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

http://videogames.yahoo.com/events/geek-love/geek-love/1287745

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.

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

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/chi-0206-selich-coralinefeb06,0,1190291.story

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!