Blue Duke Reads

Today's Book 01/21/2012

2012-01-20T16:35:00.001-08:00

Winter, Jeanette. THE WATCHER : JANE GOODALL’S LIFE WITH THE CHIMPS

Winter, Jeanette. THE WATCHER : JANE GOODALL’S LIFE WITH THE CHIMPSNew York : Schwartz & Wade, 2011IL K-3, RL 3.2ISBN 0375867740Even as a young girl, Jane Goodall loved watching nature. She watched animals around her to learn about them. Earthworms, birds, cats, dogs – every animal was interesting to her. So it didn’t surprise anyone when she grew up and moved to Tanzania to watch the animals. She has spent her adult life studying chimpanzees. She has become a famous scientist and has found out things about chimps that no one else had ever known. All by watching.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 01/13/2012

2012-01-12T16:38:00.001-08:00

Van Eekhout, Greg. THE BOY AT THE END OF THE WORLD

Van Eekhout, Greg. THE BOY AT THE END OF THE WORLDNew York : Bloomsbury, 2011IL 5-8, RL 5.8ISBN 1599905248When Fisher awakens, he is totally disoriented. You would be too if you were born the age you are now. You see Fisher is part of the Ark. It's a facility where humans and animals have been put into pods with the idea of waking them later when it is safe. So Fisher is not sure what is going on when a damaged robot tells him he must leave. The robot, who Fisher names Click, is programmed to keep Fisher alive, no matter what. But what kind of life will Fisher have as the last human? Can there be other Arks in the world that will hold other humans? Fisher is determined to find out.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 01/12/2012

2012-01-11T16:36:00.001-08:00

Condie, Ally. CROSSED

Condie, Ally. CROSSEDNew York : Dutton Books, 2011IL YAISBN 0525423656At the end of the first book, Matched, Cassia and Ky have been separated. Now we find Cassia in a labor camp trying to find a way to get back to Ky. And Ky has been sent to a place where no one escapes -- and no one is expected to live for too long. Both teens team up with others to try to find a way to the Outer Provinces. And search for the group known as The Rising. These are the resistance fighters who vow to take down the Society.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 01/05/2012

2012-01-04T16:37:00.001-08:00

Smith, Alexander Gordon. LOCKDOWN : ESCAPE FROM FURNACE

Smith, Alexander Gordon. LOCKDOWN : ESCAPE FROM FURNACENew York : Farrar Straus and Giroux, 2009IL YAISBN 0374324913Fifteen-year-old Alex Sawyer is living in a nightmare. First he is convicted of a murder he didn't commit. Now he is sentenced to life in the worst underground prison you can imagine. It started years ago when teens went on a murder spree. The government created the Furnace and started locking up juveniles and throwing away the key. The prison is guarded by furless dogs with silver eyes and merciless guards in blacksuits wearing gas masks. Alex dreams of escaping but everyone says that it is impossible. But it is the only thing keeping Alex going.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 07/14/2011

2011-07-13T17:35:00.001-07:00

Voigt, Cynthia. YOUNG FREDLE

Voigt, Cynthia. YOUNG FREDLENew York : Knopf, 2011IL 3-6, RL 4.7ISBN 0375864571Fredle is a young mouse who lives in the wall in a farmhouse kitchen. He is living the life. Until the owner finds him living there. She captures him and releases him outdoors. Fredle has never been outside before and doesn't know what to make of his new surroundings. He knows he doesn't like it and wants to find his way back into the warm kitchen. Now he faces raptors and raccoons and other dangers he had never known. He does make a couple of friends along the way and shows us a mouse-eye view of the world he finds himself in.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 07/12/2011

2011-07-11T17:35:00.001-07:00

Snyder, Laurel. PENNY DREADFUL

Snyder, Laurel. PENNY DREADFULNew York : Random House, 2010IL 3-6, RL 5.2ISBN 0375861998Reminiscence of the Betsy Tacy stories, we meet 9 year old Penelope Grey who is living a lovely life. Her parents have money and she lives in a mansion with servants and anything she wants. When her father tells the family he has quit his job, she is in shock. Quit?? What are they going to do? Well, her mother has inherited a house in Thrush Junction, Tennessee and they are moving there. Little do they know that the house has a huge mortgage and there are borders who have been allowed to stay. What new life awaits Penny? Will it really be dreadful?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 07/11/2011

2011-07-10T17:35:00.001-07:00

Smiley, Jane. A GOOD HORSE

Smiley, Jane. A GOOD HORSENew York : Knopf, 2010IL 5-8, RL 4.3ISBN 0375862293This book is really aimed at the horse lover. Set in the 1960s, Abby loves horses and everything that goes along with horses. The horse she worked with in the last book has been sold and now she is working with Black George who loves to jump. Black George will probably attract offers when he wins first place in a jumping contest. The other horse Abby is working with is Jack who she may lose for another reason. There is some doubt who really owns Jack.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 07/10/2011

2011-07-09T17:37:00.001-07:00

Shefelman, Janice Jordan. ANNA MARIA'S GIFT

Shefelman, Janice Jordan. ANNA MARIA'S GIFTNew York : Random, 2010IL 3-6, RL 3.6ISBN 0375858814Set in 18th century Venice, we meet Anna Maria, the daughter of a nenowned violin maker. A dying wish was that Anna Maria go to the Pieta Orphanage where she will be able to study violin with none other than Antonio Vivaldi. But things are not wonderful for her. A rival violinist takes Anna Maria's violin and throws it in the canal. Will she ever be able to get over the loss of her father's gift to her?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 07/09/2011

2011-07-08T17:35:00.001-07:00

Roth, Veronica. DIVERGENT

Roth, Veronica. DIVERGENTNew York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2011IL YAISBN 0062024027So which faction do you think you belong in? Abnegation who believe service to others is their calling, Candor who can speak only the truth, Erudite who value intellect above every thing else, Amity who believe friendship is paramount, or Dauntless who value fearlessness and courage. In a distant future, these factions rule the country. On your 16th birthday, you must chose your faction. You can stay in the faction you were born into or choose a new one. Your aptitude test determines your choice. But what happens if the test results aren't clear? What happens if you are Divergent? And your choice may lead to being involved in something that may change your world forever.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 07/08/2011

2011-07-07T17:36:00.001-07:00

Reichs, Kathy. VIRALS

Reichs, Kathy. VIRALSNew York : Razorbill, 2011IL YAISBN 1595144269Tory Brennan is not happy about having to leave New England after her mother's death. But here she is living on an island in South Carolina with her marine biologist father she doesn't even know. She meets a group of kids who love science and are also stuck on this island. They investigate the island and find some dog-tags from a missing person. As they are investigating the disappearance, they are exposed to a virus that leaves them with heightened senses. Just what is going on here?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 07/07/2011

2011-07-06T17:35:00.001-07:00

Parry, Rosanne. SECOND FIDDLE

Parry, Rosanne. SECOND FIDDLENew York : Random House, 2011IL 3-6, RL 5.6ISBN 0375861963The year is 1990, just after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Eighth grade friends Jody, Giselle and Vivian are living is Berlin and facing the day they will be separated as their parents are reassigned. They are really looking forward to a trip to Paris for a music competition. It will be a great way to celebrate their friendship. When the music teacher cancels the trip, the girls are devastated. After the girls witness a brutal attack on a Soviet soldier, they decide to take the trip anyway -- and save the soldier. He disguises himself as their teacher and they set off to Paris. But you just know that this trip will not go as planned.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 07/05/2011

2011-07-04T17:35:00.001-07:00

Newbery, Linda. LUCY AND THE GREEN MAN

Newbery, Linda. LUCY AND THE GREEN MANNew York : David Fickling Books, 2010IL 3-6, RL 4.0ISBN 0385752040I could certainly use the Green Man of this story. Grandpa's garden is amazing and he claims that the Green Man, Lob is the reason why it is so wonderful. Most people just chalk up Lob as a product of Grandpa's imagination. But Lucy doesn't believe that. She wants to believe that Lob is real and when Grandpa dies, Lucy prays that Lob will find her. What will happen when Grandpa's house is sold and the garden razed? Will that be the end of Lob?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 07/03/2011

2011-07-02T17:36:00.001-07:00

Menzies, Britt. STINKYKIDS AND THE RUNAWAY SCISSORS

Menzies, Britt. STINKYKIDS AND THE RUNAWAY SCISSORSMcHenry, IL : Raven Tree Press, 2001IL K03, RL 2.4ISBN 1936402025Britt is looking forward to her playdate with her friends but she has a really big problem. She doesn't want her mother to know about it. Mother might cancel the playdate. When she gets to Julie's house, she lets the kids in on her big secret. Can they find a way to help her? Or will the make things worse by trying to solve it on their own?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 07/02/2011

2011-07-01T17:35:00.001-07:00

MacDonald, Betty Bard. NANCY AND PLUM

MacDonald, Betty Bard. NANCY AND PLUMNew York : Knopf, 2010IL 3-6, RL 5.5ISBN 037586685XOriginally published in 1952, this story will still appeal to 21st century children. Nancy and her sister Plum are orphans who are sent to live at Mrs. Monday's Boarding Home for Children. Life is hard for the girls but they are determined not to let it get to them. They daydream about having the perfect Christmas and having a family to call their own. That's not too much to hope for, is it?

tags: podcasts blueduke
Marrin, Albert. FLESH & BLOOD SO CHEAP : THE TRIANGLE FIRE AND ITS LEGACY

