very manageable sections. “Entrepreneurship and Careers Skills” offers helpful advice on job seeking, including how to write résumés and cover letters and prepare for interviews. Articles are divided into 8 to 12 prominently labeled subdivisions. “Previous” and “Next” navigation buttons allow readers to easily turn to the next screen.

A search box is provided for more specific queries. In addition, topics may be browsed alphabetically or by subject, and doing either reveals the depth of material provided.

Layout This database is not cutesy but rather reflects a more serious approach, a smart choice for the topic and intended age group. The interface is pleasantly consistent and predictable. Every article is presented in the same way, with a menu of sections on the left and the text on the right. At any time the user may click on the large “Financial Literacy” link on the top left to go to the homepage.

Some of the pages could use additional back navigation buttons. For example, after clicking on a calculator there are no buttons within the database that will bring the user back to the calculators’ menu page. Also, the “Browse A-Z” and “Browse Subject” buttons do not work when using Internet Explorer 8, but were fine on the iPad (Rosen recommends the use of Internet Explorer 9), while, using the iPad, moving the mouse over a highlighted word provides a definition that is then hard to remove.

Rosen offers a user-friendly option to print or email either a section or the full article. Six financial calculators help with, for example, auto loan payments, college costs, and budgeting. Each article includes “investigate” topics that encourage related reading on the subject.

Articles can be translated into 50 different languages using a built-in Google Translate option. There are text-to-speech capabilities, although the voice is robotic and thus the pacing and pronunciation are off at times. However, for students who need the audio, it is a valuable feature. Article citations are provided in APA and MLA formats. The material is written in plain language, although unfortunately the authors are sometimes condescending or preachy (“teenagers should turn off the television and learn…non-exportable jobs…”).

The Common Core and state-specific standards correlations can be viewed on screen or exported to an Excel spreadsheet. Social bookmarking allows for sharing of articles, and the material is iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and netbook compatible.

Verdict This accessible database hosts a wealth of information for students and provides teachers with a solid resource to support financial-literacy lessons. Rosen has taken into account the needs of students and teachers in creating this comprehensive tool for the classroom, and the end product is a valuable, dynamic resource.

Stephanie Farnlacher is a librarian at Trace Crossings School, Hoover, AL

Image from ‘Atlas by Collins’

A number of apps address the state of our planet. One of the first produced for students was Al Gore’s award-winning Our Choice (Melcher Media/Push Pop Press; $4.99), featuring stunning photography, informative video clips, and a compelling message about global warming. In 7 Billion: How Your World Will Change (National Geographic; $4.99) thought-provoking photos, videos, charts, and articles examine the impact of population growth on the earth, including commentary on food sources, family size, and the most challenged regions of the world. Fragile Earth, one of SLJ’s Top 10 Apps of 2012, offers a gallery of photos detailing the impact of human endeavors and natural phenomena on the environment. Satellite and land photographs, taken from minutes to years apart, depict the alarming before-and-after effects of mining, deforestation, tsunamis, earthquakes, and other events on our landscape.

The recently released Atlas by Collins takes a look at our planet from a number of perspectives. Cathy Potter reviews it below.

Chart, “Energy Consumption,” from ‘Atlas by Collins’

Gr 6 Up-The expansive Atlas by Collins contains seven globes: satellite, physical, political, population, environment, communications, and energy. For each thematic section text and illustrations combine to provide an overview of the subject.

“Living Earth” explores the natural world and a variety of landscapes, as well as changes in and threats to the planet, among other topics. “People and Power” considers where energy reserves are located, where energy is produced and consumed, how technology connects the world, and more. These and other subjects are addressed through questions (“What are the major environmental threats to our planet and the areas most affected? “What energy reserves does each country contain?” “Where in the world can you get mobile phone coverage?) and detailed answers are provided along with captioned photos, charts, and graphs (sources cited).

Viewers swipe to spin the 3-D globes; pinch and pull to zoom in and out. While zooming in the globe will switch to Google Maps, but an Internet connection is required to take advantage of this feature. A location bar at the top of each screen marks the city and country or region displayed. A tap on the information symbol opens a window that reveals country statistics and information on the nation’s land, climate, economy, demographics, and transportation, and a few images–information that will be useful to student researchers. Each entry also includes links to the country’s web site.

