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!!

Back from a week of seminars

My frequent flyer miles have certainly been added to this week! I have done seminars in Memphis, Lafayette and Savannah. A big shout out to all those great people I have the pleasure of meeting this week. Amazingly, all my flights were on time and my bags didn't get lost once. Actually, the only flight I had a delay on is the last one. I had one more plane to get home and was really looking forward to getting in my car and going home. But the Atlanta to Manchester flight was delayed for 3 hours!! And why was it delayed? Because the flight attendant who was supposed to work the flight was ill and they had to get a replacement. Now you would think that in Atlanta -- Delta's hub -- there would be one flight attendant who could do the flight. But no. We had to wait for a flight attendant to fly in from Cincinnati!! I don't get it. There were a lot of upset passengers on that flight! When I finally got back to New Hampshire at around 2:00 AM, I found that wheels off one of my bags had been broken off. So, imagine a very tired woman dragging 2 heavy bags around long term parking in the freezing cold. It took awhile to find my care. It had snowed and they were all covered. I had written down where my car was but I couldn't find that section of the lot!!

I had planned to upload this week's podcasts during my trip but things just didn't go as planned. But, they are up now.

Spinelli, Jerry. LOVE, STARGIRL

Stargirl has left Arizona and is trying to find herself again in Pennsylvania. But she can't stop thinking about Leo. And how she got lost in Arizona. She is back to being Stargirl. She's left Susan behind. She's back to home schooling. She won't take a chance on the school. And she is trying hard to find joy again. If you know Stargirl, you know that she has found some unusual friends but Leo still haunts her thoughts, Read her letter to him as she tells him about her adjustment and coming to terms with her feelings.

Trumbauer, Lisa. A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DRAGONS

The cover clearly states "Warning: Do not open this book! It's filled with everything I've learned about dragons in my apprenticeship with the great wizard, Maddoc. And it's the private property of my Aunt Moonbeam. Everyone else: KEEP OUT!"

OK, what would you do if you had this book? Probably the same thing I did. I opened it up and read it. Well, I just couldn't help myself. I wanted to know all about dragons. And boy did I learn a lot. I mean, did you know that Black Dragons prefer to hide and then ambush their victims? And that Copper Dragons would rather tell a joke than fight? And that White Dragons aren't particularly smart creatures? Well, it's all in this book. Pick it up and read it -- if you dare.

Weaver, Tess. CAT JUMPED IN!

Oh no! Someone left the window open. And the cat jumped in, in, in! And everywhere the cat goes, he seems to get into something and makes a mess! What will happen when the home owner comes home? Will cat be put out, out, out?

Wheeler, Lisa. WHERE, OH WHERE, IS SANTA CLAUS?

Where, oh where, is Santa? He is missing! What will Christmas be without him? The reindeer are very worried and go out looking for him. And the arctic hares, the seals, the arctic fox and even the polar bears are looking as well. Will they find him? Wait. What's that? Boot tracks!! Will they lead to Santa?

Off to present for Otter Creek

It's been 4 days since we had any snow. Amazing. But not to worry. We're supposed to get 6-12" tonight!! I wonder if spring is ever coming. And I wonder where they are going to put this new snow. It is so hard to walk to work between the ice on the sidewalks and the 6 foot snowbanks hiding people entering the crosswalks.

I'm taking off for warm climes Monday during school vacation week. I'm doing a series of workshops for Otter Creek Institute. Tuesday is Memphis, Wednesday Lafayette, Thursday Savannah. Oh I hope I can feel the warmth of the sun. And meet some great new people. Anyone who wants to spend a day talking about children's literature is surely someone I want to know.

My eye problems continue but I have to keep hoping that I'll get my full vision back someday. At least I have one good eye!! I'm running out of one eye jokes for the kids though.

The latest podcasts highlight some new nonfiction books.

