Friday, May 30, 2008

New YA Books

The Adoration of Jenna Fox - Mary Pearson
In the not-too-distant future, when biotechnological advances have made synthetic bodies and brains possible but illegal, a seventeen-year-old girl, recovering from a serious accident and suffering from memory lapses, learns a startling secret about her existence.

Forever Rose - Hilary McKay
As Christmas approaches, eleven-year-old Rose, the youngest member of the eccentric Casson family, discovers that life is filled with both catastrophic problems and wonderful surprises.

Ever - Gail Carson Levine
Teenaged Kezi is to be sacrificed to the Hyte god because of a rash promise made by her father, but young Olus, Akkan god of the winds, falls in love with her and together they try to change her fate through a series of quests.

Peeled - Joan Bauer
In an upstate New York farming community, high school reporter Hildy Biddle investigates a series of strange occurrences at a house rumored to be haunted.

Little Brother - Cory Doctorow
After being interrogated for days by the Department of Homeland Security in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco, California, seventeen-year-old Marcus, released into what is now a police state, decides to use his expertise in computer hacking to set things right.

Bone by Bone by Bone - Tony Johnston
In 1950s Tennessee, ten-year-old David's racist father refuses to let him associate with his best friend Malcolm, an African American boy.

The Battle of the Labyrinth - Rick Riordan
When demonic cheerleaders invade his high school, Percy Jackson hurries to Camp Half Blood, from whence he and his demigod friends set out on a quest through the Labyrinth, while the war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near.

How the Hangman Lost His Heart - K.M. Grant
When her Uncle Frank is executed for treason against England's King George in 1746 and his severed head is mounted on a pike for public viewing, daring Alice tries to reclaim the head for a proper burial, finding an unlikely ally in the soft-hearted executioner, while incurring the wrath of the royal guard.

Shooting the Moon
- Frances O'Roark Dowell
When her brother is sent to fight in Vietnam, twelve-year-old Jamie begins to reconsider the army world that she has grown up in.

Six Innings - James Preller
Earl Grubb's Pool Supplies plays Northeast Gas & Electric in the Little League championship game, while Sam, who has cancer and is in a wheelchair, has to call the play-by-play instead of participating in the game.

All We Know of Heaven - Jacquelyn Mitchard
When Maureen and Bridget, two sixteen-year-old best friends who look like sisters, are in a terrible car accident and one of them dies, they are at first incorrectly identified at the hospital, and then, as Maureen achieves a remarkable recovery, she must deal with the repercussions of the accident, the mix-up, and some choices she made while she was getting better.

The Red Necklace - Sally Gardner
In the late eighteenth-century, Sido, the twelve-year-old daughter of a self-indulgent marquis, and Yann, a fourteen-year-old Gypsy orphan raised to perform in a magic show, face a common enemy at the start of the French Revolution.

Savvy - Ingrid Law
Recounts the adventures of Mibs Beaumont, whose thirteenth birthday has revealed her "savvy"--a magical power unique to each member of her family--just as her father is injured in a terrible accident.

March Toward the Thunder - Joseph Bruchac
Louis Nollette, a fifteen-year-old Abenaki Indian, joins the Irish Brigade in 1864 to fight for the Union in the Civil War. Based on the author's great-grandfather; includes author's note.

The Great Adventure: Theodore Roosevelt and the Rise of Modern America - Albert Marrin
Theodore Roosevelt is one of America's liveliest and most influential figures. He was a scholar, cowboy, war hero, explorer, and a brilliant politician. As president, Roosevelt's far-reaching policies abroad and at home forever changed both our nation's place in the world and the life of every modern American.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

New Readers' Theater Resources

Readers' Theater helps build oral fluency and strengthens reading and language arts skills for students. It also promotes teamwork and helps develop student confidence. There are six books in the series: Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade6+.

New Music Book

Get in the Groove: Discovering Jazz Using Orff and Classroom Instruments - Donna Dirksing and Cathy Blair
Cathy Blair and Donna Dirksing team up to introduce improvisation and other jazz concepts. The included CD features many speech and instrument echo examples, demonstration recordings of the Orff ensembles, and optional accompaniment tracks for improvisation.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

New Professional Resource

Multicultural and Ethnic Children's Literature in the United States - Donna L. Gilton
Multicultural children's literature : an introduction -- A history of U.S. multicultural children's literature -- General trends in the field -- Specific ethnic initiatives and conclusions -- Where to go from here : emerging groups and issues.

Monday, May 12, 2008

New YA Books

The Joys of Love - Madeleine L'Engle
After graduating from college in 1941, Elizabeth Jerrold pursues her dream of becoming a stage actress, landing a position as an apprentice in a summer theater company where she hones her acting skills and falls in love with an aspiring director.

Sunrise Over Fallujah - Walter Dean Myers
Robin Perry, from Harlem, is sent to Iraq in 2003 as a member of the Civilian Affairs Battalion, and his time there profoundly changes him.

Twice Upon a Marigold - Jean Ferris
After a quiet, happy year in a small town, Queen Olympia regains her memory and initiates new plots and manipulations, as the residents of Zandelphia and Beaurivage, now ruled by Christian, Marigold, and Swithbert, feel the effects of her bad energy.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks - E. Lockhart
Sophomore Frankie starts dating senior Matthew Livingston, but when he refuses to talk about the all-male secret society that he and his friends belong to, Frankie infiltrates the society in order to enliven their mediocre pranks.

