Tonight we held an event to celebrate the upcoming January release of the third sisterhood book. We took the sacred vow of the sisterhood, found our sisterhood soulmates through an online quiz, ate sisterhood snacks, and wrote about our best friends on a pair of jeans for the teen corner. Then, we spent a long time making recycled denim purses! First we sewed the bottoms together. Then, we decorated the front with denim cut-outs, patches, and buttons. Finally, we braided strips of denim and safety-pinned them on for the handle. Giselle and Lisa each won a book of friendship quizzes and a pair of socks that looked like jeans. Everyone took home a handout of websites and a few friendship quizzes from Discovery Girls magazine, as well as their fabulous purses!
If you missed this event, don't worry! You can still participate in the sisterhood by reading the books by Ann Brashares:
*The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
*The Second Summer of the Sisterhood
*Girls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood
You can also check out these websites:
http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/sisterhoodcentral/
The official publisher’s website has tons of stuff, including contests, an excerpt of the third book, and a quiz to find out which of the sisterhood girls you are most like!
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403508/
Find out about the sisterhood movie, which will be released in July 2005. The cast includes Amber Tamblyn (Joan of Arcadia), Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls), America Ferrera, and Blake Lively as the four friends of the Sisterhood.
http://www.funtrivia.com/dir/9964.html
At this site, you can take at least 10 different quizzes about the first two books that were created by other readers!
http://www.makingfriends.com/jean_crafts.htm
Find a list of great denim crafts on this site. Make purses, lunchbags, book covers, and more out of old jeans. Plus, find out how to decorate your newer jeans with embroidery, bleaching, and homemade patches!
12.29.2004
12.28.2004
Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament
Tonight we held our first major single-elimination Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament, with 24 participants and 3 judges. Everyone played well and enjoyed themselves. The competition heated up as we moved down through the brackets, leaving Jimmy, Tariq, and Christophre as the finalists. After several intense rounds, Tariq was victorious. All three of the top contenders won packs of cards from Thai and a copy of City of Light, City of Dark by Avi and Brian Floca. Additionally, Tariq won more cards and a copy of the Guiness Book of World Records 2005 for coming in first! Check out the photos below.
12.27.2004
Writers' Workshop
Sign-ups for Writers' Workshop are going on now!! It will be held on Monday afternoons through the winter and spring from 3:30-5:00, beginning on January 24. Many of the teens who participated in the fall have been published in the News of Delaware County newspaper this month, and we hope to continue this trend! Also, we will be working on finishing pieces of writing to submit to other newspapers and magazines that accept teen writing submissions.
All kinds of writers are welcome...bring your own writing that you are working on or write short pieces during the workshop!
All kinds of writers are welcome...bring your own writing that you are working on or write short pieces during the workshop!
12.20.2004
Dance Dance Revolution
Show your moves at our XBox DDR night! We are going to project the game onto the wall so that four people can dance at a time. Warm up and have fun, then enter our mini-tournament to see who is the best dancer. There is only room for 11 more participants at this event because sign ups are going on now! You need to return a signed permission slip to attend.
12.09.2004
Book Group Notes
The YA Book Discussion Group met today to discuss Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman. Everyone thought the book was fun and recommended it to friends, and even teachers! First, we went to an online Mafia Name Generator to get appropriate names. We discussed the book's many humorous situations, how parents influence our lives, and whether you can be both honest and involved in organized crime. We also checked out Gordon Korman's website at http://www.gordonkorman.com!
The group voted to read Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman for our next meeting on January 13.
You can join the book group any time! Just let me know, and I will order you a book.
The group voted to read Full Tilt by Neal Shusterman for our next meeting on January 13.
You can join the book group any time! Just let me know, and I will order you a book.
12.03.2004
Yu-Gi-Oh Tournament
Prepare your decks...
Join members of the Yu-Gi-Oh Club for a tournament on Tuesday, December 28, from 6:30 to 8:30. All participants must be in grades 6 to 12. Sign-ups are going on now, and only 32 slots are available. You must sign up and return a permission slip to attend (even if you are a club member).
We will be playing by the official tournament rules, which can be read at http://www.upperdeckentertainment.com/yugioh/train.asp. Since we will be playing the advanced version of the game, the banned, limited, and semi-limited card rules will be enforced. Get this list at http://www.upperdeckentertainment.com/yugioh/forb_advanced.aspx.
Get more information and a permission slip at the desk in the children's library.
Join members of the Yu-Gi-Oh Club for a tournament on Tuesday, December 28, from 6:30 to 8:30. All participants must be in grades 6 to 12. Sign-ups are going on now, and only 32 slots are available. You must sign up and return a permission slip to attend (even if you are a club member).
We will be playing by the official tournament rules, which can be read at http://www.upperdeckentertainment.com/yugioh/train.asp. Since we will be playing the advanced version of the game, the banned, limited, and semi-limited card rules will be enforced. Get this list at http://www.upperdeckentertainment.com/yugioh/forb_advanced.aspx.
Get more information and a permission slip at the desk in the children's library.
12.02.2004
Winter Schedule Announced
I have been busy planning the winter teen events, with some help from the new Teen Advisory Board. Here is the current version of the schedule, but it is subject to change! Remember, these events are for people in grades 6 through 12.
WEEKLY TEEN CLUBS
Writers’ Workshop
Mondays, 3:30 to 5:00
Beginning January 24
Go beyond writing short stories, poems, and reports for school. Learn how to write in many new genres, hear guest speakers, and GET PUBLISHED!!
Registration begins December 27.
