Sunday, November 24, 2013

Today's podcast 11/24/2013

  • Airgood, Ellen. PRAIRIE EVERSPrairie has been homeschooled by her dear Grammy, learning her lessons while taking walks and seeing nature. She even has learned much from raising her chickens. Grammy has gone home to North Carolina and her parents are too busy running their farm to teach her. Now Prairie must go to school, but being the new kid isn’t that easy. School work is not the problem, unless it’s because she knows too much. What she needs to learn is how to make friends. Finally she meets Ivy, her one true friend. When Ivy’s mother suddenly decides to get married and move away, Ivy feels lost. But Prairie’s family comes to the rescue. Read this book to see how the girls learn lessons on friendship, loyalty and give-and-take. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary pennsylvania

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

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Today's podcast 11/20/2013

  • Woodson, Jacqueline. EACH KINDNESS New York : Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.8 ISBN 0399246525 When was the last time you treated someone kindly? Was there a time when you could have been kind, but chose to be mean instead? Do we treat others the way we would like to be treated? Maya is a new student. She wears second hand clothing, broken sandals, and obviously comes from a poor background. She tries to make friends, but is rejected by Chloe and her friends who make fun of Maya and refuse to include her. When Maya’s family has to move and she is no longer there, Chloe begins to feel guilty and sorry for the way she behaved. How can she ever make up for her hurtful behavior toward Maya? This meaningful and emotional story about a lesson in kindness will cause you to reflect on how you behave toward others. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Today's podcast 11/19/2013

  • Reynolds, Aaron. CREEPY CARROTS New York : Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.3 ISBN 1442402970 Jasper Rabbit loves carrots and the carrots he finds in Crackenhopper Field are the best. He eats them several times a day. But one day he starts seeing carrots everywhere. He begins to suspect the carrots are following him. No one believes him, but he knows the carrots are there! Are the carrots really stalking him? If so, can they be stopped? Read this funny and suspenseful book to find out! (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

Today's podcast 11/07/2013

  • Grey, Mini. TRACTION MAN AND THE BEACH ODYSSEYNew York : A.A. Knopf, 2012IL K-3, RL 3.0ISBN 0375869522Traction Man is back and ready for a new adventure. This time, his family brings him to the beach for the day. All does not go smoothly for Traction Man and his loyal sidekick, Scrubbing Brush. Truffles buries Traction Man in the sand. He is saved but then washed out to sea. He is saved but then imprisoned in a sand castle with the Dollies. How will our hero escape this time?

