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APRIL 30, 2011
Science Saturday

Worlds Smallest Robots

 
 
The U.S. Department of energy Sandia National Laboratories is working on creating the world’s tiniest robots. These will be 1 cm high and weigh around 1 oz. They are powered by watch batteries and travel at a speed of 19.5 inches per minute, aka you can probably outrun them. James Bond, take note as these may be the next “hot” spy technology. Check out the other cool things these scientists are working on like fungi fuel.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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APRIL 29, 2011
May Lakewood Teen Time: Plastic to Poppies
Plastic to Poppies

4 p.m. Tuesday, May 3rd
 
Re-use a soda bottle to create a colorful spring flower. Discussion topic: There are lots of books out there about the environment. What is your favorite natural disaster story?
 
Lakewood Teen Times are held the monthly on the first Tuesday of each month. Reservations are not required. All supplies will be provided.

 

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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APRIL 28, 2011
Book Review: Keeper by Kathi Appelt
Keeper CoverI have just finished the most amazing book. It’s Keeper by Kathi Appelt. It’s actually for younger kids but that doesn’t mean you can’t read it!

Keeper lives on the Oyster Ridge Road in one of only three houses out by the Gulf of Mexico. She lives with Signe, who is not her mother but might as well be. She works as a waxwing for Dogie, who owns the surf bus on the beach. And she has a grandfather figure, Mr. Beauchamp, who has lived on Oyster Ridge Road for longer than anyone, including him, can remember. They also have Best Dog (BD) and Too (short for Best Dog Too) and a seagull named Captain. Keeper’s mother is a mermaid who swam away seven years ago, the night that Keeper made her solumn promise to never, ever swim in the gulf.
 
It is good life, and this day is going to be best of all because Signe is making crab gumbo, Dogie is practicing his two-word song, and Mr. Beauchamp is getting ready for his night-blooming cyrus to bloom for the first time in a year. Then the crabs for the gumbo start talking and Keeper is swept away in a series of unfortunate events that mess up *everything!* She decides to sneak out in the night and borrow Dogie’s little boat to go find her mermaid mother and get her help to fix everything.
 
But mermaids aren’t real. And Keeper is in more trouble than anyone can fix.
 
This book is charming from the first page. Each chapter focuses on a different character, including the animals, and you get to hear their thoughts about events and troubles as they unfold. The writing style is soft and pleasant yet moves quite fast. I was left feeling warm and fuzzy over this whole book. 
 
Have you read it? What did you think?

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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APRIL 27, 2011
It’s National Poetry Month! (Part four, the final part)
To celebrate, Belmar Library’s teen advisory board, THE DREAM TEAM, wrote some poems as a group. Within the poems you will find sense, nonsense, and a whole lot of in-between. 

 

You've been waiting for it!  Here is the Dream Team's finale:

Orange: it’s not just a color

Was the first glass of orange juice the result of an orange basketball game, I wonder?
Oranges are orange and juicy.
Oranges are juicy and full of such amazing taste it makes your mouth want to scream in delight at its touch.
Orange you glad I didn’t say banana?
Oranges, oh how you taste so lovely like a rainbow on a cloudy morning
Sublime in taste, texture and smell, oranges provide a staple in American’s diets, especially in breakfasts which fuel adolescent’s brains; breakfast lacks completion without a chilled glass of OJ.
Oranges are the most amazing fruit-you can make them into so many different things.

With thanks to the Dream Team for sharing their creative brillance.

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posted by Allison, Belmar Library

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APRIL 26, 2011
How many books can you make in one year?
Try 365, one per day! That’s what blogger Donna Meyer is doing in 2011. You can read about her books at her blog 365: Make a Book a Day.

Book #1

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posted by Allison, Belmar Library

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APRIL 25, 2011
Whoa.
Ryota's Move 1 - I'm gonna get you

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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APRIL 25, 2011
Happy Easter from Rupert!

Rupert, Amy's cat

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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APRIL 23, 2011
Science Saturday!

It is Easter tomorrow, another fabulous holiday where we celebrate by seeing just how much candy we can consume in one day.  Since I have chickens, and they play a big role in the Easter tradition I thought a post on the facts about chickens might be just the thing.

