New Activity Books

Ready-to-Use Activities for Teaching Romeo & Juliet - John Wilson Swope

50 Nifty States - Jerry Aten

Fascinating Cities - Cynthia Adams

New PE Books

Character Education: 43 Fitness Activities for Community Building - Donald R. Glover
Brain research and competition in physical education -- Motivators, huddles, and warm-ups -- Team building -- Portfolio assessment

Elementary Physical Education Teaching & Assessment: A Practical Guide - Christine J. Hopple
Introducing alternative assessment -- Scoring and creating alternative assessment tasks -- Managing the assessment process -- Using your assessment data -- Standards and curriculum -- Using standards to develop your curriculum -- Safety and participation -- Movement concepts -- Locomotor skills -- Nonlocomotor skills -- Manipulative skills -- Health, activity, and fitness

No Gym? No Problem!: Physical Activities for Tight Spaces - Charmain Sutherland
Warm-ups and games -- Fitness -- Movement and gymnastics -- Rhythms -- Throwing and catching -- Dribbling and kicking -- Striking and volleying -- Game shows, reality shows, and special events get physical -- Board games aren't boring! -- Cool-downs

New YA Book

The True Meaning of Smekday - Adam Rex
When her mother is abducted by aliens on Christmas Eve (or "Smekday" Eve since the Boov invasion), 11 year-old Tip hops in the family car and heads south to find her and meets an alien Boov mechanic who agrees to help her and save the planet from disaster.

New YA Books

Starcross - Philip Reeve
Young Arthur Mumby, his sister Myrtle, and their mother accept an invitation to take a holiday at an up-and-coming resort in the asteroid belt, where they become involved in a dastardly plot involving spies, time travel, and mind-altering clothing.

Alcatraz Versus the Evil Librarians - Brandon Sanderson
On his thirteenth birthday, foster child Alcatraz Smedry receives a bag of sand which is immediately stolen by the evil Librarians who are trying to take over the world, and Alcatraz is introduced to his grandfather and his own special talent, and told that he must use it to save civilization.

New Christmas Books

On Angel Wings - Michael Morpurgo
When the shepherds are invited to follow the star to visit the Christ child, one young boy is left behind to mind the flock. But the angel Gabriel returns for him, taking the boy on a magical, memorable flight to be the first to witness the Christmas miracle.

We Three Kings - Gennady Spirin
An illustrated edition of the traditional Christmas song.

New Children's Books

Merry Christmas, Mouse! - Laura Numeroff
Join Mouse from If You Give a Mouse a Cookie as he decorates his Christmas tree in a holiday counting adventure.

Richard Scarry's Busiest Pop-Up Ever! - Richard Scarry
When bananas are unloaded at Busytown seaport, Bananas Gorilla can't resist stealing a truckload, setting off a chase through the town and a pileup after a collision with a mustard truck, in a text with pop-up illustrations.

New Children's Books

A is for Adam: The Gospel from Genesis - Ken and Mally Ham
Section 1. ABC rhyme book teaching foundational Biblical truths -- Section 2. Notes for parents and teachers resembling a commentary on Genesis -- Section 3. Black and white drawings of each of the color illus. in section one for photocopying or for coloring by children.

D Is for Dinosaur - Ken Ham
An entertaining ABC rhyme book that teaches children about Biblical creation, dinosaurs, and salvation. Also contains notes for parents and teachers for use as a devotional teaching book.

Monthly Drawing Prizewinner

The winner of this month's drawing celebrating the CMC's 40th anniversary is Liz Hanna . Congratulations to Liz, who receives a $25 gift card to United Art and Education. The next drawing will be held on December 4. Be sure to enter the drawing by going to the CMC, fill out an entry form, and put it in the box by the catalog search station. December's prize will be two picture books by our visiting author/illustrator, Adam Rex.