Knitting Club
Tuesdays, 3:45 to 4:45
January 18 through April 12
Except March 22
You may not be a Hollywood star, but you can learn to knit like one. Join this trendy club and make your own accessories.
Registration is ongoing, but club size is limited!
Cartooning Club
Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:30
Beginning January 5
Drop in and work on your artistic skills, characters, and storylines with Sarah, the resident artist. Try the monthly art challenges and get your work displayed in the library.
No registration.
Trading Card Game (TCG) Club
Fridays 4:00 to 5:30
Beginning January 7
Do you play Yu-Gi-Oh? Magic the Gathering? Duel Masters? .Hack? MegaMan NT Warrior? Join the TCG club to meet new players, learn new strategies, and practice your gaming skills. Bring your own cards.
Registration is ongoing, but club size is limited!
Permission slip required.
MONTHLY TEEN EVENTS
YA Book Discussion Group
Second Thursdays, 3:30 to 5:00
January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12
Get free books and free food. What could be better!?
Registration is required one month before attending.
DDR Dance Party & Contest
Friday, January 21 from 7:00 to 8:30
Show your moves at our X-Box Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) night! We will project the game onto a screen so that four people can dance at a time. Warm up and have fun, then enter our mini-tournament to see who is the best dancer.
Registration begins December 20.
Permission slip required.
Time Warp Night
Friday, March 4 from 7:00 to 8:30
Go back to the 70s and 80s with games, trivia, movies, music, and more. Prizes will be awarded for the best clothes, so come dressed to impress!
Brought to you by the Teen Advisory Board.
Registration begins February 7.
The Pharaoh’s Curse Mystery Night
Friday, April 22 from 7:00 to 8:30
Shortly after being crowned “Queen of the Nile” at the senior prom, Amara Fahdi was found unconscious at the bottom of a staircase. Was it attempted murder, or just an innocent fall? Play the role of a suspect or a detective to try to solve this case.
Brought to you by the Teen Advisory Board.
Registration begins March 21.
Permission slip required.
Teen Advisory Board
The job of a Teen Advisory Board is to help choose materials for the Teen Corner, to assist in planning events, to help raise money for teen programs and projects, and generally have fun. Plus, it looks good on your college applications! We meet once per month, but the dates and times vary. Please email Gretchen Ipock at grrllibrarian@yahoo.com or call her at Sellers Library (610-789-4440) to join.
WEEKLY TEEN CLUBS
Writers’ Workshop
Mondays, 3:30 to 5:00
Beginning January 24
Go beyond writing short stories, poems, and reports for school. Learn how to write in many new genres, hear guest speakers, and GET PUBLISHED!!
Registration begins December 27.
Knitting Club
Tuesdays, 3:45 to 4:45
January 18 through April 12
Except March 22
You may not be a Hollywood star, but you can learn to knit like one. Join this trendy club and make your own accessories.
Registration is ongoing, but club size is limited!
Cartooning Club
Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:30
Beginning January 5
Drop in and work on your artistic skills, characters, and storylines with Sarah, the resident artist. Try the monthly art challenges and get your work displayed in the library.
No registration.
Trading Card Game (TCG) Club
Fridays 4:00 to 5:30
Beginning January 7
Do you play Yu-Gi-Oh? Magic the Gathering? Duel Masters? .Hack? MegaMan NT Warrior? Join the TCG club to meet new players, learn new strategies, and practice your gaming skills. Bring your own cards.
Registration is ongoing, but club size is limited!
Permission slip required.
MONTHLY TEEN EVENTS
YA Book Discussion Group
Second Thursdays, 3:30 to 5:00
January 13, February 10, March 10, April 14, May 12
Get free books and free food. What could be better!?
Registration is required one month before attending.
DDR Dance Party & Contest
Friday, January 21 from 7:00 to 8:30
Show your moves at our X-Box Dance Dance Revolution (DDR) night! We will project the game onto a screen so that four people can dance at a time. Warm up and have fun, then enter our mini-tournament to see who is the best dancer.
Registration begins December 20.
Permission slip required.
Time Warp Night
Friday, March 4 from 7:00 to 8:30
Go back to the 70s and 80s with games, trivia, movies, music, and more. Prizes will be awarded for the best clothes, so come dressed to impress!
Brought to you by the Teen Advisory Board.
Registration begins February 7.
The Pharaoh’s Curse Mystery Night
Friday, April 22 from 7:00 to 8:30
Shortly after being crowned “Queen of the Nile” at the senior prom, Amara Fahdi was found unconscious at the bottom of a staircase. Was it attempted murder, or just an innocent fall? Play the role of a suspect or a detective to try to solve this case.
Brought to you by the Teen Advisory Board.
Registration begins March 21.
Permission slip required.
Teen Advisory Board
The job of a Teen Advisory Board is to help choose materials for the Teen Corner, to assist in planning events, to help raise money for teen programs and projects, and generally have fun. Plus, it looks good on your college applications! We meet once per month, but the dates and times vary. Please email Gretchen Ipock at grrllibrarian@yahoo.com or call her at Sellers Library (610-789-4440) to join.
11.27.2004
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants
Celebrate the Sisterhood at our teen event on Wednesday, December 29! The third book in the Sisterhood series is coming out in January(http://www.randomhouse.com/teens/sisterhoodcentral/girlsinpants.html), and a movie of the first book is in the works (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0403508/). So we are planning an evening event (7:00-8:30) to make denim crafts, take friendship tests. amd decorate a pair of jeans for the teen corner. Sign up today, and bring your best friends!
11.25.2004
Teen Advisory Board (TAB) Meets for First Time
On Sunday, November 21, the TAB had its first meeting. Eight teens attended to eat pizza and discuss how they can become involved in the library. As a group, the TAB will be involved in activities like planning teen programs, helping with teen book selection, and assisting with fundraisers.
