Go for the Gold, Be an Olympic Reader

Hello Tweens!
I watched the Men's Singles Short Program Figure Skating Olympic competition last night. What a tough sport. Some may think the event is just an artistry and not a sport, but I would definitely disagree. Can you imagine performing triple axles and quads in front of thousands and knowing millions are watching and critiquing your performance in probably the most important event of your athletic career? The strength and power of their technical routines must match the artistic flow and expression of their performance. I would not want to be in their skates. I am sure it is tougher than it looks. Loved the passionate performance of the second place finisher USA Evan Lysacek. The first place finisher Russian Evgeni Plushenko didn't WOW me as much as Lysacek, but he must have had a little something more for the judges.
I was prepared to not like Lysacek, based upon my opinion on some soundbites, that he was arrogant, but when he finished his performance with tears in eyes, I reassessed my opinion. I guess a good athlete needs to be sure and confident about him/her self. One has to be to compete in front millions. These athletes truly care about being the best at what they do, and I guess I can't fault them on being a little proud of a job well done. After all they commit much of their lives to working hard to achieve a goal and when they do they are going to want to crow about it. I respect Lysacek on "walking the talk." I am glad he did well. He made our country proud.

To join the ride to Olympic glory, the Main Library children's department and the branches are conducting a reading incentive program called Go for the Gold! Be an Olympic Reader. Enter a chance to win some official Olympic prizes, t-shirt, pins and a stuffed toy moose with every five books or more checked out. Check out our website for more information. Drawing to be held on Monday, March 1, 2010.

Signing Off,
Mrs. V

Styling hair is an artform

I came across a beautiful book of about hair fashion illustrated and written by collage artist Terence Lawlor.
The fairytale-type setting takes place inside a palace full of lords and ladies with nothing better to do than pursue the latest trends in high fashion...especially hair fashion.
A monthly contest is held to name the top fashionista...mainly it is between three divas who regulary win the prize. These cold-hearted women were nicknamed by the social set as The Vanities. Their secret to their success and glory was an orphan child with a talent for hairstyling they "adopted."
Read how this orphan teaches the vanities a lesson in how to not be a fashion victim. This adorable Cinderella-like story is visually pleasing accompanied by lilting, humerous rhymes.

Signing Off,
Mrs. V.

Tweens have fashion sense

Recently went to a local mall and it seemed it had been turned into a venue for fashion week. Boy, do you kids know how to dress up into what I call a real art form, yet each person still managed to maintain their individuality despite the similar fashion sense of the group they were hanging out with.

There was the "scene look," which I am told is only about two years old. Tweens/teens wearing their dark hair in a shag-angle cut, flattened very straight. Their dark, heavy makeup matched the dark clothes accented by bright neon colors. A really rockin' and confident look.

The "preppy and popular" group dressed in light-colored, fitted, cowboyish, expensive brand-name clothing brought a smile to my face. I would describe this group as "flirty, bouncy and bright" wearing their Ugg boots and knit caps.

A crossover group of tween/teens seemed to have taken the best of both worlds and made it their own. One girl wore a long shirt dress, leggings, leg warmers with boots. The ensemble was accented with bright pieces of jewelry and long necklaces. This bohemian look was very pretty and feminine.

Thankfully I only saw two boys wearing those low-riding jeans with their boxers revealed. Dare I hope that fashion fad is on its way out. Anyway, great job kids! You are not only expressive, but fashion forward and I admire your initiative to be creative.

If you would like more accurate observations on current fashion trends check out the Feb/March issues of Girls Life and Discovery Girls magazines in the MPL Main Children's Department.

