Nancy Keane's Library tagged podcasts →  View Popular, Search in Google

Oliver, Lauren. LIESL & PO
New York : Harper, 2011
IL 3-6, RL 6.5
ISBN 006201451X

Liesl lives in an attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Liesl’s only companions are mice until one night a ghost appears. It is Po, a lonely ghost looking for someone to be with. Then, there’s Will, the alchemist’s apprentice. He delivers potions and magic to customers. One night, he bungles a delivery, switching powerful magic with something that is not magical at all. Liesl is able to escape her prison with Po’s help. Will is running for his life after his mistake is discovered. These three are drawn together on an adventure like no other. (Booktalk written by Susan MacDonald- GSF Committee/Weeks Public Library)

podcasts blueduke elementary nhgsf

Ripken, Cal. HOTHEAD
New York : Disney/Hyperion Books, 2011
IL 3-6, RL 5.2
ISBN 1423140001

Connor Sullivan plays baseball for his Babe Ruth league team, the Orioles. He’s an All-Star shortstop and a cleanup hitter. The team is glad they have him. He has skill, dedication and he’s funny. But, lately, Connor just isn’t the same. Maybe he’s worried about something at home or working too hard. Whatever the reason, his temper is out of control. When Connor makes a mistake at the games, he erupts with a temper outburst. He slams his batting helmet down and throws his glove. His opponents are calling him “Psycho Sully”. Jordy, Connor best friend is starting to avoid him. Coach Hammond is thinking about benching him. Now, the school newspaper is doing an article about Connor’s temper tantrums including some embarrassing photos! The championship game is coming up, so Connor has to get his act together. Will he help the team win or will his temper get the best of him? (Booktalk written by Susan MacDonald-GSF Committee/Weeks Public Library)

podcasts blueduke elementary nhgsf

Christopher, Lucy. FLYAWAY
New York : Chicken House, 2011
IL 5-8, RL 5.0
ISBN 0545317711

Thirteen year old Isla and her Father have a special bond with the Whooper Swans that migrate to their area each winter. When her father collapses during a swan watching outing, Isla and her family’s focus is on her Father’s recovery. While at the hospital, Isla meets a young cancer patient named Henry. Henry and Isla watch a lone Whooper Swan from Henry’s hospital window and the two become friends. Her Father’s illness brings the family closer to their Grandfather who is a retired vet. Flyaway is a story with characters you will really care about and you will find yourself searching the internet for photos and videos of these amazing birds. (Booktalk written by Lorreen Keating-GSF Committee/North Hampton Public Library)

podcasts blueduke elementary nhgsf

Bruchac, Joseph. DRAGON CASTLE
New York : Dial Books for Young Readers, 2011
IL 5-8, IL 5.7
ISBN 0803733763
Imagine being a prince, smarter than your parents and your older brother. That is the fate of young Prince Rashko. When the King and Queen suddenly disappear, the young princes are left to handle the castle affairs. Soon after, the uninvited Baron Temny drops in with his entourage. Prince Rashko is taken aback when his simpleminded brother welcomes the group. Is Rasko the only one that can sense danger? What were his parents thinking when they left the castle? Will the Baron succeed with his obvious plot? Find out what happens as Prince Rasko discovers things are not always they seem. (Booktalk written by Catherine Ryan- GSF committee/ New England College)

podcasts blueduke elementary nhgsf

Cotler, Steve. CHEESIE MACK IS NOT A GENIUS OR ANYTHING

It is end of the school year for fifth graders Ronald "Cheesie" Mack and his friend Georgie. They learn they can't afford to go to summer camp they have both gone to for several years. While in the basement, looking for spiders to scare his older sister, Georgie and Cheesie discover a yellowed envelope with one corner torn off. Inside the envelope is a folded up piece of paper containing a silvery metal heart on a chain and one penny. Throughout this story, Cheesie and Georgie provide lots of useful information like: How to say Gloucester, MA properly, Why you should not bring a bag of mice to school, and how to do the right thing when you find something that isn’t yours. You can also visit Cheesie at his very own website “CheesieMack.com”. (Booktalk written by Lorreen Keating- GSF Committee/North Hampton Public Library)

podcasts bluekuke elementary nhgsf

Snyder, Laurel. BIGGER THAN A BREAD BOX
New York : Random House, 2011
IL 3-6, RL 5.7
ISBN 0375869166
Rebecca’s father has been out of work for a while and her mother has run out of patience trying to keep the family financially afloat so one day she packs up and drives off with 12 year old Rebecca and two year old Lew in the car. They leave Baltimore and head for their grandmother’s house in Atlanta where Rebecca’s mother has already found a job and chosen a school for Rebecca. Soon after their arrival Rebecca discovers an old red bread box in the attic and quickly finds out that when she wishes for something that fits inside the bread box, it appears. When she needs a birthday present for her mom, she wishes for a spoon. Over time she wishes for new clothes for herself and money, and things like pens, candy and lip gloss to give away to her new friends at school. Rebecca’s repeated wish to return to her real home in Baltimore and to her father eludes her. She never stops to think about where all the things come from until her life gets so complicated that she has to decide what she really wants and how the magic of the bread box can help her achieve it. (Booktalk written by Suzanne Wall-GSF Committee/Merrimack Public Library)

