Book of the day 04/15/2016

Pack of Dorks by Beth Vrabel

Vrabel, Beth. 

 PACK OF DORKS 

 New York : Sky Pony Press, 2014 

 IL 3-6, RL 4.7 

 ISBN 1629146234 '

Lucy starts out as one of the coolest kids in school, and overnight, due to one unfortunate event, becomes one of the lamest. In coping with her younger sister’s special needs and being forced to find new friends, she learns that choosing between popularity and being herself, no matter how dorky, might not be such a challenge after all. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts elementary louisiana

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Book of the day 04/14/2016

Odd, Weird, and Little by Patrick Jennings

Jennings, Patrick. 

 ODD, WEIRD, & LITTLE 

 New York : Egmont USA, 2014 

 IL 3-6, RL 3.4 I

SBN 160843745 

 Toulouse Hulot is the new kid at Woodrow’s school, but his newness doesn’t draw attention as much as his unusual wardrobe, looks, and vocabulary. Nonetheless, he and Woodrow become fast friends in this story of humor and acceptance, and they eventually stand up to the bullies who target them. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts elementary louisiana

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Book of the day 04/13/2016

The Noisy Paint Box by Barb Rosenstock

Rosenstock, Barb. 

 THE NOISY PAINT BOX : THE COLORS AND SOUNDS OF KANDINSKY'S ABSTRACT ART 

 Knopf, 2014 

 When he opens his paint box, a young boy is captivated not only by the look of the paints’ colors but by their sounds, an experience he soon learns is unique. Synesthesia shapes Vasya Kandinsky’s artistic style and eventually leads him to follow his heart and share his love of abstract art with the world. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts elementary louisiana

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Book of the day 04/12/2016

Mr. Ferris and His Wheel by Kathryn Davis

Davis, Kathryn.
 MR. FERRIS AND HIS WHEEL
 New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014
 IL K-3, RL 3.7
 ISBN 0547959222
 A challenge is delivered to American engineers: who can create a monument for the upcoming 1893 Chicago World’s Fair that will outshine the Eiffel Tower? It takes a creative engineer with a dream to build the sensational structure that amazes and inspires people from around the world. This is the true story of how the first Ferris Wheel was created. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts elementary louisiana

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Book of the day 04/11/2016

Little Melba and Her Big Trombone by Katheryn Russell-Brown

Russell-Brown, Katheryn. LITTLE MELBA AND HER BIG TROMBONE New York : Lee & Low, 2014 IL K-3, RL 3.7 ISBN 1600608981 Young Melba Liston, born in the 1920s, loved music: blues, jazz, and gospel. She talked and breathed the beats, lyrics, and tunes. When she was seven years old she began playing trombone, and from there she became one of the most famous trombone players of all time, known around the world. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Book of the day 04/10/2016

Lindbergh: The Tale of a Flying Mouse by Torben Kuhlmann

Kuhlmann, Torben. LINDBERGH : THE TALE OF A FLYING MOUSE New York : North South, 2014 IL K-3, RL 3.6 ISBN 0735841675 How can one small mouse escape a new and terrifying invention, the mousetrap, and get from Europe to America? Why, he must learn to fly! In this beautifully illustrated book inspired by Charles Lindbergh’s solo transatlantic flight, the lone mouse left in London does just that. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts elementary louisiana

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Book of the day 04/08/2016

Lend a Hand : Poems About Giving by John Frank

Frank, John. LEND A HAND : POEMS ABOUT GIVING New York : Lee and Low Books, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 5.0 ISBN 1600609708 Lend A Hand is a collection of poems celebrating young people who give of themselves through acts of kindness. From donating hair to provide a wig for a chemo patient to raising a puppy to assist a blind or deaf person, they are making a difference in the lives of others. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts elementry blueduke louisiana

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Book of the day 04/07/2016

Let's Get Cracking by Cyndi Marko

Marko, Cyndi. LET'S GET CRACKING! KUNG POW CHICKEN New York : Scholasstic, 2014 IL K-3, RL 3.4 ISBN 0545610621 After an incident in his Uncle Quack’s laboratory, second grader Gordon Blue becomes a superhero and goes by the name Kung Pow Chicken. When evil Granny Goosebumps causes havoc at the Fowl Festival, Gordon must use his superpowers to save the day in this hilarious and heavily illustrated story. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts elementary

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Book of the day 04/06/2016

Ivan : The Remarkable True Story of a Shopping Mall Gorilla by Katherine Applegate

• Applegate, Katherine. 
• IVAN : THE REMARKABLE TRUE STORY OF THE SHOPPING MALL GORILLA 

 New York : Clarion, 2014
 IL K-3, RL 3.9
 ISBN 0544252306 

 Katherine Applegate tells the story of Ivan, a baby gorilla who is captured by poachers and sold to the owners of a mall in Tacoma,

