More Beautiful Libraries from Around the World

A few months ago I made a post called 10 of the Most Beautiful Libraries and Bookshops to Visit on Your Travels. Well, library-lovers, today we can admire more of these international beauties. This time we'll look by continent, thanks to MentalFloss.com.

First, they've listed 15 Spectacular Libraries in Europe. This list includes 1 library in Ireland, 2 in England, 1 in France, 1 in Spain, 1 in Portugal, 2 in the Netherlands, 1 in Switzerland, 3 in Austria, 1 in Germany, and 2 in the Czech Republic. Take a look at the link above and just scroll through the pictures. Is your library this beautiful? Have you ever been to any of these landmarks?

 Next, there are 11 Fabulous Libraries in South America.This includes 2 in Brazil, 1 in Chile, 3 in Peru, 1 in Costa Rica, and 4 in Columbia. Click the link above and look at how beautiful these structures are both inside and out. I would love to sit down in any of these, but especially the EPM Library in Colombia. That one looks so cozy.

Lastly, and closest to home, they've looked at 10 Amazing North American Libraries. These have 2 located in Canada, 2 in Mexico, and 6 in the USA. Click the link above and see if you've been to any of these famous libraries. I've been to the Central Library of Vancouver, Canada and the Stephen A. Schwarzman Library, USA.

These all look so beautiful! What's the nicest library you've ever been to?

Results for the 2012 Printz Award Project

The Michael Printz Award is given annually by the American Library Association for excellence in Young Adult Literature. Over this past winter, teens in grades 6-12 volunteered to read and review books from a list of titles that were possible contenders for this award. 26 teens participated and 39 reviews were handed in. Out of the 25 titles offered, 20 books were picked up, reviewed, and rated from 1-5 (5 being the best) by these teens.

Thanks to all the teens who contributed. Here are the results!

Addie on the Inside by James Howe (Reviewed- 2 times; 5 stars)

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys (Reviewed- 2 times, 5 stars)

Chime by Franny Billingsley (Reviewed- 2 times, 3.5 stars)

Close to Famous by Joan Bauer (Reviewed- 1 time, 4 stars)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor by (Reviewed- 1 time, 3 stars)

Eight Keys by Suzanne LaFleur (Reviewed- 3 times, 4 stars)

The Inquisitors Apprentice by Chris Moriarty (Reviewed- 1 time, 2 stars)

Jefferson's Sons by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (Reviewed- 1 time, 3 stars)

L.I.E. by Caroline Bock (Reviewed- 1 time, 3 stars)

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness (Reviewed- 1 time, 3 stars)

Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt. (Reviewed- 1 time, 4 stars)

Paper Covers Rock by Jenny Hubbard (Reviewed- 4 times, 3.5 stars)

Pick-up Game edited by Marc Aronson and Charles R. Smith Jr. (Reviewed- 2 times, 2.5 stars)

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater (Reviewed- 2 times, 4 stars)

Shine by Lauren Myracle (Reviewed- 7 times, 3 stars)

Small Acts of Amazing Courage by Gloria Whelan (Reviewed- 1 time, 3 stars)

Small Persons with Wings by Ellen Booraem (Reviewed- 1 time, 3 stars)

The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann (Reviewed- 4 times, 4 stars)

Where I Belong by Gillian Cross (Reviewed- 1 time, 3 stars)

Wildwood by Colin Meloy (Reviewed- 2 times, 2.5 stars)

Here are a few things that our teens have said on their reading:

"I liked the setting of this book and how it told a story that many people had never heard of before in history. It was also very inspiring that a girl my age was able to overcome obstacles and loss to survive, and never lost hope..." -Natalie, grade 9 on Between Shades of Gray.

"The book was beautifully written and very compelling." -Katherine, grade 12 on Daughter of Smoke and Bone.

"I liked the plot twists and surprises in the book. The unexpected events that occurred were very interesting and the character development through the story was very nice." -Jordy, grade 9, on Shine.

The actual winner of the Printz Award was Where Things Come Back by John Corey Whaley.

A Maurice Sendak Tribute

“There must be more to life than having everything.” -Maurice Sendak

It's a sad day for anyone who's ever fallen in love with a children's book. Influential, unrivaled and famous author Maurice Sendak died this morning, at age 83, four days after he suffered a stroke. Maurice "revolutionized children's books and how we think about childhood simply by leaving in what so many writers before had excluded. Dick and Jane were no match for his naughty Max. His kids misbehaved and didn't regret it and in their dreams and nightmares fled to the most unimaginable places" (Associated Press).

If you've never had the privilege of being taken away by one of Maurice Sendak's books, here are a few suggestions to get you started:

Alligators All Around: An Alphabet

Pierre : a Cautionary Tale in Five chapters and a prologue

Very Far Away

Where The Wild Things Are

Also, make sure to take a look at this awesome blog inspired by the beloved Where The Wild Things Are, called Terrible Yellow Eyes. The pieces presented on this site were done as a tribute to his life and legacy.

