Jólabókaflóðið is coming!
If you don’t happen to be one of the 314,000 people in the entire world who speak Icelandic, we’re talking about the Yule Book Flood.
Maybe you’ve seen the meme on social media about the tradition of Jolabokaflod, pronounced YO-la-bok-a-flud. People exchange books on Christmas Eve and spend the night reading and drinking hot chocolate. Sounds magical, right?
The practice dates back to World War II, when there were restrictions on what could be imported for gifts. The restrictions on paper were not as strict, so books became the Christmas present of choice. And Icelanders have honored the tradition ever since. Continue reading “Brace for the Book Flood!”
In August we asked our patrons to share what they love about their library! We received some wonderful comments and each month we will feature quotes from our patrons and library staff, highlighting the things that make their buildings so special. This month Beth B. is our guest staff member from the Callaway County Public Library in Fulton.
Continue reading “Library Spotlight: Callaway County Public Library in Fulton”
Do you love all matter of spooky ephemera, including (but not limited to) asymmetrical gourds, a crunchy walk through leaf-litter at dusk, black cats, swooping bats, a chilly breeze, the moonlit hoot-hooting of an owl, flickering shadows, the curling crackle of a bonfire with friends, your favorite elder’s throaty cackle? 🍠🍂🐈🖤🦇🌬️🌕🔥
Are you into that *swirls hands in the air over imaginary cauldron/crystal ball* distinctly witchy vibe? 🔮🕯️
Are you a young ghoul at heart? 👻
Does your bedroom feature skulls, spiderwebs, and tombstones as year-round decor? 🕸️💀
If you answered yes to any of the above questions, you’re among friends (or fiends 😈)! Halloween and all its haunted trappings gives my heart, in the words of young vampire Vlad the Rad, “bat wings” and “sugar-frosted lightning bolts,” but I have a confession: while I love all manner of the occult, I am just too tender-hearted for the harrowing thrills, over-the-top gore, scritchy-scratchy musical panic, and heart-pounding jump-scares that are present in many scary movies (and the horror genre more generally). Which means I have to be extra selective when it comes to figuring out how to best usher and revel in the ghastly glory of spooky season. So this year I’ve come up with a curated Spooky, Not Scary™ Watch-List perfect for anyone who wants to experience a spectre-tacular atmosphere without sacrificing their delicate nerves. Each tv show, movie or video is rated on a scale of 0-5 smashed pumpkins. The more smashed pumpkins (which I’ve metaphorically dropped out of terror), the closer the tv show/movie/video is to being truly frightening. Note: no gourds were harmed in the making of this list. 🎃
You can access the full list here; what follows are my Top 6 with minimal spoilers! Happy Hauntings! Continue reading “Spooky, Not Scary Watch-List”
Do you daydream about escaping into the woods and wonder what it would be like to be a woodland creature? Or do you want to know how to give up a boss life for a moss life? We recently hosted a program where we did all that and more! In our ongoing how-to cosplay series, we transformed ourselves and our patrons into fantastic woodland animals. Don’t worry if you missed our program, we’ve got tips below to help you become a majestic creature! And be on the lookout for more cosplay fun in December! Continue reading “Cosplay Tutorial: Woodland Creature Transformation”
Exciting things are happening over here at the library! You can now find us on Instagram @dbrlteen. Here you’ll find the latest information about library and community events as well as what we’re reading! Smash that follow button or better yet set us as a favorite so you get the most up-to-date info.
We are excited to announce that we have the winners of this year’s Teen Photo Contest! We had 33 entries and they were all outstanding! The teens have submitted their photographic interpretations of this year’s Summer Reading theme “Oceans of Possibilities” and after much deliberation, we have selected this year’s winners. Below are the top three winners. Continue reading “Teen Photo Contest: 2022 Winners”
How’s that To Be Read pile looking? Dangerously low? Now’s your chance to squeeze in as much reading as you can before school starts back up, but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered! Not gonna lie, most of my picks this month have some romance, but if that’s not your thing I’ve also got a thriller with an unreliable narrator.
“Into the Sublime” by Kate A. Boorman
In case you couldn’t guess from the cover, this is the thriller. The story begins at the ending, as three girls emerge from a cave. Two are immediately rushed to the hospital, one is covered in blood that isn’t hers, and begins to tell their story to the police. And one girl is missing. The four of them were part of a thrill-seeking group that was following local legends about an underground lake. Rumor says that anyone who faces their greatest fear at the lake will have something big changed for them. The story unravels as it unfolds, with an increasingly untrustworthy narrator and claustrophobic psychological and supernatural horror. Pair this book with a trip to the Devil’s Icebox trail and Connor’s Cave if you really want the full experience. Continue reading “The Selector’s Selections: July 2022”
Summer reading is in full swing and we are getting tons of recommendations from our teen readers! Here are a few books highlighting our teens’ favorite fantasy novels. Warning: Some of these books may be part of a series so you may need to do some catch-up reading before you dive into one of these recommended reads.
Continue reading “Reader Reviews: Fantasy Edition”
Summer Reading is upon us! With a theme like “Oceans of Possibilities,” how could we not think of merpeople?
We are so lucky to have our very own siren, Dana! She loves cosplay and makeup effects, so we wanted to share her talent with you in this video tutorial so you can play along at home.
Here is what you’ll need to get started.
- Eyeshadow pallet. Any colors or brand you want to use, but the higher the pigmentation, the better.
- Brush or sponge. Dana used a makeup sponge in the tutorial, but a large makeup brush would work, too!
- Wig cap or fishnets. The wig cap is what gives you the scale pattern effect.
If you feel like going all out, combine a costume and a watery location!
We would love to see your finished look! Snap a pic and send it to us at teen@dbrl.org.
Celebrate LGBTQAI+ Pride Month by making your own beautiful melted crayon art painting! Here’s everything you need to make your own queer-colored masterpiece. Continue reading “DIY Pride Rainbow Painting 🌈”
