Braille Book Review March-April 2009 Volume 78, Number 2 _Braille Book Review_ is published bimonthly in large- print,braille, and computer diskette formats and distributedfree to blind and physically handicapped individuals who participate in the Library of Congress free reading program. It lists braille magazines and books available through a network of cooperating libraries. The braille edition also lists recorded books, giving abbreviated annotations. News about library services is featured in both editions. The annotated list in this issue is limited to titles recently added to the national collection, which contains thousands of fiction and nonfiction titles, including classics, biographies, gothics, mysteries, and how-to and self-help guides. To learn more about the wide range of books in the national collection, readers may ordercatalogs and subject bibliographies from cooperating libraries. Librarians can check other resources for titles and answer requests for special materials. Readers can receive _Braille Book Review_ and other information through the Internet by accessing the the NLS home page at http://www.loc.gov/nls. To order books or for subscription changes, contact your local cooperating library. Correspondence regarding editorial matters should be sent to Publications and Media Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542. Library of Congress, Washington 2009 Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 53-31800 ISSN 0006-873X Contents: In Brief Books for Adults Nonfiction Fiction Books for Children Nonfiction Fiction Braille Magazines ### In Brief 2009 Collection Development Advisory Group seeks suggestions The members of the Collection Development Advisory Group appreciate the input from fellow patrons and librarians concerning the NLS program. Ideas and suggestions from readers are key components in the success of the program and are thoroughly discussed in the committee's deliberations. Please continue to submit your suggestions to committee members or your cooperating braille or talking-book library. The group will meet again at NLS on May 20–22, 2009, to review and discuss these and other matters. Consumer Organization Representatives: American Council of the Blind Cindy Van Winkle 6686 Capricorn Lane, N.E. Bremerton, WA 98311 cindy.vw@msn.com Blinded Veterans Association Peter Davis 615 South Adams Street Arlington, VA 22204 lottie.pete@verizon.net National Federation of the Blind Sean Whalen smwhalenpsp@gmail.com Readers-at-Large: Midlands Region—includes Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Dr. Fran Benham 8772 Bridgeport Avenue St. Louis, MO 63144 napestlouis@sbcglobal.net Northern Region—includes Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and West Virginia. Randy Pierce 109 E. Glenwood Street Nashua, NH 03060 alaric02@sprynet.com Southern Region—includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virgin Islands, and Virginia. Lula M. Brooks 723 Egret Bluff Lane Jacksonville, FL 32211 jerryr@coj.net (Write "For Lula Brooks" in subject line.) Western Region—includes Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. Donna Ryan 1237 W. Granite Street Butte, MT 59701 cliffhouse1237@q.com Librarians: Midlands René Perrance Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library 388 SE 6th Avenue Faribault, MN 55021-6340 (507) 333-4828 fax (507) 333-4832 rene.perrance@state.mn.us Northern Carol A. Taylor Connecticut State Library Library for the Blind and Handicapped 198 West Street Rocky Hill, CT 06067 (860) 721-2020 fax (860) 721-2056 lbph@cslib.org Southern Jerry Reynolds Manager Talking Books/Special Needs Jacksonville Public Library 303 N. Laura Street Jacksonville, FL 32202 (904) 630-0344 fax (904) 630-0604 jerryr@coj.net Western Keri E. Putnam Nevada Talking Book Services Nevada State Library and Archives 100 North Stewart Street Carson City, NV 89701-4285 (775) 684-3354 fax (775) 684-3355 kputnam@nevadaculture.org Children's/Young Adult Rachel Gould Braille and Talking Book Library Perkins School for the Blind 175 North Beacon Street Watertown, MA 02472-2790 (617) 972-7240 fax (617) 972-7363 rachel.gould@perkins.org Magazine of the Month selections for 2009 Two NLS programs offer readers samples of magazines not otherwise available through network libraries. Subscribers to Magazine of the Month and Young Adult Magazine of the Month receive a different magazine on audiocassette each month. For a free subscription to either program, contact your cooperating talking-book library. Subscribers may expect to receive some of the following: Magazine of the Month Backyard Living Body and Soul Filter Magazine (formerly Mean) Handwoven Hobby Farm Home Monitoring Times Natural