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.
Indian Captive: The Story of Mary Jemison RC 42017
Mennyms in the Wilderness RC 42035
by Sylvia Waugh
read by Pam Ward
2 cassettes
In this sequel to The Mennyms (RC 39102), the Mennym rag
doll family members are happily living in their house on
Brocklehurst Grove as they have for over forty years. Then they
receive a letter from an actual human, who claims to be related
to the long-dead Kate who made them. He has been warned by
Kate's ghost that the Mennym's house is in danger of being torn
down. Although he has trouble believing in the dolls, he is
coming to help. For grades 4-7. 1994.
Bound for Oregon RC 42170
by Jean Van Leeuwen
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Fictionalized account of young Mary Ellen Todd, whose father
decides to move the family from Arkansas to Oregon in 1852. The
Todds travel to Missouri where they join a wagon train. On their
six-month trip, family members get sick with cholera and are
attacked by Indians, and Mary Ellen's stepmother gives birth to
a baby boy. For grades 3-6. 1994.
The Ballad of the Pirate Queens RC 42175
by Jane Yolen
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
A ballad based on the true story of two female pirates, Anne
Bonney and Mary Reade. When the governor's men attack Captain
Calico Jack Rackham's pirate sloop, Vanity, the ten male
pirates refuse to come on deck to help Anne and Mary fight. They
are all arrested, but the two women have the last laugh. For
grades 3-5. 1995.
The Borrowers Afield RC 42266
by Mary Norton
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette (Reissue)
After the tiny family of Borrowers were discovered living
beneath the floorboards of an old country house in The
Borrowers (RC 7809), they ventured into the great outdoors.
These are their adventures as told decades later to young Kate
by old Tom Goodenough, who as a boy actually met the miniature
people and heard their tales from Borrower Arrietty. For grades
3-6. 1955.
Dumbstruck RC 42269
by Sara Pennypacker
read by Madelyn Buzzard
1 cassette
On a weird and completely dark night at the beginning of summer,
Ivy's kind but eccentric parents vanish. Ivy is shipped off to
the Wretched Dear Darlings' Blessed Haven Orphanage run by the
disgusting Armilda and Borage Clott but quickly escapes.
Yodeling Aunt Zilpa and her three-hundred-pound ostrich lead the
rescue of Ivy's now dumbstruck parents, and a zany escapade
ensues. For grades 3-6. 1994.
Lost Summer RC 42270
by Elizabeth Feuer
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Twelve-year-old Lydia's parents have just divorced. Lydia's
mother is going to study in Italy this summer to get a
promotion, so Lydia and her older sister, Gina, are spending the
summer at camp. Gina is teaching arts and crafts to pay for
their stay. Lydia's new friend encourages Lydia to invite her
father for visiting day. When he doesn't respond, Lydia's
behavior begins to change. For grades 5-8. 1995.
The Richest Kids in Town RC 42286
by Peg Kehret
read by Gary Tipton
1 cassette
Newcomer Peter Dodge and his new classmate Wishbone Wyoming have
lots of great ideas to make money. First, they start the
Scruffy-Einstein Pet Sitting Service; unfortunately, they end up
needing a locksmith and losing money. Then, the rubber duck race
is a sure winner, until the numbers on the ducks wash off;
another loss of money. After several clever ideas flop, the boys
discover something to make it all worthwhile. For grades 4-7.
1994.
There's a Bat in Bunk Five RC 42287
by Paula Danziger
read by Janis Gray
1 cassette
As a junior counselor at summer camp, Marcy is assigned to Bunk
Five, the one with a bat and the nastiest problem-child in the
whole camp. Marcy also falls in love for the first time, to the
delight of giggling campers, who respect no one's privacy.
Sequel to The Cat Ate My Gymsuit (RC 34745). For grades
6-9. 1980.
Spying on Miss Müller RC 42288
by Eve Bunting
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
Jessie Drumm, thirteen, and her friends at Alveara school in
World War II Belfast are concerned about their dormitory
supervisor and German teacher, Miss Müller. She has been seen
going to the bell tower late at night, and after one such visit,
bombs were dropped on Belfast. Could the kindly Miss Müller be a
spy? For grades 5-8. 1995.
Robin Hood and His Merry Men RC 42339
retold by Jane Louise Curry
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Seven tales about Robin Hood, who took from the rich and gave to
the poor. The first story explains how Robin Hood was forced to
become an outlaw. Others tell about his first meeting with
Little John and about the night Robin Hood and his men
entertained the sheriff of Nottingham. For grades 2-4. 1994.
Anastasia, Absolutely RC 42340
by Lois Lowry
read by Kerry Cundiff
1 cassette
Anastasia Krupnik finally has the dog she has wanted for so
long. Of course that means taking the dog out. On their first
morning walk, Anastasia makes a big mistake when she stops at
the corner mailbox and accidentally puts the bag of doggie poop
in the box instead of her mother's mail. Should she admit to her
mistake? The class in values she is taking helps her make the
right decision, and she gets a big surprise as a result. For
grades 4-7. 1995.