Marrin, Albert. FLESH & BLOOD SO CHEAP : THE TRIANGLE FIRE AND ITS LEGACYNew York : Knopf, 2011IL 5-8, RL 7.1ISBN 0375868895In 1911, a fire in a factory would change the fashion industry forever. Young girls spent their days sewing the latest fashion but they worked under poor conditions. Girls as young as 14, most of them recent immigrants were forced to work in unsafe workrooms and harsh rules. If they didn't follow the rules, they would be gone and a new girl hired. When a fire broke out in the room, the fleeing girls found locked doors and guards who refused to let them leave. Imagine trying to make the choice between jumping from the building and staying to burn. Pair this book up with Haddix's Uprising.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/30/2011

2011-06-29T17:36:00.001-07:00

Laird, Elizabeth. THE BETRAYAL OF MAGGIE BLAIR

Laird, Elizabeth. THE BETRAYAL OF MAGGIE BLAIRNew York : Houghton Mifflin, 2011IL YAISBN 0547341261In 17th century Scotland, 16 year old Maggie and her grandmother are living is utter poverty. Her grandmother is a grumpy woman who curses the neighbors. When a neighbor child dies, the town turns on the two women and declare them witches and sentences them to be hung. Maggie is able to escape and is taken in by her uncle's family. But has Maggie found herself in yet another bad position? Her uncle is a Convenanter, a righteous brand of Scottish Presbyterian who refuses to recognize England's rule.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/29/2011

2011-06-28T17:35:00.001-07:00

Krosoczka, Jarrett. LUNCH LADY AND THE BAKE SALE BANDIT

Krosoczka, Jarrett. LUNCH LADY AND THE BAKE SALE BANDITNew York : Knopf, 2010IL 3-6, RL 2.8ISBN 037596729XThe Lunch Lady is back. Along with her students Dee, Hector and Terrence, they are trying to find out who stole from the bake sale. Is it the health teacher? Or the grumpy janitor? The mean bus driver? Think you can figure it out before the Breakfast Bunch? Give it a try.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/28/2011

2011-06-27T17:36:00.001-07:00

Kelley, Jane. NATURE GIRL

Kelley, Jane. NATURE GIRLNew York : Random House, 2010IL 3-6, RL 3.9ISBN 037585634XMegan is not what you would call and outdoorsy type of girl. When her parents drag her to Vermont for the summer, she hates the whole thing. She is bored and wants to go back to Massachusetts to be with her best friend whose mother is ill. When Megan and her sister go for a walk in the woods, Megan loses sight of her sister and is lost. She doesn't panic and looks at this as an opportunity. She'll just hike to Massachusetts and see her friend. But can a city girl equipped with a few peanut butter sandwiches, some tofu and a copy of My Side of the Mountain find her way in the woods alone?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/26/2011

2011-06-25T17:37:00.001-07:00

Hurwitz, Michele Weber. CALLI BE GOLD

Hurwitz, Michele Weber. CALLI BE GOLDNew York : Wendy Lamb Books, 2011IL 3-6, RL 5.6ISBN 0385739702Calli is definitely the child of helicopter parents. They want all their children to have a passion that they pursue. Alex is a basketball star but Calli thinks her dad is more passionate about it than her brother. Becca is a figure skater who may not enjoy it as much as she says. But Calli is not going to be pressured into doing something she is not passionate about. And she surely is not going to shine in the athletic world. When she meets a second grader with many problems, Calli may just have found her passion.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 06/25/2011

2011-06-24T17:36:00.001-07:00

Gourlay, Candy. TALL STORY

This tall story is told from the alternating perspectives of Bernardo, a boy from the Philippines who suffers from gigantism and his sister Andi, a pint-size aspiring basketball player. Bernardo was left behind when his mother emigrated to the UK. Although the locals believe that this is a folk hero who protects the town from earthquakes, he believes he has been cursed by the local witches. When he travels to the UK to be reunited with his mother, he is nervous about people seeing him as a freak. And Andi is worried about having her older brother living there and starting a new school.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/23/2011

2011-06-22T17:36:00.001-07:00

Vanderpool, Clare. MOON OVER MANIFEST

Vanderpool, Clare. MOON OVER MANIFESTNew York : Delacorte, 2010IL 5-8, RL 5.3ISBN 0385907508She isn't sure why her father has sent her to Manifest. Why can't she continue to ride the rails with him? Things have been good. But now she is in a strange town and trying to figure out what is happening to her life. She soon finds herself investigating a mystery. With the help of her new friends, Abilene learns about immigrants, newspapers, World War I, and deep seeded secrets.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 06/21/2011

2011-06-20T17:36:00.001-07:00

Grant, Michael. PLAGUE

Grant, Michael. PLAGUENew York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2011IL YAISBN 0061449121Can things get any worse for the children of the FAYZ? You know they can. The kids are now facing a deadly plague. Even those who lived through the flu are finding there is not much that can be done about this new sickness. And there are some new nasty creatures preying on the survivors. How much more can these kids stand?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/20/2011

2011-06-19T17:37:00.001-07:00

Grant, Michael. LIES

Grant, Michael. LIESNew York : Katherine Tegen Books, 2010IL YAISBN 0061449105Conditions in the FAYZ are getting worse. Food is running out and the human crew is targeting the freaks. As the days drag on, the children get more and more depressed and pessimistic about surviving. To make things even worse, there are rumors that some of the dead children are back. Among the chaos, one girl tries to convince everyone that the real world is still out there beyond the FAYZ. Parents are waiting and watching. And that when the teens poof out, they are reunited with their families. Could that possibly be true? Is there life outside the FAYZ?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/18/2011

2011-06-17T17:37:00.001-07:00

Fusco, Kimberly Newton. THE WONDER OF CHARLIE ANNE

Fusco, Kimberly Newton. THE WONDER OF CHARLIE ANNENew York : Knopf, 2010IL 3-6, RL 5.4ISBN 0375861041This story takes place during the Great Depression and Charlie Anne has her own great depression to get through. Her mother has died. Her father and brother have moved north looking for work. And she is stuck living with cousin Mirabel. Charlie Anne's life now revolves around chores and reading Charm and Fine Manners. The endless, endless chores. Laundry so heavy she can barely lift it onto the line. And no end in sight. Until Phoebe moves in next door. Phoebe is the ward of the unusual Rosalyn who volunteers to open the school and act as the teacher. With Phoebe's friendship to help, Charlie Anne's life may not be so bad after all. There is more to life than vinegar pie.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/16/2011

2011-06-15T17:37:00.001-07:00

Fleming, Candace. AMELIA LOST : THE LIFE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF AMELIA EARHART

Fleming, Candace. AMELIA LOST : THE LIFE AND DISAPPEARANCE OF AMELIA EARHARTNew York : Schwartz & Wade, 2011IL 5-8, RL 5.5ISBN 0375841989The story of Amelia Earhart is a fascinating one. She was a true pioneer and became a celebrated aviator in the days when women didn't do such things. The author tells of Earhart's life and her accomplishments. Earhart promoted her celebrity and often flew without adequate preparation to play to the public. George Putnam, Earhart's husband also worked hard to keep her in the public eye. From Earhart's free spirited childhood to her last flight, Fleming tells a gripping story of a woman who loved to fly and became the idol of teens and adults alike. And why her disappearance is still so much in our minds.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/15/2011

2011-06-14T17:37:00.001-07:00

Flinn, Alex. CLOAKED

Flinn, Alex. CLOAKEDNew York : HarperTeen, 2011IL YAISBN 0060874228Johnny and his mother own a shoe repair business in a busy upscale hotel in Florida. Business isn't great. After all, most people just throw their shoes out when they have issues. They are struggling to keep the bills paid. Then a world famous princess checks into the hotel. Little does Johnny know how completely this will change his life. OK, what would you do if a princess offered you tons of money to find her brother? She even tells Johnny she'll marry him if he is successful. The catch? Her brother has been turned into a frog.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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

Today's Book 06/14/2011

2011-06-13T17:37:00.001-07:00

Cotler, Stephen L. CHEESIE MACK IS NOT A GENIUS OR ANYTHING

Cotler, Stephen L. CHEESIE MACK IS NOT A GENIUS OR ANYTHINGNew York : Random House, 2011IL 3-6, RL 4.0ISBN 0375864377This is good old-fashioned fun but also has a technology twist. Ronald "Cheesie" Mack is a bit silly and arrogant at the same time. And he loves words. He is about to graduate 5th grade and summer vacation is only a day away. He and his best friend Georgie will soon be off to Maine for summer camp. But Georgie's dad has lost his job and now there is no money to send Georgie to camp. Can Cheesie come up with a plan to get the needed money? He has a way of making things happen. While telling us his story, Cheesie invites us to visit his website that has stories and lots of words. Kids don't have to go to the website to enjoy this book but they may just want to take a look and see what's there.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 06/13/2011

2011-06-12T17:37:00.001-07:00

Barrow, Randi. SAVING ZASHA

Barrow, Randi. SAVING ZASHANew York : Scholastic Press, 2011IL 5-8, RL 4.0ISBN 0545206324"Maybe the soldier you found wasn't alone. Or he told you something important before he died. Or he still had his dog with him. His German dog," Katia said.It’s 1945, and the war with Germany is finally over. Mikhail, 13, and his family are struggling to survive in their rural Russian community, where everything German is hated and Mikhail’s father is missing in action. An injured soldier had just enough time to entrust the care of his German shepherd to Mikhail before dying, and he and his family are determined to keep and protect this gentle, beautiful dog. But German shepherds are being shot on sight by people who see them as symbols of Hitler’s Germany, and anyone who owns one is considered a traitor to Russia.Will Mikhail and his family be able to keep Zasha safe, especially with the nosey Katia asking so many questions? Read Saving Zasha to find out. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts nhgsf blueduke