Menus below each globe provide readers with a plethora of information about our planet including birth rates, pollution hotspots, and Internet usage. Color-coded keys and symbols help readers interpret the information presented. (The app contains no narration or sound effects.)

The satellite globe is the only one that downloads when users purchase the app. The others must be installed individually, and the amount of time required to do so is considerable. While the breadth of information in Atlas by Collins is impressive, the download time, tendency to shut down, and substantial amount of storage space required (1.3 GB) may prove problematic for some users.—Cathy Potter, Falmouth Elementary School, Falmouth, ME

Eds. note: For a look inside Atlas by Collins take a peek at the trailer.

A Picture-Book Biography in Spanish

My Name Is Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz / Me llamo Celia: La vida de Celia Cruz (illus. by Rafael López, Luna Rising, 2004)

Listen to Monica Brown’s story about Celia Cruz in the singer’s native tongue.

A French Canadian Classic

The Hockey Sweater (illus.by Sheldon Cohen, House of Anansi Press, 1979)

Experience Roch Carrier’s story in French, as read by the author.

An Ojibwe Young Reader Book

Awesiinyensag: Dibaajimowinan Ji-Gikinoo’amaageng (by Anton Treuer et al., illus. by Wesley Ballinger, Wiigwaas Press, 2010)

Hear Anton Treuer describe the collaborative effort behind this unique title.

An Early Reader 

Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! (Toon Books, 2009)

Tune in to Julie Chung and Yixin Zhang as they read Geoffrey Hayes’s popular book in Mandarin Chinese.

A Puerto Rican Classic

Juan Bobo Sends the Pig to Mass (as told by Arí Acevedo-Feliciano, illus. by Tom Wrenn, August House Story Cove, 2008)

Watch this animated video as Denise Arribas narrates a story about the beloved fool.

A French-language winner of the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award

La saison des pluies (Soulières éditeur, 2011)

Listen to author Mario Brassard introduce and read from his celebrated title.

 A Graphic Novel in Russian

Little Mouse Gets Ready (Toon Books, 2009)

Listen to Elena Makarov’s reading of Jeff Smith’s Little Mouse in Russian.

A Bilingual Spanish/English Folktale

Tell Me a Cuento / Cuéntame un story (as told by Joe Hayes, illus. by Geronimo Garcia, Cinco Puntos Press, 1998)

Hear storyteller Joe Hayes’s fluid bilingual rendition of this tale.

Nick Glass and Carin Bringelson would love to hear about your favorite bilingual stories. Write to them at nick@TeachingBooks.net.

You see, I’m not really that smart. I just know people who are. One of the wisest things that we librarians can do is to collaborate with other smart librarians who love to share. For example, I have a strong personal learning network (PLN) that starts on Twitter and even includes a monthly face-to-face gathering. My PLN provides me with lots of really good ideas, answers questions, and supports my work. It is through these resources that I have gathered a huge technology toolbox, assessment strategies, promotional ideas, and a ton of worthwhile resources that I can pass on to my teachers.

The core of my network starts online with Twitter and the #tlchat hashtag. You can get started on Twitter by following great school librarians like Buffy Hamilton, Gwyneth Jones, Donna Baumbach, or Jennifer Lagarde. You can also find librarian folks on Facebook and Google+. Several blogs like The Never Ending Search and Not So Distant Future post great resources, links, ideas, and challenges. I find the online world a great place to ask questions or get directions. For me, this is better than email because there are so many knowledgeable experts who respond almost instantaneously.

Librarians can also take advantage of some great (free) professional development opportunities. Join the Teacher Librarian Virtual Cafe webinar presentations the first Monday of every month, live #tlchat twitter discussions the 2nd Monday of every month, or peruse the outstanding free online recorded sessions of Library 2.012 Worldwide Virtual Conference held last month. School Library Journal also features many free webcasts including a series that just began in September focused on Common Core.

Do you need more ideas? My state’s professional organization (Colorado Association of School Libraries) has been developing a site where we librarians can upload examples on everything from advocacy to lesson plans. Perhaps your state has a site like Survive and Thrive which has been created as a space for sharing stories and models of 21st century skills. Broaden your perspective by joining  EdWeb.net, Council on 21st Century Learning, or your own state’s eLearning professional development site (like eNet Colorado).

Finally, take some time to meet face-to-face with other professionals in a learning atmosphere. A small group of us have committed to meet once a month (at the bar of course!) where one of us facilitates the discussion or shows new tools for learning. While we often arrive beleaguered by the trials of the day, we invariably leave energized and ready to try new things.

