Free Access to Teen Health & Wellness through Dec. 15

Hey, Greyhounds!  You've heard a lot about bullying or "harmdoing" this school year.  Here's your chance to find out more.  Until December 15, you have free access to the Teen Health and Wellness.  This site is written for 6 -12 graders and includes topics like Diveristy, Family Life, Food & Nutrition, Friendship & Dating, Green Living, and much, much more!

All you need to do is go to teenhealthandwellness.com and type in SLJTeen for the user name and password.

If you find this site helpful, let the library know!

You Are What You Read

Have I mentioned that being a librarian is the best job in the WHOLE world!  It is and one of the most fun parts about what I do is finding new books to read and talk about. 

Here's a great opportunity for you to do that, too.  Scholastic has started a new ONLINE book club, called "You Are What You Read."  (I love the title, don't you?).  All you do is go to http://youarewhatyouread.scholastic.com/ and create an account.  Once you do, you'll be able to see what the books that other folks your age recommend.

Too much fun!  Give it a try and let me know what you think.....HAPPY READING!

Night Fall Scary Stories Writing Contest

Like to write?  Like scary stories?  Check out this contest sponosored by Lerner Books.  If you're successful, you'll get your name used as a character in a novel.  Sounds pretty cool, to me!   

Here's the rules from the website:
After reading Thaw—Lerner's free Night Fall™ eBook—we want YOU to become an author and create a creepy ending to a scary story just like the tales told in our new Night Fall series.


Taking cues from horror films and video games, Night Fall™ is high-interest, contemporary, horror fiction that is perfect for teen readers. Featuring YA themes and a highly accessible reading level, each story features teenagers from a small New England town called Bridgewater. Strange and awful things happen in Bridgewater, and readers will be lucky to escape with their sanity.

The winner of the Night Fall™ Scary Story Writing Contest will win all of these fantastic prizes:
 - Two complete sets of all six books in the Night Fall™ series—one for the winner and one for the winner's school library
 - Editorial advice in a letter from the editorial director of Darby Creek
 - The winning story will be published on the Lerner Books Blog
 - The winner's name will become a character in an upcoming Night Fall™ novel .

HURRY - the deadline for entries is Oct. 31!

Ever talked to an Author? Check out what the Houston Public Library has going on!

Hey, Greyound Readers!  Have you ever talked to an author?  No?  Well, here's your chance!  October 17-23 is Teen Read Week and to celebrate Houston Public Library is hosting some online author chats.  If you live near one of these libraries, then stop in and participate with other teens.  If you can't get to the library, then you can still participate online (see the internet address below).

Friday, October 15 @ 4:30 - chat with Barry Lyga, author of Boy Toy, The Amazing Adventure of Fanboy and Goth Girl, Goth Girl Rising  and his newest book, Archvillan.
Hillendahl, Kendall, Montrose and Walter Public Libraries

 Monday, October 18 @ 4:30 PM - chat with Cecil Castellucci, author of The Plain Janes (graphic novel),  Boy Proof, Queen of Cool and Rose Sees Red.
Downtown Central, Kendall, Montrose, and Vinson Libraries

Tuesday, October 26 @ 3:30 PM - chat with Libba Bray, author of The Gemma Doyle Trilogy (A Great and Terrible Beauty, Rebel Angels and The Sweet Far Thing) and Going Bovine.
Collier, Kendall, McGovern-Stella Link, and Montrose Neighborhood Libraries

You can also catch the author visits online at http://www.hpl.lib.tx.us/teen-read-month.
 

ReadKiddoRead

I was just reminded of this GREAT website!  ReadKiddoRead has so many cool links....you'll find book recommendations by age group and genre, contests, interviews with authors, and MORE!  So check it out - you'll find some really great stuff!! 

READ ONLY If you're 13 or older.....

I was checking out one of the publisher emails I get and came across a great opportunity for readers who are 13+.  MacMillan Publishing has a teen reading group that reviews their new young adult novel.  You need to submit an application to join and then they send you free books to review.  Your reviews are posted on a blog for everyone to read.

Just think!  You could be part of the group that influences which books get published.  I think that's really cool!!  Check out the http://www.macteenbooks.com/ingroup/ for more information.

Speaking of reviews...I'm always looking for folks to write a few sentences about the books they've read.  Let me know if you're interested.

Let's BookJam!

Hey, Greyhounds!  Do you like to read?  Do you like to play with computers to create cool presentations?  IAre you musically inclined or like to act?  f you answered yes to any these questions, check out the following contest!  I know this school could put together some rockin' projects.  Come see Ms. Dinneen in the library if you're interested....or better yet, respond to this blog post.  It gets lonely just writing for myself - I'd love to hear from you!

How Do YOU BookJam?


Create a Digital Book Report video connecting core standards to 21st-century skills for your chance to win a portion of $20,000 in prizes.

Have your students pick their favorite book or a book from your lesson plan and create a song, performance, or debate. Get creative and win! Use music, props, and costumes! But make sure that it covers the core standards. We’d love to see rap songs about grammar, interactive presentations highlighting setting and symbolism, plays about conflict starring Hester Prynne to Harry Potter, and whatever else you and your students dream up!
For more details, visit
www.digitalbookreport.com

Here's what you could win!  
 - Fifteen finalists per category will be judged by our panel of guest judges and by public vote for a chance to win one of two grand prizes—one for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12—worth $20,000.
 - First 25 entries get a FREE audio book!

Numerous “Honorable Mention” prizes will be awarded!

Welcome!

Hey, Greyhounds! I'm so glad you found your way to the Johnston MS Library blog. You'll find some stuff that is new, some stuff that I wrote a couple of years ago, and some stuff that I need your input on.

As you scroll through the blog, you'll find some postings about books, some examples of technology and some interesting links to help you find other books to read. Take a minute to read through and check out the links...you might find a book that's been out for a couple of years that you didn't know about.

I love to play with new technology and there are some great "free" programs. I'd like to share that knowledge with you, so if you're interested in learning how to create book trailers or "Glogs" or talking avatars, let me know. I'd love to explore some of these media with the creative students at JMS.

That's it for know.....Ms. Dinneen

Name That Book Media Contest

Like to read? Love to use computers? Consider participating in the "Name That Book" mutli-media contest. You don't have to read all 36 books...only a few of them. Then you'll work by yourself or with a partner to create a 3 minute multimedia project that captures the essence of the book(s). You'll have lots of flexibility and choices. Let me know if you're interested....

Here's an example for The Great Wide Sea by M. H. Herlong

PhotoStory3 & Book Trailers

The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Check out this great book trailer created by Sofia D'Arcy using a free program, Photo Story3. If you'd like to learn how to create your own books trailers using Photo Story3, let me know. I'd love to show your how!

Thinking back...

At the beginning of a New Year, we're told that it is important to think back over the year past to remember the good and the bad. Here are my top ten best things from the library...

10. Starting the 2009 school year with more new books!

9. A great group of library assistants!!

8. Working with students and teachers on History and Science Fair projects!!

7. Having a great group of 6th graders who came to BMS with a love of reading!!!

6. A really supportive faculty and administration

5. 15 new computers!!!!

4. 20-30 fantastic and wonderful students who use the library every morning before school!!!!!!!

3. Students who responded to the request for book recommendations - 65+ books were suggested!!!!!!!!

2. 18 dedicated Name that Book team members!!!!!!!!!

1. At the top of the library list is YOU! You make the library great!!!!!!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
I'm looking forward to seeing you on Tuesday...remember your library books are due :-)!