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Today's Book 06/12/2011

2011-06-11T17:39:00.001-07:00

Cottrell Boyce, Frank. COSMIC

Cottrell Boyce, Frank. COSMICNew York : Walden Pond Press, 2010IL 5-8, RL 5.1ISBN 0061836834Have you ever wished you could be someone other than who you are? Someone more confident, someone more athletic, or maybe even—someone older? Well, Liam Digby has the “older” thing in spades---he’s only 12 years old, but is already over 6 feet tall! (back when he was 7, and really starting to grow, his dad told his mom—“this isn’t a growth spurt—it’s a mutation!”) And it’s not just his height—Liam’s already shaving, and actually does get mistaken for a grownup. Which can be pretty cool when a car salesman gives you the keys to that sick red sportscar, and tells you to take it for a test drive. But what happens when you’ve earned yourself a spot on a trip to outer space by winning a “World’s Greatest Dad” contest, and you’re now the only “grownup” on a rocketship that’s 200,000 miles from Earth, and seriously off-course? Read “Cosmic” for a lot of laughs, and for some serious thinking about the stars, the earth, and the people that we live with---especially our dads. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts nhgsf blueduke

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Today's Book 06/11/2011

2011-06-10T17:37:00.001-07:00

Walsh, Pat. THE CROWFIELD CURSE

Walsh, Pat. THE CROWFIELD CURSENew York : Chicken House, 2010IL 3-6, RL 4.1ISBN 0545229227England, The winter of 1347William, age fourteen, works as a servant at Crowfield Abbey, in exchange for room and board. Gathering firewood one day, he discovers a hobgoblin caught in a trap and rescues it. The hob tells William that he can only be seen by those with the sight. This is a gift William did not know he possessed. This boy walks the line between the real world and the magical fey world. The hob has told William of the dark curse put upon the abbey and of the magical being buried in the snow. Now comes the clash of good and evil ,dark and light, for the fey war is coming. William must stand strong and believe in himself to survive. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 06/10/2011

2011-06-09T17:37:00.001-07:00

Stevermer, Caroline. MAGIC BELOW STAIRS

Stevermer, Caroline. MAGIC BELOW STAIRSNew York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2010IL 3-6, RL 5.7ISBN 0803734670Frederick Lincoln is a good boy who works hard and does what he’s told. He’s living in an orphanage when he is selected to be a footboy for the local wizard. He will be living with the other servants below stairs. Unknown to Frederick is the fact that he is accompanied by a brownie whose name is Billy Bly. The wizard has forbidden any magical creatures in his home but that won’t stop Billy Bly. He doesn’t want to leave Frederick. More magic might be what they need as it is soon discovered that the manor is under a hidden curse-- a curse so deep and ugly that it may take all of them to break it. But , first, they have to find it. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 06/09/2011

2011-06-08T17:37:00.001-07:00

Clements, Andrew. WE THE CHILDREN (BENJAMIN PRATT AND THE KEEPERS OF THE SCHOOL)

Clements, Andrew. WE THE CHILDREN (BENJAMIN PRATT AND THE KEEPERS OF THE SCHOOL)New York : Atheneum Books for Young Raders, 2010IL 3-6, RL 5.2ISBN 1416938869Benjamin Pratt’s school is going to be torn down to make way for an amusement park. The wrecking ball comes as soon as classes end for the summer. Ben should be happy but odd things are happening. First, the old janitor, Mr. Keane, gives Ben an old gold coin. The coin says the school belongs to the children, the school must be defended. Ben must swear to defend the school. Second, the new janitor Mr. Lyman, seems to be following Ben everywhere. He wants to know if Mr. Keane gave anything to Ben. Enlisting his super-smart friend Jill, these two students have twenty-eight days to find the clues and solve the mystery. Can they save the school against all the odds? Ben and Jill will have to work fast because Mr. Lyman is also on the hunt. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts nhgsf blueduke

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Today's Book 06/08/2011

2011-06-07T17:37:00.001-07:00

Kehret, Peg. GHOST DOG SECRETS

Kehret, Peg. GHOST DOG SECRETSNew York : Dutton's Children's Books, 2010IL 5-8, RL 6.5ISBN 0525421785Randy notices the chained German shepherd on his way to school. The weather is cold and icy and there’s no shelter for the dog. After school, Randy goes to check the dog. The shepherd looks young but his ribs are showing. There’s no food or water around either. Randy buys a couple of hot dogs to feed the shepherd and decides to feed him again the next day. That night, Randy has a strange encounter--- a ghost dog appears in his room. The ghost dog wants Randy to follow but where? The ghost takes Randy to the shepherd that he had fed. Does the ghost dog want Randy to help the shepherd? Maybe, he’s just got to take the dog to save it. Is Randy rescuing this dog or stealing it? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 06/07/2011

2011-06-06T17:37:00.001-07:00

West, Jacqueline. THE SHADOWS (THE BOOKS OF ELSEWHERE)

West, Jacqueline. THE SHADOWS (THE BOOKS OF ELSEWHERE)New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2010IL 5-8, RL 5.1ISBN 0803734409Eleven year old Olive has just moved into a weird, crumbling old mansion. What a place to explore! And all those antique paintings that line the walls, why do they seem so eerie? A secret attic room, three creepy cats and a pair of funny old-fashioned glasses, all add up to a fast moving adventure. When Olive puts on those glasses, she can see into… well, into places that she shouldn’t go. Did that spot, in that painting , just move? Yes, yes it did! What is going on? The battle begins. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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

Today's Book 06/05/2011

2011-06-04T17:38:00.001-07:00

Angleberger, Tom. THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODA

Angleberger, Tom. THE STRANGE CASE OF ORIGAMI YODANew York : Amulet Books, 2010IL 3-6, RL 4.1ISBN 0810984253 Most of his sixth grade classmates think Dwight is weird but admit he does make cool origami, including a finger puppet of Yoda. When some students at the McQuarrie Middle School are faced with one question after another Dwight offers answers via his Origami Yoda. Origami Yoda appears to be able to predict the future and has advice that helps the students in puzzling situations. Before Dwight’s friend Tommy can ask a girl to dance at a school function without making a fool of himself he wants to know if he can trust Origami Yoda’s advice. To answer his question Tommy enlists the aid of fellow students to track down the results of Origami Yoda’s advice; the ensuing chapters tell of those results. Middle school can be a series of sand traps, some of them very funny to the observer, and if Origami Yoda’s advice is useful, why not take it, even if that advice does come from a green paper finger puppet? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 06/04/2011

2011-06-03T17:37:00.001-07:00

Paulsen, Gary. MASTERS OF DISASTER

Paulsen, Gary. MASTERS OF DISASTERNew York : Wendy Lamb Books, 2010IL 3-6, RL 6.7ISBN 0385739974 After reading books like Adventures of Huckleberry Finn , Treasure Island, and Hatchet, Henry Mosley tells his best friends Reed Hamner and Riley Dolen that the three of them are the most boring 12 year olds on the planet. Henry decides they need to become men of action and adventure and find out what they are made of and in the process impress girls. A bid to set the world record for the most forward airborne somersault on a bike is the first in a series of disasters that lands Reed in places filled with unmentionable types of goo. They venture into the wilderness and encounter escaped zoo animals, discover all retired bulls aren’t docile and learn that housedogs don’t make good sled dogs. Through each mishap Henry, Reed and Riley maintain their enthusiasm and certainly won’t be considered boring by anyone. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 06/03/2011

2011-06-02T17:38:00.001-07:00

Behrens, Andy. THE FAST AND THE FURRIEST

Behrens, Andy. THE FAST AND THE FURRIESTNew York : Knopf, 2010IL 3-6, RL 5.3ISBN 0375859225 Kevin Pugh, 12, and his dog Cromwell are the ultimate pair of couch potatoes. Kevin’s father, Howie, a former player for the Chicago Bears, encourages Kevin to play football, but Kevin is only interested in the video game form of the sport. One day in his basement retreat while flipping through tv channels, Kevin happens upon the Purina Incredible Dog Challenge, a dog agility competition. Much to Kevin’s surprise Cromwell, referred by Kevin as “part beagle, part potato chip”, sits up, takes notice and is mesmerized by the stunning performance of Jody and her dog Shasta. As a result, Cromwell is soon acting totally out of character. Cromwell asks to be taken for walks and attempts to jump through a hanging hoop in his back yard. Kevin’s father, Howie, then insists he attend football camp for the summer. When Kevin’s kicked out for injuring another player in practice he surreptitiously signs up Cromwell for agility training with Elka, the “dog-whisperer” trainer at Paw Patch. This is enthusiastically financed by best friend Zach, and Team Cromwell is born. After crashing his way through classes at Paw Patch, Cromwell surprisingly manages to win his first competition. Is it possible to transform couch potatoes Kevin and Cromwell into champions to beat rivals Jody and Shasta in the Midwest Kennel Club Championship and win his family over to support them in their kind of sport? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 06/02/2011