Trouble - Gary D. Schmidt
Fourteen-year-old Henry, wishing to honor his brother Franklin's dying wish, sets out to hike Maine's Mount Katahdin with his best friend and dog. But fate adds another companion--the Cambodian refugee accused of fatally injuring Franklin--and reveals troubles that predate the accident.

Bird Lake Moon - Kevin Henkes
Twelve-year-old Mitch and his mother are spending the summer with his grandparents at Bird Lake after his parents separate, and ten-year-old Spencer and his family have returned to the lake where Spencer's little brother drowned long ago, and as the boys become friends and spend time together, each of them begins to heal.

Infidel - Ted Dekker
As Johnis and the other "chosen" recruits of the Forest Guard are pulled into deeper danger to secure the seven lost Books of History, Johnis tries to rescue his mother from enslavement by the Horde, but risks betraying the Forest Dwellers.

Once Upon a Time in the North - Philip Pullman
In a time before Lyra Silvertongue was born, the tough American balloonist Lee Scoresby and the great armoured bear Iorek Byrnison meet when Lee and his hare daemon Hester crash-land their trading balloon onto a port in the far Arctic North and find themselves right in the middle of a political powder keg.

The Seer of Shadows - Avi
In New York City in 1872, fourteen-year-old Horace, a photographer's apprentice, becomes entangled in a plot to create fraudulent spirit photographs, but when Horace accidentally frees the real ghost of a dead girl bent on revenge, his life takes a frightening turn.

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey - Trenton Lee Stewart
Reynie, Kate, Sticky, and Constance, all graduates of the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened and members of the Benedict Society, embark on a scavenger hunt that turns into a desperate search for the missing Mr. Benedict.

100 Cupboards - N. D. Wilson
After his parents are kidnapped, timid twelve-year-old Henry York leaves his sheltered Boston life and moves to small-town Kansas, where he and his cousin Henrietta discover and explore hidden doors in his attic room that seem to open onto other worlds.

Gods of Manhattan - Scott Mebus
Thirteen-year-old Rory discovers a spirit world that thrives alongside his contemporary New York City, filled with fantastical creatures and people from the city's colorful past who have become gods and goddesses and who have chosen Rory to perform a dangerous mission.

New Children's Books

A Kitten Tale - Eric Rohmann
As four kittens who have never seen winter watch the seasons pass, three of them declare the reasons they will dislike snow when it arrives, while the fourth cannot wait to experience it for himself.

Fancy Nancy's Favorite Fancy Words - Jane O'Connor
Fancy Nancy provides one or more of her favorite fancy words for each letter of the alphabet, defines them, and uses some in sentences that show what they mean to her, such as that she yearns--wants really badly--to visit Paris someday.

The Pigeon Wants a Puppy! - Mo Willems
The pigeon really, really wants a puppy, but when a puppy arrives the pigeon changes its mind.

Little Hoot - Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Little Hoot wants to go to bed early, like all of his friends do, and he is hopping mad when Mama and Papa Owl insist that he stay up late and play.

Cool Daddy Rat - Kristyn Crow
A young rat hides in his father's bass case and tags along as he plays and scats around the big city.

Monkey and Me - Emily Gravett
Excited about their trip to the zoo, a young girl and her stuffed monkey delight in mimicking all the animals they see, such as a hopping kangaroo and stomping elephant, during their wonderful outing together.

Bear's Picture - Daniel Pinkwater
A bear continues to paint what he likes despite criticism from two passing gentlemen.

Maybe a Bear Ate It! - Robie H. Harris
At bedtime, a young boy who cannot find his favorite book imagines the various creatures that might have taken it from him.

I'm Bad! - Kate and Jim McMullan
A hungry Tyrannosaurus rex searches for food in the prehistoric forest but is thwarted in its attempts to find something to eat.

Narnia Chronology from the Archives of the Last King
Chronicles the seven stories of the Narnia chronology; and features foldouts, mini-booklets, and pull-tabs.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

May 2008 CMC Newsletter

CMC 40th Anniversary

Each month throughout this year, we have had a drawing to recognize the 40th anniversary of the CMC. The winner of the final drawing is Brianna Mottashed, who won the Grand Prize of $40 in cash. Thanks to everyone who entered the drawings this year. The complete list of winners and their prizes follows:

October - Nicole Normandeau- $25 gift certificate for Barnes and Noble
November - Liz Hanna - $25 gift certificate for United Art and Education
December - Stephanie Bollman - 2 autographed books by visiting author/illustrator Adam Rex
January - Ashley Elliott - $25 gift certificate for the library's MediaPLEX
February - Jillian Feczer - $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble
March - Brianna Shenk - $25 gift certificate for United Art and Education
April - Brianna Mottashed - $40 cash

On Thursday, April 10, a reception was held in the CMC. Education students and faculty and other guests enjoyed refreshments and an opportunity to visit the CMC. Also attending were the two previous CMC librarians, Joyce Riggs and Judy Lowstetter. Special thanks go to Lynne Funtik for providing the food for the reception.

Website of the Month

Helping Books/Helping Families is a resource center compiled to assist families and caring adults with finding and using quality children's literature as a tool for individual and group discussion activities. Visitors to the site can use the Literature Database to find books dealing with character qualities, family issues, social issues, and life events.

New Materials

During April approximately 90 items were added to the CMC collection, including trade books, activity and idea books, award books, videos, and reader's theater resources. Click here to see the complete list.

The next edition of the newsletter will be published at the beginning of September 2008. Have a wonderful summer!