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Today's podcast 11/06/2013

  • Pinkwater, Daniel. MRS. NOODLEKUGEL Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.3 ISBN 0763650536 Looking out the window of their new home in a tall apartment building, Nick and Maxine see a little old fashioned house surrounded by huge buildings. Secretly, with the help of Mike, the janitor, they find it and meet the owner, a plump old lady named Mrs. Noodlekugel. She kindly invites them in for freshly baked cookies and tea. Maxine and Nick are delighted with their visit, especially when they meet her cat who bakes, plays the piano, and elegantly serves the tea. Read to discover the talents of Mrs. Noodlekugel’s four far sighted, prize winning mice, who also join them for tea. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Offill, Jenny. 11 EXPERIMENTS THAT FAILEDSchwartz & Wade, 2011Does your school have a Science Fair? Do you know how to do a science experiment? 1) Ask a question. 2) Make a prediction (hypothesis). 3) Gather your supplies. 4) Write down the directions, 5) Record what happened. You might not want to do the 11 experiments in this book, with experiments like “Can a kid make it through the winter eating only snow and ketchup?” or “Do dogs like to be covered in glitter?” But you will have to read the book to find out the experimental results! (Review by Sue Dahlstrom, Wayne Elementary School) (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Messner, Kate. MARTY MCGUIREScholastic, 2011Marty is a third grade girl who prefers blue jeans to dresses, and outdoor fun things like frog hunting instead of playing princess. She loves second grade. Before heading off for summer vacation, Marty’s second grade teacher tells the class how wonderful third grade will be. There will be lots of special activities, including a school play. But things don’t start out well for Marty. She loses her best friend to another classmate. As if things aren’t bad enough, when The Frog Prince is announced as the school play for this year, and all the roles are assigned, Marty is given the role of the princess! How can a girl like Marty, who prefers science, nature and slimy creatures, find a way to succeed as a princess in the school play? Will she eventually find something to like about third grade? You will enjoy getting to know Marty McGuire. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • McNamara, Margaret. THE THREE LITTLE ALIENS AND THE BIG BAD ROBOT Schwartz & Wade, 2011Three little aliens are all grown up and ready to head into space and find their own homes. Each alien settles onto his own planet, and soon a big bad robot comes to call. The three little aliens find safety together in the third alien’s home. Does this story sound familiar? It is a funny twist on the Three Little Pigs! You will laugh at the aliens and their silly antics, and you will love the illustrations that help you get to know the planets in our solar system. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Kirby, Stan. CAPTAIN AWESOME TO THE RESCUE New York : Little Simon, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.5 ISBN 1442440902 Eugene McGillicudy is an eight-year-old boy who loves adventure and superheroes. He even has a superhero alter ego, Captain Awesome. On the first day of school, his teacher gives him the job of taking care of the class hamster, Turbo. A couple of days later, when Eugene goes out for recess, he notices that Turbo is missing. He sees a trail of bedding and suspects he knows where Turbo is, but has to leave for recess anyway. When he returns it is time to become Captain Awesome and rescue Turbo. Read to find out if Captain Awesome can find Turbo, catch the hamsternapper, and solve the case. He just might find a sidekick and new friend in this first exciting adventure of the hilarious Captain Awesome series. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Joyce, Williiam. THE FANTASTIC BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.8 ISBN 1442457023 Morris Lessmore loves words, stories and books. He is very happy. One day a terrifying hurricane blows all he loves away. He is left in a strange colorless land. Morris aimlessly wanders until he comes upon a lovely lady who is being pulled along by flying books. She gives Morris her favorite book. This book befriends Morris and leads him to a library filled with extraordinary stories. Morris’ world is filled with color again as he takes care of the books and they take care of him. Morris shares his books with others and even writes his own. Eventually Morris passes his story and his love of books to a new young caretaker. This book began as an award winning wordless animated film. There is also an app which creates Morris’ amazing world. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Florian, Douglas. DINOTHESAURUS Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009Twenty poems humorously describe dinosaurs: their surroundings, their habits, and their appearances. Douglas Florian uses collage to artistically render each poem. His muted illustrations done on paper bags prominently include letters and realistic pictures. The illustrations and poems work together to create short funny pictures of each dinosaur. Florian includes a Glossarysaurus and a list of Dinosaur Museums and Fossil Sites for those readers wishing additional information. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Henkes, Kevin. PENNY AND HER DOLL New York : Greenwillow Books, 2012 IL K-3, RL 1.9 ISBN 0062081993 Penny, a small girl mouse, receives a perfect gift from her Grandmother, but there is a problem. Penny was in the garden with her Mom when her gift, a beautiful doll, arrived. Penny loved the doll right away. She had pink cheeks, a pink bow and a pink dress with big buttons but no name! Penny struggled to find just the right name for her just right dolly. Everyone else in her family, after all, has a name. Read this short chapter book to discover the name Penny bestows on her doll. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Grandits, John. TEN RULES YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT BREAK IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE THE SCHOOL BUSNew York : Clarion Books 2011Can you remember the first time you had to ride the school bus? Was it something you were looking forward to, or dreading? Kyle is ready to start kindergarten, but riding the school bus makes him very nervous. His older brother tries to help by making a list of ten rules for Kyle to follow. Breaking the rules could get him laughed at, yelled at, or even pushed around or pounded! After looking over the list, though, Kyle gets even more scared than before. On his first day, he breaks several rules – he sits in the back row, makes eye contact with another student, and worst of all he talks to a girl. You’re sure to find something to connect with in this humorous story about facing your fears and coming up with your own ways to survive. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Going, K. L. DOG IN CHARGE New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL K-3, RL 1.6 ISBN 0803734794 Dog earns a big hug and a scrumptious treat when she sits, stays, and dances on her back paws for her owner. “Good Dog. Smart Dog, the very best Dog,” says her owner, as she puts Dog in “charge” of their five cats, while the family goes out shopping. Proudly, Dog begins her training. But….. when she commands the cats to sit, and stay, oh no, 1,2,3,4,5 cats don’t obey, in fact they disappear. Brilliantly, Dog pulls out the “Good Kitty,” treats to train the cats, except the treats smell too good. Can Dog stay in charge? (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary

