Off to Cris Tovani workshop

I am really excited about today. Cris Tovani is in town and our district has arranged for a few of us to have an all day workshop with her today. I would have liked to attend her public event last night but since I am invited to attend today, didn't want to use a seat that someone else could use. A couple of years ago, she had worked with teachers in our district for several days around her work on reading comprehension. Today, Cris is working with us around assessment.

Today's podcast is for Philip Reeve's Larklight. It is pure steampunk -- a genre I adore. I loved steampunk before I realized there was a name for the genre! And I love Reeve's novels.

Reeve, Philip
LARKLIGHT, OR, THE REVENGE OF THE WHITE SPIDERS!, OR, TO SATURN'S RINGS AND BACK! : A ROUSING TALE OF DAUNTLESS PLUCK IN THE FARTHEST REACHES OF SPACE

Art and Myrtle Mumby live with their father in a 19th century manor that just happens to be orbiting the earth. They live a rather prim and proper life and are not prepared when they are invaded by spiders. Not the kind you are used to. These are huge spiders. Fortunately they are able to escape but find themselves on the moon where they are captured by moths. Or it is just too horrible to tell. These things are just too awful to contemplate. You will just have to find out for yourself. Lovers of steampunk fiction should give this book a read.

http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/reeve_larklight.mp3