Today's Podcast 12/31/2009

• Jablonski, Carla. PENDRAGON, BEFORE THE WAR : BOOK ONE OF THE TRAVELERS

  Jablonski, Carla. PENDRAGON, BEFORE THE WAR : BOOK ONE OF THE TRAVELERS
  New York : Aladdin Paperbacks, 2009
  IL 5-8, RL 4.3
  ISBN 141696522X
  OK, you read the Pendragon series and know all about Bobby Pendragon and the Travelers and the war. But what led up to this? What was going on before the war? In this prequel to the Pendragon series, we meet Kasha, Gunny and Vo Spader before they joined forces to defeat Saint Dane. We see Kasha playing the game of wippen. Gunny has solved the murder of his best friend. And Vo graduating from Aquaneer Academy and then fighting vicious water pirates. For lovers of the Pendragon series, this is a good to continue the fun.

  tags: podcasts

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Today's Podcast 12/29/2009

• What makes you happy?

  Gownley, Jimmy. AMELIA RULES! 2 : WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY
  New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009
  IL 3-6, RL 3.7
  ISBN 1416986057
  You probably already know 9-year-old Amelia Louise McBride from her previous book. She used to live in New York but when her parents got divorced, she was moved to a small town. She lives with her mom and her Aunt Tanner -- who happens to be a rock star -- literally. And now Amelia and her new friends, the Gathering of Awesome Super Pals (G.A.S.P.), try to find out what Aunt Tanner is hiding. Along the way, you just know Amelia is bound to have lots of adventures.

  tags: podcasts

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Today's Podcast 12/28/2009

• THE WHOLE WORLD'S CRAZY

  Gownley, Jimmy. AMELIA RULES! 1 : THE WHOLE WORLD'S CRAZY
  New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009
  IL 3-6, RL 3.4
  ISBN 1416986049
  In the first book of the series, we meet 9-year-old Amelia Louis McBride. Her parents have gotten divorced and now she has had to move to a small town where she knows no one. She soon finds new friends and they form the Gathering of Awesome Super Pals or G.A.S.P. as they call it. Together they will take on school bullies and even gym class as well as learn about the
  sneeze barf!

  tags: podcasts

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Today's Podcast 12/27/2009

• Geiger, Beth. CLEAN WATER

  Geiger, Beth. CLEAN WATER
  New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2008
  IL 3-6, RL 5.2
  ISBN 1596435771
  Have you heard the term global warming? Do you know what it means? How are you contributing to it? This book explains the need for clean water and why we can't take it for granted. There are places in this world that do not have an abundant supply of clean water. How are people working to change that? And did you know that there are things you can do to help this whole situation? Take a look.

  tags: podcasts

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Today's Podcast 12/26/2009

• Happy holidays and may you have Dessert First!

  Durand, Hallie. DESSERT FIRST
  New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009
  IL 3-6, RL 5.1
  ISBN 1416963855
  Meet third grader Dessert Schneider. Well, her parents own a restaurant so it isn't too weird that they named her Dessert. But she surely lives up to her name. She loves desserts. When she finds her mother's new chocolate dessert in the refrigerator at the restaurant, she doesn't think anyone would notice if she just took a taste -- or a bite -- or ate just one -- or ate all of them!! Oh no. What is she going to do now?

  tags: podcasts

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Today's Podcast 12/25/2009

• Delsante, Vito. BABE RUTH : BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS

  Delsante, Vito. BABE RUTH : BEFORE THEY WERE FAMOUS
  New York : Aladdin Paperbacks, 2009
  IL 3-6, RL 2.6
  ISBN 1416950710
  Babe Ruth was one of the best baseball players of all time. He played for the Red Sox and the Yankees in the early part of the 20th century. Even though he passed away 60 years ago, his fame lives on. And this is the story of what his life was like before he became so famous. Told in graphic novel format, this is a fictionalized biography of the great Babe Ruth.

  tags: podcasts

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Today's Podcast 12/23/2009

• Bruel, Nick. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAD KITTY

  Bruel, Nick. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BAD KITTY
  New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2009
  IL K-3, RL 3.3
  ISBN 1596433426
  Bad Kitty is back. And today is her birthday. So, we'll give her a break if she is still a bit naughty. The guests arrive and just maybe we will see Bad Kitty having a great birthday party. Well, as you can imagine, the party is a disaster. And it turns into a whodunit when the presents start disappearing.

  tags: podcasts

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The decade in technology

Today's Podcast 12/22/2009

• Bridges, Andrew. CLEAN AIR

  Bridges, Andrew. CLEAN AIR
  New York : Roaring Brook Press, 2008
  IL 3-6, RL 5.3
  ISBN 1596435763
  Why is clean air important? What is so special about it? Can't we live with a bit of pollution? The answers can be found in this new book. This is part of the Sally Ride Science series and simply and clearly explains pollution and global warming. If you have heard these terms and are not quite sure what it has to do with you.