The Van Gogh Cafe RC 42344
by Cynthia Rylant
read by Jill Fox
1 cassette
The Van Gogh Cafe in Flowers, Kansas, is in a building that used
to be a theater. Everyone knows that a theater is a magical
location, and now the Van Gogh Cafe seems to be full of its own
magic. The cafe is owned by Marc and his ten-year-old daughter,
Clara, who believes the Van Gogh Cafe is an enchanted, wonderful
place. For grades 3-6. 1995.
Almost a Hero RC 42345
by John Neufeld
read by John Polk
1 cassette
Ben Derby, twelve, is looking forward to spring break. Then Mr.
Walston gives the world history class an assignment: spend
spring break working as a volunteer at a place that helps
people. Because he likes children, Ben selects Sidewalk's End, a
day-care center for homeless children. Ben quickly becomes
involved in the lives of the children--maybe too involved--as he
learns that he can't solve all problems. Some strong language.
For grades 4-7. 1995.
Shaker Boy RC 42408
by Mary Lyn Ray
read by Catherine Byers
1 cassette
Caleb is not sure he likes living with the huge "family" in the
Shaker village where his mother brought him after his father
died in the Civil War. He is sure that he loves the many songs
of work and celebration and that the songs help him hear the
angels. He grows up working hard, learning to make brooms, to
sugar the maples, to knit, and eventually to tend the orchard
and the Tree of Songs. For grades K-3. 1994.
The Pirate Uncle RC 42432
by Margaret Mahy
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
Nine-year-old Nick is reading a book about a boy whose uncle is
a pirate when his parents astonish him. They want to send Nick
and his sister, Caroline, to visit with their mysterious Uncle
Ludovic. And their mother calls the uncle a pirate! The
bushy-bearded Ludovic confesses to being half uncle and half
pirate, but asks the children to help reform him. Meanwhile,
adventure abounds. For grades 3-6. 1977.
Home Lovely RC 42454
by Lynne Rae Perkins
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
After Tiffany and her mother move to an isolated trailer,
Tiffany finds some seedlings sprouting around their garbage can.
Hoping they will grow into flowers or trees, she transplants
them to the front yard and watches them flourish. For grades
K-3. 1995.
Three Terrible Trins RC 42461
by Dick King-Smith
read by Vanessa Maroney
1 cassette
On the morning of her first birthday, Mrs. Gray, a mouse, finds
her third husband has been killed and eaten. She vows never to
marry again but to devote her life to her fatherless
"trins"--Thomas, Richard, and Henry. The trins, along with other
mice at Orchard Farm, have a great time scaring the cats,
Wallace and Bertha, out of the house. They even form a soccer
team and use the farmer's glass eye for their ball. For grades
2-4. 1994.
New Hope RC 42475
by Henri Sorensen
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Jimmy loves to visit his grandpa in New Hope because they always
visit the old-fashioned ice cream store, and Jimmy gets to hear
the story about the statue in the park. The statue is of Lars
Jensen, who came to America in 1885. Lars and his family
traveled west until an axle broke on their wagon just as they
were about to cross a river. So they stayed by the river, and
soon other families joined them to found the town of New Hope.
For grades K-3. 1995.
The Sleeping Porch RC 42476
by Karen Ackerman
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Jonathan is the oldest of five children and lives in a crowded
apartment. When his parents buy an old house, the whole family
is excited. But during the first big summer storm, the roof
leaks in every room. That's when the family discovers the wonder
of having a sleeping porch. For grades K-3. 1995.
The River at Green Knowe RC 42486
by L.M. Boston
read by Tom Martin
1 cassette (Reissue)
English scientist Maud Biggin and her friend Sybilla Bun have
rented a house called Green Knowe for the summer. Maud plans to
work on her book, but because the house is so large, she invites
two displaced children and her great-niece, Ida, to join them.
The three children are left alone to have wonderful adventures
on the nearby river, where they meet a hermit, a giant, and a
group of winged horses. For grades 4-6. 1959.
The Toll-Bridge Troll RC 42497
by Patricia Rae Wolff
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
Luckily for Trigg, the troll who lives under the bridge is not
very smart. As Trigg crosses the bridge on his way to school,
the troll demands to be paid, and Trigg outsmarts him with
riddles. After three days, though, Trigg is afraid his luck will
not last. For grades K-3. 1995.
Country Angel Christmas RC 42503
by Tomie dePaola
read by Steven Carpenter
1 cassette
St. Nicholas goes to heaven to tell the Country Angels they are
in charge of the Christmas celebration for all of the other
angels this year. Wanting to make their party as spectacular as
those put on by the Archangels and the Heavenly Choir, the
Country Angels are too busy to find something for the three
littlest angels to do. For preschool-grade 2. 1995.
