Last week, at a minimally attended Teen Book Discussion Group, we happy few discussed favorite books and other related issues.

Now, this week I will be hosting again the Wyckoff Library Teen Writing Group on Tuesday, 21 December 2010, 4:00 - 5:30 pm in the Monroe Room of the Library.

I'm hoping I will have a bit more than a minimal attendance this time.

And as everybody knows, we always have a really good time!!

To all my writers out there (and you know who you are!), here's a New York Times article about great website for you to check out, if you haven't been there yet. It's clickable within the article, too!

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/06/books/06figment.html?hpw

Talk to you soon!

Three great birthdays to celebrate today:

Louisa May Alcott
C.S. Lewis
Madeleine L'Engle

If you haven't read any of their works, maybe honor them today by taking one of their great books out of the Library and enjoying their prose and just great story telling.

Here's a word for today: CORNUCOPIA

Totally appropriate (and an SAT word, too!).

So as you enjoy your family's Thanksgiving cornucopia,

take a moment to give thanks for all you have.

More thoughts from Barbara, who is thankful for many things,

including having all of you in my life!

WYCKOFF LIBRARY TEEN WRITING GROUP WILL MEET AGAIN ON TUESDAY, 23 NOVEMBER 2010, FROM 6:00 - 7:30 pm IN THE MONROE ROOM OF THE LIBRARY.

DON'T FORGET TO BRING YOUR LATEST EPIC COMPOSITION WITH YOU, OR AT LEAST WHATEVER YOU HAVE WRITTEN LATELY THAT YOU WISH TO SHARE WITH YOUR PEERS. (Actually, we truly do not have time for epic compositions after all!)

SWEET AND SAVORY SNACKS WILL BE AVAILABLE, AS USUAL.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU WILL BE ATTENDING.

SEE YOU WHEN I SEE YOU (IDEALLY NEXT TUESDAY AT 6:00 PM).

WYCKOFF TEENS, ever wonder . . .

. . .what you could do to help your Library?
. . .where you could go to earn some Community Service creds?
. . .when you could associate with your peers in creating the best Library for teens in Bergen County?
THE TIME IS NOW!!
Become a member of the Wyckoff Library TEEN ADVISORY GROUP and find out what's in it for you on November 17^th, Wednesday from 4:00 TO 5:00!
Contact Barbara the Teen Librarian
201-891-4866 or wyckya@bccls.org

Help support your local Library!

FOUND
By
Margaret Peterson Haddix

Book Discussion for

Wyckoff teens 7^th- 10^th grade

Thursday 4 November 2010,
6:00 – 7:00 pm

Monroe Room,

Wyckoff Public Library

BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!!

REFRESHMENTS , as always!

RSVP: Barbara, Teen Librarian

201-891-4866 or wyckteen@bccls.org

TEEN

WRITING

GROUP

Thursday 28 October 2010

6-7:30 pm in the

Monroe Room

RSVP: Barbara the Teen Librarian wyckteen@bccls.org or 201-891-4866

Five brave souls met last week on Thursday as the Wyckoff Library Teen Writers Group met for the first time this season.

The creativity, as ever, was rampant, and everyone had a great time. If you weren't in attendance, remember that we meet on the last Thursday of every month from 6:00 to 7:30 pm in the Monroe Room of the Library.

Looking to see you there next month!

PS: Next week on the 6th of October it's book discussion time. The book is PURPLE HEART and if you don't have a copy of this compelling and oh-so-timely novel but still wish to attend, come to the library--I have lots of copies left!

YESTERDAY MARKED THE BIRTHDAY OF T.S. ELIOT (Thomas Stearns Eliot, to his mommy), AND YOU WOULD BE WELL SERVED BY READING THE POEM LINKED BELOW:

http://www.poetry-online.org/eliot_the_love_song_j_alfred_prufrock.htm

A tortured soul (heck, he was a poet), read about his works, his life, then read more of his wonderful poetry (hey, we got it at the library).

http://kirjasto.sci.fi/tseliot.htm

Today is the first FULL day of fall, the Autumnal Equinox, and if you are interested in what that really means, here's a great link: http://scienceworld.wolfram.com/astronomy/AutumnalEquinox.html

Speaking only for myself, I've been awaiting this change of season since the very first day the temperature rose past 85, but that's just me.

Enjoy this most magnificent time of year! (I always do...)