2011-06-01T17:37:00.001-07:00

Henson, Heather. DREAM OF NIGHT

Henson, Heather. DREAM OF NIGHTNew York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2010IL 5-8, RL 4.7ISBN 1416948996 Middle-aged Jess DiLima is finding it harder to respond to the phone calls in the middle of the night summoning her to another rescue by the Humane Society of abused and neglected horses. But she can’t resist taking on a former race horse named Dream of Night who is terrified of people because of the terrible cruelty he has suffered. When Jess returns to her farm with Dream of Night she has the additional responsibility of a new foster child, Shiloh, who, like Dream of Night, has been removed from a violent domestic life and has been bounced from one unsatisfactory foster home to another. Both Dream of Night and Shiloh arrive at Jess’s home full of anger, need and mistrust. Can Jess, using infinite patience and care help Dream of Night and Shiloh find their ways out of darkness to the hope and promise of a happier future? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 06/01/2011

2011-05-31T17:38:00.001-07:00

Sparkes, Ali. FROZEN IN TIME

Sparkes, Ali. FROZEN IN TIMENew York : Egmont USA, 2009IL 3-6, RL 6.3ISBN 1606840770What would you do if you had to spend a long boring summer at your Uncle’s house out in the countryside? That is just what happens to Rachel and Ben Corder. And if things weren’t already boring enough, the TV blows up and it seems like it will never stop raining! But all of a sudden, the rain stops and the sun comes out. Rachel and Ben explore the gardens – and what do they find? An underground shelter buried long ago. Inside the shelter they find rooms and supplies -- canned food and stacks and stacks of toilet paper! But these things are old fashioned looking. Then they step into the next room. It feels cold. They notice two torpedo- like tubes. Rachel screams! There is a body within each tube! One is a girl and one is a boy. Eventually they discover that the two children are cryogenically frozen and were supposed to be that way for a short time only. But it is now more than 50 years later and Freddy and Polly wake up to find a very strange and new world. “Frozen in Time” is an action- packed adventure full of mystery and many humorous moments you will not want to put down. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/31/2011

2011-05-30T17:36:00.001-07:00

Tanner, Lian. MUSEUM OF THIEVES

Tanner, Lian. MUSEUM OF THIEVESDelacorte, 2010Welcome to the city of Jewel. Jewel is strict society where all children under age 12 must wear long thin silver guard chains until they are twelve years of age. It is the blessed Guardians that keep the children safe in this land by use of strict control. Children who misbehave are made to wear the heavy gold punishment chains. The punishment chains are no stranger to Goldie Roth who is about to be separated from her guard chains now that she is 12 years old. The ceremony is stopped and Goldie manages to escape. She finds safe hiding in the Museum of Dunt; a strange and living museum of history. In the museum she meets Toadspit. a young boy who also ran away , and others including: Olga Ciavolga, Herro Dan, Sinew, “Morg” the Slaughterbird, a Brizzlehoud called “Broo”. In the museum - what lies beyond the “dirty gate”? Will Goldie and her new friends be able to save the people of Jewel? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/30/2011

2011-05-29T17:36:00.001-07:00

Wells, Rosemary. ON THE BLUE COMET

Wells, Rosemary. ON THE BLUE COMETCambridge : Candlewick, 2010IL 5-8ISBN 076363722XWho would think that it would be possible to travel through time and space aboard a Lionel model train? But that’s just what Oscar Ogilvie of Cairo, Illinois did. It’s 1931 and the hard times of the Great Depression have hit hard. Oscar and his dad enjoyed many years in their home at the end of Lucifer Street with their grand set up of Lionel trains in their basement.But in 1931, the Hard Times of the Great Depression have hit hard. They have to sell their house and Oscar’s Dad leaves for California. Oscar has to go live with his Aunt Carmen and his young, thumb-sucking cousin Willa Sue. Things in Oscar’s world greatly improve when Mr. Applegate walks by Aunt Carmen’s house carrying “The Fireside Book of Poetry” checked out from The Cairo Public library. Join Oscar on his time travel adventure riding the rails and meeting famous people in his search to find his Dad and his way home. And-- you might just find yourself memorizing the words of the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/29/2011

2011-05-28T17:38:00.001-07:00

Fisher, Catherine. THE DARK CITY

Fisher, Catherine. THE DARK CITYNew York : Dial Books, 2011IL YAISBN 0803736738In a postapocalytic society, what remains of the Order is scattered and they struggle to keep the ancient technology working. They are up against the Watch who are out to destroy them. Relic Master Galen Harn has lost his powers but learns that there may be hope. There are rumors that one of the founders of the Order may still be alive in Tasceron. Along with his apprentice Raffi, he sets off in search of the city of the Makers. This is the first in a 4 part series that is sure to appeal to dystopian fans and fans of Catherine Fisher.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/28/2011

2011-05-27T17:36:00.001-07:00

Duble, Kathleen Benner. PHANTOMS IN THE SNOW

Duble, Kathleen Benner. PHANTOMS IN THE SNOWNew York : Scholastic, 2011IL YAISBN 0545197708When Noah's parents die in an epidemic, he has no one but an uncle he has seldom seen. But the town minister ships him off the to the uncle anyway. Times are hard and there is little money and Uncle James is all Noah has. James Shelley is not living a stable life at the moment. He is in the military and is a member of the Phantoms -- an elite group of skiers training for combat in the Alps. Noah quickly settles in and even learns to ski but he is too young to join up. What will happen when the company ships out to fight in Italy?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/26/2011

2011-05-25T17:37:00.001-07:00

Mack, Winnie. AFTER ALL, YOU'RE CALLIE BOONE

Mack, Winnie. AFTER ALL, YOU'RE CALLIE BOONENew York : Feiwel & Friends, 2010IL 5-8, RL 5.9ISBN 0312563310It’s summer now and for 11 year old Callie Boone, everything is going wrong! Her best friend since first grade has dumped her and she gets banned from the pool for breaking the rules.So she is stuck at home with her weird family doing chores. A new neighbor skater boy named “Hoot” moves in next door and seeks her friendship. Callie worries that others will think Hoot is her boyfriend. The summer before sixth grade is all about changes for Callie. Will Callie be able to take the changes and make it through? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/25/2011

2011-05-24T17:37:00.001-07:00

Stanley, Diane. SAVING SKY

Stanley, Diane. SAVING SKYNew York : Harper, 2010IL 5-8, RL 5.9ISBN 0061239054“My name is Sky Brightman. I live on our ranch in New Mexico. We use solar energy, have gardens and horses. We don’t have internet or television. There are terrorist attacks often in the world now. When there is a terrorist attack, my aunt Pat phones us to let us know. Aunt Pat phoned last week to tell us about the oil refineries and petrochemical plants in Louisiana being destroyed. And in our area too, things have been very frightening and difficult. I have seen people turn on others who appear different or who from different ethnic backgrounds Now, I hear that Homeland security agents in our area are taking citizens away and detaining them in prisons. My family and I decided to help my classmate Kareem and hide him at our ranch. …Read more about what happens in “Saving Sky”. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/24/2011

2011-05-23T17:36:00.001-07:00

Grant, Katy. HIDE AND SEEK

14-year-old Chase felt a charge of excitement when he found his first geocache! It had clearly been muggled (tampered with)…the lid was loose, and dirt and leaves had gotten inside. There were lots of treasures in the box…toy soldiers, a strand of beads, some Allen wrenches, a duck call and some other stuff. When Chase pulled out the logbook, preparing to write his entry and leave some trinkets of his own in exchange, he noticed something odd. The last thing recorded wasn’t a log…it was a message: HELP WE NE. What in the world was that supposed to mean? With the help of his GPS, his devoted dog, Dexter, and lots of thinking outside the box, Chase was able to track down the source and help a family in serious trouble… but not without lots of danger and cliff-hanging adventure along the way! (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/23/2011

2011-05-22T17:36:00.001-07:00

Jennings, Patrick. GUINEA DOG

Jennings, Patrick. GUINEA DOGNew York : Egmont USA, 2010IL 3-6, RL 3.7ISBN 1606840533Rufus desperately wanted a dog. Rufus’ dad was full of reasons why he couldn’t have one. They whine, they drool, they lick other dogs, they eat dead things, they have to be walked in all kinds of weather, they stop every two seconds to sniff…the list went on and on. His mom tried to cheer him up by bringing home, of all things, a guinea pig. How lame was that…about as much fun as a pet fern! And he’d be the laughing stock of all his dog-owning friends, with their macho retrievers and Rottweilers. When Fido (he’d named her after the dog he’d never have) escaped from her cage and followed him to school, Rufus tried to pretend he didn’t know her. But Fido was no ordinary guinea pig. What was it about her that ultimately found Rufus’ friends all pleading with their parents to buy them guinea pigs, as well? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/22/2011

2011-05-21T17:37:00.001-07:00

O’Connor, Barbara. THE FANTASTIC SECRET OF OWEN JESTER

O’Connor, Barbara. THE FANTASTIC SECRET OF OWEN JESTERNew York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2010IL 3-6, RL 4.6ISBN 0374368503Just as he was drifting off to sleep, Owen heard the faint clatter of the train approaching in the distance. It got louder and louder, and then he heard something else…a thud, the creak of splitting wood, a tumbling sound… something had fallen off the train in the woods! He couldn’t wait till morning, so he could go and explore. Maybe he’d get his buddies, Travis and Stumpy, to go with him…but they had to keep it a secret from bossy, know-it-all Viola next door! The boys couldn’t believe what they found… It was big and red and made of metal. One end was rounded, like the nose of an airplane. It had a small propeller and short, stubby wings. There was an enclosed compartment with large, bubble-shaped windows. On the side of this marvelous, mysterious object, painted in black letters, was a name: Water Wonder 4000. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/21/2011

