September Picks

Welcome back! Here are some new books that have recently been added to the library collection. Come and check them out!


NON - FICTION 

 Jr. Graphic Novel Series

Founding Fathers

Colonial America 

Kids Can Series

Simple Machines Series 

What You Didn't Know About History Series 

FICTION

99 Frogs Wake Up, by Ken Kimura (Grades K-3)

It’s pretty darn difficult to find a more charming book than 999 Tadpoles. Kimura kindly updates us on the oversize family’s status, beginning with the little frogs poking their heads out of the dirt to awaken on a lovely morning. Mother Frog’s head count, though, only reaches 998. Who is missing? Ah, it’s their big brother, who is not only literally big but also leads the charge to rouse other slumbering animals from beneath rocks and leaves so that they too might enjoy the blossoming spring. A turtle, a lizard, some ladybugs—all are thankful for the wake-up call. And then there’s the hole. Better wake up whoever is in there too, eh? Bad idea: a snake, rather like the one in 999 Tadpoles, awaits to give the family more grief. Murakami’s big-eyed, kelly-green amphibians, set against large white backdrops, are just as cute now as they were as newborns, and their heedless groupthink as they race around being gee-whiz about everything remains downright ­adorable.  ~Daniel Kraus (Booklist)

I Wish I Had, by Giovanna Zoboli (Grades K-3)

*Starred Review* Books inviting children to imagine themselves as animals are ubiquitous and a playful way to encourage imagination, but most don’t have the scope of this beautiful Italian import. There is a dignified eloquence at work here, and the narrator’s wishes are not merely the desire of a child to be like an animal, but a longing for a tangible connection to an often intangible universe. Zoboli offers some rather everyday wishes, such as to become the wings of a wild goose or the tail of a lemur—who hasn’t wished to fly through the air or swing through trees? But longing for “the happy hunger of a bear in the orchard” or “the contentment of a dog in winter when the snow falls outside” transcends daydreaming to feel quite spiritual. The painterly illustrations in this oversize picture book (the works of Henri Rousseau come to mind) have a grandeur about them that matches the majestic ideas expressed throughout. Repeated motifs within the pictures—some of the animals are clutching a flower in their mouths, and the larger animals appear to be tattooed with images of other animals, plants, and flowers—create a sense of universality. This is a book of big ideas, sparingly told, and full of wonder. ~Kara Dean (Booklist) 


Double Dutch, by Sharon M. Draper (Grades 5-6)

Delia loves Double Dutch. And she's good at it. Really good. So good that her team has a chance to win the World Double Dutch Championships this year -- Delia is sure of it. What she is less sure of is her chance of passing the school's state exam, because Delia has been using her success at Double Dutch to mask a secret that could jeopardize her place on the team, and also her future. Delia's not the only one with a secret. Her potential boyfriend, Randy, has one too -- his dad has been missing for weeks, and Randy hasn't told anyone for fear he'll be put in a foster home. But he is running out of money and getting scared. The one thing that isn't a secret is that their classmates, the Tolliver twins, are out to cause trouble. With their skull caps, angry demeanors, and hints of violence emanating from even the way they stalk down the school halls, they seem to enjoy intimidating the other kids. But will they cross the line from intimidation to violence? With consummate skill and an uncanny ability to capture how real kids think, act, and feel, Tears of a Tiger author Sharon M. Draper weaves these three stories tighter and tighter, creating a novel that tingles with suspense and emotion. ~ Amazon


Survivors #1: The Empty City, by Erin Hunter (Grades 4-6)

From the author of the bestselling Warriors and Seekers books comes a thrilling new animal fantasy series. In Survivors, Erin Hunter shows readers the world through the eyes of dogs, as she did with cats and bears in her earlier series. The Empty City begins with the Big Growl, a devastating earthquake that changes Lucky’s world forever. Lucky has always been a Lone Dog, but now he needs a Pack in order to stay alive, so he teams up with a group of Leashed Dogs who have been separated from their owners. Lucky’s vivid point of view and the pulse-pounding action make for the start of an addictive series. The time has come for dogs to rule the wild! ~ Amazon

June Picks

As the year starts to wind down, I wanted to share some Audio/Visual materials that I have purchased for the media center. These DVDs will be available through June and, of course, next year!