Our big project for this meeting was to start planning the teen schedule for the winter. We are working on a 70s or 80s night, and a murder mystery night, among other things. The group also decided to continue Writer's Workshop as a weekly activity and change Yu-Gi-Oh Gaming Club into a general Trading Card Game Club.
If you would like to join the TAB, please see Gretchen ASAP! We will hold our next meeting on Sunday, December 19 from 1:30-2:30.
Our big project for this meeting was to start planning the teen schedule for the winter. We are working on a 70s or 80s night, and a murder mystery night, among other things. The group also decided to continue Writer's Workshop as a weekly activity and change Yu-Gi-Oh Gaming Club into a general Trading Card Game Club.
If you would like to join the TAB, please see Gretchen ASAP! We will hold our next meeting on Sunday, December 19 from 1:30-2:30.
11.12.2004
YA Book Group
The book group met on November 11 to talk about Chris Crutcher's book Staying Fat for Sarah Byrnes. We had a heated discussion about many of the issues in the book, including the role of adult authority, religion, and other controversial topics in school. Chris Crutcher has written many other books what are equally as engrossing. Check out his website at http://www.chriscrutcher.com for more information about the author and his books.
The book group chose Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman for their December meeting. It is a humorous take on a mob family, told from the point of view of a teenage son who wants nothing to do with "the life." This book has been ordered and should be in soon. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 9, from 3:30 to 5:00.
The book group chose Son of the Mob by Gordon Korman for their December meeting. It is a humorous take on a mob family, told from the point of view of a teenage son who wants nothing to do with "the life." This book has been ordered and should be in soon. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, December 9, from 3:30 to 5:00.
11.02.2004
We Have A New President!
No, not that one. I mean the one from the Teen Corner "Elect to Read" display. Over the past 2 weeks, 79 teens voted for book characters for President. Some chose to use the pre-printed ballot, others nominated write-in candidates. Thanks to everyone who voted! Caitlin Cieri and Kolu Jarboi wrote the most persuasive reasons for their votes, and won copies of the movie Dave. Six other teens received honorable mention and won 15 eyeball gumballs each. Read all eight of the best entries hanging in the teen corner.
And the hew President is...HARRY POTTER, with 23 votes! Since FRODO BAGGINS got 14 votes, I made him the VP. Hermione Granger and Violet Baudelaire both did well at the polls, but neither one managed to beat out Frodo! The candidates received votes as follows:
23 Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series
14 Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings trilogy
11 Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series
9 Violet Baudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events
3 Cassie Logan from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
3 Klaus Baudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events
2 Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings trilogy
1 Caveman from Holes
1 Garfield
1 Jing from the Jing: The King of Bandits series
1 Johnny from the Johnny the Homicidal Maniac series
1 Jonas from The Giver
1 Josh Swensen, aka Larry, from Vote for Larry
1 Judson Moon from The Kid Who Ran for President
1 Kia from the Broken Sky series
1 Merlin
1 Red from a Pokemon series
1 Snoopy
1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar
1 Wilma from The Wish
1 Winnie-the-Pooh
And the hew President is...HARRY POTTER, with 23 votes! Since FRODO BAGGINS got 14 votes, I made him the VP. Hermione Granger and Violet Baudelaire both did well at the polls, but neither one managed to beat out Frodo! The candidates received votes as follows:
23 Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series
14 Frodo Baggins from The Lord of the Rings trilogy
11 Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series
9 Violet Baudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events
3 Cassie Logan from Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
3 Klaus Baudelaire from A Series of Unfortunate Events
2 Aragorn from The Lord of the Rings trilogy
1 Caveman from Holes
1 Garfield
1 Jing from the Jing: The King of Bandits series
1 Johnny from the Johnny the Homicidal Maniac series
1 Jonas from The Giver
1 Josh Swensen, aka Larry, from Vote for Larry
1 Judson Moon from The Kid Who Ran for President
1 Kia from the Broken Sky series
1 Merlin
1 Red from a Pokemon series
1 Snoopy
1 The Very Hungry Caterpillar
1 Wilma from The Wish
1 Winnie-the-Pooh
10.26.2004
Finished Knitting Projects
Check it out! Some of our knitting club members have finished their first projects!
Writers' Workshop Is Happening Now
Last Tuesday, we had our first Writers' Workshop meeting, which was attended by seven teens. We are hoping to write publishable pieces over the next six weeks for the teen page of the News of Delaware County . Today, the Life editor from that newspaper, George Larmour, came to speak with us about news writing and getting published. There is still room for you to join! We meet every Tuesday from 3:30-5:00 through November 23. Just sign up in the children's room at Sellers Library.
10.25.2004
Become a Yu-Gi-Oh! Club Member
Thai and I just decided to open up enrollment for Yu-Gi-Oh! Gaming Club again. We will take 10 new members. All you have to do is fill out the permission slip and get a parent/guardian to sign it. Check out the pictures below to see what our club has been doing this fall.
10.20.2004
Elect to Read NOW!
Have you ever thought that Harry Potter would make a better President than George W. Bush? Have you ever wondered why no women have ever been President (or even Vice-President)? What if mice or "Hobbitses" could be elected President? Well this is your chance to act on those ideas!
Visit the Teen Corner at Sellers Library from October 18 through November 2 to elect a book character President of the USA! There are 9 characters on the ballot, plus you can write-in a candidate if you don't like the choices. Get an eyeball gumball just for filling out a ballot, plus great prizes for the best ballots!