  • Vawter, Vince. PAPERBOY New York : Delacorte, 2013 IL 5-8, RL 5.5 ISBN 0375990585 It was just going to be for a month. He was just helping out a friend. But taking over paper delivery duties in July 1959 turns into a life lesson for one young boy. The job is harder than he thought. The Memphis heat is almost unbearable. But he enjoys the opportunity to practice his throwing skills. His biggest concern is the Friday collections. He has a severe stutter and is very nervous about having to talk to strangers. But that is not all he encounters that summer. Along the way, he meets Mr. Spiro who loves to read; Mrs. Worthington who may be hiding some things; and a young boy who just stares at the television all day. All of the people he meets during the summer lead him to understand his own world just a bit better.

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

  • Hautman, Pete. THE CYDONIAN PYRAMID Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0-7636-5404-3 In the first book of the Klaatu diskos series, we met Tucker Feye. When his parents disappeared, he began to see strange shimmering disks above the house. When he stepped in one, he found himself on a strange journey through different time periods. During the journey, he keeps running into a strange girl that his father had brought home after one of his disappearances. In the second book of the series, we see the same events but this time from Lah Lia's point of view. We learn about her background and how she is caught up in the diskos and meets Tucker Feye. We also learn more about the Digital Plague and the origins of the Lah Sept

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

  • Chadda, Sarwat. THE SAVAGE FORTRESS New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.4 ISBN 0545385164 Ash Mistry is rethinking his desire to spend time in India. When he was back in England, it seemed like a great idea. Now after three weeks of heat and boredom, he would love a little excitement. And he gets his wish. But as they say, be careful what you wish for. When the family goes to visit his uncle's colleague, Ash accidentally picks up a golden arrowhead and he finds himself fighting the demon himself. He is unable to save his aunt and uncle but there may be time to save his sister from Ravana, the demon king. There is a lot of Hindu mythology in this book but it is explained and you will find yourself really rooting for the overweight gamer from England to overcome the demon king and save the world.

    tags: podcasts blueduke

  • Falconer, Ian. OLIVIA AND THE FAIRY PRINCESSES New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.3 ISBN 1442450274 Olivia is back and having identity crises. Who should this irrepressible pig be when she grows up? She definitely does not want to be a pink frilly princess. That is what everybody else (even some boys) want to be! And why, she plaintively asks, can’t there be other kinds of princesses like an African princess or an Indian princess. With humor Olivia investigates many options, perhaps a nurse or a reporter! Her solution – pure Olivia. Read Olivia and the Fairy Princesses for a laugh-out-loud happy ending! (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Chin, Jason. ISLAND : A STORY OF THE GALAPAGOS New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2012 IL K-3, RL 5.8 ISBN 1596437162 They swam, flew and drifted to the island. After a million years, animals and plants had arrived at the Galapagos. Author-illustrator Jason Chin follows the life and death of one of a series of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. Find out how and why the inhabitants adapted to their new environment, and who discovered some of these unusual creatures? (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Barnett, Mac. CHLOE AND THE LION Disney Hyperion Books, 2012 IL K-3 ISBN 1423113349 Have you ever wondered how authors and illustrators work together to create a great picture book? Mac Barnett and Adam Rex show us that working together is not always easy. Mac wants to write a story about a girl named Chloe who meets a lion on the way to the circus. The storytelling goes hilariously awry when Adam tries to use his illustrations to make the story more exciting. Things get sillier when Mac fires Adam and learns that good illustrations are not as easy as they seem. The story will have you laughing out loud and searching for a writing partner of your own! (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Swanson, James L. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT! New York : Scholastic, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0545490073 Fifty years ago, John Kennedy was president of the United States and enjoying a visit to Dallas. No one could have known what would happen on November 22, 1963. In this book, we learn about the days that led up to that fateful day. The assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, hadn't even planned on shooting the President until just a few days before. But an article about the President's visit in a local newspaper caught his eye. You will learn about Oswald's background and desire to do something extraordinary. And you will learn about the details surrounding the President's assassination.

