Friday, February 27, 2009

50 Cent Conquers Music World, Video Game World

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/purple-picks/purple-picks/1247158

Here's a short review of 50 Cent's Blood on the Sand game. I wonder if Lil' Wayne will have a video game coming out, too.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Gaming Thursdays next March:Halo Wars, Madden '09, Guitar Hero Metallica


Next month brings a lot of changes to gaming. Kids and teens can play together every Thursday, there's a Guitar Hero 3 tournament Thursday March 12 at 4, and we're adding new games, too! For spring break at the end of the month, Madden '09, Guitar Hero Metallica, and Halo Wars! Come and check out these games or bring your own copy all next month!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Gaming Thursdays Are Back!

Gaming is back on Thursdays where it belongs starting tomorrow. The games out will be DDR, the Xbox will be out for Halo 3 and Amped, plus Guitar Hero 3. Speaking of, there's a Guitar Hero 3 tournament March 12 Thursday at 4. Come sign up today!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Gaming Next Thursday at 4 PM!

Due to bad weather, the tournament was cancelled, but kids and teens can still play DDR, Guitar Hero 3, and Halo next Thursday from 4 to 6. I don't care what the weather is like then, you all better show up!

DDR TOURNAMENT TODAY!

Forget about the snow, come to the library and stay warm playing DDR in the tournament today from 12 to 3! I'm taking pictures of the event to put on a slideshow to put on Flickr. If you're on Flickr or you take your own pictures, add them, too! My user name is RGPL. If you want to show your pics, e-mail to ya_rgpl@yahoo.com and I'll post them on the blog!

Thursday, February 19, 2009

Book of the Week: American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang




American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang is three stories that intersect at the end of the graphic novel. The first story is about a Chinese-American boy growing up in the '80's and '90's as an outcast in his mostly white school. He tries to fit in by rejecting his Asian heritage by perming his hair and hanging out with the other white kids, but then a Taiwanese boy named Wei-Chen transfers to his class and makes Jin aware that no matter how hard he tries to fit in, he is different. The second story is the legend of the Monkey King, a monkey that rules over other monkeys, but never gets respect from humans. The third story is about Danny, a teenager who's embarrassed when his cousin Chin-kee, a living example of every Chinese stereotype, come to visit him.
All these stories seem very different, but they're very alike. Jin, Danny, and even the Monkey King, want to fit in. Their stories show, however, that no matter how hard you try, you can't run away from what you really are. The book is a funny, sometimes sad, but very touching look at what is means to be different when you want to be like everyone else. You can find American Born Chinese in the YA Graphic Novel section of the library under 741.5 Yang.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Coraline book discussion ,abbreviated gaming tomorrow

Tomorrow is the Coraline book discussion from 4 to 5. Come for the popcorn, stay to talk about the book and/or movie! Also, there will be gaming, but just from 5 to 6. Also, there's the kids DDR tournament Saturday from 12 to 3! Sign up and drop in!

Monday, February 16, 2009

Interview with Neil Gaiman, one of the best writers ever

http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/article/CA6633663.html
This is an interview with Neil Gaiman in School Library Journal, author of Graveyard Book and Coraline ( still time to sign up for the discussion on Thursday at 4!)

Friday, February 13, 2009

Which game will you ( or the library) buy first? Halo Wars or Guitar Hero: Metallica?




I personally would get Guitar Hero: Metallica first, but that's me. I like songs about death and destruction, but not games about them. Which one will you buy first?Which one should the library buy first? Any suggestions are welcome!

Thursday, February 12, 2009

Change to Gaming Schedule Next Week

There will be gaming next Thursday, but just from 5 to 6 because of the Coraline book discussion next Thursday from 4 to 5. There's still time to sign up and you can even drop in if you want. I'm still giving away free copies of the book and there will be popcorn! You can tell me you hated the book, you like the movie more than the book, just come! And there's the DDR Tournament next Saturday from 12 to 3 to sign up for or drop in on!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Chess/ Checkers,Other Board Games for President's Day/March

This President's Day, kids and teens looking for something to do can come to the library to play chess and checkers. To make it more fun, there will be competitions, too! If you're a champion player, you can come and own the competition. If you can't or don't want to play, just hang out and watch! There will also be Scrabble and Uno, my favorite games. There will also be board game tournaments in March, more details on that later.

