New Releases by Robert J. Blake

From the creator of beloved stories about dogs--their bravery, loyalty, and companionship--comes a celebration of music, friendship, Paris, and puppies set against an exquisitely illustrated Parisian backdrop! On a beautiful bridge in Paris, performing dogs Victor and Hugo dance and sing as their Maestro plays his music. But when Maestro’s accordion falls over the side of the bridge and onto a barge, the music stops—not only for Maestro, but for everyone! Victor and Hugo must rescue the accordion, and as they chase after it, they know that saving the accordion for their Maestro will mean saving music for the entire city as well. In this rollicking adventure through Paris, Victor and Hugo show us that friendship and music can combine to create the greatest magic of all. Praise for Victor and Hugo: "A high-energy, exuberant romp through the City of Light. For lovers of art, music, and action-packed adventure."--School Library Journal

Brave New Digital Classroom examines the most effective ways to utilize technology in language learning. The author deftly interweaves the latest results of pedagogical research with descriptions of the most successful computer-assisted language learning (CALL) projects to show how to implement technology in the foreign-language curriculum to assist the second language acquisition process. This fully updated second edition includes new chapters on the latest electronic resources, including gaming and social media, and discusses the realities and potential of distance learning for second language acquisition. The author examines the web, CALL applications, and computer-mediated communication (CMC), and suggests how the new technologically assisted curriculum will work for the foreign-language curriculum. Rather than advocating new technologies as a replacement for activities that can be done equally well with traditional processes, the author envisions a radical change as teachers rethink their strategies and develop their competence in the effective use of technology in language teaching and learning. Directed at all language teachers, from the elementary school to postsecondary levels, the book is ideal for graduate-level courses on second language pedagogy. It also serves as an invaluable reference for experienced researchers, CALL developers, department chairs, and administrators.

Painter and Ugly, two sled dogs who are inseparable best friends, are put on different teams for the Junior Iditarod, but they manage to find their way back to one another for the big race.

When their mother fails to return one night, three Tasmanian Devil cubs venture out of their den in search of food and, by doing what Tasmanian Devils are supposed to do, manage to save their mother from a trap.

For as long as he could remember, Johnnie has longed to go off hunting with Pa and their dog, Swift. Now the much-anticipated day has arrived, but Johnnie''s first hunt comes to an abrupt end when a grizzly bear attacks Pa, leaving him wounded and unable to walk. ?Listen to the dog,? his father urges him as the boy starts out into the treacherous forest, led by the knowledgeable Swift, on a daring rescue mission to save his father. More than a book about an Alaskan boy and his dog, Swift is a story of trust and courage, a perfect companion to Togo and Akiak.

One day, after Dan is forced to close the boardwalk carousel, he and his neighbors search for their missing cat friend at the same time that a local building catches fire.

When a young kestrel makes its first flight among the buildings of a city, it is pursued by a hawk.

Togo wasn''t meant to be a sled dog. He was too feisty and independent to make a good team member, let alone a leader. But Togo is determined, and when his trainer, Leonhard Seppala, gives him a chance, he soon becomes one of the fastest sled dogs in history! His skills are put to the ultimate test, though, when Seppala and his team are called on to make the now-famous run across the frozen Arctic to deliver the serum that will save Alaska from a life-threatening outbreak of diphtheria. In the style of Akiak, winner of the Irma S. and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children''s Literature, along with five state awards, Robert J. Blake''s detailed, carefully researched oil paintings complete the story of the adventure that inspired the internationally famous Iditarod race.

A Spanish language immersion telenovela that retells the story of Destinos while addressing a new mystery.

An old man living alone at the edge of a small Irish village grudgingly allows a dog into his life.

When she hurts her paw on the fourth day of the race, Akiak can no longer compete in the Iditarodthe famed dogsledding race through 1,151 miles of Alaskan terrain. Her musher has no choice but to leave her behind. The rules say once a dog is dropped from the race, it may not rejoin the team. But ten-year-old lead dog Akiak doesnt know the rules, and nothing will stop her from catching up to her team. Akiak has never won the race before. Will she be able to help her team win this time?

Wild Yusi, thoughtless Yusi, crazy Yusi thinks the village--and the canyon itself-- is his, scrawling his mark everywhere; on desks at school, buildings, and even trees. "Yudonsi," you-don''t-see, the villagers begin calling him. Yudonsi''s arrogance knows no bounds until the day he climbs the canyon wall to paint his mark where all must see it, and winds up facing the anger of the canyon and sky, and the threat it poses to the entire village.With rich, spacious oil paintings that bring the grandeur of the American Southwest to life, Riptide and Akiak creator Robert J. Blake has crafted a moving story about the powerful spirit of a Native American boy, and the equally powerful spirit of his people.

A father and his son take great care searching the woods for the perfect spot for the father to paint a picture and the boy to catch insects and frogs.

At home with the wind and the sea, Justin sails his dory across the harbor and suddenly finds himself in the company of the legendary Captain Slocum aboard the Spray.

Zach''s dog Riptide loves the sea and proves himself worthy of being the nineteenth lifeguard on Cape Cod''s Nauset Beach.

An old man living alone at the edge of a small Irish village grudgingly allows a dog into his life.