 Chicks
 
  • You do not need a rooster in order to get eggs. 
  • Hens live an average of 5-7 years. Each year egg production decreases.   
  •  The poop, pee and eggs come out of the chicken’s vent. (Ewwww!!)
  • It takes 24-26 hours to lay an egg.
  • I have two chickens, called “Easter Eggers” or Ameraucanas, that lay blue / green eggs, the shells, not the insides. 
  • There are over 150 varieties of domesticated chickens.
  • Alektorophobia is the word for “Fear of Chickens.”
  • Chickens can travel up to 9 miles an hour but are not capable of sustained flight.
 Happy Egg Hunting!!

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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APRIL 22, 2011
Teens' Top Ten
The Teens' Top Ten list is a “teen choice” list. Teens get to vote for books from the previous year to make the list. Members of teen book groups in 16 schools and public libraries submit nominations. 

Is your favorite book from 2010 on the list?  Read from the list now so you're prepared to vote this fall.  (We'll remind you.)
 
 
YALSA logo

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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APRIL 21, 2011
It’s National Poetry Month! (Part 3)
To celebrate, Belmar Library’s teen advisory board, THE DREAM TEAM, wrote some poems as a group. Within the poems you will find sense, nonsense, and a whole lot of in-between. If you can and if you dare, dear readers, please share in the comments a word that rhymes with ORANGE!

#6
There once was a girl
Who lived in a cage
Because she hurt the squiggly line.
What a crime-she made it straight
Then crooked, then round, then orange
Then you defiled it and made it a door hinge
Which is why she was here in this terrible cage.

#7
Falling slowly from rock-hard clouds
The crystal flakes lit the sky with their
Attributes greatly resembling frozen water.
Or perhaps the pure white lace of angels
That fly well and protect us
And keep us shielded from harm
As I fall into the dark hole of time.

 Stay tuned next week for the finale!

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posted by Allison, Belmar Library

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APRIL 20, 2011
Book Review: The Leanin' Dog by KA Nuzum
Hello Teens!

The Leanin' Dog coverI read this book a couple of years ago and loved it!

 

The Leanin’ Dog by K.A. Nuzum

Yes, it is a dog story and anyone who likes dogs would enjoy this story. However, it is so much more. Dessa Dean is at a difficult time in her life and when a dog shows up at the door, she finds a friend to help her through some challenges.

 

Give this book a try and respond to this post if you have read it, if you like it and why, or if you don’t like it and why.

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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APRIL 19, 2011
Make Your Own Monster (Cupcake)!!
The first week of this program have been a lot of fun.  Don't miss out!

You can still come! 

Conifer Library - TODAY (Tuesday the 19th) at 4pm
Evergreen Library - TOMORROW (Wednesday the 20th) at 4pm
Wheat Ridge Library - Thursday the 21st at 4pm
Lakewood Library - Thursday the 21st at 7pm
Columbine Library - Thursday, April 28 at 7pm

And if you're in Golden, the program is being held in the Guy Hill Schoolhouse at Clear Creek History Park (corner of 11th and Arapahoe) - Thursday, April 28 at 4pm

Check out some of the cupcakes made at Standley Lake:

Dax and Blaze

Kathy

CC

Alyssa

Ava

Claire

Thanks to these teens (and their parents) for giving us permission to post their pictures.

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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APRIL 18, 2011
Do you play?
Library Ireland Week 2011 - Book Dominoes
You do now!

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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APRIL 17, 2011
Standley Lake Teen Time

Teen Time Logo

This month Standley Lake's Teen Time will be Wednesday, April 20, at 7pm.  Here is your clue about the topic (drum roll please!):

Bring your gaming fingers and dancing shoes!

Standley Lake Teen Times will be held every 3rd Wednesday at 7pm at the Standley Lake Library.  The topics will be a surprise - but you'll have fun!

 

See you there!

