Braille Book Review September-October 2009 Volume 78, Number 5 _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 Newsstand The following announcements 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 items mentioned, however, are not part of the NLS program, and their listing does not imply endorsement. Guide to assistive technology for blind students available Assistive Technology for Students Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired: A Guide to Assessment may be purchased from American Foundation for the Blind Press as a print paperback or as ASCII text on a CD-ROM for $49.95. The publication includes an overview of assistive technology for managing information in print or electronic formats. The guide provides tips and insights on working with technology; a summary of laws and regulations about assistive technology; a resource list of assistive technology producers; and reproducible, blank forms for evaluating technology. For more information visit www.afb.org/store online or call 1-800-232-3044. Free audio Bibles for visually impaired individuals Aurora Ministries offers free audio Bibles to blind, visually impaired, and print-handicapped individuals and to the professionals who work with them. The King James Version, the New King James Version, and the International Children’s Version of the Bible are available in seventy languages on audiocassettes or in MP3 format. For more information visit www.audiobiblesfortheblind.org; call (941) 748-3031; fax (941) 748-2625; e-mail bibles@auroraministries.org; or write Audio Bibles for the Blind, P.O. Box 621, Bradenton, FL 34206. ### 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 The Jamestown Project BR 17401 by Karen Ordahl Kupperman 4 volumes Historian details hardships endured by English settlers at their first New World outpost. Explains the political, religious, and economic motivations for colonization. Describes the harsh realities encountered in Virginia and the trial-and-error processes that led to a sustainable colony that served as a model for the Pilgrims’ Plymouth settlement. 2007. BR 17401 ## Katherine Anne Porter: The Life of an Artist BR 17413 by Darlene Harbour Unrue 5 volumes Professor uses personal letters to pen a biography of American author Katherine Anne Porter (1890–1980). Describes Porter’s impoverished childhood and numerous unsuccessful marriages as well as her health scares: tuberculosis and the 1918 Spanish flu. Analyzes the political and social conditions that influenced Porter’s writing. 2005. BR 17413 ## The Canon: A Whirligig Tour of the Beautiful Basics of Science BR 17414 by Natalie Angier 4 volumes Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist reviews the fundamental principles of chemistry, physics, biology, geology, and astronomy that she thinks the educated populace should understand. Asserts that basic scientific literacy is required for informed opinions on such issues as global warming, alternative energy, embryonic stem-cell research, and missile defense. 2007. BR 17414 ## Ingrid: Ingrid Bergman, a Personal Biography BR 17419 by Charlotte Chandler 3 volumes Describes the life of the Oscar-winning Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman (1915–1982). Discusses her marriages, children, and screen performances as well as the scandalous love affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini that threatened her career. Based on numerous interviews with Bergman herself, fellow actors, and family members. Includes synopses of her films. 2007. BR 17419 ## The House of Mondavi: The Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty BR 17512 by Julia Flynn Siler 5 volumes Traces the history of an Italian immigrant family from their arrival on Ellis Island in 1906 to their creation of a wine empire in Napa Valley, California. Chronicles the feuds, scandals, and the bad business decisions that forced the descendants to sell the company. 2007. BR 17512 ## Hot Dish Heaven: Classic Casseroles from Midwest Kitchens BR 17516 by Ann L. Burckhardt 2 volumes Updated variations of 1960s and 1970s dishes from Iowa, North and South Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Includes dozens of recipes for classic meals such as lasagna, beef stew, chicken pot pie, macaroni and cheese, and scalloped potatoes, as well as potlucks, comfort food, side dishes, breakfasts, and desserts. 2006. BR 17516 ## This Is Your Brain on Music: The Science of a Human Obsession BR 17517 by Daniel J. Levitin 3 volumes Neuroscientist and musician investigates the role of music in human evolution and daily life. Examines the science of music from the perspective of cognitive neuroscience. Discusses how the brain processes music, details studies on musical meaning and pleasure, and offers insights into personal perceptions and preferences. 