Library Websites with Style

I am always on the prowl to find great ideas for my library's website. This blog entry has some recent websites I have come across that are doing some pretty neat web design on a dime.

• Haverstraw King's Daughter Public Library They put a movie trailer plug-in on the teen page to play book trailers. Their children's page also has an amazing collection of app looking icons for popular games. Very clean and streamlined design.
• Nyack Library The children's portion of the website uses a really handsome Tree image map where you can click on different leaves on the tree and go to different portions of the YS webpage.
• Bethlehem Library in Delmar, NY has the landing page of their Teen page a giant iphone. How trendy!

Summer Reading Prizes for Teens

Each year for my Teen Summer Reading teens read all summer long to rack up points. At the end of August we have a big party and each point a teen has earned over the summer translates into 1 raffle ticket. The teens then have the chance to try and win cool prizes in a Penny Social style raffle. I make sure to give ALL participants who logged any reading throughout the summer a gift bag with a book, ice-cream coupon, button, and candy. I also keep a special box of consolation prizes for teens who did not win anything at the raffle.

I buy most of my prizes from: Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble, BJ's Wholesale, Target, Dick Blick Art Supplies,

Here are some of the best teen summer reading prizes I have given away:

• Themed Book Baskets (Twilight, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Chronicles of Narnia, Movie Night)
• Lego Kits
• Manga Drawing Books
• Sketch Pads and pens
• Candy and Cookies
• Domo Doll!
• T-Shirts
• Anything Book related (Hunger Games pins, Harry Potter Scarf)
• Purses
• Teen Book Bundles
• Wallet on a chain
• Wrist cuffs
• Metal Lunchboxes
• Justin Bieber Standee!
• Fun USB drives
• Gift Cards

Stuff They Were Not Into as Much as Me!:

• Chinese Calligraphy Set
• Dream Journals
• Stickers
• Chess Set
• How To Kits
• Japanese Candy
• Mario Brothers Beach Towel
• Magnetic Poetry

Here are some pictures of past summer reading prizes for teens I have awarded:

Teen SRP Prizes

The Rainbow Project

The Rainbow Project is a booklist of recommended books for kids and teens revolving around the topics of GLBTQ (Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, and Questioning.) It is the brainchild of the ALA GLBT Round Table and SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table.)

Check-out their website here

This is a booklist of just some of the recommended books from the August 2011 issue of VOYA magazine. (v 34, #3, page 226-227 by Lynn Evarts.) Check-out the article for the full listing.

• Will by Maria Boyd, 2010
• Unbearable Lightness by Portia de Rossi, 2010
• Of All the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz, 2009
• Out by Sandra Diersch, 2010
• Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green, 2010
• The Popularity Papers: Research for the Social Improvement and General Betterment of Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Change by Amy Ignatow, 2010
• Me by Ricky Martin, 2010
• Scars by Cheryle Rainfeld, 2010
• Kiss by Jacqueline Wilson, 2010

Recommended websites for LGBTQ teens:

• Avert.org An abundance of information for young people confused or concerned about sex. Has a small section on GLBTQ sexuality.
• Teenshealth.org Covers many topics on teen growth including sexual harassment and bullying.
• GoAskAlice Like a "Dear Sally" with issues teens are concerned about.
• PlannedParenthood Special section on how to come out to your family
  

Home School Open House Preparation

Learn how to get the most out of your public library!

Online Resources available using your library card:

Grolier Online

• Featured Lesson plans available by subject or grade level. Each topic features objectives, preparation, resources (including links to Grolier Encyclopedia Entries), vocabulary, activities, discussion questions, extensions, and assessments.
• Feature Showcase- Dynamic, fun content for students. About 9 of these showcases are on the website.

Twayne's Author Series

• Critical Interpretation and discussion of works of literature

NovelList Plus

• Featuring book discussion guides
• Subject reading lists for different age groups. Titles link to library catalog
• Author Read-a-Likes
• Picture Book Extenders- Bring picture books to life with discussion questions and activities relating to the book

Picture Books for Curriculum :

• Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine
• How I Learned Geography by Uri Shulevitz
• Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming
• Librarian on the Roof by M.G. King
• The Lion's Share: A Tale of Halving Cake and Eating it Too by Matt McElligott
• If I Ran foWebsites:
  NYS Regulationr President by Catherine Stier
• Owen and Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship by Isabella Hatkoff

NYS LEAH (Loving Education at Home) There is a Schoharie Chapter (Gallupville LEAH), Amsterdam (Family Pathways LEAH)

NYS Regulations

Insanewiches

As the title of the book "Insanewiches: 101 ways to think outside the lunchbox" by Adrian Fiorino suggest this book is insane! I cannot wait to do a teen or kids program around this book. This book is 222 pages of sheer joy. From sandwiches that look like severed hands to painting pallets there is a sandwich for everyone in here. Similar to the book "Hello, Cupcake" many of these designs are not practical for everyday lunch boxes but boy oh boy will your kid be the coolest in school if he/she whips one of these out at lunchtime!

Library Amazing Race Program

So I adore planning big events where I get loads of kids to come and explore the library..... they are kinda my thing. This summer the SRP manual had a great program idea called Dewey's Amazing Race based on the premise of the TV show "The Amazing Race." I thought it sounded right up our alley and would be a good way to keep a large group of kids entertained for about an hour and learn about the library!

Basically it works like this; there are 10 activity stations throughout the building and outside. I will break the kids into teams of 3 or 4 (dependent on how many kids show up). They will get a map of the grounds and where each of the activities are. At each station is a stamp and a stamp pad. Each team stamps their map when the station is complete. Each team who completes all 10 stations gets a prize (temporary tattoo) I have teen volunteers at the stations that are more involved to help out. They are also coming early to help do all the set-up.

Rather than make the teams finish each station in order let them jump around to alleviate congestion.