 

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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APRIL 16, 2011
Science Saturday

National Geographic Videos Online

Cobra VS   Mongoose

 I came across a cool new website put together by National Geographic. If you are looking for something entertaining to watch or someplace to go for a homework assignment here is a website with lots of interesting videos on a wide range of subjects. Check out my favorite videos: Cobra vs. Mongoose, “Bodies” Make up Fake Coral Reef, or Fast “Nasty” Little Dinosaur Discovered.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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APRIL 15, 2011
Book Review: Delirium by Lauren Oliver
Hey Everyone!
Delirium coverI finally read Delirium by Lauren Oliver! Personally I liked it much better than Oliver’s book Before I Fall because I liked the main characters better and the day did not keep starting over (that drove me crazy in Before I Fall).  Don’t get me wrong, though, many of the teen librarians enjoyed Before I Fall,  so give it a try if you haven’t read it.
 
Back to Delirium. I really enjoyed seeing the development of the main characters Lena and Alex. They are teenagers living in a dystopian society in which love has been declared a disease. Teens in this society undergo a procedure on their 18th birthday that is a cure for ever loving in one’s lifetime. Some teens look forward to this procedure and some teen dread it and even fight it. Which type of teen will Lena be?
 
Please post your comments about this book if you have read it!

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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APRIL 14, 2011
It's Amy's Birthday Post
Hello!!!! April 6th was my birthday and is April not a great time for a birthday?  Here is a shout out to all you teens that share this Spring birthday month. 

The last book I read was Where She Went by Gayle Forman. It is the second in the If I Stay series - I would give it 4 out of 5 stars! I also just LAUGHED my way through Five Very Good Reasons to Punch a Dolphin In the Mouth from The Oatmeal. 5 out of 5 crazy stars - so funny!

For our birthday blogs we are picking our favorite pet to introduce…..I have several cats, hermit crabs, hissing cockroaches and fish tanks….but the winner THIS time is:
 
Rupert!!!
 
As you can see, he is a big boy. (Tall, he is very, very, tall) He is the most tolerant kitty you could ever meet. He has always put up with having hats put on him, or even dresses. He loves to eat asparagus.

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posted by Amy, Edgewater Library

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APRIL 13, 2011
It’s National Poetry Month! (Part 2)

To celebrate, Belmar Library’s teen advisory board, THE DREAM TEAM, wrote some poems as a group.  Within the poems you will find sense, nonsense, and a whole lot of in-between.  If you can and if you dare, dear readers, please share in the comments a word that rhymes with PURPLE!

#4
Generally speaking, pencils write well
In the words of my brother, they’re quite swell
Though some people prefer to write with pens
I do enjoy a pen that mends
And every sentence I articulate
People always speculate
Whether I write in pencil or pen.
 
#5
Oh squiggly line
How you squiggle squaggle across the page
Gracing each line with flit and flourish
Delineating the meaning
I ponder your squiggles, your squaggles.  Why do you
Wander so far astray?  How can you
Not be mine?

Stay tuned next week for some more poems...

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posted by Allison, Belmar Library

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APRIL 12, 2011
Irish Libraries are cool
Library Ireland Week 2011 - Book Dominoes

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posted by Jenna, Standley Lake Library

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APRIL 12, 2011
What do you want to be when you grow up?
pensive boy

Eighteen teens predict their own futures.  What's yours?

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posted by Allison, Belmar Library

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APRIL 10, 2011
Introducing Jessie!
Meet Jessie, the new teen services librarian at Columbine!

JessieFavorite Teen Book: Favorite? Just one?!? I love dystopian books. Feed by M.T. Anderson, Unwind by Neal Shusterman (Ok, that one might be my favorite), and the Hunger Games trilogy. I just put a bunch more on hold so I may have a new favorite soon!

Favorite Teen Book from the past: Sweet Valley High, and later Sweet Valley Senior Year. Now I’m (impatiently) waiting for my copy of Sweet Valley Confidential.
 
Favorite all time TV show: For favorite “all time” I think I have to say Friends. I’ve seen every episode and still love to watch them again and again. I’m also watching Modern Family, Glee, and Community right now.
 
Favorite all time movie: Again, just one?!? I really love movies where you root for the bad guys—usually thieves. Ocean’s Eleven, Thomas Crown Affair, Italian Job, Catch Me if you Can, that kind of thing. I love to see all the innovative things they come up with in order to avoid getting caught.
 
Music I like: Lately, everything that’s been featured on Glee! Pandora has a Glee station that keeps me entertained.
 
Favorite sport to watch: I just went to my first Mammoth game and loved it! Did you know that as long as you don’t hit below the shins or on the head/face, violence is ok? It was crazy to watch.
 