New Children's Books

Jazz on a Saturday Night - Leo & Diane Dillon
A crowd gathers on a Saturday night to groove to an evening of jazz played by a "Dream Team" of musicians including Miles Davis on trumpet, Max Roach on drums, Charlie Parker on alto saxophone, John Coltrain on his sax, Thelonius Monk on piano, Stanley Parker on bass, and Ella Fitzgerald at the microphone. Includes a companion CD.

Cowboy and Octopus - Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith
Cowboy and Octopus maintain their friendship despite different opinions about things like beans and knock-knock jokes.

How Many Mice? - Michael Garland
Ten hungry mice set out on a mission to find some food, facing hazards and dangers along the way.

You Have to Write - Janet S. Wong
This encouraging book is for all young readers who worry when they're told to write something for school. The author gently persuades readers that only they can tell their stories and guides them on how to work with their words and phrases.

The Three Snow Bears - Jan Brett
Retells the story of Goldilocks, set in an Inuit village and featuring a family of polar bears.

New YA Books

The Black Book of Secrets - F.E. Higgins
When Ludlow Fitch runs away from his thieving parents in the City, he meets up with the mysterious Joe Zabbidou, who calls himself a secret pawnbroker, and who takes Ludlow as an apprentice to record the confessions of the townspeople of Pagus Parvus, where resentments are many and trust is scarce.

Iron Thunder: The Battle Between the Monitor and the Merrimac - Avi
Tom's job as an assistant to Captain John Ericsson, the inventor of the Monitor, makes him a target of Confederate spies.

Igraine the Brave - Cornelia Funke
The daughter of two magicians, twelve-year-old Igraine wants nothing more than to be a knight, and when their castle is attacked by a treacherous neighbor bent on stealing their singing magic books, Igraine has an opportunity to demonstrate her bravery.

Cassandra's Sister: Growing Up Jane Austen - Veronica Bennett
A fictionalized biography of Jane Austen focusing on her early life growing up with her sister Cassandra in a large country parsonage family in southern England, and the experiences and people which may have inspired the plots and characters of her famous novels.

Who Was First? Discovering the Americas - Russell Freedman
Examines the evidence that indicates others may have traveled to the Americas before Columbus in 1492 including Viking ruins, Mayan stonework, and other mysterious objects found in New England that date before Columbus.

New Children's Bibles

The Jesus Storybook Bible - Sally Lloyd-Jones

Student Discovery Bible: A Journey Through God's Word

New DVDs

Bridge to Terabithia
Jesse Aarons is in the 5th grade and has trained all summer to become the fastest runner in school. He becomes upset when new classmate Leslie Burke outruns him and everyone else. Despite this and some other striking differences, the two become fast friends. Together, they create Terabithia where they rule as king and queen and is a land filled with monsters, trolls, ogres, and giants. This friendship helps Jesse cope with a tragedy that makes him realize what Leslie taught him. Based on the book by Katherine Paterson.

Roving Mars
Join the Mars Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, for an awe-inspiring journey to the surface of the mysterious red planet and discover what no human has ever seen or known before.

New Nonfiction Books

Library of Natural Disasters - World Book

Forces of Nature
Wildfires
Pandemics
Landslides, Mudslides, & Avalanches
Droughts
Blizzards
Tornadoes
Thunderstorms
Ice Storms
Heat Waves
Hurricanes, Typhoons, & Other Tropical Cyclones
Floods
Tsunamis & Seiches
Volcanoes
Earthquakes

New Reference Book

Across Cultures: A Guide to Multicultural Literature for Children - Kathy East and Rebecca L. Thomas
Identity, self-image, and learning -- Families, friends, and neighborhoods -- Traditions--food, art, poetry, music, and celebrations -- Traditions--folktales -- Exploring the past in diverse communities -- Knowing today's world -- Parent-child book discussion groups -- Literature circles

December 2007 CMC Newsletter

CMC 40th Anniversary

The second monthly drawing was held on November 12. The winner of November's prize of a $25 gift certificate to United Art and Education was Liz Hanna. Congratulations to Liz! There is still time to enter December's drawing for two picture books by Adam Rex.


