Today's book 05/31/2016

Soar by Joan Bauer

Bauer, Joan. 

SOAR 

New York : Viking, 2016 

IL 5-8, RL 4.0 

ISBN 0451470346 

 Jeremiah is a huge baseball fan. Nobody knows his exact birth date or who his mother is. He was nine months old when he was found sitting in his baby chair chewing on a stuffed eagle in the snack room of Computer Partners Ltd. A note was left that said: “pleez tek car of him Bcaz he my best boy I know yur good!” Jeremiah was found by Walt Lopper a computer engineer with a heart as big as his brain. Walt eventually adopted Jeremiah. When Jeremiah was eight years old he was diagnosed with a serious heart condition that would lead to a heart transplant. Jeremiah had to give up playing baseball but not the game he loves. A new consulting job takes Jeremiah and Walter to Hillcrest, Ohio home of the champion Hornets High School baseball team. Soon after Jeremiah arrives in Hillcrest, tragedy and scandal threaten the future of baseball in the town. Join Jeremiah and his new friends on this page turning adventure to bring baseball back to Hillcrest and make the newly formed Hillcrest Junior High Eagles baseball team soar! (Booktalk by the NH Great Stone Face Committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/30/2016

Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

Sands, Kevin. 

BLACKTHORN KEY 

New York : Aladdin, 2015 

IL 5-8, RL 5.0 

ISBN 1481446517 

 “I found it. “Master Benedict said he wasn’t the least bit surprised. According to him, there were several times over the past three years when he was sure I’d finally discovered it. Yet it wasn’t until the day before my 14th birthday that it came to me so clearly, I thought God himself had whispered it in my ear. “My master believes occasions like this should be remembered. So, as he ordered, I’ve written down my formula. My master suggested the title. The Stupidest Idea in the Universe By Christopher Rowe, Apprentice to Master Benedict Blackthorn, Apothecary Method of manufacture: Snoop through your master’s private notes. Find a recipe, its words locked behind a secret code, and decipher it. Next, steal the needed ingredients from your master’s stores. Finally— and this is the most important step— go to your best friend, a boy of stout character and poor judgment equal to your own, and speak these words: Let’s build a canon.” Christopher Rowe rather enjoys his life as an Apothecary’s apprentice, uncovering the mysteries of different items and chemicals, and finding plenty of mischief along the way. But when a series of murders across the city strikes too close to home, Christopher is drawn into a world of cults and puzzles, and must use all his training to solve his master’s secrets… and possibly save the world. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face Committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke gsf elementary

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

Today's book 05/29/2016

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Jamieson. Victoria.

ROLLER GIRL 

Dial Books for Young Readers, 2015 

 Ladies and Gentlemen! Your roller derby skaters tonight are: Thrilla Godzilla, Illegally Blonde, Rainbow Bite, Napoleon Blownapart, Braidy Punch, Slay Miserables, and… Astrid. Astrid is looking forward to another summer spent with her best friend, Nicole. They’ve done everything together since 1st grade. But when Astrid signs up for Roller Derby Camp, expecting Nicole to join her, she’s in for a shock. Nicole is already signed up for dance camp, along with their grade’s mean girl, and seems more interested in boys than skates. Now, Astrid faces a long summer of drills, training, bruises & falls, all without her best friend. But as the weeks go by, Astrid learns how not to fall over (usually), how to make a proper war face, and even makes a new friend. But former-best-friend drama and a summer of secrets from her mom catch up, and now Astrid must decide what she wants, and WHO she wants to be. (Booktalk by Great Stone Face Award Committee, 2017)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/28/2016

Pugs of the Frozen North by Philip Reeve

Reeve, Philip. 

PUGS OF THE FROZEN NORTH

New York : Random House, 2015

IL 3-6, RL 5.4

ISBN 0385387962

Abandoned after his ship is crushed by a flash-frozen sea, Shen finds himself alone on the ice with only 66 sweater-clad pugs. Determined to get himself AND all the dogs to safety, Shen finds shelter in a small seaside village, where a girl named Sika explains everything. True Winter, she tells him, comes only once in a lifetime, and signals the start of The Great Northern Race, where competitors try to reach the Snowfather, who will grant the winner one wish. Sika has her grandfather's sled but no dogs, so the two join forces, harness all 66 pugs, and set off. They face a monstrous Kraken, a Yeti noodle bar that is not what it seems, and a range of competitors with different strategies for winning the race… including cheating. Can our two heroes survive? What wish do they want granted? And can pugs really win an epic race across the frozen north? Find out, in Pugs of the Frozen North! (Booktalk by New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/27/2016

When Mischief Came To Town by Katrina Nannestad

Nannestad, Katrina. 