Librarians love to grow and learn, and must do so to be on the cutting edge of positive change. Since most of us are the only staff person in our field in the building, we must utilize opportunities to develop our own personal learning networks, share ideas, and find ways to be rejuvenated.

Freedom flix

www.freedomflix.scholastic.com
Grade Level Grades 3-5

Cost The cost of Freedom Flix varies depending on the type of institution, with an annual subscription for a single school building costing $895, for example. The print books are sold separately. Freedomflix meets several grant requirements including qualifying for LSTA federal funding. The service works on all tablets and mobile devices.

Overview Each of the 30 ebook titles included in this database follows the same template to allow for easy movement around the collection. Once a title is selected, the image of the print book appears, as does a menu for some of the enhanced content. The enhanced content menu for each book has sections titled, “Watch It,” “Read It,” “Explore More,” “Related Websites,” “Project Idea,” “What Do You Think?” and “Show What You Know.”

Content and Usability Each whiteboard compatible “Watch It” section consists of a one- to two-minute video that begins with a Google-maps-based TruEarth image. Once the camera zooms in on the relevant locale, a montage of period paintings, drawings, photographs, and modern-day reenactment footage transitions smoothly as an easy-to-understand, natural-voiced reader narrates.

“Read It,” also whiteboard compatible, features the full content of the print book with polished digital features that allow readers to tailor their learning experience to their needs. A menu runs along the top of the screen, allowing readers to access the book’s table of contents and glossary with one click. Users can also choose the audio feature in which a narrator reads (in one of two speeds) the content of the ebook, including captions. A zoom in and out feature allows readers to increase or decrease the font size. Other features include a digital highlighter, notepad, and bookmark. Changes created using these tools are stored automatically in the digital locker for easy future access.

In addition to the wealth of primary sources found under “Explore More” are links to articles from Grolier and other sources that pertain to relevant people, places, and events. Some of the entries, called “Challenge Readings,” offer advanced students opportunities to explore the topic in greater depth. For instance, the “Challenge Readings” that accompany The Bill of Rights include detailed articles on the Federalist Papers and the Magna Carta.

Links to complementary plays, poems, songs, and book abstracts round out the section. For example, in The Louisiana Purchase title, period additions include the John Greenleaf Whittier poem “Toussaint L’Ouverture,” and a short play called Lewis and Clark and the Bird Girl.

“Related Websites” offers a well-curated, annotated collection of primarily .edu, .gov, and .org sites. While some, such as www.libertyskids.com, listed as a supplement to The Revolutionary War, are designed for kids, others, such as the website for the U.S. Customs and Border (a link in Homeland Security), are for an older audience. Links to websites with primary sources are marked with a “Living History” icon. Primary sources include an 1884 letter from a British traveler who wrote about her displeasure with the American government’s new legislation designed to cut down on Chinese immigration (in Immigration).

The “Project Idea” sections list activities such as making a scrapbook reflecting the plight of children during the Industrial Revolution, in the book of that title, and designing an exhibit featuring a world monument (The Statue of Liberty). Students are also provided with tips for project success.

“What Do You Think?” prompts critical thinking by posing questions that require varying degrees of content analysis: “Why did the Continental Congress issue the Declaration of Independence?” (The Declaration of Independence) and “What is the connection between immigration and discrimination? Do you think it is possible to have one without the other?” (Immigration).

“Show What You Know” quizzes readers with several multiple-choice questions. Scores are recorded and stored in the digital locker along with items that have been bookmarked and highlighted.

Educators have access to a “Resources and Tools” area in addition to the regular content where lesson plans, quizzes, and writing prompts are stored. Whiteboard activities create dynamic opportunities to reinforce unit content using interactive time lines, maps, and people-identification activities. Four writing prompts included with each unit encourage imaginative thinking as well as require solid comprehension of content. For example, in Abraham Lincoln, one question posed is: “If you could interview Abraham Lincoln, what questions would you ask him? Write a question-and-answer column that includes four questions and four possible responses from Lincoln based on your reading.” Guidelines for grading follow the prompts.

Verdict A streamlined, intuitive design and smart, interactive features make Freedomflix ideal for enhancing 21st century-literacy and technology skills. Opportunities for users to tailor their Freedomflix experience make the resource useful when meeting a variety of learning speeds and styles. Content is solid, engaging, and age-appropriate. Freedomflix is a gold medal winner.

