Friday, December 19, 2008

January 2009 Newsletter

Teaching Aids

A major project is now underway to reclassify all the Teaching Aids in the CMC. Be sure to ask Mr. Martin or the CMC Student Assistant on duty for help if you are unable to find what you're looking for. Things may be a little confused until the project is complete, but the result will allow for much more efficient browsing of the collection. Also, the puppets have been separated from the rest of the Teaching Aids and are displayed on special racks.

Website of the Month

Steve Spangler is devoted to "making science fun". See his blog for the Experiment of the Week, science fair secrets, podcasts, and much, much more. His website, although primarily for commercial purposes, nevertheless has a wealth of science information, experiments, etc.

New Materials

Over 40 items were added to the CMC's collection in December. Click here to see the complete list.

Thursday, December 18, 2008

New YA Books

Dark Dude - Oscar Hijuelos
In the 1960s, Rico Fuentes, a pale-skinned Cuban American teenager, abandons drug-infested New York City for the picket fence and apple pie world of Wisconsin, only to discover that he still feels like an outsider and that violent and judgmental people can be found even in the wholesome Midwest.

The Dragonfly Pool - Eva Ibbotson
At first Tally doesn't want to go to the boarding school called Delderton. But she soon discovers that it is a wonderful place where freedom and self expression are valued. Tally organizes a ragtag dance troupe so the school can participate in an international folk dancing festival in Bergania in the summer of 1939. There she befriends Karil, the crown prince, who would love nothing more than to have ordinary friends and attend a school like Delderton. When Karil's father is assassinated, it is up to Tally and her friends to help Karil escape the Nazis and the bleak future he has inherited.

The Bone Magician - F.E. Higgins
With his father, a fugitive, falsely accused of multiple murders and the real serial killer stalking the wretched streets of Urbs Umida, Pin Carpue, a young undertaker's assistant, investigates and soon discovers that all of the victims may have attended the performance of a stage magician who claims to be able to raise corpses and make the dead speak.

One False Note (Book Two of The 39 Clues) - Gordon Korman
A million dollars, or a clue? Police report a break-in at an elite hotel, and the suspects sound suspiciously like Amy and Dan. There's a car and speedboat chase and an angry mob! When there's a Clue on the line, anything can happen.

New Professional Resources

Ready-To-Go Storytimes: Fingerplays, Scripts, Patterns, Music, and More - Gail Benton
Contains six ready-to-use storytimes using fingerplays, scripts, patterns, and music to interest young students in reading. Includes CD.

New Children's Books

Food/La nourriture
Colorful and cuddly teddy bears teach new words to very young children in English and in French.

Using Math to Design a Roller Coaster - Hillary Koll
Explains how math skills are needed to inspect structures for safety and includes math activities using real-life data and facts about roller coasters.


Abe's Honest Words - Doreen Rappaport
An illustrated biography of Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States and the man responsible for seeing the country through the Civil War.

A Caldecott Celebration - Leonard S. Marcus
To celebrate the seventieth anniversary of the Caldecott Medal and another decade of award-winning picture books, noted childrens book historian Leonard S. Marcus has updated this absorbing and informative picture of the worlds most prestigious illustration award and seven of its acclaimed winners: Robert McCloskey, Marcia Brown, Maurice Sendak, William Steig, Chris Van Allsburg, David Wiesner, and now Mordicai Gerstein. Along with a newly added preface and an introduction that provides a historical perspective on the origins of the award, Marcus takes us into the studios and behind the drawing boards of these seven noteworthy artists, each representing a decade of the awards history. Through personal anecdotes and glimpses of their prize-winning books and works in progress, from doodles to sketches to dummies to finished art, readers will find out how their favorite picture books were imagined and created. The artists reveal their inspirations, work processes, and private reactions to receiving this unparalleled honor.

New Graphic Format Books

The Unlikely Chosen - Shirley Smith Graham
Verse-by-verse translations of the books of Jonah, Esther, and Amos from the original Hebrew of the Masoretic text.

Marked - Steve Ross
Retelling of the gospel of Mark in graphic novel format.

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

New Pop-Up Book

The Nutcracker - adapted by Patricia Fry
A little girl receives an enchanted nutcracker from her godfather and after many adventures, the nutcracker becomes a handsome prince.

New Audiobooks

Holes - Louis Sachar
As further evidence of his family's bad fortune which they attribute to a curse on a distant relative, Stanley Yelnats is sent to a hellish correctional camp in the Texas desert where he finds his first real friend, a treasure, and a sense of himself.

The City of Ember - Jeanne DuPrau
In the year 241, twelve-year-old Lina trades jobs on Assignment Day to be a Messenger to run to new places in her decaying but beloved city, perhaps even to glimpse Unknown Regions.

