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The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas

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Twilight Zone Radio Dramas
Hoopla Audion
For Teens and Adults

Over the past month or so, I’ve been hooked on The Twilight Zone “Radio Dramas” a radio series featuring adaptations of actual episodes of the classic TV series The Twilight Zone.  The stories are often expanded and updated to reflect twenty-first century technology and society, but the scripts remain fairly close to the original television broadcast. All 29 volumes are available for instant download with Hoopla Digital.  These are indeed top-notch productions featuring voice performances from some notable celebrities. Its like listening to some old-time radio theater complete with the thrill and all the spooky feels.  If you’re into audio dramas, these might be worth a listen.

Find yourself in The Twilight Zone on Hoopla Digital.

Hi Pizza Man

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Submitted by Ms. Tess!

Hi Pizza Man by Virginia Walter, with illustrations by Ponder Goembel, is a veritable children’s classic! If you haven’t read it before, you should treat yourself and check it out. Who doesn’t love pizza? Better yet: a pizza delivered to your house! But it can be HARD to wait for the delicious cheesey, saucey, crusty goodness to get to you. Vivian is experiencing this problem directly. Her mother tries to encourage her to be patient by playing a guessing game. What will you say when we finally open the door? “Hi, Pizza Man!” BUT what if it’s not a man? What if it’s a pizza woman? OR a pizza… cat? A pizza dog, duck, or cow? Who else might deliver your pizza and how would you greet them? You and your child will have fun playing along with Vivian and her mother until that fateful moment when it’s time to scarf some slices! See this book listed in our catalog

Little Red Writing

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Submitted by special guest blogger Ms. Andrea!

Little Red Writing written by Joan Holub puts a comical spin on the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood. This story follows the adventures of Little Red as she writes a story in school. Her presence is requested at Principal Granny’s house, but it isn’t Granny who is waiting for her. It is the Wolf 3000 pencil sharpener who wants nothing more than to sharpen Little Red to smithereens. Little Red escapes just in time to present her story in class. This book is a great tool for teaching kids about the different parts of a story. It has great descriptive language, and fun, engaging illustrations. Children will enjoy the story as it is written, and adults will enjoy the twist on an old favorite. See this book listed in our catalog

Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Skywalker, Jedi Knight

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Submitted by Mr. Eric!

Somewhere a light saber hums to life in the darkness. An x-wing zips by as it enters light speed. The slow, steady, breathing of Darth Vader accompanies the sound of laser blasts ricocheting around the room. There are some who say that once a child becomes a fan of Star Wars that it stays with them for the rest of their life. With the newest Star Wars movie, The Force Awakens, released just a few months ago, interest in the property is growing by the day. Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Skywalker Jedi Knight covers the events of the first three original movies in a way that leaves all of the really scary stuff out of the story. Sure, there are light saber duels and space battles, but it never gets too violent. All of the artwork for the book is taken from original concept pieces made by Academy Award winning artist Ralph McQuarrie during the production of the original films. They are sure to be simultaneously familiar and strange for readers, but are gorgeous nonetheless. If you have a younger child that may be interested in hearing stories from the Star Wars universe Star Wars: The Adventures of Luke Skywalker Jedi Knight by Tony DiTerlizzi is a great book to read with your child. See this book listed in our catalog

The Mermaid and the Shoe

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Submitted by Ms. Sam!

The Mermaid and the Shoe by K. G. Campbell is a lovely story about a young mermaid and how she finds her gift. Minnow, one of King Neptune’s fifty daughters, had no accomplishments. Her sisters were excellent gardeners, fish trainers, and singers but she was only very good at asking questions. That is until the day a pair of beautiful red shoes floats into her path. Determined to figure out what this is, Minnow sets off on an adventure to new depths of the sea. She returns with new knowledge and figures out that her gift is that of being a daring explorer. See this book listed in our catalog

Interstellar Cinderella

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Submitted by Ms. Sara!

Interstellar Cinderella by Deborah Underwood is true to most of the elements of the original fairy tale, but this Cinderella is a girl living in outer space who dreams of fixing rockets. She spends her time fixing robot dishwashers, but she studies rocket ship repair every night. When Cinderella is forbidden from attending the Royal Space Parade and Gravity Ball, Murgatroyd the mouse calls on the fairy godrobot, who gives Cinderella a new space suit and a power gem to power her rocket…but only until midnight. On the way to the parade, Cinderella spots the prince, whose rocket ship has broken down. She fixes his ship and they ride to the Gravity Ball together. At midnight, Cinderella has to leave, but she drops her socket wrench. The prince searches far and wide for the owner of the wrench and when he finally finds her, this Cinderella ends her story with a bit of a twist on the classic version. With Cinderella re-imagined as a smart, independent girl, and rhyming text that adds to the classic feel, kids and adults alike will enjoy this fractured fairy tale that proves with a bit of determination, your dreams can come true! See this book listed in our catalog