DIY Holiday Gift Instructions

Since some of you can’t make it to the DIY Holiday Gift activity, but would still like to do the activities on your own, I will post the instructions here for you to follow.

Chocolate Mice:

Ingredients

• Hershey kisses (out of wrapper)
• Almond slivers
• Chocolate chips or quality solid chocolate bars (melted)
• Maraschino cherries with stems

Prep

Melt chocolate in double boiler or in crock pot on low heat. Rinse cherries then let them dry completely on paper towel.

To Assemble

Carefully dip the cherry in melted chocolate. Place on plate after using melted chocolate as “glue” to secure the Hershey’s Kiss. Place almond slices on Kiss head, to look like little ears. The stem of the cherry is the tail, the point of the Hershey’s Kiss is the nose. You can use tiny silver non-pereils (edible balls) as eyes, or use your imagination. One warning: tell children the chocolate is hot and supervise assembly.

To see a version of this recipe (and many other tasty treats), check out Miss Candiquik’s Blog.

Pearl & Ribbon Necklace:

Go to Tatertots & Jello blog for step by step instructions.

Homemade Bath Salts:

Materials

• Coarse sea salt
• Epsom salts
• Baking soda
• Essential oils
• Food coloring Step 1Step 2Step 3

Steps

1. In a large bowl, mix to combine: 6 parts coarse sea salt; 3 parts epsom salts; and 1 part baking soda.
2. Add a few drops of essential oils, and combine.
3. Add a few drops of food coloring, until you achieve the desired shade. If you intend to present the bath salts as gifts, be sure to store them in a stoppered and labeled container to keep out moisture.

Coconut Oil Lotion:

Materials

• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1 teaspoon liquid vitamin E or tea tree oil
• 5-7 drops lavender essential oil

Steps

1. Combine the coconut oil, vitamin E or tea tree oil, and lavender in a bowl.
2. Now mix.

Good luck to all you DIY-ers. Happy making!

 

Teen DIY Holiday Gifts

It may be too soon to think about Christmas, but here’s a little heads up on an upcoming library event for youth aged 12-18.

What: DIY Holiday Gifts

• Ribbon & Pearl Necklaces
• Chocolate Mice
• Homemade Bath Salts
• Coconut Oil Lotion

When:  Wednesday, Dec. 3 from 3:45 – 4:45

Cost: FREE

Registration is required. Call the ORL Salmon Arm Branch or email aburnham@orl.bc.ca to register.

Please indicate the items you want to make so we know how many supplies to purchase.

Time to Vote for the Stellar Award

For all of you wanting to have your say in which book wins the Stellar Award for 2013-2014, you only have 1 week left! Click on this link to cast your vote. (You must have read at least 5 of the 13 books nominated in order to vote.)

Happy voting!

TAC! SA Now Has One!!

I’m excited to announce that we have a Teen Advisory Committee (TAC). This means YOU now have a voice at the library.

The TAC meet this past Saturday for an “ideas” brainstorming session. They worked around parameters such as limited resources and limited funding and came up with some great starter ideas.

One of their first ideas was to provide links to sites that list popular new books. If you look on the left side of this page, you will see the Blogroll. I’ve added links to Goodreads.com (one of my favorite places to search for new books), the Goodreads blog and a wonderful blog called GreenBeanTeenQueen, which is written by another Youth Services Librarian. If you have suggestions of other links, let me know in the comments section.

The committee would also like to post book reviews to this blog. Keep your eyes peeled for upcoming reviews!

If you are interested in being a part of this committee, come to the Saturday, March 8th meeting at the Salmon Arm library. The meeting is only 1 hour and start at 11:30AM.

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Did any of you read Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys? Well guess what? She’s got another great book for you called  Out of the Easy.

This story is set in New Orleans during the 1950’s. Seventeen-year-old Josie, the daughter of a French Quarter prostitute, has greater ambitions and dreams than the prostitutes who helped raise her. She longs to get out of New Orleans, go to college and make something of her life. But first she needs to find a way to protect herself from her neglectful and cruel mother and her mother’s criminal boyfriend.

Although this is a historical novel, Out of the Easy is more story than history…and it’s a story worth reading.

Okanagan Reads for Kids (& Teens)

This special event is for ages 8 through 15. Follow the links below to learn more about it and to take part in fun contests with amazing prizes. READ Read one or all four Hillcroft Farm novels by local author, Julie White. Learn about the books. TAKE PART Participate in fun activities at your library! See Olympic medalists, professional jockeys or dressage champions. View all events. WIN There are three fun contests to enter for a chance to win some amazing prizes, including iPad Minis.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein

Have you ever read a book and then had it stay with you in your mind for weeks after? That’s what Elizabeth Wein’s novel Code Name Verity has done to me. I won’t spoil the story by telling you all about it. Instead, I will beg you to read it and see what it does to you. Once you’ve finished, tell me how you feel.