Favorite sport to do: Running and hiking.
 
Favorite food to make: Anything easy. Mac & Cheese, grilled cheese. Maybe I should say anything with cheese!
 
Favorite food: Pizza. All kinds of pizza.
 
Places I have lived: Colorado, Montana, Seattle
 
Do I have a pet? Not yet, but I hope to get a dog someday soon!

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posted by Jessie, Columbine Library

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APRIL 8, 2011
Peeps! More than just a candy.

Peep

With Easter right around the corner it is the time of year when fluffy little marshmallow chicks magically appear on the store shelves.  Why do we love Peeps?  Is it the cute sugary happiness of little chicks?  Is it the attractive pastel colors?  Whatever it is Peeps seem to inspire the creative.  Check out some of the interesting things being done with Peeps:

The Washington Post Peeps Show Video Contest

 

Peeps Contest at the Denver Post

(Finalist are chosen on the 20th of April)

Or you can go with the 2010 finalists

Peeps visit the Millikin University Library

Fun Facts about Peeps from NPR news

Lord of the Peeps, a parody

 

Just Born Inc, the makers of Peeps

 

 

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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APRIL 7, 2011
Book Review: The DUFF: Designated Ugly Fat Friend

DUFF coverI just finished this book and I LOVED it. Wesley Rush, the local playboy, points out to Bianca that she is the DUFF of her friend group. She immediately throws her Cherry Coke in her face. What starts out as a seemingly straightforward book takes many interesting twists. 

What I love most about this book is I was a total nerd in High School but unlike Bianca I could never come up with the witty come-backs until 2 days after I got insulted. I highly recommend this title.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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APRIL 6, 2011
It’s National Poetry Month!
To celebrate, Belmar Library’s teen advisory board, THE DREAM TEAM, wrote some poems as a group. Within the poems you will find sense, nonsense, and a whole lot of in-between. If you can and if you dare, dear readers, please share in the comments a word that rhymes with ORANGE!

 

#1
In the misty morning through the mire
The word I cannot squire
Through the crowded corridor
She opened the door and there on the floor
Lay an ice-cold box
Corporate America is the result of greedy big businessmen
Pushing down the average Joe and allowing them no
Opportunity for success, in effect crushing the American
Dream for the vast majority of the population.
 
#2
I have both a mother and a father
And they are both a giant bother
To me and my brother
For they feed us molten lava
Through the roof underground
And they hide us in the freezer.
Brrr. It’s cold.
 
#3
Books are full of life
Rimming with personality
Wise as owls and foolish as
Ducks. Where oh where do the ducks go during winter?
A book could answer that—
One that’s about greatness
One to rule them all.

Check back next week for some more of The Dream Team's nonsense. 

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posted by Allison, Belmar Library

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APRIL 5, 2011
Up, Up and Away!
Did you ever wish real life was like a cartoon? Well, it was for a short time on Saturday when a real house was lifted with balloons!

  (Credit: © National Geographic Channel/Stewart Volland)

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posted by Rene, Evergreen Library

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APRIL 4, 2011
Where She Went
Where She Went by Gayle Faorman book trailer

Did you read the amazing book If I Stay? If not, I highly recommend it. If I Stay is the story of a girl who is in a coma after a car crash that has killed most of her family. She is like a ghost and can wander the halls of the hospital. Her big decision is to stay and deal with the loss of her family or to go. Now, this great book has a sequel: Where She Went. In this sequel Adam has a chance meeting with Mia, whom he has not seen in 3 years since the accident. This one night gives him an opportunity to discover where things went so wrong. Watch the trailer. Find out more at: http://whereshewent.com.

Place a hold now!

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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APRIL 1, 2011
April Teen Time at Lakewood Library

 

Paper Mache Animals

 

4 p.m. Tuesday April 5th

 

Create funky and fun animals with paper mache perfect for decorating your room or as a gift for that special someone.  Come prepared to get messy!   Discussion topic: Characters with layers.  What is your favorite complicated book character?

 

Lakewood Teen Times are held the monthly on the first Tuesday of each month.  Reservations are not required.  All supplies will be provided.

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posted by Arra, Lakewood Library

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