Checking out,
Mrs. V

The Mentor Public Library has acquired 5 copies of the New Moon original motion picture soundtrack.
New Moon mania has arrived at my home. My daughter wore the Edward T-shirt she received on her birthday and attended the midnight premiere. She also received for her 18th birthday the New Moon CD. She still continues to nag me about reading the Stephenie Meyer books. I keep planning on reading them, but Life gets in the way. I should really take the time and read them because it is something my daughter wants to share with me. I did see the Twilight movie with her and was surprised that I liked it. Saw it twice actually.
Before I bought the New Moon CD I listened to some of the songs on the soundtrack. I am NOT a fan of Meet me on Equinox by Death Cab for Cutie. This monotonous tune and its chorus “ Everything, Everything Ends” made me wish the song ended quicker than the almost 4 minutes of playtime. I think this song is reminiscent of David Bowies’ songs from the 70s. I wasn’t a fan of those either.
However, the catchy beat of Violet Hour by Sea Wolf and the haunting melody of Slow Life by Grizzly Bear were very unique. My favorite song on the soundtrack was by an artist, fairly new to the scene, Anya Marina. Her husky, raspy whispery voice in Satellite Heart is the perfect accompaniment to the low-key, simple guitar licks. Her lyrics are about love, loneliness and loyalty. You really feel her sadness, but it sounds like the guy is not worth all the anguish.
Satellite Heartby Anya Marina
So pretty/so smartSuch a waste of a young heart!What a pity / what a shamWhat’s the matter with you, man?
Don’t you see it’s wrong/ can’t you get it right?Out of mind and outta sightCall on all your girls, don’t forget the boysPut a lid on all that noise!
I’m a satellite heart/ lost in the darkI’m spun out so far/ you stop, I startBut I’ll be true to you
I hear you’re living out of state, running in a whole new sceneThey say i haven’t slept in weeks, you’re the only thing i see
I’m a satellite heart/ lost in the darkI’m spun out so far/ you stop, I startBut I’ll be true to youI’m a satellite heart/ lost in the darkI’m spun out so far/ you stop I startBut I’ll be true to you no matter what you do/ yeah I’ll be true to you…Oooooooooo
Hey, check out her beautiful video of the song on http://www.newmoonthesoundtrack.com/. Anya Marina’s red, red lips match her red, red nails; a stark contrast to her bleached white hair against the backdrop of orange, red and yellow fall leaves. I just wished she would have cut those long, long bangs to reveal her pretty, pretty face.
Other sounds on the soundtrack are: Friends (Band of Skulls) -- Hearing damage (Thom Yorke) -- Possibility (Lykke Li) -- A white demon love song (The Killers) – I belong to you (New Moon remix) (Muse) -- Rosyln (Bon Iver & St. Vincent) -- Done all wrong (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club) -- Monsters (Hurricane Bells) -- Shooting the moon (OK Go) -- No sound but the wind (Editors) -- New moon (the meadow) (Alexandre Desplat).
REMEMBER TO REQUEST A HOLD ON THIS SOUNDTRACK. It is sure to be a popular item among our collection.