2006. BR 17517 ## The Bible: A Biography BR 17553 by Karen Armstrong 3 volumes Religious historian examines the transformation of the Bible’s two testaments from oral history to written scripture. Explains changes in biblical interpretation by Christian and Jewish religious leaders and discusses the challenges to the Bible’s accuracy in the scientific age. 2007. BR 17553 ## Joan: The Mysterious Life of the Heretic Who Became a Saint BR 17566 by Donald Spoto 2 volumes Theologian presents an account of the life of Joan of Arc (c. 1412– 1431), accused heretic and canonized saint. Quoting from translated trial records, the author examines Joan’s actions, words, and faith in the context of fifteenth-century France. Posits Joan’s relevance as a “prophetic witness” for the twenty-first century. 2007. BR 17566 ## The Wonder Years: Helping Your Baby and Young Child Successfully Negotiate the Major Developmental Milestones BR 17591 edited by Tanya Remer Altmann 3 volumes Month-by-month guide to the physical, mental, emotional, and social development of children from newborn to age five. Provides instructions, activities, games, and tips for parents to help children master such skills as grasping, walking, communicating, and toilet training. Includes information on possible concerns and when to consult a pediatrician. 2006. BR 17591 ## Sugarcane Academy: How a New Orleans Teacher and His Storm-Struck Students Created a School to Remember BR 17593 by Michael Tisserand 2 volumes A journalist and parent describes the establishment of a one-room schoolhouse after Hurricane Katrina, where teacher Paul Reynaud and his students shared their experiences of upheaval and adjustment. Tisserand also includes his interviews with other refugees and recounts his return to New Orleans. For senior high and older readers. 2007. BR 17593 ## The Last Human: A Guide to Twenty-two Species of Extinct Humans BR 17695 by Esteban Sarmiento 3 volumes Descriptions of extinct hominid species that were branches of a once- diverse human family tree. Discusses their skulls, teeth, skeleton, posture, gait, gender differences, diet, possible range, fossil sites, tools, climate, classification, and animals they coexisted with. Includes imagined narratives about individuals based on what is known about each species. 2007. BR 17695 ## The Autoimmune Epidemic: Bodies Gone Haywire in a World out of Balance— and the Cutting-Edge Science That Promises Hope BR 17710 by Donna Jackson Nakazawa 4 volumes Journalist analyzes the growing prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, and rheumatoid arthritis. Posits that the environment—full of industrial chemicals, heavy metals, and toxins—has accelerated such illnesses. Reports patients’ first-person accounts, evidence of cluster epidemics, and relevant medical research. 2008. BR 17710 ## The Republic of Pirates: Being the True and Surprising Story of the Caribbean Pirates and the Man Who Brought Them Down BR 17738 by Colin Woodard 4 volumes Award-winning journalist examines the Golden Age of Piracy (1715–1725), when outlaws, defected sailors, privateers, and runaway slaves forged a republic in the Bahamas. Chronicles the lives of pirates Samuel “Black Sam” Bellamy, Edward “Blackbeard” Thatch, and Charles Vane. Discusses British war hero Woodes Rogers’s defeat of the pirate alliance. 2007. BR 17738 ## The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food BR 17754 by Judith Jones 2 volumes Memoir of a longtime food editor at Knopf publishing house. Jones reminisces about her childhood in New York City and in Vermont and her post-World War II cooking adventures in Paris. Describes her work with chefs Julia Child and James Beard and her efforts to introduce Americans to international cuisine. Includes recipes. 2007. BR 17754 ## Coltrane: The Story of a Sound BR 17755 by Ben Ratliff 3 volumes New York Times jazz critic analyzes the performance style of saxophonist John Coltrane (1926–1967), from his 1946 recordings as a navy bandsman and 1950s improvisational experimentation to his 1961 breakthrough rendition of the song “My Favorite Things.” Discusses Coltrane’s openness to the music of other cultures and influence on other musicians. Some strong language. 2007. BR 17755 ## Ten Green Bottles: The True Story of One Family’s Journey from War-Torn Austria to the Ghettos of Shanghai BR 17817 by Vivian Jeanette Kaplan 3 volumes Memoir of a family’s 1939 escape from the Nazis and ten-year struggle to survive in China. Daughter Nini describes marrying her Polish friend Poldi, enduring the Japanese occupation and communist takeover, and emigrating to Canada with her own daughter, the author. Compares life to fragile green bottles. Some violence. 