Book Discussion for

Wyckoff teens

7^th- 10^th grades

"PURPLE HEART"

Thursday 7 October 2010, 6:00 – 7:00 pm

Monroe Room, Wyckoff Public Library

BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE NOW!!

REFRESHMENTS , as always!

RSVP: Barbara, Teen Librarian

201-891-4866 or wyckteen@bccls.org

ONGOING PROGRAMS

FOR WYCKOFF TEENS

AT THE WYCKOFF LIBRARY

Teen Writers Group (12-16) meets every last Thursday of the month (unless a holiday interferes), from 6:00 to 7:30 PM in the Monroe Room of the Library. Teens are suggested to bring their own writings to share with peers.

Teen Book Discussion (12–16) is held on the first Thursday of every month (unless a holiday interferes), from 6:00 to 7:00 PM in the Monroe Room of the Library. Books will be available at the library in the weeks prior to the meeting.

All interested teens should contact

Barbara the Teen Librarian

201-891-4866 or wyckteen@bccls.org

Refreshments always!

Feeling a little blue today as Summer 2010 is just about over at the Wyckoff Library... : (

Last night was our last book discussions for TALK IT UP and SPEAK OUT, and to close out the six weeks, we read and discussed two fabulous short stories!

On Tuesday, many of you were part of the program called GET ME RE-WRITE (THE SEQUEL), and the Patch.com journalist who covered it for the Library was kind enough to send me a link to the story that ran today in Patch.com:

http://wyckoff.patch.com/articles/teens-choose-own-adventure-at-library-program

Click on it, read the article, and enjoy the pics, too. If you were there, you'll relive the fun; if you weren't, you'll regret you didn't attend. But either way, you should be amused, intrigued, and looking forward to the next time I host another GET ME RE-WRITE!

Finally, check this site again and you will soon be able to read the great stories that were written that evening. Did I say great? I meant wild, wacky, wonderful, and totally creative!

Wyckoff teens rock!!

And, in case you were wondering, the name of the fear-of-13 is called:

triskaidekaphobia

'nuff said!

More than half way through the summer of 2010, let me update for those of you who weren't here, or re-cap for those of you who were:

We started off the summer with the fabulous Sharon Gross program, stencil printing on canvas carry-all bags. (Great press in the Suburban on this--August 5, 2010, p. 3!)

Next stop, Origami with Linda Bogen tested our folding fingers and generated fun figures, too. As ever, Linda had plenty of surprises for us!

The playwright (and really nice person) Meredith Levy taught us all the basics of playwriting, and teens had an opportunity to write their own playlets, or start their own Tony Award winning epic.

Of course, throughout the summer, TALK IT UP and SPEAK OUT reigned supreme on Wednesday evenings, and there are just two weeks left for teens to engage in book discussion (lots of cool books were read and discussed this summer, not to mention the inhalation (there can be no other word) of lots of junk food, too!).

Tuesday next (August 10th), teens will be learning watercolor technique from Wyckoff's own Rosemary Crabtree. It should be a great experience (and those attending may discover what little artistic talent their Teen Librarian possesses!)

Our final program, "Get Me Rewrite, the sequel," is a redux (look it up: possible SAT word) of last year's sleeper of the season, "Get Me Rewrite!" This year's picture book to be re-written by creative teens should be as much a fun challenge as last year's FRIENDS, the gentle book about bunny rabbits. Get your quills sharpened and your sense of humor honed for this one, Wyckoff teens! It's will be a hoot, the sequel.

Seeya when I seeya!

HAPPY 600 TO A-ROD!

Today is the birthday of Emily Bronte who wrote the extremely romantic WUTHERING HEIGHTS, and yet Emily herself never had a lover nor did she ever get married. Go figure, and furthermore, go read the book!

ORIGAMI was a splendid success, with nine eager folders (plus a crazed teen librarian with two left thumbs) creating magic with Linda Bogen. If you were there, you know what I'm bloggin' about, and if you weren't, come to the Library and see the kinds of things we created in the Display Case, just to the left of the front door.

The Playwriting Seminar, presented once again by Meredith Levy, will be held Tuesday, August 3rd, from 4:00 to 6:00 PM in the Monroe Room.

All my ragingly eager writers (and even those of you who simply dabble in the written word) should (did I say should? I meant must!) attend. Just as it was last year, it's going to be great and you all ought to be there (if only just to say you were, and reference the Library and Meredith when you stand on stage to receive your Tony Award for best play in 2021--hey, it could happen!)