2011-05-20T17:36:00.001-07:00

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. EMILY'S FORTUNE

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. EMILY'S FORTUNENew York : Delacorte, 2010IL 3-6, RL 5.4ISBN 0385736169When 8-year-old Emily Wiggins suddenly became an orphan, she and her pet turtle, Rufus, wondered where they could go. Her kindly neighbors, the Misses Ready, Aim and Fire, arranged for her to take the stage to Redbud to live with an aunt-by-marriage. Emily remembered Aunt Hilda as having a kind face and arms that hugged her tight. However, Miss Catchum, rounder-up of orphans, strays and roustabouts, had other ideas. She got a big bonus for every child she placed with their closest blood relative: in this, case, Emily’s cold-hearted Uncle Victor. He had the eyes of a weasel, the growl of a bear, and a gold tooth that gleamed when he smiled, generally at the sight of someone else’s money. How the ding dong dickens will Emily and Rufus escape the clutches of Miss Cathcum and Uncle Victor and arrive safely in Redbud, with her fortune intact? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/20/2011

2011-05-19T17:36:00.001-07:00

Spratt, R.A. THE ADVENTURES OF NANNY PIGGINS

Spratt, R.A. THE ADVENTURES OF NANNY PIGGINSBoston : Little, Brown, 2010IL 3-6, RL 6.2ISBN 0316068195After repeated applicants had declined to take the job, Mr. Green was desperate to hire a nanny (as cheaply as possible, of course)…desperate enough to hire the smartly dressed pig who now stood on his doorstep. Her only credentials, his three children subsequently learned, were that she had been repeatedly blasted from a cannon during her years with the circus.The children soon fell madly in love with Nanny Piggins. She had an insatiable urge to stuff herself and her charges with all things chocolate, and she thought it a barbaric practice to force children to go to school… especially in those awful, unfashionable uniforms. She was confident in the notion that her employer’s money was better spent taking the children to amusement parks and the beach. Her showdown with Headmaster Pimplestock marks only the first of many hilarious escapades distinguishing her career as nanny to the Green children, who couldn’t believe their luck. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/18/2011

2011-05-17T17:36:00.001-07:00

Peirce, Lincoln. BIG NATE : IN A CLASS BY HIMSELF

Peirce, Lincoln. BIG NATE : IN A CLASS BY HIMSELFNew York : Harper, 2010IL 3-6, RL 3.1ISBN 0061944343Nate Wright is having his worst school day ever. Everything goes wrong as he accumulates one detention after another.After eating a fortune cooking containing the message, “You will surpass all others”, Nate forms a plan that includes setting the record for consuming cafeteria green beans, and catching the eye, and heart, of the “popular girl”, Jenny. As each antic backfires, Nate’s miseries increase.If you loved “Diary of a Wimpy Kid’”, you’re going to love Big Nate, and Peirce’s comic strip characters are a delight. So how does Nate’s day end? Read it and laugh! (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/17/2011

2011-05-16T17:36:00.001-07:00

Gidwitz, Adam. A TALE DARK AND GRIMM

“Once upon a time, fairy tales were awesome. I know, I know. You don’t believe me. I don’t blame you. A little while ago, I wouldn’t have believed it myself. Little girls in red caps skipping around the forest? Awesome? I don’t think so.But then I started to read them. The real, Grimm ones. Very few little girls in red caps in those.Well, there’s one. But she gets eaten.You see, there’s another story in Grimm’s Fairy Tales. It is the story of two children—a girl named Gretel and a boy named Hansel—traveling through a magical and terrifying world. It is the story of two children striving, and failing, and then not failing. It is the story of two children finding out the meanings of things.(But) before I go on, a word of warning: Grimm’s stories—the ones that weren’t changed for little kids---are violent and bloody. And what you’re going to hear now, the one true tale in the Tales of Grimm, is as violent and bloody as you can imagine.Really.So if such things bother you, we should probably stop right now.You see, the land of Grimm can be a harrowing place. But it is worth exploring. For, in life, it is in the darkest zones one finds the brightest beauty and the most luminous wisdom.And, of course, the most blood.”A Tale Dark and Grimm----not for the faint of heart. (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/16/2011

2011-05-15T17:36:00.001-07:00

Messner, Kate. SUGAR AND ICE

For Claire Boucher, life is all about skating on the frozen cow pond and in the annual Maple Show right before the big pancake breakfast on her family’s maple farm. But all that changes when Claire is offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—a scholarship to train with the elite skaters in Lake Placid.Tossed into a world where competition is fierce and some of her fellow skaters are mean girls on ice, Claire wonders how her sweet dream come true could have such sharp edges. Should she give up? Or can she find the strength to stand up to the people who want her to fail—and the courage to decide which dream she wants to follow? (New Hampshire Great Stone Face Award nominee, 2011-2012)

tags: podcasts blueduke nhgsf

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Today's Book 05/15/2011

2011-05-14T17:38:00.001-07:00

Condie, Ally. MATCHED

Is this what the future holds? Clean streets, no illnesses, a controlled life? Arranged marriages? Cassia is looking forward to her Match. It is a day when she gets to dress up and the family get a wonderful meal at the ceremony. As she watches the screen while the other eligible girls are informed of their matches, she wonders who she will be matched with. Probably a boy from another village. Girls don't get to meet their matches until after the ceremony. But when her name is called, she is matched with Xander -- her best friend. Is this a good thing? Everyone agrees that this is a good match. And she already knows him and likes him so that should be great. But when she opens her viewscreen, it is not Xander she sees.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/14/2011

2011-05-13T17:36:00.001-07:00

Buyea, Rob. BECAUSE OF MR. TERUPT

Hopefully we have all known a teacher like Mr. Terupt. That teacher who just gets us. For these 5th graders in Vermont, he is just what they need. We follow the students through one school year and get to know them and what their lives are like. We meet the prankster, the new girl in town, the shy child, the girl who won't stand up for herself. When tragedy strikes Mr. Terupt, the children must cope with what happened and decide for themselves what to do. Each chapter is narrated by one of the children which makes the story more authentic.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/12/2011

2011-05-11T17:36:00.000-07:00

Bauer, Joan. CLOSE TO FAMOUS

Foster McFee is on the run. She and her mother have had to pack up in the middle of the night and leave to get away from her mother's abusive boyfriend. All she can take is a pillowcase filled with mementos from her late father. And her determination to succeed in spite of her severe learning disability. When they stop, they find themselves in a small town in West Virginia. Living in a borrowed trailer, the two find the community welcoming and their hopes rising. Foster begins to do what she loves most -- bake. Her dream is to have her own cooking show on the Food Network but for now, her baked goods are selling like crazy at Angry Wayne's Bar and Grill while her mother pursues her dream of becoming more than a back up singer. Another wonderful story by Joan Bauer.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/11/2011

2011-05-10T17:36:00.001-07:00

Whipple, Vicky. THE LITTLE WEED FLOWER

I have a neighbor who spends hours on his garden. He has lots of different flowers and plants and the yard is gorgeous. I love walking by and looking at the beauty. In this book, a little flower is growing in a weed patch and longs to join the garden tended by the gardener. Instead she is living surrounded by weeds.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/10/2011

2011-05-09T17:36:00.001-07:00

Willis, Jeanne. THE BOG BABY

Two sisters tell there parents they were going to a friend's house to play but they lied. They decided to go to the magic pond in Bluebell Wood. At least that is what Chrissy said. And do you know what they found there? A blue Bog Baby. Have you ever heard of a Bog Baby? Well come along to the magic pond and see if you can find one too.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/09/2011

2011-05-08T17:36:00.001-07:00

Willis, Jeanne. DELILAH D. AT THE LIBRARY

Have you ever imagined you are from another place? Maybe you are really a princess from a far away country but you are just living here until you go back. Well, that's what Delilah D. likes to believe. And she loves to tell everyone about her home that lies somewhere between Jafrica and Smindia. When she goes to the library, she feels she needs to tell Library Anne about the ways libraries work in her homeland.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/07/2011

2011-05-06T17:36:00.001-07:00

Schwartz, Marcia. LOBO AND THE RABBIT STEW

Lobo is a wolf whose favorite food just happens to be rabbit. On the full moon, Lobo spies a fat little bunny down in his burrow. And Lobo is determined to lure the rabbit out so he can become Lobo's dinner. Can the little rabbit outwit the cuning wolf?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/06/2011

2011-05-05T17:36:00.001-07:00

Snyder, Betsy E. SWEET DREAMS LULLABY

"The day is done, it's time for bed./let peaceful moments fill your head./so cuddle up and snuggle in,/and let your happy dreams begin." And now the baby bunny starts to drift off to sleep. Along the way, she dreams of the world around her and quietly drifts off to sleep.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/05/2011

2011-05-04T17:36:00.001-07:00

Spinelli, Eileen. TODAY I WILL : A YEAR OF QUOTES, NOTES, AND PROMISES TO MYSELF

Eileen and Jerry Spinelli have given us a lovey advice book. They have shared a quote a day to get through the year. The quotes are from children's literature and the Spinellis go on to expand on the quote and offer advice to children. Fans of the Spinellis and of the Chicken Soup books will find a new friend in this book.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/04/2011

2011-05-03T17:36:00.001-07:00

Schertle, Alice. AN ANACONDA ATE MY HOMEWORK

Have you ever made an excuse for not doing your homework? The most common one is that the dog ate it. Well, Digby is the master at excuses. When his homework isn't done, he tells his teacher about what happened on the way. First there was the raptor that scooped him up. Then he faces crocodiles, a tiger an elephant and an anachonda among other things. Will his teacher believe his story?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 05/02/2011