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

  • Shurtliff, Liesl. RUMP : THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN New York : Knopf, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 4.1 ISBN 0307977943 So you think you know the story of Rumpelstiltskin? Well not so fast. It may not have happened the way you heard. In this version, a young boy is born and his mother dies before she can say his whole name. All anyone hears is Rump. Can you imagine? Being called Rump? You just know there are going to be lots of jokes made about it. And so it is. Rump lives in a land far away. He is forced to work in the gold mines and trade gold for food. But he is not having much luck. He just can't make enough to feed his grandmother and himself. When he finds a spinning wheel that had belonged to his mother, he decides to try it out. The only thing he can find to spin is the straw from his mattress. And guess what? It turns into gold. When he trades it to the evil miller for food, things start to get really bad. The miller lies to the king and says his daughter is the one with the magic. Now Rump can either try to save Opal or just keep his magic for himself. No matter what he decides, he will never stop trying to learn his real name. His name will reveal his destiny.

    tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

  • McKinlay, Megan. BELOW Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 5.1 ISBN 0763661260 Cassie never got to see her hometown. The day she was born, they drowned the town. The lever was pulled and everyone cheered as the town sunk beneath the water never to be seen again. The lake where the town was submergered is off-limits and no one is allowed near that area. It has been 12 years since the town disappeared but Cassie still feels drawn to the town she has never seen. She and her friend Liam sneak in and swim in the area where the town was and believe they can see part of the town under the water. What will they find when they explore the area? And what questions will be answered?

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

  • Lawler, Janet. OCEAN COUNTING Washington DC : National Geographic, 2013 IL K-3, RL 2.5 ISBN 1426311168 You may look at this and think that it is just a counting book. But you would be wrong. Yes, it is a counting book but it is so much more. If you love ocean animals, then you will also learn about some interesting animals as you count to ten. Did you know that parrotfish cover themselves with gooey mucus before they go to sleep? The photographs in the book will let you see these interesting creature in detail.

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Tuesday, November 05, 2013

Today's podcast 11/06/2013

  • Grey, Mini. TRACTION MAN AND THE BEACH ODYSSEYNew York : A.A. Knopf, 2012IL K-3, RL 3.0ISBN 0375869522Traction Man is back and ready for a new adventure. This time, his family brings him to the beach for the day. All does not go smoothly for Traction Man and his loyal sidekick, Scrubbing Brush. Truffles buries Traction Man in the sand. He is saved but then washed out to sea. He is saved but then imprisoned in a sand castle with the Dollies. How will our hero escape this time?

