Paraskevas, Michael. MR. MOON

Paraskevas, Michael.  MR. MOON
New York : Crown Books for Young Readers, 2016
IL K-3, RL 3.0
ISBN 0399549927
While you are sleeping, there is a lot of work being done to get the world ready for the new day.  There are clouds that need to be fluffed and stars to dance.  Mr. Moon helps light the way and keeps watch over everything.


Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/NQdwpei3NitOl

Moses, Will. FAIRY TALES FOR LITTLE FOLKS

Moses, Will.  FAIRY TALES FOR LITTLE FOLKS
New York : Viking, 2015
IL K-3, RL 4.7
ISBN 0451472837

Are you a big fan of fairy tales?  Or maybe you are just discovering them.  Here is a collection of some of favorite fairy tales for you to enjoy.  From Little Red Riding Hood to Puss in Boots, sit down and escape into the world of fairy tales.



Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/WdEDW6CZP9gkb

Moreillon, Judi. READY AND WAITING FOR YOU

Moreillon, Judi.  READY AND WAITING FOR YOU
Grand Rapids, MI : Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2013
IL K-3, RL 4.7
ISBN 0802853552

The first day of school can be a scary time.  Especially if you don't know anyone.  How wonderful it would be if you are greeted by many of the people you will see all day. And that is what this book is all about.  From the bus driver, to the students, to the staff, they are all waiting for you.  So come on in.

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/8WI5iNfgdEL1b

Martin, Emily Winfield. THE LITTLEST FAMILY'S BIG DAY

Martin, Emily Winfield.  THE LITTLEST FAMILY'S BIG DAY
New York : Random House, 2016
IL K-3
ISBN  0553511017
Meet the littlest family. They have just moved in to a new home in the forest.  They decide to go exploring their new surroundings.  What do you think they'll find?


Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/uOJgSQ7NOVayU

MacLachlan, Patricia. THE MOON'S ALMOST HERE

MacLachlan, Patricia. THE MOON'S ALMOST HERE
New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2016
IL K-3, RL 1.5
ISBN 1481420623
The day is just about done and the moon is almost here.  As a parent and child slowly make their way home, they get to see lots of animals getting ready for the night.   There are birds and sheep and other animals settling down for the night.  Come along for the walk as the day winds down and the moon comes out.


Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/Pq4lsTgXTuhFf43

Lampert, Diana Charlotte. SUITE FOR HUMAN NATURE

Lampert, Diana Charlotte.  SUITE FOR HUMAN NATURE
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016
IL K-3, RL 3.9
ISBN 9781416953739
Mother Nature had a job to do.  She tends the Earth and all the creatures in it.  She helps the plants, the animals and the humans.  She makes sure the seasons change when they are supposed to and everyone is happy.  Everyone except Mother Nature.   She longs for a child of her own so she created a little boy and called him Fear.  How do you think that turned out?

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/htSPoCcXx0hsu

Krasner, Barbara. THE MYSTERY OF AREA 51

Krasner, Barbara. THE MYSTERY OF AREA 51
Minneapolis, Minnesota : Abdo Publishing Company, 2016
IL 3-6, RL 6.6
ISBN  1680780220
Have you ever heard of Area 51?  It is a place in the state of Nevada that has had a very mysterious past.  It is a top secret site that has been known as an area where advanced airplanes have been developed for the military.  It is also believed to be the site of a UFO landing many years ago.  People believe that the UFO was captured along with its crew and have been held in secret.  What is the truth to all this?  See what you think.

Podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/dUSMoJ2qphLWz

Holm, Jennifer L. LITTLE BABYMOUSE AND THE CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES

Holm, Jennifer L. LITTLE BABYMOUSE AND THE CHRISTMAS CUPCAKES
New York : Random House, 2016
IL K-3, RL 2.1
ISBN 1101937432
It is Christmas and Little Babymouse has eaten all the Christmas cookies that are meant for Santa.  Not wanting to risk not getting a present from Santa, she comes up with a plan.  She and her Mom will bake cupcakes.  That will be a lot better than cookies!  Santa will be so pleased.  Do you think this is going to go well?