Non-Fiction

Desperate Crossing: The Untold Story of the Mayflower

From their self-imposed exile in Holland and perilous Atlantic crossing in the Mayflower to unimaginable hardships encountered in their new land, this is the definitive story of the Pilgrims and how they came to live--and ultimately prosper--in the harsh climate of an unfamiliar world. 


Liberty Kids: Complete Series 

History comes alive in this excellent Emmy Award-nominated 40-episode, animated series about the experiences of two young teens during the American Revolution. Far more than a simple chronicle of the battles and major events of the American Revolution, Liberty’s Kids tells the story of the cultural, scientific, political, and social forces that helped shape America’s fight for independence from the perspective of two young teens from very different backgrounds.


Modern Marvels: Mad Electricity

From wireless energy to remote controls to green power nineteenth-century inventor Nikola Tesla had an unprecedented impact on the way the modern world works. In this electrifying program get inside the complex mind of a man who amassed hundreds of patents in his lifetime--many of which affect our lives on a daily basis. Travel to Niagara Falls where in 1893 Tesla installed his new system of alternating electrical current (AC)--a revolutionary form of power that is now the global standard. At an abandoned site on Long Island Sound take a private tour of the forgotten ruins of Tesla's dream experiment--a huge tower he hoped would play a role in wirelessly powering the world. Finally learn how Tesla anticipated the possibilities of renewable forms of energy including geothermal and solar power more than a century ago.


Inventions that Shook the World 

From the airplane to the DNA fingerprint, science, history and pop culture come under the spotlight in this thrilling chronicle of the 20th Century's greatest inventions. Go on a decade-by-decade voyage of discovery through life-changing inventions; like the radio that made the world smaller; the machine gun that made it more dangerous; or the parking meter that made it more expensive. Meet the brilliant, often quirky minds that brought the inventions to life, including the smartest man on the planet and the high school dropout everyone took for a fool. Witness the discovery and creation of billion-dollar inventions and financial disasters - all players in the most innovative century the world has ever known. 


The Music of Williamsburg 

Music of Williamsburg (1960, 40 minutes) Music in eighteenth-century Williamsburg was a ritual of everyday life the accompaniment to everything from children's games to slave labors to marching militia. Even the simple sounds of an ordinary day seemed to mesh into a musical rhythm the beat of horses hooves, the rustling of the wind, the clinking of tavern glasses. The architecture, furnishings, costumes, and settings of this era stimulate the senses, putting you in tune with another time in American history. Extra Feature The Musical Instrument Maker of Williamsburg (1976, 54 minutes) Experience the pride and precision that went into every eighteenth-century instrument made in colonial America. Each part is handmade and carefully fitted by craftsmen as they create a small harpsichord, known as a spinet, and the period-popular violin. The instruments take shape under deft, steady hands that turn raw materials into works of art. 


Life in the Freezer

Life in the Freezer is a startling portrait of Antarctica as a dramatic, violent, yet ultimately poetic ecosystem. It's also a miraculously beautiful documentary that can stir an armchair adventurer, make one wish to be standing alongside host David Attenborough as he gazes at the dream-like enormity of glaciers ("glass-yeers," as Attenborough pronounces it) or visits one of the pristine, Georgian islands where seabirds flock during Antarctica's version of spring and summer. With its frozen mass subject to cyclical expansions and retractions, Antarctica's changes determine the feeding, mating, and habitat patterns of a wide variety of wildlife. Life in the Freezer's multi-episode format allows each of those changes to be explored in rich detail.


Nature Penguins: Penguins of the Arctic/ The World of Penguins 

There is much more to penuins than Happy Feet. Well-loved and well-dressed, the penguin is popularly known as awkward and comical. But the complete story is not so black and white. The closer you get to penguins in two fascinating episodes of NATURE, the more these "strange birds" will surprise you!. In "Penguins of the Antarctic," remarkable footage captures penguins as they cope with some of the harshest weather on the planet. "The World of Penguins" explores the unexpected places you'll find penguins, from the scorching deserts of South America and the forests of New Zealand to suburban streets. 


Liberty! The American Revolution 

"Liberty! The American Revolution" is a dramatic documentary about the birth of the American Republic and the struggle of a loosely connected group of states to become a nation. The George Foster Peabody award-winning series brings the people, events, and ideas of the revolution to life through dramatic reenactments performed by a distinguished cast.  