WHEN MISCHIEF CAME TO TOWN 

New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015 

IL 3-6, RL 6.4 

ISBN 0544534328 

Wedged between a goat who nibbles at her braid and a cage full of pecking geese, ten-year-old Inge Maria Jensen is traveling by boat from Copenhagen to the Danish island of Bornholm. It’s 1911. Her mother has died, and she is headed to live with a grandmother she has never met. When Inge arrives, the island is not at all like the bustling city she grew up in, and her stern grandmother seems nothing like her lively, loving mother. Life is quiet, filled with chores and boring visits with grumpy old neighbors. Even worse is her new school, where there’s no fun to be had, not even in music or at recess. She seeks solace in her beloved book of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales. But even in her grief, Inge Maria is curious about her new surroundings and isn’t able to contain her inner joy and zest for life, which sometimes causes her trouble. How was she to know she shouldn’t feed her grandmother’s pig prunes? And how could she stop herself from leaving her seat and hopping like a bunny when she was carried away by the song in music class? Perhaps Inge is just what the island of Bornholm needs. Filled with humor, love, and acceptance, this gem of a book begs to be read aloud, and the spunky character of Inge is one all readers will long remember. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke gsf elementary

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

Today's book 05/26/2016

Escape From Baxter's Barn by Rebecca Bond

Bond, Rebecca. 

ESCAPE FROM BAXTER'S BARN

New York : Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015

IL 3-6, RL 6.1

ISBN 0544332172

If you were a cow, you'd be better off living with Old MacDonald, or in the dell with the farmer and his wife–anywhere else but in the Baxter brothers' barn! The animals who do live in Baxters' barn are snug and happy until they learn from Burdock the one-eyed cat that Dewey, one of the brothers, is planning something terrible, something that puts them all in danger. Together they must come up with a way to escape the barn.Can Burdock, Figgy Piggy, Nanny the goat and her kid, Fluff the sheep, Mrs. Brown the cow, and the two draft horses Pull and Tug work together? Can they get out of the locked barn in time? The tension mounts as Dewey sets his plan in motion and each animal is forced to find its inner strength. Their fear is palpable, but so is the coziness of the barn with the rain on the roof and smell of hay and old wood. When they must leave, will they be ready? (Booktalk by New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/25/2016

Lost in the Sun by Lisa Graff

Graff, Lisa. 

LOST IN THE SUN 

New York : Philomel Books, 2015 

 When Trent was in fifth grade a terrible accident occurred. Sixth grade in a new school will be a new start for him. Despite a new year, anger issues and guilty feelings are making Trent act horribly. He pushes everyone in his life away, he doesn’t want anyone to like him. How can he have a nice life when that other boy died? (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face Committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke gsf

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

Today's book 5/24/2016

Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

Castle Hangnail by Ursula Vernon

Castle Hangnail has a vacancy. It is in need of a wicked witch. Molly applies for the position. She is twelve years old and very polite. Polite!! Wicked witches need to be evil, rude and demanding. Molly does not look like witch material, but Castle Hangnail needs a new master right now. A castle with no master will be decommissioned and the castle minions will have no home. Maybe, with the minions help, Molly will fit the bill.

Today's book 05/23/2016

Nightbird by Alice Hoffman

Hoffman, Alice. 

 NIGHTBIRD 

New York : Wendy Lamb Books, 2015 

They say there’s a monster in Sidwell, Massachusetts. They say it has enormous black wings, and that it flies only at night. Twig, who lives alone with her mother in the house her family has occupied for generations, knows that the stories are true. She knows that it’s up to her to make sure no one gets close enough to their family to guess at the secrets they conceal. But Twig is getting older, and it’s getting harder to hold herself apart from the world around her. Life is meant to be lived, isn’t it? So, when a new family moves into the old property next door, Twig secretly defies her mother to make a friend---and sets into motion a series of events that will change their futures forever…Nightbird is a story of love, of anger, of curses, and of blessings---will Twig’s actions ruin her family’s precarious existence, or will they bring about healing and forgiveness? Read Nightbird to find out.

tags: podcasts blueduke gsf

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

Today's book 05/20/2016

Pack of Dorks by Beth Vrabel

Vrabel, Beth. 