Washington. He is raised like a human child until he is too big and then lives in a cage in the mall for 27 years. After public opinion persuades the owner to free Ivan, he spends his final years at Zoo Atlanta, where he shares a natural habitat with other gorillas. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

• tags: podcasts elementary blueduke louisiana 

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Book of the day 04/05/2016

• I Survived True Stories by Lauren Tarshis
  Tarshis, Lauren. I SURVIVED TRUE STORIES : FIVE EPIC DISASTERS New York : Scholastic, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 4.3 ISBN 0545782244 The Children’s Blizzard of 1888, the Titanic’s voyage in 1912, The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919, the 2011 Japanese tsunami, and the Henryville tornado in 2012 – all were disasters on an epic scale. This work of nonfiction features not only these intense events but also the experiences of real kids who lived through them. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary louisiana

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Book of the day 04/04/2016

• Mystery On Museum Mile by Marcia Wells
  Wells, Marcia. EDDIE RED, UNDERCOVER : MYSTERY ON MUSEUM MILE New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 4.7 ISBN 0544668502 Edmund Xavier Lonnrot is an extraordinary sixth-grader with a photographic memory. When Edmund's ability to recall and sketch details is revealed after an encounter with the NYPD, he learns that his talent just might be what the detectives need to break a case. Given the codename "Eddie Red", Edmund attempts to help the NYPD catch the Picasso Gang and solve the art mysteries of the Museum Mile. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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Today's Book 4/2/2016

Almost Super by Marion Jensen

Jensen, Marion. ALMOST SUPER HarperCollins, 2014 Everyone in the Bailey family is a superhero; it is in their genes. The exciting day has finally come for Rafter and Benny to earn their amazing super powers! When the powers are bestowed, however, they turn out to be not-so-super. How are Rafter and Benny supposed to help their family fight the supervillain Johnson family with useless powers? (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

Today's podcast 04/03/2016

• The Blossoming Universe Of Violet Diamond by Brenda Woods
  Woods, Brenda. THE BLOSSOMING UNIVERSE OF VIOLET DIAMOND Nancy Paulsen Books, 2014 Violet is like most of her friends: smart and funny, but her biracial heritage sets her apart at her mostly white school. People who don’t know her ask if she’s adopted, which makes her outspoken and now curious about her family. Though her deceased father’s family has never sought her out, she sets out on a quest to meet them. Will they accept her? (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

• 
  

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Today's podcast 04/01/2016

• Crossover by Kwame Alexander
  Alexander, Kwame. THE CROSSOVER Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 This is the story of a set of twins, middle school basketball stars who are coached by their dad, a former NBA player. The boys are equally talented and work well together, but when a new girlfriend begins to split them apart, feelings of anger and jealousy develop. The novel, written in verse, emphasizes brotherhood and family bonds and has an unexpected ending that will shock the reader. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts blueduke louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/31/2016

• We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
  Lockhart, E. WE WERE LIARS Delacorte, 2013 Cady has always looked forward to summers on her family’s private island; it’s the only time she sees her cousins Johnny and Mirren and their friend Gat, and the four are an inseparable group, happy being teenagers and unconcerned with inheriting the family’s riches or upholding reputations. The summer they are all fifteen, Cady suffers an accident, leaving her with headaches and memory loss, confused at the strained relationships and secrets everyone seems to be keeping from her when she is able to return to the island at age seventeen. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya blueduke louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/30/2016

• To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
  Han, Jenny. TO ALL THE BOYS I'VE LOVED BEFORE Simon and Schuster, 2014 Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song finds writing therapeutic. In fact, she has gotten over five crushes by writing an unsent love letter in her diary to each boy. When the letters disappear and somehow reach their addressees, one of whom is a close friend of Lara Jean and the ex-boyfriend of her sister, Lara Jean will do anything to show that she no longer has feelings for the boys, including pretending to date one of them, paradoxical though it may seem. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/29/2016

• Red Rising by Pierce Brown
  Brown, Pierce. RED RISING New York : Del Rey, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0345539788 Darrow, a member of the low class Red clan, had always followed the rules, working to prepare Mars for the excess population of Earth. Before his wife was killed by the government, he would never have considered rebellion against the upper classes. Now though, he has been recruited and is prepared to go undercover, working his way to the top of the Gold class in order to overthrow them, no matter what it takes. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/28/2016

• When I Was The Greatest by Jason Reynolds
  Reynolds, Jason. WHEN I WAS THE GREATEST New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2014 IL YA ISBN 1442459476 Ali and his friends, brothers Noodles and Needles, refuse to be defined by the stereotypes in their Brooklyn neighborhood. Ali keeps busy by learning to box, just as Noodles does reading comic books, and Needles gets his name not from any type of injection but from the knitting needles he carries to help control the symptoms of Tourette’s Syndrome. Despite their good intentions, what will happen when the three find themselves in a dangerous situation at an exclusive party? (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya blueduke louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/25/2016

• Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano
  Cosimano, Elle. NEARLY GONE New York : Kathy Dawson Books, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0803739265 Nearly Boswell has many reasons to keep a low profile; the last thing she wants is to become a target for bullying at school, or worse. Her mom works as an exotic dancer, but Nearly’s strange talent, the ability to experience the emotions of other people when she touches them, has the potential to draw much greater unwanted attention. Though she risks revealing all of this by getting involved, when a series of murders begin to occur, Nearly might be the only one who can solve them. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/24/2016

• I'll Give You the Sun by Jandy Nelson
  Nelson, Jandy. I'LL GIVE YOU THE SUN Dial Books, 2014 Fraternal twins and artists Jude and Noah narrate this story of loss, love, guilt, and family. Noah’s viewpoint reveals the twin’s lives at age thirteen while Jude’s portion is told from three years later. The two narratives slowly reveal the circumstances that shape the twins, driving them apart and ultimately bringing them to a greater understanding of themselves and one another. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/23/2016

• How It Went Down by Kekla Magoon
  Magoon, Kekla. HOW IT WENT DOWN New York : Henry Holt, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0805098690 African American teen Tariq Johnson has been shot and killed by Jack Franklin, a white man, after exiting a convenience store. This is the only fact known for certain by the media and investigating officials. Community members, friends, family, eyewitnesses, and police all give their accounts of how it went down, each providing pieces of conflicting stories in this complex novel. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya blueduke louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/22/2016

• Fake ID by L. R. Giles
  Giles, L. R. FAKE ID New York : Amistad, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0062121847 Nick Pearson, formerly known as Steven and originally called Tony Bordeaux, is a member of the witness protection program. Moving to Stepton as the Pearsons is his family’s last chance at protection after a series of identities are ruined by the chronic criminal involvement of Nick’s father. Even though the whole family is seemingly focused on staying out of the spotlight once and for all, Nick must decide whether or not to risk their safety by investigating a conspiracy and the death of a new friend. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/21/2016

• Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski
  Mlynowski, Sarah. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT New York : Delacorte Press, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0385906625 If sophomore class 10B seems more closely-knit than any other group in the school, it might be because they secretly share telepathic powers. This unexpected side effect of receiving a contaminated batch of flu vaccinations allows each student to hear the thoughts of others. Knowing the secrets, insecurities, test responses, and everything else that passes through the minds of their classmates leads to both hilarious and uncomfortable situations. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/20/2016

• Untwine by Edwidge Danticat
  Danticat, Edwidge. UNTWINE New York : Scholastic, 2015 IL YA ISBN 0545423031 They say that when identical twins Isabelle and Giselle were born, they were holding hands. The doctor needed to untwine their hands. And they have been inseparable ever since. No they don't do the twin thing where they dress alike. And they don't have the same classes in school. They each have their own interests. But they are very close. When a horrible traffic accident separates the twins in a tragic way, can things ever be the same?
  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 03/19/2016

• 100 Sideways Miles by Andrew Smith
  Smith, Andrew. 100 SIDEWAYS MILES New York : Simon & Schuster, 2014 IL YA ISBN 1442444959 With the exception of his uncontrollable epileptic episodes, the scars on his back that serve as physical reminders of a childhood tragedy, and the unwanted attention he receives as a result of being the inspiration for his father’s hugely popular science fiction novel, sixteen-year-old Finn Easton is content with his life. Still, when the girl of Finn’s dreams moves across the country, Finn and best friend Cade embark on a wild, hilarious, and unauthorized road trip under the guise of a college visit. (Booktalk by the Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Committee)
  tags: podcasts ya louisiana

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Today's podcast 03/18/2016

• Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson
  Woodson, Jacqueline. EACH KINDNESS Nancy Paulsen Books, 2012 Have you ever made fun of someone because of their clothes or the way they looked? Has anyone ever made fun of you? Chloe and her friends won't play with the new girl Maya because her clothes are not the most fashionable and her obvious poverty. When her teacher gives a lesson on kindness, Chloe begins to regret her decisions. But can she undo all the hurtful things she has done?
  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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Today's podcast 03/17/2016

• Voice of Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford
  Weatherford, Carole Boston. VOICE OF FREEDOM : FANNIE LOU HAMER, SPIRIT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT Somerville : Candlewick, 2015 IL 5-8, RL 5.6 ISBN 0763665312 Fannie Lou Hamer was born in 1917 and was the youngest in a family of 20 children! Her parents were poor sharecroppers in Mississippi who struggled to keep everyone fed. Fannie had to quit school after the 6th grade to help the family. Times were hard as they spent their days picking cotton in the hot sun. It was not easy to be poor but harder still to be African American. Fannie faced discrimination all her life. By the time she was in her 40s, Fannie knew that this was not right and she joined with the civil rights movement to do something about it. When she tried to register to vote, she was viciously beaten. But she would not be stopped. She was more determined than ever to help African Americans get equal rights.
  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 03/16/2016