Biography: Henry Ford

He made the automobile accessible to the common man. The common man made him rich.Henry Ford was one of the great innovators of our time. When the car he invented became so popular he couldn't build them fast enough he came up with the modern assembly plant to meet demand. The rest is history. BIOGRAPHY profiles the life of the industrial giant who earned notoriety for his intolerance as well as his inventiveness. Interviews with former workers and family members point out his genius and eccentricities while automotive historians trace his monumental career from his first handbuilt car to saving his company with the introduction of the V-8 at an age when most men are long retired.This is the fascinating story of the driven man who changed the way we all live ironically spelling an end to the America he loved. 


The Magic School Bus: The Complete Series 

Seatbelts everyone! Sparks of discovery fly with this 8-DVD set containing all 52 episodes of the Emmy Award-winning animated science-adventure series. Based on the bestselling books, kids everywhere can get charged up about science with this collectible, first-ever THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS COMPLETE SERIES. Ride with Ms. Frizzle, teacher extraordinaire, and her enthusiastic, inquisitive students as their Magic School Bus takes them on cliff-hanging field trips inside the human body, back to prehistoric times, far out into space, and everywhere else in between! Grab a seat and hang on for all four seasons of the longest-running kids science series ever! Inside find a full list of episodes, science topics, experiments and more!


 Fiction

Iron Will 

This snowy adventure about a boy and his dogs is charming, and entices the kids. Charismatic MacKenzie Astin plays a teenager trying to save the family farm by entering a 522-mile sled-dog marathon. Set against a lusciously scenic background, this films includes rousing scenes in the 1917 Winnipeg-to-St.-Paul sled race. 


Roald Dahl's The BFG

One moonlit night, little Sophie is snatched from her bed at Mrs. Clonkers’ orphanage by an awesome giant who whisks her away on a magical, thrilling and funny adventure. Roald Dahl’s enchanting, best-selling children’s book comes to life in this classic, animated musical feature by the award-winning Cosgrove Hall Studio, makers of Danger Mouse and The Wind in the Willows.  The BFG shows the most tender and dreamlike side of celebrated author Roald Dahl as he depicts the amazing friendship that grows between a little girl and a big-hearted Giant.


Sarah Plain and Tall

Set in 1910, the story follows Sarah's trial run as stepmother to the children of the widowed Jacob Witting (Christopher Walken). The tough part of the experiment is the conflicting expectations the would-be couple have over Sarah's role in the household. The kids, too, have their doubts about a substitute for their mother, and Jacob isn't ready, emotionally, for a new beginning. But in short order the strong-willed Sarah brings happiness and vitality into the house, and love and understanding eventually blossom between the two lonely adults. Everything is right about this Hallmark production, from a bright script cowritten by MacLachlan to Glenn Jordan's sensitive direction and a pair of first-rate leads making every moment worth watching. A wholesome tale from the heartland, this is a good movie for any viewing situation, from an audience of one to an entire family.

May Picks

Happy May! Come and check out some new and noteworthy books at the MCS Media Center. 


Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger (Grades K-2)

Die cut pages bring surprise after surprise in this magical new book from the "Queen of the concept book"—an intricate and satisfying homage to green, the color of all creation. How many kinds of green are there?

There's the lush green of a forest on a late spring day, the fresh, juicy green of a just-cut lime, the incandescent green of a firefly, and the vivid aquamarine of a tropical sea. In her newest book, Caldecott and Geisel Honor Book author Laura Vaccaro Seeger fashions an homage to a single color and, in doing so, creates a book that will delight and, quite possibly astonish you.

Pete the Cat: Pete's Big Lunch by James Dean (Grades K-3)

Pete the Cat is hungry. Pete is going to make the grooviest sandwich ever! But what happens if his sandwich is too big for Pete to eat?



Hiccup by Mike Herrod (Grades 1-3) 

On the day that he is to appear in the school play, a hastily gobbled breakfast leaves Jamie with a huge and tenacious case of the hiccups. His semi-supportive friend, Jenna, who is also his co-star, drags him through a series of strange and often nauseating would-be cures--i.e. the science teacher's HIC-BE-GONE 3000 contraption, the coach's calisthenics, the lunch lady's icky concoction. Then, just before the curtain is about to rise for the play, it is Jenna's demand for a good luck peck on the cheek that scares the hiccups right out of him. The play is a great success and Jenna is so excited about her performance that, yep, you guessed it--it's her turn to HIC!