Speaking of Adam Rex, this well-known children's author and illustrator will be speaking in the CMC on Tuesday, December 4, at 2:15. Anyone who is interested in attending is more than welcome to do so. There will be a reception immediately following. Adam describes himself on his website as "eight and a half feet of word-wranglin', picture-paintin' man. A mighty oak is his paintbrush". Come and hear what promises to be a lively presentation!

New Library Catalog Enhancement

The Centennial Library catalog has a new feature. By teaming with an outside vendor, the catalog now displays images of book covers. In addition to the book covers, patrons can read reviews of many of the books.

Websites of the Month

The Verizon Foundation has launched an online portal with links to over 50,000 educational resources, including standards-based, grade-specific, K-12 lesson plans, and other interactive activities. The website states that "Thinkfinity, the Verizon Foundation's signature digital learning platform (is) designed to improve educational and literacy achievement".

Adlit.org is a new website dedicated to adolescent literacy. Their website states "For years educators and policymakers have focused on how to teach young children to read and write well, but now the spotlight is turning to older students who struggle. AdLit.org offers research-based information and extensive resources to parents and educators — anyone interested in helping students in grades 4–12 become better readers and writers."

Subscribe to the Blog by Email

You can now receive the blog postings via email, rather than having to check the blog or subscribe through the RSS reeds. You will receive one email on any day that new content is added to the blog. Just enter your email address in the form to the right.

New Resources

During November, the CMC added a large number of new K-12 textbooks, in addition to many trade books and a number of new teaching aids. Click here to see the list of new materials for November.

Newsletter Archives for the 2007-2008 Academic Year

New Children's Christmas Books

Russell's Christmas Magic - Rob Scotton
Russell the sheep tries to help Santa fix his broken sleigh.

Great Joy - Kate DiCamillo
Just before Christmas, when Frances sees a sad-eyed organ grinder and his monkey performing near her apartment, she cannot stop thinking about them, wondering where they go at night, and wishing she could do something to help.

Olivia Helps with Christmas - Ian Falconer
As she impatiently waits for Santa's arrival, Olivia the pig tries to help with family preparations on the day before Christmas.

Toot & Puddle: Let It Snow - Holly Hobbie
Toot and Puddle celebrate Christmas and learn that the best kind of present for the best kind of friend is one that shows just how much you care.




Christmas Around the World: A Pop-Up Book - Chuck Fischer
A Christmas market in a snowy German village, an intimate French street lined with holiday lights, the crèche in St. Peter's Square in Rome, a phto tour of Christmas across America - all of this and more comes to life in fourteen pages of pop-ups, pullouts and booklets about celebrations around the world.


The Berenstain Bears Trim the Tree - Jan & Mike Berenstain
Christmas is just around the corner, and everyone in the Bear family wants to help decorate the tree. Brother and Sister hang the wreath, Papa carries the tree, and even Honey Bear puts the start at the top.

New High/Low Books

From Cornerstone Classics:

Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Kidnapped - Robert Louis Stevenson
The Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
Captains Courageous - Rudyard Kipling
Rio, Here We Come! - Penn Mullin
Magic in the Andes - Penn Mullin
Amazon Adventure - Penn Mullin
Argentina Roundup - Penn Mullin
Storm Over Venezuela - Penn Mullin

New Children's Book

Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity - Mo Willems
Her daddy in tow, Trixie hurries to school to show off her one-of-a-kind Knuffle Bunny. But an awful surprise awaits her: someone else has the exact same bunny!

New Christian Education Resources

The Rhyme-Time Book of Christian Virtues - Michael Waite
Stories on sharing, fairness, lying, thankfulness, helpfulness, and other traits teach children Christian values in a fun, memorable way.

New Christian Education Resources

Through the Bible in a Year: 52 Lessons for Ages 8 to 12 - Bev Gunderson
This is a one-year Bible survey for children. Fifty-two reproducible lessons and activities teach the major events and themes of the Bible.

Growing Up in Christ: 52 New Testament Lessons for Ages 8-12




The Big Book of Kid Sermons and Object Talks