Come to the Bellevue Library November 14th, 2pm to learn from Mary Jane Beaufrand, teen author.  MJ will give us the basics on what makes a character memorable. Get some tips to make your fictional characters deeper and well rounded. After all, zombies have feelings too. Beaufrand is the author of Primavera, a young adult novel.

Space is limited so please register at www.kcls.org or call the Bellevue library at 425-450-1765. 

This event is for students in grades 6-12.

Sponsored by the Bellevue Friends of the Library

COLLEGE OPTIONS: FINDING THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOU
This workshop is designed to help students choose the right college. Discover your strengths and learn about the options that best suit them!
Newport Way Library, Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 PM

FINDING YOUR DREAM COLLEGE
Facilitated by a real-life college administrator, this workshop will empower those looking at schools to use numerous information opportunities to be both resourceful and resource full!
Covington Library, Wednesday, October 21, 2009, 7:00 PM

WRITE TO WIN
Hear from a real college administrator about what it takes to write successful college entrance essays and submit applications that work.
Covington Library, Wednesday, October 28, 7:00PM
Bothell Regional Library, Sunday, November 01, 12:30 PM
Maple Valley Library, Thursday, November 05, 7:00 PM
Auburn Library, Thursday, November 19, 7:00 PM

FINDING MONEY FOR COLLEGE
A representative from the non-profit College Planning Network will provide a complete review of the college financial aid process, including how students identify and apply for all types of grants, scholarships, work study and student loans.
Covington Library, Wednesday, November 4, 7:00 PM
Auburn Library, Thursday, November 12, 7:00 PM

NAVIGATING THE FINANCIAL AID MAZE
So you've filled out the FAFSA and have identified colleges, but how will you pay for it? A former assistant director of student financial aid will share tips on budgeting during college, tracking your student loan information and working with your financial aid office.
Auburn Library, Thursday, November 05, 7:00 PM

SAT INFORMATIONAL SEMINAR
Get test-taking strategies for the SAT and other college entrance exams, as well as advice on the college admissions process. This is a repeat of the program held on October 7.
Federal Way 320th Library, Monday, November 16, 7:00 PM

Students are not required to register or provide personal information to participate in Study Zone, just drop in any time during Study Zone hours.  See the schedule for Study Zone hours at a KCLS library near you.

If there isn't a Study Zone location near you, don't despair! Visit any KCLS library for help from live volunteer tutors online through Study Zone Online. Please note that this service is only available from library computers.

If you can't make it to Study Zone, but still need help with your homework you can always try Live Homework Help, which is a service that connects you with a live tutor from any computer that is connected to the internet. The Live Homework Help is available 7 days a week from 2pm-Midnight. All you need is your library card number to log on and connect to a live tutor!

is a celebration of of a day spend outside at the playground. 

You can just feel a crisp fall day, the metal of the swing, the thrill of the slide and the spin of the merry-go-round.  Jennifer Merz's paper cut illustrations are fun, colorful and full of expression. 

Pair this with Emily Gravett's Monkey and Me for the perfect preschool jaunt.

A curious collection of cats by Betsy Franco and illustrated by Michael Wertz is a book of delightfully colorful concrete poetry. Concrete poetry, just in case you don't know, is poetry that is a particular shape.  The words are actually shaped on the page to help create the poem.

This author/ illustrator team has a way of making funny, fun poetry that is visually active.  Any cat lover will just love this book!

Besty Franco has written lots of great books for kids. This appears to be her first collaboration with Michael Wertz. I hope they do another one about dogs.  

Be sure to have your library card and PIN ready to enter.  If you wish to change or reset your PIN, you must present a photo ID in person at your local branch.  For questions about your PIN, call AnswerLine at 425-462-9600 or 1-800-462-9600. 

To start a session enter your name, library card number, and your question in the column on the right side of the screen. Then click on the connect button. You will automatically receive a welcome message. The librarian my ask you come clarifying questions. Chat messages from the librarian will appear on the right side of your screen.