Jennifer Prince, jennifer.prince@buncombe county.org, is a librarian at the Fairview branch of Buncombe County Public Libraries, NC, and an SLJ reviewer.

Let’s face it. Who hasn’t struggled with Shakespeare? Sourcebooks’ “Shakesperience” iBooks, which build on their earlier print plus CD series, are designed to remedy this problem by helping readers connect with the playwright’s texts more easily and more deeply. Othello (Sourcebooks, 2012; Gr 9 Up; $5.99) catapults users from a colorful book cover image directly into act 1, scene I on a screen designed to look like the double-page spread of an open book. Indexes and navigation icons are hidden until the top of the screen is touched.

The text drives the iPad experience: behind words and phrases highlighted in blue are explanatory notes, and by the second page turn, users will discover audio scene introductions by the renowned Shakespearian actor Sir Derek Jacobi, and short, read-along audio recordings by notable stage and film actors. Comparative audio renditions of actors performing carefully selected classic lines (Paul Robeson, John Kani, and Hugh Quarshie as Othello and Emma Fielding and Uta Hagen as Desdemona, etc.), bonus archival recordings by F. Scott Fitzgerald and Edwin Booth, and video clips from live performances will enhance viewers’ engagement with the play.

Additional layers of information include galleries of captioned stage black-and-white and full-color photographs; costume and set renderings; production notes; authoritative articles providing historical context; and interviews with actors, directors, and a voice coach. Tools for note-taking, highlighting, and bookmarking are available, as are embedded definitions and a searchable glossary of more than 1400 terms. A table of contents aids access. For teachers and students, as well as all of those who missed the brilliance of Shakespeare the first time around, The Shakesperience: Othello, is a dream come true.—Kathleen Wilson, New York University, NY, NY

In an app that will appeal to even the most reluctant of students, Touch Press has assembled a brilliant team of scholars and actors to produce the equivalent of an undergraduate course in Shakespeare’s sonnets. Each of the 154 selections in The Sonnets by William Shakespeare (also by Illuminations, The Arden Shakespeare, Faber and Faber Ltd; 2012; Gr 11Up; $13.99) begins with a video recording of an actor’s recitation of the work delivered by Stephen Fry, Patrick Stewart, Fiona Shaw, or another noted performer. As the verse is presented, users can choose to view the performance full-screen, or read the work as the corresponding text is highlighted. Additional notes analyze individual lines.

Don Paterson provides commentary for each sonnet, and contributes to the fascinating section titled, “Perspectives.” Here students will gain a better understanding of Shakespeare’s contribution to the form, discover speculative theory about his sexuality, and learn the origins of original pronunciation. Cicely Berry shares thoughts on how academics have “stolen the sound of Shakespeare from us” in that people feel they “must” study him to appreciate the language of his work. Author Katherine Duncan-Jones considers the use of the sonnet to explore private emotions without the use of puns and wit. There are also a few discussions about the true authorship of the verses.

Every “Perspectives” entry is composed of text and a corresponding video. These unpretentious, you-are-there conversations allow users to feel connected to the sonnet as a form, and illuminate the meaning and intent of the works. Shakespeare’s narrative poem, “A Lover’s Complaint” is also given attention. The app includes a text-only category of notes from The Arden Shakespeare offering information on context and illusion and the reception and criticism of the selections, but that section and the facsimile of the 1609 edition of the Sonnets pale in comparison to the video-rich resources.

Large buttons on the home page link each section, and sonnets can be accessed by actor or number. A scroll feature on a top menu bar allows users to move through a list of the poems. Students and teachers will want to watch the videos multiple times, in English classes, as well as theater class for its acting suggestions. An essential purchase for upper-level literature classes and anyone interested in Shakespeare performance.—Pamela Schembri, Newburgh Enlarged City Schools, Newburgh, NY

Like many of you, several of our teachers started the new school year wanting to broaden the way they instruct their students. Here are a couple of examples of teachers who have successfully flipped their classrooms or used online techniques to give their students feedback.