Me? It has left a hole in my heart. An aching, but beautiful hole. By finishing this book, I feel I have lost two wonderful friends. But my life is richer and better because of the time I was able to spend with them.

 

Teen Summer Reading Club

Do you want to take part in a Teen Summer Reading Club? If yes, then you’re in luck ’cause we’re gonna have one!

Here’s what you need to know:

• This is a “read-only” program
• Register online, by email, or through the online registration form that will launch June 25, 2013, then come pick up your special reading record to keep track of how many days you’ve read.
• For each 5 days of reading completed, you can enter your name in the weekly draw for the chance to win a new book/ iTunes gift card/or some other cool prizes.
• The program runs from June 22 through August 17, and there will be 8 draws for prizes during that time.
• If you are wanting to participate in summer activities at the library, you are welcome to register for and attend any of the Kid’s Summer Reading Club programs. They are all FREE!
• Check out the Salmon Arm Kids blog for a list of the Summer Reading Club events.

Did I miss anything? Any questions? Leave a comment and I’ll get back to you right away.

SRC Writing Contest

Folks, it’s been ages since I last blogged. If anyone is still following this blog, I apologize for my absence. Lots has been happening here at the library, and I just haven’t had any extra time to write.

Okay, enough of the excuses. I won’t catch you up on everything because that would take more time then I have. However, you’re more than welcome to come to the library and see all the exciting things we’ve been up to. Instead, I’m going to dive right in and ask for your help with a Summer Reading Club contest that I have going on. I need you to be my judges!

The contest rules were for children ages 5-12 to write a short story or poem following the themes “Trick or Truth” or “True Story!”. I will type out the 5 top entries here on this blog, and then I need you to email me at aburnham@orl.bc.ca to tell me who you think should win the contest. The winner will recieve 2 free movie passes to the movie theatre. (Out of consideration to all the participants, please do not write who should win in the comments section of this blog.)

I will write the age of each participant, but I will keep the rest of their identity annonymous. I will also try to type out their poems and stories exactly as they submitted them to me in order to keep the works as close to the original as possible.

Here we go…

1. Percy, Annabeth and Grover!  by child age 11

I BET YOU DONT BELEIVE IN ANCIENT GREEK,

THAT JUST MAKES YOU A GEEK!

YOU PROBABLY DONT BELEIVE IN PERCY, ANNABETH AND GROVER

NOW THIS POEM IS OVER!

2. Bugs by child age 7

Bug’s

they

come

in

the

Dark

they

go

Buzzzzzzz

all

over

the

place

Bug’s

they

come

and

then

are

gone

and

grasshoppers

gump

all

over

the

place

the end

3. A Short Tale by child age 9

There is such a thing as a short man!

A man who is two feet tall.

It’s strange but true! They call him a midget!

He is also amazingly strong!

And…he is only fifteen!!!!

He has won trophies and medals, awards,

And signs autographs!

You might not believe me

But it is true!

4. Demi-god by child age 9

One day I was out fishing when I fell in the lake. I couldn’t hold my breath long. Soon I let go of my breath. But, I was still breathing.

I am the daughter of poiseidon!

The End

5. Hachi by child age 7

A long time ago, there lived a dog named Hachi. He had no home but a railway statshon. Then one day a man found him wandering on the road and took him to his house where he got fed and got looked after. He grew to be a big dog and playful to. When the man went to work, the dog followed and Hachi would be waiting when the man got home from work. But one day the man didn’t come home. But the dog kept waiting. This went on for many years until Hachi died. Then, to remember him, they put up a statue right in the place where Hachi used to wait for his kind and helpful master. Hachi was also a good dog. Hachi was born in Odate, Japan, in 1923 and died in 1935.

Remember, please email me at aburnham@orl.bc.ca to tell me who you think should win. Thank you all!!

The Winner Is…

Good news! Dalia from the Salmar Theatres donated 4 free admission tickets instead of 2. That means I was able to create 2 groups and have a winner from each. The two  groups were 1. kids ages 6-11 years and 2. youth ages 12-17 years.

So, our two big winners of the Read to Win Contest are…

Peter Taylor for ages 6-11

AND

Connor Menc for ages 12-17.

Congratulations to you both, and thanks to all of you who participated. The draw box was positively stuffed with entry forms. This is definitely something we will do again!