Sandler, Michael. TOM BRADY AND THE NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS : Super Bowl XXXVIII
Imagine. Five touchdowns had already been scored. There are only 14 seconds left and the score is tied! Now that was a Super Bowl to remember. The Patriots had the ball as the clock was ticking down. The young man with the ball was Tom Brady. The young man who was the back up quarterback just a short time ago. He reaches back to throw! Wow! Don't know what happened? I'm sure you'll want to find out.

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


Sartore, Joel. FACE TO FACE WITH GRIZZLIES
Can you imagine coming face to face with a wild grizzly bear? OK, he may look kind of cute on the cover of this book but take a look at this picture (pg. 4). Those teeth are huge!! I certainly wouldn't want to meet him up close. Joel Sartore is a photographer for National Geographic Magazine and these are his photographs of close encounters with these incredible animals.

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


Scherer, Glenn. J. ROBERT OPPENHEIMER : THE BRAIN BEHIND THE BOMB
You may know that World War II ended when the atomic bomb was dropped on Japan. What you may not know is who invented the atomic bomb. And how did he feel about the use of the bomb? J. Robert Oppenheimer was the lead physicist on the team that developed the bomb. They worked in secret on what was called the Manhattan Project.

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

Pelley, Kathleen. INVENTOR MCGREGOR

Pelley, Kathleen. INVENTOR MCGREGOR

Hector McGregor is a famous inventor. He has invented peppermint pencils, glow-in-the-dark books, and lots of other unusual items. He loved working at home and loved having his family around. One day the president of the Royal Society of Inventors, Nigel Withers, came to call on McGregor and invited him to join the society. And to come to work in their laboratory in the city. McGregor isn't sure he wants to work in the city but decides to give it a try. Will he be happy in the city?

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

Cybils winners!!

The Cybils winners have been announced.

http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2008/02/the-2007-cybils.html

If you are looking for some good books to read and share, this is a great list.

Back from Wisconsin

I've been in Wisconsin for the past week. Well, actually, I was only in Wisconsin for a couple of days and the rest of the week was spent getting there and getting home. My eye injury prevented me from flying as I had planned to do. So I took the train from Boston to Wisconsin. It took 26 hours to get to Madison. And when I got there, it was cold!! Very cold. With the wind chill, it was -25!! But the people were warm and fun. I did an IED/BER seminar on Wednesday in Madison and another on Thursday in Milwaukee. It was a great trip. The train home was delayed several times for weather so it took longer. I left Milwaukee on Thursday night and arrived home on Saturday morning!!

My next trip will be a bit warmer. I'll be doing 3 seminars for Otter Creek at the end of February. Louisiana, Georgia and Tennessee. Sounds lots warmer. Then in March I'll be doing more IED/BER seminars in New York State.

I came home to find that my webpage was moved to a new server and I'm not having great luck figuring it out. It would help if I could see! So, I have not been able to update my podcasts and my email is acting flukey. I hope to be back on board the tech train soon.

more podcasts

Still can't see. Hoping that I'd have a little more vision today but it is not happening. I go back for a checkup tomorrow. I hope she'll have some good news. I don't know what is worse -- not seeing what is there or seeing things that aren't!!


My 4 year old grandson was very excited this past weekend because he was going to spend the night at his other grandmother's house. Since he lives with me, it isn't as much of a treat to stay with me :-) Well, around bedtime, my daughter and son-in-law get a phone call. You guessed it. Aiden wants to come home. Just like in Mary Ann Hoberman's book "I'm going to Grandma's"

http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/hoberman_i'm.mp3

The war in the Middle East has been on my mind for so long. I have been against the war from the beginning and mourn the loss of our children in this senseless war. Wilborn Hampton, gives us some background to war in this part of the world in WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST : BLACK SEPTEMBER AND THE YOM KIPPUR WAR : A REPORTER'S STORY

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

I love Mini Grey and her new book, Ginger Bear, tells of a gingerbread cookie trying to save itself.

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

The eyes have it

I've made it through the second surgery on my eye. I now have no sight in the eye. I'm told it will get better as the days go by and that the operation was a success. I am looking at one more surgery before I can put this all behind me.