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/sDoIvJrusHFv7

Fan, Terry. THE NIGHT GARDENER

Fan, Terry.
THE NIGHT GARDENER
New York : Simon and Schuster, 2016
IL K-3 ,RL 3.2
ISBN 1481439782

Life on Grimloch Lane is pretty grim as you can imagine.  But that is all about to change.  When William wakes up one monring, he looks outside and sees that the tree has been sculpted into an owl.  Each morning another tree or plant has been trimmed to look like a different animal.  This is called a topiary.  But who is doing this?
Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/ZYJ3ir9VFMcFK

Hood, Susan. ADA'S VIOLIN : THE STORY OF THE RECYCLED ORCHESTRA OF PARAGUAY

Hood, Susan.  ADA'S VIOLIN : THE STORY OF THE RECYCLED ORCHESTRA OF PARAGUAY
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016
IL K-3, RL 4.0
ISBN 1481430955
Ada lives in a slum.  It is one of the poorest towns in Paraguay.  The town is actually made up of trash. Every day trucks arrive to dump more and more trash.  And everyday, the people of the town sort through the trash looking for things they can use or sell.  Ada is only 8 so she cannot become one of the a recyclers yet.  She and her sister wander through the town and watch the older boys who have joined gangs.  But this is all about to change.  A man who is new to the town has offered free music lessons to children who are interested.  Of course Ada is but there is a big problem.  More than 20 kids sign up and there are only three guitars and two violins.  Would this just be another disappointment to Ada?

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/nMxesEvSqb9ut

Hofmann-Maniyar, Ariane. ICE IN THE JUNGLE

Hofmann-Maniyar, Ariane.  ICE IN THE JUNGLE
New York : Child's Play Inc., 2015
IL K-3, RL 2.0
ISBN 1846437318
Ice is a little polar bear who lives in the snowy north.  One day her mother tells her that they are going to move since she got a new job.  Ice is not very happy about leaving her friends and her home but she really has no choice.  When they get to their new home, it is so hot.  And the kids are very different from her friends.  And even the food is strange.  Will Ice ever find a way to fit in?


Podcasts: https://spark.adobe.com/video/Yl9UuXWCzwqsv

Crow, Kristyn. HELLO, HIPPO! GOODBYE, BIRD!

Crow, Kristyn.  HELLO, HIPPO! GOODBYE, BIRD!
New York : Knopf, 2016
IL K-3, RL 0.9
ISBN 055350990X
Have you ever met someone who is a bit annoying?  Maybe the other person wants to be friends but you just think they are annoying.  That's what happens here.  Bird wants to be Hippo's friend but Hippo just wants to be left alone.  No matter how hard he tries, Hippo wants nothing to do with Bird.  Can anything bring these two together?

Podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/C4Nrx3BAi0Zu6

Cronin, Doreen. BLOOM

Cronin, Doreen.  BLOOM
New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2016
IL K-3, RL 4.2
ISBN 1442406208
Bloom is a fairy who once lived in a great kingdom.  But she was messy and she left muddy footprints all over the kingdom and was always being criticized for being so messy.  She had enough so she left.  Now, the kingdom is falling apart.  It is being held together by duct tape and peasants.  The king decides he needs to find the fairy who used to take care of the kingdom.  When the king fails, the queen tries to find her.  But she too fails.  So they send an ordinary girl to find the magic.  But what can an ordinary girl do to help?

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/r1S7qv-h

Cirrone, Dorian. THE FIRST LAST DAY

Cirrone, Dorian.

