Never Judge a Book by Its Cover

I was just thinking about how people say "Never judge a book by its cover." While I wish this wasn't true, I know that at least I do. I like realistic fiction so I tend to go for new looking books with a person on the cover. My sister likes fantasy, and the books she looks for tend to be hard covers with some sort of drawing or design on the cover. 

            

 Many popular books have different covers. Look at the Harry Potter

 books. 

Depending on which country your in you will get a completely different cover. Why? Is it to give us something to spend money collecting? Or maybe it's just to appeal to different audiences? Prevent one artist from getting to rich? Or maybe it's just to confuse people like me who think it's a completely different book.

 Harry Potter even has different covers in the US of A for kids versus for adults. 

I won't post them here but while I was looking for the image above I found a bunch of book covers for manly men that didn't want to be caught reading Harry Potter. The covers are..

... I'm not quite sure how to describe them. If you want to know more go search them yourself. 

Even for books that only have one cover, a lot of time and thought goes into them. There are 

contests offering thousands of dollars for someone who comes up with a cover. Multiple tries are made before deciding on a final one. To the left are attempts at creating the cover for Scott Westerfeld's book Uglies. The one on the left is the first try and the one on the right is basically what the cover turned out being. (The one on the left ended up being the cover to his book about his books called Bogus to Bubbly)

So now that I've given you lots of my random thoughts on book covers, I want to know yours. Comment and let me know which of these different covers are your favorite? 

Most sincerely, dearly, and happy holidays, Emma

Ps. Did anyone realize that on the book cover for Uglies, not only does it misspell the title (it says The Uglies), it also misspelled the authors name (Scott Westerfield vs. Scott Westerfeld). Luckily these thing where caught in editing and fixed!

The Holidays

Today we have 12 people in the house where we are staying!  Five kids (all under the age of 9) and the rest adults. And there will be more on Christmas day.  Peter and Mai and their 3 children arrived after driving over ten hours through snow.  We had over a foot of snow right last night and at nine am the kids are outside burying themselves in it.  It comes up to their waist and no they do not have jackets on!

The tree is up, it is decorated.

The holiday is here.

Holidays

Just a quick line to say thank you to the Youth Advisory Council for being so great for this first part of the school year!
Secondly, we are putting together a schedule sort of thing for things on Wednesdays such as movies, music and art (we might even do a book discussion group, or reading group) - once a month.
Thirdly, I will not be around over the next couple of (vacation) weeks, so please don't miss me (or expect me there) too much!
Quarterly, remember to use the blog to let each other know how you are doing in Atlanta, New York, Florida etc!

Peace,
Simon

I MISS YOU GUYS!

hey guys.
Sorry i couldnt be there today.
Miss all of you!
Hopefully see some of you tomorrow, and if i dont have a wonderful Holiday!
-Camile

Flume Awards

See below for details of the Flume Awards. If you want to nominate a book title or two this is your last month to do so. These are books for teens that YOU can nominate and therefore pass the word on to others how great you think it is, AND reward the author (who would then, hopefully write even more great books you love). You could nominate "Boy With a Thorn In His Side" for example, or "Glass", "Airman" or "Naked Bunyip Dancing"! Anything within the stipulations on the website below.

Get nominating!
http://www.nashualibrary.org/YALS/Flume.htm

Simon
(Oh! Glass was already nominated!)

WHERE DID SIMON GO??

ok...way to be here on wednesday Simon...way to be here hahaha
hope y'all enjoy the Thanksgiving vacation :)

Don't like books?

Check this out!
http://www.offbeatearth.com/dont-like-reading-other-uses-for-books/

Peace.
Simon

Look to the left

No, this is not a political issue! Just look to the left and see all the author websites I added! If you don't see your fave, let me know.

Peace,
Simon

Neil Gaiman says:

http://www.nanowrimo.org/
National Novel Writing Month is five weeks away. Neil Gaiman says save the novel for the third week!

Magazines - vote for yours THIS WEEK

Hi all,
There are SIX new magazines on the tables in the teen room. We can subscribe to two of them so please write your initials/name on two or three of the six and the two with the most names will be what we order for the teen room.
Do this THIS week, please. Orders will be made next week.
Ta very much
Simon

CD project

A number of us, including Caroline The Squid, Ashley, Emma, Josh, Hanna, Jools, Luke, Michael (Dartmouth 'intern"), Maddie, Jon and of course Camile created and put up a curtain of CDs in the teen room. Did I miss anyone out? It looks great and we are getting lots of positive feedback! Yeh - teens!