I've been listening to books on mp3 since I can't read very well. I just finished Dark Water Rising by Marian Hale. It takes place during the Galveston hurricane in 1900. I've also listened to Meg Cabot's Pants on Fire. Great for lying in bed recuperating. I've just started Memoirs of a teenage amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin. I wish the Printz winner was on mp3 so I could listen to it but alas, it is not.

Today's podcast is

Geeslin, Campbell. CLARA & SENOR FROG

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

And the winners are...

http://www.ala.org/ala/pressreleases2008/january2008/announce08.htm

It was pretty exciting to watch the announcements this morning. Thank you to everyone who helped make that possible.

There were no real shocking announcements this year. Perhaps the exclusion of Sherman Alexis' book from even an honor was the most unexpected. I admit I have not read The White Darkness but it is certainly on my list now!

The Newbery winner was an interesting choice. I loved Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! and adore Schlitz's writing. I was a bit surprised that it won the award though. The honor books are all on my love list as well.

The Caldecott committee went with a book that is not a traditional picture book. It is more of a novel and I thought it would be on the Newbery list. You have to admit that Hugo Cabret is a new and delightful piece that is sure to spawn imitators. The honor books are well deserved as well.

I was happy to see Lightship win a Sibert honor. I really liked this book and was fascinated with the lightship history.

Surprized not to see Shawn Tan's Arrival on any list. I was sure it would be.

Walter Dean Myers (May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture) and Orson Scot Card! Can't get much better than that!

Overall, I think this year's winners will be met with agreement and acceptance. I know I am very happy with the selections.

Twas the night before the awards ...

I am so looking forward to the awards announcements tomorrow. I'd rather be there but at least I can watch via the computer. Will it be a year of silent astonishment? Or a year of agreement? You just never know.

I am still laid up by this eye problem. I am tired of not being able to do anything. I had to stay home from work for a week, but I've not been able to do anything!! I can't read very well. I'm not supposed to be on the computer for long. I can't really watch videos. Thank goodness for books on mp3. And my public library's subscription to overdrive! I go back to the surgeon tomorrow and hope she'll tell me that I am on the mend and can start being mobile again!

We are in for another big snow storm today. It looks as if we will miss the biggest accumulation but they are still predicting 6-12 inches of snow.

Today's podcast is for a non-fiction book about tv direction. I love these books that give me a peek into what goes on behind the scenes. I think this will be a big "seller" during career units.

Dunkleberger, Amy. SO YOU WANT TO BE A FILM OR TV DIRECTOR?

http://nancykeane.com/mp3/dunkleberger_so.mp3

Not going to ALA

I was really looking forward to heading out to Philadelphia tomorrow. But it is not meant to be. On Monday, I suffered a retinal detachment. For a librarian, there isn't much more devastating than going blind. I was lucky though. My eye doctor got me in to see a retinal specialist right away. I had surgery on Monday night and it is looking good. It will be a few more days before we know if it was successful but as of this morning, all signs are looking toward success. I'll still have a few more procedures to have done but hope to be as good as new soon. I look like I've been in a boxing match! My eye is so swollen I can't see out of it anyway!

This near tragedy experience made me realize how blessed I am in my life. I have my sight, my health, my family, my colleagues and, thankfully, great health insurance. My doctor was telling me today that some people choose blindness because they have no health insurance and can't afford the surgery. How can this happen in this country? I just went to the surgeon, presented my health card and never gave it a second thought on Monday. Now I am thinking a lot about those who can't do that.

When you are looking at candidates in the upcoming elections, imagine you have no health insurance and your doctor has just told you that you are going blind. How would that affect you?