Summer is moving along as fast as possible in this dreadful heat/humidity. Keep the AC and the fans on full blast and we'll all get through it.

Think of it: one day in the brevity of time we will again be kicking up the leaves of autumn. Ah, that that day would come soon! I am so desirous of 68 degree weather I could weep!

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers...ah, did someone say brothers? I meant sisters, of course, the three intrepids of SPEAK OUT who discussed with me, speaking of sisterhood, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES.

Rock on, my SPEAK OUT teens, and next week we will discuss HANDMAID'S TALE (copies are still available for those wishing to get in on the literary fun.

Did someone say "wow"?

Well, heck, I'll say it again: WOW!!

Last night's turnout for TALK IT UP was unprecedented in number of teens in attendance (not to mention the amount of junk food consumed by them!).

I was delighted by the turnout, and delighted additionally by the assistance I received from my colleague, Meredith Levy, in set up and discussion assistance, too. Many thanks, Meredith.



Next week's book, for those of you who were not there and wish to get in on the action, is LEMONADE MOUTH, soon to be a major motion picture from Disney Studios.

I have copies available for all who wish to join us.

All I can say is WOW! The creativity of Wyckoff teens is clearly without bounds, as was evidenced by the gorgeous tote bags decorated most cleverly with stencil prints tonight at the Library.

Watch this space, 'cause pics are coming. You will be amazed! If you were there, you will be simply amused.

Keep pace with all the fun happening at the Wyckoff Library this summer.

Summer 2010 for teens at the Library really starts this week!

Tomorrow evening, for all of you lucky ones who have signed up for it,

the Library is offering Sharon Gross's stencil print program.

On Wednesday starts TALK IT UP and SPEAK OUT,

the summer's first of six book discussion weeks.

Finally, I hope that, while I've been cavorting about

in the unusually overwhelming heat in the Adirondacks last week,

Wyckoff teens have been reading, recording their pages,

and getting prized as appropriate.

Summer's really here now!

Hey, today is the day to MAKE WAVES at the Wyckoff Library by signing up for the summer book club.

Read all you want, report back often with your pages, and get cool prizes.

Hope to see you all today! (or tomorrow, or next week (when I won't be here, but the sign up sheet will be!))

My plan is to have no prize items left by summer's end; help my dream come true!

Today we celebrate the birthday of William Strunk, Jr., better known to some of you as half of the brilliant team of folks who wrote ELEMENTS OF STYLE, a bible for anyone who writes or has aspirations to do so.

Strunk, who taught English at Cornell University for 46 years, wrote this famous "little book" for his students. One of them was the yet-to-be famous writer E.B. White, who revised it in 1935 when his name was added to the authorship. (You may know White better as the author of CHARLOTTE'S WEB, among other titles.)

So, when someone says to you, 'you'd better check with Strunk and White on that', they are suggesting that you should revise your writing style.

If Mr. Strunk were living today, he would without doubt be able to edit this blogpost within an inch of its life; your humble blogger has never been known for sparcity of text.

Keep on writing (if that applies to you, that is!)

On Tuesday, July 13th, Wyckoff artist Sharon Gross will be offering a wonderful seminar to Wyckoff teens on the joy of printmaking with stencils. In this course, teens will have the opportunity to cut stencils, use a stencil paint brush, and print with fabric and acrylic paints to decorate a canvas bag, a tote you may use this summer as you "make waves" at the beach.

It's a great introduction to printmaking, and Wyckoff teens aged 12-16 may register with Barbara the Teen Librarian, either in person at the Library, by e-mail (wyckteen@bccls.org) or by phone (201-891-4866).

As this seminar is limited to 12, please sign up soon.

LAST DAY OF JUNE!
...and now the fun begins.

Tomorrow is the first sign up day for MAKE WAVES, the read-all-you-want-and-get-prizes-along-the-way summer reading program, and I am hoping all of you will be joining us for this (and not just for the groovy prizes, either).

I will be away next week, seeing fireworks and other such splendors in the Adirondacks, but there are others present at the Wyckoff Library who will be able to assist my teens in their reading endeavors.

Looking forward to seeing all of you on the

Soooo....if today is Summer Solstice, can Wyckoff Library programs for teens be far behind?

The answer is a resounding NO!

On this Wednesday, 6/23rd, Wyckoff teens are encouraged to sign up for either TALK IT UP! (aimed at those entering 7th through 9th grade) and SPEAK OUT! (aimed at those entering 10th through 12th grade)

For those of you unfamiliar with these programs, teens will read a pre-chosen book per week for six weeks and discuss it with the Teen Librarian (that's me, o'course) and your peers the following week.