2002. BR 17817 ## Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World BR 17821 by Vicki Myron 2 volumes Spencer, Iowa, public library director Vicki Myron describes finding a kitten in the book drop in 1988. Named Dewey Readmore Books by library staff, the feline became an increasingly famous mascot over the next nineteen years. Myron also discusses her divorce, single parenthood, breast cancer scare, and love of librarianship. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17821 ## Barack Obama: The Politics of Hope BR 17822 by William Michael Davis 1 volume Biography of Illinois senator Obama (born 1961), the son of a Kenyan father and a white Kansan mother. Discusses Obama’s upbringing in Hawaii and Indonesia. Recounts his education, community work, and political career through the start of his presidential campaign in 2007. For junior and senior high readers. 2008. BR 17822 ## Change We Can Believe In: Barack Obama’s Plan to Renew America’s Promise BR 17825 by Obama for America 2 volumes Details the changes Democratic nominee Obama proposed to implement if he were elected president of the United States. Topics include reviving the economy, restoring America’s place in the world, and embracing the country’s values. Includes a foreword by Barack Obama and seven speeches from his presidential campaign. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17825 ## The Last Lecture BR 17828 by Randy Pausch 2 volumes Carnegie Mellon computer professor Pausch provides personal lessons and stories for his young children to learn from as they go through life. Continues the message of his widely circulated taped lecture on achieving childhood dreams that he delivered after he learned he was dying of pancreatic cancer. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17828 ## The House at Sugar Beach: In Search of a Lost African Childhood BR 17829 by Helene Cooper 3 volumes Memoir by New York Times correspondent describes her privileged childhood in Liberia as a descendant of the nation's black American founders. Cooper relates her uprooting by a 1980 coup that forced the family to flee to the United States—and her return decades later. Some violence and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17829 ## Why Mars and Venus Collide: Improving Relationships by Understanding How Men and Women Cope Differently with Stress BR 17832 by John Gray 2 volumes Author examines the stressful shift in the roles of men and women and describes what he believes to be physiological gender differences in dealing with the tension. Outlines coping mechanisms for women to help both themselves and their partners improve communication, mood, energy, and levels of attraction. 2008. BR 17832 ## ### 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 Fiction Love Is a Many Trousered Thing: Confessions of Georgia Nicolson BR 17538 by Louise Rennison 2 volumes British teen Georgia Nicolson, from Startled by His Furry Shorts (BR 16847) and others, journals her choices between possible boyfriends after Robbie unexpectedly returns to town. Includes a new “snogging scale” and a glossary of Georgia’s pet phrases. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2007. BR 17538 ## Colorado Weddings: The Grooms Take Charge in Three Surprising Romances BR 17539 by Joyce Livingston 2 volumes Three bachelors find love through determination and faith. In A Winning Match fitness instructor Bart helps single mom Shelley with her troubled teenage son. In Downhill heartbreaker Mark seeks to reconcile with his ex-girlfriend Stormi. In The Wedding Planner aging widowed cowboy Clint falls for much-younger nuptials co-ordinator Tula. 2006. BR 17539 ## April in Paris BR 17540 by Michael Wallner 2 volumes World War II, occupied France. Roth, a twenty-two-year-old German soldier, translates for the SS during interrogations of Resistance fighters. Off duty he roams Paris as “Antoine” and falls in love with bookseller’s daughter Chantal. Ignorance of each other’s true identity brings tragedy. Violence and some explicit descriptions of sex. 2006. BR 17540 ## The Last Chinese Chef BR 17541 by Nicole Mones 3 volumes Forty-year-old American food writer Maggie McElroy, grieving over her husband’s accidental death, learns of a paternity suit filed against him in Beijing. She flies to China to investigate and to interview rising culinary star Sam Liang, a Chinese American chef who teaches her about more than cuisine. 2007. BR 17541 ## The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose BR 17571 by Mary Hooper 2 volumes London, 1670. Homeless fifteen-year-old Eliza is arrested for stealing food. Bailed out by bawdy-house owner Ma Gwyn, Eliza is helped by Ma’s daughter Nell, who becomes the mistress of King Charles. Eliza’s fortunes improve, and she eventually finds her birth mother. For senior high and older readers. 