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Gr 9 Up –Matt Edwards, a creative and humorous young man from rural Wisconsin, became addicted to prescription opioids, including heroin, as a teen and young adult.
Gr 7 Up –As a nine-year-old boy, Tyrus Wong emigrated to California from China with his father in the early 1900s, experiencing deprivation, poverty, and prejudice during his formative years.
K-Gr 2 –Each of these rereleased seasonal stories features Fletcher, a sweet but mildly anxious young fox as he copes with falling leaves, springtime blossoms, and a snowy Christmas.
PreS-Gr 2 –With this 50th anniversary four-disc DVD set featuring 30 episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, viewers young and old will be able to visit Mister Rogers, his friends, and the Neighborhood of Make-Believe over and over again.
Gr 4 Up –Having gained the trust and acceptance of a mother cheetah, conservationist and cameraman Kim Wolhuter takes viewers on an 18-month journey into the life of the cheetah and her five cubs.
K-Gr 3 –From Jake Gyllenhaal’s rendition of Mordicai Gerstein’s The Man Between Two Towers to B.D. Wong’s exquisite vocal work for the suspenseful Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China, the Caldecott classics of yesteryear come alive through the voices of skilled actors in this repackaged collection of winners.
A beautiful collection that teaches the value of friendship, kindness, and imagination. Highly recommended for preschool and early elementary collections.
Although touching on historical and environmental issues, the narrowness of the topic and the unsystematic presentation make this less than useful for a curriculum-related classroom application.
This visually engaging production gives viewers a brief overview of the classic tale. Although each March sister is described with broad generalizations, the story snippets in this retelling may encourage children to seek out the full-length book.
This program should appeal to general viewers who enjoy learning about dinosaurs and disasters. It would serve as suitable viewing in the classroom. The personable scientists make the past come stomping to life, hopefully inspiring students.
A worthy purchase for fans of the Disney Junior show; newcomers will be drawn in as well.
The variety of popular series can help introduce younger children to space exploration. Recommended for elementary schools and collections serving younger viewers.
This collection of reissued programs is inspired, and the bonus glimpses into their creation seal it as a good buy for elementary-aged students.
There are too many things wrong with this documentary to recommend its purchase.
This film would be useful in environmental studies, marine biology, and sociology classes, as well as of interest to those concerned about climate change or Caribbean life and cultures.
The inclusion of nonfiction as well as classic fiction titles in this repackaged collection was inspired. Perfect for dinosaur-themed programs.
A well-researched documentary focusing on the roots of the Ku Klux Klan up to the current day. Suitable for American history and civil rights classes, particularly where there is instructional time to process inflammatory statements.
An unexpected addition to Holocaust studies, excellent for World War II history and ethics studies.
A moving, emotional snapshot of policy and protest in Ferguson, MO. Very timely and useful for inviting dialogue and inciting action. It would be appropriate for U.S. history, government, and political science classes.
A compelling and highly recommended film about addiction that should be shared with high school students, parents, and others entrusted with the care of teens.
This is a solid purchase for elementary and public libraries and will likely be in demand as an example of a literary biography of high artistic quality about an important American woman.
Useful for anyone with an interest in Stonehenge or in seeing scientific methods at work as researchers use incomplete evidence to explore potential conclusions.
Whether celebrating the sheer silliness of Keller's imagination or learning facts about teeth and good manners, this collection of rereleased videos will be a favorite among young viewers. Recommended for all elementary and public libraries.
Beautiful artwork and engaging narration help this retelling shine, hopefully inspiring viewers to explore this classic tale in its entirety.
These rereleased stories are an optional purchase for elementary school and public libraries.
Schools and libraries in need of more drug prevention material will find this concise and information rich program a useful addition to their collections.
Not recommended except where interest in the Titanic is insatiable.
This is an excellent film for any school library or collection for art students. Moreover, art lovers will most assuredly appreciate it and become inspired by Wong's tenacity and accomplishments.
