Monday at ALA

The day started at the YALSA Technology for Teens poster session. This was sponsored by the committee I'm on and we were excited to see the sessions we invited. The presentations were great. Some amazing things are being done with and for teens around the country. I have lots of pictures that I will post in a few days. (I forgot to bring my camera connection for the computer!) A couple of the presentations were by the teens themselves. Way cool.

I finally got to spend some extended time at the exhibits and grabbed quite a few books. And got quite a few signed. Signings include Brian Selznick, Christopher Paul Curtis, Ellen Levine, Kadir Nelson, Geraldine McCaughrean, AM Jenkins, Roland Smith, Lauren Myracle, and Sherman Alexie. I always seem to follow someone who is very generously getting a signed book for a give away. I never give away the books. If I stand in line, the book is for me!!

I went to a program called Handmade Tales with storyteller Dianne de las Casas. She was quite entertaining. She showed us how to do some cut and tell stories as well as folding bandanas and string tales. I was not proficient in any of them. I don't think I'll be showing off that talent to the kids anytime soon.

I went to the preview showing of Journey to the Center of the Earth sponsored by Walden Media. The staff took my camera away from me on the way in and we were scanned with a metal detector. There was more security for the film than for the exhibit hall. The seats were very comfortable in the theater and I was afraid I'd fall asleep. But all the action in the film made that impossible. I don't dare tell anything about it but I will say that it is in 3D and totally not cheesy. There were a few shots aimed at maximizing the 3D effect but for the most part it was just a movie you felt you were in. Amazing feeling like you are standing next to Brendan Fraser!!! Josh Hutcherson (Bridge to Teribithia) played Brendan's nephew in the movie and he was in the theater to answer questions after the showing. What a presence he has. Only 15 years old but so self assured and poised. The teen girls in the audience were very excited. Probably how the rest of us would have felt if Brendan had benn there!!

Sunday at ALA

Started the day out as AASL Affiliates Assembly. I ducked out for a bit to attend the YALSA author coffee. This year was a bit more organized than last year. There were no gaps between authors. They should seriously consider doing away with that whistle though! If you haven't been to this, it is a little like speed dating. An author sits at your table for about 7 minutes before moving on to the next. We didn't get to talk with all the authors but seated next to me for a few minutes were John Green, Dana Reinhardt, Amanda Jenkins (she gave me a book!), Adrian Fogelin, David Levithan (he's teaming up with John Green on a new book!), Terry Trueman, Eleanor Garner, Jay Asher, and Stephanie Hemphill. What a great time it was!!

Back to Affiliate Assembly to finish the morning. I hit the exhibits a bit during the lunch time. I got to meet Susan Beth Pfeffer and gush embarrassingly. Also went to Cornelia Funke's signing and got a free copy of her new book!! Also Suzanne Collins, Tor Seidler (he's from New Hampshire!),n Coe Booth and Norton Juster. And free books for each!! I loved that Scholastic reserved the ARCs of Inkdeath to those who waited in line!

The afternoon was spent in a session on privacy. Cory Doctorow, Dan Roth (Wired) and Beth Givens (Privacy Rights Clearinghouse) presented a very interesting and paranoia evoking program on privacy -- or the lack thereof. Very good discussions about what we should allow and how we cannot go back. Our info is out there for anyone to use. Pretty scary stuff. Discussion of how people willingly give their info out in order to save money -- eg store membership cards that give you a few cents off an item. At this point, there is so much info on us that business and government has. It's just a matter of time before they figure out how to use it. Beth encouraged everyone to push for legislation to prevent the data mining. As librarians, we need to teach our patrons -- kids especially -- to guard their privacy. They have to be shown that it is worth it.

Saturday at ALA

No wireless in the hotel this morning. Boo! So I’m writing now and will post later. [Finally able to get on but boy do I hate it when I have to wait.]

Saturday at ALA was full of interesting people and events. I started the morning at a program on graphic novels and popular culture books for reluctant readers. The speakers were Holly Black, Barry Lyga and Kazu Kibuishi. Two other authors couldn’t make it. It was a great panel discussion with lots of give and take. Interesting discussion on genre blending in YA. The panel thinks that we will see more of that in YA but it wouldn’t work in adult fiction.

I then went to All Committee to meet up with the YALSA Tech for YA committee. Our program is on Monday morning -- a poster session on best practices. I can’t wait. Then we discussed our program for the 2009 conference. I think we pretty much have it fleshed out. We just have to find speakers!

Got to the exhibits a bit after noon time. It turns out you can have a rolling bag if you ask. So now my bag has a cute little pink tag and no one hassles me! By the time I got there, there were very few ARCs left. Pretty disappointing. I did talk to a couple of vendors who took pity on me and brought out the stash for me. I just can’t get to the exhibits before noon any day.

I got into the science fiction program in the afternoon. Vernor Vinge, Brandon Sanderson, Eric Flint and Cory Doctorow. Very interesting discussion on copyright issues. Also how fantasy and science fiction are similar and have similar aims. Cory was amazing. We were all hanging on his every word. Fortunately I have read Little Brother. TOR gave us free copies of the books and we were able to get them signed afterwards.

I then went to Disney for the ProQuest event. I am not too big on theme parks like that but I certainly couldn’t come to Anaheim and not go. It was fun. The fireworks were amazing. And everything ran like clockwork. The ProQuest people know how to get us where we need to go. Came back to the hotel exhausted and reading to sleep. Another long day on Sunday awaits.

Friday at ALA

Friday at ALA was a busy day for this jet lagged woman. The morning was spent at Doug Johnson's Eating Elephant 2.0. He really is a good speaker. He went over several web 2.0 applications. I have used most of them and heard of others. But the real juice for me was the sharing portion. We were able to interact with the other participants and hear their stories and concerns. I got a lot out of those discussions. Some points I had not thought of since I have not encountered them. We also talked about ethical considerations and concerns. This part is usually left out in the workshops I've attended before. Good stuff.

I went to YALSA's Turn Teens onto Reading workshop in the afternoon. I finally got to meet Joni Bodart. What a thrill. She shared a couple of booktalks with us. Wow, from the pro!! Walter Mayes was on the panel and it was great catching up with him again. He did an awesome presentation about what booktalking is like in a middle school. So true!! The other presenters were great as well. I finally got to see one of the digital picture frames in action. Cool stuff. I doubt I'll ever get one for my library but what you can do with it is awesome!