  tags: podcasts

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Today's Podcast 12/18/2009

• Armstrong, Jennifer. THE CENTURY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE : CHANGING AMERICA, 1961-1999

  Armstrong, Jennifer.
  THE CENTURY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE : CHANGING AMERICA, 1961-1999
  New York : Delacorte Press, 2009
  IL 5-8, RL 7.0
  ISBN 038590682X
  This is an adaptation of Peter Jennings' award winning documentaries on the 20th century. In the third book in the series, we look at the end of the century. During that time, the United States was involved in the unpopular Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement, the Women's Lib movement, protests marches, and the computer revolution. The events are told through the eyes of the people who lived it. Let your imagination send you on a journey to our nation's past.

  tags: podcasts

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Today's Podcast 12/11/2009

• MacHale, D. J. RAVEN RISE

  MacHale, D. J. RAVEN RISE
  New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2008
  IL 5-8, RL 4.8
  ISBN 1416914188
  Raven Rise (Pendragon # 9) Bobby Pendragon remains trapped on Ibarra unaware that everyone is not as they seem. He is working to rebuild the village of Rayne which can’t happen overnight. Saint Dane has lost the battle, but is that the end of the war? Pendragon’s friends, Courtney and Mark return to Second Earth to discover a changed world, people who have green tattoos of a five-pointed star. Who are they? What does the tattoo represent? A charismatic cult leader has risen to power. Is this leader somehow connected to Saint Dane? The Convergence, Saint Dane’s final quest begins with Pendragon out of the picture and unable to communicate with his friends. Alder, Patrick, and eventually Bobby return to Second Earth to stop this cult from changing the future.
  Reviewed by Cindy Fiegenbaum for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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Today's Podcast 12/10/2009

• Sage, Angie. QUESTE

  Sage, Angie. QUESTE
  New York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2008
  IL 3-6, RL 6.0
  ISBN 0060882077
  This fourth book in the series is engaging, energetic, and passionate, much like the first three. Sage’s humor is also evident in her prosaic continuing story. When the story opens, our hero Septimus, his brother Nicko, and girlfriend Snorri are all stuck in the past. While Jenna, Beetle, Merrin Meredith, and the formidable Marcia Overstrand, Extraordinary Wizard are in the present. Merrin Meredith, frustrated and angry begins to use Things to do his bidding and in doing so, he allows malevolent spirit Tertius Fumes into the world again. Because of this, Septimus must go on a Queste to solve the problem, save Nicko and Snorri, and put everything back in its proper order. On his journey, Septimus discovers why all the other Questes have failed, but the bigger question is can he succeed in his, and how many people he cares about will be with him in the end? This is a series where you must start at the beginning in order to fully understand and appreciate Queste.
  Reviewed by Tobye Ertelt for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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Today's Podcast 12/07/2009

• Cast, P. C. MARKED

  Cast, P. C. MARKED
  New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2007
  IL YA
  ISBN 0312360266
  As if being a teenager wasn’t enough of a hassle, Zoey Redbird is Marked to become a vampire. Her best friend acts scared of her, her parents lock her in her room and call their prayer group, and her sort-of ex-boyfriend smells like a big mac to her. Zoey’s only ally on the outside world is her Grandma, who helps Zoey to the House of Night. There, Zoey meets her mentor Neferet, her roommate and new best friend Stevie Rae, and her arch nemesis Aphrodite. Zoey tries to adjust to being the new kid on campus, but her unusual mark, her quick wit and sarcasm, and the fact that Erik- Aphrodite’s ex- likes her causes her a lot of trouble. When she discovers that Nix has chosen her in particular to be a high priestess, Zoey finds that her true power lies not just inside her, but with her new friends as well. There is a great amount of humor and dry wit, typical teenager sarcasm, add in the intrigue and the reality that kids are kids, whether they are normal high schoolers, or third formers, there’s always a bully to have to overcome.
  Reviewed by Tobye Ertelt for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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Today's Podcast 12/06/2009

• Dessen, Sarah. LOCK AND KEY

  Dessen, Sarah. LOCK AND KEY
  Ruby’s life has suddenly gotten much easier. So, why is she having such a hard time dealing with it? After it was discovered that her mother had run off and left Ruby to get by on her own, Ruby has finally been reunited with her sister Cora who she has not seen in years. Ruby had hoped that no one would ever find out—at least not until she had already turned eighteen. But, that was not to be. Now she has to move to a nice house, attend a private school, and plan for college. Even Nate, the nice, good-looking boy next door is not enough to lighten Ruby’s spirits. As she finds friends in her new world and learns that a nicer environment does not mean that life is easier, Ruby comes to find that secrets need to be told and that she has to trust others if she is going to find true happiness.
  Reviewed by Kari Hagman for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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Today's Podcast 12/05/2009

• Funke, Cornelia. INKDEATH

  Funke, Cornelia. INKDEATH
  New York : Chicken House/Scholastic, 2008
  IL 5-8, RL 5.9
  ISBN 0439866286
  Inkdeath is the third and final novel in the Inkheart trilogy. If you haven’t read Inkheart and Inkspell, there is a good 4- page retelling of the plots of those two books in the front of this book. But you may want to read them first so that you can be drawn into this magical fantasy world.
  