Visit the Teen Corner at Sellers Library from October 18 through November 2 to elect a book character President of the USA! There are 9 characters on the ballot, plus you can write-in a candidate if you don't like the choices. Get an eyeball gumball just for filling out a ballot, plus great prizes for the best ballots!
10.19.2004
It's Alive @ Your Library!
The theme of Teen Read Week this year is "It's Alive @ Your Library!" and we held a night of scary stories and gross food to celebrate on October 15. Twenty-five teens listened to Vicky Town's grotesque and chilling tales. I saw many teens sqirm, jump, and even scream as she spun tales about vampires, serial killers, and the walking dead. Everyone agreed that she was an incredible storyteller. The teens also enjoyed gross-but-good food such as Kitty Litter Cake, Grassy Green Cow Patties, Severed Witches' Fingers, Putrid Punch, and Booger Cookes. I don't have any pictures of Vicky actually telling the stories, but many of the funny pictures below were the results of her hilarious improv with the food and decorations.
10.09.2004
New Books!
We just got several new books in the library that you might want to check out:
The Grim Grotto (Book the Eleventh in A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket
***Learn all about the water cycle...and the most recent installment of tragic trauma in the lives of the Baudelaire orphans.***
The 3 NBs of Julian Drew by James M. Deem
***Julian's NBs tell a story, but only if you can read his secret code. Find out what "1M155U," "K1775" and even "NB" mean.***
Dunk by David Lubar
***Summer at the Jersey shore sounds ideal, but Chad doesn't think so...until he becomes a dunk tank clown making fun of the crowds.***
48 Shades of Brown by Nick Earls
***Dan moves in with his 22-year-old aunt so he can finish high school, not so he can fall in love with her roommate...***
Comfort by Carolee Dean
***Kevin gives up football to join his workaholic mother in the family business, but discovers a talent for poetry and words that has the power to change his life.***
Dante's Daughter by Kimberly Heuston
***Traveling with her father (a famous poet), Antonia struggles with the essential questions of life, wondering "Has my journey made me wise? Have my secret griefs made me strong?"***
The Grim Grotto (Book the Eleventh in A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket
***Learn all about the water cycle...and the most recent installment of tragic trauma in the lives of the Baudelaire orphans.***
The 3 NBs of Julian Drew by James M. Deem
***Julian's NBs tell a story, but only if you can read his secret code. Find out what "1M155U," "K1775" and even "NB" mean.***
Dunk by David Lubar
***Summer at the Jersey shore sounds ideal, but Chad doesn't think so...until he becomes a dunk tank clown making fun of the crowds.***
48 Shades of Brown by Nick Earls
***Dan moves in with his 22-year-old aunt so he can finish high school, not so he can fall in love with her roommate...***
Comfort by Carolee Dean
***Kevin gives up football to join his workaholic mother in the family business, but discovers a talent for poetry and words that has the power to change his life.***
Dante's Daughter by Kimberly Heuston
***Traveling with her father (a famous poet), Antonia struggles with the essential questions of life, wondering "Has my journey made me wise? Have my secret griefs made me strong?"***
8.15.2004
Manga and Comic Workshop
This summer, Sarah Ryan is running three sessions of her Manga and Comic Workshop for teens at Sellers Library. Participants practice their drawing techniques and learn professional art skills by developing characters, storyboarding a plot, and finally creating their own comic book. This is a six-week program, but many teens spend hours at home coming up with ideas, practicing techniques in sketches, and drawing final copies. By the end of the sessions, participants are able to show off their comic books, complete with a binding by Sarah.
8.09.2004
Yu-Gi-Oh! Club...Still Going
The Yu-Gi-Oh! Gaming Club has grown to nearly 50 members! Each week, about 30 guys show up to play the game and swap cards. We are holding an end-of-summer tournament for club members during our regular meetings on August 13 and 20. Then, the club will take a break and return on September 17. Current members will not need to submit a new permission slip. New members are welcome to join in September, so tell your friends to stop by and pick up a permission slip today!
8.07.2004
Redwall Feast and Fun
On August 5, 15 teens attended the Redwall Feast and Fun event. We solved Redwall puzzles, build catapults, watched an episode of the Redwall cartoon, and ate a lot of food! The feast table included Otter Hotroot Stew, Onion Shrewbread with Bee Butter, Banana 'n' Raisin 'n' Chocolate Chip Loaf, Fruit with Meadowcream, Spiced Cupcakers, Chocolate Abbotcake, Spiced Leaf Cookies, Peachy Lemon Iced Tea, and Strawberry Cordial. Needless to say, that was the best part of the evening!
If you missed this fabulous feast, here are some links you can check out:
http://www.redwall.org
This is the official website of Redwall. Find out anything you want to know, including how to send fan mail to Brian Jacques!
http://www.terrouge.com/terr/
This is a webzine devoted to Redwall. Check out their stories, as well as their Fun and Games link.
http://www.rwclub.org/f/insult/index.php
Find a Redwallish insult at this site. Just choose the length and click!
http://www.geocities.com/dabdibbun/index.html
Dibbuns Against Bedtime (DAB) is a great Redwall site that you can join. Go into the Great Hall to test your knowledge or look at art, or just get recipes from the Kitchen.
http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-jacques-brian.asp
Read a biography of Brian Jacques, as well as an interview.