The prime audience is three to five years old, but other enthusiasts will certainly be entertained and enjoy learning how trains operate. A good addition to public library or school library collections.
A fast-paced, information-packed retelling of a colorful period in Atlantic history sure to engage students, and an entertaining supplement perfect for rainy days.
Both episodes will be of interest primarily to history buffs. However, general viewers (whether at home or in the classroom) may find the narrow scope too limiting.
The use of a middle school narrator to address the problem of plastic trash will make this readily suitable in an environmental science curriculum.
This entertaining and informative film will be enjoyed by science classes and animal lovers and will win new otter fans.
This film will find its best use in humanities and social studies, rather than ecology or science, classes. Opportunities for discussing personal goals, persistence, disrupting a cycle of poverty, gender roles, and differing cultural values abound.
This may be useful in a health class, but at over two hours, its appeal will be limited to those hoping to make changes to their diet.
Essential for all libraries in all neighborhoods.
The content and high-quality productions make this a recommended purchase for public and elementary school libraries.
This is a top-shelf collection of stories featuring characters who display courage, integrity, dignity, and strength while facing life's challenges, and it should not be saved just for African American History Month.
A well-done and heartfelt look at the personal toll of addiction and what recovery for younger people involves. Good for starting a discussion and suitable for high school and public library collections.
This film would be of interest to animal lovers, biology classes, environmental studies, and videography classes.
The program may interest those who enjoyed the book, as well as students who have a specific interest in birds of prey, but the intense focus on the personal detracts from its use for classroom instruction. It's more suitable for public library collections focusing on grief recovery and personal growth.
While the material presented provides no new insight, the format makes this program useful in classrooms or in small group discussions.
The scarcity of fiction at this level on the theme of architecture adds value to this selection. An optional purchase for elementary school and public library collections.
This high-quality selection will serve as a seasonal feast for the senses and provide inspiration for budding young artists and writers who love nature. Highly recommended.
In one convenient place, students, librarians, and teachers have access to superbly narrated Caldecott classics.
These Caldecott favorites, whether shown together or independent of each other, will find a home in many elementary collections, thanks to their stunning artwork, engaging narratives, and informative bonus interviews.
The involvement of a teenage student in the development and presentation of this summary of the causes and consequences of climate change makes this accessible to environmental science students.
Not only is this nature film enlightening and educational but highly entertaining as well. This would make a valuable addition to any school library or science classroom collection.
Science students will find this film engaging and enlightening for its outstanding photography of miniature creatures.
A powerful overview suitable for education and library science studies and as a discussion starter for public libraries.
Perhaps of interest to schools on Cape Cod or in other Massachusetts towns on the coast to examine what happens in their own backyard, but not recommended for general purchase.
This DVD would pair well with such books as Tomie DePaola's Bill and Pete Go Down the Nile or Fred Marcellino's I, Crocodile for even more crocodilian amusement.
Dramatic and emotionally gripping, the heroic efforts to save baby elephant Naledi are paired with related information concerning the massive loss of African elephants to ivory poachers. Valuable for discussions on conservation and animal life.
With excellent production value, this program will likely hold students' attention. There are also elements of interest for clothing and product design students as well.
A program that is of interest for general viewing and for those who devour materials on animals. However, it does take a while to get to the point, so classrooms where time is at a premium may want to skip this title.
Though a moving collection of footage compiled about a movement that is still going strong, it lacks enough depth to make it a worthy resource.
A personal and unusual, sometimes poignant, look at the history of a sculpture, ownership, and the art world. Most suitable for public library collections.
An excellent tool to include in American history classes.
The reviews for the spring 2018 issue of Series Made Simple have arrived.
From engineering feats to plane crashes and Brexit, the following selections represent a range of time periods, attitudes, and movements.
Reliable nonfiction collections boast robust sports sections that complement the needs of the community while also offering a glimpse into some fields that may seem a little quirky.