Midnight Magic by Avi (Grades 4-6)

Reintroducing a magical, bestselling medieval mystery from a Newbery-winning author! The release coincides with Avi's exciting new companion to this book, MURDER AT MIDNIGHT. Night after night, a ghost appears in the royal castle of Pergamontio, terrifying the princess. Mangus the Magician doesn't believe in ghosts, but that doesn't stop him from being charged with finding this one. The King demands that Mangus free his daughter from the torment of the ghost. . . otherwise, the magician will pay with his life. Mangus's only hope is his faithful, street-smart servant boy, Fabrizio, who must solve the mystery of the ghost using logic and reason -- and a bit of magic of his own.

Rage of Lions and Shadow of the Hawk by Curtis Jobling (Grades 4-6)

Picking up where Rise of the Wolf leaves off, the kingdom is in disarray and Drew Ferran is grudgingly being groomed for the throne. When a revenge plot by Prince Lucas is revealed, Drew seizes the opportunity to flee his obligations in pursuit of the renegade prince. But Drew and his allies are in trouble, as they encounter rogue militias of lawless Werelords and a nation of invading Catlords determined to wrest power from Drew's paws. With the odds stacked against him, Drew must face up to his kingship and embrace the Wolf or all of Lyssia will be lost.

Three Times Lucky by Sheila Turnage (Grades 5-6) 

A hilarious Southern debut with the kind of characters you meet once in a lifetime. Rising sixth grader Miss Moses LoBeau lives in the small town of Tupelo Landing, NC, where everyone's business is fair game and no secret is sacred. She washed ashore in a hurricane eleven years ago,

and she's been making waves ever since. Although Mo hopes someday to find her "upstream mother," she's found a home with the Colonel--a café owner with a forgotten past of his own--and Miss Lana, the fabulous café hostess. She will protect those she loves with every bit of her strong will and tough attitude. So when a lawman comes to town asking about a murder, Mo and her best friend, Dale Earnhardt Johnson III, set out to uncover the truth in hopes of saving the only family Mo has ever known. Full of wisdom, humor, and grit, this timeless yarn will melt the heart of even the sternest Yankee.

*****NEW*****
FEATURED APP OF THE MONTH! 

(all these apps are available on the Media Center Lab iPads)

Unit A: Letter School   letterschool.com

LetterSchool comes with two sets of letters—uppercase and lowercase—and a set of numbers from 1 to 10. Using Letter School, students can practice: 

• letter sounds and names
• how to write letters and numbers
• uppercase and lowercase letters
• manuscript handwriting style
• to count from 1 to 10
• fine motor skills
• eye-hand coordination
• the foundation of literacy and numeracy

Unit B: Toontastic  launchpadtoys.com/toontastic

Making cartoons with Toontastic is as easy as putting on a puppet show - simply press the record button, move your characters onscreen, and tell your stories through play! Once you’re done, Toontastic will play back your animation and voice as a cartoon for you to share with friends and family around the world. Toontastic teaches key storytelling principles that help to promote Creativity at a young age. Its drawing tools bring kids’ wildest ideas to life alongside virtual playsets chock full of pirates, princesses, far away galaxies, and many other characters and settings to spark the imagination. 

Unit C: Keynote   www.apple.com/apps/iwork/keynote

 Keynote is the most powerful presentation app ever designed for a mobile device. Built from the ground up for iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch, it makes creating a world-class presentation — complete with animated charts and transitions — as simple as touching and tapping. Highlight your data with stunning 3D bar, line, area, and pie charts, animated with new 3D chart builds such as Crane, Grow, Radial, and Rotate. Use full-screen view to present right on your iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch.

April Picks

April is National Poetry Month, and it is also a time to celebrate the conclusion of winter (yay!) Come to the library and check out some new books, or some old favorites, and find a sunny place to curl up and enjoy the coming of spring! 