You also might be interested to read the books in chronological order:
Lord Brocktree
Martin the Warrior
Mossflower
The Legend of Luke
Outcast of Redwall
Mariel of Redwall
The Bellmaker
Salamandastron
Redwall
Mattimeo
The Pearls of Lutra
The Long Patrol
Marlfox
Taggerung
Triss
Loamhedge
Don't forget to check out this Redwall news flash:
A new Redwall book is coming out in September, called Rakkety Tam! The publisher writes: “The most captivating Redwall novel yet! There has never been a Redwall hero quite like Rakkety Tam, the roguish Highlander squirrel who sets off for Mossflower Wood on a mercenary errand and loses his heart to the charms of Redwall Abbey. And there’s never been a villain quite like Gulo the Savage: a vicious beast-eating wolverine who descends upon the Abbey in search of a relic called the Walking Stone. Readers will cheer at the return of the Long Patrol, the antics of a renegade vole thief, and the emergence of a new champion to wield the sword of Martin. As fans of Brian Jacques and the bestselling Redwall series know, the adventures just keep getting bigger and better.”
If you missed this fabulous feast, here are some links you can check out:
http://www.redwall.org
This is the official website of Redwall. Find out anything you want to know, including how to send fan mail to Brian Jacques!
http://www.terrouge.com/terr/
This is a webzine devoted to Redwall. Check out their stories, as well as their Fun and Games link.
http://www.rwclub.org/f/insult/index.php
Find a Redwallish insult at this site. Just choose the length and click!
http://www.geocities.com/dabdibbun/index.html
Dibbuns Against Bedtime (DAB) is a great Redwall site that you can join. Go into the Great Hall to test your knowledge or look at art, or just get recipes from the Kitchen.
http://www.kidsreads.com/authors/au-jacques-brian.asp
Read a biography of Brian Jacques, as well as an interview.
You also might be interested to read the books in chronological order:
Lord Brocktree
Martin the Warrior
Mossflower
The Legend of Luke
Outcast of Redwall
Mariel of Redwall
The Bellmaker
Salamandastron
Redwall
Mattimeo
The Pearls of Lutra
The Long Patrol
Marlfox
Taggerung
Triss
Loamhedge
Don't forget to check out this Redwall news flash:
A new Redwall book is coming out in September, called Rakkety Tam! The publisher writes: “The most captivating Redwall novel yet! There has never been a Redwall hero quite like Rakkety Tam, the roguish Highlander squirrel who sets off for Mossflower Wood on a mercenary errand and loses his heart to the charms of Redwall Abbey. And there’s never been a villain quite like Gulo the Savage: a vicious beast-eating wolverine who descends upon the Abbey in search of a relic called the Walking Stone. Readers will cheer at the return of the Long Patrol, the antics of a renegade vole thief, and the emergence of a new champion to wield the sword of Martin. As fans of Brian Jacques and the bestselling Redwall series know, the adventures just keep getting bigger and better.”
Redwall Recipes
Here are the Redwall recipes you requested:
OTTER HOTROOT SOUP
This recipe uses a crock pot. You can also make this on the stove in much less time.
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, 1 zucchini, 1 yellow squaush, 1 red pepper, 2 leeks, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 onion, 4 scallions, 2 stalks celery, 4 potatoes, 2 large carrots, 2 cans chopped tomatoes, 2 cups water, 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp. cajun seasoning, 1/2 tsp. dried hot red pepper, 2 tsp. oregano, 2 cups salad shrimp
Directions:
1. Slice zucchini, squash, leeks, scallions, carrots, and celery. Dice onion, garlic, potatoes, and red pepper.
2. Melt butter in a large frying pan. Add all of the sliced and diced vegetables. Saute them in the butter until the leeks and onions look clear (5-10 minutes).
3. Pour all of the veggies and their juices in the crock pot. Add the water and tomatoes. Mix in all of the spices.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
5. After a few hours, taste the broth. If it is not spicy enough, add more of the spices used earlier. Also, add more water if needed to create a broth while the soup is cooking.
6. Add the shrimp during the last hour.
STRAWBERRY CORDIAL
Ingredients:
1 package strawberry lemonade Kool-Aid mix, one cup sugar, 3 strawberries, water, 2 cans of lemon-lime soda or ginger ale
Directions:
1. Chop the strawberries in tiny pieces. Put them in a bowl and sprinkle them with some sugar. Let them sit for about 1/2 hour to get juicy.
2. Put the Kool-Aid mix in a pitcher. Add the rest of the sugar, and fill it 1/2 of the way full with water. Stir unti all of the sugar is dissolved.
3. Add the strawberry mixture and stir some more.
4. Stir in the soda.
BEE BUTTER
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter, 4 tbsp. honey
Directions:
1. Put butter in bowl. Let it sit out until soft. Do not use the microwave or stove to melt it. (You could sit it on top of a heated oven to soften it faster.)
2. Stir in the honey. Mix them together until smooth.
3. Refrigerate until solid.
4. Let soften before using.
CHOCOLATE ABBOTCAKE
Ingredients:
1 (8.5 oz.) package yellow cake mix, 1 (6 serving) package of instant chocolate pudding, 4 eggs, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 2/3 cup white sugar, 1/3 cup water, 1 (8 oz.) container sour cream, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, small amount of powdered sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
2. Dump all ingredients in a bow and mix, adding sour cream and chocolate chips last (if using and electric mixer, stir in chocolate chips by hand).
3. Pour batter into greased and floured bundt pan.
4. Bake for 55 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes before inverting on to cooling rack.
OTTER HOTROOT SOUP
This recipe uses a crock pot. You can also make this on the stove in much less time.
