Audio

Foreign Languages

PreS-Gr 3–Intended to make learning Spanish easy, these 14 upbeat songs with original lyrics incorporate 100 easy words and 40 phrases related to counting, days of the week, animals, and manners. Two of the songs have original music, the rest are set to traditional tunes such as “Skip to My Lou,” “Frere Jacques,” and “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Among the songs are “Hola Amigo/Hello Friend,” “Veo Colores/I See Colors,” “Tengo Hambre/I Am Hungry,” “Por Favor, Gracias, De Nada/Please, Thank You, You’re Welcome,” and “Diez Juguetes Son/ There Are Ten Toys.” Vocals and instrumentals are well preformed. Teachers and parents will find this album a valuable resource.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

Gr 4-7–”Paralyze you! PARALYZE YOU!” is the cry of the Amadans, creatures who come from an alternate parallel universe that keep criminals in line on Earth in this novel by Malachy Doyle (Orchard, pap. 2004). Jimmy, a typical boy, is pulled into the Amadans’ world in order to help them find out why their powers to paralyze are failing. His quest to find the answer leads him to the outcasts of the Amadans world where a rebellion is brewing. While the narration by Hugh Lee is enjoyable, the story is predictable, the unrelenting alliteration becomes tiresome quickly, and the characters are only superficially developed.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Gr 4-7–Over the course of four weeks in December, three girls form a close, hard-won friendship in this novel by Virginia Hamilton (Blue Sky Press, 1999). Dreenie, a fifth grader in New York City, comes from a loving home with two parents. Tuli, a biracial girl who pretends to be Latina, needs lots of attention and support from Dreenie. And then there’s Natalie. The kids in school call her Bluish because her chemotherapy treatments for leukemia have left her with skin so pale that it looks almost blue. Dreenie is cautious about Natalie at first, reacting to her wheelchair and her prickly dislike of being on the receiving end of anyone’s pity. As Dreenie begins to truly empathize with Bluish, the rest of the class begins to follow. The changes in point of view are somewhat confusing when reading the text, but the recording alleviates this problem. Actress Lisa Renee Pitts ably gives each character her own voice, helping to clarify changes in perspective. Tuli is exaggeratedly Latina, Bluish has a tiny and high voice, and Dreenie sounds like a New Yorker. A well-done audiobook dealing with the themes of differences, independence, friendship, and acceptance.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY

Gr 5-8–Philip Pullman’s dark and humorous tale (Knopf, 1998) is set in 1816 in a small Swedish village named for its richest resident, Count Karlstein. Two young orphan girls, Charlotte and Lucy, must find a way to outwit the conniving and evil Count who is also their uncle. Hildi, a young girl who works as a maid in Castle Karlstein, overhears the Count discussing his deal with Zamiel, the Demon Huntsman, to sell the souls of his two nieces on All Soul’s Eve in exchange for his current wealth and status. With the night fast approaching, Lucy and Charlotte must rely on Hildi, fate, luck, and a bit of conniving on their own behalf to survive the hunt. Rich and colorful characters including the “oily” Herr Snivelwurst, the bumbling Sergeant Snitsch, the unlucky Max Grindoff, and the properly refined Miss Augusta Davenport come together to create a story told through alternating narratives. Using a full cast of actors and mood-inducing music and sound effects, listeners will feel like they are experiencing a stage play. This cliffhanger is audiobook production at its finest.–Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public Library, NY

Gr 5-9–Horror fans will delight in this British import by Justin Richards (Bloomsbury, 2006) set in foggy London in the 1800s. George Archer toils in the back offices of the British Museum as the youngest member of the Department of Unclassified Artifacts. When thieves burst in and kill his co-worker, George attempts to uncover why a scrap of paper from an obscure scientist’s diary would be worth a man’s life. Circumstances lead George to team up with a minister’s daughter and a homeless pickpocket. The trio discovers the diary is sought by Augustus Lorimore, an industrialist with delusions of grandeur. The chase is on and narrator Steven Pacey picks up the pace and leads listeners on a breathless romp through Victorian London complete with a séance, walking zombies, and a fire-breathing monster. Suggest this title to students who enjoyed Eleanor Updale’s Montmorency series. With a pinch of Poe and a dash of Mary Shelley, listeners will be deliciously entertained.–Tricia Melgaard, Centennial Middle School, Broken Arrow, OK

Gr 4-6–This is Liz Kessler’s sequel (Candlewick, 2006) to The Tail of Emily Windsnap (Candlewick, 2004; Listening Library, 2004), in which a 12-year-old girl discovers she is part mermaid and reunites her human mother and merman father. Emily’s happily reunited family moves to an idyllic island located in the Bermuda Triangle where humans and merpeople peacefully coexist. Emily and her mermaid friend Shona become involved in a dangerous adventure. Because of her past hardships in junior high school, Emily wants desperately to fit in with her new peers. While swimming with their friends, Emily and Shona come across a forbidden cave and, trying to prove that they are cool and brave, the girls enter it and unintentionally awaken the kraken, a huge and terrifying monster with tentacles and tusks. A careful balance between the island and the kraken is disrupted and only Emily can put things right. Chapters from Emily’s narration alternate with those of a bully from her previous school, Mandy, who becomes involved in the adventure when her vacation on a cruise ship is interrupted by the kraken. The threesome eventually restored peace to the Triangle, and Emily is able to face her personal demons. Narrator Finty Williams brings to life all the charm and imagination of Kessler’s tale, expertly alternating character voices. This engaging tale will be a hit with middle schoolers who enjoy fantasy and adventure stories with female characters.–April Mazza, Wayland Public Library, MA