Simon

Hey!

What about room designs - you know, the templates Caroline and I gave out to all of you! Need to see a few. Or at least one! Colours, designs, patterns, dragons, unicorns etc. Need those before we go anywhere else with this project!

Heeeellllppppppppppppppppppppppppp!

Simon

Howe Board of Trustees Wants YOU

Imagine a big pointy finger pointing at YOU!

Let me know if you want to be part of the next Trustees meeting and be part of what you want to happen here and get face time with the Board of Trustees. See email I have sent to one and all. If you did not get an email, send me one and tell me so and I can put it right.

DATE NEEDED TO BE AVAILABLE: THURSDAY, 13TH NOVEMBER
TIME: 3.40PM UNTIL 5 PM

ADIOS
Simon

hi

National Gaming Day @ Your Library: Saturday November 15th, 2008!

Check it out:
http://wiki.gtsystem.org/ngdinfo

ilovelibraries.org/gaming

The ALA Gaming Resources site

That's all

Simon

Bean Bags

If you have not initialled your choice of bean bag, do it NOW! I will be totaling the tallies to find the oversized tote to put in the teen room.
Simon
EOM

More Books YOU can recommend and vote on!

Cybils Nominations Open October 1st: How Can You Participate?

Nominations for the third annual Children's and Young Adult Bloggers'
Literary Awards (the Cybils) will be open Wednesday, October 1st through Wednesday, October 15th. The goal of the Cybils team (some 100 bloggers) is to highlight books that are high in both literary quality and kid appeal.

The Cybils were founded by Anne Boles Levy
(http://dadtalk.typepad.com/book_buds_kidlit_reviews/) and Kelly Herold (http://kidslitinformation.blogspot.com/).

This year, awards will be given in nine categories (Easy Readers, Fantasy & Science Fiction, Fiction Picture Books, Graphic Novels, Middle Grade Novels, Non-Fiction Middle Grade/Young Adult Books, Non- Fiction Picture Books, Poetry, Young Adult Novels). Anyone can nominate books in these categories (one nomination per person per category). Nominated titles must be published between January 1st and October 15th of this year, and the books must be in English (or bilingual, where one of the languages is English). To nominate titles, visit the Cybils blog (http://www.cybils.com/) between October 1st and 15th. A separate post will be available for each category - simply nominate by commenting on those individual posts.
If you are not sure which category to choose for a particular book, a questions thread will also be available.

Between October 16th and January 1st, Cybils panelists (children's and young adult bloggers) will winnow the nominations down to a 5-7 book short list for each category. A second set of panelists will then select the winning titles for the different categories. The winners will be announced on February 14th, 2009.

The Cybils lists, from long lists to short lists
(http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/finalists/index.html) to the lists of winners (http://dadtalk.typepad.com/cybils/2007/02/the_2006_cybils.html),
offer a wonderful resource to anyone looking for high-quality, kid- friendly books. The Cybils team has worked hard to balance democracy (anyone can nominate titles) with quality control (two rounds of panel judging by people who focus on children's books every day). We do this work because we consider it vital to get great books into the hands of children and young adults.

How Can You Participate?

You lot can spread the word - that's right, you teens! The Cybils team would very much appreciate your help (that's you lot again!) in spreading the word. And if you (you and me this time), or the youth that you know, have any titles to suggest, we would love to see your nominations at the Cybils blog (http://www.cybils.com/), starting on Wednesday. Thanks for your help, and stay tuned for further news!

Jen Robinson (http://jkrbooks.typepad.com) Literacy Evangelist for the 2008 Cybils

message from Maddie

Maddie Smith said...
Hey I thought maybe we could do the ying yang thing peace and war thing you know we talked about today and it seems cool. You can put the unicorns on the peace side if thats cool counter it with dragons.

