The Month of May

We all know what it's like when spring is here.  You just can't stand school for very much longer and you're counting down the days until summer vacation starts.

It's a good thing May is filled with all sort of fun things to celebrate.  Maybe this year you could celebrate Lumpy Rug Day (May 3), AKA National Teacher's Day.  May 8 is No Socks Day.  If you decide not to wear socks and then lose them, you can use the next day, Lost Sock Memorial Day, to remember how soft and comfy they were.  If you celebrate Mother's Day and forget to do something on May 8 for that special someone in your life, you can use Clean Up Your Room Day on May 10 to make it up to them.  There's Friday the 13th, which happens to be the only one in the year of 2016, National Sea Monkey Day (May 16), Tap Dance Day (May 25) and of course, Memorial Day (May 30). 

But wait! There's more!  This list is missing one HUGE day.  One day when we can honor a very special something that has influenced just about everyone on the planet.  This piece of history has influenced advances in technology, in movies, and even in the field of medicine!  If you figured out that I'm talking about Star Wars, then the force is strong with you. 

If you're as big a Star Wars fan as I am, then I'm sure you're gearing up to celebrate May the 4th on May 4. 

                                  

Well young Padawan, I have good news for you!  Bartlett Public Library District will be holding a Star Wars Party from 6-8pm on Wednesday, May 4.  There will be activities and games and of course, it's the perfect time to break out that Yoda and R2 costume you've been working on all year. 

If you're stuck at home and can't make it to the party, you can make your own Star Wars themed project like this holographic projector.  The directions are easy to follow and this projector really works!  All you need is a ruler, tape, plastic, and something to cut it with.  If you have old DVD cases or presentation folders, you can draw right on the plastic, but it won't stand as nicely as the hard plastic.  If you have an adult's permission, you could use an old CD case, but it's harder to cut.  When your projector is ready, use this link to project the message R2D2 plays from Princess Leia!  Good luck and May the Fourth be with you.

-am

Black Cats Rule!

This is my black cat Ash.  She was found at the Great Lakes Naval Base when she was 4 months old.  She is an adult cat now and loves to hide in our grocery bags when we are putting away our groceries.  Cats make awesome pets.  Do you have a special furry friend?

April Fools Day

Are you ready to celebrate April Fools Day? Try out some jokes on your friends.

In the Kitchen

Interested in experimenting in the kitchen? Here are some fun and simple recipes to get you started!

Pizza Skewers

Taco Cheeseburger

Macaroni and Cheese (not from a box) - or you can try the even simpler Mac & Cheese in a Mug.

Cocoa Brownies

Looking for more recipes? You can find these books for beginning cooks at the library.

How to Cook in 10 Easy Lessons by Wendy Sweetster

Starting from Scratch by Sarah Elton

Cooking Class by Deanna Cook

And a few more meals you can make in a mug!

LB

Short and Sweet!

Between schoolwork and after school activities, do you ever feel there is not enough time to get through a long book? Why not try something that you can read in short bursts, just before you go to bed, or in any other situation where you can steal a few moments of down time? The Youth Services department has some great titles which fits this need. Here are a couple of examples...

Ripley's Believe It or Not: All-New, bizarre, amazing, uncanny facts and feats! Readers will not believe what they are reading and the pictures they are seeing, but each and every story has been verified 100 percent shocking, 100 percent incredible, and 100 percent true! There are many titles in this series, but some examples are "Beyond Belief," "Incredible Animals," "Life's Curiosities,"

 "Larger Than Life," - and many more!

Guinness World Records: This book is loaded with interesting facts, such as the "Oldest Person to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro," the "Most-Watched NFL Championship Game,"and the "Most 'liked' Video Online." Whether your interest is science or entertainment, this book is sure to hold your interest! Each year, a new book gets published with updated information.

(Still) Going Green

March is a great month for scientists,gardeners, environmentalists, and curious minds alike.  The weather is changing, the birds are back, and plants are growing (or not growing).  Maybe seeing the bushes start to bud has got you thinking ahead to your summer garden.  




Not a gardener?  Well do you like to be green? Do you chant, "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle," every chance you get?  Do you like trying experiments you see online?  If you said "Yes!" to any of those questions, then I have got a cool experiment to share with you! 

Did you know...   

There are some vegetables you can regrow from scraps?!  

Weird, right?  Well take a look

You can regrow...

 green onions      sweet potatos 

and even pineapple!

Click the photo to see more!

  


-am

Going Green for St. Patrick's Day

It's almost time for St. Patrick's Day, time to talk about all things GREEN.  There are the obvious things: grass, leaves, limes, grasshoppers, green beans and broccoli, just to name a few. But what does it mean when people say they are "Going Green"?  That is the term used to become more eco-friendly.  Going Green means recycling, using things again, using less water, growing our own vegetables, walking or riding a bike instead of driving short distances. Challenge- Try one of my ideas and GO GREEN this St. Patrick's Day!!

Black Cats Rule!!

Do you like cats?  I do and especially black cats.  Click on the link below to see why everyone should adopt a black cat.  By the way, if you stop by the Library ask me about my cat Ash! 
Phyllis

Last week, Nintendo announced the newest Pokémon game named, Pokémon Sun and Pokémon Moon. Are you as excited as I am? Believe it or not, this librarian has been playing Pokémon games for 20 years!

Have you seen the announcement trailer? What do you think?

Also, don't forget about our huge Pokémon manga collection in the Youth & Teen Services Department!

SS

The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

Have you ever read a book in one sitting? If so The Nest by Kenneth Oppel is the book for you.




Steve just wants to save his baby brother—but what will he lose in the bargain? This is a haunting gothic tale for fans of Coraline, from acclaimed author Kenneth Oppel with illustrations from Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen.






Watch the book trailer and you will be hooked.

MB

Sled Legs

It just snowed again in Bartlett and might be the last before spring hits, so are you going to squeeze in your last day of sledding for the season?


If you haven't heard of this yet, check out the video below, because "Sled Legs" were invented with a new twist on sledding!

So my question for you is traditional sledding or sled legs?


Katie

Title Read-Alikes for The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier

Have you read The Night Gardener by Jonathan Auxier, a good ghost story? Do you like horror stories? It doesn't need to be Halloween to read a spooky, scary novel. If you liked The Night Gardener and if you want more title read-alikes, look below:

• Seer of Shadows by Avi
• Doll Bones by Holly Black
• Coraline by Neil Gaiman
• The Nest by Kenneth Oppel

Talk to a Bartlett Youth & Teen Services Librarian to help you find these titles and more.

ra

Renovation Celebration

Welcome to Bartlett Public Library District's newest blog, "InBeTween" which is geared for all of you tweens out there!


There will be a variety of posts ranging from awesome book recommendations to technology and gaming to DIY crafts and science experiments. So stay tuned! :)


In the mean time, stop by Bartlett Library this Saturday, January 16th from 11:30am-4:00pm, for our "Renovation Celebration!" There will be crafts, activities, prizes, tours of the new space, and much more!


See you there!