Gr 1-3–The light, straightforward plot of these two short tales, set in Pixie Hollow in Never Land, will appeal to reluctant readers. In “Vidia and the Fairy Crown” by Laura Driscoll, unfriendly Vidia must enlist the aid of fellow fairies and sparrow men to solve the mysterious disappearance of Queen Clarion’s crown. Her collaboration proves that Vidia is not as mean as all of the fairies thought. Lily, a talented garden fairy, grows a menacing plant in “Lily’s Pesky Plant” by Kirsten Larsen. At first the plant is ugly, smells rotten, and produces allergy-causing pollen. Just before the horrible plant is about to be destroyed by the fairies, it produces a delicious and rare fruit. Narrators Alissa Hunnictutt and Ashley Albert give each character an appropriate voice, from the snobbish Vidia to the regal Clarion. The Disney influence is clear, from the tinkling prelude music to the character Tinkle Bell and the setting in Never Land. Young fans of fairies and fantasy will adore these stories.–Cynthia Grabke, Thayer Public Library, Braintree, MA

Gr 4-7–A lonely old woman and John, a troubled boy, connect and gain renewed feelings of optimism and friendship in this lovely story by Lois Lowry (Walter Lorraine Books, 2006). The title character, initially named Littlest One, is a dream-giver—one of the tiny creatures who bring good dreams to humans and animals. The inquisitive creature is first taught by Fastidious but drives the cranky teacher mad with her constant questions and humorous hijinks. Thin Elderly takes over Littlest’s training and they successfully concentrate on the old woman and the boy. By touching objects in the house that belong to each character, the dream-givers absorb happy memories associated with those items and bring these remembrances into the people’s dreams. The dream-givers polar opposites, the terrifying Sinisteeds, are after John, who is in foster care because of an abusive home life. It is up to Littlest to protect John from the potentially permanently damaging nightmares that he is given by the Sinisteeds. Anne Twomey is a superb narrator for this imaginative and dreamy story. She easily conveys the old woman’s patience and gradual understanding of what the boy has experienced in his unhappy life. Listeners can hear the gradual lessening of John’s anger in Twomey’s voice. Her pacing is superb, and she has a wonderful ability to convey the lightness and yet gravely vital personalities of the dream-givers. An excellent recording of an intriguing novel.–B. Allison Gray, John Jermain Memorial Library, Sag Harbor, NY

Gr 2-4–Children familiar with Jill and Gwen from the Something Queer series by Elizabeth Levy will love the author’s beginning chapter mystery (Aladdin, pap. 2002), illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein, featuring Fletcher, Jill’s basset hound, who tells the story. Fletcher is unique—the markings on his fur resemble a map of the world, and his best friend is a flea named Jasper. Jill and Gwen adopt Fletcher from the pound. The girls decide to bring Fletcher to school on show and tell day because of his markings. When the class pet rabbit goes missing, Fletcher is blamed. The brave dog leads the girls to the real rabbit-napper. A brief interlude of opening music sets the stage, preparing listeners for a mystery. Actor William Dufris does a marvelous job of infusing life into Fletcher with his intonation and pitch-perfect voice, and creates individual voices for each male character. Female characters are given unique voices by actress Christine Marshall, who jumps in without missing a beat. A perfect package.–Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH

Gr 5-8–Rachel Sheldon, the daughter of missionaries, has spent her entire life in Africa and loves it there. In 1919, she is orphaned when her parents die of a deadly influenza outbreak. Her neighbors, the Pritchards, have lost their daughter, Valerie, to the illness as well, and convince Rachel to pretend to be Valerie in order to “please the dying last wish of her grandfather in England.” Rachel discovers that the Pritchards are gold-diggers, hoping to use her to convince Grandfather Pritchard to leave them his estate. Rachel becomes close to the kind, sick man and doesn’t want to hurt him, but realizes that she must choose between telling the truth regardless of the consequences or allowing the Pritchards to deceive him. Gloria Whelan’s well-written story (HarperCollins, 2005) is firmly placed in the early 20th century and features well-rounded characters and believable conflicts. Bianca Amato’s narration breathes life into the story, making it even more engrossing, and she does a great job with the difficult African phrases and names. This affecting tale will make a wonderful addition to library collections.–Saleena Davidson, South Brunswick Public Library, Monmouth Junction, NJ