PACK OF DORKS 

New York : Sky Pony, 2014 

Lucy and her best friend Becky have a plan. They are going to kiss their boyfriends behind the shed at recess. But at the last second, Lucy wants to change her mind. She doesn’t quite, but she doesn’t put her heart into that kiss either, and her boyfriend Tom can tell, but he gives her the dime store ring anyway. That night her mom gives birth to her new baby sister, but something isn’t quite ok with the baby, though nobody’s really telling Lucy what. She forgets that ring at the hospital, and when she comes back to school a few days later, just like that, Lucy is an outcast. Becky plays mean girl, Tom isn’t her boyfriend anymore, and Lucy has to find a new crowd to sit with at lunch, the dorks. With her super cool granny helping her navigate the messiness of 4th grade cliques and friendships and a great cast of characters, you’ll be glad you got to know this pack of dorks. (Booktalk by Great Stone Face Award Committee, 2017)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/19/2016

A Night Divided by Jennifer Nielsen

Nielsen, Jennifer.

A NIGHT DIVIDED 

New York : Scholastic, 2015 

IL 3-6, RL 4.7 

ISBN 0545682428 

The year- 1961 The month – August The place- Germany Almost overnight, The Berlin Wall was erected and families were divided. Fast forward four years and meet 12 year old Gerta Lowe. Gerta’s family has been separated during this spance of time. Her father and older brother were stuck in West Berlin, while she remained in East Berlin with her mother and younger brother. One morning at the market Gerta sees her father on the other side of the wall performing a strange dance. Through dance, Gerta’s father sends a message. Though it takes time for Gerta to decode the meaning, she finally realizes he is telling her to escape. Gerta processes what this means and realizes the danger it posses for the family. Many have died trying to escape. Her desire to reunite her family is strong and her determination is unyielding. Follow Gerta as she plans her dangerous journey. How can a 12 year old escape soldiers, machine guns and tanks? How can she expect her mother and brother to join on this life threatening mission? Can Gerta succeed where many have failed? Read this heart stopping account of a child’s determination to bring her family together.

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/18/2016

Seven Dead Pirates by Linda Bailey

Bailey, Linda. 

SEVEN DEAD PIRATES 

New York : Tundra Books, 2015 

IL 3-6, RL 4.7 

ISBN 177049815X 

Lewis Dearborn’s life transforms after the death of his great grandfather. His parents inherit the great grandfather’s historic mansion, with one catch:....they must live in the mansion for a year before the estate may be sold. Lewis claims the tower room with an ocean view and life takes a ghostly turn. He soon finds there’s more to be discovered than windows that won’t latch, fishy odors, and strange noises that are hard to ignore. Indeed, he seems to have inherited seven pirate ghosts who perished two centuries ago, and a mission to help these feisty ghosts to cross over from the land of the living…. Lewis also discovers that the pirates become visible when they are scared or upset. How can he keep their presence secret as he walks the crew across town to where their ship sits in a museum, waiting to ferry them to the underworld? Who else will discover his secret?

tags: podcasts elementary blueduke gsf

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

Today's book 05/17/2016

The Doublecross by Jackson Pearce

Pearce, Jackson. 

THE DOUBLECROSS 

New York : Bloomsbury, 2015 

IL 5-8, RL 4.9 

ISBN 1619634147 

Imagine coming from a family with a history of spying. Not just any spies, but members of the elite Sub Rosa Society, a government funded organization! Meet 12 year old Hale, who comes from such a family. Hale has tough shoes to fill, since his parents are known as “The Team” in this elite organization. However, even “The Team” can run into trouble. When his parents disappear during a top secret mission, Hale’s opportunity to do real spy work comes sooner than he could have imagined. Teaming up with his sister and unlikely league agents, Hale works as a junior double agent to try to unravel the mystery of his parent’s disappearance, sort out the good from the bad and pass his junior level spy test. Sharpen your best detective skills, and hang on through this wild, who done it mystery adventure. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/16/2016

Teddy Mars Almost a World Record by Molly B. Burnham

Burnham, Molly B.