Ingredients:
1 stick butter, 1 zucchini, 1 yellow squaush, 1 red pepper, 2 leeks, 2 cloves garlic, 1/2 onion, 4 scallions, 2 stalks celery, 4 potatoes, 2 large carrots, 2 cans chopped tomatoes, 2 cups water, 2 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce, 2 tsp. salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp. cajun seasoning, 1/2 tsp. dried hot red pepper, 2 tsp. oregano, 2 cups salad shrimp
Directions:
1. Slice zucchini, squash, leeks, scallions, carrots, and celery. Dice onion, garlic, potatoes, and red pepper.
2. Melt butter in a large frying pan. Add all of the sliced and diced vegetables. Saute them in the butter until the leeks and onions look clear (5-10 minutes).
3. Pour all of the veggies and their juices in the crock pot. Add the water and tomatoes. Mix in all of the spices.
4. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
5. After a few hours, taste the broth. If it is not spicy enough, add more of the spices used earlier. Also, add more water if needed to create a broth while the soup is cooking.
6. Add the shrimp during the last hour.
STRAWBERRY CORDIAL
Ingredients:
1 package strawberry lemonade Kool-Aid mix, one cup sugar, 3 strawberries, water, 2 cans of lemon-lime soda or ginger ale
Directions:
1. Chop the strawberries in tiny pieces. Put them in a bowl and sprinkle them with some sugar. Let them sit for about 1/2 hour to get juicy.
2. Put the Kool-Aid mix in a pitcher. Add the rest of the sugar, and fill it 1/2 of the way full with water. Stir unti all of the sugar is dissolved.
3. Add the strawberry mixture and stir some more.
4. Stir in the soda.
BEE BUTTER
Ingredients:
1 stick of butter, 4 tbsp. honey
Directions:
1. Put butter in bowl. Let it sit out until soft. Do not use the microwave or stove to melt it. (You could sit it on top of a heated oven to soften it faster.)
2. Stir in the honey. Mix them together until smooth.
3. Refrigerate until solid.
4. Let soften before using.
CHOCOLATE ABBOTCAKE
Ingredients:
1 (8.5 oz.) package yellow cake mix, 1 (6 serving) package of instant chocolate pudding, 4 eggs, 2/3 cup vegetable oil, 2/3 cup white sugar, 1/3 cup water, 1 (8 oz.) container sour cream, 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips, small amount of powdered sugar
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a bundt pan.
2. Dump all ingredients in a bow and mix, adding sour cream and chocolate chips last (if using and electric mixer, stir in chocolate chips by hand).
3. Pour batter into greased and floured bundt pan.
4. Bake for 55 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes before inverting on to cooling rack.
7.29.2004
Cowboy Poetry Night
Many people like poetry, but few have heard of cowboy poetry! It started with cowboys telling stories around the campfire. Sometimes they would make them rhyme or turn them into songs. Over time, cowboy poetry became an art form. Just like the sonnets of Shakespeare or Edgar Allan Poe's poetry, you can now check books of cowboy poetry out of the library.
On July 19, some teens enjoyed Cowboy Poetry Night. Only they were all female, so it was really Cowgirl Poetry Night! Anyway, we had a great time, especially Alexa who dubbed herself "Hootin' Tootin' Heidi" and used a fake western accent all night. The participants wrote four different kinds of poems at the stations: free verse, rhyming, six-line poems, and western Mad-Libs. Then we enjoyed trail snacks, including cow pie cookies, around the "campfire" while we read our poems. The teens voted for a poem of Ashley's to win the prize for best cowboy poem.
On July 19, some teens enjoyed Cowboy Poetry Night. Only they were all female, so it was really Cowgirl Poetry Night! Anyway, we had a great time, especially Alexa who dubbed herself "Hootin' Tootin' Heidi" and used a fake western accent all night. The participants wrote four different kinds of poems at the stations: free verse, rhyming, six-line poems, and western Mad-Libs. Then we enjoyed trail snacks, including cow pie cookies, around the "campfire" while we read our poems. The teens voted for a poem of Ashley's to win the prize for best cowboy poem.
7.23.2004
Country Line Dancing
On July 22, we had a family country line dancing event in the library. Lars and Lori Anderson of Country Kickers/City Slickers taught people of all ages several line dances. We practiced all the steps, then danced to the songs at slow speed to practice. Finally, we were able to do the dances at full speed. Many teens attended, some with their younger siblings. By the end of the evening, we were really tired. Country line dancing is harder than it looks!
6.28.2004
Yu-Gi-Oh! Gaming Club
Thai has been asking us for a Yu-Gi-Oh! event for ages. So, finally the librarians told him that he should write a proposal. The proposal was amazing, so we decided to create the gaming club as a summer activity. It meets every Friday from 4:00-5:30 and currently has about 30 members. Gretchen is technically the librarian in charge, but Thai is the instructor. He teaches new card combinations, strategies, and tournament rules. We are planning a mini-tournament at the end of the summer for the participants. If the summer schedule is successful, we will continue the club into the school year and possibly mount some real tornaments.
If you would like to join the Yu-Gi-Oh! Gaming Club, please contact Sellers Library at 610-789-4440. You must have a signed permission slip on file with the library before participating.
If you would like to join the Yu-Gi-Oh! Gaming Club, please contact Sellers Library at 610-789-4440. You must have a signed permission slip on file with the library before participating.
6.27.2004
British Invasion Night
On Thursday, June 24, we had a British Invasion Night teen event. We explored all things British, including language, travel, music, books, and films. At the DJ station, people took turns playing classic and modern British music for everyone. Others stations had activities to match British and American words, explore Internet sites, plan vacation destinations, and read books by British authors. Prizes were given to Jeff for the best British accent and to Adriana for having the most correct answers on a British spelling test. However, the highlight of the evening was definitely a few Monty Python sketches shown on the big screen. (Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam, Spammity Spam!!!)
