Friday, November 30, 2012

Today's podcast 11/30/2012

  • Kuhlman, Evan. BROTHER FROM A BOX New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 5.2 ISBN 1442426586 Matt’s computer genius father has a big surprise for the family. It’s a robot. It is actually a bionically modified lifeform. It sure looks human and even calls Matt his brother. Matt has to bring his new brother Norman to school with him and pretend he is normal. But Norman is a bit of an attention freak and just wants to show off. He even flirts with the girls. Matt isn’t sure what to think now. But when it seems as if some bad guys are out to steal Norman, Matt must help him.

    tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Today's podcast 11/29/2012

  • Kendall, Jane F. TENNESSEE ROSE New York : Random House, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 5.1 ISBN 0375970061 Tennessee Rose is a Tennessee Walking Horse living in the south just before the Civil War. She loves to practice her running walk that these horses are famous for. Levi, a young slave is her groom and she loves it when he spends time with her. As war looms, the horse wonders what the future will hold for her. And for Levi.

    tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Today's podcast 11/28/2012

  • Kelly, Katy. MELONHEAD AND THE VEGALICIOUS DISASTER New York : Delacorte Press, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 4.6 ISBN 0375990151 Have your parents ever gone on a health kick? Did they make you eat lots of vegetables and other “good for you” foods? Maybe you didn’t like it so much. Well, Adam “Melonhead” Melon is not so crazy about his mother’s new cooking ideas. She is making him eat more and more vegetables. Melonhead is also having a problem wit his new teacher who is really mean. Melonhead and his friends come up with a plan to fix all his problems. But will it work?

    tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Today's podcast 11/27/2012

  • Hopkinson, Deborah. ANNIE AND HELEN New York : Schwartz & Wade, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.9 ISBN 0375857060 Helen Keller was a remarkable person. She lost her sight and her hearing when she was very young and grew up in a world with no sound and no light. I can’t even imagine what her life was like. When her parents hired Annie Sullivan to teach Helen, it was a life changer. Annie was able to break down the walls to Helen’s world and help her understand the world around her.

    tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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

Monday, November 26, 2012

Today's podcast 11/26/2012

  • Holm, Jennifer L. SQUISH NO. 1, SUPER AMOEBA New York : Random House, 2011 IL 3-6, RL 2.2 ISBN 0375937838 Move over Babymouse, there’s a new hero in town. From the creators of Babymouse comes Squish. Squish is a little amoeba who has dreams of becoming a superhero. But first he must make it through school and all that comes with it. And then there are his friends Pod and Peggy. This new series will have you laughing right along with Squish.

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Today's podcast 11/25/2012

  • Frost, Helen. HIDDEN New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 2011 IL 5-8, RL 4.9 ISBN 0374382212 Wren's mother has just run into the gas station to pay the bill. Wren stayed in the car listening to the radio. She was in the back seat and doesn't know her life was about to change forever. When the man jumped in the car and took off, he didn't see Wren so she ducked under a blanket to hide. For the next couple of days, she is trapped in the man's garage hoping he doesn't find her. But someone knows she is there. His daughter. At least Wren thinks she does. Darra leaves food and water for her. Wren is finally able to escape. Years later she is at her exclusive summer camp when she hears familiar voices. And the new girl has a name that Wren hadn't thought of in years -- Darra. Can this really be the same girl? And when Darra is introduced to Wren, she knows right away who she is. How will these girls deal with this unimaginable situation?

    tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Today's podcast 11/24/2012

  • Empson, Jo. RABBITYNESS Auburn, ME : Child’s Play, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.5 ISBN 1846434920 Rabbit enjoys doing the same things as all the other rabbits. He enjoys jumping, hopping, twirling his whiskers, burrowing and sleeping. But he also enjoys doing un-rabbity types of things like painting and music. The other animals enjoy having Rabbit around because of all the things he does. But what happens when he disappears?

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Friday, November 23, 2012

Today's podcast 11/23/2012

  • Cotler, Stephen L. CHEESIE MACK IS COOL IN A DUEL New York : Random House, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 6.3 ISBN 0375864385 Cheesie and Georgie are back for another adventure. This summer they are heading off to summer camp in Maine. They will be the oldest kids in the Little Guys cabin. And they are looking forward to it. They’ll get to make the campfires and even choose the teams. But what they don’t know is that they will be put in the Big Guys cabin. So now they are the youngest and are picked on. And Cheesie’s biggest bully is in the cabin too. How is he going to get out of this one?

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Today's podcast 11/22/2012

  • Dotlich, Rebecca Kai. WHAT CAN A CRANE PICK UP? New York : Knopf, 2012 IL K-3, RL 1.8 ISBN 0375867260 Do you like to watch construction vehicles? What is your favorite? A dump truck, a steam shovel? What about a crane? They are really strong and can pick up a lot of things. Can they pick up a car? Or a truck? What do you think? What can a crane pick up?