TEDDY MARS : ALMOST A WORLD RECORD BREAKER

New York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2015

IL 3-6, RL 3.5

ISBN 006227810X

From the time 10-year-old Teddy Mars discovered an old copy of the Guinness Book of World Records behind the couch, he was obsessed. Teddy’s five older siblings all had some badge of distinction or other, but there seemed to be nothing about Teddy to set him apart; this was going to be his claim to fame! His many attempts at record-breaking all led to failure, such as when he tried to rake the world’s largest leaf pile and got sabotaged by the wind. But his greatest nemesis of all was his little brother Jake, whose idea of idolizing him was getting into all his things and destroying them. This ultimately led to his moving out of their room into a tent in the backyard. Teddy’s next door neighbor, known to Teddy and his friends as Grumpy Pigeon Man, kept homing pigeons in a large outdoor loft…fascinating, but a little creepy. But once the old man enlisted Teddy’s help to care for the birds, it opened up a whole new world of understanding for Teddy and his friends. Very amusing, with an endearing protagonist. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts elelmentary blueduke gsf

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

Today's book 05/15/2016

Some Kind of Courage by Dan Gemeinhart

Gemeinhart, Dan.\

SOME KIND OF COURAGE

New York : Scholastic, 2016

IL 3-6, RL 4.4

ISBN 0545665779

“I aint never shot a man, sir, and I hope I never do. But I’m gonna get my horse back.” It’s 1890, and young Joseph Johnson has suffered some terrible losses. First, his mother and little sister succumb to typhoid fever; then his kindly pa dies in a wagon accident. All he has left in the world is his beloved painted pony, Sarah, given to him when he was 4 years old. Joseph has been left in the dubious care of Mr. Grissom, a grizzled old drunk, who sells Joseph’s Sarah to an unscrupulous horse trader. There begins an amazing odyssey, as Joseph sets out to recover his horse, always just a day’s journey away from reaching his goal. Along the way he joins up with a Chinese boy named Ah-Kee…neither can speak the other’s language, but they endure many hardships and experience many adventures together on their quest, including scaring off a mama grizzly and delivering a baby. A wonderfully imagined picture of the Old West and one boy’s indomitable spirit… superb writing, filled with humor as well as heart…and a satisfying ending. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/14/2016

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Chmakova, Svetlana.

AWKWARD

New York : Yen Press, 2016 

Peppi Torres knows that her first day as a “new kid” in middle school is going to be difficult, but when she starts out by tripping into a not-so-popular boy, and then getting teased about being “nerder girlfriend”, it becomes downright AWKWARD. Peppi tries to manage the crisis by: * pushing away any of the boy’s attempts at friendship to make sure no one thinks she “likes” him, and * joining the art club, to get to know kids who like the same things she does. But, she’s feeling guilty about being mean to someone who was just trying to be nice to her, and her beloved art club is being threatened with closure due to a “prank” they pulled on their rivals, the science club. Will Peppi’s first year at Berrybrook Middle School end as awkwardly as it began, or will she figure out a way to smooth things out? Once you start reading Awkward, you won’t want to put it down until you find out! (Booktalk by New Hampshire GSF Committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary gsf

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

Today's book 05/13/2016

Nooks and Crannies by Jessica Lawson

Lawson, Jessica. 

NOOKS AND CRANNIES

New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2015

IL 3-6, RL 6.2

ISBN 1481419218

Poor poor Tabitha Crum. Not a friend in the world except a pet mouse, and her parents are just absolutely horrible to her. But she does find some refuge in reading mysteries, which is a good thing, because just when her parents suddenly announce they have to leave (and are leaving Tabitha to be a scullery maid at the school), she and five other kids receive a mysterious invitation to a very wealthy Countess’s house. Her parents leap on this opportunity and drag Tabitha along. Turns out the Countess, a very mysterious figure, is looking for someone. Let the mysteries begin! Is the Countess who she says she is? Where are all of the other kids disappearing to? What was that noise? Tabitha is on the case, and we’re rooting for her to solve this terrific mystery. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face Committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke gsf elementary

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

Today's book 05/12/2016

The Big Dark by W. R. Philbrick

Philbrick, W. R.

THE BIG DARK

New York : Blue Sky Press, 2016

IL 3-6 RL 5.1

ISBN 0545789753 

 A massive solar flare has knocked out the entire power grid all across America. No power, no communication, no water, cars don’t start. Panic sets in as Charlie’s small New Hampshire town starts to break down into chaos. When the power went down, people helped each other and shared. Now, civilized behavior is beginning to shatter. Who can you trust? Who can help? Charlie’s mother has diabetes, she needs medication to survive. Charlie has to decide what to do. (Booktalk by the New Hampshire Great Stone Face committee)

tags: podcasts blueduke GSF elementary

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

Today's book 05/11/2016

Thomas, Keltie. 

HOW FOOTBALL WORKS

Toronto : Maple Tree Press, 2010 

IL 3-6, RL 4.7

ISBN 1897349882

Football is one of the most popular sports in North America. Do you like football? Do you understand how it works? There is a lot of information in this book. From legends of the games to explanations about the different positions. You can even find out about how they groom the fields

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Today's book 05/09/2016

The Marvels by Brian Selznick

Selznick, Brian. 

