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.
What's Your Story? A Young Person's Guide to Writing Fiction RC 39912
Spacious Dreams: The First Wave of Asian Immigration RC
39953
by Ronald Takaki
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Concerned that Asian Americans are not represented in many
history books about the settling of the United States, the
author discusses the immigration of Asians during the period
between the California gold rush of 1849 and the 1924
immigration act. Includes people from China, Japan, Korea, the
Philippines, India, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. For grades 5-8
and older readers. 1994.
Poetry for Young People: Robert Frost RC 39975
edited by Gary D. Schmidt
read by Phil Regensdorf
1 cassette
A collection of poetry about the four seasons, as well as a
brief biography of the poet. Each poem is accompanied by a note
that provides insight into the poem's New England background.
For grades 3-6. 1994.
Bonnie Blair: Golden Streak RC 39988
by Cathy Breitenbucher
read by Nancy Kronenfeld
1 cassette
Bonnie Blair grew up in a family where skating was part of
everyone's life. Before Blair was even three years old, her four
older sisters and brother decided that she should learn to
skate. Soon Blair was competing at various skating meets. In
1994 at her third Olympics, Blair won two gold medals, giving
her a total of five golds--more than any other American woman in
the summer or winter Olympics. For grades 3-6. 1994.
Black Ships before Troy: The Story of The Iliad RC
40748
by Rosemary Sutcliff
read by Conrad Feininger
1 cassette
A retelling of the Greek myth. Traces the story of the Trojan
War, beginning with the quarrel of three goddesses over a golden
apple. When Trojan prince Paris persuades the beautiful Helen of
Troy to leave her baby and husband to become his wife, her
husband pursues her, others take sides, and the war begins.
Fighting continues until Troy is destroyed and Paris earns a
tragic reward. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 1993.
Mononucleosis RC 40907
by Alvin Silverstein and others
read by Miriam Wagner
1 cassette
Mononucleosis or "mono" is a disease caused by a herpesvirus
such as the Epstein-Barr virus. Mono, which is usually spread by
kissing, is not as serious as other conditions caused by the
virus, such as cancer. Epstein-Barr virus's effects and mono's
symptoms and possible complications are described. For grades
6-9 and older readers. 1994.
Lives of the Writers: Comedies, Tragedies (and What the
Neighbors Thought) RC 41209
by Kathleen Krull
read by Conrad Feininger
1 cassette
This companion to Lives of the Musicians (RC 37607)
features the stories of twenty writers, ranging from Hans
Christian Andersen to E.B. White. In addition to biographical
information, sketches of authors include details about their
work habits and newsy tidbits such as whom they loved, what they
wore, what they read, and what would make them laugh. For grades
4-7 and older readers. 1994.
The Sweet and Sour Animal Book RC 41245
by Langston Hughes
read by Chuck Young
1 cassette
A book of poems about animals whose names start with every
letter of the alphabet except x: ape, bumblebee, camel, dog,
elephant, fish, goose, horse, ibis, jaybird, kitten, lion,
monkey, newt, owl, pigeon, quail, rabbit, squirrel, turtle,
unicorn, vixen, white mouse, yak, and zebra. For preschool-grade
2. 1994.
Kindertransport RC 41556
by Olga Levy Drucker
read by Barbara Rappaport
1 cassette
Ollie Levy was born in Stuttgart, Germany, in 1927, but in 1939
her parents sent her to England with other Jewish children who
were fleeing to safety. Ollie describes her six years in England
and the various homes she lived in--some much nicer than others.
She also describes her joy on learning of her family's safe
immigration to the United States and her reunion with them in
1945. For grades 5-8. 1992.
Sadako RC 41558
by Eleanor Coerr
read by Kimberly Schraf
1 cassette
When the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Sadako was an
infant. Now twelve, Sadako begins to feel sick. She has
leukemia, or atom-bomb disease, from the bombing. In the
hospital, Sadako works to fold one thousand paper cranes because
a Japanese legend says this will cure her. For grades 4-7. 1993.
Webelos Scout Book RC 41937
by Boy Scouts of America
read by Christopher Hurt
2 cassettes (Reissue)
This handbook for the last phase of Cub Scouting explains the
requirements for earning activity badges and other awards. For
grades 3-6. 1991.
The Silk Route: Seven Thousand Miles of History RC
42070
by John S. Major
read by Ken Kliban
1 cassette
By 700 A.D. silk from China had become a highly prized product
in the West. The author describes the seven-thousand-mile route
through cities, deserts, and mountains along which silk and
other products were transported between China and Byzantium. A
"closer look" section provides information on the making of
silk, what life is like in a caravan, and the religions of
Central Asia. For grades 3-6 and older readers. 1995.
Once upon a Time RC 42108
by Eve Bunting
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Eve Bunting has written many children's books including
Someday a Tree (RC 41317). She tells of growing up
in Ireland and moving to Los Angeles with her husband and small
children. She also explains how she writes her stories. For
grades 2-4. 1995.
Hugger to the Rescue RC 42119
by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Newfoundland dogs (Newfies) are sometimes trained to locate lost
people. This book tells how these dogs work and what they're
like and introduces some of the dogs trained by Susie and Murphy
Foley in Montana. The dogs wear uniforms and can find people in
avalanches and in water. For grades 2-4. 1994.
The Pelican Chorus and Other Nonsense RC
42464
by Edward Lear
read by Terence Aselford
1 cassette
Three humorous tales in verse include "The New Vestments," in
which a man fashions an outfit made out of food, only to have it
eaten off his body. The couple in "The Owl and the Pussycat"
take "some honey and plenty of money" in search of a ring. In
the title story, two pelicans are saddened when their daughter
chooses the king of the cranes to wed. For grades 2-4 and older
readers. 1995.
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