podcasts blueduke elementary nhgsf

McElligott, Matthew. BENJAMIN FRANKLINSTEIN LIVES
New York : Putnam's, 2010
IL 3-6, RL 4.4
ISBN 0399252290
In 1790 Benjamin Franklin died.
Or did he?
Working with a secret team of scientists, Franklin found a way to cheat death … sort of. Franklin has spent the last 200 years in suspended animation in a sub basement in Philadelphia. A chance lightning strike (of course), reanimates Ben, and he finds himself in the apartment building of science nerd Victor Godwin. Victor must not only help him adjust to the modern world but also help him overcome a slight flaw: the reawakened Ben Franklin needs a particular amount of energy to keep going - too little and he's a zombie looking for electricity instead of brains. Too much and he becomes a rampaging monster. Just the right amount, fun with Ben Franklin in the 21st Century! All this while trying to take first place in the school science fair. With one of history's preeminent scientists helping out, what possibly could go wrong? (Booktalk written by Sara Zoe Patterson-GSF Committee/ New Franklin School)

podcasts blueduke elementary nhgsf

Sierra, Judy. ZOOZICAL
New York : Knopf, 2011
IL K-3, RL 3.2
ISBN 037586847X
Even though the zoo animals are now wild about books, in the dead of winter when no one comes to the zoo, they get bored. Really, really bored. The pandas even quit being cute. But when the hippo collapses and scares a little hippo into the air, they get an idea. A wonderful idea. They decide to put on a show.

podcasts elementary

Shahan, Sherry. ICE ISLAND
New York : Delacorte, 2012
IL 3-6, RL 4.3
ISBN 0385741545
The Iditarod. Who hasn't heard of this race? It takes place in Alaska every year. This is the story of a 13-year-old growing up in Alaska and dreaming of running the Iditarod. When Tatum and her friend are out on a run, Tatum finds herself in a very dangerous spot. The two get off course and get lost. And then a blinding storm comes up. Cole's sled is damaged and some of the dogs just aren't up to pulling. Tatum decides to take her sled and a team of dogs and go for help. But it certainly won't be easy.

podcasts elementary blueduke

Scott, Elizabeth. THE UNWRITTEN RULE
New York : Simon Pulse, 2010
IL YA
ISBN 1416978917
Brianna and Sarah have been best friends since Kindergarten. Brianna is beautiful. Sarah is not. Sarah has had a crush on Ryan since ninth grade but now he is dating Brianna. When Ryan begins to like Sarah more than Brianna, we have the classic love story. What should Sarah do? If she gives in to her feelings, she knows it will hurt Brianna terribly. After all, it is the unwritten rule that you don't date someone your best friend has feelings for. Will Sarah finally put herself first?

podcasts ya

Salisbury, Graham. CALVIN COCONUT : MAN TRIP
New York : Wendy Lamb, 2012.
IL 3-6, RL 4.4
ISBN 0385739648
When his mom's boyfriend wins tickets for a trip, he asks Calvin Coconut to come with him. They are going to take an airplane from Oahu to the Big Island and go deep-sea fishing. What an opportunity. Calvin has never been on an airplane and he certainly has never gone deep-sea fishing. Will Calvin catch his first big fish? And what will happen when they run into an angry marlin?

podcasts elementary blueduke

Rubel, David. THE CARPENTER'S GIFT : A CHRISTMAS TALE ABOUT THE ROCKEFELLER
CENTER TREE
New York : Random House, 2011
IL K-3, RL 2.3
ISBN 0375869220
A long time ago, people living through The Great Depression, had very little money. Many people lost all their money in the stock market and there was very few jobs that were hiring. Henry remembers his family living through those tough times. And he remembers the Christmas of 1931 when his father cut down evergreen trees and brought them to Rockefeller Center to sell. They made friends with some local workers and gave the last of the trees to them. Imagine their surprise when the workers thank them by building them a new home. They let Henry help them and he never forgot the kindness. Years later when Henry is all grown up, a tree on his land is chosen to be used as the Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center. The wood from the tree is given to a family so they can build their own house.