THE MARVELS 

New York : Scholastic, 2015

IL 5-8, RL 5.0

ISBN 0545448689

Just as Selznick has done in previous books, the first part of this story is told in pictures. The story begins in 1766 when a young boy is the sole survivor of a ship wreck. He and his dog and rescued and brought to London. Here the boy falls in love with the theater and begins the family legacy. Generation after generation took to the stage and became well known actors. Until the youngest Marvel refused to follow in the family's footsteps. From here, the book switches to narrative and takes up the story again in 1990. Here we meet Joseph Jervis who has just run away from boarding school and made his way to London to find his uncle. As the two stories converge, we learn much about the history of the acting family and the life of Joseph and his family.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's book 05/07/2016

Byrd and Igloo by Samantha Seiple

Seiple, Samantha.

BRYD AND IGLOO : A POLAR ADVENTURE

New York : Scholastic, 2013

IL 3-6, RL 6.2

ISBN 0545562767

Richard Byrd was a great explorer . He was determined to be the first person to fly over both the North Pole and the South Pole. He and fellow explorer Roald Amundsen each wanted to be the first person to reach the North Pole. Before his trip, Byrd was given a dog that had been a stray. He named the dog Igloo and took him with him on his expedition. This is the story of Byrd's trip as told through his dog's eyes.

tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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

Today's book 05/06/2016

Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar

Sachar, Louis.

FUZZY MUD

New York : Delacorte Press, 2015

IL 5-8, RL 4.8

ISBN 0385743785

Marshall is not looking forward to the walk home. Chad is the biggest bully in school and he has vowed to deal with Marshall on the way home. Marshall tells Tamaya that he knows a shortcut home and they end up lost in the woods. What was he thinking? And now Chad has found them and the pounding begins. When Tamaya picks up a handful of fuzzy mud and throws it in Chad's face, no one could know what that would begin. Soon, Tamaya's hand is covered in a rash and Chad is missing. Is there something in the fuzzy mud that has caused this?

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Today's book 05/05/2016

Going Where It's Dark by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds.

GOING WHERE IT'S DARK

New York : Delacorte, 2016

RL 5-8, RL 6.7

ISBN 0553512420

Buck Anderson absolutely loves caves. He and his best friend have found some good ones but they are always looking for a new one that no one has ever explored. At least they used to before David moved away. Now Buck is on his own looking for caves. You see, he is bullied at school and has no other friends. People make fun of him because he stutters. He can't help it. It is just something that happens. But when he is exploring a cave, he forgets all that and is happy. And now he has found a new cave. He is pretty sure that no one has ever been in this cave. He just has to wait for the perfect time to explore it.

tags: podcasts blueduke elementary

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

Today's book 05/03/2016

When Friendship Followed Me Home by Paul Griffin

Griffin, Paul. 

WHEN FRIENDSHIP FOLLOWED ME HOME 

New York : Dial, 2016 

IL 5-8

ISBN 0803738161 

As a foster kid, Ben Coffin has learned not to make friends. But that changed when he was adopted by a marvelous woman who showed him love and friendship. When his mother passes away, he is sent to her sister's home where it is clear he is not really welcome. He spends his days in the public library and finds a friendship with an unexpected person. Rainbow Girl is different from anyone he has ever known. Together with a scruffy little dog who follows him home, Paul may just find a way to trust again.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's book 05/02/2016

Salt by Helen Frost

Frost, Helen.

SALT: A STORY OF FRIENDSHIP IN A TIME OF WAR 

New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013. 

Anikwa and James are both 12 years old and living in 1812. They have been friends all of their lives even though they come from different backgrounds. Anikwa and his family live with the Miami tribe and this land has been their home for centuries. James and his family live near the fort that houses the American soldiers. James' father has traded with the tribe for a very long time and considers them his friends. When tension mounts and there is talk of a war between the Americans and the Native Americans, the two boys find their worlds changing forever. The British want to stop the Americans from moving further west so the war is coming.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's book 05/01/2016

Solve a Crime by Wendy Clemson

Clemson, Wendy.

SOLVE A CRIME 

New York : Tick Tock, 2014

IL 3-6, RL 6.2 

ISBN 1783251921 

 Do you like to solve crimes? Do you think you have the makings of a great detective? Do you like math? Did you know that detectives use math a lot in their work? From analyzing the crime scene to finding the bad guy, math plays a very important role.

tags: podcasts elementary blueduke

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