• Orbiting Jupiter by Gary Schmidt
  Schmidt, Gary. ORBITING JUPITER New York : Clarion Books, 2015 IL YA ISBN 054446222X Jackie is 12 years old and living a relatively normal life. Until his family is joined by 14 year old Joseph -- a foster kid who has real issues. He has been in juvie and now his case worker wants him to experience family life. Joseph is pretty quiet and not open to anyone. As the days go by, Jack sees Joseph coming out of his shell and learning to trust again. But Joseph has one goal in mind. He needs to find his baby daughter. Yes, that's right. He is only 14 but he has a baby out there somewhere who he wants to raise. Could that even be possible? How could a 14 year old raise a baby?
  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 03/15/2016

• The Old Woman Who Named Things by Cynthia Rylant
  Rylant, Cynthia. THE OLD WOMAN WHO NAMED THINGS New York : Harcourt, 2000 IL K-3, RL 3.8 ISBN 0152021027 Getting old can be a lonely thing. In this story, the old woman has outlived all her friends and family and does not want to get attached to anyone or anything ever again. But then a shy brown puppy arrives and seems to want to be with the old woman. She will feed him and let him stay in the yard but she will not name him. What will happen when the dog stops coming to the house?
  tags: podcasts elementary
• 
  

• Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
  Booktalk by 7th grade student at Rundlett Middle School
  tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's podcast 03/13/2016

• Presidential Misadventures by Bob Raczka
  Raczka, Bob. PRESIDENTIAL MISADVERTURES New York : Roaring Brook, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 6.0 ISBN 1596439807 This book is written in clerihew poetry. Don't know what that is? It is a whimsical, four-line biographical poem. First invented by Edmund Clerihew Bentley, the first line is the name of the biographee. Some of these presidential poems are a bit of a stretch but you are sure to enjoy them. See if you can write some of your own.
  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 03/12/2016

• Bully by Patricia Polacco

  Polacco, Patricia. BULLY New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2012 IL 3-6, RL 4.1 ISBN 0399257047 Have you ever been bullied? Have you ever known someone who was? You probably answered yes to one of these questions. Lyla is new to her school and finds a friend in Jamie who is also new. But when Lyla makes the cheerleading squad, Jamie is left behind. Now Lyla is hanging out with the popular kids. But when they start bullying Jamie, which side will Lyla be on?

  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 03/11/2016

• Harlem Hellfighters by J. Patrick Lewis

  Lewis, J. Patrick. HARLEM HELLFIGHTERS Mankato, MN : Creative Editions, 2014 IL 5-8, RL 5.9 ISBN 1568462468 Back in the days of World War I, African Americans were looked down on and discriminated against. But that wasn't going to stop a group of two thousand men from fighting in the war. A regiment of African American soldiers from Harlem risked their lives to fight in France. They fought along side of the French Army but their legend goes beyond their fighting ability. It was their music that made this group of soldiers the legend.

  tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's podcast 03/10/2016

• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

  Jamieson, Victoria. ROLLER GIRL New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015 IL 5-8, RL 3.1 ISBN 0525429670 Middle school is a tough time for kids. Interests are changing and sometimes friendships change as well. When Astrid and her best friend Nicole go to their first roller derby, Astrid has found what she wants to do. She plans to go to roller derby camp in the summer and just assumes that Nicole will too. But Nicole plans to go to dance camp. Astrid loves roller derby and works hard to be the best. But the other girls have a head start on her. But she makes a new friend and finds her passion. Will this mean that Nicole is left behind?

  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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Today's podcast 03/09/2016

• Eleanor Roosevelt: A Friend To All by Tamara Hollingsworth

  Hollingsworth, Tamara. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT : A FRIEND TO ALL New York : Teacher Created Materials, 2011 IL K-3, RL 2.2 ISBN 1433315912 Eleanor Roosevelt was an amazing woman. Born in 1884 to wealthy parents, she would become an unlikely champion of the poor. She married Franklin Roosevelt in 1905 and the two went on to have six children. Many people in the United States didn't have jobs and were very poor. Eleanor went around the country trying to help. When Franklin became President, she used her position as First Lady to work on improving conditions for those who had no power.

  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 03/08/2016

• The Trouble In Me by Jack Gantos

  Gantos, Jack. THE TROUBLE IN ME New York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 2015 IL YA ISBN 0374379955 Jack Gantos has never shied away from using his own life as a basis of his stories. Written as fiction, this is the story of Jack during the summer before eighth grade. When he gets involved with next door neighbor Gary, he gets into all sorts of trouble while trying to impress Gary. This is not a good thing and it is the beginning of Jack's life that led to some very bad choices.

