Last summer, I was introduced to a series of FREE downloadable YA audio books through Sync. Weekly, throughout summer, there would be 2 available free titles, a fairly recent publication and a second, related piece of classic literature. I enjoyed classic stories such as "The Lottery" (one of my favorite short stories), Oliver Twist, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, as well as new stories for young adults such as The Angel Experiment (Maximum Ride, Book 1, which got me hooked!), The Hunger Games (which also got me hooked, badly!!) and Beastly.
This summer, Sync is once again offering an entire summer series, including stand-by classics (and frequently required reading in high school) like Romeo and Juliet, Wuthering Heights and Beowulf, as well as new YA titles like Shiver, Immortal and The Last Apprentice: Revenge of the Witch.
You can visit their site to download their free player (anytime throughout the series) and the first audio titles now through June 29, and can return weekly for the next 2 titles. This is such a great opportunity! Although the time available to download each title may be limited, once the download is complete, the file does not timeout, like some other electronic resources do. Take advantage, and happy listening!
The BooksmART Festival at the DMA was a huge success, and so exciting! I got to meet a few more fabulous authors and author/illustrators. Award winners, honored and admired authors were on hand for story telling, lectures, signings and demonstrations. Although I would love to have participated in every activity, I simply could not be in eight places at once, so chose to focus on a few of my "top choices". I was lucky enough to sit in on most of Cynthia Leitich Smith's presentation and all of Laurie Halse Anderson's, yet still managed to get a fairly advantageous spot in line for signings... a very good thing, considering the author signing area was outside in the 90+ degree heat on the Ross Avenue plaza. Rick Riordan die-hard fans were feeling the heat for sure; his signing line began at 11:00, three hours before his scheduled signing at 2:00. The line was still going strong at 3:45, when I left.
Here is a summary of the authors I was fortunate enough to meet, and the 'new' books I had signed. (Happy dance!)
Then, there are couple I was able to see, but not able to get for signing, due to time constraints. I am pretty sure those there for Rick Riordan were not able to accomplish much else, bless their hearts. I am so glad I was able to already see him in 2010 at TLA!
I am getting so excited about the BooksmART festival at the Dallas Museum of Art this Saturday, June 11. The event, from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. will feature several wonderful authors and illustrators. The following will be available to show off their talents, meet fans and/or sign books:
Rick Riordan
Norton Juster
Laurie Halse Anderson
David Wiesner
Jerry Pinkney
Gene Luen Yang
Cynthia Leitich Smith
Duncan Tonatiuh
Antonio Sacre
Joe McDermott
Jan Bozarth and Faeren
Ann Marie Newman
John Bramblitt
Gretchen Goetz
Dallas Theater Center
I have had the pleasure of meeting Rick Riordan and Cynthia Leitich Smith at TLA in the last two years, and am especially excited about seeing them again and adding Laurie Halse Anderson and Jerry Pinkney to that list. In addition, Norton Juster, author of The Phantom Tollbooth, will be presenting and leading a storytime, as are several of the other participants. These notable contributors to the wonderful world of literature will be so exciting to meet!
For information on this event, visit the Arts and Letters Live area of the DMA web site.
I recently began listening to the abridged audiobook of The Daily show With Jon Stewart Presents America (the book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (2004). At under four hours, the audiobook is absolutely the most concise sardine can of political satiric humor I could imagine. Structured as a mock Social Studies textbook, complete with scathingly silly study questions and learning objectives, the book/audiobook exposes facts and fallacies of United States political history and workings. If the listener can bear occasional expletives, the biting humor, narrated by Jon Stewart, will make 'learning' or reviewing basic Civics 101 absolutely enjoyable (unlike Coach So-and-so's 9th Grade class, which provided nothing but ample nap time).
With quickly read wit, brief commentaries and essays provided by The Daily Show writers and affiliates, and because of the brevity of the abridgment, this is one audiobook I will either want to re-check or buy, in order to listen over and over again. I am sure I will either pick up on snippets I miss the first time, or appreciate repeatedly the humor nuggets, on subsequent listens. I am not usually a fan of abridgments (I like to get 'the whole story' and will probably pick up a hard copy of the book), but the authentic voices, actor portrayals, Jon Stewart's deadpan and nifty little sound-effects make the audiobook so fun and delightful. I almost feel guilty having so much fun listening!
Following America, will be The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Presents Earth (the book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race (2010)