And enjoy this brief and lovely adaptation of "Where the Wild Things Are," almost undoubtedly his most famous book:

 

Then view this 2006 NBC interview with Maurice Sendak.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

"Sendak spoke often, endlessly, about death in recent years - dreading it, longing for it. He didn't mind being old because the young were under so much pressure. But he missed his late siblings and his longtime companion, Eugene Glynn, who died in 2009. Work, not people, was his reason to carry on" (Associated Press).

We'll miss you, Maurice... but the wild things cried, "Oh please don't go! We'll eat you up, we love you so!"

The Fault In Our Stars Movie

Although you'd never know it from this blog, I am a huge John Green fan. If you are too, brace yourself, because he's just announced some extremely exciting news on his Twitter account!

His most recent (and arguably best) novel, "The Fault In Our Stars," was optioned very early by Fox 2000. Know what this means? A "The Fault In Our Stars" MOVIE! According to Zap 2 It, writing partners Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber have signed a deal to adapt the novel and the film will be produced by Temple Hill's Wyck Godfrey and Marty Bowen, who are best known for their work on the "Twilight" franchise.

If you haven't read John Green's "The Fault In Our Stars" yet, YOU HAVE TO! Put a copy on hold by clicking this link.

And for more on John Green, his Twitter can be read here.

Teens' Top Ten Nominees

The Teens’ Top Ten is an annual “teen choice” book list where every title is nominated by teens and voted on by teens. The 2012 nominations are here and voting will take place during August and September so there's pleanty of time to read the books! Here's the list!

All Good Children by Catherine Austen

Ashes by Ilsa Bick

Abandon by Meg Cabot

Tempest by Julie Cross

What Happened to Goodbye by Sarah Dessen

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Where She Went by Gayle Forman

Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Eona: The Last Dragoneye by Alison Goodman

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Page by Paige by Laura Lee Gulledge

Legend by Marie Lu

Hourglass by Myra McEntire

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Shine by Lauren Myracle

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

This Dark Endeavor: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein by Kenneth Oppel

Across the Universe by Beth Revis

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

How to Save a Life by Sara Zarr

All These Things I’ve Done by Gabrielle Zevin

The winners will be announced during Teen Read Week in October. Get reading!!

100th Anniversary of the Titanic

Today marks the 100-year anniversary of the day the Titanic set sail.

It left from Southampton, England on April 10, 1912 and made stops in Cherbourg, France and Queenstown, Ireland before heading westwards over the Atlantic to New York. Four days along the in the big journey, on April 14, Titanic hit an iceberg at 11:40pm. Over the next 2½ hours, the ship gradually filled with water and at 2:20am on April 15, it broke up and sank, bow-first, with over 1000 people still on board, not rescued.

Since then, we have remembered this tragedy with movies, documentaries, books, and even fictional stories. Take a look at a few from our collection:

Titanic: Voices From The Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson

SOS Titanic by Eve Bunting

Titanic Sinks! by Barry Denenberg

Explore Titanic: Breathtaking New Pictures, Recreated With Digital Technology by Peter Chrisp

Titanic by Simon Adams

Kaspar The Titanic Cat by Michael Morpurgo

Titanic: The Long Night by Diane Hoh

Titanic: April 14, 1912 by K. Duey and K.A. Bale

882½ Amazing Answers to Your Questions About the Titanic by Hugh Brewster and Laurie Coulter

Titanic Crossing by Barbara Williams

Unsinkable by Gordon Korman

National Poetry Month

So, I know that yesterday I posted about it being National Humor Month, but April is a really exciting month for librarians (and all books-lovers!) because it's also National Poetry Month!

According to Poets.org, National Poetry Month was established in 1996 by the Academy of American Poets. "The concept is to widen the attention of individuals and the media—to the art of poetry, to living poets, to our complex poetic heritage, and to poetry books and journals of wide aesthetic range and concern."

Familiarize yourself with some new poetry this month. Here are a few book ideas to get you started:

Poetry Speaks: Who I Am edited by Elise Paschen

Something Permanent photographs by Walker Evans, poetry by Cynthia Rylant

The Pain Tree: And Other Teenage Angst-Ridden Poetry collected and illustrated by Esther Pearl Watson and Mark Todd

Ubiquitous: Celebrating Nature's Survivors by Joyce Sidman, illustrations by Beckie Prange

Hour of Freedom: American History in Poetry compiled by Milton Meltzer, illustrations by Marc Nadel

It's a Woman's World: A Century of Women's Voices in Poetry edited by Neil Philip

My Name is Jason, Mine Too: Our Story, Our Way by Jason Reynolds and Jason Griffin