CYBILS short list announced

http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/

The Cybils shortlist has been announced. If you have not heard of this award, the public nominates their favorite children's books from 2007 in seven categories: Picture Books; Non-fiction Picture Books; Middle Grade fiction; Poetry; Young Adult fiction; Non-fiction (YA/MG); and Graphic Novels. Anyone with an e-mail address may nominate one book per category. Then groups of bloggers get to work. First, a nominating committee reads ALL the titles in a given category. After nearly two arduous months, this committee winnows the nominees to five finalists. A second committee of bloggers considers the shortlist and, after much debate, chooses the best of the best for 2007.

I admit there are some titles that made the shortlist that I have not read. I guess I should get started catching up.

Today's podcast is for one of the shortlist titles. Four Feet, Two Sandals by Williams tells the story of life in a refugee camp in Pakistan.

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

Happy New Year!!

Wow. 2008. It just doesn't seem possible. The years tend to go quicker as we get older. But here we are in 2008. And -- surprise -- it's snowing! I can't remember when we've had so much snow. Over 45 inches just in the past few weeks. And another 6 predicted for tonight. I don't know where we are going to put it! Let it snow!!


Today's podcast is for the book Dodger Blue by Aretha. Those that know me know I'm a die-hard Red Sox fan. I have been for over 50 years. Even before they were good! But the new Dodgers have a lot of recycled Red Sox players so I sat down and read this history of the Dodgers. Cool stuff! Enjoy.

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

Farewell 2007

New Year's Eve is upon us. As well as another 10 " of snow!! I think we have now broken the record for the snowiest December on record. Another storm is on the way for tomorrow night. I wonder if we will be going back to school on Wednesday or if we'll have yet another snow day!!

At this time of year, we all tend to look back and reflect on the past twelve months. I usually try to pick my favorite reads of the year. But this year I haven't had time for that. I'm so busy working on my upcoming BER seminar that I've done little else. Well, I'm also trying to finish up my book too. I guess I could really use a snow day!!

ALA is just a week away. I am looking forward to it but midwinter tends to be more about meetings than attending great workshops. I have come home on Sunday so I'll miss the awards announcement on Monday morning. I'll be watching the telecast at work though.

I've uploaded a couple of more podcasts. Abeele, Veronique van den. STILL MY GRANDMA is a lovely story about a young child who starts noticing changes in Grandma. When Grandma is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, the little girl finds new ways to relate to her beloved grandmother.
http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/abeele_still.mp3

Amado, Elisa. TRICYCLE is an interesting story about a little girl of means who watches while her poor neighbor steals her tricycle. The little girl must decide what to do about it. And how she feels about it.
http://www.nancykeane.com/booktalks/mp3/amado_tricycle.mp3

I wish everyone a very safe, peaceful and happy New Year.

Back on the podcast scene

I can't believe it has been almost 3 weeks since I posted a podcast! That is so unlike me! The holidays have been busy. We've had plenty of snow so had a delightful white Christmas. They are predicting another 4 inches tonight which should make this the snowiest December in history for us. We've already had 2 snow days and 2 delays. That's usually what we get for the whole year. There are only 2 days built into the school calendar so we may be going late this year!

My days off have been busy with lots of projects. I'm finishing up the book I'm writing and hope to have this done by the time I head back to school next week. I'm also working on my upcoming seminar for BER. And the one for Otter Creek. I've also been asked to be a regular contributer to Scholastic's new Book Wizard. Too cool. But way busy, busy, busy.


There has been a lot of talk on the lists about Sherman Alexie's book. I loved it and it is today's podcast.

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

Happy Holidays.

Happy Holidays

I've been remiss in my podcasting and my blogging. The holidays are upon us, there is lots and lots of snow and I've been busy getting ready. I did take a quiz about holiday spirit and this may explain why I've been "away" from the computer. I guess I have an overabundance of holiday cheer!!

Your Christmas Sprit Level: 95%

Your Christmas spirit is almost as big as Christmas itself. Christmas is definitely your thing. You celebrate Christmas with enthusiasm. You love every minute of the holidays. Your Christmas spirit is inspiring to everyone who runs into you during the holidays. You make everyone's day just a little bit brighter. And that's what the holidays are all about!

Do You Have the Christmas Spirit?

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!!