This year, the programs will be back-to-back on Wednesday nights, and the first discussion is scheduled for July 14th, with TIU at 5:00 to 6:00 pm, and SO at 6:30 to 7:30 pm, refreshments as usual will be available.

Happy Summer Solstice!

HAPPY BLOOMSDAY!

(Google this and know its meaning; celebrate it if you wish)

Was auch immer, she uttered in German, but she could easily have said it in several other languages. What did she say?

B

HEY, ALL YOU ANONYMOUSES (internet slang...there is no plural for anonymous!)!

COME OUT OF THE WOODWORK AND SIGN YOUR COMMENTS!

IT'D BE NICE TO KNOW WHO'S READING THIS STUFF. . .

On this day in 1949, George Orwell's novel NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR was published.

If you have not yet read this ground-breaking novel, more relevant today than ever before, you should.

The first line of the novel reads: "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen."

Now, if that doesn't suck you in to the plot, nothing will!

Tonight ROCKED! Great writing, great fun!

And tonight was the re-introduction of something many of you may recall from book discussions/writing groups past: The Pillbox.

It was used tonight with great effect, and our writers did honor those who held it, and quietude was the order of the day when a holder of the Pillbox was speaking. (Generally...)

Heck, we'll see how long this lasts, eh?

TODAY MAY BE THE LAST WRITING GROUP OF THE SPRING, SO PLEASE MAKE A BRAVE ATTEMPT TO ATTEND!

Please bring whatever you have recently written and I'll provide the snacks (and a challenging but fun writing exercise at the outset (also known as the 7-Minute Creative Writing Burst!).

RSVP if its in you to do so; it's always nice to know who is coming to these shindigs.

See you there!

Barbara the Brave

Hey, it's another birthday! (Well, truth be told, every day is somebody's, right?) But today we celebrate an author a lot of us have read a lot of, in many cases. In fact, we just discussed one recently in Book Discussion. IF THE WITNESS LIED was the most recent offering from the very prolific CAROLINE B. COONEY, so wish that lady a happy birthday today, at least in your thoughts.

Read more about her right here:

Teenreads.com -- Author Profile: Caroline B. Cooney

Now, I will hawk some great new books now sitting idly on my New Teen Fiction shelves.

First off, let me highly recommend a new work from the Printz award winning Australian author Melina Marchetta. FINNIKIN OF THE ROCK is an epic fantasy of ancient magic, feudal itnrigue, ropmance, and bloodshed that, according the book flap, will rivet you from the first page. Well-reviewed, this rocking fantasy will definitely meet the needs of a lot of fans of the genre, without doubt.

Second, Catherine Jinks (of EVIL GENIUS fame) has penned another teen fic, LIVING HELL, and this time she's crafted a sci-fi/fantasy/adventure featuring a seventeen year old boy who leads humanity in a fight for survival while machines that had formerly run their world turn upon them, treating all humans as parasites. It is as good as it sounds.

Finally, David Klass, author of YOU DON'T KNOW ME, has written STUCK ON EARTH, a sci-fic novel which offers that intriguing tale of a space alien sent to earth to judge whether the human race should be destroyed, who winds up inhabiting the body of a bullied fourteen-year-old boy. Wry and wickedly amusing as Klass can be, this is a worthy read.

And I would be remiss if I did not mention the next in the ever-so-very-popular CLIQUE series by Lisi Harrison. THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR STALKING. For personal reasons, I will not critique this book (as if you need me to anyway!).

On this day in 1948, the modern-day explorer Thor Heyerdahl arrived in Polynesia having sailed on this balsa wood raft, the Kon-Tiki, all the way across the Pacific from Peru in an effort to prove his point that prehistoric native people in South America could have settled in Polynesia, bringing their culture with them.

His book, KON-TIKI, tells his amazing story. Check it out sometime.

THE YANKEES ARE ON A ROLL!!

(a seeded whole grain roll, of course!)

Okay, yesterday e'en's discussion of THE LOOKING GLASS WARS was, if not exactly fully attended, fully enjoyed by all who did (at least it looked that way, imho).

I have not yet chosen next month's book, but you can bet it will be just as good (if not better, ideally better for any of you who did not enjoy Beddor's LOOKING GLASS.)