THE FIRST LAST DAY
New York : Aladdin, 2016
IL 3-6, RL 6.0
ISBN 1481458132

Haleigh Adams is on vacation and loving it.  Her family has rented a cottage on *the Jersey Shore and they will be moving to a new home in the fall.  She has made a new friend, Kevin, and hopes to keep in touch.  Kevin's grandmother owns a cottage and Kevin spends the summer with her.  On the day before they are all about to leave, a tragedy strikes.  Haleigh wishes this never happened.  When she wakes up the next day, she finds that none of it did happen.  She is reliving this day over.  She hopes to find a way to avoid the tragedy but is that even possible.  She finds that she is reliving the day over and over and over again.  What is going on here?

podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/7NKzG7P8H1m9n

Geist, Christina. BUDDY'S BEDTIME BATTERY

Geist, Christina. BUDDY'S BEDTIME BATTERY
New York : Random House, 2016
IL K-3, RL 3.7
ISBN 0553513397

Dressed in his robot pjs, Buddy declares he is not a boy.  He is a robot..  But it is bedtime for robots.  He needs to power down to get ready for the snuggle pod.  Come along with Ro-Buddy as he powers down each part of his body to get ready for bed.


Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/5zRMB7LyGvaUV

George, Kallie. THE LOST GIFT : A CHRISTMAS STORY

George, Kallie.  THE LOST GIFT : A CHRISTMAS STORY
New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, 2016
IL K-3, RL 2.1
ISBN 055352481X


It's Christmas eve in the forest and the animals are looking at the sky.  They can't believe when they see Santa flying by.  How exciting.  But wait.  Something has fallen off Santa's sleigh.  It is a present for the new baby.  The animals decide that they must find this baby and deliver the gift.  But how will that be possible?

Podcasts: https://spark.adobe.com/video/nAuWz7adfViZT

Godwin, Laura. OWL SEES OWL

Godwin, Laura. OWL SEES OWL
New York : Schwartz & Wade, 2016
IL K-3
ISBN 0553497820

A baby owl decides it is time to leave the safety of the nest and go exploring.          Come along and visit the places in the forest with baby owl.

Podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/A8WpxRqCP6okG

Gravett, Emily. BEAR & HARE, WHERE'S BEAR?

Gravett, Emily.  BEAR & HARE, WHERE'S BEAR?
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016
IL K-3 RL 0.7
ISBN 1481456156


Do you like to play hide and seek?  Do you like to be the one hiding or the one seeking?  Do you know some good hiding places?  Bear and Hare are playing and Bear is the one to hide.  When Hare counts to 10, he goes to find Bear.  Where do you think he hides?

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/9YydDmeRKQUVL

Giff, Patricia Reilly. JUBILEE

Giff, Patricia Reilly. JUBILEE
New York : Wendy Lamb, 2016
IL 3-6, RL 3-6
ISBN 0385744862
Judith lives on a island with her Aunt Cora.  Her mother left her years ago and she has lived with Aunt Cora since.  Judith has not seen her mother since then and she has not spoken a single word since then.  The doctors say she has selective mutism.  This means that she is physically able to speak but not emotionally able to       speak.  The kids make fun of her and she has no friends.  But maybe 5th grade will be better.  Maybe this is the year she'll make a friend. And discover more about herself.

Podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/qKWgEXGttsSxE

Dumont, Jean-Franciois.  I AM A BEAR
Grand Rapids MI : Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2015.
IL K-3, RL 2.8
ISBN  0802854478“I don’t know how I got here…All I know is that one morning I woke up here, on this street, and I haven’t left it since.” A bear is lost in the city.  He lives in cardboard boxes and his coat is old and patched.  No one wants to be his friend.  He has trouble finding food to eat or anyone to talk to.  When a little girl sits down beside him, she decides he looks like a teddy bear and begins to visit him every day.

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/AT8bZD2Y2ih2h 

Dylan, Bob. IF NOT FOR YOU

Dylan, Bob.  IF NOT FOR YOU
New York : Atneneum Books for Young Readers, 2016
IL K-3, RL 1.0
ISBN 1451648812

Back in 1970, musician Bob Dylan wrote a beautiful love song.  "If not for you // Babe, I couldn't find the door / Couldn't even see the floor / I'd be sad and blue / If not for you."  Now it is available to share as a beautiful picture book.  What are you thankful for from those you love?  What makes your life better?

