Newbery Winner Announced!

Drum roll please. . . the Newbery Award winner for this year was announced earlier today, and I'm so happy to announce that it is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate!

Here's a summary according to GoodReads.com. What it doesn't tell you is that you might want to have a tissue handy while you're reading it! (Or maybe that's just me!) Read the book and see what you think!

QR Codes in the Library, Take 2!

Last spring I posted an entry about QR codes in the library, but madamewells' photostream image of her QR codes library display inspired me to do it again!

Like the display says, QR codes are barcodes that you can scan using a free app--I use QR Reader from the App Store, but there are others to pick from. Using the app, line up the frame in your display screen to the QR code, and in this case, you will be taken to a book trailer for the book. If you scan The Maze Runner QR code, you can see this trailer:

You're welcome to check out the many QR codes for book trailers that are posted around the library! Bring in your smart phone, iPod, or tablet and watch some great, creative book trailers!

Look What's Coming to TV!

Lauren Oliver's book Delirium has been optioned as a television series for Fox television network! Here's what she had to say on her blog post:

If you want to read more about the announcement, you can click here.

Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Teenreads.com has joined the Children’s Book Council (CBC) and Every Child a Reader (ECAR) to give students the chance to let their voices be heard by voting for their five favorite books from 2012. The CBC’s 2013 Teen Choice Book of the Year will be one of the five titles that receives the most votes before Jan. 31, 2013. Once the five finalists have been determined, voting will be open starting on March 19 at BookWeekOnline.com; expect a winner to be announced in May 2013. Click here to see last year's finalists and winners.

Below are some of the nominees that may be familiar to you:

Finding Similar Books

Having problems finding that next great book to read? Are you looking for that book that will remind you of one of your favorites? At YourNextRead.com, you can enter the name of a book, and it will recommend several titles related to your search. You can search for books by age as well, or you can choose to browse their featured books. The site is also linked to the MS Library Home Page under the "Reading" section. Try it--you'll find all sorts of great recommendations!

                      

Book Speed Dating

In the October 2012 issue of Library Media Connection, Librarian Tish Carpinelli from Cape May, NJ, wrote about speed dating with books, an activity she does with her high school students. With a few modifications, 7th grade LA students participated in book speed dating just this week. Four students sat at each table and looked at more than a dozen books and rated them, considering if they wanted to be in a "committed long-term relationship" with the book. :) If students couldn't decide on "a date" by the end of the period, they might go on a "blind date" with a book. Many students found "dates" to take home to read, and all students received a Hershey's kiss--because the perfect date ends with a small kiss!

Library 12 Days of Christmas

Considering the holiday season upon us, we in the library have created a 12 Days of Christmas contest to get you thinking about books and authors. Be sure to watch the announcements on the TVs each day to get the clues. You can check out the explanation below:

If you have questions--or want to check one of your guesses--just stop by the library to talk with Mrs. Ellis. Happy holidays, and good luck!