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Kirby, Stan. CAPTAIN AWESOME TO THE RESCUE
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)
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Today's podcast 10/30/2013
Monday, October 28, 2013
Today's podcast 10/28/2013
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Joyce, Williiam. THE FANTASTIC BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE
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)
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Today's podcast 10/27/2013
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Florian, Douglas. DINOTHESAURUS
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)
Saturday, October 26, 2013
Today's podcast 10/26/2013
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Henkes, Kevin. PENNY AND HER DOLL
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)
Friday, October 25, 2013
Today's podcast 10/25/2013
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Grandits, John. TEN RULES YOU ABSOLUTELY MUST NOT BREAK IF YOU WANT TO SURVIVE THE SCHOOL BUS
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)
Thursday, October 24, 2013
Today's podcast 10/24/2013
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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)
Monday, October 21, 2013
Today's podcast 10/21/2013
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Hautman, Pete. THE CYDONIAN PYRAMID
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
Sunday, October 20, 2013
Today's podcast 10/20/2013
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Chadda, Sarwat. THE SAVAGE FORTRESS
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.
Using Aurasma for booktalks
Saturday, October 19, 2013
Today's podcast 10/19/2013
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Falconer, Ian. OLIVIA AND THE FAIRY PRINCESSES
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)
Friday, October 18, 2013
Today's podcast 10/18/2013
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Chin, Jason. ISLAND : A STORY OF THE GALAPAGOS
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)
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Today's podcast 10/16/2013
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Barnett, Mac. CHLOE AND THE LION
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)
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Today's podcast 10/15/2013
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Swanson, James L. THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN SHOT!
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.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Today's podcast 10/14/2013
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Shurtliff, Liesl. RUMP : THE TRUE STORY OF RUMPELSTILTSKIN
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.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Today's podcast 10/13/2013
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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?
Friday, October 11, 2013
Today's podcast 10/11/2013
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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.
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Today's podcast 10/08/2013
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Jarkins, Sheila. THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO FLAMINGO IN THE CAVE
Jarkins, Sheila. THE ADVENTURES OF MARCO FLAMINGO IN THE CAVE McHenry, IL : Raven Tree Press, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.0 ISBN 1936402009 Marco Flamingo and his friends are off on an adventure. Unfortunately, along the way, their car breaks down. While walking to get help, Marco spots some caves and decides to go exploring. But his friends are way to scared to go in. Until something outside scares them even more.
Monday, October 07, 2013
Today's podcast 10/07/2013
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Hoppey, Tim. PEDRO THE PIRATE McHenry, IL : Raven Tree Press, 2012 IL K-3 RL 3.1 ISBN 1936299186 Pedro dreams of being a pirate. Can you imagine having your own ship and living the pirate's life? When the opportunity arises to prove his worth, Pedro steals a locket from a mermaid. He is so happy that he has proven himself as a pirate. When the mermaid asks Pedro why he took her locket, he laughs and just says that's what pirates do! But is Pedro really ready for the pirate life?
Sunday, October 06, 2013
Today's podcast 10/06/2013
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Dey, Lorraine. THE RAIN FOREST PARTY
Dey, Lorraine. THE RAIN FOREST PARTY McHenry, IL : Raven Tree Press, 2012 IL K-3, RL 2.9 ISBN 1936299283 Have you ever thought that everyone has a special talent except you? Everyone else is good at something but you are just you. Well, Hector does. As he and his friends are getting ready for the rain forest fiesta, he is sad that he has no special talent. Or does he?
Friday, October 04, 2013
Today's podcast 10/04/2013
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Bascomb, Neal. THE NAZI HUNTERS
Bascomb, Neal. THE NAZI HUNTERS New York : Arthur A. Levine Books, 2013 IL YA ISBN 0545430992 During World War II, a young man named Adolf Eichmann came into his own. Rising through the ranks in the German army, Eichmann found himself appointed to head up the Nazi Final Solution. And he was very good at the job. He claimed to have caused the extermination of 5 million Jews. But when the war was lost, he hid in the hills and then escaped to Argentina. Although it took many years, he was finally located and brought to Israel to stand trial for his horrendous war crimes. This is the story of how Eichmann was located after the war and his trial in Israel.
Thursday, October 03, 2013
Today's podcast 10/03/2013
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Aguirre, Ann. HORDE New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2013 IL YA ISBN 1250024633 Deuce, Fade, Stalker and Tegan set out to find reinforcements for the battle against the freaks. They know that there is a good chance that the town of Salvation will be destroyed before they can return but they have to try. The freaks have organized and thousands of them are attacking. What has changed? Why are the freaks acting like this? Is it possible that they are working together as a tribe? Is there any way that the humans can survive an all out organized attack?
Wednesday, October 02, 2013
Today's podcast 10/02/2013
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Aguirre, Ann. OUTPOST New York : Feiwel and Friends, 2012 IL YA ISBN 0312650094 Having been banished from their tribe and rescued from the ruins, Deuce and Fade have found a new home in Salvation. Tegan and Stalker have joined them and the four teens are living in comfort and surrounded by hope. The town has strong walls and can defend against the freaks. When planting season arrives, they volunteer to join the patrol that will protect the planters. But the freaks attack and destroy the crops. Deuce senses something different about the freaks. They are acting more as if they are a tribe rather than the mindless savages they are used to. Is it possible that the freaks are changing? And what does that mean to the people of Salvation?