  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 03/07/2016

• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt De La Pena

  De la Pena, Matt. ' LAST STOP ON MARKET STREET New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2015 IL K-3, RL 3.3 ISBN 0399257748 Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandmother have a routine. CJ isn't sure he wants to do the same thing every week. As they wait in the rain for the bus, he questions why they have to go and why they have to ride the bus and why they can't just get a car. With each of his questions, his grandmother shows him the beauty all around him. Will CJ ever appreciate their weekly routine?

  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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Today's podcast 03/06/2016

• Rain Wizard by Larry Dane Brimner

  Brimner, Larry Dane. RAIN WIZARD : THE AMAZING, MYSTERIOUS, TRUE LIFE OF CHARLES MALLORY HATFIELD New York : Calkins Creek, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 6.8 ISBN 1590789903 Way back in December 1915, San Diego was in the midst of a drought. The town's reservoirs were practically dry and the town administrators knew that something had to be done so the town would survive. They decided to hire Charles Mallory Hatfield who was a renowned rain maker. He had a special formula he used to seed the clouds and make rain. Do you believe that? Well, the people of San Diego did and they put their faith in the Rain Wizard. And do you know what happened? You will have to read the book to find out!

  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

• Sam and Dave Dig a Hole by Mac Barnett

  Barnett, Mac. SAM AND DAVE DIG A HOLE Candlewick, 2014 Have you ever had one of those days when you just know that you are going to have a great adventure? Sam and Dave are looking for something spectacular and they know they will find it if they just look hard enough. So they decide to dig a hole. And they won't stop until they find it.

  tags: podcasts elementary

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Today's podcast 01/29/2016

• Free Verse by Sarah Dooley

  Dooley, Sarah. FREE VERSE New York : G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2016 IL 5-8 ISBN 0399165037 Sasha has suffered many loses in her short 13 years. First her mother left the family. Then her father was killed in a mining accident. Her brother Michael gave up his dream of leaving their small town to stay and take care of Sasha. But he too is gone. Michael has died in an accident and now Sasha is alone in the world. She is sent to live with Phyllis, a nice woman who takes in foster children. It isn't easy for Phyllis. Sasha is a handful. She runs away. She breaks things. She gets into fights. But through it all, Phyllis stays by Sasha's side. Sasha is drawn to 9-year-old Mikey who lives next door and has lots of issues of his own. When Sasha joins the school's poetry club, she finally finds something in her life that makes sense. Will poetry be Sasha's voice?

  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 01/27/2016

• Drowned City by Don Brown

  Brown, Don. DROWNED CITY : HURRICANE KATRINA AND NEW ORLEANS New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015 IL YA ISBN 054415777X On August 29, 2005, everything changed for the people of New Orleans. Everyone was watching Hurricane Katrina for days as it tracked towards the city. It was unthinkable that this could happen. But it did. The storm was massive and hit with such tremendous force that there was no escaping the fury. There were many mistakes made by the those in charge that made thinks worse. When the storm was finally over, more than 1,400 people had lost their lives and things would never be the same. Live the horrible event as it crashes into the city.

  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 01/22/2016

• Love Will See You Through by Angela Farris Watkins

  Watkins, Angela Farris. LOVE WILL SEE YOU THROUGH : MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.'S SIX GUIDING BELIEFS (AS TOLD BY HIS NIECE) New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015. IL 3-6, RL 5.8 ISBN 1416986936 Martin Luther King was a major figure in the civil rights movement. He believed in non-violence and believed that equality could be gained in a peaceful way with sit-ins and conversation. His niece has written this book that shows how the Martin Luther King lived the values he spoke about. He believed that you should love your enemies, fight the problem not the people who caused it, and resist violence of any kind. To learn more about Martin Luther King and his teachings, pick up a copy of Love Will See You Through.

  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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Today's podcast 01/21/2016

• Ticket to India by N. H. Senzai

  Senzai, N. H. TICKET TO INDIA New York : Paula Wiseman Books, 2015 IL 3-5 ISBN 1481422588 Maya and her family have traveled to Karachi Pakistan after her grandfather passed away. While she is missing school, her teacher has asked her to keep a journal of her time. What starts out as a journey to the funeral of her beloved grandfather, turns into an adventure that Maya could never have even imagined. At the funeral, Maya overhears her grandmother making arrangements to secretly travel to India. Maya and her sister decide to go along to be sure that their grandmother is safe. It isn't easy to get visas into India but fortunately the family had plans to go before this happened. But what is so important for their grandmother to find. After all, she hasn't been back to India since she was a baby. Her family had escaped from India to Pakistan long ago. She is the only one who made it across the border. What could she possibly hope to find? And how will two girls from California ever hope to help her?