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Today's podcast 11/05/2013

  • Pinkwater, Daniel. MRS. NOODLEKUGEL Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.3 ISBN 0763650536 Looking out the window of their new home in a tall apartment building, Nick and Maxine see a little old fashioned house surrounded by huge buildings. Secretly, with the help of Mike, the janitor, they find it and meet the owner, a plump old lady named Mrs. Noodlekugel. She kindly invites them in for freshly baked cookies and tea. Maxine and Nick are delighted with their visit, especially when they meet her cat who bakes, plays the piano, and elegantly serves the tea. Read to discover the talents of Mrs. Noodlekugel’s four far sighted, prize winning mice, who also join them for tea. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Offill, Jenny. 11 EXPERIMENTS THAT FAILEDSchwartz & Wade, 2011Does your school have a Science Fair? Do you know how to do a science experiment? 1) Ask a question. 2) Make a prediction (hypothesis). 3) Gather your supplies. 4) Write down the directions, 5) Record what happened. You might not want to do the 11 experiments in this book, with experiments like “Can a kid make it through the winter eating only snow and ketchup?” or “Do dogs like to be covered in glitter?” But you will have to read the book to find out the experimental results! (Review by Sue Dahlstrom, Wayne Elementary School) (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Messner, Kate. MARTY MCGUIREScholastic, 2011Marty is a third grade girl who prefers blue jeans to dresses, and outdoor fun things like frog hunting instead of playing princess. She loves second grade. Before heading off for summer vacation, Marty’s second grade teacher tells the class how wonderful third grade will be. There will be lots of special activities, including a school play. But things don’t start out well for Marty. She loses her best friend to another classmate. As if things aren’t bad enough, when The Frog Prince is announced as the school play for this year, and all the roles are assigned, Marty is given the role of the princess! How can a girl like Marty, who prefers science, nature and slimy creatures, find a way to succeed as a princess in the school play? Will she eventually find something to like about third grade? You will enjoy getting to know Marty McGuire. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • McNamara, Margaret. THE THREE LITTLE ALIENS AND THE BIG BAD ROBOT Schwartz & Wade, 2011Three little aliens are all grown up and ready to head into space and find their own homes. Each alien settles onto his own planet, and soon a big bad robot comes to call. The three little aliens find safety together in the third alien’s home. Does this story sound familiar? It is a funny twist on the Three Little Pigs! You will laugh at the aliens and their silly antics, and you will love the illustrations that help you get to know the planets in our solar system. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Kirby, Stan. CAPTAIN AWESOME TO THE RESCUE New York : Little Simon, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.5 ISBN 1442440902 Eugene McGillicudy is an eight-year-old boy who loves adventure and superheroes. He even has a superhero alter ego, Captain Awesome. On the first day of school, his teacher gives him the job of taking care of the class hamster, Turbo. A couple of days later, when Eugene goes out for recess, he notices that Turbo is missing. He sees a trail of bedding and suspects he knows where Turbo is, but has to leave for recess anyway. When he returns it is time to become Captain Awesome and rescue Turbo. Read to find out if Captain Awesome can find Turbo, catch the hamsternapper, and solve the case. He just might find a sidekick and new friend in this first exciting adventure of the hilarious Captain Awesome series. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Joyce, Williiam. THE FANTASTIC BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.8 ISBN 1442457023 Morris Lessmore loves words, stories and books. He is very happy. One day a terrifying hurricane blows all he loves away. He is left in a strange colorless land. Morris aimlessly wanders until he comes upon a lovely lady who is being pulled along by flying books. She gives Morris her favorite book. This book befriends Morris and leads him to a library filled with extraordinary stories. Morris’ world is filled with color again as he takes care of the books and they take care of him. Morris shares his books with others and even writes his own. Eventually Morris passes his story and his love of books to a new young caretaker. This book began as an award winning wordless animated film. There is also an app which creates Morris’ amazing world. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Florian, Douglas. DINOTHESAURUS Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009Twenty poems humorously describe dinosaurs: their surroundings, their habits, and their appearances. Douglas Florian uses collage to artistically render each poem. His muted illustrations done on paper bags prominently include letters and realistic pictures. The illustrations and poems work together to create short funny pictures of each dinosaur. Florian includes a Glossarysaurus and a list of Dinosaur Museums and Fossil Sites for those readers wishing additional information. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Henkes, Kevin. PENNY AND HER DOLL New York : Greenwillow Books, 2012 IL K-3, RL 1.9 ISBN 0062081993 Penny, a small girl mouse, receives a perfect gift from her Grandmother, but there is a problem. Penny was in the garden with her Mom when her gift, a beautiful doll, arrived. Penny loved the doll right away. She had pink cheeks, a pink bow and a pink dress with big buttons but no name! Penny struggled to find just the right name for her just right dolly. Everyone else in her family, after all, has a name. Read this short chapter book to discover the name Penny bestows on her doll. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Grandits, John. TEN RULES YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT BREAK IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE THE SCHOOL BUSNew York : Clarion Books 2011Can you remember the first time you had to ride the school bus? Was it something you were looking forward to, or dreading? Kyle is ready to start kindergarten, but riding the school bus makes him very nervous. His older brother tries to help by making a list of ten rules for Kyle to follow. Breaking the rules could get him laughed at, yelled at, or even pushed around or pounded! After looking over the list, though, Kyle gets even more scared than before. On his first day, he breaks several rules – he sits in the back row, makes eye contact with another student, and worst of all he talks to a girl. You’re sure to find something to connect with in this humorous story about facing your fears and coming up with your own ways to survive. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Going, K. L. DOG IN CHARGE New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL K-3, RL 1.6 ISBN 0803734794 Dog earns a big hug and a scrumptious treat when she sits, stays, and dances on her back paws for her owner. “Good Dog. Smart Dog, the very best Dog,” says her owner, as she puts Dog in “charge” of their five cats, while the family goes out shopping. Proudly, Dog begins her training. But….. when she commands the cats to sit, and stay, oh no, 1,2,3,4,5 cats don’t obey, in fact they disappear. Brilliantly, Dog pulls out the “Good Kitty,” treats to train the cats, except the treats smell too good. Can Dog stay in charge? (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary

  • Vawter, Vince. PAPERBOY New York : Delacorte, 2013 IL 5-8, RL 5.5 ISBN 0375990585 It was just going to be for a month. He was just helping out a friend. But taking over paper delivery duties in July 1959 turns into a life lesson for one young boy. The job is harder than he thought. The Memphis heat is almost unbearable. But he enjoys the opportunity to practice his throwing skills. His biggest concern is the Friday collections. He has a severe stutter and is very nervous about having to talk to strangers. But that is not all he encounters that summer. Along the way, he meets Mr. Spiro who loves to read; Mrs. Worthington who may be hiding some things; and a young boy who just stares at the television all day. All of the people he meets during the summer lead him to understand his own world just a bit better.

