“Stocking” is where you recreate a “stock” clip-art photo image by
using props you have at home to match the original activity in the photo as close as possible. You don’t have to look like the original model(s)—you just have to match what they’re doing!

Select a photo from our collection of “stock” book- and reading-related images below and recreate the activity.

Snap a photo and email it to us at APLWest@aurora.lib.il.us by Feb. 22!

Your “stocking” photos will be featured on the library’s website, Facebook page, and at the West Branch.

Vote for your favorite photo starting Feb. 23.
The photos with the most votes (first, second and third place) will be announced March 3 and the photographers will be crowned “Aurora Public Library Stock Photo Champions!”

Winter Boredom Breaker  “Stock” Photo Contest Rules
1.  Choose one of our 13 photos to recreate.  You don’t have to look like the original model(s)—just match what they’re doing in the photo and use similar props!
2.  Email your photo to APLWest@aurora.lib.il.us, along with your name, email address, phone number, age, and names of anyone in the photo with you.  Only first names/last initial will be posted with your
photo.
3.  Photo entries will be posted on the library’s website, Facebook page, and at the West Branch.
4.  Entries must be received by Feb. 22. Voting for your favorite photo begins Feb. 23 and runs through March 3. Winners will be announced on March 3 on the library website and Facebook page!
5.  By submitting a photo, you are letting us know that your model has consented to use of his or her image in the photo contest and you are consenting to allow the library to republish your photo for
publicity purposes.

Most of you know that I (Hannah Berry) the teen librarian at the Main Library read a lot. Well I just checked my www.Goodreads.com account for this year and it says I have read 116 books in 2011. I’m in the middle of a few that I hope to finish before the 31st, but still that’s a big number.   So I’ve decided to give you my Top 10 in 2011 (books that I have read this year). Theses are just my favorites!

This is not my normal reading materiel, but it made me laugh and I remember this book as a fun lighthearted read.

Zombie Apocalypse! Need I really say more?

Sequel to “If I Stay.” This is one sequel that may actually stand up to the wonderfulness of the first book.

Local author! Have to love this book! Futuristic society divided into factions that divide the populace. One test decides what faction you belong in.

12 Dancing Princesses retold in a new and interesting way that makes the story come alive.

Demons and Angels and a teeth collector! A love story and a battle between two races. Really this one had me from page one hangging on every word.

Newest book in Percy Jackson’s life! I couldn’t not read this. This series grabs you and wont let you go. Unlike most series that seem to go on forever this is one I wont get board of. The adventures are always entertaining and take me to a place that I hadn’t expected.

This is book 3 in a series. Book 1 is “The Demon King” & Book 2 is “The Exiled Queen.”  I will admit that this series was slow to start, but I kept at book one and fell in love with this series. Book 3 was just as great as the first 2.

The last book in the Strange Angels Series. This book finished of the series in a really great way. I hadn’t expected the ending I got , but it worked and I loved it.

Set in an alternative past during World War 2 The British have fabricated animals together to create weapons of war, while the Austrians & Germans have created mechanical machines that walk and fly. This story follows two really interesting characters and makes for a really good start to the series.

What are your top 10 of 2011?

What is a Book Trailer?       =      It’s like a Movie Preview for a book!

How do I make one?          =      Sign up to be part of the Teen Videographer’s Club!

Check out her new site! looks like shes doing a giveaway!

I grew up loving Tammy’s books! I started with Alana: The First Adventure and now 15 years later I’m starting her newest book Mastiff this weekend! I will fully admit to turning into a fan-girl from back when I first read Alana when I met her yesterday. It was so fantastic to meet one of the women who first got me reading for fun. I have been trying to meet her for going on 15 years and every time I have gotten close to meeting her something has happened where I couldn’t get away or she couldn’t show up. Now after having met her I think she is doubly awesome. If you haven’t ever read anything please, please read them! They are some of my all time favorites!

For those who don’t know much about Tammy’s books here’ a recap:

(Song of the Lioness Series)
                

1. Alana: the First Adventure -
2. In the Hand of the Goddess -
3. The Woman Who Rides Like a Man -
4. Lioness Rampant -

Alana and her twin brother change the letters their father gave them so that Alana can disguise herself as a boy called Alan and become a knight while her twin brother gets to learn to be a Mage.  Thus begins the trials and tribulations that come with hiding her true identity from even her new found friends and her Prince. This is a romantic adventure series that leads the reader in some really interesting situations. Knights, ladies, fighting, horseback riding, bullies, magic, and mayhem flourish in these four books!

(Immortals Series)

1. Wild Magic –
2. Wolf Speaker –
3. Emperor Mage -
4. Realms of the Gods -

Daine has always had a knack with animals and when the royal horse mistress discovers her talent she is hired on to help bring the ponies to the palace for the new set of pages & squires, but Diane is hiding a big secret she can talk to the animals. She has a magic like no other and it drove her mad. Only with the help of a wolf was she able to come back from the craziness. When she rescues a bird unlike any she has ever met she is soon introduced to her new teacher. A teacher that will help her discover the extremes that she can take her magical powers to. This series beings in creatures out of nightmares and dreams (yes this includes dragons). I love this series and not just because of the teacher, Numair, but for so many other reasons.