  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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Today's podcast 01/20/2016

• The Hired Girl by Laura Amy Schlitz — Adobe Voice

  Schlitz, Laura Amy. THE HIRED GIRL Somerville, MA : Candlewick, 2015 IL YA ISBN 076367818X Fourteen year old Joan Scraggs sees a horrible future ahead of her. Her father has forced her to drop out of school to work around the farm. She loved school and her teacher who had encouraged her to read and learn. But since Joan's mother passed away, Joan is forced to do all the cooking, cleaning, laundry as well as looking after the chickens and the vegetable garden. He father shows her no affection and her brothers are slobs. Joan just can't imagine that she will be cooking and cleaning for these men for the rest of her life. So she does what she sees as her only hope. She runs away and heads to the city of Baltimore. Hired girls can cook and clean and get paid $6 a week. After a long train ride, Joan finds herself alone in the dark and not sure where to go after the train is delayed. What was she thinking? How did she think a dirty girl from a hardscrabble farm in Pennyslvania could ever hope to become a respectable educated girl in the city?

  tags: podcasts ya blueduke

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Today's podcast 01/19/2016

• Two Friends by Dean Robbins

  Robbins, Dean. TWO FRIENDS : SUSAN B. ANTHONY AND FREDERICK DOUGLAS New York : Orchard Books, 2016 IL K-3, RL 2.4 ISBN 0545399963 On a winter day in mid 1800s, Susan B. Anthony and Frederick Douglas sat down for tea and talk. The two had much in common. Susan grew up at a time when women couldn't have an education or own a house. Frederick grew up a slave and taught himself to read and eventually escaped to the north. They both gave speeches talking about rights. Some people had rights while others had none. Why shouldn't all people have rights? The two became friends and worked for the freedom of all.

  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 01/18/2016

• Pip Bartlett's Guide to Magical Creatures by Jackson Pearce

  Pearce, Jackson. PIP BARTLETT'S GUIDE TO MAGICAL CREATURES New York : Scholastic, 2015 IL 3-6, RL 4.7 ISBN 0545709261 Pip Bartlett loves, loves, loves animals. All kinds of animals. But particularly the magical kind of animals. Yes, they do exist. And Pip is going to spend all summer with her Aunt who is a magical animal vet!! Life couldn't get much better. Oh yea, did I forget to tell you that Pip can talk to the animals? Well, she can understand what they are saying and she is very surprised at what she learns. Teaming up with Tomas who is allergic to just about everything, Pip finds herself in a non-stop adventure with unicorns, HobGrackles, and an outbreak of Fuzzles that have a habit of bursting into flames at the most inconvenient times. Can they keep the dreadful government inspector from exterminating all the Fuzzles?

  tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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Today's podcast 01/15/2016

• A Death Struck Year by Makiia Lucier

  Lucier, Makiia. A DEATH-STRUCK YEAR New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014 IL YA ISBN 0544164504 It is 1918 and the United States is involved in the First World War. In Portland, Oregon Cleo and her family believe they are too far west to be affected by the Spanish flu that is striking people on the east coast. They have heard about the devastation that this disease has played in Europe and in the soldiers returning from war. Cleo is told to stay at her boarding school until her family returns from a short trip but she decides that she will be better off at home than stuck at school so she sneaks off. Within one day, the influenza epidemic has found it's way to Portland and that 200 people are affected. At home, she learns that the Red Cross is looking for volunteers to help with the influenza epidemic. She musters up her courage and volunteers to help by going door to door to find those too sick to ask for help. This sounds like a noble cause until reality hits.

  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 01/13/2016

• Halloween by Mary Lindeen

  Lindeen, Mary. HALLOWEEN Chicago : Norwood House, 2016 IL K-3, RL 1.5 ISBN 1599536897 Don't you just love Halloween? It is a holiday full of traditions and symbols. This book tells about pumpkin carving, costumes and other customs. What is your favorite part of the holiday?

  tags: podcasts elementary

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Today's podcast 01/12/2016

• Dream On, Amber by Emma Sheva

  Sheva, Emma. DREAM ON, AMBER Naperville, IL : Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2014 IL 3-6, RL 6.0 ISBN 1492622508 Meet almost 12-year-old Amber Miyamoto. She is half Italian and half Japanese which makes her feel mixed up like a salad. Middle school is an adventure that she is trying to deal with. But other things are getting in the way including a phone that the cavemen probably used, liking a boy who has a locker near her, loving art but not feeling confident in it, and the bully she meets and accidentally beats up her brother. And then there is the fact that her Dad has walked out probably never to be seen again. Amber is trying to deal with that fact but her sister is having a worse time with it. But Amber has a genius idea. When her sister writes to Dad, Amber says she will mail the letter but what she is going to do is write back to Bella and pretend that it is from Dad. Surely nothing can go wrong! Right. Dream on, Amber.