The Tale of Despereaux - Kate DiCamillo
The adventures of Desperaux Tilling, a small mouse of unusual talents, the princess that he loves, the servant girl who longs to be a princess, and a devious rat determined to bring them all to ruin.

Monday, December 15, 2008

New Children's Books

Chameleon Swims (English/French) - Laura Hambleton
Chameleon learns to swim with the help of his friend Salamander.

In the Time of Noah - N.D. Wilson
Chronicles the history of Noah's obedience, from the building of the ark and the taming of the beasts, to the grounding at Ararat and the promise of the rainbow.

Friday, December 12, 2008

New YA and Children's Books

Fall of a Kingdom - Hilari Bell
Who was Sorahb? Stories are told of a hero who will come to Farsala's aid when the need is greatest. But for thousands of years the prosperous land of Farsala has felt no such need, as it has enjoyed the peace that comes from being both feared and respected. Now a new enemy approaches Farsala's borders, one that neither fears nor respects its name and legend. But the rulers of Farsala still believe that they can beat any opponent. Three young people are less sure of Farsala's invincibility. Jiaan, Soraya, and Kavi see Time's Wheel turning, with Farsala headed toward the Flames of Destruction. What they cannot see is how inextricably their lives are linked to Farsala's fate -- until it's too late. In Fall of a Kingdom, the first volume of the Farsala Trilogy, Hilari Bell introduces readers to a world of honor, danger, and magic in this spellbinding tale of self-discovery.

Tiger Moon - Antonia Michaelis
Sold to be the eighth wife of a rich and cruel merchant, Safia, also called Raka, tries to escape her fate by telling stories of Farhad the thief, his companion Nitish the white tiger, and their travels across India to retrieve a famous jewel that will save a kidnapped princess from becoming the bride of a demon king.

Dragonhaven - Robin McKinley
When Jake Mendoza, who lives in the Smokehill National Park where his father runs the Makepeace Institute of Integrated Dragon Studies, goes on his first solo overnight in the park, he finds an infant dragon whose mother has been killed by a poacher.

Ways to Live Forever - Sally Nicholls
Eleven-year-old Sam McQueen, who has leukemia, writes a book during the last three months of his life, in which he tells about what he would like to accomplish, how he feels, and things that have happened to him.

The Underneath - Kathi Appelt
An old hound that has been chained up at his hateful owner's run-down shack, and two kittens born underneath the house, endure separation, danger, and many other tribulations in their quest to be reunited and free.

The Runaway Dolls - Ann M. Martin
Best friends Annabelle and Tiffany risk placing all of doll kind in danger when they run away while trying to prevent Tilly from being sent back to London before they can determine if she is Annabelle's long-lost baby sister.

New Children's Books

Little Green Frogs - Frances Barry
Describes how tadpoles develop into frogs, in a book in which the pages unfold and form lily pads with frogs in the center.

The Raucous Royals - Carlyn Beccia
Combines elements of nonfiction picturebooks, graphic novels, and tabloid magazines in a look at how rumors get started and how they become distorted over time as they are passed from ear to ear.

Our White House: Looking In, Looking Out
More than one hundred leading authors and illustrators donate their talents to a collection of essays, personal accounts, historical fiction, and poetry which looks at America's history through the prism of the White House.

Mr. Lincoln's Boys - Staton Rabin
Tad and Willie Lincoln are the sons of Abraham Lincoln who treat the White House like a playground, aggravating everyone except their indulgent father.

Lincoln Through the Lens - Martin W. Sandler
Contains over one hundred images of the life of Abraham Lincoln that provide a portrait of his presidency and the events surrounding it.

Our Farm: Four Seasons with Five Kids on One Family's Farm - Michael J. Rosen
A journal of one year on the Bennett farm in central Ohio. Shows how one family, with the help of relatives and friends, creates a life and livelihood on a 150-acre farm.

Seabiscuit the Wonder Horse - Meghan McCarthy
The true story of Seabiscuit, the grandson of one of the greatest racehorses of all time. But he'd lost nearly every race he'd run. Automobile tycoon Charles Howard took a risk and purchased Seabiscuit for a bargain price. With a clever new trainer and a loving jockey, Seabiscuit began winning. But could he really beat the Triple Crown Champion?

The Pencil - Allan Ahlberg
A lonely pencil timidly draws a boy, a dog, and other items but soon faces a problem as his creations begin demanding changes, and when he draws an eraser to make them happy, the real trouble begins.

Boycott Blues: How Rosa Parks Inspired a Nation - Andrea Davis Pinkney
Illustrations and rhythmic text recall the December, 1955, bus boycott in Montgomery, Alabama.

