June 29th, 2010

INTERVIEW

• Gay Teen Blogger Blasts School, Public Librarians
  A gay teen blogger from Kentucky has blasted his school and public library for failing to offer LGBT titles–and his post has gone viral.
  
  YA authors are talking about it, the New York Times has featured an article on it, and SLJ is reprinting the post in the July issue of its magazine.
  
  Fifteen-year-old Brent, who asked that his last name and hometown not be used, realized he was gay by eighth grade, and the avid reader found books as a way to escape and feel "normal." But when he turned to his school library, there wasn't one gay-themed title–and to make matters worse, the librarian told him those kinds of books were inappropriate. The public library was no better–it only had one, Judy Shepard's The Meaning of Matthew.   more » » » 

NEWS

• Toronto Summer Reading Poster Draws Fire
  A poster meant to draw children into the adventures of the jungle–and hopefully spark their summer reading–has drawn some controversy at a branch of the Toronto Public Library.
  
  Staff members at the Albion Library in Rexdale expressed concern about three characters drawn in the poster for TD Summer Reading Program, now in its 15th year, says Anne Marie Aikins, manager of corporate communications with the Toronto Public Library.
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• Toys in the Library Inspire Reading
  Don't say no to the idea of toys in the library unless you've tried it yourself. Lauren Longbottom of Pennsylvania's Ridley Township Public Library has puzzles, puppets, and paper planes whizzing by her children's room–and she's convinced it's one of the reasons why kids keep coming back.
  
  This head of children's services knows some colleagues may frown on what she does, preferring a more traditional library experience. But that's simply not Longbottom's style.   more » » » 

SLJ Goes to the Movies

• The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
  In a dramatic twist, the action-packed adaption of Stephenie Meyer's Eclipse (Little, Brown, 2007) will dodge most of the criticism (including from yours truly) heaped upon the first two films in the "Twilight" series. No question, this is the most successful entry so far–and that's high praise, considering the first two films were comatose in comparison.
  
  Eclipse begins where the last installment, New Moon, ended, with Bella (Kristen Stewart) reunited with her alabaster-skinned vampire boyfriend, Edward (Robert Pattinson, still looking as painfully perplexed as ever).   more » » » 

WATCH AND READ

• Disney's The Sorcerer's Apprentice: Revved Up and Re-imagined
  No, it's not Mickey Mouse making mischief while clad in a wizard's robe and pointed hat, but a live-action fantasy motion picture from Disney Studios. The Sorcerer's Apprentice (PG), produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Jon Turteltaub, the creators of the "National Treasure" franchise, casts its spell on movie-goers beginning July 14, 2010. Inspired by the eponymous animated short from Disney's Fantasia (1940), which itself was based on Paul Dukas's late-19th-century symphonic work and a ballad by Goethe, this feature film is set in modern-day Manhattan and encompasses a cast of fully fleshed-out characters, a sweeping good-versus-evil plot, special effects galore, and touches of snarky humor.   more » » » 

REMARKABLE READS

• Twins
  It is estimated that twins makes up approximately 1.9 percent of the world's population, so while it's unlikely that everyone knows a set of twins, we may think we know all about them. Heck, don't television twins like Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen and Zach and Cody Martin give us all the clues? The twins in these titles live much less glamorous lives, and readers will discover that there's more to the twin connection than similar looks and a shared birthday.    more » » » 

LIBRARIAN'S INTERNET

• Fireworks
  I love Independence Day! I enjoy sitting in a lawn chair watching a parade and going to family get-togethers and eating too many burgers and dogs, but what I love the most are the fireworks. Ever since I was a kid I've wondered how fireworks work. How do they launch themselves into the sky? Why are some green and others gold, red, or pink? How do they burst into such different patterns in the sky? If you're as curious as I am, be sure to visit this site.    more » » » 

JOB OF THE WEEK