Home Naval History OnFitness Where to Retire Women's Health Yoga Journal Alternates: Arthur Frommer's Budget Travel: Vacations for Real People; Birds and Blooms: Beauty in Your Own Backyard; The Family Handyman; Fit Yoga; Men's Health; MHQ: The Quarterly Journal of Military History; Popular Communications; Rolling Stone; Shape; Tricycle: The Buddhist Review; Vogue Knitting; and Yes! A Journal of Positive Futures Young Adult Magazine of the Month Cosmo Girl E: The Environmental Magazine Hot Rod LàTeen Life Story: Movie Magic or Film Fantasy Listen: Journal of Drug-Free Living for Teens Realms of Fantasy Reptiles Rock and Ice: The Climber's Magazine Teen Ink Transworld Snowboarding Wired Alternates: Cicada; Dance Spirit; Fantasy and Science Fiction; Ferrets; Geek; Girls' Life; Grit: American Life and Traditions; Gumbo: A Magazine of the Arts; Latina Style: A National Magazine for the Contemporary Hispanic Woman; Mother Earth News: The Original Guide to Living Wisely; Motor Trend; and Snowboarder Foreign-language guide web site changed The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange moved the link for its guide to foreign-language courses for blind or low-vision students after the publication of Braille Book Review, January–February 2009. The guide is now available at www.miusa.org/ncde/tipsheets/languageguide. Newsstand The following announcement may be of interest to readers. The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped reserves the right to publish announcements selectively, as space permits. The item mentioned, however, is not part of the NLS program, and its listing does not imply endorsement. Tax credit for disabled people Many taxpayers may be missing a credit that could increase their federal income tax refunds by as much as $4,824. The IRS estimates that up to one in four taxpayers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) fail to claim the credit. You may qualify if your income was less than $41,646 last year and you, or your spouse, worked or received disability retirement benefits under an employer plan and were under the minimum retirement age. For more information contact the IRS at 1-800-906-9887 or visit the web site www.irs.gov. ### Books for Adults_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. _Note:_ For the information of the reader, a notice may appear immediately following the book description to indicate occurrences of strong language, explicit descriptions of sex, or violence. The word "some" before any of these terms indicates an occasional or infrequent occurrence, as in "some strong language." Adult Nonfiction Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature, and Climate Change BR 17297 by Elizabeth Kolbert 2 volumes New Yorker staff writer addresses global warming in this examination of climate change. Kolbert recounts her visits to northern latitudes to document effects of greenhouse gases on land and people. Discusses the interplay of science and politics and details actions taken by organizations and individuals to avert a crisis. 2006. BR 17297 ## Chasin' the Bird: The Life and Legacy of Charlie Parker BR 17326 by Brian Priestley 3 volumes British jazz critic analyzes the music of African American saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker (1920–1955), tracing Parker's contributions to jazz and bebop. Documents Parker's recordings and performances and describes his Kansas City depression-era childhood, his first paid engagement at age fourteen, and his early addiction to alcohol and drugs. 2005. BR 17326 ## FDR BR 17365 by Jean Edward Smith 11 volumes Professor draws on archives to pen a biography of Franklin Delano Roosevelt, the thirty-second president of the United States. Chronicles his political career as governor of New York and four terms as commander in chief. Explores his complex personal life involving his family and mistresses. 2007. BR 17365 ## The Real All Americans: The Team That Changed a Game, a People, a Nation BR 17400 by Sally Jenkins 4 volumes Washington Post journalist recounts the 1911 and 1912 championship season of Carlisle Indian Industrial School's college football team. Details the school's founding by Lt. Col. Richard Henry Pratt and describes the careers of player Jim Thorpe and coach Pop Warner. 2007. BR 17400 ## Behind Our Eyes: Stories, Poems, and Essays by Writers with Disabilities BR 17432 edited by Marilyn Brandt Smith 3 volumes Twenty-seven contributors, many blind, express their experiences dealing with everyday situations and emotions. In "Her Day Versus My Day" a twenty-five-year-old suffers a stroke. In "Rebel with a Cane" a thirteen-year-old who is blind defies her overprotective parents and walks home from school alone. 