2011-05-01T17:36:00.001-07:00

Alvarez, Julia. HOW TIA LOLA LEARNED TO TEACH

Tia Lola is back. Well, she never really left. A sequel to How Tia Lola Came to (Visit) Stay, Tia Lola is getting involved in the community of Bridgeport, Vermont. She has volunteered to teach Spanish in the elementary school. At first, she isn't so sure she wants to do this. After all, she never even finished school in the Dominican. But she is a natural born teacher and soon she is the favorite of the children. What will happen when her visa expires?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/28/2011

2011-01-27T16:37:00.001-08:00

Sattler, Jennifer Gordon. SYLVIE

Sattler, Jennifer Gordon. SYLVIENew York : Random House, 2009IL K-3, RL 2.2ISBN 0375957081Do you know why flamingos are pink? Well, the color comes from the pink shrimp they eat so much of. When Sylvie hears that, she decides to try some other foods to see if she can become a different color than all the other flamingos. She starts with some palm leaves and it works! She turns green. What about some purple grapes? Or some yummy chocolate? How will this day turn out?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/27/2011

2011-01-26T16:37:00.001-08:00

Reich, Susanna. PAINTING THE WILD FRONTIER : THE ART AND ADVENTURES OF GEORGE CATLIN

Reich, Susanna. PAINTING THE WILD FRONTIER : THE ART AND ADVENTURES OF GEORGE CATLIN
New York : Clarion Books, 2008
IL 5-8, RL 5.2
ISBN 0618714707
George Catlin was a painter who traveled around the west during the 1800s and painted portraits of Native Americans. As a white man, his prospective on Indian culture was biased by his own culture. He tried to capture the Indian ceremonies and cultural events. In spite of his own prejudices, his painting remains a collection of the finest paintings of a vanishing Indian life.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/24/2011

2011-01-23T16:36:00.001-08:00

Paul, Ann Whitford. WORD BUILDER

Paul, Ann Whitford. WORD BUILDERNew York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009IL K-3, RL 1.6ISBN 1416939814Have you ever thought about how powerful the alphabet is? This book shows how using letters, you can build words. Using words, you can build sentences. And more. Using a construction crew, we watch the building taking place.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/20/2011

2011-01-19T16:38:00.001-08:00

Patterson, James. THE GIFT

Patterson, James. THE GIFTBoston : Little, Brown, 2010IL 5-8, RL 5.9ISBN 0316036250In the second book of the Witch and Wizard series, we find the Allgood siblings as the established leaders of the Resistance. The community is mainly teens who are fighting The One Who Is The One and the New Order. Whit and Wisty are learning to control their powers and are trying to find their parents. When they are captured again, an unexpected person comes to their rescue.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/19/2011

2011-01-18T16:37:00.001-08:00

Palatini, Margie. LOUSY ROTTEN STINKIN' GRAPES

Palatini, Margie. LOUSY ROTTEN STINKIN' GRAPESNew York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2009IL K-3, RL 1.9ISBN 0689802463Ooooh. Look at those luscious grapes just hanging there waiting to be plucked and eaten. But Fox can't reach them. It is driving him crazy. Some of the other animals offer suggestions to help Fox but he just ignores them. He finally gets so frustrated that he says “They’re probably sour anyway!” What will the other animals do?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/18/2011

2011-01-17T16:37:00.001-08:00

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux. WHO WILL I BE, LORD?

Nelson, Vaunda Micheaux. WHO WILL I BE, LORD?New York : Random House, 2009IL K-3, RL 3.1ISBN 0375843426Do people say you are just like your mother? Or that you have your father's sense of humor? Or that you remind them of your older sibling? While listening to stories about family members, a young African American girl begins to wonder who she will be like. In her case, the family members who came before have paved the way for her to have a better future.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/17/2011

2011-01-16T16:36:00.001-08:00

Molski, Carol. SWIMMING SAL

Molski, Carol. SWIMMING SALGrand Rapids, MI : Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2009IL K-3, RL 2.4ISBN 0802853277Every dog at Hilltop Farm was a winner. Except Sal. She feels like a loser. She is a Portuguese water dog and wants to win at something. So what does she do? She decides that she wants be become the "Swimmingest Dog in the World". She does everything she can think of to practice. She swims in the creek. She swims in the bathtub. She even tries to join the swim team at the YMCA but that doesn't go well. Will she win the contest?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/16/2011

2011-01-15T16:37:00.001-08:00

McGowan, Michael. SUNDAY IS FOR GOD

McGowan, Michael. SUNDAY IS FOR GODNew York : Schwartz & Wade, 2010IL K-3, RL 3.5ISBN 0375841881Weekdays are for school. Saturday is for fun. But Sunday is for God. That's what Mama always says. And today is Sunday. I start the day getting all dressed up in my Sunday clothes and off the church we go. Do you want to come along?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/14/2011

2011-01-13T16:37:00.001-08:00

Malone, Margaret Gay. A SWEATER FOR DUNCAN

Malone, Margaret Gay. A SWEATER FOR DUNCANRaven Tree Press, 2010IL K-3, RL 2.5ISBN 1936299046Duncan is a baby penguin who is so embarrassed by what is happening to his fuzzy fur that he doesn't want to be seen. He always loved his fuzzy gray coat but now it is falling off. Each day more of the coat falls off and he is getting worried that he will be bald. He begs his mother to make him a sweater so no one can see what is happening to him. Will it work?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/13/2011

2011-01-12T16:37:00.001-08:00

Lionni, Leo. LITTLE BLUE AND LITTLE YELLOW

Lionni, Leo. LITTLE BLUE AND LITTLE YELLOWNew York : Knopf, 2009IL K-3, RL 1.7ISBN 0375860134Little Blue and Little Yellow are best friends. They go to school together and play with the other colors together. But one day they hug. And do you know what happens when blue and yellow get together? You get green. So now the friends are both green and they have a great day playing and chasing the other colors. But when they get tired and go home, their parents don't recognize them. And they don't believe that they are the same little colors.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/12/2011

2011-01-11T16:37:00.001-08:00

Katz, Alan. GOING GOING GONE! : AND OTHER SILLY DILLY SPORTS SONGS

Katz, Alan. GOING GOING GONE! : AND OTHER SILLY DILLY SPORTS SONGSNew York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2009IL K-3, RL 1.9ISBN 1416906967Alan Katz is back with another collection of silly songs that are sung to the tune of well-known songs. Try this one to the tune of "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean"My father says we're going cycling.My mother says we're going far.A family trip, whole day of bike-ing.Why bother, when we have a car?PedalingPedaling,Way out of town past the seashore,and more!Pedaling.Pedaling.My brain and my rear will be sore!

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/11/2011

2011-01-10T16:38:00.001-08:00

Kadono, Eiko. GRANDPA'S SOUP

Kadono, Eiko. GRANDPA'S SOUPGrand Rapids, MI : Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2009IL K-3, RL 3.3ISBN 0802853471Grandpa is so sad. Grandma has passed away and now Grandpa is lonely and sad. He decides to cook her special soup to make him happier. But he doesn't know the recipe. So every day, he tries a new recipe and shares it with others starting with the mice. Will he ever get the recipe right? And find happiness again?

tags: podcasts blueduke
Heuvel, Eric. A FAMILY SECRET

Heuvel, Eric. A FAMILY SECRETNew York : Farrar, Straus, Giroux, 2009IL 5-8, RL 4.7ISBN 0374422656During World War II in Holland, there were ordinary people who became heroes. As his grandmother tells of her teen years in Holland, Jeroen learns that someone in his family may be one of them. Grandmother's father was a policeman who went along with the Dutch Nazi Party so he could get a promotion. But her mother was strongly opposed to what was going on in their country. Her bother is also pro-Nazi and can't wait to join the army. But her other brother was secretly working with the resistence. When it becomes clear that Grandmother's best friend is to go to the concentration camp, she begs her father to help her friend. But her father refuses. After the war, he is executed as a collaborator. But his story has not been told.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/09/2011

2011-01-08T16:39:00.001-08:00

Grey, Mini. EGG DROP

Grey, Mini. EGG DROPNew York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2009IL K-3, RL 1.8ISBN 0375942602Mother hen tells us the story of a little egg who was in too much of a hurry to grow up. You see, the little egg wanted to fly. He dreams of flying and doesn't think he needs to wait until he hatches and grows up. He climbs 583 steps to the top of a tower and ...

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/08/2011

2011-01-07T16:37:00.001-08:00

Draper, Sharon M. JUST ANOTHER HERO

Draper, Sharon M. JUST ANOTHER HERONew York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009IL YAISBN 1416907009Senior year. The kids have made it this far. Draper brings back characters from her earlier books and ties up the trilogy that includes The Battle of Jericho and November Blues. In this book, Arielle and Kofi are trying to get through senior year. Arielle struggles with an abusive home life that threatens to leave her homeless. Kofi is looking forward to attending MIT in the fall but his addiction to oxycontin threatens all that. Add to that a rash of burglaries in the school and Eddie who is a dangerous kid just released from juvie. This urban fiction is sure to keep you interested.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/07/2011

2011-01-06T16:38:00.001-08:00

Cronin, Doreen. BOUNCE

Cronin, Doreen. BOUNCENew York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2007IL K-3, RL 1.8ISBN 141691627XBounce. Just the word makes me smile. How many of you like to bounce? It's so much fun. This new book celebrates all the fun -- and not so much fun -- that bouncing brings. "A bounce can turn into a jump, a bump into a fall. / But it's better to have bounced and bumped ... than never to have bounced at all!"