This Moose Belongs to Me, by Oliver Jeffers (Grades 2-5)

The age-old tale of a boy and his moose . . . now a New York Times bestseller! Wilfred is a boy with rules. He lives a very orderly life. It's fortunate, then, that he has a pet who abides by rules, such as not making noise while Wilfred educates him on his record collection. There is, however, one rule that Wilfred's pet has difficulty following: Going whichever way Wilfred wants to go. Perhaps this is because Wilfred's pet doesn't quite realize that he belongs to anyone. A moose can be obstinate in such ways. Fortunately, the two manage to work out a compromise. Let's just say it involves apples.


Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad, by Henry Cole  (Grades 1-6)

A young girl's courage is tested in this haunting, wordless story.
When a farm girl discovers a runaway slave
hiding in the barn, she is at once
startled and frightened. 

But the stranger's fearful eyes
weigh upon her conscience,
and she must make a difficult choice.
Will she have the courage to help him?
Unspoken gifts of humanity unite the girl
and the runaway as they each face a journey:
one following the North Star,
the other following her heart.

The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart, by Julie Andrews and Emma Hamilton (Grades K-3)  

It's Valentine's Day, one of Geraldine's favorite times of year! She gets out her very best glitter to

make cards for her family and friends at school, trying extra hard to think of ways to showcase all of their special qualities. But when Gerry gets to school and realizes she accidentally took a folder of Daddy's work papers instead of the cards she worked so hard on - oh no! - she can't help but be disappointed. Thankfully, her teacher helps her find an extra special way to celebrate the inner sparkle of each of her friends.

Wolves of the Beyond: Star Wolf (Book 6), by Kathryn Lasky (Grades 3-6)

The latest in Kathryn Lasky's hit series - a stunning spin-off set among the wolves of Ga'hoole. A great cold has seized the Beyond. The warmth of summer, the smell of sweet grass and the great caribou migrations are distant memories. Now the wolves know only ice, dark, snow and endless cold. The order that kept the wolf clans strong for thousands of years has broken down completely. The wolves have only one chance for survival. They must find their way to a new land, a land of warmth and summer. But the journey will take them over a frozen sea and through thousands of miles of perilous territory. Will the wolves trust young Faolan to lead them?


Emily Windsnap and the Land of the Midnight Sun (Book 5), by Liz Kessler (Grades 3-6)

Strange storms are blowing up from the ocean, caused by the nightmares of Neptune, King of the Sea. Convinced that his dreams herald an approaching threat, Neptune enlists half-mermaids Emily Windsnap and Aaron for a top-secret mission to find and eliminate the source of the trouble. But Emily and Aaron quickly get in over their heads in the frigid waters of the frozen north. Deep within an alpine lake where magical reflections show what could be rather than what is, the two discover a trove of stolen memories and Neptune’s darkest secret. Double-crosses and double-takes abound in Liz Kessler’s fifth magical mermaid adventure.

Stink and the Freaky Frog Freakout (Book 8), by Megan McDonald (Grades 1-3) 

Stink may be super smart, and Stink may be uber clever, but he’s been in the Polliwog swim class frog-ever and he still can’t bear to put his face in the water. Why would he want a geyser up his nose, on purpose? But then something weird happens: Stink starts to see frogs everywhere — in the locker room, in his boot, in the bathtub. And when a freaky blue frog licks his arm, his froggy senses start tingling! He has an urge to slurp up raisins (that look like flies). He can’t wait to play in the rain and mud. He’s a wiz at identifying frog calls. And he has become very interested in the local frog population. Could it be that Stink is turning into . . . the amazing Stink-Frog, fighter of slime? Pree-eep! Craw-awk!

Poetrees, by Douglas Florian (Grades 1-6)

Seeds are sprouting, roots are spreading, and branches are swaying

in this tree-mendous poetry collection. From coconut palms and bristlecone pines to baobabs and banyans, Douglas Florian explores the arboreal world with his signature wit and whimsy. Featuring a dynamic vertical format that illustrates the incredible heights and shapes of the trees, this book illuminates the natural history of these majestic beings as well as their unique and quirky characteristics.