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/HeveJOFe5DDS6

Ehrlich, Amy. WILLA : THE STORY OF WILLA CATHER, AN AMERICAN WRITER

Ehrlich, Amy.  WILLA : THE STORY OF WILLA CATHER, AN AMERICAN WRITER
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2016
IL 3-6, IL 5.6
ISBN 0689865732
American novelist Willa Cather was born in 1873 in Virginia.  Her family moved to Nebraska when she was young and she loved the wide prairie but soon decided she needed more in her life.  She went to college and wanted to be a doctor but opportunities took her on a different path.  She found work on a newspaper and then became an editor with a publisher in New York.  She loved living in New York but knew she wanted still more.  She found her calling as a writer and found that the prairie life of her childhood was what she loved writing about. 

Podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/RnuKKuNG3PW7E 

Farish, Terry.  LUIS PAINTS THE WORLD
New York : Carolrhoda, 2016
IL K-3, RL 2.1
ISBN 1467757969
Luis is upset because his older brother is about to leave home to join the military.   He doesn't know why Nico would want to leave home.  Nico explains that he is off to see the world and will be home when he can.  Luis decides to paint a mural on the back wall so Nico can see the world without leaving home.  As Nico sends pictures home, Luis adds them to the mural.  Will he be able to paint the world for Nico?


Podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/Yhh4gqU2m0gMC

Brisson, Pat. BENNY'S PENNIES

Brisson, Pat.  BENNY'S PENNIES
New York : Dell Dragoknfly, 1993
IL K-3, RL 1.8
ISBN  0440410169
Benny has five shinny new pennies.  He has plans to find what he wants to buy.  Everyone he talks to has a different idea of what he should spend his pennies on.  Should he listen to his mother, or his sister, or should he just buy something for himself? 



Podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/925r8pQrrFofo

Brown, Marc Tolon. MONKEY : NOT READY FOR THE BABY

Brown, Marc Tolon.
MONKEY : NOT READY FOR THE BABY
New York : Knopf, 2016
IL K-3, RL 1.9
ISBN 1101933275
Monkey loves being the youngest child in the family.  So when he finds out that his mother is having another baby, he is none too happy.  What does it mean to be a big brother?  How will life change for him?


Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/A1oUo6iFsbu7G

DePaola, Tomie. ANDY & SANDY'S ANYTHING ADVENTURE

DePaola, Tomie.
ANDY & SANDY'S ANYTHING ADVENTURE
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2016
IL K-3, RL 1.4
ISBN 1481441574
Andy invites Sandy to come over to play.  Should they play checkers?  Or maybe dinosaurs?  What about dress=up?  What will these two friends come up with?


Podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/rkv2Zp1fx

DePaola, Tomie. WHEN ANDY MET SANDY

DePaola, Tomie.
WHEN ANDY MET SANDY
New York : Simon & Schuster, 2016
IL K-3, RL 1.4
ISBN 1481441551
When Andy and Sandy first meet on the playground, neither of them think that they could ever be friends.  Andy is quiet and shy while Sandy is very loud and outgoing.  But this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship!

Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/Hke6pnyGx

Carle, Eric. THE NONSENSE SHOW

Carle, Eric.
THE NONSENSE SHOW
New York : Philomel Books, 2015
IL K-3, RL 1.4
ISBN 039917687X
Nonsense I say.  How can this be?  I dare you to pick up this book and not get a giggle out of the Nonsense Show. Where else will you find a rabbit pulling a child out of a hat? Or a mouse chasing a cat.  What else can you find in this ridiculous book?

podcast:http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/carle_nonsense.mp3

Burleigh, Robert. SOLVING THE PUZZLE UNDER THE SEA : MARIE THARP MAPS THE OCEAN FLOOR

Burleigh, Robert.
SOLVING THE PUZZLE UNDER THE SEA : MARIE THARP MAPS THE OCEAN FLOOR
New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2016
IL K-3, RL 4.4
ISBN 1481416006
I love finding books that tell me about people I would never have heard about.  This is the story of a woman named Marie Tharp.  She lived at a time when women were not encouraged to learn about science.  But she was fascinated by maps.  Her father was a map maker and she often helped him.  She was curious about what was under the ocean.  No one knew.  Was it flat or were there mountains that no one could see?  She wanted to know but no one would let her go out and explore.  That didn't stop her though.  Find out how she used science to not only map the ocean floor, but to prove an important theory about the earth.
http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/burleigh_solving.mp3