2007. BR 17432 ## Here if You Need Me: A True Story BR 17437 by Kate Braestrup 2 volumes A chaplain for the Maine Warden Service relates being widowed with four children after her state-trooper husband was killed. Explains her decision to follow his dream of becoming a Unitarian Universalist minister. Describes her deep faith and comforting of those who lost loved ones. 2007. BR 17437 ## Barney Ross BR 17439 by Douglas Century 2 volumes Biography of Chicago-born boxer Barney Ross (1909–1967), who once claimed to work for Al Capone and had a lifelong friendship with Jack Ruby. Highlights Ross's professional sports career, his heroism in World War II, and his struggles with morphine addiction. Some violence and some strong language. 2006. BR 17439 ## Christmas with Paula Deen: Recipes and Stories from My Favorite Holiday BR 17449 by Paula Deen 1 volume Television chef presents recipes for the Christmas holiday including ideas for giving gifts of food and for hosting an open house. Also covers baking traditional cookies and preparing breakfast and dinner on the special day. Shares her memories of celebrating the season with family and friends. Bestseller. 2007. BR 17449 ## An Inconvenient Truth: The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming and What We Can Do about It BR 17455 by Al Gore 2 volumes Companion volume to the Academy Award-winning best documentary feature film presents the former U.S. vice president's personal assessment of the dangers facing our physical world due to the climate crisis. Gore discusses symptoms of change—greenhouse gases, glacier and polar melt, bleaching of coral—and profiles scientists investigating these issues. 2006. BR 17455 ## Adopted Son: Washington, Lafayette, and the Friendship That Saved the Revolution BR 17456 by David A. Clary 6 volumes Historian uses archives to detail the personal relationship between the Marquis de Lafayette and George Washington during the American Revolution. Explores the development of both men into military and political leaders and their bond, which extended through Lafayette's doomed democratic experiment and imprisonment in France. 2007. BR 17456 ## Noise BR 17458 by Bart Kosko 3 volumes Electrical engineer discusses the science and subjectivity of noise. Describes noise pollution as damaging to animal and human life but also as beneficial in communication. Explains stochastic, or random, resonance; identifies various degrees of sound including white noise; and details the development of noise-canceling technology. 2006. BR 17458 ## Zigzag: The Incredible Wartime Exploits of Double Agent Eddie Chapman BR 17546 by Nicholas Booth 4 volumes Biography of British spy Eddie Chapman (1914–1997), a career criminal imprisoned on a Channel isle when the Nazis captured it in 1940. Describes his training as a Nazi spy, his return to England, and his services as an agent for MI5. Some violence and some strong language. 2007. BR 17546 ## Heart in the Right Place: A Memoir BR 17565 by Carolyn Jourdan 2 volumes When her seventy-two-year-old mother had a heart attack, U.S. Senate counsel Jourdan took leave to man the receptionist's desk in her father's rural Tennessee doctor's office. She describes those days, which turned into a year, and the lessons in humanity she learned during that time. Some strong language. 2007. BR 17565 ## The Fabric of America: How Our Borders and Boundaries Shaped the Country and Forged Our National Identity BR 17650 by Andro Linklater 4 volumes Author posits that the character of the United States has been shaped by the structure and limits established by its borders. Discusses how boundary and property lines created by eighteenth-century surveyor Andrew Ellicott presaged the establishment of law, order, and solidarity in the evolving democracy. 2007. BR 17650 ## Practicing: A Musician's Return to Music BR 17666 by Glenn Kurtz 2 volumes Memoir of a classical guitarist who performed as a child prodigy, abandoned his instrument at age twenty-five, and rediscovered the joy of playing years later. Discusses his love of music, his early desire to emulate Andrés Segovia, and his realization that the discipline of practice is its own reward. 2007. BR 17666 ## Writing Mysteries: A Handbook by the Mystery Writers of America BR 17675 edited by Sue Grafton 3 volumes Tony Hillerman, Lawrence Block, Sara Paretsky, and others provide advice on such topics as composing convincing dialog, mastering pacing and suspense, developing series characters, depicting violence, and revising and marketing manuscripts. They also cover writing mystery-genre specialties including young adult, medical, legal, historical, and true-crime stories. Some violence. 