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

  • Hautman, Pete. THE CYDONIAN PYRAMID Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0-7636-5404-3 In the first book of the Klaatu diskos series, we met Tucker Feye. When his parents disappeared, he began to see strange shimmering disks above the house. When he stepped in one, he found himself on a strange journey through different time periods. During the journey, he keeps running into a strange girl that his father had brought home after one of his disappearances. In the second book of the series, we see the same events but this time from Lah Lia's point of view. We learn about her background and how she is caught up in the diskos and meets Tucker Feye. We also learn more about the Digital Plague and the origins of the Lah Sept

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

  • Chadda, Sarwat. THE SAVAGE FORTRESS New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.4 ISBN 0545385164 Ash Mistry is rethinking his desire to spend time in India. When he was back in England, it seemed like a great idea. Now after three weeks of heat and boredom, he would love a little excitement. And he gets his wish. But as they say, be careful what you wish for. When the family goes to visit his uncle's colleague, Ash accidentally picks up a golden arrowhead and he finds himself fighting the demon himself. He is unable to save his aunt and uncle but there may be time to save his sister from Ravana, the demon king. There is a lot of Hindu mythology in this book but it is explained and you will find yourself really rooting for the overweight gamer from England to overcome the demon king and save the world.

    tags: podcasts blueduke

  • Falconer, Ian. OLIVIA AND THE FAIRY PRINCESSES New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.3 ISBN 1442450274 Olivia is back and having identity crises. Who should this irrepressible pig be when she grows up? She definitely does not want to be a pink frilly princess. That is what everybody else (even some boys) want to be! And why, she plaintively asks, can’t there be other kinds of princesses like an African princess or an Indian princess. With humor Olivia investigates many options, perhaps a nurse or a reporter! Her solution – pure Olivia. Read Olivia and the Fairy Princesses for a laugh-out-loud happy ending! (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Chin, Jason. ISLAND : A STORY OF THE GALAPAGOS New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2012 IL K-3, RL 5.8 ISBN 1596437162 They swam, flew and drifted to the island. After a million years, animals and plants had arrived at the Galapagos. Author-illustrator Jason Chin follows the life and death of one of a series of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean. Find out how and why the inhabitants adapted to their new environment, and who discovered some of these unusual creatures? (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Barnett, Mac. CHLOE AND THE LION Disney Hyperion Books, 2012 IL K-3 ISBN 1423113349 Have you ever wondered how authors and illustrators work together to create a great picture book? Mac Barnett and Adam Rex show us that working together is not always easy. Mac wants to write a story about a girl named Chloe who meets a lion on the way to the circus. The storytelling goes hilariously awry when Adam tries to use his illustrations to make the story more exciting. Things get sillier when Mac fires Adam and learns that good illustrations are not as easy as they seem. The story will have you laughing out loud and searching for a writing partner of your own! (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Swanson, James L. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT! New York : Scholastic, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0545490073 Fifty years ago, John Kennedy was president of the United States and enjoying a visit to Dallas. No one could have known what would happen on November 22, 1963. In this book, we learn about the days that led up to that fateful day. The assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, hadn't even planned on shooting the President until just a few days before. But an article about the President's visit in a local newspaper caught his eye. You will learn about Oswald's background and desire to do something extraordinary. And you will learn about the details surrounding the President's assassination.

    tags: podcasts blueduke ya

  • Shurtliff, Liesl. RUMP : THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN New York : Knopf, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 4.1 ISBN 0307977943 So you think you know the story of Rumpelstiltskin? Well not so fast. It may not have happened the way you heard. In this version, a young boy is born and his mother dies before she can say his whole name. All anyone hears is Rump. Can you imagine? Being called Rump? You just know there are going to be lots of jokes made about it. And so it is. Rump lives in a land far away. He is forced to work in the gold mines and trade gold for food. But he is not having much luck. He just can't make enough to feed his grandmother and himself. When he finds a spinning wheel that had belonged to his mother, he decides to try it out. The only thing he can find to spin is the straw from his mattress. And guess what? It turns into gold. When he trades it to the evil miller for food, things start to get really bad. The miller lies to the king and says his daughter is the one with the magic. Now Rump can either try to save Opal or just keep his magic for himself. No matter what he decides, he will never stop trying to learn his real name. His name will reveal his destiny.

    tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

  • McKinlay, Megan. BELOW Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2013 IL 3-6, RL 5.1 ISBN 0763661260 Cassie never got to see her hometown. The day she was born, they drowned the town. The lever was pulled and everyone cheered as the town sunk beneath the water never to be seen again. The lake where the town was submergered is off-limits and no one is allowed near that area. It has been 12 years since the town disappeared but Cassie still feels drawn to the town she has never seen. She and her friend Liam sneak in and swim in the area where the town was and believe they can see part of the town under the water. What will they find when they explore the area? And what questions will be answered?

    tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

  • Lawler, Janet. OCEAN COUNTING Washington DC : National Geographic, 2013 IL K-3, RL 2.5 ISBN 1426311168 You may look at this and think that it is just a counting book. But you would be wrong. Yes, it is a counting book but it is so much more. If you love ocean animals, then you will also learn about some interesting animals as you count to ten. Did you know that parrotfish cover themselves with gooey mucus before they go to sleep? The photographs in the book will let you see these interesting creature in detail.

    tags: podcasts elementary

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

Monday, November 04, 2013

Today's podcast 11/04/2013

  • Pinkwater, Daniel. MRS. NOODLEKUGEL Somerville, MA : Candlewick Press, 2012 IL K-3, RL 3.3 ISBN 0763650536 Looking out the window of their new home in a tall apartment building, Nick and Maxine see a little old fashioned house surrounded by huge buildings. Secretly, with the help of Mike, the janitor, they find it and meet the owner, a plump old lady named Mrs. Noodlekugel. She kindly invites them in for freshly baked cookies and tea. Maxine and Nick are delighted with their visit, especially when they meet her cat who bakes, plays the piano, and elegantly serves the tea. Read to discover the talents of Mrs. Noodlekugel’s four far sighted, prize winning mice, who also join them for tea. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

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

Sunday, November 03, 2013

Today's podcast 11/03/2013

  • Offill, Jenny. 11 EXPERIMENTS THAT FAILEDSchwartz & Wade, 2011Does your school have a Science Fair? Do you know how to do a science experiment? 1) Ask a question. 2) Make a prediction (hypothesis). 3) Gather your supplies. 4) Write down the directions, 5) Record what happened. You might not want to do the 11 experiments in this book, with experiments like “Can a kid make it through the winter eating only snow and ketchup?” or “Do dogs like to be covered in glitter?” But you will have to read the book to find out the experimental results! (Review by Sue Dahlstrom, Wayne Elementary School) (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

  • Messner, Kate. MARTY MCGUIREScholastic, 2011Marty is a third grade girl who prefers blue jeans to dresses, and outdoor fun things like frog hunting instead of playing princess. She loves second grade. Before heading off for summer vacation, Marty’s second grade teacher tells the class how wonderful third grade will be. There will be lots of special activities, including a school play. But things don’t start out well for Marty. She loses her best friend to another classmate. As if things aren’t bad enough, when The Frog Prince is announced as the school play for this year, and all the roles are assigned, Marty is given the role of the princess! How can a girl like Marty, who prefers science, nature and slimy creatures, find a way to succeed as a princess in the school play? Will she eventually find something to like about third grade? You will enjoy getting to know Marty McGuire. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

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

Friday, November 01, 2013

Today's podcast 11/01/2013

  • McNamara, Margaret. THE THREE LITTLE ALIENS AND THE BIG BAD ROBOT Schwartz & Wade, 2011Three little aliens are all grown up and ready to head into space and find their own homes. Each alien settles onto his own planet, and soon a big bad robot comes to call. The three little aliens find safety together in the third alien’s home. Does this story sound familiar? It is a funny twist on the Three Little Pigs! You will laugh at the aliens and their silly antics, and you will love the illustrations that help you get to know the planets in our solar system. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)

    tags: podcasts elementary pennsylvania

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