If you missed this event, here are some websites you might enjoy:
To Experience Britain--
http://www.britainusa.com/4kids/
To Learn More Briticisms--
http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US1/REF/usgbglos.html
http://www.effingpot.com/
http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blbritam.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1443007.stm
To Move Beyond Python--
http://www.cinerhama.com/britpage.html
http://www.britmovie.co.uk/
http://www.aardman.com/
To Find Out About Music--
http://www.britain.tv/entertainment_britishmusic.shtml
http://www.jaggedmusic.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/
http://slate.msn.com/?id=2065252
To Go Shopping--
http://www.everythingenglish.com/
Reading books by British authors is another excellent way to find out about our friends across the pond. Try these favorites:
***Realistic Fiction Series Authors***
Cathy Hopkins (Mates, Dates, and… series)
Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider Series)
Katie Maxwell (Emily series)
Louise Rennison (Georgia Nicholson series)
Sue Townsend (Adrian Mole series)
Jacqueline Wilson (Girls In Love, Girls in Tears, etc.)
***Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors***
Douglas Adams (The Hitchhicker’s Guide to the Galaxy, etc.)
Joan Aiken
Brian Aldiss
David Almond
John Christopher
Susan Cooper
Kevin Crossley-Holland
Peter Dickinson
Neil Gaiman
Brian Jacques
Diana Wynne Jones
C.S. Lewis
Alan Moore
William Nicholson (Wind on Fire trilogy)
Terry Pratchett
Phillip Pullman
J.R.R. Tolkien
***Mystery Series Authors***
Fiona Buckley (featuring Ursula Blanchard at Queen Elizabeth I's court)
Colin Dexter (featuring Chief Inspector Morse of the Thames Valley C.I.D.)
Ellis Peters (featuring Brother Caedfiel)
***Nonfiction Authors***
Simon Cowell (I Don't Mean to be Rude, But... about the first two seasons of American Idol)
Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation)
If you missed this event, here are some websites you might enjoy:
To Experience Britain--
http://www.britainusa.com/4kids/
To Learn More Briticisms--
http://www.uta.fi/FAST/US1/REF/usgbglos.html
http://www.effingpot.com/
http://esl.about.com/library/vocabulary/blbritam.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/1443007.stm
To Move Beyond Python--
http://www.cinerhama.com/britpage.html
http://www.britmovie.co.uk/
http://www.aardman.com/
To Find Out About Music--
http://www.britain.tv/entertainment_britishmusic.shtml
http://www.jaggedmusic.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio/
http://slate.msn.com/?id=2065252
To Go Shopping--
http://www.everythingenglish.com/
Reading books by British authors is another excellent way to find out about our friends across the pond. Try these favorites:
***Realistic Fiction Series Authors***
Cathy Hopkins (Mates, Dates, and… series)
Anthony Horowitz (Alex Rider Series)
Katie Maxwell (Emily series)
Louise Rennison (Georgia Nicholson series)
Sue Townsend (Adrian Mole series)
Jacqueline Wilson (Girls In Love, Girls in Tears, etc.)
***Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors***
Douglas Adams (The Hitchhicker’s Guide to the Galaxy, etc.)
Joan Aiken
Brian Aldiss
David Almond
John Christopher
Susan Cooper
Kevin Crossley-Holland
Peter Dickinson
Neil Gaiman
Brian Jacques
Diana Wynne Jones
C.S. Lewis
Alan Moore
William Nicholson (Wind on Fire trilogy)
Terry Pratchett
Phillip Pullman
J.R.R. Tolkien
***Mystery Series Authors***
Fiona Buckley (featuring Ursula Blanchard at Queen Elizabeth I's court)
Colin Dexter (featuring Chief Inspector Morse of the Thames Valley C.I.D.)
Ellis Peters (featuring Brother Caedfiel)
***Nonfiction Authors***
Simon Cowell (I Don't Mean to be Rude, But... about the first two seasons of American Idol)
Lynne Truss (Eats, Shoots and Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation)
Library Survivor
On June 17, we held a Library Suvivor Lock-In from 8:00 to midnight. Forty-four teens competed in many challenges to win points for their tribes, which they named The Red Devils (red), The Dragons (green), Los Diablos (yellow), and The "W" Untitleds (blue). The teams began the evening with a hunting challenge, in which they had to follow clues through a series of books all over the library. Later they participated in other challenges like Tribal Dance, Head Covering,
The Limbo, Bat the Birdie, Medicine Man Trivia, and The Fruit & Chopstick Relay.
The best part of the evening was not the pizza delivery, as you might expect. As it turned out, the most exciting activity was Bite the Bug! The tribes passes a rubber snake around a circle until the music stopped. The person who was holding the snake got to select food from a tray. The foods were legitimate Korean items, and were assigned point values based on their "gross factor." Of course, the highest amount of points were given to the tribe member who would eat the pickled bug!
The members of The "W" Untitleds ate four bugs, which helped them win the entire Library Survivor event! They won water slingshots for their efforts. Everyone got a free movie rental pass and popcorn for participation. We hope to run another Library Survivor or Library Fear Factor event again in the near future.
The Limbo, Bat the Birdie, Medicine Man Trivia, and The Fruit & Chopstick Relay.
The best part of the evening was not the pizza delivery, as you might expect. As it turned out, the most exciting activity was Bite the Bug! The tribes passes a rubber snake around a circle until the music stopped. The person who was holding the snake got to select food from a tray. The foods were legitimate Korean items, and were assigned point values based on their "gross factor." Of course, the highest amount of points were given to the tribe member who would eat the pickled bug!