Louise, the Adventures of a Chicken - Kate DiCamillo
Longing for adventure, intrepid Louise leaves her comfortable nest and goes to sea.


A Visitor for Bear - Bonny Becker
Bear's efforts to keep out visitors to his house are undermined by a very persistent mouse.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes -
Mem Fox
Rhyming text compares babies born in different places and in different circumstances, but they all share the commonality of ten little fingers and ten little toes.

New DVD

Prince Caspian
The four Pevensie children - Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy - return to Narnia, only to discover that hundreds of years have passed since they ruled there. Now, crowning himself king, the evil General Miraz has taken charge. The children enlist the help of a heroic mouse called Reepicheep. They set out to find the exiled Prince Caspian, determined to see him rightfully named king.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

New Christmas Books

The Fourth Wise Man - Nell Navillus
When orphaned Amir wakes up on a cold and lonely night to the sight of a traveling caravan, he doesn't think twice about joining the journey to see the king.

Happy Birthday Jesus - Nell Navillus
A little angel narrates the story of Jesus' birth.

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

New Pop-Up Books

Brava Strega Nona - Tomie dePaola
Strega Nona shares the six ingredients for a magical life, illustrated with elaborate pop-ups. Also includes a few basic Italian words and phrases.

Peter Pan - adapted by Robert Sabuda
The classic tale of the three Darling children in Never-Never Land with Peter Pan, the boy who would not grow up, illustrated with elaborate pop-ups. The original text is printed on fold-out booklets attached to the pages.

New Puppet Skits

Just Add Puppets: 20 Instant Puppet Skits for Children's Ministry
Twenty humorous easy-to-do puppet skits. The spoken dialogue, sound effects and music are pre-recorded and included on the 2 CDs.

Monday, December 8, 2008

New Children's and YA Books

The Tales of Beedle the Bard - J.K. Rowling
The Tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers' attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, thanks to Hermione Granger's new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales.

History Timelines
A chronological visual guide that lists important dates in world history, including inventions, scientific discoveries, as well as cultural, military, and political events, beginning with prehistoric times.

Boxen - C.S. Lewis and W.H. Lewis
A collection of maps, histories, sketches, and stories created by C.S. Lewis as a child to describe his private fantasy world, known as Animal-Land or Boxen. A scholarly introduction explains the stories in the context of Lewis's life.

The Animals Came Two by Two: The Story of Noah's Ark - Christopher Wormell
Includes information about each of the animals depicted in the wood-engraved illustrations. Presents the biblical story of Noah's Ark, in which two of each animal are rescued from a flood; and also introduces the concept of opposites.

Moon Landing - Richard Platt
A pop-up history of the first moon landing, describing the preparations that went into the historic event, and describing the excitement of the expedition.

Friday, December 5, 2008

New DVD

Beginning Folk Dances
Collection of folk dances taught by Phyllis Weikart using her Say & Do process. Contains 134 folk dances on 6 DVDs covering a wide range of skill levels with each dance including a teaching strategies section and a demonstration section.

Monday, December 1, 2008

New Children's and YA Books

I Am Scout: The Biography of Harper Lee - Charles J. Shields
This biography tells the story of how Harper Lee struggled to become an author and created one of the most popular novels of the 20th century.

The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare, retold by Gareth Hinds
A stylish, modern adaptation of Shakespeare's dark comedy, with backgrounds drawn on location in Venice. The text is adapted for clarity, and transitions from simple, modern prose to original Shakespearean verse as the play progresses.

Physics: Why Matter Matters - Dan Green
Mixes science and art to bring the world of physics to life, with a gaggle of wacky characters to explain the building blocks of our universe.

Biology: Life As We Know It
- Dan Green
Provides an overview of biological topics, discussing cells and the building blocks of life; describing the characteristics of living creatures, from viruses to mammals; and examining body parts and plants.

Snakes - Gail Gibbons
Illustrations and simple text describe the characteristics, habitats, and life cycle of various species of snakes around the world.

Baseball Hour - Carol Nevius
Follows a multicultural group of boys and girls through their team's baseball practice.

Necks Out for Adventure! - Timothy Basil Ering
Unlike the other wiggleskins who live happily in the mud and only stick their necks out to eat, Edwin is eager for different experiences and follows his mother's advice to stick his neck out for adventure.

Groundhog Day! - Gail Gibbons
Illustrations and simple text teach children about Groundhog Day, describe its origin, and provide facts about groundhogs.

Big Yellow Sunflower - Frances Barry
Describes how a little seed grows into a sunflower, in a book where the pages fold out to form a large sunflower.