2006. BR 17571 ## Light a Penny Candle BR 17572 by Maeve Binchy 5 volumes From the time in 1940 when shy ten-year-old Elizabeth White is evacuated from wartime London and plunged into a large and contentious family in the Irish village of Kilgarret, she and Aisling O’Connor are destined to be the best of friends. This novel follows their lives together and apart over the decades. 1983. BR 17572 ## Beyond Reach: A Sara Linton Mystery BR 17579 by Karin Slaughter 3 volumes Detective Lena Adams, last seen in Faithless (BR 16326), spends her vacation checking on her drug-addicted uncle Hank. When Lena is wrongly arrested for murder, her police-chief boss Jeffrey Tolliver and his medical-examiner wife Sara Linton help solve the bigotry-filled mystery. Violence and strong language. 2007. BR 17579 ## The Wheel of Darkness: A Pendergast Mystery BR 17589 by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child 3 volumes FBI agent Aloysius Pendergast and his ward Constance Greene are studying at a Tibetan monastery when Pendergast is asked to recover a stolen relic that could wipe out mankind. His search leads to a luxury cruise ship where a murderer awaits. Some violence and some strong language. 2007. BR 17589 ## Wicked Lovely BR 17597 by Melissa Marr 2 volumes Seventeen-year-old Aislinn and her grandmother are fey—they can see faeries, who are nasty folk. Keenan, the Summer King, wants Aislinn to be his queen and takes human form to woo her. But Aislinn prefers fellow student Seth and resists joining Keenan. Some strong language. For senior high readers. 2007. BR 17597 ## Stuck in the Seventies BR 17599 by D.L. Garfinkle 2 volumes Los Angeles. Spoiled seventeen-year-old Shay travels in time from her boyfriend’s 2006 Jacuzzi to Tyler’s 1978 bathtub. Nerdy Tyler agrees to help Shay return home if she helps him become popular, but soon Shay wants to stay—and Tyler wants her gone. A high-interest, low-vocabulary book. For senior high readers. 2007. BR 17599 ## Something More BR 17600 by Janet Dailey 3 volumes Wyoming. Rancher Luke McCallister unearths human remains purported to be those of treasure hunter Henry James Wilson, grandfather of history teacher Angie Sommers. Angie arrives to claim the body and, more important, locate long-lost outlaw gold. Angie enlists Luke’s help, but they aren’t the only ones seeking the fortune. 2007. BR 17600 ## Born for Adventure BR 17602 by Kathleen Karr 2 volumes 1887. Sixteen-year-old Tom Ormsby joins African explorer Henry Morton Stanley’s expedition to rescue Emin Pasha, who was kidnapped in the Congo. Tom enters a jungle world filled with wonders and perils— slavers, warring tribes, and colonial masters—and leaves a different young man. For junior and senior high readers. 2007. BR 17602 ## The School for Heiresses BR 17633 by Sabrina Jeffries and Julia London 4 volumes Eccentric headmistress Charlotte Harris instructs the nouveau riche students at her School for Heiresses that young women should marry for love and passion and avoid fortune hunters and rogues. Four of her pupils—Eliza, Martinique, Grace, and Alyssa—have adventures on their way to the altar. Explicit descriptions of sex. 2006. BR 17633 ## Land of the Blind BR 17744 by Jess Walter 3 volumes Burned-out Spokane police detective Caroline Mabry is puzzled by the man in her interview room. Attorney and failed politician Clark Mason insists he’s responsible for a murder, but his statement is taking him hours to write, and it starts with his childhood. Strong language and some descriptions of sex. 2003. BR 17744 ## Teen, Inc. BR 17745 by Stefan Petrucha 2 volumes Fourteen-year-old Jaiden Beale, who is being raised by the corporation responsible for his parents’ deaths, is allowed to attend public school for the first time. After learning that the corporation is polluting the local water supply, Jaiden and his friends investigate. For junior and senior high readers. 2007. BR 17745 ## Easier to Kill: A Tamara Hayle Mystery BR 17747 by Valerie Wilson Wesley 2 volumes Radio star Mandy Magic hires private investigator Tamara Hayle to look into the murder of Mandy’s stylist, who was also her second cousin. Vandalism and an anonymous note that reads “movin’ on up” may be ominous clues that Mandy is also a target. Some violence and some strong language. 