Gr 2-4–Told through the eyes and voice of basset hound Fletcher, the audio version of Elizabeth Levy’s beginning chapter book (Aladdin, pap. 2003), illustrated by Mordicai Gerstein, presents a dog’s-eye view of a mild-mannered mystery. Voiced by William Dufris and Christine Marshall, this production with a large cast of characters with distinctive voices seems like a radio play. The fast-paced storytelling, with minimal sound effects, will pull children along as Fletcher and his pals bumble through to the eventual discovery of the culprit trying to sabotage their masked ball. With much gross dog humor, minimal plot, and mellow action, this gentle early mystery will be enjoyed by emergent readers.–Jennifer Verbrugge, Dakota County Library, Burnhaven Branch, Burnsville, MN

Gr 4-8–Nickie longs to escape from her life in Philadelphia where everything seems to be going wrong. She thinks she has found the perfect haven in her great-grandfather’s estate in Yonwood, NC. But the war between the United States and the Phalanx Nations seems imminent and the Church of the Fiery Vision takes over the town, and all her goals seem farther away than ever. In Yonwood, people are not what they seem. The host of characters include a prophet and her interpreter who the townspeople blindly follow, a girl in the closet, a boy obsessed with snakes, and a hermit who can crack open the sky. Jean DuPrau has created an unusual prequel (Random, 2006) to The City of Ember (2003) and The People of Sparks (2004, both Random). Rather than the pre-apocalyptic climate one would expect, the backwoods setting, the humming bracelet, and the robot vacuum cleaner give the novel a strange anachronistic feeling. Becky Ann Baker’s depiction of the native North Carolinian accent is believable, and she voices all the characters perfectly. Sound effects enhance the telling. Listeners new to the series will have no problem following along—this title can stand on its own. The ending drags a bit as DuPrau tries to wrap up all the subplots. Ember fans will be a little disappointed that only the subtleties in the last chapter, “What Happened Afterward,” point to The City of Ember. This timely novel offers astute observations about human relations, the fallibility of human perception, and the danger of over-zealousness.–Ann Crewdson, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

Gr 4-8–Right from the start, listeners will become engrossed in the first book (Philomel, 2005) of John Flanagan’s projected series (Philomel Books, 2005), which is reminiscent of Tolkien minus the allegory. On Choosing Day, when wards of the castle become apprentices, 15-year-old Will doesn’t get his first choice of attending Battle School, where knights are trained. Instead, he is apprenticed to Halt, the mysterious Ranger, whose lessons on stealth and intelligence gathering lead Will to a new understanding of honor and valor. As the evil Morgarath is planning a war and killing off the kingdom’s leaders, Will’s courage and determination are tested. Filled with rich detail and plenty of edge-of-your-seat thrills, Flanagan’s word choice and writing style lend themselves to the quasi-historical time period and setting. The characters are developed believably, only veering slightly into stereotypes with the bullies at the Battle School. John Keating’s erudite and compelling voices make this well-paced story come alive. Listeners will eagerly await the next installment in the series. A fine choice for middle schools and public libraries.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, Oxford, MI

G 3-6–Along with Hank the Cowdog and Chet Gecko, add a pirate detective named Sam Hawkins to your line-up of silly detectives. In this title by British author Ian Billings, Sam and his crew are charged with investigating the disappearance of the Pointy Head Lighthouse and returning it to its place before the Rock Ness Monster concert that is scheduled in just a few days. Billings has created a fun cast of characters and uses puns and wordplay with both names and nautical terms—Long John Saliva is a suspect in the crime, and the Old Spice Girls figure into the plot as well. This classic mystery is full of confusing clues and mysterious messages, along with a ransom note from the dastardly Scarlet Winkle. Robert Llewellyn narrates the comical tale with unique voices befitting each bizarre character. This amusing story will appeal to youngsters who like silliness along with their mystery.–Casey Rondini, Hartford Public Library, CT

Gr 5-9–In this sequel (Miramax Books, 2006) to Rick Riordan’s The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005; Listening Library, 2005) 13-year-old Percy is just finishing up his school year and is looking forward to another great summer at Camp Half-Blood with all the other demigods. But even before school ends, things start happening, and soon Percy is at camp along with Tyson, a homeless kid adopted by Percy’s school. At camp, Percy not only discovers that Tyson is a Cyclops and a son of Poseidon, which makes him Percy’s half-brother, but also that the camp is in trouble. There’s a quest to rescue Percy’s friend, Grover the satyr, and to retrieve the Golden Fleece. The plot zips along with plenty of action; lots of mythological monsters, titans, and gods; and a leavening of humor. Jesse Bernstein does a good job of giving Percy a youthful voice in this first-person narrative, while at the same time creating appropriate voices for the other characters. Listeners who have not read or listened to the first book in the projected trilogy will want to do so before the next installment is published.–Sarah Flowers, Santa Clara County Library, CA