Ran into Linda Braun between sessions and said a quick hello. We got to talk about some interesting stuff. And then she videotapped me for her Simmons class. Just a quick video. She is doing some quick interviews for her class. Boy do I wish I had brought my Flip. I can't believe I forgot it. Should I run out and buy another?

Last night was AASL Affiliate Assembly. We mainly worked on fine tuning action plans to be voted on during Sunday's meeting. The east coast crowd was fading fast (especially me) but we got the work done.

Today I start out with a workshop on collaboration. I am then going to All Committee for the YALSA Tech meeting. Then off to the vendors. I haven't decided what to attend this afternoon but I am definitely going to the Disney bash tonight. If I can stay awake long enough!!

Arrived in Anahem

That was one long plane ride. Next time I think I'll take a plane that stops along the way. Five and a half hours -- not counting all the time on the ground waiting to take off -- was a bit much. I took a pass on the inflight movies. Nothing I wanted to see. Going back I just might buy those headphones though. It's Spiderwick!! I had planned to read the whole way anyway. But I was sitting next to a couple of chatty teen girls who kept me from concentrating on my book. Their conversation ran the gambit from typical teen talk -- music, boys, etc. -- to the origins of World War I. They also discussed science and debated the most important invention of the 21st century. From what I could tell with my eavesdropping, they were sisters --probably one finishing her first year of college and the other going into her senior year of high school. Now if I were an author and put two teens of a long plane ride, I doubt that I would have them discussing historical events.

I did finish my book though. Sucks to Be Me by Kimberly Pauley. She's doing a reading at ALA so I'll get a chance to read her. I liked the book and know that teens will as well. It examines the age old question "what will I be when I grow up." Of course, this is a bit different as the teen has to decide if she will become a vampire or not.

Tried to record a podcast last night with no luck. I have my junker travel laptop with me so I don't know if it is the computer or the mic I brought. I should have tested it before I left. I had to totally reformat the harddrive on this laptop after it crashed in a hotel room in DC so I thought everything would be fine. I'll play with it some more and see. I don't want to go out and buy a new mic if that isn't the problem.

I'm off to two half day preconferences today and then have the Affiliate Assembly meeting tonight. Hope I can make it. I may have to come back a grab a nap before assembly. I'm still on east coast time!

Leaving on a jet plane!

I'm packing my bags getting ready for a very early flight to ALA tomorrow. As I write this, the house is being torn apart. Well, not totally. I am having vinyl siding put on the house. I finally gave in and decided to get rid of the rotting clapboard and get vinyl. Well, they are doing it while I'm in California. So, I don't have to listen to day after day of pounding. Although right now they are right outside my window pulling off the clapboard. Should I feel guilty that the rest of the family has to listen to this while I'm in sunny California? No, I didn't think so. They said they should be finished by the time I get home!

Trying to decide which book to bring with me on the plane. It is a long flight so it should be a big one. But I'm in the middle of a short one. So, I'll probably bring a big one also. I know I'll be coming home with lots and lots of new books so I don't want to bring too many. I'll bring a book on mp3 also just to be sure I have something if I finish the others. Do other people worry about being without a book?

Today's podcast is for yet another Great Stone Face award nominee. Roland Smith's Elephant Run is a great read. I know the kids have loved his other books and will love this one as well.

ELEPHANT RUN is an exciting, historical adventure novel by the author of the popular high-
altitude adventure book, “Peak”. In 1941, Nick Freestone joins his father at the family plantation in Burma to escape the bombs falling on England. Instead of finding refuge, he is plunged into the Japanese invasion of Burma. With the help of his young friend, Mya, Nick tries to learn more about the timber elephants trained on the plantation. Mya, a girl who hopes to become an elephant trainer, or "mahout," barely has time to show Nick around the plantation before Nick's father is taken prisoner by the Japanese. With Japanese soldiers in charge of the family home, Nick becomes an unwilling servant of the Japanese. But there are hidden passageways in the house, and soon Mya and Nick have found a way to escape into the jungle, riding on the back of a much-feared rogue elephant named Hannibal. Will Nick and Mya reach safety and what will become of Nick’s father? Read ELEPHANT RUN and find out for yourself. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2008-2009)

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

Summer reading

Yesterday was the first day for kids to sign up for summer reading at the city library. What a mob scene!! It was so great to see all those little kids so excited about being in the library. My daughter and I took the grandsons so they could sign up. They weren't all that interested in signing up -- they just wanted to look at all the books. They finally tore themselves away from the books long enough to tack their koalas into the outback. Now they are working on getting their bears some leaves to eat. If kids are less interested in books, please don't tell Aiden and Jordan. They love books!!

Today's podcast is Sarah Thompson's Dragon's Egg.

“I am Damien Damerson,” the man said, bending forward slightly in what seemed a courtly little bow, even from his seat on a low stool. A pendant around his neck, what looked like a narrow arc of white ivory on a golden chain, swung loose, and he tucked it back inside his shirt. “Knight of the Order of Defenders.” “Defenders?” Da asked skeptically. “Defenders against what?” Damien lifted one eyebrow. “Against dragons, of course.” In Mella’s world, dragons are commonplace—but who would need defending against them? They are small, domesticated reptiles raised to produce eggs. Of course, there are the old tales that describe the dangerous, fire-breathing monsters of old, but no one really believes they existed---or did they? After stumbling across a large egg-shaped object, and the enormous winged reptile that lies dying to protect it, Mella is forced to reconsider her beliefs, and makes a promise that will propel her into adventures and dangers she never dreamed of. Join Mella in her quest to return the Dragon’s Egg to its rightful place in the kingdom. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2008-2009)


http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/thompson_dragon%27s.mp3

Urban, Linda. A CROOKED KIND OF PERFECT

On the last day at our school, the 8th grade holds a huge talent show. It is a fun morning of showcasing the talents of our kids. Some kids read poems, some danced, some sang, we even had a unicyclist. Some may have been better than others but the one thing they all had in common is their desire to perform -- to show the rest of the kids what they could do. Through the years I have seen kids that barely spoke for their three years of middle school put themselves out there on the last day. I've seen kids rise to the occasion and I've seen kids who just couldn't. But every year, we know that we will have a group of kids get up on that last day of middle school and go for it.

In Linda Urban's A Crooked Kind of Perfect, we meet a young girl who dreams of becoming a pianist. And she is willing to put in the work to make her dreams come true.

