Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Spanish Language Materials

Picture Books

While Spike, a tiny axolotl salamander, practices being the monster he believes he is, other animals call him cute and funny but when a Gila monster arrives and the other creatures hide, Spike shows his true nature. Includes fact about the animals in the story and a glossary of Spanish words used in the book.

Skippyjon Jones, the Siamese cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua dog, wants to perform his high-wire act in the circus.

 - Jean Craighead George
A young boy relates his adventures during the year he spends living alone in the Catskill Mountains including his struggle for survival, his dependence on nature, his animal friends, and his ultimate realization that he needs human companionship.
  
Teaching Aids
El Domino de la Horas (Spanish Time Dominos)
Includes 48 illustrated time domino cards to teach students to tell time in Spanish. Instruction booklet is in Spanish.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Nonfiction for Middle and High School


Perfectly Unique - Annie F. Downs
Encourages young women to take a look at who they are through the way God created each part of them, and discover the practical ways they can use their lives to glorify God.

Food: The New Gold - Kathlyn Gay
Explores the nature of food politics, covering such topics as factory and industrial farming, the effect of climate change on the food supply, genetic engineering, and how the needs of the world's starving population can be met.
 
Dietrich Bonhoeffer - Michael J. Martin
Explores the nature of food politics, covering such topics as factory and industrial farming, the effect of climate change on the food supply, genetic engineering, and how the needs of the world's starving population can be met.

Invincible Microbe: Tuberculosis and the Never-ending Search for a Cure
- Jim Murphy and Alison Blank
"This is the compelling, suspenseful, down-to-earth story of a killer that has been stalking and doing away with people for thousands of years: Tuberculosis. For centuries TB in many forms was treated with everything from poultices and potions to the king's touch. The microorganism that causes the disease was eventually identified, more effective treatments were developed, and the cure for TB was thought to be within reach. But the TB germ simply will not die; drug-resistant varieties continue to plague and panic the human race. The "biography" of this deadly germ, an account of the diagnosis, treatment, and "cure" of the disease over time, and the social history of an illness that could strike anywhere but was most prevalent among the poor are woven together in an engrossing narrative supported by 70-plus archival prints and photographs."-- Provided by publisher

The 2013 Coretta Scotta King Author Award winner. Presents the stories of ten African-American men from different eras in American history, organized chronologically to provide a scope from slavery to the modern day.

Discovering Black America: From the Age of Exploration to the Twenty-First Century - Linda Tarrant-Reid
Traces over four centuries of African American history, drawing on personal journals, interviews, and archival materials to document times ranging from the Colonial period and slavery through the Civil War and the Civil Rights era.

Monday, January 28, 2013

Elementary & Middle School Fiction

The Peculiar - Stefan Bachmann
After humans win the faery wars in England, a half-human, half-faery child, scorned by both races, finds himself at the center of a web of intrigue and danger when he is stalked by a sinister faery.

 The Captive Prince - Scott Chantler
"In this third title of the cinematic Three Thieves graphic novel series, Dessa, Topper and Fisk are still running from the Queen's Dragons and trying to find Dessa's missing twin brother. But when Dessa inadvertently rescues a prince -- putting kingdoms at stake and love on the line -- the adventure quickly becomes a royal mess!" -- Provided by publisher
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The Breadwinner Trilogy:
The Breadwinner - Deborah Ellis
Because the Taliban rulers of Kabul, Afghanistan, impose strict limitations on women's freedom and behavior, eleven-year-old Parvana must disguise herself as a boy so that her family can survive after her father's arrest.

Parvana's Journey - Deborah Ellis
After her father's death, Parvana, now thirteen-years-old, continues to search for her mother in war-torn Afghanistan, joining with two younger children who are also struggling to survive.

My Name is Parvana - Deborah Ellis
In post-Taliban Afghanistan, Parvana is held on a U.S. military base and interrogated as a possible terrorist, reflecting on the previous four years of her life she spent with her mother and sisters while she waits to learn her fate.