Gr 4-6–In the second book (Amulet Books, 2005) in Michael Buckley’s Sisters Grimm series, amateur detective sisters, Sabrina and Daphne, are compelled to investigate the gruesome deaths of a teacher and a custodian at their elementary school. Teaming up with Grandma Relda, immortal foster brother Puck, and others, the girls set off on a sometimes scary journey into the underbelly of Ferryport Landing, inhabited by both humans and Everafters (nursery story characters who fled there to escape persecution). For example, the school’s principal is the Pied Piper of Hamlin, and a well-loved teacher is Snow White. L.J. Ganser narrates this derivative work so quickly that he occasionally seems out of breath. He falters at first with the accents for some of the characters, but recovers quickly and is able to create fairly distinguishable voices for the many people. Fans of the series and children who enjoy picking well-known nursery story characters out of a lineup may enjoy this mystery–Jennifer Verbrugge, Dakota County Library, Burnhaven Branch, Burnsville, MN

Gr 6-9–Michelle Paver’s sequel (Katherine Tegen Books, 2006) to Wolf Brother (HarperCollins, 2005) doesn’t disappoint. Ian McKellen gives voice to the adventures of the prehistoric boy, Torak. Soon after having found a new home among the Raven clan, a horrible sickness—one that causes pustules to form on the victims’ bodies and their minds to fail before they die—strikes various forest clans, including the Ravens. Torak sets out to find a cure. He heads to the sea, where he is kidnapped by boys of the Seal clan. On their island, he is introduced to the Seal clan’s mage, who promises to help Torak with a cure for the pestilence. Meanwhile, Torak’s wolf brother and his friend Wren track Torak to the Seal camp. The mage sends Torak and his kidnappers to find an ingredient for a cure. Torak, near death, discovers that he has the ability to Spirit Walk. Paver does a brilliant job of portraying not only the post-Ice Age world, but also the various consciences of boy, wolf, and even the elements of weather, sea, and plants. McKellan’s pacing makes listeners feel as though the story is being told around a campfire, one that Torak himself might share. While part of a trilogy, Spirit Walker stands on its own, but those who listen to it will want to go back to Wolf Brother and will eagerly await the final book.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Gr 2-4–Megan McDonald shifts the focus from the title character in her popular Judy Moody series of books to Judy’s seven-year-old brother, Stink, in this novel (Candlewick, 2006). Stink purchases a gigantic jawbreaker that he thoroughly enjoys through its diminishing size and exotic flavors, but realizes that it didn’t fulfill its promise because his jaw is still intact. He writes a letter of complaint to the company and is astounded when he receives ten pounds of jawbreakers as compensation. His success encourages him to write similar letters to three other companies, and he receives goodies from them all. After his parents forbid him to write any more letters, his attention turns to an upcoming pajama day at school. Pajama problems and the realization that he missed his best friend’s birthday party due to his letter writing obsession make the dress down event a disaster. Stinks father comes to the rescue with an idea that repairs a friendship and teaches Stink an important lesson. Nancy Cartwright assumes a distinct, childlike voice for each youngster. This engaging, versatile beginning chapter book will have a multitude of uses in the classroom, such as motivating students at the beginning of a letter writing unit or during a lesson on idioms (since Stink learns about idioms at school and uses them throughout the book).–Carol Y. Barker, Wheelerville School, Caroga Lake, NY

Gr 5-8–Ruth Spicer doesn’t fit in at her high school. Her glasses, braces, and good grades get her labeled a “geek” and worse. Her home life is so crazy that she doesn’t have time to do her homework, what with Dad being sick and Mum working, and her three younger siblings. When a beautiful new girl, Shayanne Sugar, joins Ruth’s class, she takes Ruth under her wing. Ruth doesn’t know why, because Shay could be friends with anyone. No one messes with Shay, who even intimidates the bullies. Told in alternating points of view from Ruth and Shay, this recording of Jean Ure’s novel (Osborne, 2005) has an obvious plot but it is still enjoyable for its wonderful characterizations and writing style. Narrator Finty Williams does a good job with cadence and diction, perfectly reflecting Ruth’s innocence, her annoying siblings, the snide cruelty of her classmates, and Shay’s jaded tones. Some British slang is used, but its meaning can be easily discerned in context. Sure to be popular with upper elementary and middle school students.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Gr 4-6–Children will enjoy hearing Tony Award-winning narrator Cherry Jones read Laura Ingalls Wilder’s stories about her family and her life on the prairie almost 125 years ago in this eighth book in the Laura Years series. Laura is 16 years old, teaching school, and working at local stores to make extra money to help her family send her blind sister to school. She and her girlfriends enjoy sleigh rides, buggy rides, and singing school. But will she decide the time is right to settle down in her own little house with Almanzo Wilder, who courts her throughout the book? This sweet tale about teenage life, first love, and new responsibilities has stood the test of time. The narration is pitch-perfect, and the music provided by Paul Woodiel brings Pa’s fiddle to life. An excellent choice for school and public library collections.–Casey Rondini, Hartford Public Library, CT