Librarians selecting activity series should always seek out coherent instructions bolstered by visual information where needed, and laid out in such a way that young people are never left searching for the next step.
Middle grade readers are well served this season with a large selection of titles covering habitats, ecosystems, and biomes.
From the molten core of Earth to the farthest reaches of space, this season’s new science series cover topics near and far.
Up-to-minute coverage of political leaders is just one reason why this season’s series are noteworthy.
These series share one thing in common: they are translated well, and in some cases flawlessly, which is an encouraging change from years past.
Support young people with the following sets on character building, new literacy, and more.
Young children are in a constant state of growth and acceleration. Here are some stellar picks to accompany them on their learning journey.
Gr 8 Up –This series contains many primary source documents including images of period maps, political cartoons, paintings, and newspaper headlines.
Gr 9 Up –Filmmaker Brian Malone presents cautionary evidence of the stealth privatization movement of public schools across the country.
Gr 4-8 –A teacher discounted young African-Puerto Rican student Arturo Schomburg’s heritage, stating, “There were no Negro heroes worth noting.” Rather than discourage him, that comment spurred his lifelong quest for the facts.
School and public libraries will want to purchase this entertaining offering. In addition to the entertainment value, viewers will learn facts about the states and geography.
With stunning scope, this biographical piece changes the perception of black history in America, due to the passion, scholarship, and curation of one phenomenal hero.
This film would be useful in biology and environmental science classes. The brevity makes it possible to view the whole film in a single class period.
Health and physical education teachers will find this film a valuable supplement to any textbook and one that can definitely be used for more information on healthy routines.
History buffs and volcano enthusiasts will find this fascinating. However, general viewers (whether at home or in the classroom) may find its scope too narrow.
The 1985 TV production of Anne of Green Gables starring Megan Follows, Colleen Dewhurst, and Richard Farnsworth is still the Anne that can't be beat. It is available on DVD and belongs in every collection.
This reissue would make an excellent addition to library collections for a new audience.
An inspiring story of triumph over adversity. Deej has a very mature and expressive vocabulary that may inspire those in an English or creative writing classroom.
This production will tie in nicely with STEM units, reminding students to have confidence in themselves and that sometimes the biggest breakthroughs come from embracing failure and revising original plans.
POG's premise that cancer is a disease of genetic mutations and treatment should target what caused the mutation is a fascinating development in the ongoing struggle to battle cancer. Recommended for science classes studying biology and genetics.
While this film would be useful in high school classes, it is more suited for professionals to start a conversation about educational reform, specifically the dark side of charter schools.
This packs a lot into 22 minutes and would be a good choice for anyone looking for an even-handed educational program.
A short and useful introduction that can be used in groups and with individuals in counseling situations.
Nuanced and poignant, this film is a highly recommended addition to classroom discussions of criminality and justice and a revealing slice of contemporary Native American life.
A fun addition to animated storybook collections and an especially good choice for fans of princesses.
Though the documentary includes several clips from the movie, it might be helpful if the viewers have seen the movie prior to viewing. Its purpose, other than proving a point about accuracy, is unclear. Scholastic use will be limited.
This quirky film offers a different take on tarantulas. It's a suitable addition to public library collections.
This DVD makes an excellent addition to library collections where the books are popular.
A good choice for libraries in need of fairy-tale stories for elementary school youth or families looking for entertainment.
This DVD is a standalone addition to the series for public library or school library collections.
For students studying the environment, though a more general selection that includes information on American rivers might be a better choice.
The detailed series is great for a quick overview of a particular subject, with graphic maps, primary source images, stimulating quotes, and effective visual techniques to make the images come alive. Useful for AP U.S. history, these resources can lead to lively class discussions.
All in all, the DVD will bring smiles to many young faces, and viewers will surely rehash their fondest memories of past birthdays while looking forward to their next one.
Suggested for collections needing concise or travel videos. Good for an introduction on Puerto Rico and for those looking to travel there.
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