Interested in expressing yourself through poetry, spoken word, or rap?
Register now to participate in a performance master class from 3 – 5 pm on Saturday, April 27th at the Iowa City Public Library, followed by food and a 5:30 pm performance where you’ll take the stage and perform your work alongside amazing spoken word artists! Space is very limited, so register NOW!
I’ll admit, I know almost nothing about manga/anime. But I am TOTALLY behind the new trend out of Japan: using a digital camera to create cool faux Kamehameha photos (a la Dragon Ball). So simple, so awesome! I would love to see some examples from Iowa City fans!
Check out more sweet pics at Comics Alliance and Kotaku.
And seriously, if you take your own faux Kamehameha picture, send it to teens (at) icpl (dot) org. You might just see your picture featured here!
Yes, you read that title correctly: Someone made a kayak out of PVC and duct tape. That someone is a 9th grader at West High, and his duct tape kayak made the front page of Instructables! Check it out! He’s much braver than me…
Attention 7th and 8th graders!
The One Book Two Book children’s literature festival and the Iowa Young Writer’s Project are teaming up to host the Jr. High Writing Jam on Saturday, January 12 from 11:30-1:00 PM at the pedestrian mall location of Capanna Coffee and Gelato. You must be in 7th or 8th grade to participate.
The writing jam itself sounds like lots of fun: free Wedge pizza for registered participants, hanging out with other aspiring writers, and listening to their sweet stories and poems in an open-mic format. Plus, first place winners will be awarded ”two free tickets (for the student and one guest) to the Once Upon a Time dinner on Friday, January 11; be acknowledged at the dinner, the Writing Jam! and throughout the festival weekend; and be interviewed and videotaped (with permission) for our On the Fly author series. The interviews, along with the winning stories, will be posted on the City of Literature website.”
Fame, glory, pizza…what’s not to like? Head over to their website to register and learn more!
The sounds of ripping, cutting, and sticking were familiar sounds in the Computer Lab this month. The library has lots of resources for duct tape designs, and using some of the books below, we created lunch bags, headbands, flowers, a tool belt, and, of course, wallets. With so many different colors, patterns, and designs to choose from, crafters could really get creative: why use a pattern when you could make it better, or something totally original? 
Of course, there was also some crochet/amigurumi-ing going on. We learned that it takes some practice, but looping yarn together to make a cute little pocket friend is totally worth it. Crochet isn’t just for lace-y scarves anymore!
If you’re interested in making something for fun, for yourself, or for a friend, stop by the Computer Lab between 1-4 PM every first and third Saturday of the month.
Want to know where to find some sweet duct tape instructions? Try these books below, found in the ICPL nonfiction collection on the 2nd floor.
Crazy Cool Duct Tape Projects by Marisa Pawelko (745.5 Pawelko)
The Duct Tape Book by Jolie Dobson (745.5 Dobson)
Stick It! 99 D.I.Y. Duct Tape Projects by T.L. Bonaddio (745.5 Bonaddio)
We had a blast at November’s Guys Read meeting held at The Wedge and Capanna. We’re excited to get together again for a special Winter Break Guys Read this Friday, December 21st from 12-1 p.m. in Meeting Room E upstairs at ICPL for all guys in Grades 5-8. We’ll be discussing Scott Westerfeld’s amazing steampunk alternate history novel Leviathan.
We’re excited to bring in a special guest this month, we’ll be joined by local tinkerer inventor Michael Webb and his hand built 3D Printer! He’s kindly offered to show us how it works and we’ll have a chance to print off some cool Leviathan-inspired choice coins where one side will have a double-helix for the Darwinists and the other a wrench for the Clankers. If you’ve never seen what these printers can do, be sure to check out the yoda video below!
Guys Read, is a larger literacy initiative founded by children’s author Jon Scieszka, and is designed to draw attention to boys’ literacy and to help boys become self-motivated, lifelong readers.
No reservation required but if you think you’ll come check it out then shoot me an email so I make sure to have enough food!
Questions? Email Jason at teens[at]icpl.org or call 319-887-6075.
Looking for something to do during Winter Break? I mean, I know my school vacation days were usually full of video games and internet surfing (and not much has changed, to be honest), but I disconnected occasionally to knit, sew, and make some (often crappy-looking) ornaments for the tree. This December, I’ll be hanging out for Crafternoons in the Computer Lab, making (not-so-crappy-looking) felt tree ornaments, upcycling, and crocheting (or knitting) amigurumi.
So stop by the Computer Lab between 1:00-4:00 PM December 15, 26, and 28 for a break from Winter Break. All supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring stuff to work on (non-messy, please).
See you there!
The Mary Sue posted 12 Christmas trees made from books, a reminder of the cool stuff you can do with books (other than reading them, of course). Upcycling and repurposing discarded or unused objects (like these trees) is super popular these days, so…
I’ve been considering hosting an upcycling Crafternoon after Christmas: you bring the crumpled wrapping paper, empty boxes, unraveled ribbons, cardboard tubes, etc., and we’ll figure out cool ways to make the Christmas leftovers into…something. I’ll have books galore and a Pinterest board full of ideas to get you started. Interested? We’ll be meeting in the Computer Lab from 1-4 PM on Wednesday, Dec. 26.
See you there!
