Books listed in this issue of Talking Book Topics were recently sent to cooperating libraries. The complete collection contains books by many authors on fiction and nonfiction subjects, including animals, geography, nature, mystery, sports, and others. Contact your cooperating library to learn more about the wide range of books available in the collection. Cassette books, labeled with the code RC, play at 15/16 ips. To order books, contact your cooperating library.
The World of Animals RC 39913
Living Fossils RC 39926
by Cass R. Sandak
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Fossils are usually thought to be the remains of dead things.
Living fossils, however, are organisms that developed in very
ancient times and have remained relatively unchanged. Some
living fossils are well-known species such as cockroaches and
opossums. Others are rare survivors like the ginkgo tree and the
horseshoe crab. The author discusses evolution and animals and
plants that are living fossils. For grades 5-8 and older
readers. 1992.
Christmas in the Big House, Christmas in the Quarters RC
40586
by Patricia C. and Fredrick L. McKissack
read by Chuck Young
1 cassette
It's 1859. The Virginia plantation is getting ready for
Christmas. The Big House is clean, the tree decorated, the
fireplace lit, and food prepared. Visitors will be welcomed,
carols sung, stories told, and gifts unwrapped. There will be
talk about war. Meanwhile, preparations in the Quarters are for
singing, dancing, eating, and family reunions. The slaves talk
about freedom. For grades 3-6. 1994.
Thanksgiving: Stories and Poems RC 41604
edited by Caroline Feller Bauer
read by Janis Gray
1 cassette
"Be thankful for noses on Thanksgiving Day" is just one of the
many thoughts in this bountiful book of poems, stories, and even
two recipes celebrating the all-American holiday. "The Ballad of
the Mayflower" sets the scene of Pilgrims and Indians,
"The Thanksgiving Day Parade" sends the giant balloons aloft,
and "To Friendship" toasts those near and dear. For grades 2-4. 1994.
The Excretory System RC 41613
by Alvin Silverstein and others
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette (Reissue)
An introduction to the excretory system showing the cooperation
of the lungs, skin, and urinary and digestive systems. Discusses
the waste a body creates, the function of the kidneys, how urine
is formed, excretion through the skin, and excretion through the
digestive tract. Contains a glossary of terms relating to the
excretory system. For grades 5-8. 1994.
The Digestive System RC 41619
by Alvin Silverstein and others
read by Patricia McDermott
1 cassette (Reissue)
A look at the digestive system. Authors discuss why we need the
the food we eat and the importance of a balanced diet; the
functions of the stomach, small intestines, pancreas, and liver;
and how the body gets rid of waste. Contains glossary of related
terms. For grades 5-8. 1994.
Conserving Energy RC 41834
by Donna Bailey
read by Janis Gray
1 cassette
Presenting facts such as a child sitting quietly uses about the
same amount of energy as a sixty-watt light bulb, Bailey
explains how we can reduce the waste of energy in our homes and
in transportation. Energy sources are fossil fuels (oil, natural
gas, or coal) and hydroelectric or nuclear generators. No matter
where it comes from, the total amount of energy on earth stays
the same, although it can change forms. For grades 3-6. 1991.
Nathaniel Willy, Scared Silly RC 41843
retold by Judith Mathews and Fay Robinson
read by Andy Chappell
1 cassette
Nathaniel Willy lives with his Gramma in the country. One night
after Gramma kisses Nathaniel good night and closes the door,
Nathaniel thinks he hears a ghost. To stop him from being
scared, Gramma brings in the cat, then the dog, then the pig,
and even the cow, but Nathaniel still hears the ghost. For
preschool-grade 2. 1994.
Wasting Water RC 41853
by Donna Bailey
read by Janis Gray
1 cassette
Taking a shower instead of a bath can save about sixteen gallons
of water. Imagine you had to carry the water you use, about
eighty gallons a day, from a well, as is done in some countries.
This book explains how fresh water is made by nature, how water
is needed and used, how treatment plants provide clean water,
and what we all can do to reduce the waste of water and help
protect the environment. For grades 3-6. 1991.