Gr 4-7–Bruce Coville’s talent for adapting myths and literature takes a Norse direction with Thor’s Wedding Day (Harcourt, 2005). Inspired by an epic poem with liberal doses of related stories in the mix, the tale is told by young Thialfi, a goatboy in Thor’s household. The thunder god’s kingdom is at risk because Mjollnir, his mighty hammer that is too heavy for mere mortals, has been stolen by the scheming giant, Thrym, and held as ransom until Freya, the fair goddess, consents to marry the giant. When she dismisses that idea, Thor, Thialfi, and the mischievous god, Loki, must dress as bride and attendants so they can recapture the tool. Along the way, they discover two dwarves who were blackmailed into taking the hammer, but are now willing to help Thor and company reclaim it. Using a fake hammer, the trio soon outsmarts the less-than-clever giant and order is restored in the kingdom. Performed by Coville and several of Full Cast’s seasoned actors, this recording conveys Coville’s humor, and everyone from goats to gods are appropriately portrayed. The recording concludes with the author’s explanation of the story’s background. With its playful underpinning, this audiobook is an amusing way to introduce the often overlooked legends of northern Europe. An appealing addition to elementary and middle school libraries where myths are studied.–Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT

Gr 9 Up–Jean, an intelligent 17 year old with cerebral palsy who is wheelchair bound, goes to Camp Courage, a summer “Crip Camp,” for the first time in Harriet McBryde Johnson’s powerful novel (Holt, 2006). She’s the only handicapped student at her normal school, has non-handicapped friends, and has never really seen herself as different. Jean has no idea what she’s in for during her 10 days at camp. Everyone there has a label: spazzos (CP), walkie talkies (handicapped but can walk and talk), MRs (mentally retarded), and aussies (autistic). Jean meets Sara, who has MS and is also wheelchair bound. Sara is jaded and bitter from eight years of the “be happy, try harder” attitude at camp and in life, and Jean is forced to reassess her plans for the future and her place in society. Jenna Lamia’s narration adds dimension and depth to the story. Jean’s inner thoughts flow smoothly and flawlessly, but when she speaks aloud, Lamia does a credible job of duplicating the halting, stumbling speech of CP. The contrast is shocking and powerful. The careful, deliberate speech of the MRs and the slow, soft North Carolinian accents of the counselors are very believable. This audiobook should be in every high school and public library.–Charli Osborne, Oxford Public Library, MI

Gr 8 Up–British author Melvin Burgess (Junk) weaves a tale of deception, revenge, and redemption in this well-written, gripping novel (Tor Books, 2001) based on the 13th–century Icelandic Volsunga saga and set in a futuristic London that is populated by humans and halfmen. The Volson and Conor families wage war against each other in a London that contains both modern and medieval elements. The warring clans cease fighting to affirm a truce with the marriage of Volson’s daughter, Signy, to Conor. What follows is a remarkable adventure story that effortlessly combines science fiction and the lore of Arthurian legends and medieval sagas. There are some graphic portrayals of violence and sex. Expertly narrated by actor Colin Moody, this novel is a winning blend of the voices of different characters that yields a satisfying whole. This book, like The Lord of the Rings trilogy, creates an entirely new world of unforgettable characters and stories. Young adult readers who enjoy this title may be interested in reading such classics as The Once and Future King by T. H. White, Malory’s L’Morte d’Arthur, and The Song of Roland. An excellent addition to young adult collections.–Larry Cooperman, Seminole High School, Sanford, FL

Gr 7 Up–D.J. Schwenk, while not really happy, never complains or questions her life on the family’s small dairy farm in Wisconsin. After her father injures himself, the 15-year-old girl must do the farm work almost single-handedly, including milking the cows. She never really noticed the similarities between her life and the lives of the cows. D.J. is a jock, so on top of all her farm chores, she takes on training Brian, the quarterback on a rival school’s football team. The summer they spend together changes everything as D.J. discovers that she has lots to say about her life and what she wants out of it. Natalie Moore perfectly narrates this first novel by Catherine Gilbert Murdock (Houghton, 2006). The characters come alive with her subtly intimate narration, voices changes, and use of accents. Listeners will relate to D.J.’s summer of self-discovery. Not to be missed.–Stephanie A. Squicciarini, Fairport Public Library, NY

Gr 9 Up–Things aren’t going too well for E. Lockart’s 16-year-old protagonist, Gretchen Yee. Not only have her parents just announced they’re divorcing and her best friend, Katya, seems to be avoiding her, but she’s also doing poorly in English and hasn’t read the assigned Metamorphosis by Kafka. Maybe it would be better to be a Fly on the Wall (Delacorte, 2006). When she wakes up to find herself a fly in the boy’s locker room, her response is a mix of comic book super hero fantasy and panic about her future. When the boys start arriving for gym class, her thoughts turn to inspecting male anatomy. In time, she discovers an unexpected admirer and learns about some guy problems, including one that affects Titus, her love interest. With her parents away, no one questions her disappearance and whatever mysterious force has turned her into an insect returns her to her own bed in a few days. By then Gretchen has learned lessons about patience and she has a new understanding about her relationships with friends and family. Catlin Greer narrates with convincing teen wistfulness and anger that reflects the teen artist’s inner turmoil. While this novel isn’t exactly parallel with Kafka’s classic, it does explore the same feelings of uncertainty and isolation. Gretchen’s descriptions of boys below the belt and her occasional four-letter expletives make this atypical fantasy best suited for mature high school audiences.–Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT

Gr 9 Up–Sarah Dessen’s novel (Viking, 2006) centers around 17-year-old Annabel Greene, the youngest of three sisters who have each worked as models. While the oldest girl is talkative to a fault and the middle one is fiercely stoic, Annabel is reliably compliant and fair-minded. However, Annabel has lost a number of friends over the years, allowing herself to be talked into deserting an old one for a bossier new one, or retiring from the social scene entirely rather than reveal what really happened on the night she was accused of trying to steal her then best friend’s boyfriend. Annabel falls in with an outsider at school, a boy who has learned to manage his anger and who tries to convince Annabel that she isn’t helping herself as she tries to maintain the image of being perfect and under control. Events in Dessen’s novel are telegraphed so far ahead that there are no surprises. Like many of her novels, this one treats the teens family members as individuals who are interesting but ultimately flat: the mother is psychologically fragile, the middle sister manifests her repressed emotions in an eating disorder, and so on. Annabel is better developed, as is Owen, her music-minded new friend. Jennifer Ikeda provides distinctive voices for some of the important characters, making it easy to keep the cast straight. There are occasional bits of humor, but Annabel’s delicate self-absorption doesn’t make it easy for listeners to remain emotionally engaged for 12 hours.–Francisca Goldsmith, Berkeley Public Library, CA

Gr 8 Up–Upbeat music greets listeners at the beginning of Jack Gantos’s eerie gothic tale (Farrar, 2006) about obsessive maternal love that has gone awry. The narrator tells us in a light-hearted voice to dispel any notion that her story is as “perversely gothic” as Shelley’s Frankenstein or any Edgar Alan Poe tale, but don’t believe her. Actress Lisa Datz assumes the first person voice of 7-year-old Ivy, the only child of a single mother. The girl spends her after-school hours with unconventional albino twins, Abner and Adolph, in the basement of their pharmacy in a small Pennsylvania town. After Ivy discovers the preserved body of the twins’ deceased mother in their apartment, she develops an voracious interest in taxidermy and is soon embalming small animals alongside the twins. On Ivy’s 16th birthday, her mother relates her family history and the nature of a curse which causes every Rumbaugh child to plot ways to keep their mothers with them forever. Ivy’s mother insists that Ivy leave town and attend a business school so she can escape the curse. But on the day of her college interview, her mother dies in a freak accident and Ivy and the twins set to work making a mold of her mother so Ivy can be near her always. The cheery narration belies the dark nature of this bizarre tale. The description of a sex scene, the details of the preservation process, and traditional gothic elements may offend some listeners, but this disquieting tale offers much to think about, including the role of free will, genetic engineering, and cloning in society today.–Wendy Woodfill, Hennepin County Library, Minnetonka, MN

Gr 7-10–Irene Morse, a 14-year-old New Jersey girl, has dreams of moving to Los Angeles and opening a hair salon featuring hairdos from literary characters in Adele Griffin’s novel (Putnam, 2006). Her plans come to a screeching halt when she loses her summer job in her mom’s beauty salon for not measuring up as a shampoo girl. The summer is bad enough with her two best friends away having fun, but then she’s forced to take a job babysitting. While at Larkin’s Pond with her charges, she meets Starla, a beautiful and sassy lifeguard. The summer drags along with days at the pond with the kids, e-mails from her friends, book recommendations from her former English teacher, and flack from her Mom’s boyfriend. Starla is obsessed over her recent breakup with her boyfriend, “D,” who turns out to be a boy Irene knew from school several years ago who has morphed into a hunk and likes Irene. It won’t be an easy relationship to begin with Starla looming in the background, but Irene realizes she doesn’t need to dream anymore, she should just start living and see what happens. Jessica Almasy reads with a fresh teen voice, does a satisfactory job with the adult voices, and intones just the right amount of excitement, neediness, and imploring for the children. Teens will relate to Irene’s experiences. A great read, especially for those who enjoy books by Ann Brashares, Meg Cabot, and Sue Limb.–Jo-Ann Carhart, East Islip Public Library, NY

Gr 7-10–In Chris Wooding’s horror/fantasy novel (Orchard Books, 2005), Poison is a teenage girl with striking violet eyes who lives in a dank, miserable swamp world and constantly quarrels with her mother. When Poison’s baby sister is stolen by phaeries and a sinister changeling is left in her place, Poison sets out to rescue her. The teen must leave her secure but stifling environment and enter the Realm of Phaerie in her quest to rescue Azalea. Once there, he meets spider queen, bone witch, and other terrible creatures. She is helped by a worldly-wise storyteller who outfits her for the trip. Some of Poison’s adventures mimic familiar sounding fairy tales. Poison’s love of reading and books creates an interesting focal point as it contributes to her ability to succeed in the frightening and dangerous world she has entered to pursue an end that offers some startling revelations. Narrator Virginia Leishman has a British-accented voice and uses inflection and tone to convincingly assume the roles of a multitude of characters. Horrifying characters and tension-filled events make this a good listen for those who enjoy very scary tales and dark and dangerous fantasy scenarios.–Jane P. Fenn, Corning-Painted Post West High School, NY