Book of the Week: Masquerade by Melissa De La Cruz

I wanted to like this book, but I don't. It's a mixture of two annoying ( and popular) types of teen books to me: books about cliques and vampires. As a young adult librarian, I'm required to read a vampire book, and Twilight's super checked out, so I'm reading this. Maybe it's because I don't like supernatural vampire/fairy/ hobbit stories unless they're Harry Potter or Thirsty by M.T. Anderson good, but this book just doesn't grab me. It's a sequel, so I'm really confused about why the Blue Bloods hate the Silver Bloods and I sure can't tell Bliss from Schuyler. Maybe I'm too old to get it, but Masquerade is a book I can't wait to finish, so I can read something a bit more realistic and easier to understand. If you liked the book, especially teens, please e-mail me at ya_rgpl@yahoo.com or comment below and tell me why you like Blue Bloods, Twilight, Gossip Girl, or any book like that. Maybe I'll change my mind about them!

Video Game Love for Valentine's Day/Teen Gaming tomorrow




These are some pictures that show the best ways to show you love your sweetheart and video games. Also, there's teen gaming tomorrow, but if some kids show up, Mario Kart will be out for them, too.

Monday, February 9, 2009

Coraline's a hit movie! Now let's read and discuss the hit book, too!





This is a short article about the movie, which did very well at the box office. I'm glad a lot of kids ( and grown-ups) saw the movie. Now's your chance to read the book, too. Come be one of the first to sign up for the discussion and get a FREE copy of the book! What other library would do that? On Thursday, the 19th, we'll discuss the book and if you've seen the movie, compare the the book to the movie and tell the group which one's better! Did I mention there wil be snacks? A free book, snacks, and talking about a great movie and book with friends sounds like a great way to spend next Thursday after school. Come sign up at the library today!

Saturday, February 7, 2009

Coraline Book Discussion Thursday February 19! Sign up for free books!


I'm really looking forward to the Coraline movie, because I loved the book by Neil Gaiman. I probably won't see it this first weekend, but all kids (and adults) should! If you see it, tell me what you thought of the movie. E-mail me at ya_rgpl@yahoo.com to give me your review. There's also a book discussion on Thursday, the 19th, and the first 15 to sign up get free copies of the book! If you read Coraline before or have a copy, bring that, too. Come eat popcorn, compare the movie to the book, and let's talk!

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Teen Gaming next week/Teen programs for February

It's open teen gaming next week, but one kids' game will be out, too. Also, there are great programs this month for teens. There's an informal Teen Advisory meeting next Friday from 4 to 5, just drop in and give me any ideas you all have for games, books, or movies. On Thursday, the 19th, there's a Coraline book discussion from 4 to 5. The first 15 to sign up get a free copy of the book! Last, but not least, there's the DDR Tournament Saturday on the 21st from 12 to 3. I hope all you teens and tweens can make it out to all these events as well as regular gaming this month!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Kids gaming tomorrow!

Just a reminder about elementary school kids' gaming tomorrow, but if you teens behave, you can come, too. The Xboxes and Wii will be out to play with, so bring any games compatible with those systems!

Book of the Week: After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson


I loved this short, compelling book by one of my favorite YA authors, Jacqueline Woodson. After Tupac and D Foster is the story of a girl and her friend, Neeka, who are growing up in Queens, New York in the 1990's and are big fans of Tupac Shakur. The girls see on TV the troubles he goes through with arrests and being shot at multiple times. They follow the tragic events in his life and it sadly reflects the reality they live in, with Tupac and Neeka's brother being in jail at the same time. The girls relate to the messages in his music that's a mixture of "gangsta'' rap ( '' I get Around'') to conscious rap about teen pregnancy ( ''Brenda's Got a Baby'').


Around that time, a new girl, D Foster, moves into the neighborhood and is unlike any other girl the narrator and Neeka have met. She has long hair, a confident attitude, and most importantly, can roam around New York all day without any supervision. The girls become fast friends and D shows them all around New York. But while Neeka thinks D is lucky not to have any parents to answer to, the narrator learns that D's roaming around isn't as fun as it seems. While the girls become close, what happens to D and ultimately Tupac's death, changes their lives forever.


Teens can find this book at the library in the YA Fiction section under FIC WOODSON. If we don't have it, someone ( especially me), would be happy to order it from another library!


Monday, February 2, 2009

Madden '09 is psychic! Also, come to a teen advisory meeting this month!

http://videogames.yahoo.com/feature/steelers-to-win-super-bowl-xliii-predicts-madden-game/1282606

I have to get this game for the library because it can predict the future. I hope it can tell me when I'll be a rich and famous librarian. Seriously, how do games predict outcomes so well? On a somewhat related note, teens, you have to come to a teen advisory meeting on Friday,the 13 this month to tell me, Yanda, the new YA librarian, what kind of games, movies, or books you want at the library. Drop in from 4 to 5. Share your ideas, help the library, and get what you want, too! It's win-win!