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The Vengekeep Prophecies - Brian Farrey
"A magical tapestry prophesies doom for the town of Vengekeep, and to everyone's surprise twelve-year-old Jaxter Grimjinx and his family of con artists appear to be the town's saviors."-- Provided by publisher

In a Glass Grimmly: A Companion to A Tale Dark and Grimm - Adam Gidwitz
Frog joins cousins Jack and Jill in leaving their own stories to seek a magic mirror, encountering such creatures as giants, mermaids, and goblins along the way. Based in part on fairy tales from the Brothers Grimm and Hans Christian Andersen.

Starry River of the Sky - Grace Lin
Companion book to: Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. An innkeeper's chore boy discovers that a visitor's stories hold the key to returning the moon to the Starry River of the Sky.

The Revolution of Evelyn Serrano - Sonia Manzano
It is 1969 in Spanish Harlem, and fourteen-year-old Evelyn Serrano is trying hard to break free from her conservative Puerto Rican surroundings, but when her activist grandmother comes to stay and the neighborhood protests start, things get a lot more complicated--and dangerous.

LuLu and the Duck in the Park - Hilary McKay
Lulu, who loves animals, brings an abandoned duck egg to school, even though her teacher has banned Lulu from bringing animals to school ever again

A Soldier's Secret: The Incredible True Story of Sarah Edmonds, a Civil War Hero - Marissa Moss
Nineteen-year-old Sarah masquerades as a man during the Civil War, serving as a nurse on the battlefield and a spy for the Union Army, escaping from the Confederates, and falling in love with one of her fellow soldiers. Based on the life of Sarah Emma Edmonds.

Big Nate Makes the Grade - Lincoln Peirce
Nate goes up against Gina, the class brainiac.

Mark of Athena - Rick Riordan
Heroes of Olympus - Book 3. The Greek and Roman demigods will have to cooperate in order to defeat the giants released by the Earth Mother, Gaea. Then they will have to sail together to the ancient land--Greece itself--to find the Doors of Death. -- Provided by publisher

 After Eli - Rebecca Rupp
After the death of his older brother, Daniel Anderson became engrossed in recording details about dead people, how they died, and whether their deaths mattered but he is eventually drawn back into interaction with the living.

Seven Tales of Trinket - Shelley Moore Thomas
"Guided by a tattered map, accompanied by Thomas the Pig Boy, and inspired by the storyteller's blood that thrums through her veins, eleven-year-old Trinket searches for the seven stories she needs to become a bard like her father, who disappeared years before"--Provided by publisher

The Drowned Vault - N.D. Wilson
Ashtown Burials - Book 2. "Cyrus and Antigone must track down Phoenix and the Dragon's Tooth while facing a threat from the transmortals."-- Provided by publisher



Tuesday, January 22, 2013

New YA Fiction


Ruins - Orson Scott Card
To prevent the destruction of his planet, teenaged Rigg Sessamekesh, who can manipulate time, must assume more responsibility when he and others travel back 11,000 years to the arrival of human starships.

Reached - Ally Condie
The final book in the Matched trilogy. "In search of a better life, Cassia joins a widespread rebellion against Society, where she is tasked with finding a cure to the threat of survival and must choose between Xander and Ky."-- Provided by publisher

Now -  Morris Gleitzman
Sequel to: Then. While her physician-parents are working in Africa, eleven-year-old Zelda is living with her grandfather, eighty-year-old Holocaust-survivor Felix Salinger, in Australia, when a disaster leads them both to deal with unresolved feelings about the first Zelda, Felix's childhood friend.

A Beautiful Lie - Irfan Master
In the days leading up to the partition of India in 1947, thirteen-year-old Bilal devises an elaborate scheme to keep his dying father from hearing the news about the country's division.


Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor
Sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone. "The otherworldly Karou struggles to come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she'll go to avenge her people."-- Provided by publisher

Monday, January 21, 2013

New Picture Books

The Bear in the Book - Kate Banks
 At the end of the day a little boy falls asleep as his mama reads about a bear hibernating.

A is for Musk Ox - Erin Cabatingan
Musk Ox takes over an alphabet book, explaining to his friend Zebra why almost every letter can be used to describe musk oxen.

Snow Day for Mouse - Judy Cox
On a snowy day, Mouse is swept outside where he plays in the snow, ice skates on a frozen puddle, and makes sure his friends the birds get something to eat.

