Sync Audiobooks

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!

BooksmART Festival

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!

BooksmART Festival

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.

On the Menu

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)

TAYSHAS Reading List

The 2012 Consideration List of current titles which have been nominated by the TAYSHAS High School Reading List Committee (THSRL). The THSRL is a recommended reading list developed by public and school librarians from the Young Adult Round Table (YART). 


The purpose of the list is to encourage students in grades 9-12 to explore a variety of current books. Due to the diversity of this age range, Librarians should consider their appropriate collection policies when purchasing titles on this list. Each nominated book has been favorably reviewed for grades 9-12 in a professional review source.

You can view the current 2012 list and previous lists on the Tayshas Reading Lists web site.

Nomination Criteria
1. Copyright must be within the last 2 years—2010/2011 copyright only—no other copyright dates will be considered.
2. Must be favorably reviewed for grades 9-12.
3. The person making the nomination must have read the book.
4. A variety of genres and reading interests will be considered.


The committee welcomes outside suggestions. Review the nomination criteria listed, and submit all title suggestions using this form if you would like to make recommendations. 


Information provided by Robin Cashman, Tayshas Committee Chair, TLA, Friday, May 27, 2011.

On the Menu

Today begins my journey with The Songs of the Seraphim series by Anne Rice.  Beginning Angel Time on audiobook, I plan to make my way through both Angel Time and Of Love and Evil (Book 2 inn the series) by the end of next week.  If all goes well, I will be anxiously awaiting Book 3.  In preparation, I found a useful review of the Random House audio book:

Angel Time: The Songs of the Seraphim, Book 1
Anne Rice
Narrated by Paul Michael, unabridged
Random House Audio, 9 hours


A review by Gil T. Wilson


Anne Rice is best known for her Vampire Chronicles, including the most popular, Interview with the Vampire. But any Rice fan knows she's written more than just tales of vampires, so it should be no surprise that her latest novel is about angels. What is surprising is how she explores the topic by telling a story of an angel who "hires" a modern-day contract killer to defend the Jews of 13th century Norwich, England.


The story is told in first person through the voice of Toby O'Dare, a hit man known as "Lucky the Fox" by his boss and associates. Toby is preparing to perform a "hit" on a Swiss Banker in San Juan at the Mission Inn when the story opens. Unknown to those who gave him this assignment, the Mission Inn is Toby's sanctuary, where he goes to escape his criminal life. Consequently, having to actually perform a hit in the sanctuary rattles the soul of this soulless man.


The beginning section of the book seems drawn out and, to be honest, boring at first. But once the story gets rolling, this section starts to pay off and listeners will appreciate the connections within the story. After Toby pulls off the hit, a stranger walks into the room where the murder was committed and begins to tell Toby an almost unreal story. This person is an angel of God and was sent to recruit Toby for a redeeming mission.


Before the mission can begin, the angel tells the story of Toby's life. In this section, listeners learn all about Toby's childhood and what led him to become a hit man. The angel describes his dark past, from how the irresponsibility of his alcoholic parents forced him to care for his younger siblings to the horrific event which changed his life forever and placed him on a path of destruction. Once this story is told by Malchiah, Toby realizes the angel is who he says he is and asks why God would need him. The angel only remarks that God forgives him.


The mission now can be performed. Traversing through "angel time" Toby and the angel are taken to 13th century England. There, Toby finds himself to be a Dominican Friar in the town of Norwich and is given the task of saving the lives of the Jewish community. Those lives are in jeopardy because the daughter of a Jewish couple is missing and presumed dead after she attended a Christian Christmas pageant. The villagers accuse the Jews of murdering the child because of her "conversion" to Christianity. They demand that all Jews be killed and the dead child be hailed as a saint.


The reader of this audiobook, Paul Michael, does an excellent job of voice characterization, including the subtlest of accents to establish which character is speaking at the moment. His low, soft voice definitely kept my ear tuned-in to the story. It is an amazing story and Anne Rice proves again that she's more than just a vampire novelist. This intriguing and thrilling story, with many twists and turns, is sure to appeal to a broad audience.


Accessed 5/18/11 from http://www.sfsite.com/12b/at310.htm.

Who is Theo Boone??

One of the benefits of perusing the exhibitor booths at TLA was getting bags full of giveaway and pre-publication books!  One I was very excited to get was Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer by John Grisham.  The first in a series of mysteries for teens and tweens, it begins the story of Theo, a son-to-be kid lawyer.  If I can manage to finish Graveminder by Melissa Marr (I am reading it at night in bed, and therefore have read the same page four times before falling asleep each night), this will be the next book I read.

I came across The official Theodore Boone web site today, which is full of simple fun. While there, explore the main office, where you can preview teaser trailers, view case-related photos and personnel files, read about the author and even read an excerpt of the book from chapter one. Be sure to make your way to the courtroom, where you can generate your own complaints and read about odd laws still in effect.

Although there are a few teaser trailers on the official site, I also recommend these short trailers and also, a Penguin Audio Book Break preview, from the first chapter.  Enjoy!

Trailer 1 

Trailer 2 

Audio Book Preview 

As an added bonus, Theodore Boone 2: The Abduction, comes out June 6, 2011.

Ahoy! Parley Pirate Speak?

Learn to speak pirate!

FREE for a limited time from Mango Languages.


In anticipation of a certain upcoming movie premiere (we love you Captain Jack) and in preparation for one of our favorite random holidays (International Talk Like a Pirate Day is just around the corner) the Mango Languages Team has developed a brand new super special language course - Pirate!


Pirate is bold, brazen, chock full of eccentric insults, and incredibly fun to speak. If that's not enough reason to learn it, we're offering this course for FREE now through June 30th!


Tell your family, tell your friends, tell your parakeet... everybody loves Pirate. Then get your booty over to mangolanguages.com/store/pirate-day.html to check it out.