Zoe Elias dreams of being a concert pianist and performing in Carnegie Hall but when Zoe asks for a piano, she gets a Perfectone D-60 organ. The Perfectone D-60 is a “wood-grained, vinyl-seated, wheeze-bag organ”. Her Mother is always working and her Dad is afraid to leave the house. Her Dad spends most of his time doing home study courses with “Living Room University”. Then there is Wheeler, the cute boy on her bus who hits it off so well with Zoe’s Dad that he ends up spending more time at Zoe's house than his own. After weeks of practicing, Zoe gets the chance to enter the Perfectone Perform-O-Rama. What will happen to Zoe and her dreams at the competition at the Birch Valley Hotel and Conference Center? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2008-2009)

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

First full day of summer!

Summer is here. It has been a long time coming but it has finally arrived. This was a long school year and having to make up 6 days at the end didn't help things. But summer is here, the Sox are winning, the Celtics are champs and I have lots of books to read. I am off to ALA next week and life is looking good.

Today's podcast is for another GSF nominee -- THE BOOK OF LIES by James Moloney.

Marcel is brought to an orphanage in the dead of night to a Wizard who wants to erase the boy’s memory. Fortunately fate intervenes and he is able to remember his name. Because of this advantage he is able to help a brother and sister at the orphanage and they are plunged in to court intrigue when they find they are related and of royal blood.
The major force in the story is the Book of Lies which reveals a speaker’s lies when he or she is near the Book. BUT THE BOOK IS RUNNING OUT OF PAGES. What will happen then… (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2008-2009)

New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominees

The 25 nominees for the 2009 are my latest focus on my podcasts. I've uploaded the booktalks onto my site and am now recording the booktalks for my podcasts. The booktalks were written by members of the GSF committee but they have allowed me to post the booktalks and record them as well. I've already added a few of the podcasts and will keep going until I've done all 25. I hope to work on the NH Isinglass nominees as well.

Today's podcast is for Higgins, F. E. BLACK BOOK OF SECRETS. I love the look of this book as much as the story. The book has all black edges and gives you the feeling of hiding secrets that maybe should not be revealed!


Ludlow Fitch’s diary begins thus: “When I opened my eyes I knew that nothing in my miserable life prior to that moment could possibly be as bad as what was about to happen.” This is because he was strapped in a chair, while the loathsome Barton Gumbroot was preparing to pull out all his teeth, to be sold by his greedy and unfeeling parents. Ludlow’s dramatic escape put him in league with mysterious pawnbroker Joe Zabbidou, who traded people’s deepest, darkest secrets for cash. As his apprentice, Ludlow’s job was to scribe these confessions into the “Black Book of Secrets”. But the most disturbing secrets of all may have been the apprentice’s own… (New Hampshire Great Stone Face nominee, 2008-2009)

Last day of school!

Well, we made it through yet another school year. I was a judge for the 8th grade talent show today and what a great experience it was. For the first time we had student judges as well and these kids really took it seriously. Judged on talent instead of just popularity. There were so many talented kids though!! It was a really tough decision. And I loved the way the audience supported all the contestants. This is why I love middle school!

I've been adding podcasts again now that my computer is home. But today, the wireless seems to have bitten the dust. I hate being attached with this blue wire but at least I can still get online. I'll probably just go buy a wireless adapter tomorrow.

Podcasts loaded this week:

Porter, Tracey. BILLY CREEKMORE

Pitchford, Dean. THE BIG ONE-OH

Bruchac, Joseph. BEARWALKER

Singer, Marilyn. CITY LULLABY

Stahler, David. THE SEER

lots of messages to sort through

Well, I have most of my hard drive reconstructed. I am so glad I save a lot of my "stuff" other places. Hopefully I'll get to some podcasting today.

Saw this on twitter and liked it. You can turn your tags into art. I used my del.icio.us tags and created an interesting art piece. At least I think it is interesting!!




Give it a try at http://wordle.net/ You can put in any words you want. Fun stuff.

Connected again!

I got my computer back last night!!!! Wow, 10 days without my lifeline. I can't believe how hard that was. Sure I had access here and there but it just isn't the same. I didn't have my files or my software. I felt I couldn't get anything accomplished. Coincidently, I also had a wicked stomach bug so I didn't want to get anything accomplished. That worked for me. I wonder if both of us got the same bug :-)

Beehive Computers couldn't fix my hard drive so I now have a brand spanking new (twice as big) hard drive. They were able to salvage my data but not a lot of my programs. So this weekend will be spent trying to reinstall all my programs. They did put Office back on so that works out.

So, look for podcasts to be resuming soon. I'll record some today as I sit out in the yard enjoying the nice day. We have survived our heat wave with no air conditioning. By Friday both staff and students were pretty testy.

Only four more days of school. On Wednesday, I am a judge on the mock World Court. On Thursday, I am a judge for the 8th grade talent show. I'm just so judgemental this week! And the rest of the week will be spent trying to get those 350+ overdue books back :-(

more computer woes

OK, so my computer crashed with all my files on board and now it is in the shop for who knows how long. I'm in withdrawl now so grab a quick peak at my email on another computer. Well, it seems that ipower (my hosting site) is down. Yesterday, it was down and I lost about 16 hours of email. But it came back up and seemed to be fine this morning. But not so now. And my webpage is down too. I'm wondering if I should be changing hosts! Maybe I should at least change my email but it is such a hassle. Just thinking about how much I'd have to change boggles my mind. I guess I have to call ipower and see if I can get a human to talk to me. Not my idea of fun when it is 92 degrees out! Or any other time either.

Computer crashed!!

I cannot believe this. My computer crashed. Of course I hadn't made backups in awhile. I took it into Beehive Computers to look at it. The good news is that all my files are still on the drive. The bad news is that there are so many errors on the drive that is pretty much shot. The technician is going to try to salvage the disk but if he can't, he'll get the files off and reformat. It may even need replacement. I could try to recreate my files but it is not worth it at this point. Hopefully I'll have the computer back early next week. But in the meantime, no podcasts and no updates for the webpage. And limited email. Maybe I can go cold turkey for a few days! Nah! Not going to happen.

Happy June!!

If it's June, that must mean the school year is just about over. Because of all our snow this winter, we have to make up 6 days!! I don't ever remember that many. So, we still have 3 weeks to go. Just as well as I have so much more to do before the end of the year.

