Children's Books on CD

I'm hooked on the children's books-on-cd lately. The latest one I listened to was "Maniac Magee" by Jerry Spinelli. I'm finally getting acquainted with some of the authors from the children's department and finding that "whoa - I want some more books by that author!" I think Spinelli is one of those authors who is pretty prolific, he's written 25 books according to his website at http://www.jerryspinelli.com/newbery_001.htm Anyhow, I think Maniac Magee is a book you could suggest to boys ages 9 to 12 who don't like to read. Maniac Magee is a guy on his own and he hits some hard times, but he always survives. The book deals with racial prejudice and how one caring person can make a difference. This book was a Newbery medal winner in 1991.

I listened to "From the Mixed up files of Basil E. Frankweiler" by E.L. Konigsburg while I've been walking. It has taken me some time to finish in this cold weather, but it is only 3 cd's long and a complete joy to listen to. This is a Newbery winner from 1968. I thought it could very well fit in today's culture, except 2 children who run away from home to live at the New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art would probably be found faster than these two. This is one I thought my mother would even enjoy. E.L. Konigsburg is another author I'm excited to read more of. She also won a Newbery in 1997 for "The view from Saturday". I'll have to try that one next.

"Lucy Rose: big on Plans" by Katy Kelly would probably be of more interest to girls than boys since the main character is a girl. Lucy is definitely full of spunk and she's counting down the days until her Dad comes to take her on a big adventure for her birthday. Her Mom and Dad are separating and they're going to talk to her about divorce. She moved across country to Washington D.C. with her Mom to live closer to her grandparents whom she calls Madam and Pop. If you like Lucy Rose, it looks that we have 3 other books about her!

"The Garden of Eve" by K.L. Going kept me awake on the drive from Cedar City to Brigham City. Its the story of young Evie moving to a small town in Beaumont, New York after her mother dies. Her father has purchased an apple orchard with a curse. Her first day in town she meets a boy who claims to be dead. K.L. Going also wrote "Saint Iggy" which was an American Libraries best book for young adults and "Fat kid rules the world" which was a Michael L. Printz Honor book. We have both of these titles in the young adult section of the library. Going's website is at http://klgoing.com/

Susan