The flipped classroom concept is simple: instruct students when they’re not in the classroom and use face-to-face class time to support them and give them resources. One of my talented social studies teachers is doing just that. She has created instructional and informational videos that her students read and view when they’re out of class. She and I have worked together, experimenting with different ways to get information to kids. We’ve tried using Vimeo, the new Educator channel on Youtube, Schooltube, and screencasts straight from her MacBook—and she provides her outside-the-classroom students with links, assigned readings, and instructional videos so that time in the classroom can be used to support students doing homework or assessment projects. The results have been fabulous! She’s seen her students engaged and interested and parents have been extremely positive, too.

For quite some time now, our English teachers have been having their students submit work through Google Docs. Several teachers use it to give their kids feedback (thanks to a great blog post by Amy Mayer). We use a combination of Google Docs, Jing, and Screener to give students feedback on their assignments. Here’s how it works: students submit their work to Google Docs, and then their teachers read and assess it online and record their evaluations on a screencast. Teachers then post a link to the screencast on the Google document so that kids can review their comments. If you have SMARTBoard software, this process is even easier with SMART Recorder.

Don’t forget, as librarians we have opportunities to use these techniques, too. In fact, much of our instruction can take place outside the classroom. Consider making videos to show your students how to use databases, create citations, evaluate websites, and avoid plagiarism. You can post these videos to your website so kids can access the information whenever they need it. Even if you’ve already presented this information in the classroom, students will still find this additional reinforcement extremely helpful.

Make sure to post your work in a visible location and link it widely. Consider using new tools such as Mentormob and the new Google Course Builder to post your pathfinders and videos. Online instruction can play an increasingly vital role in your teaching. Consider trying one of these techniques today!

In the market for a comprehensive, curriculum-friendly online resource? Shop no more. Rosen PowerKids’s impressive five decades’ worth of science knowledge is now updated and available in a logically arranged digital format. PowerKnowledge provides content in three lively databases—Earth and Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science—that are tailored toward the curricular needs and the interests of young readers. All entries are “correlated to state and national science curriculum standards, and Canadian provincial learning outcomes,” which makes the material sound dry, but via this vehicle, it is made entertaining using multimedia, games, and more.

PowerKnowledge science suite

www.pklifescience.com;
www.pkearthandspace.com;
pkphysicalscience.com

Grade Level 3-6.

Cost Pricing for one of these databases is tiered based on population size (in schools) or number of cardholders (in public libraries) and starts at $595 per school or library for a one-year subscription. It is also possible to arange bundled pricing for the Suite; this is also based on population or number of cardholders and starts at $1,495 per school or library for a one-year subscription. Discounts are available for multiple sites and/or district subscriptions, and for multiple years.

Overview These databases, which are iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch, and netbook compatible, cover all things science in three parts: Earth and Space Science, Life Science, and Physical Science. Users can easily toggle from one database to another through any of the URLs listed above, or cross-search the ones to which the library has subscribed. The triad is jam-packed with information and its uniform presentation goes far in the way of organizing what could otherwise be an overwhelming amount of material. Simple fonts; large text; bright colors; images, video, and text-to-speech features; and hands-on activities are sure to pique and keep the interest of millennials. The clean layout encourages browsing, which will undoubtedly result in stronger digital literacy and understanding of scientific concepts.

How It Works Dive in by clicking on any category in the left navigation bar of the homepage. The browse screen displays all categories there, allowing users to switch between subject areas with ease. Physical Science, for example, offers the opportunity to explore topics such as “Atoms and Molecules,” “Force and Motion,” and “Scientific Method.” After selecting and clicking on a category, a subcategories and articles menu appears, equipped with a thumbnail image, a title, and a double arrow symbol. Clicking on any subcategory leads to another level of options and related articles—”Force and Motion,” for example, leads to choices including “Gravity,” “Motion in Our World,” and “Isaac Newton and Laws of Motion,” each of which features several articles. The choices often become quite specific: browsing the Life Science database category “Animals” leads to such riches as nine subcategories of bears under “Mammals.” The articles comprise short chunks of narrative text and multimedia that are accessed by a linked table of contents to the left of the screen.

Students who aren’t sure where to start or who haven’t finalized a research topic can enter any term into the can’t-miss-it search box at the top of the browse screen and a hit-list showcasing images with captions accompanies the listed text results. The variety and number of results are bound to inspire ideas.

Layout The PowerKnowledge homepage highlights hands-on activities that are constantly revised. Returning to the homepage from anywhere in the site is as simple as clicking the PowerKnowledge logo on the upper-left corner of any page.