2002. BR 17675 ## The Vegetable Dishes I Can't Live Without BR 17676 by Mollie Katzen 2 volumes Moosewood Cookbook (BR 5642) author maintains that "it is easy to make vegetables taste wonderful through simple preparations utilizing a very few choice ingredients." Presents recipes from around the world and ten ways to sneak vegetables into everyone's diet. 2007. BR 17676 ## Are American Elections Fair? BR 17757 edited by Stuart A. Kallen 1 volume Ten essays debate the U.S. election process. Includes arguments for and against the electoral college, electronic voting machines, felons' and illegal aliens' voting rights, and campaign finance reform. Discusses the disputed presidential election of 2000 and provides a list of relevant organizations. For junior and senior high readers. 2006. BR 17757 ## ### Adult Fiction From Here to Eternity BR 17261 by James Jones 9 volumes Army life in Hawaii before World War II, centering on the conflict and bond between two men: Private First Class Prewitt, a bugler and unwilling ex-boxer, and First Sergeant Warden, who risks his career for an affair with his commanding officer's wife. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. National Book Award. 1951. BR 17261 ## Sheer Abandon BR 17316 by Penny Vincenzi 6 volumes English schoolgirls Clio, Martha, and Jocasta meet en route to Thailand in 1985. Upon her return a year later, one of them abandons her newborn at Heathrow. The three women reunite in 2000, along with a teenager seeking her birth mother. Some explicit descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2007. BR 17316 ## Return to Me BR 17412 by Robin Lee Hatcher 2 volumes Seven years ago, Roxanne Burke abandoned her family and her boyfriend Wyatt to follow her showbiz dreams in Nashville. Unemployed and broke, Roxy returns home to Boise. While her father welcomes Roxy, her sister Elena—now engaged to Wyatt—harbors resentment. They all seek God's help to forgive and move on. 2007. BR 17412 ## Rhett Butler's People BR 17424 by Donald McCaig 5 volumes Tale of Rhett Butler, from Gone with the Wind (BR 11427), and his clan. Rhett has a difficult relationship with his father Langston, loves his sister Rosemary and his wife Scarlett O'Hara, and trusts his childhood friend Tunis, a former slave. Strong language and some violence. Bestseller. 2007. BR 17424 ## Dead Heat BR 17426 by Dick Francis and Felix Francis 3 volumes Newmarket, England. Guests suffer food poisoning after a horse-racing gala catered by chef Max Moreton. At the races the next day a bomb detonates in the grandstand where Max is serving lunch—killing and injuring dozens. Determined to find out who is ruining his business, Max begins investigating. Bestseller. 2007. BR 17426 ## The New Yorkers BR 17433 by Cathleen Schine 2 volumes On an unfashionable street near Central Park, neighbors form a bond because of their dogs. Jody adopts elderly Beatrice from the ASPCA, and divorced Everett falls in love with them both. Polly takes an apartment that comes with an abandoned puppy, while Jamie admits canines to his restaurant. 2007. BR 17433 ## High Noon BR 17450 by Nora Roberts 4 volumes Savannah, Georgia. Restaurant owner Duncan Swift romantically pursues hostage negotiator Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara after she assists his suicidal bartender. Phoebe's family problems and a vicious attack by an unknown stalker threaten the new romance. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2007. BR 17450 ## A Family Christmas BR 17454 selected by Caroline Kennedy 3 volumes Anthology of Kennedy's holiday favorites. Encompasses poems, stories, scriptures, songs, and essays of the Christmas season. Includes her own 1962 letter to Santa as well as works by Irving Berlin, Robert Frost, George Washington, Langston Hughes, and other notables. Bestseller. 2007. BR 17454 ## The Red Dress BR 17464 by Sarah Harrison 2 volumes Carolyn commissions a gown to be made for her silver wedding anniversary party but abruptly gives it away without ever wearing it. The dress subsequently passes on to diverse owners—Monica, Pauline, and Jasper—changing each of them forever. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2006. BR 17464 ## Presence: Stories BR 17467 by Arthur Miller 1 volume The last six stories published by Arthur Miller (1915– 2005). In the title piece, an aging man headed to the beach for an early morning walk encounters a young couple having sex. Their tryst triggers memories from the old man's past. Some descriptions of sex and some strong language. 2004. BR 17467 ## What My Girlfriend Doesn't Know BR 17468 by Sonya Sones 2 volumes Robin, Sophie's boyfriend from What My Mother Doesn't Know (BR 14156), relates in free verse his perspective on love and heartache. Robin fears that Sophie may dump him because he is a social outcast and she catches him kissing another girl. Uncontracted braille. For senior high readers. 