1998. BR 17747 ## A Daring Passion BR 17748 by Rosemary Rogers 3 volumes Raine Wimbourne masquerades as the Knave of Knightsbridge, champion of the poor, to dupe authorities and protect her father—the real knave. Philippe Gautier kidnaps Raine, intending to make her his mistress and use her to thwart enemies, but love complicates his plans. Some explicit descriptions of sex. 2007. BR 17748 ## Good Enough BR 17749 by Paula Yoo 2 volumes High school senior Patti Yoon is busy living up to her Korean parents’ expectation that she attend an Ivy League college when she befriends transfer student Ben Wheeler. Ben encourages her to apply to Juilliard and pursue her own interests. For senior high readers. 2008. BR 17749 ## White Lies: An Arcane Society Novel BR 17752 by Jayne Ann Krentz 3 volumes Clare Lancaster, a psychic, meets her biological father and begins working for his family’s company. Suspected of killing her brother-in- law, Clare searches for the truth while she falls for Jake Salter, a mind reader from the Arcane Society. Some explicit descriptions of sex, some violence, and some strong language. 2007. BR 17752 ## Fallen Angels BR 17796 by Walter Dean Myers 2 volumes Ritchie Perry, a black youth from Harlem, enlists in the army. He is sent to Vietnam where he struggles to survive racist officers, pitched battles, guerrilla raids, and multiple wounds. Violence and strong language. For senior high and older readers. 1988. BR 17796 ## The Art of Racing in the Rain BR 17801 by Garth Stein 2 volumes Enzo, a mixed-breed dog, believes he will be reincarnated as a human. He stands by his master Denny Swift’s side through Denny’s race-car driving career, the birth of his daughter Zoë, the death of his wife Eve, and a bitter custody battle with Eve’s parents. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17801 ## In Her Absence BR 17807 by Antonio Muñoz Molina 1 volume Spain. Mario López, a dutiful civil servant and husband, arrives home from work to find his beautiful artsy wife Blanca and her suitcase missing. When Blanca—or someone identical to her—returns, Mario’s obsessive love is replaced by suspicion of this possible imposter. Translated from Spanish by Esther Allen. 1999. BR 17807 ## Tribute BR 17818 by Nora Roberts 4 volumes Cilla purchases the neglected Virginia farm where her grandmother Janet, a famous actress, committed suicide. As Cilla works on the house, she meets her intriguing graphic-novelist neighbor, discovers Janet’s mysterious love letters—and becomes the target of threatening vandalism. Strong language and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17818 ## Devil May Care: The New James Bond Novel BR 17819 by Sebastian Faulks 2 volumes James Bond is sent to prevent Dr. Julius Gorner from flooding England with heroin. Bond meets Scarlett Papava, who wants to save her twin sister from Gorner’s clutches. But Gorner has plans to provoke a nuclear war with Russia. Violence, some descriptions of sex, and some strong language. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17819 ## That Summer Place: Old Things, Private Paradise, Island Time BR 17823 by Jill Barnett, 3 volumes Three romantic novellas set in a Victorian house on Spruce Island in the Pacific Northwest. In Old Things former lovers reunite after thirty years. In Private Paradise single parents share the lodge. In Island Time a marine biologist falls for a millionaire. Some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 1998. BR 17823 ## The Beach House BR 17824 by Jane Green 3 volumes When sixty-five-year-old eccentric widow Nan Powell learns that she may lose her beloved nine-acre Nantucket home, she turns it into a summer boarding house. Her first guests include a gay married man, a single mom, and Nan’s own unhappy son. Some strong language. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17824 ## Sail BR 17826 by James Patterson and Howard Roughan 2 volumes Widow Katherine Dunne and her former brother-in-law take her troubled kids, teens Carrie and Mark and ten-year-old Ernie, on a yacht vacation to reconnect as a family. A natural disaster pulls them together—but then an even greater catastrophe occurs. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17826 ## Lush Life BR 17827 by Richard Price 4 volumes New York, Lower East Side. Frustrated actor-writer Eric Cash claims two teens mugged him and his drinking companions as they stumbled home, shooting Ike, an aspiring writer. But when Ike dies, detectives Matty Clark and Yolonda Bello arrest Eric for homicide. Violence, strong language, and some explicit descriptions of sex. Bestseller. 2008. BR 17827 ## Undercover BR 17831 by Beth Kephart 1 volume Sophomore loner Elisa has a talent for observing the world and operates a business ghostwriting love letters for guys. As her parents’ marriage disintegrates, Elisa escapes by ice skating on the local pond. Theo, a client, begins joining her and they fall in love. For senior high readers. 