Today's podcast is for the book The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I waited so long to get this. I heard about it a year ago. I had hoped to get an ARC at midwinter but my eye surgery kept me from getting there. So I had to wait until it was actually published!! And it was worth it. I loved Life as We Knew It. (If you buy my new book, you'll have proof of that!) In one of the evaluations from a workshop I did, a participant said that I seem to concentrate on dark books. Hmmm. I guess s/he was right. I'm trying to be sure I have some "up" books used as examples from now on. But, really, I do like doom and gloom. I am not a fan of blood and gore but give me a good end of the world or dystopian book anyday.

But back to the Dead and the Gone. I thought it would be hard to live up to the first book. But it did. I really enjoyed it (except the part about Brianna). And I really want to see what happens to Alex. I surely hope there is another book in the works!! Please!!!

The Dead and the Gone by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

Alex is a hard working kid living in New York. He dreams of going to college and having a successful life. He comes from a good working class family and has a scholarship to a prestigious prep school. He even has a shot at becoming class president his senior year. Things are really working out for him. But that is all about to change. The night the asteroid hits the moon knocking it out of orbit changes life for everyone. Now Alex's parents are missing, his older brother is deployed and it is up to Alex to keep his younger sisters safe. And fed. And it is getting harder and harder to find food. If you have read Pfeffer's book Life As We Knew It and wondered what was happening in the big cities, take a look at Alex's life as he struggles with the aftermath of the moon shift.

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

Move up day today

Each year we send our middle schoolers home early and host the city's approximately 450 5th graders on a move up day. The 5th graders get to have tours of the school and spend time learning their way around a bit. When you have 8 small schools combining to form one large one, this is a great way to help the kids transition. I met some interesting kids today. Most of them could name at least one author they like. Some gave me a list. I am looking forward to working with some readers this fall. Most of them seem to mention either a fantasy author or a mystery author but I did have one little girl tell me that her favorite is L.M. Montgomery. There's a girl I'll remember!

Today's podcast is for Lyon, George Ella. MY FRIEND, THE STARFINDER. The artwork is amazing in this book and I love the storytelling intergenerational tale.

Have you ever held a star? It doesn't seem possible, does it? But that's what he said he did. When he was young, he saw a star falling and he went looking for it. And he found it. What other wonders has he seen?

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

Happy Birthday, Alex

Today is my son's birthday. My youngest. My baby. He is turning 21. How can that be? He's also a college graduate. Now for those to events to happen, it would mean that I am getting old. Or maybe I am already old. After all, I have two grandsons. I guess when you get to my age, it doesn't matter any more. But being 21 is a big deal. So we are having a barbeque and then we'll see what happens. I don't know that he is really anxious to go get a drink but we may take him if he wants.

Alex has always loved soccer. Playing and watching. He still kicks the ball around the backyard when he is bored. So, today's podcast is a book about soccer. Not how to play, but lots of interesting information about the game.

Thomas, Keltie. HOW SOCCER WORKS
Toronto : Maple Tree, 2007.
IL 5-8, RL 5.9
ISBN 1897349017
Do you play soccer? Or do you just like to watch? I am definitely a spectator. This isn't a book about techniques to help you improve your game. But it is filled with information that you can share with your friends. It starts out with the history of soccer. For instance, did you know that the ancient Egyptians played soccer? That was way back around 2000 BC. Or that a soccer game in England in the 700s used the head of a Danish prince as the soccer ball? Or that in Thailand, elephants play soccer. Just about everything you want to know -- and then some -- you'll find in this nifty book.

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

Hypercard -- what might have been

Wow. Hypercard. Haven't thought about that in awhile. But this article in Wired made me think back to the days when it was the hot app. I loved Hypercard and so did the kids. It was easy to use and created such cool "stacks". Interesting to read how Apple held him back.

Our state book award results were announced at our conference. Rules by Cynthia Lord won in the Grades 4-6 category and Perfect by Natalie Friend won in the Grades 7-8 category. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer won the teen award. (Twilight won last year!) I'm going to be adding the booktalks and podcasting them during the next month. Always a fun time. This year I am also having my students video the booktalks and am adding them to my school blog -- Blue Duke Reads. I have a few of them ready and will put them up today. Although it is supposed to be a beautiful day so I guess I'll have to work in the backyard! I also have some mp3 files to finish up to put on the school page. What I really should be doing is studying for the GRE exam. I just can't remember all that math. I sat in on a math class at school the other day and the teacher had to ask one of the kids to sit with me to help. Too funny -- at least the kids thought it was funny. Later that day, the study hall kids kept asking if I needed help with my homework!

Today's podcast is for John Wilson's Four Steps to Death. It is on our state reading list and is an interesting perspective on WWII. It is an interesting look at events from both the German and Russian points of view. I have always liked Wilson's war books and this is no exception.



It’s December 25, 2004. Constable Sergei Illyich Andropov, 70 years-old, cold and tired has been called to a construction site because two bodies have been found in the cellar of an old building in Volgograd. They turn out to be something other than the gangland murders that he expected. Sergei is forced to relive a time 62 years in the past when the Germans had laid siege to Stalingrad. His hero was sniper Yelena Pavlova. Four Steps to Death tells the story of the Siege of Stalingrade from both the Russian and German point of view, as Sergei seeks to identify the bodies frozen in the basement. (New Hampshire Isinglass Award Nominee, 2008-2009)

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

google site

I've just been playing around with the new Google feature -- google site. I am still exploring friend connect and then they launch a new application at me. There is just so much potential, I don't know where to begin.






The possible uses of this in education are endless. I can't wait to show this to some of our teachers! Google does it again.

NH library conference

Today was the last day of the conference. It was a great conference with so much to choose from. It was hard to decide which sessions to attend. The keynote this morning was Nate Greenberg, Superintendent of Londonderry schools. He really gets libraries and librarians. What an inspiration.

I presented the Tech Savvy booktalker program in the morning to an enthusiastic crowd. Lots of great questions. It was fun. And the technology worked this time!!

Luncheon speaker was Stephen Abram. I sat in the corner so I could watch Stephen but also watch the reaction of the audience. It was so cool. As usual, he blew people away. He had their full attention!!

After lunch, I went to Stephen's break out session. There were a lot of people who wanted more after lunch. There is always so much to think about when you are listening to Stephen.

The NH Isinglass book award was announced at the end of the day. Perfect by Natalie Friend won this year! The committee then presented next year's nominees. I should have the booktalks up on my site soon. And then the podcasts will begin. I love this time of year.