  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 01/11/2016

• Edge by Roland Smith

  Smith, Roland. EDGE New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015. IL YA ISBN 0544341228 Peak Marcello made headlines for his attempt to be the youngest person to climb Mt. Everest. At the top, Peak decided that his sherpa deserved the honor more than he did. It has been awhile since that time and he has tried to live a normal life -- whatever that is. When one of the richest men in the world offers him a chance to be part of a massive climbing event, he and his mother decide to take part. Two hundred teens from all over the world will be taking part in the Peace Climb. They will be working in small groups and will be climbing different mountains but all are scheduled to summit the same day. Peak's group will be climbing in war-torn Afghanistan. Peak is not exactly thrilled at this idea but he is assured that they will be safe. He will be working with his old film crew from Everest as well as his Sherpa friend Zopa. There will be body guards along also. His team consists of four other teens -- one of which happens to be the daughter of an important French diplomat. Surely they wouldn't send her into a dangerous situation. Or would they? Climb along with Peak as he finds himself in a very different sort of danger.

  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 01/08/2016

• A Fine Dessert by Emily Jenkins

  Jenkins, Emily. A FINE DESSERT New York : Schwartz and Wade Books, 2015 IL K-3, RL 4.1 ISBN 0375868321 Do you have traditions in your family that have been passed down through generations? What about some recipes? This book traces a recipe back through many years. Blackberry fool is a simple recipe and it has been enjoyed for hundreds of years. The book starts in 1710 with a mother and daughter picking the blackberries to make the delicious treat. Then we go forward learning about four different families who have enjoyed the treat.

  tags: podcasts elementary

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Today's podcast 01/07/2016

• Pieces of Why by K. L. Going

  Going, K. L. PIECES OF WHY New York : Kathy Dawson Books, 2015 IL 5-8, RL 4.9 ISBN 0803734743 Tia is a 12-year-old girl living in New Orleans. Her favorite thing to do is to sing. She is part of a gospel choir and she loves everything about the choir. Until it happens. One night as they are rehearsing, shots ring out near the church. A car jacking has led to a murder of a child. Tia is suddenly flooded with memories of her father. Her father who is in prison for the murder of a young girl. As much as Tia's mother has tried to protect her from this, Tia is wanting to know more. And the other members of the choir have learned about Tia's past.

  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 01/06/2016

• Make a Difference by Sarah Dillard

  Dillard, Sarah. MAKE A DIFFERENCE New York : Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2016 IL 3-6 ISBN 0385756054 After earning their first scouting badge with their vegetable garden, the girls are anxious to find out what their next badge will be. This time, Violet, Tigerlily and the other girls will be working to earn their Make a Difference badge. How can these small mice possibly make a difference? Maybe cleaning up the local park will qualify. What do you think?

  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 01/05/2016

• Mouse Scouts by Sarah Dillard

  Dillard, Sarah. MOUSE SCOUTS New York : Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2016 IL 3-6 ISBN 0385755996 The girls are really looking forward to becoming Mouse Scouts. Buttercups was fun but it was really just for baby mice. They are big girls now. The first meeting begins and the new scoutmaster drones on and on. Wow, Miss Poppy is one strict leader! But when the girls learn they are going to earn their first badge by creating a vegetable garden, they are so happy. But sometimes it is more fun to play than to take care of your responsibilities. Will the girls be able to earn their badge?

  tags: podcasts elementary

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Today's podcast 01/04/2016

• The Day the Crayons Came Home by Drew Daywalt

  Daywalt, Drew. THE DAY THE CRAYONS CAME HOME New York : Philomel Books, 2015 IL K-3, RL 4.1 ISBN 0399172750 OK, so the crayons quit. We all know that. But now they have come back. Well not all of them have come back. Some will need some help with that. And they write to Duncan in postcards to let him know that they need his help. Tan Crayon has been eaten by the dog and puked up on the rug. Neon Red was left behind on vacation when she was used to color a sunburn. Maroon Crayon has been lost in the couch after Duncan's father sat on him and broke him in half. And we don't even want to talk about what happened to the others. Will Duncan be able to help them come home?

  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 01/03/2016

• The Case for Loving by Selina Alko

  Alko, Selina. THE CASE FOR LOVING New York : Arthur A. Levine, 2015 IL K-3, RL 4.0 ISBN 0545478537 This is the true story of Mildred Jeter and Richard Perry. They were very much in love and wanted to get married. But there was a problem. It was 1958 and it was against the law for them to get married in Virginia. You see, Richard was white and Mildred was black. The two loved each other and went to nearby Washington DC to get married. They wanted to live happily ever after and raise a family. But when they went home to Virginia, they were arrested for breaking the law! Forced to leave their home, they settled in Washington DC and did raise their family but always wished they could go home. During the time when many people were demanding equal rights, the Loving's case went all the way to the Supreme Court. What do you think happened?

  tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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Today's podcast 11/01/2015

• Showalter, Gena. ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND

  Showalter, Gena. ALICE IN ZOMBIELAND Harlequin 2012 Alice Bell knows that her father won't go out at night. She doesn't understand why. Everyone thinks he is a bit deranged. But when he does agree to go to her sister's concert, she comes to understand why he is so afraid. On the way home, they are attacked by creatures who kill Alice's parents and her sister. Alice goes to live with her grandparents and she learns the horrible truth. There are monsters out there that only a few can see. Her father was one of them. And she is another. And now she joins a team of others teens to fight the undead and avenge the deaths of her family.