Sit, listen: Book Awards - YOU CHOOSE

Hi all,

There are three book awards coming up and you, Howe Teens, get to vote on them! If you go to the Howe Library website > teen pages you will see "NH & VT teen picks!" Click on any of these awards (Flume, Isinglass or Green Mountain) to see a list of the titles and to download forms (where necessary). Read some or all of these books and vote on them. Be part of the process! It is good experience for when you get to vote for the country's leader - Do a little research, make an informed decision and tell others your thoughts with your vote! It really does make a difference. If folks vote for quality books, publishers will see that and publish good books they now know teens want to read. Vote for rubbish, and the publishers will print rubbish. The future really is in your hands. Make it count!

Some titles are for younger teens, and are great books (like Alabama Moon - I love this book), and some are for much older teens (like Inexcusable which is for at least 16 and up. It should be required reading for adults and teens).

New headphones and splitters should be here on Monday! (Listen)

Glad you like the extra table and chairs you wanted! (Sit)

Next stop? Decorate the room!

Simon
simon.brooks@thehowe.org

Wall hangings

Hey!
Random idea just popped into my brain for the wall hangings...
Unicorns.
I really think we need some with unicorns on them. Everybody loves unicorns. I'm not joking here! I honestly think we seriously need some unicorn tapestries. Hey, they were popular in the middle ages!

And if you boys think unicorns are too "girly", here's a thought for you.

UNICORNS ARE STALLIONS WITH WEAPONS.

Goodbye, loveys!

--Caroline

VOTE!

On the left is the Teen Folder / Binder Thingy! It lives in the teen room and is for your stuff! Inside it is a selection (your selection) of bean bags!

Open the folder binder /thingy and look at the bean bags and then put your INITIALS next the the one bean bag you like the best. Check marks do not count! You can cheat with check marks, but not so much with initials. SO INITIALS ONLY! Please. Once we get a tally of INITIALS we will go and find as close a bean bag to those pictures as possible. For example, you might have all voted for the Patriots bean bag, but we might only be able to get a New York Yankees one. But we will try our best to get what YOU WANT!!

Honest!

Also inside this folder binder /thingy is a form (for want of a better word) for you to add books, and authors you want to see, or see more of, on your shelves. Please write down titles that you would like to read here at the Howe and provide the writers name. If you want a type of genre (that being fantasy, sci-fi, westerns, romance, graphic novels, etc) add that to the list too. You do not need to put your name on it, just what you might want us to provide for you.

That's all for now! See you Wednesday!

Simon

Great flick

Hi all,

Just a quick word about a movie I just saw for all you football fans, or should I say soccer? Did you know that America is the only country In The World that calls football 'soccer' and the only country in the world to call another sport which allows handling a ball 'football'. Anyway - the wonderful movie I was that you guys like is called "Goal! The Dream Begins" Google it, and check it out.

Peace,
Simon

Board games

I think that we should add 1 or 2 risk boards to the board game collection

Teens Get Front Page News

Congratulations! We made the front page of the Valley News on Tuesday 16th September. Bad news, it was all about noise! Congratulations! YOUR photo was on the front page! Bad news, mine wasn't!!!
Simon

Hey Y'all!

It's the resident Queen of Fierce, CAROLINE COLLISION!
Just wanted you to know that I'm here.
So, cool!
What kind of stuff do you guys suggest for the wall hangings?

magazines for magazine rack

hello everybody my name is Josh Murphy and I'm one of the people in charge of deciding which magazines we have in the teens area at the library. I think we should have game informer magazine of the magazine rack because a lot of the people who go to the teens area are video game fans.
i'll tell you some more of my ideas when I get them.

bye!!!!!!!!!!!!!

November Library Board Meeting

Hey!

want to be part of a library board meeting (could count as homework!) in november? i'm looking for two or three or maybe four of you lot to attend with me to voice a very brief opinion. i think we might get 10 minutes, so we will need to rehearse what we want to bring to the table. let me know if you are interested: simon.brooks@thehowe.com

On another note: We have two folks leading the Teen Advisory Council - Ashley Brannon and Caroline Collision. I will be helping Caroline on alternate Mondays and I will be working with Ashley on alternate Wednesdays. I think I have that right! We are starting by alternating to encourage those with other commitments to join us two or three times a month. We will do this to start with and we may slow the pace down once we get the ball rolling - unless you want more! In that case we will pick up the pace. Anyone can join us as often as they want. So if you want to come to all the meetings, then please do. I'll learn your names more quickly that way!!