But now the conference is over but not the enthusiasm. I always learn so much and want more.

NH Educational Media Conference

Day one has been jammed packed and lots of fun. Keynote given by Toni Buzzeo. She spoke about the importance of librarians in the NCLB era and stressed that we need to advocate for our positions. Too many library teachers are being replaced by reading specialists or literacy teachers.

Luncheon speaker was Cynthia Lord. What a wonderful speaker. She had us all a bit weepy at the end but it was a good feeling.

I went to Toni's afternoon workshop on collaboration and got some good ideas.

The NH Great Stone Face book award was announced. The award went to Rules by Cynthia Lord. And she was here to accept!! Too cool.

And Michael Sullivan and I did our He Said She Said booktalks. Always lots of fun for us. Neither of us knows what books that other has brought so it is interesting to see how we'll work it out.

Tonight was dinner with people I don't see often enough. End of a long day. And another great day set for tomorrow.

Away to the conference I go...

I'm spending today getting ready for the New Hampshire Educational Media Association Conference that starts on Tuesday. I love going to the state conference. I get to reconnect with people I only see once a year. And I get to meet new and interesting people. This year will be bittersweet because several of my long time buddies are retiring and this may be their last conference. The state of NH is eliminating their medical subsidy for retirees this year so it is now or never for those eligible. What a shame.

I am giving two workshops at the conference. On Tuesday, my buddy Mike Sullivan and I will be presenting our He Said, She Said program. Mike highlight the latest "boy" books while I concentrate on the new "chicklit". And we try to see who can outspeak the other! On Wednesday, I'll be doing my Tech Savvy Booktalker program. I've jazzed it up a bit and hope it will work!

Other speakers at the conference include Toni Buzzeo (who I ran into in the hotel lobby in Texas last month), Stephen Abram (I get to introduce him!), author Cynthia Lord, Reg Aubrey from Google, and of course Dr. Cathy Higgins (congrats on the new title!)

My packing is not up to Joyce Valenza's. If you haven't seen her shoe video, check it out here. What a hoot! I'm glad I don't have those dilemmas. I'll just throw on my pair of crocs and away I go. I might bring two pairs just to have some variety.

Today's podcast is for Carol Plum-Ucci's new book. It is a bit of a departure from her usual mysteries but it is grippinng. I guess I just like the terrorists are going to get us type of book. I presented at a workshop in NH last month and a couple of the evaluations commented on the number of dark books I used as examples. I can't help it. I love them!

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

Plum-Ucci, Carol. STREAMS OF BABEL
Trinity Falls, is just a small suburban town in southern New Jersey. It is not any place you would expect to find anything interesting. But now four teens have come down with a mysterious flu. A flu that has killed two people already. The doctors can't figure out what is causing the illness. Even the CDC isn't sure what is going on. But the kids seem to be getting worse. Can a teen from the other side of the world help figure out what is going on?

Time to go?

I got a very unexpected phone call the other day. It was the Assistant Superintendent calling at 8:00 in the morning. These new phones we got with the caller ID are great. I couldn't imagine what he would be calling me for but I answered it anyway! Well, he gave me some great news. I was number 10 on the list for 2010. Now, if you are not in our district, you would have no idea what that means. Each year our district gives an early retirement buyout to the 10 most senior people who have applied. I apply every year but since there are so many people with more years in the district, I never expected to get the buyout. I had been number 16 on the list for 2010. Apparently, because of the economy, 5 people pulled their names from the list and bumped me up to number 10!!! So, I am now set to retire in June 2010.

When you start seeing that light at the end, you look at what you have accomplished so far and what more you want to accomplish. I have so much more that I want to accomplish so I expect to be very busy for the next two years. But it is a great feeling to know that my life will go into the next phase in June 2010!

Another great character from Spinelli

I just love the quirky characters in Jerry Spinelli's books. He is the master of the odd but lovable kid. In his new book, Smiles To Go, we fall in love with the science geek and his friends.

Spinelli, Jerry. SMILES TO GO

Spinelli, Jerry. SMILES TO GO

Meet Will Tuppence. High school science geek. He and his best friends Mi-Su and BT, play Monopoly and eat pizza and have their own rituals. But now Will has realized that he has feelings for Mi-Su. "It came to me during biology lab today. She was at another table, leaning over her fetal pig, and I couldn't stop staring at her." But it seems as if BT does also. The only person Will can turn to for advice is five year old neighbor Korbet Finn who just happens to be in love with Will's little sister Tabby.

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

A few weeks ago, my beloved niece Brandee passed away unexpectedly. This has sent everyone who knew her into a tailspin. She was so young and had her whole life ahead of her. And it was so sudden. It is hard to come to grips with the loss. Today's podcast is for Saving Grace about a family who is trying to cope with the sudden loss of a child. Their world is spinning out of control and each is dealing with the loss in his/her own way.

Spencer, Katherine. SAVING GRACE

How would you be able to handle the loss of someone you love? Grace's brother has been killed in an accident and now the world has changed forever. Her parents can't cope with the loss and retreat into their own worlds. Mom gets very involved with the church and has little time left for Grace. Dad spends most of his time in the basement. No one has time for Grace and she is left to deal with the immense grief on her own. But she can't. She find her escape in drinking and hanging out with an unsavory crowd of kids. But through it all, a strange girl named Philomena keeps popping up and helps Grace get back on track. Just who is this strange girl?

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

Non-Fiction Five Challenge 2008

On the Thoughts of Joy blog, Joy has put up a challenge to read 5 non fiction books this summer.

A FEW POINTS OF INTEREST:

1. Read 5 non-fiction books during the months of May - September, 2008

2. Read at least one non-fiction book that is different from your other choices (i.e.: 4 memoirs and 1 self-help)

3. If interested, please sign up below with the link to your NFF Challenge post (all choices need not be posted and may change at any time)

I usually read fiction but I do like to read non fiction as well so this isn't much of a challenge for me. But I am officially accepting the challenge.

Today's podcast is for my first entry into the challenge. The Book of Time Outs by Deb Lucke. The illustrations in this book are marvelous and show the pouty faces of famous historical figures in their time outs!

