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Kidsmomo Podcast #33: “New Kids on the Block”
Sep 14th, 2010 by Kidsmomo

A new kid who conspires with a mobster. A new kid whose life changes because of a dog. And a new kid who makes Karen cry. Plus, meet the nuke kid, the nude kid, and the newt kid! We’ve got ‘em all in our latest podcast, all about books starring “the new kid.”

(And be sure to stay tuned all the way to the end, to catch our lightning round competition based on this theme’s mystery book!)

      (11:18) 
    Download the MP3 (10.9 MB)

  • Al Capone on Al Catraz (get it?!) — aka our mystery book revealed
  • Our New Kid book picks (Libby on Wednesday and Bridge to Terabithia)
  • A New Kid book review from YOU (Because of Winn-Dixie)
  • Karen vs. Nancy in a speed battle of wits!

Also, don’t forget: our new theme is books about orphans — but don’t worry, they’re not all sad! So send us a review of your favorite book about an orphan and check out our picks for books about orphans.

— Karen and Nancy


Character Interviews: (NOT) Welcoming the New Kid
Sep 11th, 2010 by Nancy

The books for our current theme are all about new kids — some of whom don’t exactly get the warmest welcome. Sure, you could luck out like Emily Ebers (in the books by Lisa Yee) and make friends with someone really cool like Millicent Min. Okay, Millicent isn’t exactly “cool,” but she’s really nice.

On the other hand, some of the locals aren’t so nice to the new kids in our books for this theme. And I caught up with some of them to get the inside scoop for Kidsmomo:

“Well, once there was this girl who was just… just… WEIRD. Her clothes didn’t match. I mean, I guess some people would think she’s original and cool, but I thought it was weird. She dressed like it was Halloween every day. It must be a family thing, because her little brother dressed like it was Halloween all the time, too. Maybe they’re just really into Halloween.”

Rosemary

“Word of advice: When you meet the new girl, don’t pull her pigtails and call her ‘Carrots,’ no matter how much you want her to pay attention to you because she’s really cute. Because she’ll hold a grudge for a really, really long time. It might be years before she agrees to be your friend.”

Gilbert Blythe

“I hate when people get in my face. Especially losers. So when a new kid — a big-time loser — gets to camp, I show him who’s boss. I usually grab his scrawny neck and drag him into the bathroom. Then I give a good dunking in the toilet.”

Clarisse La Rue

When asked about the incident with a certain son of Poseidon, Miss La Rue rudely stated the interview was over, tore off her microphone, and hit me in the face with it.

Okay, I didn’t actually interview these characters, obviously. Because they’re fictional. Which is just as well, because I’m pretty sure Clarisse would beat me up. :(

— Nancy

After re-imagining an encounter with Clarisse, Nancy decided that she could get a decent punch in. She’s pretty feisty.

More about Nancy »


Book Trailer: Al Capone Does My Shirts
Sep 7th, 2010 by Kidsmomo

This book trailer for Al Capone Does My Shirts was originally the Mystery Book Theater video for our The New Kid theme. For more on Al Capone Does My Shirts, check out our “New Kids on the Block” podcast.

If you’ve ever been the new kid, then you know it can be rough making new friends and learning how things work at your new school. But imagine how hard it would be if your new home were a prison — literally. That’s what the main character is up against in Al Capone Does My Shirts by Gennifer Choldenko!


Introducing… Books About “The New Kid”
Aug 30th, 2010 by Kidsmomo

A fish out of water. In over your head. Thrown to the wolves.

When you’re the new kid at school or in town, many sayings can apply — but none of them seem to capture the full experience. So instead, we offer up these books about being “the new kid” (in no particular order):

  1. Libby on Wednesday by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (Karen’s pick)
  2. Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson (Nancy’s pick)
  3. Ellie McDoodle: New Kid in School by Ruth McNally Barshaw
  4. Allie Finkle’s Rules for Girls Book 2: The New Girl
  5. Hoot by Carl Hiaasen
  6. Belle Teal by Ann M. Martin
  7. A Friendship for Today by Patricia McKissack
  8. Stargirl by Jerry Spinelli
  9. Firegirl by Tony Abbott
  10. Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie S. Tolan
  11. Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
  12. Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan
  13. Doodlebug by Karen Romano Young
  14. So Totally Emily Ebers by Lisa Yee

(And here’s a printable version of our New Kid booklist, for you to take to the library or bookstore, or send as a gift to friends in your old hometown.)

If you’ve read any of these, send in your book review. Or send in a review of your favorite book about “the new kid.”

UPDATE 9/14/10: We revealed the answer to our New Kid Mystery Book Theater in the “New Kids on the Block” Podcast, so take a listen if you want to know the answer. Or just tune in if you want to hear Nancy and Karen compete ina lightning round game where one of them is definitely NOT a very gracious winner.


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