Station 1, 000: World Record Plunge Based on the Guinness Book of World Records students will replicate a feat from the book. One of the coldest inhabited places is Resolute, Canada, with an average temperature of -16 degrees Celsius. Participants plunge their hands into a bucket of ice water to retrieve a small toy at the bottom. Volunteer present
Station 2, 100: Spooky Treats Participants create an edible ghost by wrapping a lollipop in tissue, tying a piece of yarn around the neck, and using a black marker to make a face.
Station 3, 200: Goddess Golf Teams use crochet mallet to put the ball through arches labeled with the names of gods and goddesses. Each player must hit through 2 arches to move on. Volunteer present
Station 4, 300: Endangered Eggs Egg and Spoon. Players carry a picture of an endangered species that is taped to a wooden egg with a spoon and place them in a bucket labeled "Safe Place."
Station 5, 400: Guten Tag Participants match words for hello from different countries to the proper countries. They must get them all right to move on. Volunteer present
Station 6, 500: Under the Sea Participants will explore sea shells and petrified sea creatures using microscopes. Volunteer present
Station 7, 600: Fruit Kebabs Fruit Kebab from the Middle East. Cut up bananas, strawberries, apples, and other fruit using plastic knives. Place the pieces on toothpicks and eat carefully. Have kids finish eating before they move on to the next station. Volunteer present
Station 8, 700: Take off and Landing Participants make paper airplanes to be flown into buckets labeled with a foreign city. City suggestions: Tokyo, Rio, Rome, Paris. Volunteer present
Station 9, 800: Mad Words Have teams complete a Mad Lib
Station 10, 900: Where in the World? Hang up a large map of the world, give them a list of 4 countries they must find to advance. Volunteer present

Final station, have their map checked and get reward!

Endangered Animals for Station 4

Alternative to Summer Reading Incentives

For the past few years I have heard of libraries offering kids the option to donate to a non-profit organization instead of receiving prizes for summer reading. We give out a lot of fun little plastic toys, erasers, etc but I really want to teach kids life lessons whenever I can. (don't worry I am not preachy with them!)

This year for a change I set aside a little bit of the money I would normally use on summer reading incentive prizes to be used to donate to several non-profit organizations. This has turned out to be a huge success! This is how the program worked:

I created "Make a difference in the world" certificates (template) and placed them in the prize box. For every ten stickers a child gets on their reading chart (15 minutes=1 sticker) they get to pick a prize from the box. For these donation certificates kids must trade in 20 of their stickers and the library will donate $1.00 to the charity they choose. The charities I had as options include the local animal shelter, the Humane Society of the United States, and the Red Cross.

The real sacrifice for the kids is that they can have to give up not one but two prizes to donate to a charity. Parents are really excited about this program and love seeing their selfless children make such decisions.

At the end of the summer I send each charity a check along with a letter wit the names of all the kids who donated and how many hours they read to make their donation.

If there are issues with using public funding to run this program hook up with a local business and have them sponsor it. You can have a finite amount of dollars put away for the program. Be sure to research the charity you choose to make sure it fits with the libraries mission and is legit.

Kids Summer Reading Incentives

I love shopping for summer reading incentive prizes. Though this year I felt guilty about just giving away cheapie plastic stuff that will just take up space in the world so I tried to lean more towards useful prizes instead of pieces that will just break.

Oriental Trading is a great place to buy prizes. I have lived and learned what not to buy because often the quality of items is pretty low. This year I think I did a pretty rad shopping job if I do say so myself.

The way I run our summer reading for kids is children keep track of how many minutes they read or are read to. For every 15 minutes they read they can place a sticker on their reading chart. After a child gets 10 stickers (2.5 hours of reading) they can pick a prize from the prize box. Some kids come every week to get a prize and some only collect huge payloads once or twice over the summer. I put new prizes in the box each week with the prizes getting progressively better as the summer goes on.

Here are the prizes I offered this summer:

Oriental Wooden Bookmarks (not a big hit)
Oriental Wooden Fans (huge hit)
Stuffed Panda Bears (big hit)
Skateboard and Truck Erasers (hit)
Stackable Pencils and Adjustable Erasers (surprising hit)
Metal Skull Rings and Plastic Animal Print Rings (boys and girls love)
Parachute Monkeys (leftover from last year, still a hit)
Frog Finger Puppets (popular with toddlers)
Eye Bulge Critters (squeeze them and their eyes bug out, kids loved this)
Rainbow Crayons (not a huge hit, come on kids these are awesome!)

Waterguns (moderate hit)
Knight and Alien Rubber Duckies (they love the twist on traditional rubber duckies)
Glitter Stickers (moderate in popularity)
Country Flag Keychains (duds)
Sports Necklaces (popular)
Chinese Characters Wooden Bead Bracelet (okay, not as popular as I thought)

Funny Books for Boys

This is a list of great books that will make your boy patrons LOL!

Series:
Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
Lunch Lady series by Jarrett J Krosoczka (graphic novel)
Far Side Comics by Gary Larson (graphic novel)
Weenies series by David Lubar
Time Warp Trio by Jon Sciezka
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
Shredderman by Wendelin Van Draanen
Double Fudge by Beverly Cleary
Guys Read edited by Jon Sciezka
Mr. Chickee by Christopher Paul Curtis
Bunnicula by Jame Howe
My Weird School by Dan Gutman
Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold (easy reader)
Walter the Farting Dog by William Kotzwinkle (picture book)


Stand Alone Titles:
6th Grade Nickname Game by Gordon Korman
Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
Frankenstein Make a Sandwich by Adam Rex (picture book)
Frankenstein Takes the Cake by Adam Rex (picture book)
Knucklehead by Jon Scieska (biography)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
My Rotten Life by David Lubar
Doctor Proctor's Fart Powder by Jo Nesbo
The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales by Jon Sciezka (picture book)
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Sciezka(picture book)
A Pig Parade is a Terrible Idea by Michael Ian Black (picture book)
A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee (easy reader)
Interrupting Chicken by David Ezra Stein (picture book)



-Some content from guysread.com

Free Book Programs

Distribution to Unserved Communities Library Program (DUC)

The Distribution to Unserved Communities Library Program is offering new, free books and videos on contemporary art and culture to libraries in rural, inner-city and unserved communities. Some well-known museums and art presses are included.See www.ducprogram.org, for a list of available books. In exchange, you will need to make these materials available to the public and add them to the catalog. To order, look through the offerings and select “add to cart”.In the final stage of the ordering process, after you have logged into your profile page, you will be taken to a screen listing your book requests. This page also contains a tab that reads ‘EMAIL ORDER/RESERVE BOOKS’ in the top right and the bottom right corners. You MUST click on this tab in order to submit your book requests. Once your order has been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation email, or if you experience any other problems, please contact us at or (212) 255-2919.There are no restrictions on the number of titles you may request. We kindly ask that you order only what you need.Each institution is allowed to place one order per calendar year. Place one order on behalf of your institution; multiple orders from the same school or library will not be filled. It may take up to three months to process and ship the books you request.The DUC in collaboration with NYSCA distributes the work of hundreds of contemporary writers and poets published by New York State independent presses. These books are distributed in predetermined sets of 30 or more titles for free to libraries throughout New York State. If you are interested in receiving these books, email or call (212) 255-2919.