Signing off,

Mrs. V

Get a Clue into history by checking out the 39 Clues adventure series

For the past few months, I have had young and adult patrons asking for the 39 Clues adventure series books published by Scholastic. The demand has been so high, that I had to find out what the hoopla was all about. So I read the first book of the series, The Maze of Bones. It was published on September 2009 and written by Rick Riordan, author of the Lightning Thief.
The series, comprised of 10 books, are written by various authors to teach history along with the suspense of a worldwide treasure hunt. The intense hunt for clues is conducted by a brother-sister team against a slew of distant competitive cousins within four Cahill family branches: the Lucian, the Ekaterina, the Janus and the Tomas. The four branches are named after the original four children who founded them, and fight each other to find lost clues. Each branch is identified by branch names, and the curves and colors of their family crests.
In the 39 Clues: Maze of Bones brother and sister, Amy and Dan, lose their grandmother to cancer. She was the head of the world’s most powerful family, the Cahills. The siblings are all alone in the world, except for each other and their grandmother’s mangy cat.
Minutes before she died of cancer their grandmother Grace Cahill changed her will, leaving her descendants an impossible decision: "You have a choice - one million dollars or a clue." Everyone from Ben Franklin, Napoleon to Houdini is related to the Cahills, yet the source of the family power is lost. 39 clues hidden around the world will reveal the family's secret, but no one has been able to assemble them. Now the clues race is on, and Amy and Dan must decide what's important: hunting clues or uncovering what REALLY happened to their parents, presumed dead.
The clues in Maze of Bones centers around the life and accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin. I learned about little known historical tidbits of Franklin by following along Amy and Dan’s research about him in order to obtain each clue. Before I knew it, the book was finished. I am now hooked and awaiting the second book to become available from the numerous holds placed on it.
Unfortunately I am too old to win the real treasure hunt and the $10,000 grand prize for young readers. The series combines the 39 Clues interactive website, online gaming, card collecting and activities to help children between the ages of six and 14 win prizes. Books must be purchased in order to collect the clue cards inside.
The 39 Clues card collecting:
At least 10 collectible cards will be released with this series. Every book will contain six. Cards are also available for purchase separately in Card Packs. It is possible to collect just the physical cards, but most people also keep virtual versions of the cards online, as part of their 39 Clues account. The clues can be found by reading the book or checking the site http://www.the39clues.com/.
Participants who find all of the 39 clues and become one of the top 39 point scorers can compete to win the $10,000 grand prize.
These books may potentially be turned into films. That is the rumor out on the street.
For now, checkout the rest of the series in our collection, Book 2: One False Note; Book 3: The Sword Thief; Book 4: Beyond the Grave; Book 5: The Black Circle; Book 6: In Too Deep. Future issues are Book 7: The Viper’s Nest- February 2, 2010; Book8: April 6, 2010; Book 9: June 8, 2010 and Book 10: September 1, 2010.
So start reading and follow the journey of Amy and Dan as they not only learn about the history of the world and their ancestors, but also their growing respect and understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses. This story is also about the values of respect, honor, courage and importance of family.
We would like to present a special Tween program based on these series, so any feedback or suggestions on what should be on the agenda would be helpful. I’m thinking of having our own historical treasure hunt.

Signing off,

Mrs. V

Halloween Happings at MPL

Boo!


As Halloween approaches there are lots of fun things to at Mentor Public Library. Let's go in calendar order.

There is a party at the Reed House on Sunday October 25th. This one requires registration so call the Children's department. There is going to be a magic show, live music, and face painting. You can wear your costume if you like. All ages are welcome. (but you have to register.

On Monday the 26th there will be Pumpkin Painting at the Main branch from 3 to 5 pm. The first ten people to arrive will receive small pumpkins to paint. This program is for tweens and teens.

Also on Monday the 26th there is Spooktacular Stories by the Fire down at the LAke branch. This program is for people in grades K through 6 and again registration is required. Join them for tales and treats and hauntingly good time.

On Tuesday the 27th Pumpkin painting will be happening at the Lake Branch from 3 to 5 pm. The first ten people to arrive will receive small pumpkins to paint. This program is for tweens and teens.

On Wednesday the 28th Headlands is hosting the pumpkin painting program from 3 to 5 pm. The first ten people to arrive will receive small pumpkins to paint. This program is for tweens and teens.

Also on teh 28th the LAke branch will be crafting Skeletons in their Bones program. This prgram is for people grades 2 to 5 and no registration is needed. Just show on up between 4 and 5 pm.

On the 31st. (yes, on actual halloween) Headlands is hosting some Halloween Fun from 2 to 3 pm. People in grades K through 5 are welcome to attend. Wear you costumes and play some games, MAke some crafts.

We love Halloween, don't you?

Arrrr! Avast ye scurvy dogs!

So as we all know, September 19^th is International Talk like a Pirate Day.

Huzzah! So to celebrate there will be a Walk-in Craft (meaning walk in anytime and walk out anytime) of designing your own Jolly Roger (pirate flag you landlubber!). And to make them seaworthy we will have laminating sessions at 3:30, 4, and 4:30.

Here’s a couple examples of what

you could do with a flag.

And if you ‘d like to learn a little more about pirates , you can always check out our pirates books…. Here and Here

Or the Official Talk like a pirate site…. There.