Lucke, Deb.
THE BOOK OF TIME OUTS : A MOSTLY TRUE HISTORY OF THE WORLD'S BIGGEST
TROUBLEMAKERS

Have you ever had a time out? I'm sure most of us have. Even famous people have time outs. Napoleon Bonaparte, for example. "He saw Italy and said, `Mine.' He pointed to Holland, Spain, Austria, Russia, and England and said, "Mine, all mine,' " which earned him two timeouts on two separate islands. Even Christopher Columbus earned a time out for fibbing to Queen Isabella when he returned from his trip to America. Babe Ruth was given a time out for treating his manager badly. What other famous people in history were given time outs for their bad behavior?

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

Skye, Obert. LEVEN THUMPS AND THE GATEWAY TO FOO

I am really loving the longer days and warmer weather. Instead of waking up to a dark, cold day, I wake up to the sun shining and the sounds of birds chirping. It is a great way to start the day. And it is especially nice when I've been having a good dream. Sometimes it is hard to go from dream to reality. Some dreams are just so real. What if the space between dreams and reality is gone? That's what today's book is about.

Skye, Obert. LEVEN THUMPS AND THE GATEWAY TO FOO

Lev is just your ordinary boy living in Oklahoma. He's an orphan with a background that is hard for him to imagine. He is the sole descendant of the creator of the hidden gateway between Earth and the land of Foo. Foo is the land where our dreams are formed and the gateway is needed to keep our dreams and our reality separate. But the evil Sabine is determined to control both worlds. And to do this, he must destroy the only person who can defeat him -- Lev.

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

A day for singing

The beautiful weather continues. Yesterday it was sunny and in the 80s. It is not supposed to be as nice today but I'll take it. After a very long winter, the sunshine makes you want to sing.

Today's podcast is for a picture book biography. Antonia Vivaldi had always wanted to play music and compose. But his parents had other ideas and forced him to become a priest instead. But you just can't stop the music!

Shefelman, Janice Jordan. I, VIVALDI

Antonio Vivaldi lived a very long time ago. He was a priest in Italy but he was also a composer. Even as a young child, music was his passion but his parents had decided that he would become a priest. But he wasn't a very devoted priest and he was eventually put in charge of a group of orphans and taught them to play the violin. Here he was able to follow his dreams of composing and performing music.


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

Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

When I was in college, one of the required texts was Achebe's Things Fall Apart. I wasn't sure if I would like it when I started the book but I did. I loved it. Even after all these years, I still love it. I've reread it a few times over the years especially when my own children were required to read it. While I was in college, Chinua Achebe came to lecture for a semester. I wasn't able to get into the class but I did have a chance to meet him. What a privilege!

Today's podcast is for A READER'S GUIDE TO CHINUA ACHEBE'S THINGS FALL APART by George Shea.

When Chinua Achebe wrote Things Fall Apart 50 years ago, he couldn't have possibly known the impact the novel would have on the world. It has been translated into 50 languages and has sold over 10 million copies and has become a standard in schools around the world. Considered one of the greatest African novels of all time, the novel tells the story of tribal life and shows how the coming of the white man led to the loss of the old ways of the Igbo tribe.


http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/shea_reader's.mp3

New toy

I got a new book from Raab Associates today. It is a cute book about butterflies. The book came with a new toy. As I opened the book, I heard someone talking to me! The book came with the iRead2you voice recorder. It is so cool. You can record up to 4 minutes on it and then put it in a book. Then, when the book it opened, the recorder begins to play! How cool is that! There are so many things you can do with this. You can send a message to a special child, read the book to a child, and more. Thanks to Raab Associates for this! If you want to check them out, take a look at http://www.iread2you.com/

Today's podcast is for Gary Schmidt's new book Trouble. I love his books. This one takes place in Massachusetts and Maine so it is familiar territory for me. The story is not though.

Schmidt, Gary D. TROUBLE

“If you build your house far enough away from Trouble, then Trouble will never find you.” Henry Smith's father has said this so often that everyone believes it. But is it true? The Smiths live in a mansion on the North Shore of Massachusetts. The family has owned this property for over 300 years and trouble has never visited. Until that night. The night that Henry's older brother is hit by a truck while out on a run. The truck driven by Chay Chouan, a Cambodian refugee who lives in a nearby town. The locals are incensed and tensions between the two towns raise. And things don't get any better when Chay is not sent to jail.

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

Patriot's Day

It's Patriot's Day! Well, not really. It isn't celebrated here in NH but since I'm from Massachusetts, I'll celebrate anyway. The marathon is in progress and I'm watching the Red Sox morning game. The weather is gorgeous and I have the day off. Perfect.

I've been enjoying just relaxing and reading. But this can't go on much longer. I need to gear up for the last class in the course I'm teaching for URI. And there are labs to grade for the course I'm teaching at NHTI. And I should be studying for those GREs coming up.

Today's podcast is for a biography of Jack Gantos. I enjoyed reading about his life and how it influenced his writing. I'm sure the kids will enjoy it too!

Parker-Rock, Michelle. JACK GANTOS : AN AUTHOR KIDS LOVE

The subtitle of this book is "an author kids love". Well, I'll tell you, he is an author grown-ups love too! I know he is one of my favorite authors. I just love his Joey Pigza books. And his Rotten Ralph books. And all the others. This is the story of Jack Gantos' real life. What he was like growing up. And where he gets his great ideas.


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

Exploring Dallas

I have most of the day free to explore Dallas before I'm back on an airplane. I walked around a bit yesterday. What an interesting city. I'm looking forward to doing more today.

Since I am in an exploring mood, it is only right that today's podcast is for a book about exploration. But it is about space exploration.

Murphy, Patricia J. EXPLORING SPACE WITH AN ASTRONAUT

When I was little, I dreamed of being an astronaut. Obviously, I didn't follow that dream. But others have had the same dream and did become astronauts. They fly high above the earth and see things that the rest of us never will. But what is it like to be an astronaut? What do they do when they are up in space?


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

Texas Library Association Conference

I had a wee bit of problem getting into Dallas yesterday. There was some really nasty weather and our plane was diverted to Kansas City. We spent several hours in KC before we finally got to Dallas. I dropped into bed at 3:00 AM!! But I was up and at the conference by 8:00. I went to a couple of workshops but couldn't stay for the whole time as I really only had one workshop time slot to sample the offerings. I tried to stay out of the vendor area since I knew I'd end up picking up some new books that I would then have to carry home. But the layover in KC meant that I finished one book. I have one for the ride home but I always like to have a backup just in case of delays. So I did go to the vendors and picked up books! I picked up On Rough Seas by Nancy Hull, the sequel to The Mysterious Benedict Society, Hurricane by Terry Trueman (the book, not an ARC!) and Moose: a memoir of fat camp by Stephanie Klein. I think I am all set for any airline delays that may come tomorrow!