Program Ideas as Seen on Library SRP Program Schedules

I enjoy seeing what other fun program ideas other libraries come up with. This is a list of programs compiled in summer of 2011.

CARTOONING & CARICATURES Here is a workshop for the aspiring comic book
and cartoon illustrators out there! Cartoonist Nick Biales will teach us some basics of cartooning and caricature that you will be able to improve on.-Saratoga Springs Library Teen Program BAG O’ BONES: FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY Mr. Joe Biss is back and he has brought a friend. There is a bunch of bones on a table and it will be your job to reassemble “Fred” back into a complete skeleton. Don’t worry, the bones aren’t real, but you will learn some of the techniques used by law enforcement personnel and anthropologists to
identify a person from skeletal.-Saratoga Springs Library Teen Program
Magic by Scott Jameson - Summer Reading Kick Off Event! Magician, Scott Jameson presents classic magic and juggling routines with a fresh new look choreographed to a broad selection of music styles for audiences of all ages. Join us as we kick off our summer series of programs with this engaging performance. -Saratoga Springs
Beyond Harry Potter's Hedwig-Trish Marki, a Wildlife Rehabilitator with North Country Wildcare will bring an assortment of live owls. Marki will describe the owl's lifestyle, habitat, and explain how she works to rescue and take care of injured owls.-Saratoga Springs Kids Program
Animal Tracks Tees a George Steele Program -Learn about mammals and the tracks and traces they leave in their habitats. Make an animal track tshirt using track stencils and fabric makers. Please bring a plain light colored tee shirt or you can use a bandanna provided at a cost of $2 per handkerchief. Grades K-5. -Burnt Hills Library
Hello Kitty Creative Club- Hello Kitty was first introduced to the United States in 1976; celebrate the 35th anniversary with this cute character from Japan! We’ll share stories and crafts, create fashion accessories and more. Geared to ages 3-12, but younger children are welcome with a parent. -Galway Library
In celebration of Culinary Arts month, join us for a "Cook Book Swap". This is a fun and inexpensive way to recycle and get some new recipes !! Bring a book:take a book ! Additional books will be available to purchase at a nominal charge. -Round Lake Library

Travel to China

As part of the One World Many Stories summer reading theme this program will bring kids to China through crafts, cooking, and folktales.

The recipe we will make:

Cold Sesame Noodles (p.14 from the book Recipe and Craft Guide to China by Joanne Mattern)

1 pound thin spaghetti or lo mein noodles
3 tablespoons sesame oil
1/2 cup tahini (can use peanut butter but why not spend an extra few dollars and give kids and authentic experience)
1/2 cup vegetable broth
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon sugar
1/4 cup chopped peanuts or chopped green onions

1. Fill saucepan with water and bring to a boil. Cook noodles about 8-10 minutes or until just soft. Drain and add 1 tablespoon sesame oil, mix and set aside to refrigerate for 1 hour.
2. Place Tahiti, broth, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugr in a jar with a lid. Cover and shake well. Place in fridge about 1 hour.
3. Place the cold noodles on a serving dish. Top with Tahini mixture and mix well.
4. Garnish with chopped peanuts or chopped green onions if you want to. Serves 4 people.

Bubble Tea

Ingredients:

1/2 cup chilled, cooked large tapioca pearls (if substituting smaller tapioca, use 1/3 cup, can be purchased in Asian food market)*
1 cup crushed ice
1 cup very strong chilled black tea (or orange pekoe tea or Lichee tea, try and go for decaf for kids sake!)
1 cup milk, or to taste
Honey or sugar to taste

Directions:
Place the pearls in a large clear glass. Combine all remaining ingredients in a cocktail shaker (or cans with lids so the kids can help out), and shake vigorously until the mixture is frothy.
Pour into the glass, and serve with extra-thick straws.

How To Cook Tapioca Pearls:

6 to 8 cups water (the ration is a minimum 7:1 water to tapioca pearls)
1 cup tapioca pearls
In a large pot (Make sure the pot is big enough so boiling tapioca water will not spill over) over high heat, add water and bring to a boil.
Slowly stir in the tapioca pearls so that they do not stick together (after 1 minute, the tapioca pearls should float). Reduce heat to medium and let boil, covered, for approximately 15 minutes; turn the heat off and let the tapioca pearls site, covered, for an additional 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove from heat, rinse the tapioca pearls in cold water, and drain.

NOTE: The cooking time above is a general guideline. If you shorten the cooking time, you will get chewier tapioca balls. Cook longer and you will get less elastic tapioca balls.


Crafts:

Paper Cutouts (p.37 from the book Recipe and Craft Guide to China by Joanne Mattern)
Chinese people often use paper cutouts to decorate their homes. They cut out pictures of animals, flowers, or decorative designs and tape them to windows or doors.

Materials
-Construction paper in 2 different contrasting colors
-Pencil
-Scissors
-Glue

Trace template and cut out. Glue the cutout design to a darker piece of construction paper.

Paper Tangrams

Book:
Tiki Tiki Tembo by Arlene Mosel

Cinderella Around the World Program

This is a program I am doing for grades 3-5 as part of the "One World, Many Stories" summer reading theme. I will read a couple Cinderella tales from around the world. The group will help me make a list of common elements that make these Cinderella stories. Class will be broken up into groups of three or four and will compose their own 1 page Cinderella story to read in fron of the class. Sillyness is encouraged! I will have Volunteens going around and helping each group.

* Post program note: Only had 3 of the kids show up! So instead of writing our own Cinderella story on our own we went around a circle and each told one line of the story. The end result was pretty hilarious and the kids and myself had a ball!