podcasts elementary

Potter, Alicia. MRS. HARKNESS AND THE PANDA
New York : Knopf, 2012
IL 3-6, RL 3.5
ISBN 0375844481
This is the story of a woman who was the first person to bring a panda to America. In 1934, Mrs. Harkness' husband went to China to find a panda. He eventually died in China before finding a panda to bring home to his wife. So she decided to travel to China to find one for herself. It wasn't an easy task. The journey was filled with dangers. Travel with Ruth Harkness as she boards a steamship to Shanghai and travels up the Yangtze and on into the mountains.

podcasts elementary blueduke

Primavera, Elise. THE HOUSE AT THE END OF LADYBUG LANE
New York : Robin Corey Books, 2012
IL K-3,RL 3.2
ISBN 037585584X
Imagine what it is like for Angelina. She comes from a long line of neat freaks. One of her ancestors even invented the trash can. Dad has a habit of vacuuming the grass. And Mom irons the linguini. But Angelina is a far cry from a neat freak. She is a bit on the messy side. She was wrinkly and rumpled. When a hard of hearing ladybug overhears Angelina wishing for pets, she thinks she wants a house full of pests!! Just try to imagine how that goes over with the neatest family in town.

podcasts elementary

Perro, Bryan. THE KEY OF BRAHA
New York : Delacorte, 2012
IL 5-8, RL 5.3
ISBN 0385739044
This is the second installment of the Amos Dragon series. In the first, 12-year-old Amos survived his first mission as a Mask Wearer. And now he takes on a journey like no other. Amos has been killed and now he is on his way to Braha along the River Styx. He is accompanied by Jerik, a criminal who has been decapitated and now carries his head with him wherever he goes. Jerik tells Amos that Braha is overcrowded with spirits wanting to move on but the gods have locked the doors that lead to paradise or down below. It is up to Amos to find the key to open the doors so the spirits can complete their journey. Maybe then he can return to the land of the living.

podcasts blueduke

Patterson, James. THE FIRE
Boston : Little, Brown, 2011
IL 5-8, RL 5.0
ISBN 0316101907
In the final book of the Witch and Wizard series, we find Whit and Witsy Allgood running for their lives. The two know that they may be the world's only hope against the One Who Is The One, but what can two teens with diminishing powers ever hope to do against the cruel dictator? They have watched their parents' execution and have seen the One's army wiping out the Resistance. Whit and Witsy are forced to split up to try to defeat The One. Is Witsy up to this? Does she have enough fire power to defeat someone so cruel?

podcasts blueduke ya

O'Connor, Geroge. OLYMPIANS. 3, HERA, THE GODDESS AND HER GLORY
New York : First Second, 2011
IL 5-8, RL 3.7
ISBN 1596437243
This is the story of Hera, Queen of the Gods. There are many myths about Hera and her dealings with her husband Zeus. And her treatment of Heracles. She was one saucy goddess with a powerful attitude. Driven mad by Hera, he ended up killing his own children. To make amends, he is assigned ten labors to purify his soul and be granted immortality. Read about Hera as you may never have seen her before.

podcasts blueduke

Nivola, Claire A. ORANI : MY FATHER'S VILLAGE
New York : Frances Foster Books, 2011
IL K-3, RL 5.0
ISBN 0374356572
Author Claire Nivola writes about her childhood visits to Orani, Italy. Her parents escaped to the United States in 1939 but never stopped loving their birth place. Beginning in the 1950s, Claire's family traveled to Orani for many memorable summers. She shares memories of her cousins, marriages, babies, old men, and family meals. Come along and enjoy summers in Orani.

podcasts elementary

Nelson, Marilyn. SNOOK ALONE
Somerville, MA : Candlewick, 2010
IL K-3, RL 3.6
ISBN 0763626678
Snook is a little rat terrier dog who lives on an island with a monk named Abba Jacob. Each day, Snook follows his owner and loves the time spent with him. They are as close as can be. But then things change. A huge storm comes and Snook is washed up on a nearby atoll. Here he must learn to fend for himself. He is all alone. He misses his friend and is scared of all they things that are new to him. He prays that Abba Jacob will come and rescue him. Is there any hope of that?

podcasts elementary

Mull, Brandon. A WORLD WITHOUT HEROES
New York : Aladdin, 2011
IL 5-8, RL 5.1
ISBN 141699792X
Meet Jason Walker. He is just your average boy living an average, boring life. He goes to school. He plays baseball, and he volunteers at the local zoo. One day, all this changes. When Jason falls through a crack in the hippo tank, he finds himself in a totally different world. Here he meets Rachel who has also found herself trapped in Lyrian. The two teens try desperately to find a way out but get caught up in a power struggle in Lyrian. Jason knows one syllable of a magic word that will free the citizens of Lyrian. And he sets off on a quest to find the rest of the word. This is the first book in the Beyonders series.

podcasts blueduke