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Today's podcast 11/21/2012

  • Cook, Robin.CRITICALNew York : Berkley Books, 2008 IL ADISBN 0425222888Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery is surprised when she keeps finding cases of a deadly staph infection in patients who have been treated at the Angel surgical hospitals. When she contacts the owner of the specialty hospitals, she finds that they are doing all they can to stop the infections. They even closed down in order to disinfect the surgical rooms and tested all the employees for the infection. But nothing they do can stop the cases from coming. What is going on here? Laurie is determined to find out. But is she putting her own life on the line as she searches for the cause of this outbreak?

    tags: podcasts ya

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

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Today's podcast 11/20/2012

  • Cody, Matthew. SUPER New York : Knopf, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 5.5 ISBN 0375868941 In the first book of the series, Daniel finds that he is not powerless after all. Although not as gifted as his friends, the Supers of Noble’s Green, Daniel did help in vanquishing Herman Plunkett. But now a new evil has descended in the form of one Theo Plunkett. He is wealthy and smooth talking and may have his uncle’s power. More adventures await the Supers as they try to keep their powers.

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Monday, November 19, 2012

Today's podcast 11/19/2012

  • Burg, Shana. LAUGH WITH THE MOON New York : Delacorte, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.0 ISBN 0385734719 After Clare’s mother passes away, her father thinks he can help her by taking her halfway around the world. They pack up and leave Boston and head to Malawi where he will be working in a hospital. Clare is definitely not happy about leaving all she knows behind to live in a place she knows nothing about. When Clare volunteers to help out in a school, she sees the harshness of life in Malawi. The poverty, lack of food, no running water, no electricity all haunt her. But she also finds a community that is vibrant and full of life.

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Today's podcast 11/18/2012

  • Blume, Lesley M. M. THE WONDROUS JOURALS OF DR. WENDELL WIGGINS New York : Knopf, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 5.2 ISBN 0375968504 Dr. Wiggins’ journals were once thought lost. The greatest paleozoologist of all time traveled the world in search of ancient creatures. He was interested in creatures who lived before humans. And the loss of his journals would be devastating. But it has been found and it is here for you to enjoy. Read about his fantastical findings such as the two headed mammoth buffalo in Nebraska, the rainbow spitting cobras in India and, of course, the hummingbird people from South Africa.

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Today's podcast 11/17/2012

  • Beil, Michael D. SUMMER AT FORSAKEN LAKE New York : Knopf, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 6.5 ISBN 0375867422 Nicholas and his twin sisters want to get out of the city for the summer. They are excited about staying with Great Uncle Nick at Forsaken Lake in Ohio. But the summer might bring them more than they bargained for. Nick teams up with a local and they come across lots of mysteries. Just who was the Seaweed Strangler?

    tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Friday, November 16, 2012

Today's podcast 11/16/2012

  • Bacon, Lee. JOSHUA DREAD New York : Deleacorte Press, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 6.3 ISBN 0385741855 When you are in middle school, it can sometimes be embarrassing for your friends to meet your parents. But what if you are Joshua Dread and your parents are The Botanist and Dr. Dread and they are out to destroy the world? Joshua must fight zombies, killer robots and teenage girls to help save the world and his parents.

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Today's podcast 11/15/2012

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

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Today's podcast 11/14/2012

  • Alko, Selina. DADDY CHRISTMAS AND HANUKKAH MAMA New York : Knopf, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.2 ISBN 0375960937 Sadie’s family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukkah in her home. She tells us that she is a mix of two traditions. And she loves it that way. We get to visit the family as they blend traditions into their own special time of year.

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Today's podcast 11/13/2012

  • Condie, Ally. REACHED New York : Dutton Books, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0525423664 In the final book in the Matched trilogy, we find Cassia working for the Rising within Society. She is working as a sorter for Society. Ky is now flying airships for the Rising. And Xander is a medical official who is secretly working for the Rising. They are all waiting for the Rising to begin. And to get back to each other. When the Plague strikes, Xander works tirelessly helping patients. The Rising takes the opportunity to strike. They promise a cure for the Plague. They successfully take over and are able to cure those who are affected by the Plague. But then it mutates. And there is no cure. And now people are quarantined and cannot travel. There is no way for Xander, Cassia and Ky to reach each other. And not all of them are immune to the new Plague. Hold on to your hat and be prepared for lots of twists and turns as they try to find a cure for the Plague and most of all, to reach each other.

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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

Monday, November 12, 2012

Today's podcast 11/12/2012

  • Jukes, Mavis. THE NEW KID New York : Knopf, 2011 IL 3-6, RL 4.4 ISBN 0375858792 Have you ever been the new kid in school? It is not a good feeling, is it? Carson Blum has moved to a new home and is going to a new school. And he knows no one. The school is large and seems very different from the very small Montessori school he was used to. Will he find any friends? Will he ever fit in? What do you think will happen to Carson?

    tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Today's podcast 11/11/2012

  • Lovric, Michelle. THE UNDROWNED CHILD New York : Delacorte Press, 2011 IL 5-8, RL 6.0 ISBN 0385908148 In the year 1899, Venice is seeing some unprecedented natural disasters. The waters around Venice are heating up and now sharks are prowling the lagoon. And children are dying from a mysterious plague. When Teo and her parents travel to Venice to help, Teo meets a young Venetian boy and the two of them set out to try to solve the mystery of why Venice seems to be under attack. They get help from a tattooed cat, mermaids, and other magical creatures. Just what is Teo’s connection to all of this?

    tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Today's podcast 11/10/2012

  • Lopez, Diana. CHOKE New York : Scholastic Press, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.9 ISBN 0545418224 Windy Soto sees herself at solidly GP in school – general public. She is not a loser or popular. She just is. When a new girl comes to school, Windy is fascinated and drawn to the girl. Windy joins Nina for lunch and starts hanging around with her. Windy’s ticket to the in crowd comes when Nina asks her to be her breath sister. But that means she is going to have to play a very dangerous game. Will she make the right choice?

