Which Sesame Street Character are you?

Taking a break from writing and saw this quiz. Of course I just had to stop what I was doing and take it!

Which Sesame Street Character Are You?
	You are Elmo. You are lovable and ticklish, and always inquisitive. Sometimes, though, your excitement about the world can make you seem childish, naive, and occasionally irritating to others.
Find Your Character @ BrainFall.com

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Since Elmo is my favorite character, I am very happy about the results. 

But this is not getting my work done.  Finishing up a magazine article and then have to prepare for the first computer class on Tuesday.  I'm teaching a new program from a new textbook.  I guess I can't wing it!!   Also need to grade final projects from online class.  So much for the long weekend.  Good thing the kids are going camping in Maine so I've got the house to myself.

Today's podcast is Nancy Werlin's Rules of Survival.  I thought I had already added this book to the podcasts but it's not there.  Such a great book!

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

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Winerip, Michael ADAM CANFIELD OF THE SLASH (ES, MS)

First day of school has come and gone.  The 6th graders look so young and the 8th graders look so grown up.  It happens every year but I am always surprised at the changes over the summer. 

Yesterday's podcast featured Yankee Girl by Mary Ann Rodman.

Rodman, Mary Ann. YANKEE GIRL (MS)

Today it's Adam Canfield of the Slash.
Winerip, Michael ADAM CANFIELD OF THE SLASH (ES, MS)

These are two very different school stories. 

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Dowell, Frances O'Roark. CHICKEN BOY (MS)

One of my students' favorite authors is Frances O'Roark Dowell.  Her book, Dovey Coe, is a sure winner.  I have yet to meet a child who hasn't enjoyed it.  The teachers are now doing it as a read aloud because they know it will be a hit.  Today's podcast is for another one of Dowell's great books, Chicken Boy.

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

technorati tags:podcast, dowell

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Westerfeld, Scott. UGLIES

As summer comes to an end, I am trying to podcast booktalks about older books that are too good to miss.  I have been so busy with other projects this summer that I really haven't had much time to read as many new imprints as I normally do during the summer months.  We go back to school on Monday so things will get really hectic then.  The month of September is shaping up to be all work and no play for the booktalker :-(  But I don't mind.  At least it will be full of projects that I will enjoy.

Today's podcast is for Scott Westerfeld's Uglies, the first book in a trilogy that has now become a series.  The fourth book, The Extras, is coming out in October.  Can't wait!!

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

technorati tags:podcast, westerfeld

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Konigsburg, E. L. THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE

Today's podcast features one of my favorite books from a few years ago.  It is nominated for a Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award for 2008.  E.L. Konigsburg was scheduled to have a signing at ALA this year and I was really excited to be able to meet her for the first time.  Unfortunately, she was ill and had to cancel.  Hopefully she will be at ALA another time.

Konigsburg, E. L.  THE OUTCASTS OF 19 SCHUYLER PLACE

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

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Vande Velde, Vivian. NOW YOU SEE IT

Today's podcast is Vande Velde, Vivian. NOW YOU SEE IT.  Have you ever lost your glasses and just can't see without them?  What do you do?  I hope none of you end up in the same situation as this young girl.

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

technorati tags:podcast, vande_velde

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Wolfson, Jill. WHAT I CALL LIFE (MS)

Today's podcast features a middle school book that has been on several best books lists.  Be sure to give it a listen.

Wolfson, Jill. WHAT I CALL LIFE (MS)

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

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Boyfriend list by E. Lockhart

Thanks to Joyce Valenza for the heads up on Voice Thread.  This is a nifty little application that has tons of uses I can think of.  And booktalks are definitely one of those uses.  I am definitely going to use this with kids this school year.  As a test run, I did a voice thread on The Boyfriend List by E. Lockhart.  You can see and hear it here: http://voicethread.com/view.php?b=4776

I also did one on my summer library renovation but it is probably not as interesting :-)  http://voicethread.com/view.php?b=4765

technorati tags:voicethread, boyfriend-list

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Rees, Douglas. VAMPIRE HIGH

Going back to school soon?  I bet none of your charter schools are like the one in this book! 
Vampire High by Douglas Rees

Check out today's podcast at: http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/rees_vampire.mp3

technorati tags:rees

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The Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury.

Well, there is only one more week left of summer break.  And I still have so much to do.  As usual, I won't finish all my summer projects.  As I always say, do the best you can and maintain a sense of humor.  So I'll be laughing as I am working my tail off to finish projects!!

Today's podcast is for one of my favorite books -- The Eyes of the Emperor by Graham Salisbury.  What a powerful book.  And one that shows how we can lose sight of the humanity in all of us.

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

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Quills nominees announced

The finalists for the Quills have been announced.  Each category will have a single winner decided by a board of 6,000 booksellers and librarians.  The category winners will be announced in mid-September.  Then the public will get the chance to vote for the overall winner of all categories.  There are some really great books to pick from in the children's categories.  It will be fun to see which one wins!


Children's Picture Books

The Adventures of the Dish and the Spoon by Mini Grey

Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by Jane O'Connor

Flotsam by David Wiesner

Orange Pear Apple Bear by Emily Gravett

Owen & Mzee: The Language of Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff


Children's Chapter/Middle Grade

Clementine by Sara Pennypacker

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Pick Me Up by Jeremy Leslie

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan


Young Adult/Teen

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

The Green Glass Sea by Ellen Klages

Incantation by Alice Hoffman

Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Sold by Patricia McCormick

technorati tags:quills, bestbook

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Seeing is great!

This is not quite book related but in a way it is.  Yesterday morning I took a major step in my life.  I had lasik surgery!  Now, I know millions of others have done it but I had been on the fence for years.  My vision was so bad that I couldn't even see the clock in the morning that was next to the bed.  It got to the point that I needed reading glasses over my contact lenses.  So, I decided to take the risk. My worst nightmare was that something would go wrong and I wouldn't be able to see to read anymore.  But I made the plunge.  Yesterday morning at 8:00, I was lying on the table while a laser cut into my eyes.  How bizarre is that??  Anyway, yesterday my vision was 20/750.  Today it is 20/30.  The doctor said it will take a couple of days for my vision to stabilize so he has hopes that the vision will get even better.  I have been cleared to drive without glasses!!  I couldn't even walk across the street without glasses yesterday.

So, not really book related but it feels so good to be free of glasses for the first time in over 50 years!!

technorati tags:lasik, glasses

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