Teen-a-Palooza III

We have been especially busy during these rainy days, as three programs over the past two days each attracted 30 participants. Our final Teen-A-Palooza of the year included Wii/DDR/GH II gaming & a Christmas tree ornament sewing project.

Young Adult Evaluation Form Comments:

"The program is awesome, because you got to sew." Jesus L., 9th grade

Young Adult Suggestions for Future Programs:

"Maybe a cooking activity?" - Melissa L., 11th grade
"Field trips!" - Nancy G., 9th grade

Toddler Story Time

I can't believe that we had 15 people at toddler story time today. I think that may be a new record for that noon time slot! Here are some nice pics from the special needs class and toddler story time.

Toddler & Special Needs Story Times

I can't believe that we had 15 people at toddler story time today. I think that may be a new record for that noon time slot! Here are some nice pics from the special needs class and toddler story time.

Teen-A-Palooza II

The young adults at La Puente Library enjoyed their second Teen-A-Palooza this week, which included crafts, such as a lip gloss necklace, and DDR, Guitar Hero ("Real guitars are for old people."), and Wii Gaming. The young adults also helped out with a couple of holiday-themed art projects for kids (pics attached). The funny thing is that after the kids completed their mini-X-mas trees and piñata ornaments --- a number of teens swooped in and made their own piñata ornaments and miniature trees! In fact, today, I had 2 regulars and 3 new teens working at a separate table, all by themselves, on their very own precisely-designed ornaments!!! (Does this count as two teen programs this week? Just joshing!) : )

Teen-A-Palooza II

Young adults enjoyed their second Teen-A-Palooza this week, which included crafts, such as a lip gloss necklace, and DDR, Guitar Hero ("Real guitars are for old people."), and Wii Gaming. The young adults also helped out with a couple of holiday-themed art projects for kids (pics attached). The funny thing is that after the kids completed their mini-X-mas trees and piñata ornaments --- a number of teens swooped in and made their own piñata ornaments and miniature trees! In fact, today, I had 2 regulars and 3 new teens working at a separate table, all by themselves, on their very own precisely-designed ornaments!!! (Does that count as two teen programs this week? Just kidding!) : )

YA/Kids Talent Expo

This afternoon, over twenty young adults, kids, and parents gathered for an exciting talent expo. Although our 4th grade would-be Rachael Ray canceled, the Break Dancing Boys and YA/kid duets made up for the absent cooking demo.

YA/Kids Talent Expo

This afternoon, over twenty young adults, kids, and parents gathered for an exciting talent expo at La Puente Library. Although our 4th grade would-be Rachael Ray canceled, the Break Dancing Boys and YA/kid duets made up for the absent cooking demo.

Teen-A-Palooza

Today, young adults enjoyed our first ever Teen-A-Palooza, a veritable Festivus of gaming 'n' crafting. This extravaganza included Wii-playing, stained glass-painting, DDR-dancing, Guitar Hero-jamming, and, of course, snacking galore.

Evaluation Form Suggestions:
"Making ice cream, more crafts, more games." - Josie R., 6th gr.
"Making key chains." - Gabby G., 7th gr.

Other Comments:
"It was lots of fun." Juan G., 9th gr.
"Awesome." Vanessa P. - 10th gr.
"I love it." Paula V. - 6th gr.

National Children's Book Week

In celebration of National Children's Book Week, families enjoyed Rudy's Chemical Magic Show at the La Puente Library. Teens assisted kids with Thanksgiving-themed projects at both story times this week. Children attending toddler story time created 3 crafts today, to make up for the holiday closure.

YA Thanksgiving Art Activity, La Puente

Yesterday, young Adults created fun votives with a stained glass effect & Thanksgiving-themed centerpieces, at the La Puente Library. We had a total of 16 YAs (and 5 involved parents).

Comments:
"A good program. You learn more & more everyday and the activities are funny." - Ofelia V., 7th grade

Suggestions:
"My friend and I can demonstrate Folklorico dancing." - Melissa L., 11th grade
"Make your own small pinata!" - Tiffany S., 6th grade
"Christmas party!" - Stefany G., 6th grade

Chocolate Skulls & Pan de Muerto for Dia de los Muertos @ La Puente Library

Yesterday, the young adults of La Puente celebrated Dia de los Muertos with art activities such as chocolate skull painting, articulated skeleton decorating, and creating thematic frames (for which we took fun photos). The staff provided pan dulce, pan de muerto, tamales, mango horchata, and florentinas. The program ran 2 hours, and attracted 35 young adults. Two of these YAs won manga titles in our costume contest.

For Halloween Day, we read about Dia de los Muertos, then the teens assisted story time participants in frosting chocolate skulls of their own.

Teen Suggestions for Future Programs:

"Next year -- pumpkin decorating contest!" - Viridiana D., 8th grade
"Try to make the haunted house scarier." - Daniel D., 6th grade
"Hope we would bake a cake and decorate it..." - Paula V., 6th grade
"Do this again next year." - Maritza G., 12th grade

Top Chef for Young Adults, West Covina

We invited young adults to join our Top Chef program on Saturday, 8.4.07, presented by Chef Nate Allen, a Chef to the Stars (i.e., Tobey Maguire & Leo DiCaprio). Teens tasted delicacies and learned about careers in the culinary arts. We had thirteen attendees, four of whom were teens --- the rest were mostly parents trying to teach their teens that eating healthy can be cool.

Teen Read Week I

While the meeting room transforms into a haunted house, our young adult programs are held outdoors. The challenge is that younger siblings want to tag along when YAs assemble in front of the library. Tuesday, we offered a stamping art project table for the 13 kids a few yards away from the more mature decoupage project for the 13 teens. (Unfortunately, the alternative craft didn't quell the younger sibs!)

Suggestions for future

"More painting projects." - M. Lopez, 11th grade
"Keep making more fun projects." - R. Martinez, 12th grade
"I don't really have any ideas right now." - C. Santillan, 10th grade

Attached photographs are of the decoupage event and teens helping at story time last week.

Teen Karaoke, La Puente

YA Book Club, West Covina

The California Center for the Book program for tweens, Caught in the Crossfire: Young People and War, was fairly well-attended, attracting 6 tweens & 1 ten-year old cousin.

CalBooks evaluation form Q&A:

Did you enjoy the Caught in the Crossfire discussion program? Why or why not?

"Yes, because I was able to say what I had accomplished reading. I would like to keep coming, because it's very interesting learning about people's thoughts." - Sarah Alejo, 11

"Yes, it was exciting and fun." - Lawon Carney, 11

"Yes, it was very opening and fun." Kristina Austin, 14

"It's good so far." - Jazmine, 14

"Ovcorce [sic] I enjoy it a lot. I love game night!" - Savannah A., 11

What do you think about the books that were chosen for the program? Were there any you really liked or disliked?

"This book." - Andy Moreno, entering 12th grade

"I don't like or understand books on war." - Sarah

Young Adult Volunteers Assist with Storytime, La Puente

At Gaming Day this Tuesday, we had so many teens (20), that it felt like P. Diddy might be hosting. At storytime, teen volunteers and kids used stencils and hands to paint canvas storage boxes (these once contained library CD cases), and later created an articulated horse craft.

Story Time, La Puente

Dried bean mosaics were our storytime art project yesterday. They must've been sneaking art supplies, because one of the tykes was, well, gassy. Ah, the joy of children.

Teens Assist with Storytime, La Puente

With two weekly storytimes at La Puente, families are feeling even more welcome in the library. Three volunteer teens helped with the afternoon craft on Wednesday and today children made shapes with homemade dough. Also shown are pics of the Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month display of Spanish easy books.