My session was very well attended. When I first looked at the room, I was shocked by the number of chairs. I figured they wouldn't all be filled but they were. And there were some people standing as well. I love Texas! I got to put some faces to names and met some wonderful librarians.

One of the books that our 6th graders all read is Touching Spirit Bear by Ben Mikaelson. And they were thrilled when they found out that there is a sequel. I've lent my ARC to the teachers and they are taking turns doing it as a read aloud.

Mikaelson, Ben. THE GHOST OF SPIRIT BEAR

Cole is back from the island. He has learned so much during his time in Alaska about himself. But now he is back in high school and not feeling as in control as he was. He and Peter are bullied and it seems that everything is stacked against him. But if he gets into any more trouble, he'll be put into juvenile detention. Can Cole use what he has learned from the Spirit Bear to survive in the world?

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

Off to Texas

I'm on my way to Texas for the Texas Library Association Conference. I have never attended this one but I hear it is almost as big as ALA annual!! I wish I could have gone for the whole conference but I just couldn't get the time off. I'll enjoy what I can get to I'm sure. I will be speaking on Friday at 10:00. "The Tech Savvy Booktalker" is going south in search of nicer weather. The forecast calls for some nice warm days. I can't wait.

Beginning to feel like spring

The weather is getting nicer and there is a smell of spring in the air. The prediction is that we might even see temps in the 70s this weekend!! Whoo hooo!!!

Today's podcast is for Clem Martini's book Judgment. It is the final book in a trilogy and has the crows seeking freedom. Isn't that what we all want and need?

In the conclusion of the Feather and Bone trilogy, we find Kyp leading the flock of crows on a journey across America. They are only barely ahead of their rivals led by Kuper. He leads a flock of a hundred thousand deadly crows. Kyp's only hope is to find the legendary Urkana flock in Canada. This is their only hope to continue living free.

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

New England SCBWI

Nashua NH was the site of this year's New England SCBWI annual conference. It was very well attended. To the point where it was sold out on Saturday so I only got to go for one day. Well worth it however. The morning began with a conversation with Laurie Halse Anderson. Melissa Sweet led the conversation and Laurie was very entertaining. From hearing about her rejection letters to her daily writing routine to the breakdown when her hard drive crashed, Laurie was open and we got to learn more about her.

I went to a workshop given by Harold Underdown in the morning. Harold gave us a quick guide to the publishing process. I got some good information from his talk. He gave us lots of time for questions which is always a plus. The afternoon session I attended was given by Emily Herman and Anne Sibley O'Brien. Emily gave us many tools to use during the writing process. Lots of great information. I only wish we had time to go through her whole toolbox!

I love going to this conference as I get a chance to reconnect with people and I am surrounded by people who love children's literature as much as I do. I may never publish a kids book but I love finding out all about it and listening to people who do publish.

Today's podcast is for Dandi Daley Mackall's book Eva Underground. The ESOL classroom at my school is right off the library. As a matter of fact, it used to house the library computer lab. Anyway, I see how hard it can be for some of these kids to adjust to a new country and a new culture. In Eva Underground, we have an American trying to assimilate into a Communist country.

Eva's father has gotten a new job -- in Communist Poland!! Her mother has died, and now Eva and her father are moving away from Chicago. Eva is not happy. She vows to find a way to leave Poland and go back to Chicago for her senior year. But she finds living in a Communist country opens her eyes to a world she never really knew. And she meets a young man who is involved in the underground freedom movement.

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

Literacy day in NH

Wow! What a morning! The Granite State Literacy Council held a family literacy day today. There was so much going on and so many free books! I took my 3-year-old grandson Jordan and he had a great time. He met Big Bird, Elmo, Cat in the Hat, Clifford, Moose, Strega Nona and clowns and even Miss New Hampshire. There were loads of activities and lots of free books! He even got one of the dinosaurs from Jane Yolen's series. The turnout was much higher than anticipated from what the organizers tell me. But there were enough activities to delight every one. The only thing we didn't do was stand in line for the face painting! Jordan even loved the bus ride from the remote parking lot! After 2 1/2 hours, he was asleep on his feet but a very happy little reader!

The NESCBWI annual conference is going on today but I waited too long to register. It is sold out for today but I have registered for tomorrow. Laurie Halse Anderson is the keynote again tomorrow. I've been catching up on today's event via Mitali Perkins blog. Thank you for doing the live blogging, Mitali!

Today's podcast is for Christopher Krovatin's Heavy Metal and You. This was on the NH Flume Award list for this year.

"Slayer was like Rob Zombie, only without the camp value and with better musicianship. They scared the hell out of me at first, and I loved it. " High schooler Sam is introduced to heavy metal by Slayer. Now he is hanging out drinking and smoking. But when he falls for the preppy Melissa, he begins losing himself who wants him to give up getting wasted with his best friends. She even wants him to give up heavy metal.

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

Spring arrives?

After a record breaking winter, I think spring might just be coming! It is a beautiful day today with temps in the 50s. Most of the snow has melted. Our backyard still has a couple of feet of snow but the sunny spots are now just mud.

It is time our thoughts turn to vacation! And this is just the book to read when you are thinking that way!

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

Gay, Marie-Louise. TRAVELS WITH MY FAMILY

What did your family do on their last vacation? Maybe visit Disney World. Or travel to a relative's house? Or go to the beach? The mountains? Well, the boy in this book thinks those kinds of vacations would be ideal. His family has a very different idea of what makes a great family vacation. Like the time they encountered alligators in the Okefenokee swamp. Or when they had to dodge gunfire in Mexico on New Year's eve. And usually thing go wrong for the unlucky family. Join them on some unusual vacation experiences. And maybe next time you are dragged into a museum, you might just feel a bit differently about it.

Dixon, Franklin W. TROUBLE IN PARADISE

I remember when I was little, I was one of those kids who hid under the blankets with the flashlight reading into the wee hours. And chances are, I had a Nancy Drew book or a Hardy Boys book. It is so great to see them coming back.

Dixon, Franklin W. TROUBLE IN PARADISE

Briefing for Frank and Joe Hardy:
Mission: The son of the UN Ambassador is missing. You are to locate him.
Location: St. John, US Virgin Islands
Victim: Esteban Calderon, the son of the Ambassador Don Ricardo.
Suspects: We have hit a wall. There are no suspects.