All articles are laid out in the same format to allow for easy reading and navigation. The content is general but engaging. Each article contains a “Find Out More” section with websites and annotated further-reading lists. Entries conclude with citations in both MLA and APA formats, a welcome addition for students. The left side of each page features “print” and “email” buttons, and each article also includes a glossary.

Additional Features Include

Take a Closer Look sections that offer high-energy videos designed to make the subject come alive for viewers. The “Learn More” features link to related articles within the database.

Check It Out! provides unique factoids and trivia to attract and educate students.

Brain Teasers invite users to self-test their subject knowledge, with answers and further information immediately provided.

Vote Now! solicits user opinions. Again, poll results are immediately displayed.

Games includes a wide array of compelling, educational activities to reinforce skills and content. (Note: Users must have Flash 9 or higher installed in order to play).

Science Fair Projects and Activities Oriented toward inculcating the scientific method into the learning process, projects and experiments are suggested, including step-by-step guidance toward accomplishing a successful science fair project.

Notable Features “Resources for Teachers and Librarians” supplies everything from print-and-label sheets to lesson plans and from usage statistics to sign up for a PowerKnowledge newsletter that offers programming ideas and more. Librarians wishing to further promote their databases will appreciate the buttons and widgets that can be used as lively ways to link to these resources from the library’s website. A “Curriculum Correlations” feature allows the instructor to select a state or province, subject, and grade level, and have pertinent articles presented.

The databases’ text-to-speech function offers read-aloud service for the benefit of ESL students and new readers. Although the voice is robotic and the cadence a bit startling, text is highlighted in concert with the reading, replacing the need for a finger or a bouncing red ball to follow along.

Verdict PowerKnowledge goes far beyond what students are used to in traditional science textbooks and print series nonfiction. All the latest bells and whistles are here; the resources are encylopedic in scope, lively, and overflowing with visual stimulus and cool audio (check out, for example, the “Hear it!” feature in Life Science’s animal descriptions). This highly interactive tool offers ease of usability for students and is attractively packaged to foster their desire to learn more, and has plenty to hook librarians and teachers. A sure hit.

Christina Connolly, formerly a reference librarian at NYPL, is a volunteer at the Midland Street School library, Worcester, MA.

Financial Literacy covers everything from personal and household finance to market economics and globalization. With a growing emphasis on financial education and planning, the database makes economics and money management easy to understand and highly engaging. Teen CyberSmarts is the latest in Rosen’s ground-breaking interactive ebook collection. Companion to the award-winning CyberSmarts program for elementary schools, Teen CyberSmarts gives middle and high school students hands-on experience in navigating the online world in a safe, controlled environment. The Teen CyberSmarts also helps meet CIPA requirements to ensure federal funding through the E-rate program. To start exploring, visit Financial Literacy and Teen CyberSmarts and enter the username “sljteen1″ and the password “sljteen1.”

In his article “Curiosity Killed,” Neal Taparia, co-founder of citation creator EasyBib, says that the most-cited source on his site is Wikipedia and “five other top 20 sources [that] are also user-generated websites, including Wiki Answers and Yahoo Voices.” Taparia believes that students’ reliance on Google and Wikipedia “means two things: 1. Students are not questioning the authority of what they find on the Internet. They take information at face value. 2. Student research is incredibly shallow.” Students tend to click on the first two or three hits and don’t question the reliability or authority of the information they find.

Many of our teachers are like those described in the Pew survey. They find themselves spending most of their time persuading students to search beyond Wikipedia, YouTube, and Answers.com to find valid, reliable information. This is a great incentive for teachers to schedule a session with their teacher librarian before they make their next research paper assignment!

And all teachers, regardless of their subject areas, need to stop telling students they don’t have to cite information from other sources. We need to hold kids accountable for where they access information, and teach them the importance of evaluating the quality of their sources. That’ll encourage them to use information from a reliable source—rather than just cutting and pasting from Google and calling it research.

If the research process makes teachers nervous, librarians can and should play a vital role in teaching their students how to navigate sources. Librarians can show students how to patiently and persistently search for valid, reliable, and difficult-to-find online sources. Librarians can work with teachers as they teach students how to think critically and question information to obtain a deeper level of understanding. Librarians can also assist students in compiling their works-cited or reference pages. Librarians can even teach them how to avoid plagiarism!