Category teens @ the library

The Morning After…the Oscars

While most people are now buzzing about how incredibly boring James Franco was as the host last night at the Oscars along with Anne Hathaway, despite all of her dress changes and his, I’d like to discuss something a little more positive. Forget the chatter about Melissa Leo dropping the F bomb during her acceptance speech or the incredibly uncomfortable moment of award presentation by Kirk Douglas! So, what is one to do?

I’m glad you asked! Let’s do something fun and take a look at the nominees for Best Picture in their book form: 127 Hours, Black Swan, Social Networking, The Fighter, Inception (House of Leaves is a book similar to the film, Inception), The Kids Are All Right, The King’s Speech, Toy Story 3,  True Grit, and Winter’s Bone. And the winner for Best Picture in the year 2010? The King’s Speech won! Yeah for language!!

A to the Mazing!

When I came across this “drawing” I thought, ‘no way…that’s a photo!!’ So I did a little more poking around and found that this particular artist, Raja Cenna, actually has a video of the three+ hours that it took her to draw this image of Lady Gaga.

So, next time you can’t find your iTouch, your parents won’t let you play any video games, there’s nothing on TV, your leg is broken, or no one is texting you back…don’t despair. Life is not over! You actually have time to draw. Here are some more drawings created by teens that you can also use as inspiration. Then, if you need a little more help (and your computer is in the repair shop) visit the Burlington Library where we have an entire section of books about drawing. Just know that the library is there to help you find your A to the Mazing self!

Graphic Mess?

Well, it was bound to happen. Capitalism has crept into the market of graphic novels! Do I sound naive or merely idealistic? Can you imagine the horror of picking up the newest graphic novel and seeing a cover sporting Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, or Al Frankin? WTF (wasn’t that funny)!!

 

 

 

 

 

Now these marketing “geniuses” are going to rework every quasi celebrity, wanna-be musician, and TV show that’s ever exsisted into a graphic novel. Where have the creators of literature gone? The need to turn a fast buck is possibly overriding common sense on the literary front. Isn’t it ironic that there was a time when those who questioned the literary value of graphic novels may actually end up coming to their defense? 

If you’ve not experienced the pleasure of reading a quality graphic novel, here are a few suggestions…

 

 

 

We Did It!

It’s hard to believe but the Louvre Museum has over 8.5 million visitors per year. This blog was viewed about 120,000 times in 2010. If it were an exhibit at The Louvre Museum, it would take 5 days for that many people to see it!

That means that in 2010, BPL Teens enjoyed 53 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 108 posts.

So, here’s to a great year in 2010 and an even better year in 2011!

Music in the Stacks?

What the heck are we talking about when we say “stacks”? Well, once a month at the library we invite various musicians to share their musical talent at the library. I mean, literally in the library! Yes, where everyone walks around on tip-toe, whispering about their new favorite books. Recently we had the pleasure of teen musician, Madison who joined us with her fiddle (don’t let her catch you calling it a violin!). It was so amazing to walk into a beautiful library and hear beautiful, foot tapping music to go along with it!

So, if you’ve never considered the library to be a source of music – think again. Not only do we have actual musicians in the library but we also have music CD’s available for checkout. With music ranging from Guns-N-Roses, George Michael, Justin Bieber to wedding music.

And if those still aren’t quite what you’re looking for, take a minute to listen to Gorillaz.

Who said Book Reports Couldn’t be “Fun”?

Next time that you’re asked to write the ominous “book report” think about getting creative in what you’re reading. Maybe you want to throw your teacher for a loop and introduce them to literture that they’ve perhaps not heard of before…until now!

1. How to Avoid Huge Ships by John W. Trimmer
2. Be Bold with Bananas by Crescent Books
3. Fancy Coffins to Make Yourself by Dale L. Power
4. 101 Uses for an Old Farm Tractor by Michael Dregni
5. Across Europe by Kangaroo by Joseph R. Barry
6. 101 Super Uses for Tampon Applicators by Lori Katz and Barbara Meyer
7. Suture Self by Mary Daheim
8. The Making of a Moron by Niall Brennan
9. Underwater Acoustics Handbook by Vernon Martin Albers
10. Superfluous Hair and Its Removal by A. F. Niemoeller
11. Lightweight Sandwich Construction by J. M. Davies
12. The Devil’s Cloth: A History of Stripes by Michel Pastoureaut
13. How to Be a Pope: What to Do and Where to Go Once You’re in the Vatican by Piers Marchant
14. How to Read a Book by Mortimer J. Adler and Charles Van Doren

Easy Money

Calling all teens!  Create a video promoting summer reading at your library and you could win $250!  The best short Public Service Announcement, using the theme “You Are Here,” produced by a Washington student or group of students that encourages use of their local public libraries and promotes reading all summer long will take away the contest prize.

The top video will be featured throughout 2011 as the official commercial for Washington’s Summer Reading Program.  Completed forms are due by March 7, 2011.  For more information, go to 2011 Teen Video Challenge .

If you need a little help uploading a video to youtube, check this out!

Visual Journaling Workshop

Hey! Do you have a love/hate relationship with writing? Do you love to keep a journal but hate all the writing? Well, this might be the workshop for you!!

On Tuesday, December 28 from 1 – 2:30 PM you’re invited to come experience easy techniques for keeping a visual journal. Join Bellingham artist Ellen Clark, as she shares various templates, tips, and tools that everyone will find helpful in creating their own visual journal.

Everyone will receive their own hardbound journal for the New Year. Pre-registration is required and will be limited to the first 25 teens. Call 360-755-0760 today! This event is FREE through the generous support of The Friends of the Library who help provide funding.

I Always Carry a Copy with Me

The other day while visiting with one of our loyal BPL teens, who is an avid reader, we began comparing notes on new books that we have and haven’t read, discussing how we almost become physically ill when reading “some” vampire lit, and the current state of the literary world in general. It was at this point that she suddenly asked me in a rather conspiratorial tone, “Have you ever read, Dandelion Wine?” I had to tell her that I had honestly never even heard of it before. Come to find out it it is her absolute favorite book of all time (so far) and that she carries it everywhere she goes. Now, that is someone who is committed to a book! It’s definitely at the top of my “to read” list. Thanks for the tip Jessa!! ;D

Dandelion Wine is a 1957 semi-autobiographical novel by Ray Bradbury, taking place in the summer of 1928 in the fictional town of Green Town, Illinois – a pseudonym for Bradbury’s childhood home of Waukegan, Illinois. The novel developed from the short story “Dandelion Wine” which appeared in the June 1953 issue of gourmet magazine.

The title refers to a wine made with dandelion petals and other ingredients, commonly citrus fruit. In the story, dandelion wine, as made by the protagonist’s grandfather, serves as a metaphor for packing all of the joys of summer into a single bottle.

The main character of the story is Douglas Spaulding, a 12-year-old boy loosely patterned after Bradbury. Most of the book is focused upon the routines of small-town America, and the simple joys of yesteryear. – Wikipedia

I’ve included this music video only because it has the same title and I liked the vibe…peace!