more podcasts

Still can't see. Hoping that I'd have a little more vision today but it is not happening. I go back for a checkup tomorrow. I hope she'll have some good news. I don't know what is worse -- not seeing what is there or seeing things that aren't!!


My 4 year old grandson was very excited this past weekend because he was going to spend the night at his other grandmother's house. Since he lives with me, it isn't as much of a treat to stay with me :-) Well, around bedtime, my daughter and son-in-law get a phone call. You guessed it. Aiden wants to come home. Just like in Mary Ann Hoberman's book "I'm going to Grandma's"

http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/hoberman_i'm.mp3

The war in the Middle East has been on my mind for so long. I have been against the war from the beginning and mourn the loss of our children in this senseless war. Wilborn Hampton, gives us some background to war in this part of the world in WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST : BLACK SEPTEMBER AND THE YOM KIPPUR WAR : A REPORTER'S STORY

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

I love Mini Grey and her new book, Ginger Bear, tells of a gingerbread cookie trying to save itself.

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

The eyes have it

I've made it through the second surgery on my eye. I now have no sight in the eye. I'm told it will get better as the days go by and that the operation was a success. I am looking at one more surgery before I can put this all behind me.

I've been listening to books on mp3 since I can't read very well. I just finished Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale. It takes place during the Galveston hurricane in 1900. I've also listened to Meg Cabot's Pants on Fire. Great for lying in bed recuperating. I've just started Memoirs of a teenage amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin. I wish the Printz winner was on mp3 so I could listen to it but alas, it is not.

Today's podcast is

Geeslin, Campbell. CLARA & SENOR FROG

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

And the winners are...

http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/january2008/announce08.htm

It was pretty exciting to watch the announcements this morning. Thank you to everyone who helped make that possible.

There were no real shocking announcements this year. Perhaps the exclusion of Sherman Alexis' book from even an honor was the most unexpected. I admit I have not read The White Darkness but it is certainly on my list now!

The Newbery winner was an interesting choice. I loved Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! and adore Schlitz's writing. I was a bit surprised that it won the award though. The honor books are all on my love list as well.

The Caldecott committee went with a book that is not a traditional picture book. It is more of a novel and I thought it would be on the Newbery list. You have to admit that Hugo Cabret is a new and delightful piece that is sure to spawn imitators. The honor books are well deserved as well.

I was happy to see Lightship win a Sibert honor. I really liked this book and was fascinated with the lightship history.

Surprized not to see Shawn Tan's Arrival on any list. I was sure it would be.

Walter Dean Myers (May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture) and Orson Scot Card! Can't get much better than that!

Overall, I think this year's winners will be met with agreement and acceptance. I know I am very happy with the selections.

Twas the night before the awards ...

I am so looking forward to the awards announcements tomorrow. I'd rather be there but at least I can watch via the computer. Will it be a year of silent astonishment? Or a year of agreement? You just never know.

I am still laid up by this eye problem. I am tired of not being able to do anything. I had to stay home from work for a week, but I've not been able to do anything!! I can't read very well. I'm not supposed to be on the computer for long. I can't really watch videos. Thank goodness for books on mp3. And my public library's subscription to overdrive! I go back to the surgeon tomorrow and hope she'll tell me that I am on the mend and can start being mobile again!

We are in for another big snow storm today. It looks as if we will miss the biggest accumulation but they are still predicting 6-12 inches of snow.

Today's podcast is for a non-fiction book about tv direction. I love these books that give me a peek into what goes on behind the scenes. I think this will be a big "seller" during career units.

Dunkleberger, Amy. SO YOU WANT TO BE A FILM OR TV DIRECTOR?

http://nancykeane.com/mp3/dunkleberger_so.mp3

Not going to ALA

I was really looking forward to heading out to Philadelphia tomorrow. But it is not meant to be. On Monday, I suffered a retinal detachment. For a librarian, there isn't much more devastating than going blind. I was lucky though. My eye doctor got me in to see a retinal specialist right away. I had surgery on Monday night and it is looking good. It will be a few more days before we know if it was successful but as of this morning, all signs are looking toward success. I'll still have a few more procedures to have done but hope to be as good as new soon. I look like I've been in a boxing match! My eye is so swollen I can't see out of it anyway!

This near tragedy experience made me realize how blessed I am in my life. I have my sight, my health, my family, my colleagues and, thankfully, great health insurance. My doctor was telling me today that some people choose blindness because they have no health insurance and can't afford the surgery. How can this happen in this country? I just went to the surgeon, presented my health card and never gave it a second thought on Monday. Now I am thinking a lot about those who can't do that.

When you are looking at candidates in the upcoming elections, imagine you have no health insurance and your doctor has just told you that you are going blind. How would that affect you?

CYBILS short list announced

http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/

The Cybils shortlist has been announced. If you have not heard of this award, the public nominates their favorite children's books from 2007 in seven categories: Picture Books; Non-fiction Picture Books; Middle Grade fiction; Poetry; Young Adult fiction; Non-fiction (YA/MG); and Graphic Novels. Anyone with an e-mail address may nominate one book per category. Then groups of bloggers get to work. First, a nominating committee reads ALL the titles in a given category. After nearly two arduous months, this committee winnows the nominees to five finalists. A second committee of bloggers considers the shortlist and, after much debate, chooses the best of the best for 2007.

I admit there are some titles that made the shortlist that I have not read. I guess I should get started catching up.

Today's podcast is for one of the shortlist titles. Four Feet, Two Sandals by Williams tells the story of life in a refugee camp in Pakistan.

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

Happy New Year!!

Wow. 2008. It just doesn't seem possible. The years tend to go quicker as we get older. But here we are in 2008. And -- surprise -- it's snowing! I can't remember when we've had so much snow. Over 45 inches just in the past few weeks. And another 6 predicted for tonight. I don't know where we are going to put it! Let it snow!!


Today's podcast is for the book Dodger Blue by Aretha. Those that know me know I'm a die-hard Red Sox fan. I have been for over 50 years. Even before they were good! But the new Dodgers have a lot of recycled Red Sox players so I sat down and read this history of the Dodgers. Cool stuff! Enjoy.

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