The Books:


Glass Slipper, Gold Sandal by Paul Fleischman

(Blend of worldwide tales)

The Rough-Faced Girl by Rafe Martin

(Algonquin Indian) * Read aloud

The Gift of the Crocodile by Judy Sierra (Indonesia)

Domitila adapted by Jewell Reinhart Coburn
(Mexico)




The Korean Cinderella by Shirley Climo
(Korea)



Fair, Brown & Trembling by Jude Daly
(Ireland)

The Egyptian Cinderella by Shirley Climo
(Egypt)




Kongi and Potgi by Oki Han
(Korea)

Cendrillon by Robert D. San Souci
(Caribbean)

Sootface by Robert D. San Souci
(Ojibwa Indian)




Smoky Mountain Rose by Alan Schroeder
(Appalachia)
*possible read aloud





Yeh-Shen by Ai-Ling Louie
(China)





Adelita by Tomie dePaola
(Mexico)





Little Gold Star by Robert D. San Souci
(Spanish)




Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe
(Africa)




Revolting Rhymes by Roald Dahl (Cinderella section)

Best Buy Grant

Youth Programs in Company Communities Funded
Best Buy Community Grants Program
The Best Buy Community Grants Program provides support to nonprofit organizations that are located within 50 miles of a Best Buy store or distribution center. Grants averaging $4,000 to $6,000 will promote programs that provide opportunities for young teens in the areas of learning, life skills, and leadership. Special consideration will be given to programs that provide youth with access to opportunity through technology, serve a diverse population, build skills in early adolescents (primarily ages 13-17), show positive results against a demonstrated community need, and reach at-risk children in working families. The grant application process will open on July 1 and close on August 1, 2011. Visit the Best Buy website to review the program guidelines.

Teen Iron Chef

As part of our teen summer reading program I am trying out a Teen Iron Chef Competition. The teens will work in pairs to create a dessert using the ingredients I give them. Because of the international theme this summer I will include ingredients from other countries to introduce teens to some new foods. I had them make one dessert and an accompanying drink. Each team gets one fancy plastic plate to display their dessert on and a fancy glass too in addition to their prep plates and utensils. Steer clear of any nuts or peanut butter in case any participants have allergies.

Food Shopping List:

• Marshmallow Fluff
• Sprinkles
• Interesting things from the Asian, Indian, British or other import markets
  
• Colorful Icing
• Chocolate Chips
• Chocolate Syrup
• Cream Cheese
• Milk
• Ice
• Lemonade
• Ice-Tea
  
• Canned Fruit
• Jelly
  
• Pudding
  

A local chef, a teachers, and our executive director will score each dessert/drink team using a ruberic. The teams will need to present their creations to the judges and give their dessert a name.

The judges will score from 1-5 on the following categories:

• Creativity
• Presentation
• Taste

Teams may choose at least 3 ingredients and have 30 minutes to complete their creations. The winning team both get a copy of the book "Eat Fresh Food: Awesome Recipes for Teen Chefs."

Here is how I ran the program:

Before the event Volunteens help put out all the supplies on the ingredients table. We created a seperate table for drinks with the blenders and ice. When the teens arrived (I had about 25) they broke into teams of two and went to their table to choose a name for their group (some memorable ones such as "Team Sheen", and "The Winners"). They had 5 minutes to look at ingredients and plan their dish.

After they knew what they wanted to make they had to come up to dish out their ingredients onto their prep plates. They had a total of 45 minutes (could be shorted with a smaller group) to make their dish. After they were done we had the judging which took about 30 minutes due to the volume of dishes.

Each judge had a score sheet (click here for the sheet) where they scored the F (food) and the D (drink.) The three judges included a local chef, English teacher, and our Executive Director. They were such good sports about it and I gave them each a gift for volunteering their time (and stomachs).

All in all the kids had a blast and that made this one of our most successful teen programs ever!

Booklist: Books About Self Esteem

-From Listserv, compiled by Bridget R Wilson, Youth Services Librarian


The Fast and the Furriest By Andy Behrens
Shredderman Series By Wendelin VanDraanen
The Extraordinary Adventures of Ordinary Boy By William Boniface
Schooled By Gordon Korman
A Week in the Woods By Andrew Clements
The Boy Who Owned the School By Gary Paulsen
S.O.R. Losers by Avi – a seventh grade soccer team made up of the
non-athletes
The 18th Emergency – Betsy Byars (a boy going through being bullied and
thinking his way out of every emergency but being bullied)
Almost anything by Daniel Pinkwater (Lizard Music, Snarkout Boys, Alan
Mendelson the Boy From Mars) generally feature boys who are “different”
Slake’s Limbo – Felice Holman (loner boy goes to live in the subway)
Maniac Magee – Jerry Spinelli (more a boy hero to a loner boy)
Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon, by Patti Lovell
I'm gonna like me by Jamie Lee Curtis
Jim Hensen's muppet's in flip flap flop by Stephanie St. Pierre
'Stick Up For Yourself!: Every Kid's Guide to Personal Power and Positive
Self-Esteem' by Gershen Kaufman, Lev Raphael, and Pamela Espeland
Welcome Comfort by Patricia Polacco
Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Kinney

Non-Fiction that reads like fiction

Books for fans of fiction:

Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life by Barbara Kingsolver
Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt
Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture by Ross King
Dewey: The Small Town Library Cat Who Touched the World by Vicki Myron
The Emperor of Scent by Chandler Burr
Fast Food Nation: the Dark Side of the All American Meal by Eric Schlosser
Flyboys: a True Story of Courage by James Bradley
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
In the Heart of the Sea: the Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick
The Hot Zone by Richard Preston
Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer
Jarhead: A Marine's Chronicle of the Gulf War and Other Battles by Anthony Swofford
Julie and Julia: 365 days, 24 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen by Julie Powell
The Lost City of Z: a Tale of Deady Obsession in the Amazon by David Grann
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt
Open by Andre Agassi
The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger
Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace...One School at a Time by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
Seabiscuit: an American Legend by Laura Hillenbrand
A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson
The Zookeeper's Wife by Diane Ackerman

Little Crab and His Magical Eyes

This is the story I am learning and will be telling at my Elementary School visit in a month to promote summer reading. I meet with each grade level for only 10 minutes so I do a quick spiel about summer reading and show off some cool prizes. I usually bring fun props, for example last year I brought a giant inflatable pink flamingo dressed as a pirate. Last year I told "Why the tides ebb and flow" and it was brilliant to see all the kids faces completely absorbed in my story.

This tale has a little gross element to it with the crab taking out his eyes but I think Elementary school kids will appreciate a little grossness. I really wanted to do "The Gunny Wolf" but thought it may scare the younger kids.

Have the kids sing the crabs sea chant along with you. Bring a picture of a crab and a jaguar in case the audience does not know what they look like. It is not know exactly where this tale comes from but have fun giving the characters exotic accents to emphasize the One World, Many Stories theme. I am thinking an east Indie accent for the jaguar, not sure why just feeling it!