2007. BR 17468 ## Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky: Based on the True Story of the Women and Children of Jamestown BR 17548 by Connie Lapallo 3 volumes In 1609 the promise of free land lures Joan Peirce, her husband Will, and their daughter Janey to Virginia colony's James Town. Forced to leave her oldest daughter behind, Joan maintains her faith in God while facing a hurricane, starvation, and hostile natives. For senior high and older readers. 2006. BR 17548 ## The Last Noel BR 17552 by Heather Graham 2 volumes Craig Devon joins two crooks who abandon him, wounded, during a robbery gone wrong on Christmas Eve. When their car gets stuck in a blizzard, the robbers hold the O'Boyle family hostage. Kat O'Boyle escapes and encounters Craig, her ex-lover, before she hides. Some violence and some strong language. 2007. BR 17552 ## Restitution BR 17555 by Lee Vance 3 volumes Wall Street businessman Peter Tyler becomes the main suspect after his wife Jenna is murdered during a home robbery. Tyler flees and searches for his friend, Russian business tycoon Andrei Zhilina, who might help Tyler clear his name. But Andrei has disappeared. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2007. BR 17555 ## Full Throttle: Redline Racing, Book 2 BR 17680 by Anthony Hampshire 1 volume Canadian rookie driver Eddie Stewart and his volunteer crew—Rickie, Herbie, and Caroline—rebuild a damaged race car. Eddie sets out to prove that he can compete alongside the best professional drivers, but problems arise when engineer Allan Tanner joins the team. For senior high readers. 2005. BR 17680 ## Cotillion BR 17686 by Georgette Heyer 3 volumes Regency England. Kitty Charing stands to inherit a fortune from her odious guardian if she marries one of his great- nephews: humbug Hugh, cruel Claud, doltish Dolph, foolish Freddy, or handsome Jack—Kitty's most likely choice. As the suitors vie for her hand, Kitty secretly schemes to get her way. 1953. BR 17686 ## The Kommandant's Girl BR 17687 by Pam Jenoff 3 volumes World War II, Poland. Newlyweds Jacob and Emma become separated during the Nazi invasion. Jacob joins the Jewish underground, and Emma moves in with a Catholic aunt. Posing as a gentile, Emma works for a Nazi Kommandant, risking her marriage—and her life—to help Jacob's cause. Some descriptions of sex. 2007. BR 17687 ## Girl in Landscape BR 17689 by Jonathan Lethem 2 volumes When a global disaster blights the Earth's environment, fourteen-year-old Pella Marsh and her family escape to another planet where her father, a failed politician, hopes to restart his career. Pella assimilates into the alien society and discovers a terrible threat that could doom the Earthling colony. 1998. BR 17689 ## Blue Heaven BR 17714 by C.J. Box 3 volumes When twelve-year-old Annie and her ten-year-old brother witness a man's murder near their north Idaho town, they are spotted and become the next targets. The shooters are retired L.A. cops who deviously volunteer to head up the search party and find the hiding kids. Violence and strong language. 2007. BR 17714 ## Secret Scribbled Notebooks BR 17717 by Joanne Horniman 2 volumes Australia. On the day her unwed sister Sophie gives birth to a daughter, seventeen-year-old Kate O'Farrell buys three notebooks—red, yellow, and blue—for scribbling down her secret thoughts. Through writing about what she reads, observes, and loves, Kate makes discoveries about herself. For senior high readers. 2004. BR 17717 ## Country Wives: A Barleybridge Novel, Book 2 BR 17724 by Rebecca Shaw 2 volumes Barleybridge, England. New veterinary clinic doctor Dan Brown's blunt manner alienates the staff and costs them their biggest client. Meanwhile receptionist Kate Howard, studying for her vet school entrance exams, meets her biological mother and learns Dan's secret. 2001. BR 17724 ## Where Are You Now? BR 17759 by Mary Higgins Clark 2 volumes When she was sixteen, Carolyn MacKenzie's brother Mack disappeared but each Mother's Day Mack makes a brief call home. Ten years later Carolyn, now an attorney, interrupts the call to tell Mack that she will find him. Despite a warning from Mack, Carolyn persists—and finds herself in danger. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17759 ## Bulls Island BR 17789 by Dorothea Benton Frank 3 volumes Two decades ago, Elizabeth "Betts" McGee canceled her engagement to Charleston golden boy J.D. Langley because of a family feud and moved to Manhattan. Now Betts returns home to South Carolina on business. She wants to reconnect with her family while guarding old secrets. Some descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17789 ## ### ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Children's Nonfiction An American Plague: The True and Terrifying Story of the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793 BR 17407 by Jim Murphy 1 volume Describes the horrific events in Philadelphia in 1793 when citywide illness prevented Congress from convening. Thousands of people were dying, many unattended, and physicians of the time were unsure of the cause or treatment of the yellow-fever outbreak. For grades 6-9. Newbery Honor Book. 2003. BR 17407 ## You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Mother Goose Tales to Read Together BR 17441 by Mary Ann Hoberman 2 volumes Short stories in verse based on familiar nursery rhymes. In "Little Miss Muffet" the spider politely asks to join Miss Muffet on her tuffet and after some discussion is permitted to stay. And Jack and Jill have a safer trip up the hill the second time. For grades K-3. 2005. BR 17441 ## You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together (in Which Wolves Are Tamed, Trolls Are Transformed, and Peas Are Triumphant) BR 17444 by Mary Ann Hoberman 2 volumes Short rhymed stories based on eight traditional fairy tales. The princess and the pea discuss their feelings and become friends. In this version of "The Three Little Pigs," the pig keeps the wolf in a pot of boiling water until the wolf says he's sorry. For grades K-3. 2004. BR 17444 ## You Read to Me, I'll Read to You: Very Short Scary Tales to Read Together BR 17445 by Mary Ann Hoberman 2 volumes Rhyming tales for Halloween or anytime you want to read about scary creatures such as mummies, witches and broomsticks, skeletons, dinosaurs, dragons and knights, or zombies. Also includes tales about trick-or-treating. For beginning readers or a child and adult to read together. For grades K-3. 2007. BR 17445 ## The Barefoot Book of Classic Poems BR 17465 compiled by Jackie Morris 1 volume Anthology of poems—by Shakespeare, Lewis Carroll, A.A. Milne, and others—that celebrate the human experience. In "The Tale of Custard the Dragon" by Ogden Nash, a cowardly pet dragon leaps to defend his mistress from a pirate. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2006. BR 17465 ## Should I Play the Trumpet? BR 17508 by James Phillpotts 1 volume Provides an overview of information about the trumpet—its history, the way the instrument works, what is involved in learning to play, famous trumpeters, and recommended recordings to listen to. For grades 3-6. 2007. BR 17508 ## Should I Play the Flute? BR 17534 by Nicola Barber 1 volume Features a history of the flute, a member of the woodwind family played in marching bands and orchestras. Explains how the flute produces sound, how to choose an instrument, and how to find a teacher. For grades 3-6. 2007. BR 17534 ## Australia BR 17762 by Kate Turner 1 volume Overview of the country that is Earth's smallest continent. Describes Australia's geography, plants and animals, history, government, economy, holidays, and culture, including that of the native Aboriginal people. Includes a glossary of common Australian words, such as "g'day." For grades 3-6. 2007. BR 17762 ## Italy BR 17763 by Robert Anderson 1 volume An overview of this southern European nation. Describes Italy's geography, weather, plants and animals, history, government, holidays, family life, economy, and culture. Includes a glossary of common Italian phrases. For grades 3-6. 2006. BR 17763 ## ### Children's Fiction Zen Ties BR 17048 by Jon J. Muth 1 volume During a summer visit from his haiku-speaking nephew Koo, the giant panda Stillwater encourages Koo and his children friends Addy, Michael, and Karl to be kind to Stillwater's grouchy neighbor, the elderly Miss Whitaker. Their efforts are rewarded in unexpected ways. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2008. BR 17048 ## The Castle on Hester Street BR 17050 by Linda Heller 1 volume Julie's grandfather tells her imaginative stories about his journey from Russia to settle in America. But her grandmother remembers a harder reality and tries to set the record straight. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 1982. BR 17050 ## Things Hoped For BR 17136 by Andrew Clements 1 volume Seventeen-year-old violin prodigy Gwen lives with her ailing grandfather in Manhattan while attending a music academy on a scholarship. As Gwen prepares to audition for a prestigious college, her grandfather disappears. Fellow musician Robert—Bobby, from Things Not Seen (BR 17135)— provides help and friendship. For grades 6-9. 