Aguirre, Zurine. SARDINES OF LOVE

Aguirre, Zurine.
SARDINES OF LOVE
New York : Child's Play, 2015
IL K-3,
ISBN  184643727X
Lolo loves, loves, loves sardines. He eats them every single day.  His wife, Lola, hates sardines but she sells them at the fish shop and she cooks them for her husband.  One day, Lola accidentally sells all the sardines in the shop.  What is she going to serve Lolo?  Maybe she can catch some sardines if she tries.  But she certainly doesn't expect what happens next! 

Podcast:   http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/aquirre_sardines.mp3

Rockwell, Anne F. LIBRARY DAY

Rockwell, Anne F. LIBRARY DAY

Rockwell, Anne F.
LIBRARY DAY
New York : Aladdin Books, 2016
IL K-3, RL 3.8
ISBN 1481427318
Do you go to the public library with your parents?  This is story of Don who is going to the new library with his father. Don thinks there are just books in the library but he soon finds out there is much more to do.  First he goes to story hour and enjoys the books the librarians share.  He even makes a new friend.  While he is choosing some books to take home, he sees a lot more activity going on.  How many of these have you seen in your library?
Podcast:  http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/rockwell_library.mp3

DiCamillo, Kate. RAYMIE NIGHTINGALE

DiCamillo, Kate.
RAYMIE NIGHTINGALE
Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2016
IL 5-8, RL 4.2
ISBN 0763681172

Raymie Clarke is standing outside Ida Nee's waiting for her baton twirling lesson to begin.  But what she doesn't know is that this will be the start of a new chapter in her life.  She wants to learn to twirl the baton so she can enter the Little Miss Central Florida Tire 1975 competition since she believes that this will bring her father back.  He ran away with a dental hygienist and now Raymie is miserable.  Two other girls are there for the baton lesson as well.  Beverly, a tough kid whose father is a cop, and Louisiana who passes out at the first lesson.  What could these three possibly have in common?  And will they ever learn to twirl the baton?

podcast:  https://spark.adobe.com/video/H1N3SMu4

Six Kids and a Stuffed Cat by Gary Paulsen

Paulsen, Gary.
SIX KIDS AND A STUFFED CAT
New York : Simon & Schuster Books, 2016
IL 3-6, RL 6.0
ISBN 1481452231

Six 8th grade boys are stuck in the boys' room during a weather lock down.  Five of the boys have known each other for years but have not really taken the time to find out what makes each other tick. There is the class clown who spends many afternoons in detention; the hostile one; the brainy one, the big man on campus; the spaced out rocker dude and there is also the new kid who has just slept through his first day at the school.  As the time passes during the lock down, the boys talk and find out much about each other.



Podcast: https://spark.adobe.com/video/Hk9fyCGN

Book of the day 06/02/2016

The Fog Diver by Joel Ross

Ross, Joel.

THE FOG DIVER 

New York : Harper, 2015

Imagine a time on Earth where deadly mists cover the land, and all but the highest mountaintops are uninhabitable. In this world, the rich and powerful live in beautiful houses on the high ground, while the poor struggle to survive on the lower slopes. Poorest of all are the ones who must make their living by entering the mists to recover leftover scraps from the world that existed there before, to sell to the scrap merchants above. It is children who seem to be able to resist the poison of the mist longer than the adults, so into the mists they go to support their families…. Thirteen-year-old Chess and his crew of fellow children sail in a rickety air ship just above the mist, with Chess “diving” into the fog to retrieve items for sale. Thanks to the expertise of the crew and the fact that Chess seems to resist the poison of the mist more easily than anyone else, they run a fairly successful business. But things are changing---Mrs. E, the woman who has been the closest thing to a mother the crew has ever known, is becoming ill, and they must leave their usual hunting grounds to find a cure for her. Maybe even worse, the powerful Lord Kodoc has taken notice of Chess’s abilities---and seems determined to make him a captive. Will Chess and the crew manage to evade the powerful warships of Lord Kodoc in time to find a cure for Mrs. E? If you like non-stop action and wonderful characters who inhabit a fully imagined world, you will love The Fog Diver. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 06/01/2016

