Early Word

I adore the Early Word talks on Twitter. Talking about YA titles happens on the third Tuesdays of the month.

I love talking about upcoming books, it makes ordering for the library easier. It's a great collection development tool, plus a great way to network with other librarians and publishers who attend the chats. It brings so many people together.

Plus I love talking about books! There's a Pinterest board, in case you missed a twitter session, you can always catch up there. Or to see past posts, search #ewyagc on twitter.

I open up two windows, one to follow my twitter feed, and one to follow the chat. I'm nerdy like that and want to see what everyone's taking about outside the chat, but still talking about books.

The next one is February 19th from 4 to 5. Hope to see you in the twitterverse!

~ Jennifer
aka YA Book Nerd

Genius Files: a Book Discussion

Wednesday night we hosted out 4+5ers Book Club, which was super fun.

Our icebreaker question: Which soda do you prefer - Coke or Pepsi

Our Trivia Questions:
1. What object stopped the golf cart? Frisbee grenade
2. What must Mrs. McDonald see with her own eyes? Biggest ball of twine
3. How would the government identify genius kids? Standardize tests
4. What book did Coke read?  Catcher in the Rye
5. Who saved the twins from the fire? Bones (the Janitor)
6. What does Coke want his nickname to be? Ace Fist
7. What did Mr. McDonald do at the salt flats? Drove really fast
8. What did the twins insist upon seeing? Biggest ball of twine/ House on the Rocks
9. What type of building is the House on the Rock? An inn
10. What's the twins' birthday tradition? Cupcakes before breakfast.
Bonus: In what room do the twins need to be at 1pm on their birthday? Infinity Room

Discussion Questions:
We normally have a bunch and choose to see what would be fit our groups' mood that night.

We always ask if readers finished the book, if they liked the book, and if it's part of a series, if they plan to continue reading the series.

1. Would you have jumped off the cliff?
2. What city would you most like to fly over in the suits that Coke and Pepsi used?
3. What was your favorite museum they visited?
4. Have you ever been on a road trip with your family?
5. Would you like to be a spy?
6. Would you like to be like Coke and remember everything that you've read?
7. Do you prefer photos or illustrations in books?
8. Do you like it when the author talks to you? Or do you like the author to just write the story?
9. Would you like to be a twin?
10. Did anyone look up the places mentioned by the author?

Activity 1:
Plotting the road trip taken with Google Maps

Activity 2:
State Game
Needed: Paper with lines and number to 50, pencils, and timer
Directions:
For 1 minute have each student write down as many states as they can remember
Share the number they got.
Have them work in pairs for the next minute.
Share the number they got
Have them work in groups of 4
Share the number they got. 

Activity 3: 
Needed: Blank map of USA
Directions: Take 3-5 minutes and label all the states that you can in groups of 4.

The Genius Files: Mission Unstoppable by Dan Gutman

Jennifer and I have a 4+5ER Bookclub this evening using this book. Since I have TGF on my mind, I thought I would post about it. I am looking forward to using this title this evening, as I believe it will really appeal to our participants. It was a fun read, with lots of action and adventure and a few surprises along the way. The story begins with us meeting soon-to-be 13 year old twins Coke and Pepsi McDonald and they are in grave danger. We are taken on an exciting ride to follow Coke and Pepsi all across the country on their family road trip to visit unusual attractions.

I guess the thing I like most about this book is the travel and nostalgia. Who doesn't have a memory of a time when you were packed into the car to visit a special place? Gutman brings us to all sorts of locations in this book like The Spam Museum, The National Yo Yo Museum, The Singing Sands Park and he talks of Frisbees and Pez dispensers along the way. There is an interactive piece to this book where the author encourages readers to use Google Maps to look up locations along the way and map them. I am curious to see if any of our bookclub readers did this part and what they thought of this aspect of the book.

 

If you are looking for a bookclub book that has action and adventure and would recommend this series. Here is the Harper Collins book trailer to help hook your readers!

Teen Summer Reading Programs

I'm gearing up for summer. I've decided not to use the teen theme or the teen art. It's just not my thing. I don't like the art. It's confusing to me and to the teens I've talked with. Instead, we're stealing the adult art and theme.

Isn't that cool?

I've started (with some help of teen interns) creating program ideas based off of the hand coming out of the ground. We're going to be doing a monster/zombie program. I've started a Pinterest board on the Otis Library site.  Some of the ideas will be fore display, some books will be listed, and some program ideas.

Program ideas that the teen interns loved:

Zombie/Monster cooking contest - bring in an item that you've created

Zombie/Monster ball (finale program) - with monster cookies (Pinterest) and monster shakes (Pinterest)

Learn the Thriller Dance

Marshmallow Monsters/Zombies (this program was supposed to be last year but was canceled due to a hurricane) - also from Pinterest

Zombie Make-up

Zombify a Barbie

I'm working on creating a calendar that will have these programs and more for the summer.

Wait, it's still "Appreciate a Dragon Day"!

As this particular January 16th draws to a close, I would be remiss if I didn't mention everyone's favorite holiday, "Appreciate a Dragon Day"! Who doesn't love a good dragon story? And there are so many to choose from: the informational How to Train Your Dragon by Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III (and translated from the Old Norse by Cressida Cowell), the clever Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, or the well-loved song turned lovely picture book Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter Yarrow, just to name a few. Come on, even our super imaginative mouse friend has Babymouse: Dragonslayer.

It's not too late to celebrate!  Grab your nearest dragon book of choice (mine will be King Jack and the Dragon by Peter Bentley and Helen Oxenbury) and snuggle up for a good tale!

  Posted by Kim

Welcome

To our new blog. We hope to blog about all things Youth Services, at least twice a week. We'll be talking about books from birth to teens, book displays, programs, and anything else library related.