A Joyful Noise by Tom Fleischman (Grades 2-6)

Written to be read aloud by two voices--sometimes alternating, sometimes simultaneous--here is a collection of irresistible poems that celebrate the insect world, from the short life of the mayfly to the love song of the

book louse. Funny, sad, loud, and quiet, each of these poems resounds with a booming, boisterous, joyful noise. In this remarkable volume of poetry for two voices, Paul Fleischman verbally re-creates the "Booming/boisterious/joyful noise" of insects. The poems resound with the pulse of the cicada and the drone of the honeybee. Eric Beddows′s vibrant drawings send each insect soaring, spinning, or creeping off the page in its own unique way. A clear and fascinating guide to the insect world--from chrysalid butterflies to whirligig beetles-- and an exultant celebration of life.

A Full Moon is Rising, by Marilyn Singer (Grades 2-6) 

Mysterious and evocative, the full moon is the most celebrated phase of the earth s only natural satellite. Around the world, people and other living things interact with and are affected by the full moon in fascinating ways. Sailors set out to sea on the high tides

the full moon causes. Insects and migrating birds are guided by its brilliant light. Families dance, sing, and feast at full moon festivals, while traders buy and sell camels. Corals reproduce, wolves howl, and children dream of being astronauts. In this poetic exploration of full moon science, celebrations, beliefs, and illusions, Marilyn Singer and Julia Cairns take us on a whirlwind international tour. Along the way we visit Canada, Israel, Morocco, India, China, Australia, and more as we learn about the many ways people welcome and honor Earth's wondrous full moon.

Butterfly Eyes and Other Secrets of the Meadow, by Joyce Sidman (Grades 1-6) 

Discover the hidden world of the meadow in this unique combination of poetry riddles and science wisdom. Beginning with the rising sun and ending with twilight, this book takes us on a tour through the fields, encouraging us to watch for a nest of rabbits, a foamy spittlebug, a leaping grasshopper, bright milkweed, a quick fox, and a cruising hawk. 

 

March Picks

Well it's March, and let's all hope this month comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb- spring should be on it's way! Here are some new and noteworthy books that have recently been added to the library. Please feel free to share with your students. Come and check one out today!


The Unwanteds: Island of Silence by Lisa McMann (Grades 4-6)

Following the life-altering events at the conclusion of The Unwanteds, the stark world of Quill and the magical haven of Artimé are now home to whoever wants to live there, whether they are Wanteds, Unwanteds, or Necessaries. In Artimé, Alex Stowe and his friends continue to hone their artistic magical spells while welcoming newcomers, wondering how long this peace between Quill and Artimé will last. Alex is stunned when Mr. Today comes to him with a very special request—one Alex questions his readiness for, until circumstances offer a dramatic answer. And back in Quill, Aaron Stowe, Alex’s twin, faces a very different path. Devastated by his loss of status after Justine’s defeat and seething with rage toward Alex, Aaron is stealthily planning his revenge and return to power. Alex and Aaron’s separate stories proceed with suspenseful pacing, colliding in a stunning climax that elevates sibling rivalry to epic proportions and leaves the fate of both worlds hanging in the balance.


Just Ella by Margaret Peterson Haddix (Grades 4-6)

You've heard the fairytale: a glass slipper, Prince Charming, happily ever after...Welcome to reality: royal genealogy lessons, needlepoint, acting like "a proper lady," and -- worst of all -- a prince who is not the least bit interesting, and certainly not charming. As soon-to-be princess Ella deals with her newfound status, she comes to realize she is not "your majesty" material. But breaking off a royal engagement is no easy feat, especially when you're crushing on another boy in the palace.... For Ella to escape, it will take intelligence, determination, and spunk -- and no ladylike behavior allowed.







Son by Lois Lowry: Book 4 in The Giver Quartet (Grades 5-6)

They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice. Son thrusts readers once again into the chilling world of the Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver,　as well as Gathering Blue　and　Messenger　where a new hero emerges. In this thrilling series finale, the startling and long-awaited conclusion to Lois Lowry’s epic tale culminates in a final clash between good and evil.


Glory Be by Augusta Scattergood (Grades 4-6)

A Mississippi town in 1964 gets riled when tempers flare at the segregated public pool. As much as Gloriana June Hemphill, or Glory as everyone knows her, wants to turn twelve, there are times when Glory wishes she could turn back the clock a year. Jesslyn, her sister and former confidante, no longer has the time of day for her now that she’ll be entering high school. Then there’s her best friend, Frankie. Things have always been so easy with Frankie, and now suddenly they aren’t. Maybe it’s the new girl from the North that’s got everyone out of sorts. Or maybe it’s the debate about whether or not the town should keep the segregated public pool open. Augusta Scattergood has drawn on real-life events to create a memorable novel about family, friendship, and choices that aren’t always easy.