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/06/2011

2011-01-05T16:37:00.001-08:00

Castrovilla, Selene. UPON SECRECY

Castrovilla, Selene. UPON SECRECYHonesdale, PA : Calkins Creek, 2009IL 3-6, RL 4.9ISBN 1590785738Have you heard of spies? What do they do? Did you know that during the American Revolution, there were spies that helped George Washington and his troops? This is the story of the Culver Spy Ring who were very successful in getting good intelligence to George Washington. And in getting false information to the British.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/05/2011

2011-01-04T16:37:00.001-08:00

Cabral, Olga. THE SEVEN SNEEZES

Cabral, Olga. THE SEVEN SNEEZESNew York : Golden Book, 2009IL K-3, RL 3.9ISBN 0375835946What kind of sneezer are you? Do you blow the walls down when you sneeze? Or do you make little cat sounds? Or somewhere in between. Well, one things for certain. When you sneeze you don't turn the world crazy like the rag man does. When he sneezes, everything goes topsy turvy. Dogs start to meow. Chickens lose their feathers. Shoes land on the wrong feet. Can you imagine? Can the rag man put everything back together again?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/04/2011

2011-01-03T16:37:00.001-08:00

Bredeson, Carmen. BOMB-FACTORY BEETLES AND OTHER WEIRD INSECTS

Bredeson, Carmen. BOMB-FACTORY BEETLES AND OTHER WEIRD INSECTSBerkeley Heights, NJ : Enslow Elementary, 2010IL K-3, RL 3.1ISBN 0766031233If you like weird bugs, give this book a try. Check out the army ants that link their arms together to form bridges over water. Or the bug that just eats poop. Or the mantis that looks like a beautiful orchid. Or even the beetle that has a bomb factory in it's rear!

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 01/03/2011

2011-01-02T16:36:00.001-08:00

Bozarth, Jan. BIRDIE'S BOOK

Bozarth, Jan. BIRDIE'S BOOKNew York : Random House, 2009IL 3-6, RL 4.6ISBN 0375951814When 12-year-old Birdie learns that her family will be moving from California to New York, she decides that she needs to find a way to meet her grandmother who she has never met. What she finds is a warm, interesting woman who shares her love of nature. She also finds a book in her mother's old bedroom. The Book of Dreams is Birdie's way into the fairy world. She learns that she comes from a long line of fairy godmothers which is what her mother did not want her to know. But now she can travel to Aventurine and meet the other fairies.

tags: podcasts blueduke
Binding, Tim. SYLVIE AND THE SONGMAN

Binding, Tim. SYLVIE AND THE SONGMANNew York : David Fickling, 2009IL 3-6, RL 5.2ISBN 0385751575Sylvie's dad is a composer who writes magical music. When he goes missing, Sylvie and her friend George set out to find him. What they find is that there are many strange happenings. The animals have lost their voices. Even Sylvie's dog Mr. Jackson has lost his voice. Dad has been captured by the Songman who is on a mission to collect all the songs in the world. And he has sent Woodpecker Man to attack Sylvie and George.

tags: podcasts blueduke
Alter, Anna. DISAPPEARING DESMOND

Alter, Anna. DISAPPEARING DESMONDNew York : Knopf, 2010IL K-3, RL 2.6ISBN 0375866841Have you ever felt invisible? Even though you are in plain sight, it seems as if no one even notices you. Well, Desmond is used to that feeling. He is very shy and doesn't want people to notice him. He likes to blend in to the background. He is so used to being ignored that he is totally surprised when a new girl in the class sees him and wants to be friends.

tags: podcasts blueduke
Agee, Jon. ORANGUTAN TONGS : POEMS TO TANGLE YOUR TONGUE

Agee, Jon. ORANGUTAN TONGS : POEMS TO TANGLE YOUR TONGUENew York : Disney/Hyperion Books. 2009IL 3-6, RL 3.4ISBN 1423103157So you think you can read this poetry? Might not be as easy and you think. These poems are actually tongue twisters that may just trip you up. "A dodo'll dawdle, a dodo'll diddle,/A dodo'll doodle a doodle or two./A dodo'll yodel, a dodo'll coo./But that's about all that a dodo'll do." This is a celebration of words and funny to boot. Enjoy!

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 12/14/2010

2010-12-13T16:37:00.001-08:00

SAVAGE SAFARI

SAVAGE SAFARINew York : Kingfisher, 2010IL 3-6, RL 8.0ISBN 075346456XHave you ever met an African lion up close? Have you seen the amazing teeth? The cover of this book shows you what it would look like to meet one of these creatures. Throughout the book, you will be introduced to sixteen ferocious African animals that you may want to learn about from the safety of the book.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 11/29/2010

2010-11-28T16:36:00.001-08:00

Savage, Stephen. OCEANS AND SEAS
Savage, Stephen.OCEANS AND SEASNew York : Kingfisher, 2010IL K-3, RL 4.2ISBN 0753464012Take a journey and explore the oceans and seas. This book allows readers to explore on their own by following the color coding. If you want to find out about the animals that live in the sea, you can follow the red icons that lead you to the information. From the coral seas to the Arctic waters, this book has it all.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 11/28/2010

2010-11-27T16:37:00.001-08:00

Sandler, Michael. PRO FOOTBALL'S MOST SPECTACULAR QUARTERBACKS
Wow. Today I am uploading podcast number 1.200. When I started the daily podcasts several years ago, I never imagined I would still be doing them over 3 years later. That is a very large number of books to talk about! And to share!Sandler, Michael.PRO FOOTBALL'S MOST SPECTACULAR QUARTERBACKSNew York : Bearport Publishing, 2011IL 3-6, RL 5.8ISBN 1936088231Who do you think is the best quarterback in the NFL? Maybe you are a Peyton Manning fan. He has been named the NFL's MVP for four of his five years in the pros. What about Tom Brady? He stepped in as the backup quarterback to fill in for the injured starter and has never looked back. Tom was the youngest quarterback in history to win a Super Bowl! Check out the other men included in this book and decide for yourself who is the best!

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 11/25/2010

2010-11-24T16:36:00.001-08:00

MICRO MONSTERS
MICRO MONSTERSNew York : Kingfisher, 2010IL 3-6, RL 7.8ISBN 0753464551Take a look at the cover of this book. Do you have any idea what you are looking at? If you don't, you'll might want to take a look through this book to find out. It is full of up close and personal looks at some of the smallest insects around. It also shows us some of the viruses that can invade our bodies. It's creepy but if you are interested, take a look.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 11/24/2010

2010-11-23T16:36:00.001-08:00

Marven, Nigel. DINOSAURS
Marven, Nigel.DINOSAURSNew York : Kingfisher, 2010IL 5-8, RL 7.4ISBN 0753464063Who isn't facinated by dinosaurs. Even though no one has ever seen one, there are enough fossils left behind to give us a pretty good idea of what they were like. Marven shows us how scientists dig up dinosaur bones and can figure out what they were like. Filled with colored illustration, this book is sure to keep dinosaur lovers enthralled for hours. When you are finished with the book, be sure to check out some of the websites mentioned to give you more to explore.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 11/22/2010

2010-11-21T16:35:00.001-08:00

Lunis, Natalie. BLACK SPINY-TAILED IGUANA : LIZARD LIGHTNING!
Lunis, Natalie.BLACK SPINY-TAILED IGUANA : LIZARD LIGHTNING!New York : Bearport Publishing, 2011IL K-3, RL 3.7ISBN 193608791XHave you ever seen a black spiny-tailed iguana? I bet you can figure out how it got it's name by looking at the pictures. But did you know that it is also very fast? It can run up to 21.7 miles per hour! That is faster than people can run. They like to live in warm places since they draw their heat from their surroundings. We generate our own body heat but the iguana can't. Learn more about this fascinating creature.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 11/21/2010

2010-11-20T16:38:00.001-08:00

Kent, Peter. PETER KENT'S CITY ACROSS TIME
Kent, Peter.PETER KENT'S CITY ACROSS TIME New York : Kingfisher, 2010IL 3-6, RL 6.7ISBN 0753464004From the Stone Age to the present, cities have been changing. And yet they are remarkably similar. Cities are places to live, work, shop and be entertained. Kent takes us on a journey to look at how cities have changed over the years. He even gives us a glimpse into the future!

