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Scattergood, Augusta. GLORY BE
Scattergood, Augusta. GLORY BE New York : Scholastic Press, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 4.3 ISBN 0545331803 For Gloriana Hemphill (Glory for short) summer means her Fourth of July birthday at the Hanging Moss Pool. But the summer she’s turns twelve, the town council closes the pool to fix a (imaginary) crack in the bottom. The winds of change have blown into Hanging Moss, Mississippi that summer of 1964. There is turmoil in the town when some folks from up north arrive to help get the black folks registered to vote, and integrate the community pool. Glory doesn’t see what the big fuss is all about, and just wants the pool to be opened. It doesn’t take long for her to realize that there are injustices that need to be addressed.. She writes a letter to the town paper, but not everyone wants to hear what Glory has to say about Independence Day and the direction things have started to take in her town. In her own way, she’s growing up, and taking a stand. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Today's podcast 01/22/2014
Tuesday, January 21, 2014
Today's podcast 01/21/2014
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Nivola, Claire A. LIFE IN THE OCEAN : THE STORY OF OCEANOGRAPHER SYLVIA EARLE
Nivola, Claire A. LIFE IN THE OCEAN : THE STORY OF OCEANOGRAPHER SYLVIA EARLE New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 2012 IL K-3, RL 5.0 ISBN 0374380686 If you are dazzled by the sea, you will love this beautiful biography of Sylvia Earle, an oceanographer who designed vehicles for deep sea exploration, set diving depth records, swam with whales and even lived underwater for two weeks! As a child, Sylvia was enchanted by the natural world. The illustrations bring that world to life with detailed pictures filled with different species of mammals, birds, insects and fish. It is exciting to see the ocean through Sylvia’s eyes and to learn more about ocean life along the way. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Monday, January 20, 2014
Today's podcast 01/20/2014
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Lunge-Larsen, Lise. GIFTS FROM THE GODS : ANCIENT WORDS AND WISDOM FROM GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY
Lunge-Larsen, Lise. GIFTS FROM THE GODS : ANCIENT WORDS AND WISDOM FROM GREEK AND ROMAN MYTHOLOGY New York : Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, 2011 IL 3-6, RL 6.9 ISBN 0547152299 Did you know that Hypnos, the god of sleep, was so powerful he could put anyone to sleep whenever he desired? In one story from Gifts From the Gods, Hera wanted Zeus, who supported the Trojans, put to sleep so she could help the Greeks battle against the Trojans in the Trojan War. Hypnos reluctantly agreed and sprinkled sleep onto Zeus. While Zeus slept, Hera helped her Greek heroes drive out the Trojans in battle. The word hypnotize, putting someone into an artificial sleep, comes from the myth of Hypnos. There are many more stories just as entertaining about your favorite Gods and Goddesses. You will also discover how the Greek & Roman Gods inspired words in our language derived from their gifts. (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Today's podcast 01/18/2014
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Kerley, Barbara. THOSE REBELS, JOHN AND TOM
Kerley, Barbara. THOSE REBELS, JOHN AND TOM New York : Scholastic, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 4.8 ISBN 0545222680 Thomas Jefferson is tall, shy, a good student, an impressive dresser, and likes to solve problems by writing about them. John Adams is short, a talker, an outdoorsman, dresses plainly, and likes to solve problems by arguing about them. Two men – very different in appearance and character - but the same when it comes to how they feel about King George (from England) and their country (the American colonies) In the summer of 1775, Tom and John meet with others in Philadelphia to talk about the problems the colonies are having with King George and what they should do. How do two men, so very different, approach the problems facing the soon-to-become United States of America? Will they agree on anything? (Review by Sue Dahlstrom, Wayne Elementary School) (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Friday, January 17, 2014
Today's podcast 01/17/2014
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Horvath, Polly. MR. AND MRS. BUNNY - DETECTIVES EXTRAORDINAIRE!
Horvath, Polly. MR. AND MRS. BUNNY - DETECTIVES EXTRAORDINAIRE! New York : Schwartz & Wade, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 5.9 ISBN 0375867554 12-year-old Madeline is shocked when she receives a ransom note stating that her hippie parents have been kidnapped. Worse still, the note is written in a secret code she can’t even read. When a car swishes by with many pairs of staring red eyes, Madeline thinks she spotted a fox driving the vehicle. Luckily, she meets a team of bunnies wearing fedora hats, who happen to be detectives. With the help of the bunny detectives, she chases marmots, states her case in front of the scary Bunny Council, and even questions a pack of evil foxes, as she searches for her parents. Will Madeline and Mr. and Mrs. Bunny solve the “Case of the Missing Parents?” (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)
Sunday, January 05, 2014
Today's podcast 01/05/2014
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Healy, Christopher. THE HERO'S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM
Healy, Christopher. THE HERO'S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM Walden Pond Press, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 5.0 ISBN 0062117432 Rejected by their princesses, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, and Rapunzel, four princes must set out on quests to impress their ladies with their bravery and knightly skills. In their travels, each of them discovers an evil plot that will destroy their respective kingdoms. The problem is that the bards who spread the news around all of the kingdoms through their songs often leave out important details such as the prince’s names and heroic deeds. So all four princes (Prince Liam, Prince Frederick, Prince Duncan, and Prince Gustav) are called “Prince Charming,” and not one of them gets credit for their daunting feats against trolls, bandits, dragons, witches and other evil beings. The other problem is that the princesses are all very brave and clever and don’t “think” they require the lackluster abilities of the princes to save their kingdoms. Will these four princes manage to sharpen their wits and hone their fighting skills enough to save their kingdoms and become real heroes? (Pennsylvania Young Reader's Choice Award nominee, 2014)