Infinity Ring Book 1: A Mutiny in Time by James Dashner (Grades 3-6)

Scholastic's next multi-platform mega-event begins here! History is broken, and three kids must travel back in time to set it right! When best friends Dak Smyth and Sera Froste stumble upon the secret of time travel -- a hand-held device known as the Infinity Ring -- they're swept up in a centuries-long secret war for the fate of mankind. Recruited by the Hystorians, a secret society that dates back to Aristotle, the kids learn that history has gone disastrously off course. Now it's up to Dak, Sera, and teenage Hystorian-in-training Riq to travel back in time to fix the Great Breaks . . . and to save Dak's missing parents while they're at it. First stop: Spain, 1492, where a sailor named Christopher Columbus is about to be thrown overboard in a deadly mutiny!


Penny and Her Song by Kevin Henkes (Grades 1-3)

When Penny comes home from school, she is ready to sing her song. But the babies are sleeping, and Mama and Papa are worried that Penny will wake them up. Oh, but it is a good song, a really wonderful song . . . and Penny wants more than anything to sing it. What do you think will happen?








Alfie is Not Afraid by Patricia Carlin (Grades K-3) 

 A boy and his brave puppy are ready to camp out in their backyard! The boy's not scared because if things go bump in the night, he knows Alfie will protect him: from space invaders, boa constrictors, and even alligators! Alfie's not afraid of anything! Right, Alfie? ....Alfie? In  her picture book debut, Patricia Carlin introduces readers to Alfie and his boy, a lovable duo who will leave everyone howling with laughter.

A Home for Bird by Philip C. Stead (Grades K-3) 

While out foraging for interesting things, Vernon the toad finds a new friend - a small blue bird who is curiously silent. Vernon shows Bird the river and the forest and some of his other favorite things, but Bird says nothing. Vernon introduces Bird to his friends, Skunk and Porcupine, but Bird still says nothing. "Bird is shy," says Vernon, "but also a very good listener." Vernon worries that Bird is silent because he misses his home, so the two set off on a journey to help find a home for Bird.

Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace (K-3)

 Oh, to be a ballerina! It’s a challenge for any little girl, but even more so if you happen to be a vampire like Vampirina. First of all, you have to find a class that meets at night. Then you have to figure out how to perfect your form when you can’t see yourself in the mirror?  And then there’s wearing pink (not the most flattering of colors if you happen to be undead) and that nagging urge to take a little nip out of the other dancers. And worse of all… STAGE FRIGHT!!!

*****NEW*****
FEATURED APPS OF THE MONTH! 

(all these apps are available on the Media Center Lab iPads)

Unit A: 

Feed Me!

http://www.pencilbot.com/feedme

Feed Me, a PencilBot Preschool series, taps into your child's natural desire to learn by providing a fun way to acquire basic knowledge and skills as well as expose them to multiple languages. Students can practice skills in an easy, interactive format.  Skills include:

*Rhyming
*Colors
*Opposites
*Letter Sounds
*Sounds in Words
*Beginning Letter Sounds
*Time
*Colors
*Shapes
*More or Less
*Counting
*Sorting
*Reading
*Segmenting 

Unit B: 

Scribble Press

www.scribblepress.com

Get what reviewers call "hands-down the best story creation App", now with great new features for kids and classrooms! With over 500 tools and stickers, you can create and share as many books as you like — all free. You can also create simple drawings and insert text, photos or color. Teachers can easily create group accounts and manage them from this website. 

Unit B: 

ShowMe

www.showme.com

ShowMe allows you to record voice-over whiteboard tutorials and share them online. Uses and features: 

*Record your ShowMe tutorial instantaneously

*Drop in images onto the whiteboard
*Easily switch between drawing and erasing (as well as pausing and playing) to make your ShowMe flow from concept to concept

*You can make your ShowMe as long or as short as it needs to be, and record as many ShowMe’s as you want.

*Once you’re finished recording, upload your ShowMe to share with the community (or keep it private if you prefer)

*Discover awesome tutorials created by other members of the ShowMe community