Hawaiian Playground by Putumayo Kids (CD/26 min.)

2009 Notable Children's Recordings

The various songs set the mood for an imaginary Hawaiian vacation. Use traditional songs and instruments such as the Ukulele. Some songs are in English and some in Hawaiian by various artists.

Audiobook: Slam by Penguin Audio (7 hours/6discs)

2009 Amazing Audiobooks for Young Adults

Slam by Nick Hornby, read by Nicholas Hoult. Sam is a 16 year-old boy who loves to skate. (skatebording) Tony Hawk is his idol. He usually seek advice from him. When things seem to be going just right for his family, Sam receives a announcement from his girlfriend Alicia. An event that will change his life forever. The character comes to life as it is narrated. Sam's voice and feelings are clearly expressed. After trying to run away from his problems, Sam's imature character grows up and matures. Sam takes action as he enters the life of a teenage father.

Listen to the Wind:The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Susan L. Roth

2009 NYT Bestselling books for Children and Teens

A children's version of the biography of Greg Mortenson, who built a school for the children of Korphe a small village in Pakiston. Beautiful collage illustrations.

Goldilicious by Victoria Kann

2009 NYT Bestselling Books for Children and Teens

Goldilicious or Goldie for short is unicorn that belongs to Pinkalicious. She is not just any unicorn. She is a kite-flying, roller-skating, high-jumping unicorn. Together they Pinkalicious and Goldie can do just about anything. A book any young girl will enjoy.

Gallop: A Scanimation Picture Book by Rufus Butler Seder

2009 NYT Bestselling Books for Children and Teens

Animals come to life as you flip through the pages of this great book. This is a book that kids will enjoy looking at over and over again.

A Visitor for Bear by Bonny Becker

2009 Notable Children's Book

A humorous story about a bear who wanted no friends and a persistent mouse who wanted a friend. Bear can't really get rid of mouse, who keeps on popping up in unexpected places. At the end Bear accepts that he needs a friend. Beautiful illustrations bring the book to life.

Audiobook: I'm Dirty by Weston Woods Studios (CD/6min.)

2009 Odyssey Honor Audiobook

Written by Kate & Jim McMullan, narrated by Steve Buscemi. A hard working backhoe loader that loves his job. Great music and background sounds. Great illustrations. Kids will enjoy this book.

Audiobook: Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Foltale by Peachtree Publishers (CD/10 min.)

2009 Odyssey Honor Audiobook


A Cuban folktale,written and narrated by Carmen Agra Deedy. Martina the Beautiful cockroach is looking for a husband. Her Cuban grandmother offers some advise that will help Martina find the right one. Beautiful story. Available in both English and Spanish.

Audiobook: The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Weston Woods Studios (CD 8 min.)

2009 Notable Children's Recordings

Great audio book. Brings story to life. Narrated by Paul Giamatti. Alexander T. Wolfe gives his version of what really happens to the 3 little pigs. He just happened to be sat the worng place at the wrong time. A recording that kids will enjoy.

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

2009 Caldecott Honor Book

James and Eamon a best friends. They are looking foward to spending a week at Nature camp. A week without parents. Eventhough things didn't come out as expected, James and Eamon still had the best week ever at Bill and Pam's beach house. Join the boys in their summer vacation adventure. It will be a week to remember.

Maybelle in the Soup by Katie Speck

2010 Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee

Maybelle lived under the refrigerator in Mr. and Mrs. Peabody's home. She really love to eat. If only she could just taste the soup that Mrs. Peabody was preparing for her guests. WhenMaybelle decides to disobey the rules and the warnings of Henry the flea, a great adventure begins.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

What To Do About Alice? by Barbara Kerley

A River of Words by Jen Bryant

The House in the Night by Susan Marie Swanson

The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II, The Kingdom on the Waves by M.T. Anderson

2009 Printz Honor Book

Octavian and his tutor, Dr. Trefusis, fled into British occupied Boston. With Dr. Trefusis becoming terribly ill, Octavian obtains a job in an orchestra entertaining British soldiers. When Dunmore issues a proclamation that states that all servants or slaves that join his army will be granted freedom, Octavian decides to join the army. Octavian placed his violin down in search of a more "devastating weapon" that would defeat those who were denying the freedom to his people. He enlists in Lord Dunmore's Ethiopian Regiment under the name Octavian Nothing. He was no longer a slave but a free man, so he thought. Through the many experiences he ecounters, Octavian realizes that serving as a soldier is just another type of bondage. Throughout the book, Octavian keeps a journal where he shares the experiences his regiment goes through attempting to gain their freedom.

The Surrender Tree by Margarita Engle

2009 NewberyHonor Book

This is a historical account of the three wars Cuba fought for independence. It is the story of Rosa, a former slave who hides in caves healing slaves, rebels and even the enemy soldiers. Rosa believed that healing was a gift from God, so she didn't charge for her services. She felt she couldn't charge for God's miracles. Rosa is a fictional character based on the real-life character, the legendary healer, Rosa La Bayamesa.