2007. BR 17831 ## Lilith’s Ark: Teenage Tales of Biblical Women BR 17833 by Deborah Bodin Cohen 2 volumes Stories of young Jewish women from the Torah. Includes the story of Eve, the first woman named in the holy book, and of Sarah and Rebekah, the first and second matriarchs. Discusses the challenges they faced, including love, spirituality, and growing up. For senior high readers. 2006. BR 17833 ## Breakable You BR 17851 by Brian Morton 2 volumes While novelist Adam leaves Eleanor, his fifty-nine-year-old psychologist wife, for a younger woman, their troubled doctoral-student daughter Maud begins an affair with grieving Arab-American Samir. Eleanor ponders a new career and Adam makes a questionable move to revive his. Explicit descriptions of sex and strong language. 2006. BR 17851 ## ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Children’s Nonfiction Martina the Beautiful Cockroach: A Cuban Folktale BR 17040 retold by Carmen Agra Deedy 1 volume In this retelling of a Cuban folktale, a cockroach interviews possible husbands using her grandmother’s advice—spill coffee on their shoes to test their reactions. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. Pura Belpré Honor Book. 2007. BR 17040 ## Apollo 11: First Men on the Moon BR 17592 by Robert Godwin 1 volume Provides a concise history of humankind’s exploration of the Moon—from Greek astronomy to manned space flight. Profiles the three astronauts who traveled aboard Apollo 11 and chronicles their 1969 mission. Describes the scientific experiments conducted by the crew and the equipment they used. For grades 6-9. 2005. BR 17592 ## Stand Tall, Abe Lincoln BR 17603 by Judith St. George 1 volume Portrays the childhood of Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), who was born in a log cabin in Kentucky. Describes Abe’s chores, irregular schooling, and pet pig. Relates his mother’s death and his father’s remarriage to Sally, a widow with three children, who encouraged Abe to read and study. For grades 2-4. 2008. BR 17603 ## An Inconvenient Truth: The Crisis of Global Warming BR 17616 by Al Gore 1 volume Discusses the climate crisis and explains changes occurring in Earth’s weather, temperatures, and water levels. Examines the impact of global warming, greenhouse gases, and technology’s side effects on hurricanes, polar caps, and the spread of disease. Calls for scientific action to counter the problem. For grades 4-7. 2007. BR 17616 ## White House Q and A BR 17846 by Denise Rinaldo 1 volume Facts about the history and functions of the presidential residence in Washington, D.C. Questions cover the famous rooms, the Rose Garden, first ladies’ home decoration, family living and pets, holiday celebrations, and more. Includes a timeline for each president’s stay in the White House. For grades 3-6. 2008. BR 17846 ## You Must Be Joking, Two!: Even Cooler Jokes, Plus Eleven and a Half Tips for Laughing Yourself into Your Own Stand-up Comedy Routine BR 17856 by Paul Brewer 1 volume Jokes, riddles, and knock-knocks about school, computers, aliens from outer space, sports, and more. The tips section gives practical advice on finding and telling jokes and planning your own comic-relief performance. Sequel to You Must Be Joking! (BR 15363). For grades 3-6. 2007. BR 17856 ## Close to the Wind: The Beaufort Scale BR 18003 by Peter Malone 1 volume 1805. A midshipman aboard a man-of-war describes the ship’s passage under wind conditions from becalmed in Naples (Beaufort 0) to hurricane force in the Caribbean (Beaufort 12). Provides a biographical sketch of Francis Beaufort (1774–1857), inventor of the scale, and includes details about a man-of-war. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades 3-6. 2007. BR 18003 ## Horse Song: The Naadam of Mongolia BR 18020 by Ted Lewin and Betsy Lewin 1 volume American authors relate their travels to Mongolia for Naadam, a thousand-year-old summer festival. They describe a nine-year-old boy jockey winning a fourteen-mile horse race across the Gobi Desert and portray the traditional lifestyle of this nomadic people—their tents, food, and animal wealth. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2008. BR 18020 ## ### _Books for Children_ The following books were recently produced for the NLS program. To order books, contact your braille-lending library. Children’s Fiction Kami and the Yaks BR 17041 by Andrea Stenn Stryer 1 volume With a storm approaching, Kami—a deaf Sherpa boy—finds the littlest of his family’s four yaks stuck in a crevice. Kami bravely rushes home and acts out the yak’s plight then leads his father and brother to the rescue. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. Schneider Family Book Award. 