Free ice cream tonight at Cold Stone!

Cold Stone Creamery is doing a special Make-A-Wish event tonight from 5-8 PM and anyone can get a FREE 3 oz. ice cream creation created specially for the Make-A-Wish event! Of course, you're welcome to make a donation to Make-A-Wish while you're there. Find out more here.

Article: “10 Banned Books That Made a Comeback”

Another interesting Banned Books Week article. Take a look here to read about 10 books that have made a comeback after being banned in some places. Author Tim Handorf, says this in the article,

"There’s a litany of books that have been challenged during the last 20 years and continue to face disapproval among parents, schools and organizations who want these books pulled from the shelves. Despite repeated challenges and some restrictions, these books have made a comeback in many educational settings and libraries because of their educational, social and literary importance to society." (emphasis mine)

It's interesting stuff.

Celebrate YOUR freedom to read at the WOMS library.

Banned Books Week: 10 banned books you might not expect

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2010 Challenges are beginning - UPDATE

Well, this last year I only signed up for a few challenges, and those were ones I KNEW I could so easily meet. One was to read 12 YA books. Duh. I finished that challenge. in 2010, I'm going to push myself a little harder, but I should still be able to meet this challenge. It's the Young Adult Reading Challenge on J. Kaye's blog. I'll be posting all my books on this link, so look for the updates later. If you're interested in this challenge, you can do it, too.

Here are the rules:

1. Anyone can join. You don't need a blog to participate.

--Non-Bloggers: Post your list of books in the comment section of the wrap-up post. To learn how to sign up without having a blog, go to J. Kayes post (link further down).

2. There are four levels:

--The Mini YA Reading Challenge – Read 12 Young Adult novels.
--Just My Size YA Reading Challenge – Read 25 Young Adult novels.
--Stepping It Up YA Reading Challenge – Read 50 Young Adult novels.
--Super Size Me YA Reading Challenge – Read 75 Young Adult novels.

3. Audio, eBooks, paper all count.

4. No need to list your books in advance. You may select books as you go. Even if you list them now, you can change the list if needed.

5. Challenge begins January 1st thru December, 2010.

6. When you sign up under Mr. Linky, put the direct link to your post where your Young Adult novels will be listed. Include the URL so that other viewers can find this fun challenge. If you’d prefer to put your list in the sidebar of your blog, please leave your viewers the link to the sign up page. Again, so viewers can join the challenge too.

If you're up for this challenge, you can sign up here.

Personally, I'm signing up for Super Size - 75 YA books in the year. It will be close, but I'm pretty sure I can do it. My goal is to actually finish this challenge by October, when I'm doing a YA book presentation at the Oregon Association of School Libraries conference. It should be a fun challenge - wish me luck!

UPDATE 9/27/10: Well, I am going to have to kick it into HIGH gear if I'm going to meet this challenge for the year, or I'm going to have to resign myself to not meeting it :( I have only read 35 YA books this year. I'm a lot closer to 75 if I include all the adult books I have read, but I still have a ways to go...And I thought this would be a pretty easy one. Traveling for five weeks this summer was not a good idea in terms of this challenge, that's for sure. But I would still pick going to Australia over meeting the challenge :)

Poetry Friday - Litany by Billy Collins

OK, this is seriously CRAZY, but you have GOT to see this little guy who is just three years old reciting Billy Collins' poem, "Litany." Amazing. Click here to watch!

Happy birthday to Jason!

Jason recommends a good Goosebumps book to frighten you just before bed! Happy birthday, buddy.

More birthdays!

September is a busy birthday month! Happy birthday to these swell kiddos, and thanks for the great recommendations. If you had a summer birthday and would like to have your recommendation on the blog, come on down and we'll take care of it!

Banned Books Week - coming to a library near you!

Want to get one of these cool Banned Books Week buttons? Beginning Monday, come down to the WOMS library and make a guess as to why any of the books we have on our Banned Books Week display shelf or any of the titles we have posted on our bulletin board were challenged or banned in Oregon. A conversation with Mrs. FB about any of these books will earn you an "i read banned books" button of your very own.

Celebrate the fREADom to Read @ your library.

Lots of birthdays already!!

Happy, happy birthday to all these fabulous WOMS kids who were early September babies. Lots of great book recommendations to start the year off right. Hope everyone had a great celebration!!

Summer Reading Prize Day - September 15th

Summer Reading Prizes will be awarded on Wednesday, September 15th, so get your forms filled out and bring them to lunch. Students who get to the highest prize level are eligible for our Rock Band party at lunch, so don't miss out on your chance to join the fun!

YALSA's Teens' Top Ten - Vote now!

Vote now for the 2010 Teens' Top Ten! Voting takes place through September 17. You can vote online at this link.

C U Soon!

I am really looking forward to seeing all of you next week! I have so much fun stuff to share from my summer (can you believe I rode a camel??!!) and so many great new books to tell you about. We'll start with booktalks for everyone in the first few weeks. It's going to be a GR8 year! TTYL