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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

Friday, November 09, 2012

Today's podcast 11/09/2012

  • Levinthal, David. WHO PUSHED HUMPTY DUMPTY? AND OTHER NOTORIOUS NURSERY TALE MYSTERIES New York : Schwartz & Wade, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.8 ISBN 0375841954 OK, we need to do some investigation now. Did Humpty really just fall off that wall? Or was he pushed? And what about that break in at the Bears house? And why didn’t Snow White make it to the beauty pageant? I sense that there is more going on here than we have been led to believe. And now detective Binky is going to get to the bottom of all these crimes.

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Thursday, November 08, 2012

Today's podcast 11/08/2012

  • Knowles, Jo. PEARL New York : Henry Holt, 2011 IL YA ISBN 0805092072 Meet Pearl. Or as everyone calls her, Bean. She and her best friend Henry both live in dysfunctional families. Bean lives with her mother who has a drinking problem and her grandfather. Henry lives with a mother who is afraid to go out. They are pretty used to the ways things are going but that is all about to change. When Bean’s grandfather dies, Bean is devastated but her mother seems to have been freed from a burden. As the family secrets start to come out, Bean doesn’t know what to believe anymore.

    tags: podcasts ya

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

Wednesday, November 07, 2012

Today's podcast 11/07/2012

  • Cody, Matthew. THE DEAD GENTLEMAN New York : Knopf, 2011 IL 5-8, RL 5.3 ISBN 0375855963 If you like steampunk literature, this is for you. Tommy Learner is living in New York City in 1900. He is a street kid who supports himself by stealing. One day he steals a magical metal bird from a strange looking man. Now he is being pursued by monsters. He is finally rescued by the Explorers’ Society, a group of dead gentlemen who travel through time. When the Dead Gentleman attacks the Explorers’ Society, Tommy is trapped. He is found by Jezebel but it is now modern time and Tommy is a ghost. And they must work together to save themselves.

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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

Tuesday, November 06, 2012

Today's podcast 11/06/2012

  • Bruel, Nick. BAD KITTY FOR PRESIDENT New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2012 IL K-3, RL 4.3 ISBN 1596436697 Bad Kitty is back and this time she will shake up the political world. Well at least in the neighborhood. Old Kitty is going to step down as President of the Neighborhood Cat Association. And Bad Kitty is determined to win that election. And what a campaign it is. From the primaries to the debates and right up to election day, it is a close race. But what is going to happen on election day?

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Monday, November 05, 2012

Today's podcast 11/05/2012

  • Carter, Scott William. WOODEN BONES New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 6.4 ISBN 1442427515 What do you think of when I say wooden boy? Do you think of the story of Pinocchio? He was a wooden puppet who became a real boy. In this book, Pino also has the gift of turning wood into real life. You see, it wasn't Geppetto's gift, it was Pinocchio who made the life possible. Now, you might think this is a cool thing to do. But it doesn't turn out that way. Everyone wants help bringing their loved ones back to life. On the run, the two are in for many adventures along the way.

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Sunday, November 04, 2012

Today's podcast 11/04/2012

  • Jenkins, Emily. LEMONADE IN WINTER New York : Schwartz & Wade, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.2 ISBN 0375858830 Have you ever had a lemonade stand in front of your house? Did you make any money? Pauline and her brother decide to set up a lemonade stand to make some money. They are not only going to sell lemonade, they are going to sell limeade. And lemon-limeade. And they are sure they will make lots of money. There is just one thing they didn’t think of.

    tags: podcasts elementary

  • Gleitzman, Morris. THEN New York : Henry Holt, 2010 IL YAISBN 0805090274 This is the second book about Felix and Zelda as they try to survive during the Nazi takeover of Poland in 1942. The book picks up where the last one, Once, left off. After Felix and Zelda escape from a train on the way to a concentration camp, the two children must hide. They are taken in by a Polish farmwife who dyes their hair and makes them memorize new identities. Will this keep them safe?

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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

Saturday, November 03, 2012

Today's podcast 11/03/2012

  • Gershator, Phillis. MOO, MOO, BROWN COW, HAVE YOU ANY MILK? New York : Random House, 2011 IL K-3, RL 1.5 ISBN 0375967443 A young boy visits the animals on the farm. He learns what they do and how they make his life so much better. "Sleep tight, farm friends. / May I dream with you? / 'Yes, sir, yes, sir, yes, please do.'"

    tags: podcasts elementary

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