2007. BR 17041 ## Fred Stays with Me! BR 17042 by Nancy Coffelt 1 volume A child describes living sometimes with her mother and sometimes with her father—but always with her dog. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. 2007. BR 17042 ## Freight Train/Tren de Carga BR 17043 by Donald Crews 1 volume A train of many colorful cars—red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple, and black—starts slowly, then moves in a rainbow blur across the countryside. Bilingual book in English and Spanish. PRINT/BRAILLE. For preschool-grade 2. Caldecott Honor Book. (Un tren de muchos colores— rojo, naranjo, amarillo, verde, azul, morado, y negro—empieza lentamente entonces anda rápido como un arco iris por el paisaje. Edición bilingüe en español e inglés. PRINT/BRAILLE. Para preescolares hasta grado 2. Premio Caldecott Honor.) 1978. BR 17043 ## A Chair for My Mother BR 17331 by Vera B. Williams 1 volume A young girl tells about the enormous glass jar that she, her mother, and her grandmother are slowly filling with coins. They want to buy the best chair in the whole world because all of their comfortable furniture was burned in a fire. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. Caldecott Honor Book. 1982. BR 17331 ## Swallowdale BR 17521 by Arthur Ransome 3 volumes Follows the adventures on Wild Cat Island of the Walker children— captain John, mate Susan, able seaman Titty, and ship’s boy Roger. They experience a shipwreck, camp on the mainland, find a cave, and trek through the mountains. Sequel to Swallows and Amazons (BR 13904). For grades 4-7. 1931. BR 17521 ## Before Green Gables BR 17750 by Budge Wilson 3 volumes This prequel to Anne of Green Gables (BR 10098) portrays Anne’s childhood before her eleventh birthday. Anne’s parents died in an epidemic when she was a baby, leading her to have many adventures at foster homes, orphanages, and school. For grades 5-8 and older readers. 2008. BR 17750 ## Feathers BR 17809 by Jacqueline Woodson 1 volume Winter 1971. Puzzling over a poem that says “Hope is the thing with feathers,” sixth-grader Frannie sees certain dilemmas in a new light: her classmate nicknamed Jesus Boy who claims he’s not white, her pregnant mother’s fears, a bully’s anger, and her brother Sean’s deafness. For grades 4-7. Newbery Honor Book. 2007. BR 17809 ## The Fugitive Factor: On the Run, Book 2 BR 17840 by Gordon Korman 1 volume Fifteen-year-old Aiden and eleven-year-old Meg, escapees from a juvenile detention center, search for evidence to prove their parents innocent of treason. As fugitives running from the police, the Falconer kids must lie and steal to avoid capture. Sequel to Chasing the Falconers (BR 17056). For grades 4-7. 2005. BR 17840 ## Now You See Them, Now You Don’t: On the Run, Book 3 BR 17841 by Gordon Korman 1 volume Aiden and Meg Falconer, whose parents are wrongly imprisoned as terrorists, track a mysterious “uncle” named Frank Lindenauer, convinced he holds the key to their parents’ freedom. But FBI agents are trailing the siblings and may catch them first. Sequel to The Fugitive Factor (BR 17840). For grades 4-7. 2005. BR 17841 ## The Stowaway Solution: On the Run, Book 4 BR 17842 by Gordon Korman 1 volume With no friends to help them and their parents in jail, Aiden and Meg Falconer can only trust each other. Hoping to avoid the FBI and a killer, they stow away on a freighter, but their problems increase. Sequel to Now You See Them, Now You Don’t (BR 17841). For grades 4-7. 2005. BR 17842 ## Public Enemies: On the Run, Book 5 BR 17843 by Gordon Korman 1 volume Aiden and Meg Falconer have been chased around the country by the FBI and a killer known only as Hairless Joe. Now, as Hairless Joe gets closer than ever, the Falconers are on the verge of discovering the truth. Sequel to The Stowaway Solution (BR 17842). For grades 4-7. 2005. BR 17843 ## Maple Syrup Season BR 18018 by Ann Purmell 1 volume In early spring, the Brockwell family gathers together under Grandpa’s direction to tap maple trees, collect sap, and boil it down to make maple syrup. If there is fresh snow, Grandma pours warm syrup on it for a special treat. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2008. BR 18018 ## Piano Starts Here: The Young Art Tatum BR 18019 by Robert Andrew Parker 1 volume Bad eyesight doesn’t stop Art Tatum from learning to play his family piano. Art’s musical career grows from playing professional shows in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio, to appearing with jazz bands across the country. Includes biographical information. PRINT/BRAILLE. For grades K-3. 2008. BR 18019 ## ### 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 Book Review (weekly) 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 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 ###