Chicken Said "Cluck!" by Judyann Ackerwan Grant

2009 Notable Children's Books

Earl and Pearl were planting pumpkins. Chicken wanted to help but she was always getting in the way. If only she could find a way to help. Chicken gets her chance when she helps shoo away the grasshoppers from the pumpkin patch. Chicken has saved the day!

Nation by Terry Pratchett

2009 Printz Medal Book

"One person is nothing. Two people are a nation." (p. 252)

Mau finds himself as the last survior of his nation. Mau's island village has been swept away by the "big wave". He thinks he is completely alone when he encounters the ghost girl, Daphne, who has survived a shipwreck. As the hours and days go by, people begin to find refuge on the island. Broken families in search of help are now under the care of Mau and Daphne. Breaking all cultural barriers(language, beliefs, and customs), Mau and Daphne find themselves searching for new ways to help the inhabitats of their new nation survive. Two strangers from two different nation join forces to create a new nation.

What Can You Do With a Rebozo? by Carmen Tafolla

2009 Notable Children's Books

This book inspires creativity using a rebozo or Mexican shawl. It recognizes the rebozo as a cultural icon. The rebozo has been and still is used by the Mexican-American culture. The bright and colorful illustrations demonstrate the vivid colors of the Mexican-American culture.

The Underneath by Kathi Appelt

2009 Newberry Honor Book

An abandoned cat about to have kittens befriends a lonely chained up hound underneath the porch of a home in the forest. An unsual friendship develops into an unsual family. A mama cat, two kittens and a hound are the members of such family. The family is safe as long as they stay in the underneath. This changes when the curiosity of a playful kitten sets off a chain of events. If only he had stayed in the underneath like he was told. Separated from his family, the only thing that keeps him going is the promise he made to his mother. He needs to go back and take care of his sister, but how if he had never been out of the underneath.

Tender Morsels by Margo Lanagan

2009 Printz Medal Winner

Liga lives with her two daughters, Branza and Urdda, in her own personal heaven. A heaven in which the cruelties of the the real world are not present. After being sexually abused by her father and then raped by several town boys, Liga feels that her daughters are protected. The fantasy of this world would soon be invaded by wild bears and magic. How long would Liga be able to protect her daughters from the real world? Entering the real world would mean facing her past. A past her daughters don't know about. A past filled with sexual abuse and rape. Take a journey into Liga's heaven and then back to reality.

Before John Was A Jazz Giant by Carole Boston Weatherford

2009 Corretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book

Before John Coltrane was a famous jazz saxophonist, he learned to listen to music in every situation. Music is all around us all we have to do is to listen. (2008 Henry Holt & Co.)

Buster goes to Cowboy Camp by Denise Fleming

2009 Notable Children's Book List

Buster is going to Cowboy Camp. Buster is not happy. He will miss his home, Brown Shoes and Betty. Learn some Cowpoke words along with Buster as he learns that everyday is a busy day at Cowboy Camp. (2008 Henry Holt & Co.)

Savvy by Ingrid Law

2009 Newberry Honor Book

Being part of the Beaumont family meant receiving a Savvy(supernatural powers) at the age of 13. A couple of days before Mississippi Beaumont's 13th birtday her Poppa is involved in a horrible accident. Mibs had always dreamed of receiving an extraordinary savvy just like her brothers. Now all she wants is a savvy that will help heal her father. What will be Mibs savvy? Will it help save her Poppa? Discover your savvy as you join Mibs and friends on their adventure aboard the pink bus.

We are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

2009 Coretta Scott King Honor Book

Kadir Nelson provides the reader with this inspirational story about the history of the Negro Baseball League. Despite the discrimination and segration these baseball players endured, they played because they loved baseball. The author plays tribute to these heroes through the words and illustrations in this book.

Old Bear by Kevin Henkes

Surprises accoding to Humphrey by Betty G. Birney

2010 Bluebonnet Nominee

Humphrey, the classroom hamster, has a plan. Can he help each of his classmates, with their everyday problems. Follow Humphrey as he escapes his cage and encounters exciting and scary surprises. (Puffin, 2008)

Alvin Ho by Lenore Look

2010 Bluebonnet Nominee

Alvin Ho is allergic to just about everything (school, girls, teachers, and anything that is scary). Things would just be fine for Alvin, if only he did not have to go to school. With summer ending, Alvin has created a PDK(Personal Disaster Kit) that will help him in case of an emergency.

The only place Alvin feels comfortable talking is at home or on the bus, what is he going to do now that school is about to start. (Schwartz & Wade 2008)

Piper Reed by Kimberly Willis Holt

2010 Bluebonnet Nominee

Piper Reed, the daughter of a Navy officer, has lived from Texas to Guam. As her father would say, "When a man joins the Navy, his family joins the Navy." Join Piper and her family in their everyday adventures as they move to yet another state. (Holt, 2007)