Here is the story from the book "Twenty Tellable Tales" by Margaret Read MacDonald, page 24:

Once upon a time
there was a little crab who had magic eyes

He could make his eyes
pop out of his head
and go flying out over the ocean...
and then fly back and pop into his head again.

He would sit along the seashore
and play his eye sailing game.

He would call:
'Little eyes...
Little eyes...
Sail out
Over the deep blue sea"

And little crab's eyes would
pop out of his head
and sail over the deep blue sea

Then he would call:
'Little eyes...
Little eyes...
Sail back
Over the deep blue sea"

And his eyes would sail back and
pop into his head again

It was a good game

Little Crab's eyes could look down into the blue sea
They could see the seaweed....
the coral reef....
the fish swimming about...
It was fun!

One day when little crab was playing his eye sailing
game along came jaguar

Jaguar said:
"Little crab
what are you doing"

"I'm playing my eye sailing game.
I can make my eyes sail out
over the deep blue sea
and come back again!"

"Little crab, let me see you do it.
Do it for me little crab."

"All right!" said little crab
And little crab began to play his game

He called:
"Little eyes...
Little eyes..
Sail out
Over the deep blue sea."

And little crab's eyes
popped out of his head
and sailed out over the deep blue sea

Then he called:
'Little eyes...
Little eyes...
Sail back
Over the deep blue sea"

And his eyes sailed back and popped into his head again

"Ohhhhhhhh
that looks like fun,"
said jaguar

"Little crab,
could you make my eyes go sailing?"

"I could,"
said little crab
"But I'm not going to.
It's too dangerous."

Out in the deep blue sea
there lives a big
Oonkaloonka fish
And the Oonkaloonka fish
might swallow your eyes.

"I'm not afraid of any old fish,"
said Jaguar.
"You make my eyes go sailing.
you make my eyes go sailing or
you'll be s-o-r-r-y."

So little crab said, "Alright!"
he began to call:
"Jaguar's eyes....
Jaguar's eyes....
Sail out
over the deep blue sea."

And Jaguar's eyes popped out of his head
and sailed out
over the deep blue sea

Then little crab called:
"Jaguar's eyes....
Jaguar's eyes....
Sail back
over the deep blue sea."

And Jaguars eyes sailed back and
popped into his head again

"Ohhhh!
that was wonderful! said Jaguar
"I could see the fish
and the coral reefs
and everything!"

"Do it again!
Do it again little crab!"

"No, It's too dangerous.
That Oonakaloonka fish
might swallow your eyes."

"I'm not afraid of any old fish!
You make my eyes go sailing again
You make my eyes go sailing or
You'll be sorry."

So little crab said:
"All right, all right
Jaguar's eyes....
Jaguar's eyes....
Sail out
over the deep blue sea."

Jaguars eyes
popped out of his head
and sailed out over the deep blue sea

The little crab called:
"Jaguar's eyes....
Jaguar's eyes....
Sail back
over the deep blue sea."

But just then up came the Oonkaloonka fish
and swallowed Jaguar's eyes

"Oh little crab!
It all went black!
I can't see!"

"Bring them back!
Bring back my eyes!"

"It's too late,"
said little crab
"That Oonakaloonka fish has swallowed
your eyes."

"Little crab
you make my eyes come back
or you'll be sorry"

But little crab had backed under a rock
and Jaguar could not find him

jaguar began to moan and groan

Just then down flew Vulture

"Jaguar,
why are you crying? said vulture

I'm crying because Little Crab took my eyes away
and he will not bring them back. I can see nothing at all

"What would you do if I brought you some new eyes?" asked Vulture

"I would do anything.
From now on whenever I kill and animal
I will leave the carcass, the bones, and some of the meat
for the Vulture family"

"Very well" said Vulture

And Vulture flew away
Soon he flew back with 2 bright blue berries

Jaguar popped
them into his eyes
And he could see as well as ever!

Everything was bright and blue and shiny

"I can see
I can See" said Jaguar

"Than you, Vulture.
From now on whenever I or any member of the Jaguar family
kill an animal
We will leave the carcass, the bones, and sme of the meat for the Vulture family"

And so it is to this day

Then Jaguar called:
"Little Crab
I am going to catch you
and make your sorry"

But little crab had backed under a rock
and Jaguar could not catch him

If you go to the beach
You will find little crab still hiding under his rock
for Jaguar never did catch him

Summer Reading Library/School Promotion Development

Content from Sue Rokos of the Mohawk Valley Library System


Try the following for fairly easy yet effective collaborations:

• ask the school to put your public library card on the list of required school supplies;
• ask the school to exchange website links with you (your library on the school’s page; the school on your library’s page);
• ask the school librarian and/or principal to participate at a summer library program; or
  
• plan a collaborative recognition event in the fall for students completing your SRP
• request permission from school, and as school allows, provide note or sticker for every student’s report card for school serving grades k-5 saying:
  

(srp font graphic here)
Keep your kids reading all summer
For better grades in the fall
Summer Reading Programs
At your local public library

(some libraries provide crack and peel stickers)

Some suggestions that might need more development:

• Request help from school in identifying and recruiting the children who need summer programs the most. In collaboration with that school, develop a method to reach out to those families to invite participation. Track your success in having them come to the library or participate at least once, and report back to the school at the end of the summer.

• Prepare materials about Summer Reading Program targeted to teachers and request distribution at teacher/staff meetings.

• Produce and deliver promotional material and information regarding your Summer Reading Program to every school serving k-12 in your service area.

A possible grant idea that might work for a small local grant:

Fostering social reading with multiple copies of hot titles. There’s a great article with the steps spelled out at:

http://thereadingzone.wordpress.com/2009/06/27/how-to-foster-social-reading/

http://thereadingzone.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/you-have-to-read-this/

This is from the document (think buzz words!!!) that the state youth consultants sent to the state commissioner:


Through Summer Reading, public libraries also have the ability to help combat aliteracy, a phenomenon that emerges during the elementary school years of being able to read but having no motivation to do so. By partnering with local schools, public libraries can provide alternate outlets (databases, learning materials, test prep courses, story time) and times (extended hours when schools are closed) for educational needs that will only enhance what the school system already provides.

Initiate and strengthen school/library partnerships and outreach to parents and caregivers by:

• Helping patrons and nonusers:To see the connection between the public library, schools, literacy and lifelong learning.
  