If I were to get prizes - not sure for what, BUT if I were to get prizes, what would you like to be handed? Be realistic - there will be no cars or motorbikes given away! Post your responces HERE on this blog! If you cannot post to this blog, send me an email (address above) and I will invite you - only those who have been invited (Howe Teens) can POST - anyone can read and comment.

Peace,
Simon

PS - two things (or maybe three) - how many of you noticed no caps in the first paragraph and the use of caps in the second and third paragraphs? Is that a style conflict? Also, did anyone notice a spelling mistake in my first blog? It has since been corrected, but if you can tell me what is was, there might be a prize in it for you!
SMB

First Successful Meeting

Out of the approximately 20 folks that signed up we had 10 people show up and a number of people who wrote and told me that they were not able to make it today. So a great start. We are going to have another meeting on Monday 15th September where we will begin to get things rolling. On Wednesday 17th we will meet again for those who were unable to meet today. Because homework is a top priority for all of you (well, mostly!) we will be meeting from 3.30 pm until 4.40 pm every other Monday and Wednesday, apart from next week. This means that week one - this coming week - we will meet on Monday AND Wednesday. Week two we will only meet on Wednesday. Week three we will meet on Monday. Week four we will meet on Wednesday etc. Got that? If not let know by shooting me an email at: simon.brooks@thehowe.org. As I have said before, I am only here on Monday's and Wednesday's, so be patient for a reply.

Things YOU told me YOU wanted to do and have at YOUR library for YOU:
Bean bags
Decorate the teen room
Music Room
Theatre Group or similar
Mask making
Rearrange the furniture in the Teen Room
Headphones with splitters to listen to whatever you listen to!!!
Ping pong table
Laptops to use
More space for luggage

This was the first meeting and we can add to the list.
Just let me know what YOU the teens want. I can add it to the list, tell my boss, and get things rolling. Email address is above.

Thanks for making the time and commitment to joining this group. Tell your friends about it. Join it. YOU are the ones who will determine what happens.

Peace,

Simon

Teen advisory council/board

Dear Friends,
I have set up a blog for the teens at the Howe library. Those of you who have given me your names for the Teen Advisory Board (T.A.B. or Teens Advisory Council - TAC - you need to come up with a better name than those) have been added as members to the Howe Teen Blog at: http://HoweTeens.blogspot.com . My goal is to use this in relation to the library and especially for the THAB (Teens at the Howe Advisory Board??). It is set up for you. Please do not abuse it. I do not want cat fights and name calling etc. going on. If that happens the library will ask me to close it down, so it is in your own interest to ‘keep it clean’. If you know of other teens who would like to join the ATH (Advisors of the Teens at the Howe), tell them to send me their details and I will add them to the list of teens using the blog. I will need names, email and grade level, please.
I would appreciate it if you inform your parents about this, so they know that the teen library assistant (that’s me – Simon Brooks) is emailing you, and to come and introduce themselves to me at the library if they want. I am at the Howe on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1pm until 5pm. I would be happy to answer any questions they might have.
I hope this finds you all well.
See you soon.
Peace,
Simon Brooks - Teen Library Assistant
Simon.Brooks@thehowe.org

Welcome

I am siting here with Koko, Mira, Kayla in the teen room making the first blog for the Howe Teens at the Howe Library, Hanover. Say hi ladies! "HI" they say back! No, honest, they did - ask them when you see them!

So this blog (web log) is set up for the teens who use the Howe Library. I want you to post on it add what you want, as long as you are being nice. If bad things get posted then I will close it down. Who am I? Simon Brooks - Teen Library Assistant. I want to create space and tools to make you teens feel welcome and, dare I say it, at home in the library, in your teen space.

So what do I look like? A little like the picture here!

Why am I here? Because I wanted to marry this cool American gurl, which I did, 13 years ago. She's not quite a gurl any more! We've been married for quite a while now and have a couple of kids. Ask for photos when you see me, I have some on me - funnily enough! We've lived in Portland, Oregon; Somerville, Mass; Cornish, NH, and now live in Orford, NH. The Howe's website has some more on me! That website is: thehowe.org.

Bye for now.

Simon