2006. BR 17136 ## Maisy Goes to the Hospital BR 17332 by Lucy Cousins 1 volume When Maisy the mouse bounces too high on a trampoline and hurts her leg, she visits a hospital for the first time. There, Dr. Duck and Nurse Comfort take good care of her. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2007. BR 17332 ## Scary Stories BR 17428 compiled by Peter Glassman 2 volumes Twenty tales of terror by classic authors Edgar Allan Poe, Bram Stoker, and Washington Irving and modern authors Roald Dahl, Stephen King, and Joyce Carol Oates. In Margaret Mahy's "Fingers on the Back of the Neck" a boy betrays his great-grandmother's trust—with dire consequences. For grades 6-9. 2006. BR 17428 ## Cam Jansen and the Secret Service Mystery BR 17438 by David A. Adler 1 volume When the governor and a team of secret service agents come to Cam's school to dedicate the new library, a loud noise startles everyone. Then elderly Emma Pearl discovers that her pearl necklace is missing. Cam looks for a connection. A beginning chapter book. For grades 2-4. 2006. BR 17438 ## The Railway Children BR 17683 by E. Nesbit 2 volumes England. When the father of a happy family in a comfortable London home is mysteriously called away on business, the mother and three children move to a small country cottage near a train station, where the railway becomes an important part of their lives. For grades 4-7. 1906. BR 17683 ## The Chaos King BR 17684 by Laura Ruby 2 volumes In this sequel to The Wall and the Wing (BR 16650), newfound fame and fortune have estranged friends Bug and Gurl—now called Georgie. But Georgie and Bug join forces again when a punk, vampires, and a giant sloth attack them in a future New York City. For grades 5-8. 2007. BR 17684 ## The Year of the Rat BR 17688 by Grace Lin 1 volume Upstate New York. Taiwanese American Pacy learns that the Chinese year of the rat brings new beginnings. Some changes are hard—her best friend moves away, a new Asian boy arrives at school, and her cousin gets married. Sequel to The Year of the Dog (BR 16624). For grades 3-6. 2007. BR 17688 ## Leaving the Nest BR 18001 by Mordicai Gerstein 1 volume Despite many mishaps, a baby squirrel, a kitten, a baby blue jay, and a young girl share a backyard adventure that ends happily. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2007. BR 18001 ## Max Counts His Chickens BR 18007 by Rosemary Wells 1 volume Max and his sister Ruby hunt all over the house for ten marshmallow chicks hidden by the Easter Bunny. Soon Ruby's basket is full and Max has none, but Max's grandmother saves the day. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2007. BR 18007 ## Leaves BR 18009 by David Ezra Stein 1 volume A young bear experiences the changing seasons for the first time. When he sees leaves fall from the trees, he tries to put them back on the branches. After sleeping snugly all winter, he awakens and joyfully welcomes the tiny new leaves of spring. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2007. BR 18009 ## ### Braille Magazines The following is a list of braille magazines in the Library of Congress program. Readers may obtain free personal subscriptions to these magazines. For information on the availability of specific magazines, consult the library that send you braille materials. Boys' Life (for children and teens, monthly) Braille Book Review (bimonthly) Braille Chess Magazine (British quarterly) Braille Music Magazine (British monthly) Conundrum (British monthly) Cooking Light (10 issues) ESPN: The Magazine (biweekly) Harper's (literary; monthly) Health Newsletters (includes Harvard Health Letter, Mayo Clinic Health Letter, and University of California at Berkeley Wellness Letter, monthly) Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine (monthly) Ladies' Home Journal (monthly) Martha Stewart Living (home and entertaining; 10 issues) Muse (for children; 10 issues) The Musical Mainstream (quarterly) National Geographic (monthly) The New York Times Large Type Weekly (weekly) News (NLS quarterly) Parenting (monthly except January and July) PC World (personal computing; monthly) Playboy (monthly) Poetry (11 issues) Popular Communications (monthly) Popular Mechanics (monthly) Popular Music Lead Sheets (irregular) Rolling Stone (popular culture; 24 issues) Science News (weekly) Seventeen (for teens; monthly) Short Stories (British monthly) Spider: The Magazine for Children (monthly) Stone Soup (children's writings; 5 issues) Update (NLS quarterly) The Washington Post Book World (weekly) The following sports schedules are also available: American Baseball League Schedule National Baseball League Schedule National Basketball Association Schedule National Football League Schedule National Hockey League Schedule Women's National Basketball Association Schedule ###