And so, Frank and Joe Hardy are off on a new assignment. What will they find this time?

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

DeMari, Silvana. THE LAST DRAGON

And yet another fantasy book about a dragon. This one is a bit different in that an elf is looking for the last dragon. I just can't get enough dragon books. And neither can the kids!

DeMari, Silvana. THE LAST DRAGON

It's not easy being an elf. Especially when you are alone in a wet, cold world. And that is what happens to Yorsh. He is the target of intolerance and all alone. Until he meets a human who takes pity on him. But now the humans have been condemned to be hanged for helping an elf. They are able to escape but Yorsh reads a prophecy that states "When the last dragon and the last elf" come together, they will save the world. So now they are on a quest to find the last dragon.

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

Dahlberg, Maurine F. THE STORY OF JONAS

Today's podcast is for a book about finding your potential. We all have special talents and passions and we should be following our passions. When I hear about people who hate their job or are bored with life, I just can't imagine it. There is so much to do and so much to experience in this world. Even when you seem to have limited choices, you can still search for your passion.

Dahlberg, Maurine F. THE STORY OF JONAS

Born a slave, Jonas has no larger goal in life than to become the master's manservant. But that is not to be. He is sent to accompany the master's son on his trip to the goldfields of Kansas. This is a journey that will open Jonas' eyes as to the possibilities out in the world. He meets people who don't believe in slavery and he finds that he has skills that he can use in the free world. And now Jonas has a big decision to make. How will the new Jonas fit in the old Jonas' life?

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

Broach, Elise. DESERT CROSSING

Such a sad week it has been. My cousin Brandee passed away on Sunday and her service was on Wednesday. We traveled to Kentucky to be there with the family. Such a beautiful young woman lost too soon.

Today's podcast is for Elise Broach's book Desert Crossing. Such a good mystery!

Jamie, Kit and Lucy are driving through a desert rainstorm when they hit something. What would you do? The get out and investigate only to find a dead girl on the highway. They run to a nearby home and call for help. And now another person is involved in the mystery. Because it turns out that the kids didn't kill the girl. She was already dead. But who did kill her? And who is she? Fourteen year old Kit is determined to find out.

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

Crispin tale continues

Avi. CRISPIN AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
For those of you who have read Crispin : The Cross of Lead, this book picks up just where it left off. Crispin and Bear are free and making their way across the English countryside. They are just one step ahead of Bear's former partners who are out for revenge for Bear's suspected betrayal.. And then Bear is wounded and the two seek shelter with an old woman in the village. Aude also shelters Troth, a young girl with a cleft lip. Bear, Crispin and Troth form a tight bond that is closer than some families. When the villagers turn against them, the three flee once again.

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


My beautiful cousin Brandee lost her battle last night. At the young age of 30, she has left us all too soon. Please say a prayer for her.

Falcondance

I've been trying to catch up on some series reading. I usually only read the first book in a series to get an idea of what the series is about. But then never have the time to finish. Well, I've taken care of a few of them recently.

Falcondance by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Volume three of The Kiesha'ra series finds Nicias, son of two falcon human exiles, returning home. The world is divided between the falcons and the serpents. He has been living with the serpents but is now sent to the land of his ancestors. He has inherited his parents' magic but needs to learn to control it. This power can destroy him if not controlled. Only his grandmother can help him and keep him safe. What will happen when Nicias learns of his royal roots?

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


I also ask that everyone please say a prayer for my cousin Brandee. She's in critical condition and we just don't know what will happen. We believe in miracles so please help us see our miracle.

Ah to be in England

Just found out about this. On Sunday, at 3.30p.m., BBC1 is showing a full-length dramatisation of David Almond's 'Clay'. I checked the BBC site to see if by any chance this was going to be available over the Internet. Alas, tis not. But it looks as if BBC is contemplating a fee based service that will allow us outside the country to access the programs. I for one would gladly pay for the service. Just to get my EastEnders fix!!

I have already done a podcast for Clay that can be accessed at: http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/almond_clay.mp3

I love David Almond's works! So here is another podcast for one of my favorite books!!

Almond, David. SKELLIG

Michael wants his life back the way he dreamed it would be. The excitement of moving to a new house is clouded now that his new sister is so ill and his parents are so preoccupied. The only bright spot is Mina, the girl he meets who has some strong opinions and many things to teach Michael, even though she doesn't go to school. One day while investigating the garage as the real estate agent called it (although Michael thinks of it as a demolition site), he realizes that something or someone is hiding in the far dark corner. Michael reaches out to this being, bringing him Chinese #27 and #53 (his favorite), and aspirin (for his "Arthur Itis") and begins a relationship that defies description. What is Skellig, this creature that Michael and Mina care for? Man? Bird? Angel? What will he mean for their future? This story guarantees to engage and mystify through to the very last page.

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

Another snow day?

Can you believe we had yet another snow day? That makes 6 days we'll have to make up at the end of the year. At this rate, we'll be going until they decide a Democratic candidate!!

I have heard from Rivier that I have been chosen for an interview for the doctoral program. I guess I am one step closer to being accepted into the program. I should know sometime in the next couple of weeks.

Today's podcast is Stolarz, Laurie Faria. PROJECT 17.
Danvers State Mental Hospital. Some say it is where lobotomies where first performed. Much has happened inside these walls. And now it is closed and being torn down. Derik has a great idea for a film project based on the hospital. And he recruits an unlikely group of kids to spend the night inside the mental institution before it disappears forever. But will this just be a teen party that is done for a lark? Or are there some ghosts from the past who want a final say?

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

Author visit with Allan Wolf

On Monday and Tuesday, author/poet Allan Wolf visited with our students. If you ever get the chance to have Allan at your school, jump on it. I fell in love with his book "New Found Land" about the Lewis and Clark expedition. It is told in narrative verse and told in many different voices -- including Lewis' dog. Allan also a performance poet. I got to meet Allan last summer. The Janet Allen Institute was held in our district and Allan was one of the marvelous presenters. The teachers in attendance were thrilled when I was able to book Allan to come to our school.

The students were blown away. Allan's energy and enthusiasm were infectious. He is able to connect with the kids in a very real way. A couple of our kids set Allan's poetry to music for a class project and were thrilled when he let them perform with him. Check out his books "The Blood Hungry Spleen" and "Immersed in Verse." A great author visit!!