Earthquake Terror RC 42507
by Peg Kehret
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Twelve-year-old Jonathan and his sister Abby, six, are camping
with their parents on a small island in Northern California when
their mother breaks an ankle. Abby, who uses a walker, and
Jonathan stay behind when their parents rush to the hospital.
But before the children can return to the camper, an earthquake
hits. For grades 4-7. 1996.
Quake! RC 42530
by Joe Cottonwood
read by Laura Giannarelli
1 cassette
Franny's parents are attending a 1989 World Series game while
she is at home with her bratty younger brother and her best
friend. When the ground starts shaking their Loma Prieta home,
the children are plunged into a crisis that demands all of their
skills and courage. For grades 5-8. 1995.
A Fortunate Name: The Cousins Quartet, Book 2 RC
42547
by Margaret Mahy
read by Bob Askey
1 cassette
When Lolly Bancroft's parents have a fight and separate, Lolly's
mother declares that she is going back to being a Fortune. Does
this mean that Lolly's Fortune cousins, who have always made fun
of Lolly's wealthy family, will now accept her in their Good
Fortunes Gang? Sequel to The Good Fortunes Gang (RC
38377). For grades 3-6. 1993.
A Fortune Branches Out: The Cousins Quartet, Book 3 RC
42548
by Margaret Mahy
read by Bob Askey
1 cassette
Tessa Fortune wants to be a rich corporate executive with a
cellular phone. To improve her money-making skills, Tessa and
her cousins set up a booth to raise money for the New Zealand
National Telethon. When that doesn't work out, Tessa decides to
hold a tree-athon: people will donate money if she stays in a
tree for twenty-four hours. Sequel to A Fortunate Name (RC
42547). For grades 3-6. 1994.
Really No Big Deal RC 42554
by Margaret Bechard
read by Brian Conn
1 cassette
Seventh-grader Jonah Truman is mortified when he learns his
mother is dating Mr. Decker, the principal of his middle school.
But that's not Jonah's only problem: he needs to get his own
love life off the ground. He has a crush on Katherine Chang but
can't bring himself to talk to her. The only girl he can talk
with is his longtime friend Amanda, who is much too tall for
him. And even Amanda has been hard to figure out recently. For
grades 4-7. 1994.
The Wee Little Woman RC 42640
by Byron Barton
read by Pam Ward
1 cassette
A wee little woman has a wee little house, a wee little cow, and
a wee little cat. They are all happy until the day things go
wrong. For preschool-grade 2. 1995.
Night Thunder and the Queen of the Wild Horses RC
42645
by Lynn Reiser
read by Pam Ward
1 cassette
Before she goes to bed, a little girl draws a picture of the
queen of the wild horses. Later, loud noises wake both the
little girl and her drawing. The girl climbs on the back of the
winged queen of the wild horses, and they fly off to investigate
the sounds. For preschool-grade 2. 1995.
Grandfather's Christmas Camp RC 42654
by Marc McCutcheon
read by Pam Ward
1 cassette
It is Christmas Eve, but Lizzie and Grandfather can't get ready
for the holiday until they find Mr. Biggins--grandfather's
three-legged dog who often wanders off to hunt deer. All bundled
up, they set off up the mountain, carrying Grandfather's
backpack along. Lizzie gets tired on the long trip, and they
decide to spend the night in the woods. In the morning, there is
a surprise waiting for Lizzie. For grades K-3. 1995.
Do Pirates Take Baths? RC 42655
by Kathy Tucker
read by Bob Askey
1 cassette
What do pirates do? What do they wear? What do they eat? How do
you get to be a pirate? The answers to these and other questions
about pirates are told in funny verse. For grades K-3. 1994.
Moon of Two Dark Horses RC 42657
by Sally M. Keehn
read by Erik Sandvold
1 cassette
When the Revolutionary War breaks out, both the Iroquois League
of Indians and the Delaware Indians try to remain neutral. But
soon the British and Americans are pressuring them to take
sides. Caught up in this struggle are Daniel, an American, and
Coshmoo, a Delaware, who have been best friends for many years.
For grades 6-9. 1995.
Bed Bouncers RC 42671
by Kimberley Knutson
read by Pam Ward
1 cassette
At night when it's quiet and no one's around, bed bouncers
jounce above everyone's head. Sometimes they jump so high, they
fade right through the ceiling. With other bed bouncers from all
over Earth, they head for the heavens to tickle the stars and
swing on the moon. For preschool-grade 2. 1995.
Alejandro's Gift RC 42679
by Richard E. Albert
read by Bob Askey
1 cassette
Alejandro lives in the desert in an adobe house with only his
burro for company. He is very lonely until his garden begins
attracting small desert animals. As Alejandro watches them
drink, he devises a plan to provide water for the bigger animals
too. For grades K-3. 1994.
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