Pax by Sara Pennypacker

Pennypacker, Sara. '

PAX 

New York : Balzer + Bray, 2016 

IL 3-6, 

RL 5.7 

ISBN 0062377019 

Pax is the word for peace in Latin. Through the ancient and modern world, the word pax has many associations. In this book, Pax is the name given to an orphaned fox kit adopted by a boy named Peter. In the beginning of the story, Peter is made to return the tame fox to the wild because his father has enlisted in the military. Peter is sent to live with his grandfather 300 miles away. As soon as he arrives, Peter knows his place is with Pax. So instead of starting at his new school at his grandfather’s house, Peter packs his backpack for the long journey back to find Pax. Meanwhile, Pax is learning the ways of the wild the forest. Can Peter find his way back to Pax in a land where war is breaking out? With the help of a new friend, Peter may just discover the way that leads to Pax. (Booktalk by New Hampshire Great Stone Face Committee)

tags: podcasts elementary blueduke gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/31/2016

Soar by Joan Bauer

Bauer, Joan. 

SOAR 

New York : Viking, 2016 

IL 5-8, RL 4.0 

ISBN 0451470346 

Jeremiah is a huge baseball fan. Nobody knows his exact birth date or who his mother is. He was nine months old when he was found sitting in his baby chair chewing on a stuffed eagle in the snack room of Computer Partners Ltd. A note was left that said: “pleez tek car of him Bcaz he my best boy I know yur good!” Jeremiah was found by Walt Lopper a computer engineer with a heart as big as his brain. Walt eventually adopted Jeremiah. When Jeremiah was eight years old he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition that would lead to a heart transplant. Jeremiah had to give up playing baseball but not the game he loves. A new consulting job takes Jeremiah and Walter to Hillcrest, Ohio home of the champion Hornets High School baseball team. Soon after Jeremiah arrives in Hillcrest, tragedy and scandal threaten the future of baseball in the town. Join Jeremiah and his new friends on this page turning adventure to bring baseball back to Hillcrest and make the newly formed Hillcrest Junior High Eagles baseball team soar! (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/30/2016

Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

Sands, Kevin. 

BLACKTHORN KEY 

New York : Aladdin, 2015 

IL 5-8, RL 5.0 

ISBN 1481446517 

 “I found it. “Master Benedict said he wasn’t the least bit surprised. According to him, there were several times over the past three years when he was sure I’d finally discovered it. Yet it wasn’t until the day before my 14th birthday that it came to me so clearly, I thought God himself had whispered it in my ear. “My master believes occasions like this should be remembered. So, as he ordered, I’ve written down my formula. My master suggested the title. The Stupidest Idea in the Universe By Christopher Rowe, Apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn, Apothecary Method of manufacture: Snoop through your master’s private notes. Find a recipe, its words locked behind a secret code, and decipher it. Next, steal the needed ingredients from your master’s stores. Finally— and this is the most important step— go to your best friend, a boy of stout character and poor judgment equal to your own, and speak these words: Let’s build a canon.” Christopher Rowe rather enjoys his life as an Apothecary’s apprentice, uncovering the mysteries of different items and chemicals, and finding plenty of mischief along the way. But when a series of murders across the city strikes too close to home, Christopher is drawn into a world of cults and puzzles, and must use all his training to solve his master’s secrets… and possibly save the world. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face Committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke gsf elementary

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/29/2016

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Jamieson. Victoria. 