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 11/20/2010

2010-11-19T16:36:00.001-08:00

Isaacs, Anne. DUST DEVIL
Isaacs, Anne.DUST DEVILNew York : Schwartz & Wade Books, 2010IL K-3, RL 3.6ISBN 0375867228Angelica Longrider, the “wildest wildcat in Tennessee” is back in a new adventure. Our barefoot, outsized heroine has a new opponent to overcome. This time it is a giant dust devil. That's right -- a dust storm has struck her farm and is causing all sorts of problems. Can Angelica wrestle this wind storm and save the day?

tags: podcasts blueduke

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Today's Book 11/19/2010

2010-11-18T16:35:00.001-08:00

Horowitz, Anthony. BEASTS AND LEGENDS
Horowitz, Anthony.BEASTS AND LEGENDSNew York : Kingfisher, 2010IL 5-8, RL 6.2ISBN 075341936XAnthony Horowitz has given us a retelling of some of the legends of the past. In this volume, he has included the Greek legend of the Gorgon's Head as well as the English legend of The Dragon and Saint George. Sit back and get ready to read about some of the amazing beasts and legends.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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rms booktalks 11/18/2010

2010-11-17T16:36:00.001-08:00

Horowitz, Anthony. BATTLES AND QUESTS
Horowitz, Anthony.BATTLES AND QUESTSNew York : Kingfisher, 2010IL 5-8, RL 6.2ISBN 0753419378Fans of Anthony Horowitz's Alex Rider books may be surprised to find he has also written several books of myths and legends. In this book, he shares the retelling of the story of the Minotaur as well as Romulus and Remus and other tales from around the world.

tags: podcasts blueduke
Gilpin, Daniel. PLANET EARTH : WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON?
Gilpin, Daniel.PLANET EARTH : WHAT PLANET ARE YOU ON?New York : Kingfisher, 2010IL 5-8, RL 6.9ISBN 0753464128This is a book about our planet that you may want to read even if you aren't doing a report. Imagine the Earth's features as goofy looking creatures who tell us about themselves in ways we haven't heard before. The volcano tells us that he is a big zit that sometimes pops and spues a nasty liquid. Or a peninsula as all fingers and thumbs who can't help but stick out. Pick up this little book to find out more.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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rms booktalks 11/15/2010

2010-11-14T16:35:00.001-08:00

Fisher, Catherine. SAPPHIQUE
Fisher, Catherine.SAPPHIQUENew York : Dial Books, 2010IL YAISBN 0803733976It has been two months since Finn escaped Incarceron. He is now trying to assume his role as Prince Giles but his guilt over leaving his friends behind has turned him into a dark, tormented sole. And now the queen has brought in an imposter to try to take Finn's place. Meanwhile things are getting worse in Incarceron. The prison wants to escape from itself. In order to do that, it must create a body. Kiero and Attia team up to find a way out of the prison. They need to find the Glove of Sapphique before the prison can create a way to escape. As Finn searches for a way back to Incarceron to help his friends, things in the Realm go from bad to worse.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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rms booktalks 11/11/2010

2010-11-10T16:36:00.001-08:00

Davis, Jill. ORANGUTANS ARE TICKLISH : FUN FACTS FROM AN ANIMAL PHOTOGRAPHER
Davis, Jill.ORANGUTANS ARE TICKLISH : FUN FACTS FROM AN ANIMAL PHOTOGRAPHERNew York : Schwartz & Wade, 2010IL K-3, RL 3.2ISBN 0375858865Look at some of these photographs in this book. Have you ever wondered how great pictures happen. Do the photographers just wait around until the animal does something they like? Or do they just keep shooting and hope they come up with a great photograph? Or is it something else?

tags: podcasts blueduke
Collins, Suzanne. MOCKINGJAY
Collins, Suzanne.MOCKINGJAYNew York : Scholastic, 2010IL YAISBN 0545310601The final part of the Hunger Games trilogy doesn't fail to excite. Katniss has survived the games two times and is now living in Distict 13. Gale is also living in District 13 but Peeta has been captured and is being held prisoner in the Capital. He has been programmed to speak against Katniss who is working with the rebels to mount a revolution against President Snow. But Katniss finds herself being used as propaganda by the rebels. She has assumed the role of the Mockingjay but the rebels keep her away from any real fighting for fear she will be killed. Katniss is determined to be more than a poster child for the revolution. She is determined to be the one who executes President Snow.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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rms booktalks 11/09/2010

2010-11-08T16:36:00.001-08:00

Caper, William. TYPHOID FEVER : DIRTY FOOD, DIRTY WATER!
Caper, William.TYPHOID FEVER : DIRTY FOOD, DIRTY WATER!New York : Bearport Publilshing, 2011IL 3-6, RL 4.6ISBN 1936088045In the summer of 1906, Charles Warren and his family rented a house on Long Island for a vacation. Lots of sun and fun. But his daughter came down with a fever and within a week, five more people got sick. They were diagnosed with typhoid fever. This was one of the worst diseases around and had no cure. Fortunately, no one in the family died but Warren wanted to know how they got the disease. He hired an expert to come in and test the water and the food and all the servants. They found no reason for the outbreak. When the expert tested a former cook at the house, he found that she carried the virus. She was not sick but she could infect anyone she came in contact with. Mary the cook soon became knows as Typhoid Mary -- an expression we still use today to indicate someone who carries a disease. But Mary never accepted her diagnosis.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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rms booktalks 11/08/2010

2010-11-07T16:36:00.001-08:00

Benton, M. J. THE KINGFISHER DINOSAUR ENCYCLOPEDIA
Benton, M. J.THE KINGFISHER DINOSAUR ENCYCLOPEDIANew York : Kingfisher, 2010IL 3-6, RL 6.9ISBN 0753464403Who doesn't like looking at books on dinosaurs? Instead of listing the dinosaurs alphabetically, this encyclopedia is arranged by time period. There is lots to see in this book. There are color illustrations along with lots of information. If you are fascinated by dinosaurs, pick up this book and check it out. See how scientists learn about these creatures that lived so long ago.

tags: podcasts blueduke

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rms booktalks 11/06/2010

2010-11-05T17:35:00.001-07:00

Myers, Walter Dean. SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAH
Myers, Walter Dean. SUNRISE OVER FALLUJAHScholastic Press, 2008“I felt like crap after 9-11 and I wanted to do something, to stand up for this country.” Against his parents’ wishes, Robin “Birdy” Johnson enlists in the Army after the terrorist attacks in New York City. By 2003, Birdy has finished Basic Training and is deployed to Iraq. He gets assigned to a Civil Affairs detachment. This group is working towards building a successful democracy in Iraq, and most of their job consists of interacting with Iraqi civilians. As Birdy travels through the war zone with his squad, he develops close friendships with them and learns their life stories. Birdy experiences the horrors of war first-hand as his squad is ambushed and attacked by Iraqi soldiers. However, they also see innocent Iraqi citizens killed, and Birdy begins to question his participation in war. He is scared that he will not survive, and his squad members are the only people that Birdy can rely on. Read Sunrise Over Fallujah to learn what true heroes are, and to find out if Birdy and his squad live through their year-long deployment!Prepared by: Joy Brady for South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominees, 2010-2011

tags: podcasts stateawards southcarolina blueduke

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rms booktalks 11/02/2010

2010-11-01T17:36:00.001-07:00

Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. PRINCESS BEN
Murdock, Catherine Gilbert. PRINCESS BENNew York : Graphia/Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2008IL YAISBN 0618959718Princess Ben’s life is tragically changed during a series of unfortunate incidences; her uncle and her mother are killed, and her father disappears. Ben, now the kingdom’s heir, is relegated to the castle where resides her aunt Sophia, whose goal in life, outside of teaching Ben the ins and outs of being heir to the throne, is making her life miserable. Just when Ben has had all that she can take, she discovers a hidden wizard’s room in the top spire of the castle where she is being kept and begins teaching herself, using the enchanted spell books she finds there. Upon hearing of a possible engagement, the threat of war, and still dealing with a missing father, Ben decides to use her magic to put her world back together. Flying on broomsticks and fighting dragons is nothing to this spunky, courageous young woman whose story grows more and more enchanting with each page.Prepared by: Jen Seay for South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominees, 2010-2011

tags: podcasts stateawards southcarolina blueduke

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rms booktalks 10/29/2010

2010-10-28T17:36:00.001-07:00

Collins, Suzanne. THE HUNGER GAMES
Collins, Suzanne. THE HUNGER GAMESScholastic Press, 2008Maintaining control is never easy, but the government of Panem has discovered a way of subduing dissidents. Each year, two people from each of the twelve districts are chosen to participate in The Hunger Games – a fight to the death for all but one contestant. This year, Katniss steps up to take her younger sister’s place. Once the selection is made, Katniss and Peeta (the male participant from District 12) are caught in a whirlwind of preparation. There are lessons in defense, survival, and television appeal. The game requires each participant to outlast, outwit and out-maneuver the other contestants – while the entire country watches on their television screens each day. Brutal tasks, unbearable situations, and manipulated settings test each contestant to his or her breaking point. The only way out? Personal death or the murder of the rest of the group. What possible plan can Katniss and Peeta develop that guarantees their survival and their safe return home? Read The Hunger Games to see what happens to this pair of warriors.Prepared by: Beth Pace, Spartanburg School District One for South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominees, 2010-2011

tags: podcasts stateawards southcarolina blueduke

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rms booktalks 10/27/2010

2010-10-26T17:36:00.001-07:00

Lockhart, E. THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKS
Lockhart, E. THE DISREPUTABLE HISTORY OF FRANKIE LANDAU-BANKSHyperion, 2008Frankie Landau-Banks is a sophomore at the elite Alabaster school. She has a popular senior boyfriend, people seem to like her, she gets good grades, etc. She should be happy with her life, right? Well, not so much. Frankie is tired of accepting the roles society has chosen for her. When her boyfriend says she’s adorable, she wonders why he doesn’t say that she’s brilliant. Anyway, Frankie knows that her boyfriend and several other of the school’s most popular guys are members of the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds, a secret all-male society in which her father was a member during his days at Alabaster. Frankie is tired of being left out of the club’s dealings, so she decides to infiltrate it and pose as their leader. It works, and these guys have no idea that she’s the one pulling their strings. Of course, as is the way of things, chaos inevitably ensues, and Frankie and the Bassets must face up to what has been going on. Will Frankie be exposed in her quest for power? Will she go back to being a docile little girl content with her place in the world? What will happen to the Loyal Order of the Basset Hounds? Read The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks to discover the damage an ambitious, brilliant, angry high school sophomore can wreak on the unsuspecting world around her.Prepared by: Kelly L. Knight, Media Specialist, Woodmont High School for South Carolina Young Adult Book Award Nominees, 2010-2011

tags: podcasts stateawards southcarolina blueduke

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