Places of Refuge: Our National Wildlife Refuge System RC
41865
by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
read by Butch Hoover
1 cassette
In 1903, President Theodore Roosevelt, concerned about the
effects on native birds of fashion's craze for feathers, began
the National Wildlife Refuge System by setting aside Pelican
Island in Florida as a sanctuary for birds. By the mid-1990s,
there were about 470 refuges in the United States and its
territories. The author discusses the system's purposes,
management, problems, and future. For grades 4-7 and older
readers. 1992.
All about Basketball RC 41929
by George Sullivan
read by Christopher Hurt
1 cassette
A basic guide to the fast-paced game of basketball. Chapters
include a history of the sport, descriptions of the fouls and
penalties, basic skills needed, and the positions played.
Reference information includes lists of college and professional
teams and divisions, as well as a glossary of basketball terms.
Brief biographies of nine players include Michael Jordan and
Magic Johnson. For grades 5-8. 1991.
Wolf Cub Scout Book RC 41935
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Christopher Hurt
1 cassette (Reissue)
This handbook for the first phase of Cub Scouting explains the
requirements for completing the Wolf achievements and electives.
Also includes requirements for the initial Bobcat badge. For
grades 2-4. 1986.
The Big Bear Cub Scout Book RC 41936
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Christopher Hurt
1 cassette (Reissue)
This handbook for the second phase of Cub Scouting explains the
requirements for completing the Bear achievements and electives.
For grades 2-4. 1984.
Sovietrek: A Journey by Bicycle across Russia RC
41940
by Dan Buettner
read by Ken Kliban
1 cassette
In 1990, the last full year of the Soviet Union's existence, two
Americans and two Soviets cycled across the southern part of
Russia, a distance of 7,353 miles. Buettner, one of the
cyclists, describes the people they met, the places they
visited, and the problems they encountered on their journey,
which began on the western border and continued through thirteen
time zones to Vladivostok. For grades 5-8. 1994.
Rascal RC 41995
by Sterling North
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette (Reissue)
Although his life is full with a Saint Bernard, a family of
skunks, a raucous crow, and an unfinished canoe, Sterling is
captivated by a tiny raccoon kit he names Rascal. The ingenious
animal quickly takes over the house and Sterling's heart but
also makes enemies by stealing corn and raiding chicken coops.
Until he gets too big, Rascal shares many adventures with
Sterling in the Wisconsin countryside. For grades 4-7. 1963.
Everglades RC 42052
by Jean Craighead George
read by Christopher Hurt
1 cassette
George, a naturalist, describes life in the Everglades through
the eyes of a storyteller who takes five children there. The
storyteller describes the grass, orchids, trees, birds,
panthers, and snakes that once made the area beautiful. When the
children ask what happened to the flora and fauna, the
storyteller explains what humans have done and what can be done
to save the Everglades. For grades K-3 and older readers. 1995.
I Can Tell by Touching RC 42073
by Carolyn Otto
read by Christopher Hurt
1 cassette
A little boy describes how he always knows exactly where he is
because he can feel. He feels his back against the chair and his
elbows on the solid kitchen table, and he slides his hands over
the smooth polished wood. As he goes through his day, the boy
continues to feel everything around him. He also explains how to
test your ability to feel. For grades K-3. 1994.
Small Talk: A Book of Short Poems RC 42076
selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins
read by Gordon Gould
1 cassette
Collection of more than thirty very short poems whose subjects
include spring, rain, caterpillars, the city, growing up, winter
days, wet socks, and silence. For grades 2-5. 1995.
Braving the New World, 1619-1784: From the Arrival of the
Enslaved Africans to the End of the American Revolution RC
42090
by Don Nardo
read by Bob Moore
1 cassette
Beginning with a discussion of slave use on sugar plantations in
the Caribbean and South America, Nardo then explains how slaves
were brought to the New World in 1619 to work on cotton
plantations and as replacements for the dwindling number of
indentured servants. Includes a chronological list of events
from 1619 to 1784. For grades 6-9. 1995.
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