ROLLER GIRL 

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015 

 Ladies and Gentlemen! Your roller derby skaters tonight are: Thrilla Godzilla, Illegally Blonde, Rainbow Bite, Napoleon Blownapart, Braidy Punch, Slay Miserables, and… Astrid. Astrid is looking forward to another summer spent with her best friend, Nicole. They’ve done everything together since 1st grade. But when Astrid signs up for Roller Derby Camp, expecting Nicole to join her, she’s in for a shock. Nicole is already signed up for dance camp, along with their grade’s mean girl, and seems more interested in boys than skates. Now, Astrid faces a long summer of drills, training, bruises & falls, all without her best friend. But as the weeks go by, Astrid learns how not to fall over (usually), how to make a proper war face, and even makes a new friend. But former-best-friend drama and a summer of secrets from her mom catch up, and now Astrid must decide what she wants, and WHO she wants to be. (Booktalk by Great Stone Face Award Committee, 2017)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/28/2016

Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve

Reeve, Philip. 

PUGS OF THE FROZEN NORTH

New York : Random House, 2015

IL 3-6, RL 5.4

ISBN 0385387962

Abandoned after his ship is crushed by a flash-frozen sea, Shen finds himself alone on the ice with only 66 sweater-clad pugs. Determined to get himself AND all the dogs to safety, Shen finds shelter in a small seaside village, where a girl named Sika explains everything. True Winter, she tells him, comes only once in a lifetime, and signals the start of The Great Northern Race, where competitors try to reach the Snowfather, who will grant the winner one wish. Sika has her grandfather's sled but no dogs, so the two join forces, harness all 66 pugs, and set off. They face a monstrous Kraken, a Yeti noodle bar that is not what it seems, and a range of competitors with different strategies for winning the race… including cheating. Can our two heroes survive? What wish do they want granted? And can pugs really win an epic race across the frozen north? Find out, in Pugs of the Frozen North! (Booktalk by New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/27/2016

When Mischief Came To Town by Katrina Nannestad

Nannestad, Katrina. 

WHEN MISCHIEF CAME TO TOWN 

New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015 

IL 3-6, RL 6.4 '

ISBN 0544534328 

Wedged between a goat who nibbles at her braid and a cage full of pecking geese, ten-year-old Inge Maria Jensen is traveling by boat from Copenhagen to the Danish island of Bornholm. It’s 1911. Her mother has died, and she is headed to live with a grandmother she has never met. When Inge arrives, the island is not at all like the bustling city she grew up in, and her stern grandmother seems nothing like her lively, loving mother. Life is quiet, filled with chores and boring visits with grumpy old neighbors. Even worse is her new school, where there’s no fun to be had, not even in music or at recess. She seeks solace in her beloved book of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. But even in her grief, Inge Maria is curious about her new surroundings and isn’t able to contain her inner joy and zest for life, which sometimes causes her trouble. How was she to know she shouldn’t feed her grandmother’s pig prunes? And how could she stop herself from leaving her seat and hopping like a bunny when she was carried away by the song in music class? Perhaps Inge is just what the island of Bornholm needs. Filled with humor, love, and acceptance, this gem of a book begs to be read aloud, and the spunky character of Inge is one all readers will long remember. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke gsf elementary

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/26/2016

Escape From Baxter's Barn by Rebecca Bond

Bond, Rebecca. 

ESCAPE FROM BAXTER'S BARN

New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015

IL 3-6, RL 6.1

ISBN 0544332172

If you were a cow, you'd be better off living with Old MacDonald, or in the dell with the farmer and his wife–anywhere else but in the Baxter brothers' barn! The animals who do live in Baxters' barn are snug and happy until they learn from Burdock the one-eyed cat that Dewey, one of the brothers, is planning something terrible, something that puts them all in danger. Together they must come up with a way to escape the barn.Can Burdock, Figgy Piggy, Nanny the goat and her kid, Fluff the sheep, Mrs. Brown the cow, and the two draft horses Pull and Tug work together? Can they get out of the locked barn in time? The tension mounts as Dewey sets his plan in motion and each animal is forced to find its inner strength. Their fear is palpable, but so is the coziness of the barn with the rain on the roof and smell of hay and old wood. When they must leave, will they be ready? (Booktalk by New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/25/2016

• Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

  Castle Hangnail by Ursula VernonCastle Hangnail has a vacancy. It is in need of a wicked witch. Molly applies for the position. She is twelve years old and very polite. Polite!! Wicked witches need to be evil, rude and demanding. Molly does not look like witch material, but Castle Hangnail needs a new master right now. A castle with no master will be decommissioned and the castle minions will have no home. Maybe, with the minions help, Molly will fit the bill.