  tags: podcasts ya blueduke

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Today's podcast 10/31/2015

• Seuss, Dr. HORTON AND THE KWUGGERBUG AND MORE LOST STORIES

  Seuss, Dr. HORTON AND THE KWUGGERBUG AND MORE LOST STORIES New York : Random House, 2014 IL K-3, RL 2.4 ISBN 0385382987 Do you think you have read all the Dr. Seuss books? Well this is a new one! These stories first appeared in magazines many years ago. Now they are in a book for you to enjoy. You'll find stories about your favorite characters and places. Horton the Elephant is back. Marco, Mulberry Street and even a grinch. Enjoy these stories about your favorite Dr. Seuss friends.

  tags: podcasts elementary

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Today's podcast 10/30/2015

• Robertson, Rachel. WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO ROAR!

  Robertson, Rachel. WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO ROAR! St. Paul, MN : Redleaf Lane, 2015 IL K-3, RL 3.5 ISBN 1605543624 "It was just one of those days in Ms. Mya's classroom." Kids were kicking. Kids were running. Kids were making a mess. And one was roaring. Ms. Mya decided that it was time to take action. She gathers the children on the carpet and talks to them about classroom expectations. Can you think of some good classroom expectations that would work in the class?

  tags: podcasts elementary

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Today's podcast 10/29/2015

• Ko, Sangmi. A DOG WEARING SHOES

  Ko, Sangmi. A DOG WEARING SHOES New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, 2015 IL K-3, RL 2.9 ISBN 0385383967 When Mini and her mother spot a stray dog, they decide to take it home and try to find the owner. Even though he has no collar, he must belong to someone. You see, he is wearing shoes! That's right. He is wearing four very yellow shoes. Will Mini be able to keep him forever? Or will he real owner be found?

  tags: podcasts elementary

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.

Today's podcast 10/28/2015

• Cline, Ernest. READY PLAYER ONE

  Cline, Ernest. READY PLAYER ONE Crown, 2011 The year is 2044 and the world is a lot different than we know now. The world is an ugly reality to live in so those who can escape into the OASIS, a utopian virtual world. Wade Watts can't afford to purchase a lot of extras in the world but he does attend school in OASIS and plays lots of games. When James Halliday announces the biggest game in the universe, Wade is all in. Halliday has died and in his will he has detailed an elaborate online game. Halliday is the inventor of OASIS and he has hidden an Easter egg somewhere in OASIS. The contestants must make their way through different levels of the game and duel virtual enemies to try to find the Easter egg. Wade takes on the challenge and he sends his avatar Parzival on the quest for the largest payout in history -- ownership of OASIS itself. It won't be easy. Thousands of players are also on the quest. And there are evil corporations that will do anything for the prize.

  tags: podcasts ya

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Today's podcast 10/27/2015

• Clark, Simon P. TELL THE STORY TO ITS END

  Clark, Simon P. TELL THE STORY TO ITS END New York : St. Martin's Griffin, 2015 IL YA ISBN 1250066751 Oli and his mother have come to the country to stay with relatives but no one will tell him why his father is not with them. Oli in encouraged to explore the house as well as the town. He explores the attic in the house and finds a mysterious creature named Eren. Oli is not quite sure if Eren is even real. But the winged creature thirsts for stories. Lots of stories. Oli tells the stories but there is always the need for another. What is Eren and why are the stories needed?

  tags: podcasts blueduke ya

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Today's podcast 10/26/2015

• Brouwer, Simon. DEVIL'S PASS

  Brouwer, Simon. DEVIL'S PASS Orca Press, 2012 IL 5-8, RL 5.0 ISBN 155469938X Webb is doing OK by himself. He has been kicked out of his home and now spends his time on the streets of Toronto. His stepfather is abusive and he just can't live with that anymore. If he tells anyone, he risks putting his mother into danger. When Webb's beloved grandfather dies, he is told to come to the reading of the will. In the will, his grandfather tells him he must take a journey through 110 kilometers of Canadian wilderness and find a secret in Devil's Pass. The trip is hard and confusing for Webb. But as his grandfather always said, what doesn't kill us makes us stronger.

  tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's podcast 10/25/2015

• Worthington, Michelle. NOAH CHASES THE WIND

  Worthington, Michelle. NOAH CHASES THE WIND New York : Redleaf Lane, 2015 IL K-3, RL 3.9 ISBN 160554356X Noah sees the world differently from most children. He can see patterns in the dust that flies through the air. He can feel a storm coming long before the trees even begin trembling. He loves to read and he loves to find out about the world around him. But he hasn't been able to figure out where the wind goes. Travel with Noah and he explores the world around him.

  tags: podcasts elementary

Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.