Professional librarians will send answers to your questions, or sources of information, which may involve sending websites. Web pages that we send will appear on the left side of the screen. You may have up to 20 minutes of live chat service at a time. The main focus of this service is to provide quick information and referrals using online sources including our online databases, the Catalog and the Internet. If the question cannot be answered within the guidelines, we will refer you to an appropriate reference service.

This new book will wow you with the beautiful photographs and unique presentation. 

Seasons: Changes in the natural world is published by Play Bac, a French Publishing house that has started to bring it's magic to the U.S.  This concept book for preschoolers offers a delightful mix of colorful pictures, child-friendly captions, and segments for adult read-aloud. Kids will poor over this book again and again. 

With a focus on the natural world, science and photography, you may like some of these other Play Bac offerings.

Cythnia Rylant has written ober 60 books for young people of all ages.  She won the Newbery Award for Missing May.  She also wrote one of my all time favorite books: God Went to Beauty School. 

This is only Nikki McClure's second children's books, but I've been a fan of her art for years (I have prints of her work all over my house).  Nikki is a self-taught artist who uses a single sheet of paper and an exacto knife to create her art. 

You'll just love this new collaboration.  The message is touching and the pictures are warm and comforting. 

A cute new CD for kids!  Secret Agent 23 Skidoo from Happiness Recordings is a fun, family Hip Hop album that everyone will enjoy. "Entertainment and education strike a perfect balance in this story filled party album, making it a pamper shaking good time. Kids of all ages, (even the adult type) have been spotted nodding their heads to its sophisticated musicality." So far, I think this is the best Hip Hop CD for kids that I've heard.  I'm looking forward to more music from Secret Agent 23! 

You might also like The Dino 5 from the Baby Loves Hip Hop label. This all star recording features Charli 2na of Jurassic 5, Lady Bug Mecca of Digable Planets, Prince Paul, Scratch from The Roots and narrated by Grammy winning poet Ursula Rucker. Dino 5 is more like an audio book with a sweet story about dinosaurs in between the songs, but the Hip Hop is still good and you will enjoy the songs despite the sappy narration.   

"Everything's changing all at once for PK."  PK is the middle child with one older sister and one younger sisiter.  She's "the jam in the sandwhich." Her older sister, Megan, is almost a teenager and now has hormones that make her impossible.  Her younger sister, Rabbit, is overly worried about starting kindergarten.  With a super smart older sister and a super cute younger sister, PK feels like nobody.  That is, until she finds her special gift in the laundry hamper. 

Other books along similar lines include Granny Torrelli Make Soup by Sharon Creech and Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo. 

Summer Teen Writing Workshop
July 6, July 20, and August 3rd at 4pm
For middle school, junior high, and high school
Participate in writing exercises that will stretch your creative thinking and jump start your word craft. Receive your own writer's notebook and enjoy ice cream treats courtesy of the Friends of the Fairwood Library.
Location: Fairwood Library, 17009 140TH AVE SE, Renton, WA 425-226-0522

Write Your Novel This July!
Bothell Library invites you to see if you can write a novel in a month. National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. The problem is that's it's in November and most teens are really busy in November. So begin writing July 1st and see if you can write a 175-page (50,000) word novel by midnight on July 31st.

Stop by the Bothell library 3:30-5:30 Tuesday afternoons in July. Join us in the teen area for write-ins and support. You can also come to the Teen Writing Workshop on July 16th at 3:30pm for a mid-month pick-me-up.
Library Location: Bothell Library, 18215 98th AVE NE, Bothell, WA  425-486-7811

 

Teen Writing Group
July 14, July 28, August 11, August 25 at 3:30pm
Join this group on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month to do writing exercises and discuss your work.
Library Location: Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S, Auburn, WA  253-931-3018 

Teen Creative Writing Workshops with Author Louise Marley

Wednesday, July 8, 2pm--Snoqualmie Library, 7824 Center Boulevard SE, Snoqualime, WA  425-888-1223 

Wednesday, July 22, 2pm-North Bend Library, 115 E 4th Street, North Bend, WA  425-888-0554

Wednesday, August 19, 2pm-Fall City Library, 33415 SE 42nd Pl, Fall City, WA  425-222-5951