  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/20/2016

Pack of Dorks by Beth Vrabel

Vrabel, Beth. 

PACK OF DORKS 

New York : Sky Pony, 2014 '

Lucy and her best friend Becky have a plan. They are going to kiss their boyfriends behind the shed at recess. But at the last second, Lucy wants to change her mind. She doesn’t quite, but she doesn’t put her heart into that kiss either, and her boyfriend Tom can tell, but he gives her the dime store ring anyway. That night her mom gives birth to her new baby sister, but something isn’t quite ok with the baby, though nobody’s really telling Lucy what. She forgets that ring at the hospital, and when she comes back to school a few days later, just like that, Lucy is an outcast. Becky plays mean girl, Tom isn’t her boyfriend anymore, and Lucy has to find a new crowd to sit with at lunch, the dorks. With her super cool granny helping her navigate the messiness of 4th grade cliques and friendships and a great cast of characters, you’ll be glad you got to know this pack of dorks. (Booktalk by Great Stone Face Award Committee, 2017)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/19/2016

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen

Nielsen, Jennifer.

A NIGHT DIVIDED 

New York : Scholastic, 2015 

IL 3-6, RL 4.7 

ISBN 0545682428 

The year- 1961 The month – August The place- Germany Almost overnight, The Berlin Wall was erected and families were divided. Fast forward four years and meet 12 year old Gerta Lowe. Gerta’s family has been separated during this spance of time. Her father and older brother were stuck in West Berlin, while she remained in East Berlin with her mother and younger brother. One morning at the market Gerta sees her father on the other side of the wall performing a strange dance. Through dance, Gerta’s father sends a message. Though it takes time for Gerta to decode the meaning, she finally realizes he is telling her to escape. Gerta processes what this means and realizes the danger it posses for the family. Many have died trying to escape. Her desire to reunite her family is strong and her determination is unyielding. Follow Gerta as she plans her dangerous journey. How can a 12 year old escape soldiers, machine guns and tanks? How can she expect her mother and brother to join on this life threatening mission? Can Gerta succeed where many have failed? Read this heart stopping account of a child’s determination to bring her family together.

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/18/2016

Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey

Bailey, Linda.

SEVEN DEAD PIRATES 

New York : Tundra Books, 2015 

IL 3-6, RL 4.7 

ISBN 177049815X 

Lewis Dearborn’s life transforms after the death of his great grandfather. His parents inherit the great grandfather’s historic mansion, with one catch:....they must live in the mansion for a year before the estate may be sold. Lewis claims the tower room with an ocean view and life takes a ghostly turn. He soon finds there’s more to be discovered than windows that won’t latch, fishy odors, and strange noises that are hard to ignore. Indeed, he seems to have inherited seven pirate ghosts who perished two centuries ago, and a mission to help these feisty ghosts to cross over from the land of the living…. Lewis also discovers that the pirates become visible when they are scared or upset. How can he keep their presence secret as he walks the crew across town to where their ship sits in a museum, waiting to ferry them to the underworld? Who else will discover his secret?

tags: podcasts elementary blueduke gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Book of the day 05/17/2016

The Doublecross by Jackson Pearce

Pearce, Jackson. 

THE DOUBLECROSS 

New York : Bloomsbury, 2015 

IL 5-8, RL 4.9 

ISBN 1619634147 

Imagine coming from a family with a history of spying. Not just any spies, but members of the elite Sub Rosa Society, a government funded organization! Meet 12 year old Hale, who comes from such a family. Hale has tough shoes to fill, since his parents are known as “The Team” in this elite organization. However, even “The Team” can run into trouble. When his parents disappear during a top secret mission, Hale’s opportunity to do real spy work comes sooner than he could have imagined. Teaming up with his sister and unlikely league agents, Hale works as a junior double agent to try to unravel the mystery of his parent’s disappearance, sort out the good from the bad and pass his junior level spy test. Sharpen your best detective skills, and hang on through this wild, who done it mystery adventure. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.