September 17, 2013

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Pick of the Day: Sukey’s Circle (DVD)

sukeys circle

Sukey Molloy delivers 15 mini shows that encourage young children to play, sing, and move in Sukey’s Circle! Vol. 3, a DVD not to be missed.

Pick of the Day: Out of This Place (Audio)

out of this place

Three friends who want to leave high school and move on describe their anguish in Emma Cameron’s novel, Out of This Place, written in verse. Three narrators tell the story from alternating points of view. Read this starred review

Pick of the Day: Oblivion (Audio)

oblivion

Oblivion, the final book in Anthony Horowitz’s “The Gatekeepers” series, is read by Simon Prebbles who masterfully conveys the terror of a dangerous dystopian world. Read the starred review of this suspense-filled audiobook.

Pick of the Day: Nelson Mandela | DVD

nelson mandel kadir nelson

Kadir Nelson’s evocative biography of Nelson Mandela receives stellar treatment in this exceptional DVD presentation from Weston Woods. Forest Whitaker’s rich voice reads the story with background music and crowd sound effects that draw viewers in. Be sure to read the starred review.

Pick of the Day: Hero on a Bicycle | Audio

hero on a bicycle

Hero on a Bicycle is set in Italy in 1944 presents the story of a 13-year-old boy and his encounters with the Partisans in Nazi occupied Florence during World War II. Narrator Simon Vance’s incomparable vocal style is a perfect fit for this intense and suspenseful work of historical fiction. Check out the starred review of this audiobook.

Teens Review ‘Crash My Party’, ‘The Civil Wars’ | Music

The Civil Wars

Both Luke Bryan and The Civil Wars are award-winning country western artists. After all, what’s not to like about an album titled Crash My Party? But a mid-tour breakup has fans wondering if The Civil Wars will ever make another album. SLJ’s teen reviewers weigh in.

Multimedia Review | September 2013

Nelson Mandela, Kadir Nelson’s evocative biography for elementary grade students

The September Multimedia Review section features nearly70 reviews of DVDs, audiobooks, and children’s music CDs. Among the eight starred reviews are Constitution USA with Peter Sagal, a DVD that examines the document’s historical and contemporary contexts, and Nelson Mandela, Kadir Nelson’s evocative biography for elementary grade students.

Book/Multimedia Review Stars | September 2013

SLJ1309w_BK_Star_best

About words and writing.

Pick of the Day: Orphan Train Rider (Audio)

orphan train rider

In Orphan Train Rider: One Boy’s True Story, Andrea Warren tells about the amazing and often tragic westward journey of more than 200,000 children between 1854 and 1930 in search of families. Be sure to read the review of the audiobook narrated by Laura Hicks.

Pick of the Day: Darius & Twig (Audio)

darius and twig for eh

Darius and Twig both dream of leaving their poor neighborhood for better and safer lives. Narrator Brandon Gill does a great job differentiating between the two boys as they make their way through the obstacles set before them. Be sure to read the review of the audiobook version of Walter Dean Myers’s novel.

Pick of the Day: A Black Hole Is NOT a Hole (Audio)

blackhole is not a hole

Gravity, quasars, the formation of black holes, and the meaning of event horizon are just some of the ideas covered in the impressive scope of Carolyn Cinami DeCristofano’s A Black Hole Is NOT a Hole. Be sure to read the review of the audiobook version.

Pick of the Day: Listen to the Birds (Audio)

listen to the birds

The London Symphony Orchestra, the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Moscow, the Toronto Chamber Orchestra, and several other professional groups give instrumental voice to a wide variety of birds in excerpts from 20 classical pieces in Listen to the Birds. Read the starred review.

Marc Anthony Returns, Selena Gomez’s ‘Stars’, and More Zombies | Teens Review Music and Games

Stars Dance

Teens review something old (Marc Anthony’s return to his salsa roots), something new (rising star Selena Gomez), and something that just might scare the bejeezus out of you (The Walking Dead: 400 Days).

Pick of the Day: Big Mouth (DVD)

big mouth

Big Mouth is a quirky, creatively animated short about a girl who his brutally honest. Be sure to read the review of this DVD from National Film Board of Canada..

Pick of the Day: Big Test Success (DVD)

big test success

The 15 brief episodes in Big Test Success: Motivational Videos for Kids focus on how young children can become successful test takers by learning to relax, maintaining a positive attitude, eating healthy foods and exercising, and realizing that they don’t have to be perfect. Be sure to read the DVD review.

Pick of the Day: Monkey Monkey Music (DVD)

monkey monkey music lets all make a circle

Meridith LeVande’s DVD, Monkey Monkey Music: Let’s All Make a Circle, features 15 original songs that will get children up and moving.

Pick of the Day: The Last Flight of Petr Ginz (DVD)

last flight of petr ginz

The Last Flight of Petr Ginz is a unique biography of a Czech boy living during the Nazi occupation. The film is a powerful testament to a positive and talented young man.

Teens Review ‘Magnetic’, ‘The Blessed Unrest’, ‘NCAA Football 14′ | Music and Game Reviews

Magnetic

Teens from Floral Park (NY) Memorial High School review Sara Bareilles’ s and the Goo Goo Dolls’s latest albums, and the new NCAA Football 14 video game.

Book/Multimedia Review Stars List | August 2013

How to Train a Train (Eaton)
©2013 by John Rocco.

On trains, cooking, and volcanoes.

Multimedia Reviews | August 2013

LMNO Peas (Weston Woods)
©2010 by Keith Baker

The August issue features eight starred DVD and audio reviews, from the animated DVD version of Keith Baker’s incredibly inventive occupation-based alphabet book, LMNO Peas, to the audiobook edition of Holly Black’s Doll Bones, a tale of friendship and the trials of growing up set against the backdrop of a spooky ghost story, to Deep Sea Diver, an ocean-themed album of songs for kids performed by Recess Monkey. Be sure to check out all the starred reviews and visit Book Verdict for all the reviews in this month’s issue.