(Protector of the Small Series)

1. First Test -
2. Page –
3. Squire –
4. Lady Knight -

Keladry of Mindelan is the first girl to follow in Alana’s footsteps to become a knight. She has no special magical powers and no goddess looking out for her. It’s her alone and she is determined to be the best she can be. Kel is a born leader, even if the boys don’t always see it. Piled with homework that will never get done and beaten till she is black and blue on the practice field she will never give up and she is the one that many will turn to in a time of need because she is a protector. Now if only she could conquer her fear of heights.

(Daughter of the Lioness)

1. Tricksters Choice -
2. Trickstes Queen -

Alana’s daughter is all grown up and unlike her mother she has no interest in becoming a knight. She wants to follow in her fathers footsteps.

(Beka Cooper Series)

1. Terrier –
2. Bloodhound –
3. Mastiff -

Long before the days of Alana there were women warriors. They where involved in defending the city and one of them was Beka Cooper. She was a dog (think police force) like no other. She got messages from the dead who rode on the backs of pigeons and she heard whole conversations that could have taken place anytime in the city by listening to the dust devils that roamed the city.

(Circle of Magic Series)

1. Sandry’s Book -
2. Triss’ Book –
3. Daja’s Book -
4. Briar’s Book -

Four teens with odd magical powers that make no sence to normal magitians end up being sent to live with the two women of Winding Circle. There these four misfits discover more about their strange powers and how to wield them. Sandry has power over a lit when she weaves, Triss can cause major damage when she gets upset (the weather tends to respond to her), Daja is a metal crafter with an odd gift, and Briar is a former thief with a massive green thumb. These four are put into an impossible situation and the only way to save themselves and everyone else is to weave their magics together.

(The Circle Opens)

1. Magic Steps -
2. Street Magic –
3. Cold Fire -
4. Shatterglass -

Sadry, Triss, Daja, & Briar each have gone in different directions and have each discovered others with magic unlike any they have seen before and with their discovery they must now teach these new magicians in the ways of magic. Sandry discovers a dancer, Briar discovers a stone mage, Daja discovers two girls with ambient magic, and Triss discovers a glass blower with lightning magic not unlike her own. In each of these books there is some thing that they must defeat or get away from in order to save the day.

(Circle Reforged)

1. The Will of the Empress –
2. Melting Stones -

In Will of the Empress Triss, Briar, Sandry,  & Daja are reunited but things are not what they used to be and when Sandry’s uncle invites them to visit they have landed smack dab in a trap. Now they must find a way to work together again to save the day.

In Melting Stones Briar’s former student Evvy the stone mage must accompany Briar’s former teacher Rosethorn to an island that is having problems with dying plants and animals. When she realizes what is happening Evvy’s powers are the only thing that can help save lives.

(Short Story Collections)

1. Tortall & Other Lands  –
2. Young Warriors -

These story collection have stories that fill in gaps left between the other books. so if you fall in love with some of the characters you may find out more about what happened to them in the short stories.

   White Tiger (Graphic Novel) - need i say more?

Okay, I just finished (skipping through) the latest book in this series and I have to say that the last few books have left me wanting. The characters, lets face it, no teen today talks this way and I know for sure they never talked this way when I was a teen. Don’t get me wrong. I really liked the first few books and the story idea was fantastic, but now its gotten to the point where I get about 100 pages in and have to stop. Nothing happens but Zoey switching love interests, death because the high priestess is evil (we get it), or the occasional magical circle for any reason at all! I skipped to the end of the latest one because of the last few being so boring that I didn’t want to finish and this latest was just as bad. Now they are turning the books into a movie series like Twilight. YEAH to this because for the first time EVER I actually think a screenwriter will make it better.  Whoever made the Blood & Chocolate movie needs to be in on the making of the House of Night move(s). I hated the Blood & Chocolate movie when I compared it to the book, but if the screenwriters can change the House of Night series enough without totally altering the idea behind the books I think it will make them better as movies.  I just really hope they make the teens talk like normal teens.

What do you think? Do you agree with me? Are the books getting old?

1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

3. Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

4. I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore

5. The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

6. Matched by Ally Condie

7. Angel: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson

8. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

9. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

10. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

To learn more go to http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/teenreading/teenstopten/ttt11.cfm

Every day between October 16th and October 22nd a picture will be posted HERE on this post. They will also be at the Main Library (Downtown Aurora) on the top floor and on the Aurora Public Library Teen Space Facebook page. Your job is to go into the Downtown Area and find the items in the photos and take your own pictures of them. They don’t have to look just like ours. Then you can post your pictures here or on the facebook page. At the end of the week turn in your collage of all the pictures you took. Make it look awesome because the collage the Teen Advisory Board finds the coolest will win a prize. Your collage can be digital, it can be on a poster board, the sky is the limit. Have fun with it. The winner will be chosen on October 27th, but collages will be displayed in the Main Library through Halloween.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

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