Anyway, keep checking this site, and the Library, to see what next month's (that'd be MAY 27th!) book discussion book will be. . .

. . .AND, for all of you in my TEEN WRITERS GROUP, we will meet on May the 6th, at 6:00 until 7:30. Sharpen your quill pens and start scratching out some fine creativity to share with your peers.

It's Will Shakespeare's birthday!

('nuff said)

Today is another important day for all you budding playwrights to remember. On this day in 1787 the first ever play written by an American was produced. Check out this website and honor Mr. Royall Tyler.

http://www.metropolitanplayhouse.org/contrastessay

On this day in 1802, William Wordsworth was walking home with his sister, Dorothy, and they saw a patch of daffodils that became the inspiration for one of his most famous poems. No one is sure when he wrote the poem, "I Wander'd Lonely as a Cloud", but it was published in 1807. Dorothy had written extensively in her journal that day, words that doubtless influenced his writing, but his wife, Mary, came up with two lines: "They flash upon that inward eye / Which is the bliss of solitude." William said they were the best lines in the poem.

Talk about true romance, eh?

Maybe that's why they call him one of the Romantics!

Check out the poem yourself:

http://www.bartleby.com/101/530.html

Barbara E. Weber
invites you
to attend
a fantastic opportunity
which could also be called
BOOK DISCUSSION!!

This event will take place
on the 22nd of April
6:00-7:00 PM
and the fantastic book we are reading is
THE LOOKING GLASS WARS!

THIS THURSDAY, 1 APRIL 2010 (aka April Fool's Day) IS OUR NEXT TEEN WRITING GROUP (and this is NOT an April Fool's Joke, trust me!)

6:00 - 7:30 PM in the Monroe Room of the Library.

BE THERE, AND BRING YOUR LATEST OPUS, PLEASE!

THE NEXT BOOK DISCUSSION WILL BE HELD ON THE 22ND OF APRIL 2010 AT 6:00 - 7:00 PM IN THE MONROE ROOM OF THE LIBRARY. BOOKS ARE AVAILABLE NOW.

THE BOOK TO BE DISCUSSED IS:

(No, I am not jumping on the ALICE IN WONDERLAND movie bandwagon, it just looks that way!)

Today is the birthday of the great Irish playwright, Sean O'Casey who paraphrased Mr. Shakespeare in the following quote:

"All the world's a stage and most of us are desperately unrehearsed."

http://www.irish-society.org/Hedgemaster%20Archives/sean_o'casey.htm

(you may have to copy and paste this link!!)

...AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/images/1406308870/ref=dp_image_0?ie=UTF8&n=266239&s=books

Chosen as one of the top 10 graphic novels for teens in 2009 by the Amerian Library Association!


PS: Yes, it's our next book discussion book...whaddya think about that?

Sometimes it's hard to recall their beauty as you are hoisting a shovelful of them, so here's a little reminder.
So, see you all next week (after a visit to my chiropractor!).

Laura Ingalls Wilder - Welcome

It's another birthday, and this time a most favorite author of many of you, I'm thinking!
Re-visit that LITTLE HOUSE we know so well . . .


Laura Ingalls Wilder - Welcome

Sad news to report:

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/01/28/us/AP-US-Obit-Salinger.html?_r=1

JD Salinger is dead. If you have not yet read his work, speed your way to the Wyckoff Library and check out some of his wonderful fiction.

It may change your life, or it may just change your vocabulary, as it most certainly changed mine for at least a year after reading his work.

Did somebody say 'suspense'? IF YOU HAVEN'T READ IT, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE.

IF YOU HAVE READ IT, NOW'S YOUR CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT IT!

Yes, it's Book Discussion time again, January 28th 2010 in the Monroe Room from 6:00 - 7:00 PM.

Feel free to expect refreshments, as usual.

Well, DID somebody say 'suspense'?

IT'S A NEW YEAR, 2K10, SO GET READY TO RUMBLE!

So . . .I hosted a fantastic Teen Writers Group last night and we happy five who were in attendance were delighted with some really cool literary output, to name a few, a fabulous new play and a great piece of prose, and each delivered interesting characters and told intriguing stories.

For those of you not in attendance last night and wishing you had been, please be aware that our next meeting will be held on Thursday, the 4th of February 2010 in the Monroe Room of the Library from 6:00 to 7:30. (Of course, those that had been in attendance are encouraged to attend again, too!)

The Teen Writers Group of the Wyckoff Library typically meets on the first Thursday evening of every month during the school year.