• To understand the role of the public library as a partner with the school systems in the education of young people.

• To recognize the public library as a rich educational resource outside of the school environment that can supplement what is provided in the schools and to help bridge the learning gap when school is not in session.

In an effort to reach these goals and to strengthen partnerships with schools, public library staff can:

• Reach out to every school in chartered areas to provide literature, promotional material and/or information regarding Summer Reading at their local public library.

• Reach out to every school in chartered areas to promote in person Summer Reading programs and the role of their public libraries as a learning environment.

• Connect with PTAs/PTOs/Youth Organizations during the school year to communicate the importance and value of Summer Reading programs and the public library as an integral part of the academic experience for all ages.

Excellent service to children and teens is paramount to the mission of public libraries. Along with schools, public libraries are positioned to help students develop the new skills they will need to compete in the twenty-first century economy.

Serving Homeschoolers in the Library

These are the notes I took from the session called "Serving Homeschoolers in the Library" during the 2011 NYLA YSS conference. This presentation was done by Adrienne Furness of the Webster Public Library and she is the author of the book "Helping Homeschoolers in the Library."(2008, 9780838909553) It was a great overview on the topic and provided an excellent introduction into the world of homeschooling.

Why we don't work with homeschoolers:

1. We don't know much about the topic 2. Past attempts didn't work out 3. They may challenge materials (censorship)

• We have limited resources
  

Reasons people homeschool their children:

• The environment of schools
• To offer religious or moral instruction
• Dissatisfaction with school
• Child has physical or mental issues
• Special needs
  

Philosophies / Trends of homeschoolers:

• Unschooling (John Holt)
• Classical homeschoolers (The Well Trained Mind)
• Children who have special needs
• Charlotte Mason homeschoolers
• Objectivist homeschoolers
• Military homeschoolers
• Artist/performers (child actors, or family member is a performer and the family has to often relocate)
• Eclectic homeschoolers
  

Conservative protestants are a large percentage of the home school population and are very organized. Catholic homeschooling demographic is fast growing. Other religious groups such as pagans, Muslims, and Jews may home school due to no religious schools in their area.

Some Requirements of Homeschooling in NYS:

• NYS Education Dept
• Must file an IHIP and file quarterly reports with school district
• State mandates subjects that must be covered
• In 7 & 8 grade library skills is in the curriculum

Curriculum Options:

• Unschoolers have no curriculum
• Can follow the NYS curriculum
• Can buy a pre-packaged curriculum (can be pricey)
• Online & correspondence courses
• Unit studies (chose a topic then do accompanying literature, math, lifestyles, etc units on that topic)
• Create your own curriculum

The homeschooling year:

• Follow the school district calendar
• Go to school year round
• Create the calendar based on family needs (religious considerations, travel projects, medical needs, etc)
• Follow no calendar at all

Daily schedules:

• School work in the morning, outings in the late afternoon (many families follow this schedule)
• Chores in the morning, schoolwork in the late morning or afternoon
• Schoolwork late evening or at night (for parents who work full time during the day)
• Some do no assigned seat work

Planning programs in the library:

• Offer for a wide range of ages/family programs
• Schedule in the afternoons
• Partner with local organizations
• Recruit volunteers from the home school community
• Focus on the library (not crafts, be library oriented)

Types of programs to offer:

• Open house
• Library skills (tour, differences between fiction and non-fiction)
• Computer skills
• Book groups
• College / Scholarship info. (have local college present)

Developing a homeschooling collection:

• Many titles are published by small presses or are self-published so they are a little harder to find than typical library books
• Some aren't available through jobbers like B & T
• Some have religious slants, or are biased

Homeschooling Resources:

• Look at homeschooling periodicals
• Websites and blogs
• Amazon.com has a homeschooling section
• Look at books already in your collection
• Take patron recommendations

Websites:
Home School Legal Defense Association Not for profit organization which defends homeschoolers rights through legal action and lobbying.
About.com Course of Study by Grade Nice break-down by grade of what children should be learning
Homeschool Diner
National Homeschooling Education Research Institute
NYS LEAH Loving Education at Home

Hunger Games Teen Program

The way this Hunger Games program was run was breaking our teens into Districts of 2 people. I had about 4 teams total. Each activity let the tributes gain points and at the end of the party we tallied up the points and had a winning district.

Links to Library Hunger Games Programs:

Highland Park Public Library
Bethany Media Center
Hunger Games LARP
Cardigan Nation

Hunger Games Read-a-likes:

Feed by M.T. Anderson
The Other Side of the Island by Allegra Goodman
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau
The House of the Scorpion by Nancy Farmer
The Declaration by Gemma Malley
Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
The Girl in the Arena by Lise Haines
Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Shooting Gallery Using a Nerf gun teens will shoot items off of a shelf, each item is worth a certain amount of points.

Peetas Bakery Have the teens decorate their blank cupcake with beautiful frosting in the style of Peeta.

Face Painting Set out a variety of face paints and let the teens either paint their face in camouflage to blend in the woods, or to blend in as a resident of the capital. The girls will perhaps be more attracted to the fun colors of the Capital face paints.

Tribute Costumes Give your teens a bunch of old craft supplies, paper, tape, pom poms, you name it and they have to dress one member of their team to compete in a fashion competition.

Hunger Games Fear Factor Have tributes eat a disgusting food similar to the TV show "Fear Factor." Nothing dead though most likely a weird fruit or food from a foreign country would do the trick.

Hunger Games Jeopardy Start the program off with a little friendly competition. Using our big projector and the laptop we played Hunger Games Jeopardy. No double Jeopardy or final Jeopardy. Here is the template for the game

Trivia Questions (many thanks to the Bethany Media Center who wrote these)

