GreenBeanTeenQueen

Last year I wrote about the Fandom Starts Early Geeky Storytime I did at my library. I had too much fun that I had to repeat it and hopefully get a crowd of geeky kids and parents to attend. Here's how The Return of Geeky Storytime went. Opening Song : A Tootie Ta-this is a great song to get the kids up and moving Opening Song: The Robot Dance by The Pop Ups (because we have to dance like robots at geeky storytime!) Rhyme : I explained the kids that we would be talking about all sorts of fandoms and being geeky. I told them that geek meant you really loved something and asked what the things they really loved were. They said they loved playing, Batman, and video games. Then I had them recite a rhyme that made up just for our storytime. I'm a geek, yes it's true. I'm a geek, how about you? There are lots of things I love do And no one can tell me they are not cool.  So stand up proud and shout hooray For all the fun things we will do today....

Add to Goodreads About the Book:  Rio lives Below in Atlantia. Since the Divide, Below in Atlantia is the safest place to be. The intricate water system of tunnels and habitats makes a safe environment for the surviving humans. But Rio longs to go Above. After the death of their mother, Rio promises her twin sister Bay she will stay Below and they can be together. But when Bay unexpectedly chooses to leave for Above, Rio is left to figure out just why Bay left. With a dangerous mentor in her aunt, Rio tries to uncover what happened to her mother and tries to formulate a plan to escape through the complex system of Atlantia to Above. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says:  It's hard to describe Atlantia. It's a little bit dystopian,  an underwater world setting, a story about sirens, and a little bit of mystery. It's a book that has a lot going on! The main part of the story focuses on Rio, who is trying to find a way out of Atlantia and escape to Above where she longs to be. ...

I am very excited to present on Need to Know Teen Lit (and some Middle Grade!) at the Missouri Library Association Conference. Here is the list of books I talked about. Let me know if you have any others to suggest! Trends :  #weneeddiversebooks- be sure to check out the Tumblr page "The Fault in Our Stars meets Eleanor and Park": I’ll Give You the Sun Maybe One Day Say What You Will Side Effects May Vary Zac and Mia Other John Green and Rainbow Rowell connections: Althea and Oliver ( Perks of Being a Wallflower meets Eleanor and Park ) The Drowned Forest (Looking for Alaska meets Stephen King Let’s Get Lost (Paper Towns) Love and Other Forgien Words (for fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell) The Vigilante Poets of Selwyn Academy (for fans of John Green All the Bright Places (out in 2015) Everyday Angel ("John Green for middle grade with a touch of magic") Teen Written Memoirs: Popular: Vintage Wisdom for the Modern Geek P...

Today I'm over at the ALSC Blog talking about our successful summer program of Block Parties ! Come check it out!

Please welcome author Julie Sternberg to the blog! Julie writes very funny books for middle grade readers and they include fantastic illustrations. I asked Julie to talk about what it's like working with an illustrator with her books since her books are such a big combination of pictures and text. Credit:Meredith Zinner I am embarrassed to admit this, but here goes:  I did not instantly love the illustrations for my first book, LIKE PICKLE JUICE ON A COOKIE.  I love them wholeheartedly now. I ca n’t imagine better ones.  And a framed copy of this one is the first thing I see when I walk into my apartment. It makes me very happy: But, in the beginning, I found the illustrations jarring, for this reason: Although the PICKLE JUICE story is fiction, it is based on a moment in my life; and I had a clear picture in my head of most of the characters. The book’s immensely talented illustrator, Matthew Cordell, has never met me (authors and illustrators...

About the Book: A young mouse sets out on a grand adventure to discover the biggest animal in the world and makes new friends along the way. GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: Can I Come Too is a sweet and charming cumulative picture book perfect for preschoolers. The little mouse wants to discover the biggest animal in the world and spends the day meeting new animals and discovering bigger and bigger animals along the way. The illustrations are gorgeous and are sure to inspire readers to pour over the pages and take in all the details. The text is simple enough for young readers but engaging enough for older readers to join in. I love how the author deftly includes some science into the text. What animal is the biggest animal in the world? What animal will be next-it has to be larger than the animal we just met. It's a great way to get kids thinking about animals and their size. Pair this one with Steve Jenkins  Actual Size  for a fun filled animal science storytime!...

The Rise of Aurora West by Paul Pope and JT Petty, Art by David Rubin About the Book:  Monsters are plaguing Arcopolis and children are not safe. Haggard West is the hero that is trying to take them down and he has an apprentice: his daughter Aurora West. Aurora discovers that the monsters may have something to do with the mystery behind her mother's death and if she can unlock her childhood memories and remember her imaginary friend, she might be able to piece it all together. All she has to do is survive Sadisto and his murderous gang long enough to uncover the past. GreenBeanTeenQueen : The Rise of Aurora West  is set in the same world as Battling Boy  but is a prequel to that graphic novel and stands on its own. No prior knowledge or readership of Battling Boy is required, but I'm sure readers will want to pick up Battling Boy after finishing this one! The story is fast paced and is a bit dark with an everyday hero out to fight monsters in a dystop...