The members of The "W" Untitleds ate four bugs, which helped them win the entire Library Survivor event! They won water slingshots for their efforts. Everyone got a free movie rental pass and popcorn for participation. We hope to run another Library Survivor or Library Fear Factor event again in the near future.
Sgt. Monkman's Visit
On Tuesday, May 11, we held our last meeting of the crime scene group. Sgt. Monkman, a detective with the Upper Darby Police, came to talk about his career, to explain some interesting cases, and to answer questions. He was only supposed to stay for one hour, but he ended up staying for two because of all the great questions and discussion.
The coolest thing I learned was that the UD police used to have an undercover car that was a taxi. They were trying to stop some purse and wallet theft in the 69th street area. Unfortunately, people kept hailing the taxi because they could see it didn't have any passengers. So, the police department assigned a second officer to ride in the backseat so it would look occupied. This plan helped the department cut down on crime in the area!
Sgt. Monkman volunteered to help us out with another program like this in the future. We are planning on running a series of programs about the forensic sciences again, probably next year sometime.
Until then, here are some books you might want to check out of the library:
Ballistics by Barbara B. Rollins and Michael Dahl (J 363.25 R)
Blood Evidence by Barbara B. Rollins and Michael Dahl (J 363.25 R)
The Bone Detectives: How Forensic Anthropologists Solve Crimes and Uncover Mysteries of the Dead by Donna M. Jackson (J 363.2 J, Oversize)
Cause of Death by Barbara B. Rollins and Michael Dahl (J 614 R)
DNA Fingerprinting: The Ultimate Identity by Ron Fridell (614.1 F)
The FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation by Tristan Boyer Binns (J 353 B, Oversize)
Fingerprint Evidence by Barbara B. Rollins and Michael Dahl (J 363.25 R)
Juvenile Crime by Marcia Satterthwaite (J 364.36 S)
Sensational Trials of the 20th Century by Betsy Harvey Kraft (J 347.7 K)
Teens in Prision by Gail B. Stewart (J 364.3 S)
Also, examine these websites:
http://www.fbi.gov/kids.6th12th.htm
The FBI Youth website gives you an inside view of agents’ work. You might want to follow a case through the FBI lab or experience a day in the life of an agent.
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/handbook/intro.htm#topintro
This is the real field guide for FBI agents dealing with forensic investigations. Click on the links
across the top to learn about different aspects ofevidence collection and analysis.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0402_030402_tvwildlifecrimes.html
This National Geographic news article explains how forensic investigators solve wildlife crimes such as illegal hunting or selling of products made from endangered species.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sheppard/analyze.html
Learn about DNA fingerprinting by doing a virtual experiment on this site from PBS.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/andes/
Five centuries ago, a teen-aged girl was sacrificed in Peru as an offering to Incan gods. Her frozen body was found preserved in ice a few years ago. See how forensic anthropologists investigated her life and death using CT scan images.
The coolest thing I learned was that the UD police used to have an undercover car that was a taxi. They were trying to stop some purse and wallet theft in the 69th street area. Unfortunately, people kept hailing the taxi because they could see it didn't have any passengers. So, the police department assigned a second officer to ride in the backseat so it would look occupied. This plan helped the department cut down on crime in the area!
Sgt. Monkman volunteered to help us out with another program like this in the future. We are planning on running a series of programs about the forensic sciences again, probably next year sometime.
Until then, here are some books you might want to check out of the library:
Ballistics by Barbara B. Rollins and Michael Dahl (J 363.25 R)
Blood Evidence by Barbara B. Rollins and Michael Dahl (J 363.25 R)
The Bone Detectives: How Forensic Anthropologists Solve Crimes and Uncover Mysteries of the Dead by Donna M. Jackson (J 363.2 J, Oversize)
Cause of Death by Barbara B. Rollins and Michael Dahl (J 614 R)
DNA Fingerprinting: The Ultimate Identity by Ron Fridell (614.1 F)
The FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation by Tristan Boyer Binns (J 353 B, Oversize)
Fingerprint Evidence by Barbara B. Rollins and Michael Dahl (J 363.25 R)
Juvenile Crime by Marcia Satterthwaite (J 364.36 S)
Sensational Trials of the 20th Century by Betsy Harvey Kraft (J 347.7 K)
Teens in Prision by Gail B. Stewart (J 364.3 S)
Also, examine these websites:
http://www.fbi.gov/kids.6th12th.htm
The FBI Youth website gives you an inside view of agents’ work. You might want to follow a case through the FBI lab or experience a day in the life of an agent.
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/lab/handbook/intro.htm#topintro
This is the real field guide for FBI agents dealing with forensic investigations. Click on the links
across the top to learn about different aspects ofevidence collection and analysis.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2003/04/0402_030402_tvwildlifecrimes.html
This National Geographic news article explains how forensic investigators solve wildlife crimes such as illegal hunting or selling of products made from endangered species.
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sheppard/analyze.html
Learn about DNA fingerprinting by doing a virtual experiment on this site from PBS.
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/features/97/andes/
Five centuries ago, a teen-aged girl was sacrificed in Peru as an offering to Incan gods. Her frozen body was found preserved in ice a few years ago. See how forensic anthropologists investigated her life and death using CT scan images.
6.01.2004
Welcome to Our Blog!
Hi Everyone--
This is our newly-created space for sharing ideas and information. Please join the blog so that you can post your thoughts and opinions. I do not want to be the only one making comments on here, although I do love to talk. Enjoy!
--Gretchen
This is our newly-created space for sharing ideas and information. Please join the blog so that you can post your thoughts and opinions. I do not want to be the only one making comments on here, although I do love to talk. Enjoy!
--Gretchen
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