“Grown Up” Colouring Books have been a publishing marvel so far in 2015. Many are coming out of nowhere, and flying off the shelves. Similarly, the meditative art process called “Zentangle” is also beginning to catch on – with many books being published, and tutorial sessions being held at libraries nationwide. I decided to introduce… Read More Doodle Hour Library Program: Zentangle and Adult Colouring
National Poetry Month Library Display Happy National Poetry Month everyone! Celebrations are held, awards are presented, and most of the world goes on living their lives, oblivious. Many teens may not have had a chance to enjoy poetry (in the traditional sense) outside of English class. and I wanted to take this opportunity to introduce… Read More April is Poetry Month: Teen Display
The Cambridge Idea Exchange has some exciting news: we’ve added button makers to our branches! While policy is still in the works, as of now, patrons can create a limited number of buttons for free. I ran an introductory maker space at the high school branch – at which over 60 buttons were made in… Read More Teen Button Makerspace
What I Read The thing about working in 2 library systems is…that there’s just so much more to read! I’ve read so many books this month – I’ll just have to give you bite-sized reviews of each of them. 1000 Feelings For Which There Are No Names by Mario Giodano: New to our non-fiction collection,… Read More What I Loved #6 – Belzhar, Zita the Spacegirl, Meditation, Uptown Waterloo, and Graduation
Wes Anderson’s movies consistently hit the spot for me – the extraordinary (and somehow believable) characters, the silly seriousness, the perfectly organized “thing shots,” the stories within stories within stories. From the excessively formal Gustave (who invents and performs convoluted poetry on the spot), to the funicular railway trolley, to the 3 second George Clooney… Read More The Grand Budapest Hotel: dark sincerity, dead cats, and beautiful symmetry
flash mob: a large public gathering at which people perform an unusual or seemingly random act and then disperse. Can be used to raise awareness of a cause, to showcase talent, or simply to build community in a fun way. In the past few years, I’ve become a whole-hearted Flash Mob lover. Whether it’s participating in… Read More Flash Mobs In The Library? Tips for Success
*This book review contains spoilers* In fast-paced gripping prose that will keep readers turning pages, Jo Knowles tells the story of an unplanned pregnancy from the alternating perspectives of 4 high school students. All Ellie wants is to be loved. All Josh wants is to lose his virginity. Their miscommunication introduces the novel, and results… Read More Book Review of Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles: Not Your Average Problem Novel
Welcome to suburban Seattle in the 70s: where a mutation based sexually transmitted disease is transforming teenagers into monsters. Although sometimes housed in the adult graphic novel section, Black Hole by Charles Burns is certainly a story for teens sixteen and up. Through the perspective of several high school students, the reader witnesses a sweeping… Read More YA Book Review: Black Hole by Charles Burns: a fast-paced sci-fi horror hybrid for the masses
Now presenting: my first ever book trailer! Above you will find my book trailer, recommending Jeff Smith’s Out From Boneville for teen audiences. It features stop motion animation, as well as watercolour and ink artwork based closely on images from Jeff Smith’s Bone series. During the weeks preceding its due date, my trailer script went… Read More YA Lit Book Trailer: Out From Boneville by Jeff Smith
I went to the library today. I was standing in the teen section with 4 Orca Sounding books in my arms when another patron – a real teen – walked over to the shelf beside me. She looked over at me and I smiled, and she surprised me by asking, “Are those any good?” I… Read More My Impromptu Teen Reference Interview
Ontarian Librarian 