1. What is Prim’s cat’s name? Buttercup
2. Katniss, her family and Dale all live in a poor section of District 12 called the ___________? Seam
3. How did Katniss’s father die? In a mine explosion
4. What did Katniss learn from her father? How to hunt and use a bow and arrow
5. What is the name of the Capitol City? Panem
6. What is the “reaping”? The day 2 names are picked from each district to be in the Hunger Games.
7. What is Katniss’s mother’s occupation? She makes medicines from plants and herbs.
8. Why was Katniss so surprised when they called Prim’s name at the reaping? This was her first year and she only had her name in on one slip.
9. What memory does Katniss have of Peeta when they were younger? Peeta threw loaves of burnt bread out to her.
10. What is “tesserae”? Why is it good and bad? A year’s supply of grain and oil for one person. To get it, your name is added to the reaping list again.
11. What does Katniss mean when she says to her mom, “don’t clock out again!” before she leaves for the Capitol. Don’t go getting all depressed again and abandon your children, namely Prim.
12. How does Prim help the family? She has a goat and sells milk and cheese
13. Why does Peeta’s father come to see Katniss before she leaves the district for the Hunger Games? He tells her that he will keep an eye on Prim and her mother and be sure they are eating.
14. What does Madge give to Katniss before she leaves? A gold circular pin of a bird, a mockingjay
15. The Capitol is in a place that was once called _______? The Rockies
16. District 12 was once called ________ ? Appalachia
17. What do Peeta and Katniss do that proves to Haymitch they might actually be good contenders in the Hunger Games? Peeta shatters Haymitch’s glass of liquor and Katniss throws a knife between his fingers.
18. What is the main function or industry for the following districts: #1, #3, #4, #11, #12, #13 (now destroyed) 1= luxury items for the Capitol, 3= factories to make autos, explosives, etc. 4= fishing, 11= agriculture, 12=coal mining, 13= mining graphite (worth 5 points)
19. Katniss thought her opening ceremony costume would be ? Her body naked and covered with coal dust.
20. What is the name of the leader of the Capitol? President Snow
21. Who are the stylists for Katniss and Peeta? Cinna and Portia
22. What is an “avox”? A person who commits a crime and the Capitol cuts their tongue out and makes them a slave.
23. Why is it so hard for Katniss to let Peeta become a friend? She knows she may have to kill him.
24. What are Career Tributes? People trained as tributes in the wealthier districts
25. Rue is from what which district? What is she good with? District 2, slingshot
26. Katniss is the last tribute to show her talents to the Gamemakers during the training. They are ignoring her because they are more interesting in their food. What does Katniss do? She shoots an arrow into the apple in the mouth of the roasted pig. Then she storms out of the room.
27. How does Katniss’s relationship with Gale develop? They both go in the forbidden woods and hunt. Also, they both lost their fathers to mine explosions.
28. What does Peeta say in his interview before the games start that stuns the audience? The girl he wants is the girl that will be with him.
29. What is Haymitch’s final advice for Katniss and Peeta when they first arrive at the Corucopia? Run and put as much distance between you and the others. Then find a source of water.
30. Katniss meets Peeta on the roof the night before the games. What is his goal for the Hunger Games? He does not want to change into a monster, to show the Capitol they don’t own him.
31. How long can the tributes stand on the metal circles when they first are in the Hunger Games and what happens if they don’t move within that time limit? 60 seconds and then a land mine blows
32. What does the Cornucopia look like and what is in it (name at least 3 items)? It is a giant golden horn about 20 ft. high, & has food, containers of water, plastic, weapons, medicine, firestarters, silver sheath and bow and arrows, tent.
33. What does Katniss get from the Cornucopia?A piece of plastic, bread, and a bright orange backpack with a sleeping bag, a pack of crackers, a pack of dried beef strips, a bottle of iodine, wooden matches, coil of wire, night-glasses, and a plastic water bottle.
34. Who tries to kill Katniss first and what does she get from her? The girl from district 2, and gets her knife
35. Why are the cannons shot? To declare a tribute has died
36. How does the wire help Katniss? To make snares to catch rabbits and other animals
37. Where does Katniss find it is best to sleep? Up in a tree
38. Why do the Careers let Peeta into their gang? To lead them to Katniss
39. At one point, Katniss is so dehydrated that she lies down to die. What stops her? Her fingers dig into the earth and she realizes it is muddy. Mud means water is near! She crawls to the pond.
40. What is the first major catastrophe that the Gamemakers cause for Katniss? A huge, moving wall of fire and endless smoke
41. Katniss gets hit by a fireball on her leg and is in great pain. She knows she should not show her pain. Why? The sponsors are more likely to send gifts if they admire you.
42. Katniss hold up high in a tree so the Careers cannot get to her. What does Rue warn her about? The wasp nest further up in the tree
43. Why are these wasps so dangerous? The are made by the Capitol, mutations called “tracker jackers”, causes huge swelling, hallucinations and then death
44. What does Katniss do with the “tracker jacker” nest?Hits it to fall down on the Careers
45. What does Katniss take from Glimmer after she has swollen up from the wasp stings and is dead?The sheath of arrows and the bow
46. Katniss originally thinks that Peeta is buddies with the Careers. What causes her to change her mind?Peeta stays with Katniss until she recovers from the tracker jacker stings at his own risk.
47. Who becomes a major ally of Katniss even before Peeta?Rue
48. How do Rue and Katniss signal each other?With a special mockingjay call
49. Why did the Careers let the boy from District 3 live?He knew how to make and use explosives to protect their supplies
50. What is Rue’s request of Katniss as she is dying? To hold her and sing to her
51. Katniss makes a vow to Rue after she dies. What is it?To win the Hunger Games to avenge Rue’s death.
52. Katniss tried to find Peeta and followed the water going down the stream until she sees some blood on a boulder. How is Peeta hiding?He camouflages himself lying in the mud and with leaves.
53. What is Peet’s injury when Katniss finds him and why is it going to be so bad?He has a very deep cut in his thigh, and most likely an infection (blood poisoning) will set in
54. Haymitch sends a pot of broth as a gift while Peeta and Katniss are in the cave. Why does he do this and what does it mean?Katniss kissed Peeta, and she should continue the kissing and the romance
55. Katniss tells Peeta a story while they are in the cave. What is it about?How Katniss got a goat for Prim
56.Claudious Templesmith offers a Feast backpack at the Cornucopia for each tribute with things they really need. Peeta threatens to follow Katniss if she goes. What bargain does Katniss make with Peeta for her not to go?Peeta has to drink all his water, eat all his soup, and wake Katniss up at the right times.
57. Why does Haymitch send a parachute to Katniss with a vial of sleeping syrup?To put Peeta asleep for a good length of time so Katniss can go to get the backpack at the feast
58. What important things does Katniss do before she leaves Peeta in the cave to get the Feast backpack? 3 thingsa)she camouflages the opening to the cave, b) she gets all her weapons and clothes together, c) she kisses Peeta goodbye
59. Which ear is Katniss deaf in from the explosion?Her left ear
60. What kind of wound does Clove give Katniss?A knife stab on her forhead
61. Why does Thresh pull Clove off of Katniss when she is about to slice up her face?He hears Clove bragging that she killed Rue from his district. Also, he owes one to Katniss for helping Rue.
62. What weapon did Thresh use to kill Clove?A large rock
63. What did Thresh take before he left the Cornucopia for the Feast?Cato’s and Clove’s backpacks
64. Haymitch said that one kiss between Katniss and Peeta equals what?a pot of broth
65. Why doesn’t Katniss trust her mother? because when her father died in the mines, her mother became depressed and did not help or take care of Katniss and her sister.
66. When did Peeta’s crush for Katniss start?The first day of first grade when she knew how to sing the Valley Song
67. What did Katniss’s mother love about her father?his singing; even the birds would stop to listen
68. Why do Katniss and Peeta stay in the cave so long when they are starving?the endless hard rain
69. If a tribute wins the Hunger Games where do they live afterwards?in a beautiful home in their district built by the Capitol
70. If you win the Hunger Games, what is one of your jobs in your district?to be a mentor to the following tributes
71. After clove, who was the next tribute to die?Thresh
72. Why does Katniss believe she will never have children of her own?She does not want her children to have their names put in the reaping and possibly die in the Hunger games.
73. What were the two good things about the four day rain storm?It gave Katniss and Peeta time to heal and rest, and it washed away any evidence or trail of where their cave was.
74.Why do Peeta and Katniss have to split up while they are hunting?Peeta makes too much noise walking with his injured leg.
75. How does Foxface die?Peeta gather berries and leaves them in a pile. Foxface eats them while he is away from the pile, neither knowing they are poisonous berries.
76. Why does Katniss think that Cato hates her so much to distraction?During the training she out-scored him
77. How do the Gamemakers drive Peeta, Katniss, and Cato to the lake for the final show down?They drain the the streams and the ponds. The lake is the only source of water.
78. The creatures that run after Cato, Katniss, and Peeta resemble ferocious wolves, but also part human. They are really what?Mutations of the tributes that have already died in this Hunger Games
79. Why do Peeta and Katniss hear Cato moan at the bottom of the Cornucopia for hours?The mutants are slowly attacking and eating him.
80. Why doesn’t Katniss want Peeta to go to sleep while they are on the top of the Cornucopia?His leg is wounded very badly, and she is afraid he will not wake up if he falls asleep?
81. What weapon does Katniss use to help Peeta’s leg bleed less, and what does she make with it?She uses her last arrow to make a tourniquet.
82. How do Katniss and Peeta trick the Gamemakers so that both of them can live and be victors of the Hunger Games?They pretend that they are both going to eat the poisonous berries at the same time. They know the Capitol needs at least one victor alive.
83. What warning does Haymitch give Katniss just before the Victor’s Ceremony?The Capitol is furious with Katniss and Peeta showing them up in the arena. The Capitol rulers are the joke of Panem. Katniss needs to make it look like she and Peeta are so madly in love, that they could not help their actions.
84. What does Katniss learn about Peeta when they finally sit down to talk.His leg that was injured is an artificial one.
85. What is Peeta upset with Katniss at the end of the story?Peeta realizes that Katniss was being so affection and love to protect them, because Haymitch told her about the great anger of the Capitol