Gr 6 Up–Calwyn finds endless winter and a fatal illness spreading among her fellow priestesses as she returns home in the final installment (Arthur A. Levine Books, 2006) of Kate Constable’s “The Chanters of Tremaris Trilogy.” Though she has lost her magical chanting powers, the 18-year-old is soon on a quest to find the other half of an iron wheel, the key to The Tenth Power. Constable traces Calwyn’s journey as she finds her beloved but ill Darrow, but they are soon parted when she is kidnapped by her old enemy, Samis. She knows the despotic sorcerer has the other half of the wheel, but she is surprised that the powerful enchanter hopes that she will unite with him to rule the world. Calwyn spoils that plot when her restored chanting powers allow her to dispatch a less-sinister Samis to roam the cosmos in a ruined city turned starship. A magic horn, sacred pools of water, and a battle with a race of ancient tree people all add to this female-focused fantasy. A ritual dance finally brings Darrow and the others back to health, as well as ending the freezing weather. Lina Patel narrates with a soft strength that emphasizes the personality of the main character. While this final episode brings Calwyn to her place as The Singer of All Songs (Arthur A. Levine, 2004), the conclusion has the young couple leaving on a new journey and Samis lurking in space, so there are potential story lines for the series to continue. A good choice for middle and high school libraries looking for novels featuring strong, but not invulnerable, female heroes.–Barbara Wysocki, Cora J. Belden Library, Rocky Hill, CT

Gr 7 Up–Missing children are the focus of this psychologically creepy audio production of British author Celia Rees’s novel (Scholastic Point, pap. new ed, 2003) about teen reporters investigating the supernatural. Billy, a homeless boy, contacts the brooding, nomadic Fraser, a new student who has recently joined the staff of the school newspaper. Fraser, whose younger brother disappeared years ago, senses that Billy’s skeletal frame and ragged clothes betray a worry far deeper than lack of food or shelter. And he suspects there may be a connection between two recently missing children and the town’s crumbling network of underground tunnels where he last saw the 10-year-old loitering. Meanwhile, Fraser becomes romantically involved with Cassie, the paper’s editor, who has a penchant for publishing stories about sinister happenings. When a fellow reporter’s sister disappears, Fraser and Cassie start asking questions. The author does a fine job of unfolding menacing suspense through small details and questionable events. Read by Australian actress Shirley Barthelmie, Rees’s competently written supernatural thriller will keep listeners spellbound. Barthelmie’s quiet narration smoothly blends Fraser’s Scottish accent into those of the other characters. Intermittent chanting of a particularly haunting playground rhyme, an English country school setting, and chilling music at the start and finish of each CD firmly establish the tone of this gothic world. Teens who want to be comfortably scared will appreciate this story.–Celeste Steward, Alameda County Library, Fremont, CA

PreS-Gr 3–Born in Trinidad and now based out of the San Francisco Bay Area, Asheba delves deep into his Caribbean roots for inspiration on his third recording for children. He makes the three traditional children’s songs on the recording--“All Around the Kitchen,” “Who Stole the Cookie,” and “You Are My Sunshine”—his own by adding details such as a reggae beat or counting to the presentation. The nine other tunes were composed by Asheba, who provides vocals and guitar. Standouts include “Birthday Thing” (the rat-a-tat-tat of the snare makes this a new birthday anthem to use), “Donkey Cart” (an accordion adds bounce to this jaunty ride), and “Picoplat Calypso” (a laid-back calypso). The artist’s storytelling skills are evident in songs such as “Magahmoto” (a reggae number about a very mischievous boy) and “Amahlittle Pumpkin” (a celebration of a family car ride with a steel drum in the background). Close harmonies and bongo drums are featured in the reggae tune “ABC (Alphabet Story),” but the extended bridge gives a twist to the traditional listing of letters. Instrumental dubs of “ABC,” “Birthday,” “Cookie,” and “Kitchen” give listeners and teachers the opportunity to try singing Caribbean music at storytime.–Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH

PreS-Gr 2–Little Duck has a big idea—he wants to dance on Broadway. To get there, he must fly from the prairie where he has grown up to the Big Apple. With help from a truck driver named Big Betty, the duck realizes his dream. The book, written by Saskatchewan-born singer-songwriter Connie Kaldor, is enhanced by charming illustrations. The second part of the book includes the lyrics for the songs on the CD, written and performed by Kaldor. Among the songs are “Slug Opera” (channeling Bernadette Peters in this operatic tribute to the pest), “Alligator Waltz” (a tango mimicking Madelyn Kahn’s singing style), “A Duck in New York City” (sung in a big Broadway show-tune style, a la Ethel Merman, with an excerpt of “New York, New York” included), “Seed in the Ground” (building as the song progresses in a manner similar to The House That Jack Built), “I Love Tomatoes” (set to a Caribbean beat), and “Quack, Quack, Quack” (an a capella piece about animals). The CD also includes a PDF file of sheet music and song lyrics in both English and French. Kaldor excels and every song is a winner. Sure to be a hit for preschool story times.–Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH

PreS-Gr 2–This CD features 12 songs that support the story written by Don Gilmore and illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay (Kane/Miller Book Pubs., 1998). Sarah has had issues with her brother, Frederic, from the day he was born. His parents named him after the composer Chopin, and have high hopes for his musical future. They provide him with lessons on many different instruments including the piano, clarinet, and violin, but he seems to have no musical aptitude. When Frederic attends his sister’s youth concert, he is mesmerized by the conductor. At his seventh birthday party, Frederic uses a wooden spoon to conduct wonderful music that he creates. The songs build on different aspects of the story. For example, Frederic leaves his clarinet on the city bus and his mother takes him to the bus lost and found. The song “By Accident on the Bus” builds on the story with the lyrics: “I forgot it on the bus. Oh! What a shame, such a shame…I forgot it on the bus, but mother found it just the same.” The songs all have a big-band sound and feature a variety of musical styles. The CD has printable files with illustrations, lyrics, and musical arrangements. The lyrics are also included in the book. A fun addition for school and public libraries.–Maren Ostergard, King County Library System, Issaquah, WA

K-Gr 4–Julie Silver sings 14 songs that were composed by Aline Shader (1936-2002), who was her grade-school music teacher. Well known to school music teachers, Shader’s songs are mostly in a jazz musical style, with some folk, pop, and Latin added. Silver’s vocals sound very similar to Cathy Fink’s. From Shader’s over 200 compositions, the following were selected for this recording: “A Nice Little Piggy,” “Happy Birthday World,” “Grandma’s Song,” “Story,” “Smile,” “For Love to Grow,” “Gotta Get Up and Dance,” “Partners,” “Fable (The Tortoise and the Hare),” “Rainsong,” “Bicycle,” “After the Sun Goes Down,” “If I Had a Lot of Time,” and “Una Luna Brilla” (in Spanish). Vocals and instrumentals are outstanding. This loving tribute will be a welcome addition to most music collections.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

PreS-Gr 3–Nutrition and healthy eating are the focus of these 15 songs. Although all the lyrics are original, a few of the songs are set to existing tunes, such as “Vive la Compagnie,” Beethoven’s “Fifth Symphony,” and “Cowboy’s Lament.” Other musical styles include calypso, rock, jazz, Dixieland, and Hawaiian. “Farmer’s Market” and “Shake, Mix, Pound, and Roll” are perfect songs for a storytime on food. Other tunes deal with table manners, spoiled food, food groups, vitamins, tropical fruits, seafood, and cleaning up after cooking. Seven of the songs are repeated with Spanish lyrics, and seven others are repeated as instrumental versions. All of the vocalists and musicians perform well. A good resource for classroom or library storytime.–Beverly Bixler, San Antonio Public Library, TX

K-Gr 3–This album, composed and sung by New York City-based Erin Lee Kelly and Marci Applebaum, features 12 songs—one for each month of the year. Standouts include “My Treehouse,” a rock-a-billy celebration that is gutsy, almost raw sounding; “Elm Avenue Waltz,” a story-song about breaking the neighbor’s window; and “The Moonlight Wolfbite Batjuice Jamboree,” a creepy retelling about attending a ghoulish party. The duos’ musical talents and child-like soprano voices are well-matched and nearly interchangeable. They switch solos back and forth freely and pack the harmonies tightly. Interesting touches to the songs include the use of a penny whistle in “September March” (an expression of worry about beginning school), hand clapping during “Thanksgiving with Aunt Pearl” (a desire to eat the meal at the grown-up’s table), and the sound of an ocean wave crashing onshore at the opening of “All Wet” (a celebration of various places to splash water). “This Year,” a pop tune of tag-team singing, speaks of the promise of new beginnings and setting goals for the year. “Waiting for It to Grow,” a country/folk number featuring tight harmonies, offers a step-by-step guide to planting a garden. Use this throughout the year.–Stephanie Bange, Wilmington-Stroop Branch, Dayton Metro Library, OH

Gr 2-6–Nancy Raven’s earthy voice just gets better and better. Surrounding herself with other talented, mature musicians, Raven combines vocals and traditional instruments to produce this album dedicated entirely to water songs. There’s a great deal of variety, not only in the music styles but also in the origination and subject matter of the 20 songs. Folk music, lilting lullabies, and music influenced by the South Seas are all here. The traditional African-American song “Sardines, Hey!” is richly accompanied with harmonica and vocals. “Talking Nautical” is a cumulative song that clarifies unfamiliar terms like topside, galley, bunk, and deck. A surprise ending will have listeners chiming in with their own responses. There are a couple of Hawaiian/Polynesian songs, as well as sailing tunes from England, Ireland, Australia, and Italy. Creative lesson planners could easily use this title for an imaginary musical geographic sailing trip. Useful for social studies and music classes as well as leisure listening.–Kirsten Martindale, formerly Menomonie Public Library, WI