Little Cub - Olivier Dunrea - A young bear cub, who is alone in the world, and Old Bear, who is grumpy and tired of living alone, meet and discover what they have been missing.

Mice on Ice - Rebecca Emberley and Ed Emberley
Colorful mice go ice skating and are unexpectedly joined by a feline friend.


Fish Had a Wish - Michael Garland - Fish wishes to be all sorts of animals because each one is special, then realizes there is something good about being a fish, too.

It's Snowing! - Gail Gibbons
Introduces readers to snow and discusses topics such as different types of snowstorms, regions where snow falls, and how to prepare when a snowstorm approaches. (nonfiction)

Ladybugs - Gail Gibbons
Using simple text and colorful illustrations, this book describes the physical attributes, habits, and life cycle of the ladybug. (nonfiction)


The Reader - Amy Hest
 A boy and his dog hike to the top of a very tall, snowy hill where they play, enjoy a snack, and then share their favorite book before sledding home.

Zero the Hero - Joan Holub
Zero believes that he is a hero, but the counting numbers think he is worthless until they get into trouble with some Roman numerals, and only Zero can help.

Ralph Tells a Story - Abby Hanlon
Although his teacher insists there are stories everywhere, Ralph cannot think of any to write.

While Spike, a tiny axolotl salamander, practices being the monster he believes he is, other animals call him cute and funny but when a Gila monster arrives and the other creatures hide, Spike shows his true nature.

Christmastime - Alison Jay
Illustrations and single words present different aspects of Christmas, and the pictures hide links to Christmas songs and carols.

This Moose Belongs to Me - Oliver Jeffers
A young boy learns that moose do not always follow the rules of proper pet behavior.



The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore - William Joyce
Morris Lessmore loves words, stories and books, and after a tornado carries him to another land, dreary and colorless, he finds a single book in color that leads him to an amazing library where, he learns, the books need him as much as he needs them.


Good News, Bad News - Jeff Mack
While on a picnic, Bunny and Mouse see everything that happens to them from opposite points of view--Bunny sees only the good, while Mouse sees only the bad.


  Black Dog - Levi Pinfold
"When a huge black dog appears outside the Hope family home, each member of the household sees it and hides. Only Small, the youngest Hope, has the courage to face the black dog, who might not be as frightening as everyone else thinks."-- Provided by publisher

The Case of the Incapacitated Capitals - Robin Pulver
Capital letters are being so neglected in Mr. Wright's classroom that they are nearly incapacitated, and a medical team must be summoned to perform CPR-- Capital Posture Repair.

Minette's Feast: the Delicious Story of Julia Child and Her Cat - Susanna Reich
While Julia is in the kitchen learning to cook up elaborate, delicious dishes, the only feast Minette is truly interested in is that of fresh mouse. Includes biographical information about Julia Child.

Spoon - Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Spoon's always been a happy little utensil. But lately, he feels like life as a spoon just isn't cutting it. He thinks Fork, Knife, and The Chopsticks all have it so much better than him. But do they? And what do they think about Spoon?

Skippyjon Jones Cirque de Olé - Judy Schachner
Skippyjon Jones, the Siamese cat that thinks he is a Chihuahua dog, wants to perform his high-wire act in the circus.

Splat Says Thank You! - Rob Scotton
When Splat the Cat's mouse friend Seymour isn't feeling well, Splat tries to make him feel better by listing the reasons why he is thankful for their friendship.

Wild About You! - Judy Sierra
Joining the new baby animals at the zoo are the much-loved pengaroo and the pandacat.


Abe Lincoln's Dream - Lane Smith
When a schoolgirl gets separated from her tour of the White House and finds herself in the Lincoln bedroom, she also discovers the ghost of the great man himself.

Waterloo & Trafalgar - Olivier Tallec
In this humorous, wordless picture book with die-cut pages, two soldiers, red and blue, discover the pointlessness of hostility.

Listen to My Trumpet - Mo Willems
When Piggie plays her new trumpet for Gerald, the elephant decides he must be honest in his response.


Bear Says Thanks - Karma Wilson
Bear thanks his friends for bringing food dishes to his dinner party and finds a way of sharing something of his own.