86. What is Katniss's score from the Gamemakers when she shows them her archery skills? 11

87. What kind of berries does Foxface eat, causing her to die? Nightlock Berries

88. What job does distrist 8 have? Textiles/Clothes

Graphic Novel Promo School Visit

A week before the kids are out on their April Break from school I visited every fourth and fifth grade class to promote our new collection of comics for kids. We have had a teen graphic novel collection for a few years but our younger patrons always felt a little left out with many of the titles not being age appropriate for them. To date I have about 100 books in the collection and it is circulating really well. I think that come summer the kids comic display will be empty from all our summer readers.

Here are the books I took with me to show off to the students and get them excited:


Babymouse: Rock Star by Jennifer L Holm and Matthew Holm
Move over Mozart! Babymouse has music in her soul...but sadly, not in her flute. Will Babymouse ever hit the right note? Will she be the star of the school concert, or is her musical career all washed up before it's even started?- Novelist Plus

Fashion Kitty by Charise Mericle Harper
After a stack of fashion magazines falls on Kiki Kitty's head while she is blowing out the candles on her birthday cake, Kiki turns into Fashion Kitty, a feline superhero who saves other kitties from fashion disaster.- Novelist Plus


The Lightening Thief by Rick Riordan, Adopted by Robert Venditti

After learning that he is the son of a mortal woman and Poseidon, god of the sea, twelve-year-old Percy is sent to a summer camp for demigods like himself, and joins his new friends on a quest to prevent a war between the gods. Will Percy find Zeus's lightening bolt and return it in time, or will his failure cause a war among the gods.
To find out read Percy Jackson and the Olympians The Lightning Thief. - Novelst Plus

Zeus: King of the Gods by George O'Connor
If you are a fan of Percy Jackson the Olympian series this series will help round out your knowledge of Greek mythology.
Retells in graphic novel format stories from Greek mythology about the exploits of the young Zeus and how he rallied an army and overthrew his father, Kronos, to become king of the gods. - Novelist Plus

Pokemon Adventures by Hildenori Kusaka
Manga for young readers.



To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel by Siena Cherson Siegel
Siena was six years old when she first dreamed of dancing. She was diagnosed with flat feet and was not likely to have a dance career. But her dreams kept skipping and leaping, circling and spinning, from airy runs along a beach near her home in Puerto Rico, to dance class in Boston, to her debut performance on stage with the New York City Ballet.

Meanwhile: Pick Any Path. 3,856 Story Possibilities by Jason Shiga
Chocolate or Vanilla? This simple choice is all it takes to get started with Meanwhile. Jimmy, whose every move is under your control, finds himself in a mad scientist’s lab, where he’s given a choice between three amazing objects: a mind-reading device, a time-travel machine, or the Killitron 3000. Down each of these paths there are puzzles, mysterious clues, and shocking revelations. It’s up to the reader to lead Jimmy to success or disaster. Create your own adventure and seal the fate of Jimmy with Meanwhile. -Some content from Goodreads.com

Other Titles to bring:
Transformers Animated, The Muppet Show Comic Book by Frank Langridge, Amulet by Kazu Kibuishi, G-Man: Learning to Fly by Chris Giarrusso, and Baby-Sitter's Club by Raina Telgemeier.