We had such a great time last Friday night! Over 40 teens took over the library. Many wore fabulous costumes.
There was karaoke, Wii, board games, and Twister.
Kids enjoyed a scavenger hunt, with a scary spider surprise at the end.
Crafts were popular, with many kids making rubber band bracelets, origami bats, and bookmarks.
We had a big book domino through the adult book stacks.
And, of course, we had snacks. The Youth Services staff wants to thank everyone who attended for their great behavior and enthusiasm. YOU all made the night so special. The members of the Teen Advisory Board planned the event and helped with set up and running the activities. A BIG thank you to them!
Is Dracula missing his fangs??
I will post pictures of the winners of the costume contest in a blog post soon, so stay tuned!
The message this year is: The End of Bullying Begins with Me. Reading about bullying is a great way not only to learn about bullying but also to empathize with victims through their sad stories. Here are four suggestions of books on bullying that you can find in the Youth Services Room of the Scarborough Public Library.
Bystander by James Preller.
Eric is the new kid in seventh grade, and Griffin wants to be his friend. When you’re new in town, it’s hard to know who to hang out with—and who to avoid. Griffin seems cool but something isn’t right about Griffin. He's always in the middle of trouble. And if Griffin doesn't like you, he can be really mean. Eric begins to see the truth about Griffin: He’s a liar, a bully, a thief. Eric wants to break away. But in one shocking moment, he goes from being a bystander to being the bully’s next victim.
Cornered: 14 Stories of Bulllying and Defiance by Rhoda Belleza
Written by some great young adult authors, these fourteen stories delve into the experience of being bullied: socially, emotionally, physically, and psychologically. With today’s rapid-fire social media, bullying has lost all limits and moved far beyond the school halls and walking home. I liked Elizabeth Miles' "Defense Mechanisms" and Jennifer Brown's "But Not Forgotten." All fourteen short stories are really good!
How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill by James Patterson
The fourth book in the very popular Middle School series is about the series' hero, Rafe Khatchadorian, who is ready for a fun summer at camp--until he finds out it's a summer school camp! Rafe easily makes friends with his troublemaking cabin mates and bunkmate, a boy nicknamed Booger-Eater, who puts up with endless teasing from the other kids. Rafe soon realizes there's more to a person than a nickname, though. We Want You to Know: Kids Talk About Bullying by Deborah Ellis
This non-fiction book contains touching interviews with students who have been bullied. They describe their experiences with peers, parents, teachers, and school administrators, along with advice on the best methods that can be used to stop bullying behavior.
Remember the message: The End of Bullying Begins with Me!
I love to look at book trailers on YouTube. I look for trailers of books that I have read and loved or trailers for books that I am thinking about whether or not to read. Here’s a book trailer for John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, a book I read and loved. This trailer was made by the publishing company, so is much more professional than some of the kid-made trailers you will find on YouTube.
And here’s a trailer of Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Boys, the first in a series. Does it make you want to read the book?
Try searching YouTube for book trailers. They can help you choose a book or just enjoy a book more!