  In this third book, the Inkworld is under siege and Meggie and her father Mo are in danger. Adderhead is evil and he seems to be in charge. There are bloody battles and terrifying threats.
  
  Cornelia Funke begins each chapter with a quote or a poem from a famous author. It is very interesting to try to tie that quote into the story as it unfolds in that chapter. The power of the written word, of the story, of the world that unfolds in a good book are evident here. When you finish the book, you’ll feel that you have been on a long trip to another world.
  
  Inkheart was written for ages 9-12, Inkdeath assumes that you have grown up a bit. This is a YA book.
  Reviewed by Karen Kargel for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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Today's Podcast 12/04/2009

• Mull, Brandon. FABLEHAVEN

  Mull, Brandon. FABLEHAVEN
  New York : Shadow Mountain, 2006
  IL 5-8, RL 5.0
  ISBN 1590385810
  Kendra and Seth are being forced to stay with their weird grandparents on their mysterious estate in the middle of no where. No TV, tons of rules, and their grandfather says if they break the rules they will be forced to stay in the nursery in the attic the ENTIRE visit. And Seth isn't so good at following the rules. Kendra notices the handyman, Dale, putting out trays of milk which the amazing insects - butterflies, dragonflies - all drink from. And she notices that those same insects are really interested in a mirror. And then she follows some clues to a note that says, "Drink the milk." (Note to presenter: Show in the book on the very last page, it says it there too.) So she does. Those butterflies aren't butterflies - they're fairies. Seriously. It's a fairy preserve. And then Seth breaks the worst rule of all and the adults are missing and the house is ruined and it's up to Kendra to save the world. Literally.
  Reviewed by Jenna Obee for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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Today's Podcast 12/03/2009

• Kinney, Jeff. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID

  Kinney, Jeff. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID
  Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley’s Journal by Jeff Kinney is a hilariously funny account of Greg Heffley and his journey through middle school. The schemes he comes up with to be popular, or break out of his "station" at the middle school are hilarious. Whether it is trying out for the wrestling team, which he mistakenly believes is cool after looking at some new wrestling games, or running for student body treasurer, Greg’s misadventures bring a smile to your face. As do his attempts to work around actual work that he should be doing, or trouble he shouldn’t. Add in an older brother, Roderick, who is the typical terror to Greg, and the little brother, Manny, embarrassment is bound to follow Greg wherever he goes. Greg’s other misadventures include his best friend Rowley, who isn’t quite up to Greg’s scheming, and often ends up injured or in trouble because of it. In fact, that’s how Rowley learns an important lesson about friendship. I wish I could say the same for Greg, but somehow, I think he misses the whole picture. This book is delightfully worth reading, as Greg goes through his first year of middle school and kinda, sorta learns some lessons. This is the first book in a series that now has three novels and a do it yourself series as well.
  Reviewed by Tobye Ertelt for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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Today's Podcast 12/02/2009

• Carter, Ally. CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY

  Carter, Ally. CROSS MY HEART AND HOPE TO SPY
  New York : Hyperion, 2008
  IL YA
  ISBN 1423100050
  
  Carmeron Morgan, AKA Chameleon, is 15, attends the Gallagher School for Girls, which looks like a school for high-class snobs, but is really a school for spies.
  
  This is the second novel in the "Gallagher Girls" series. It begins with sophomore Cammie being questioned about events which involved her former boyfriend, Josh, and occurred in the first book, I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d have to Kill You.
  
  Is a terrorist group going to take over the school? The prom? Can she and her classmates stop them? She knows 14 languages, she’s smart, and her mom is a top CIA operative, but underneath all that she’s just a girl with boyfriend troubles, a spy with a broken heart.
  
  The book, like Cameron, is funny and serious by turns, and is a fascinating look at a hidden world.
  Reviewer, Karen Kargel for Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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Today's Podcast 12/01/2009

• Clare, Cassandra. CITY OF BONES

  Clare, Cassandra. CITY OF BONES
  Clary is 15 when she discovers that she can see creatures such as vampires, faeries, werewolves, and demons. After a strange encounter at the Pandemonium Club with a tattooed young Shadowhunter named Jace, Clary and her mundane friend, Simon, find that her house has been ransacked and her mother kidnapped. Clary is pulled into the world of the Shadowhunters as they battle to rid the world of demons. She gradually remembers enough to find the Mortal Cup sought by the evil Valentine, and ransom her mother. Fast paced adventures, love, inter-generational conflict, and the battles between good and evil make this a compelling read for fantasy fans.Booktalk by Marge Freeburn by Colorado Blue Spruce Young Adult Book Award, 2010

  tags: podcasts, stateawards, colorado

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