Cool Music For Your Kids

Are you sick of listening to the CDs that your kids love, but you loathe?  If so, you should give the Jellydots a listen.  They prove that kids music doesn’t have to be pedestrian and annoying.  Their music is hard to categorize; if the Foo Fighters spent a week with Jack Johnson and Ben Harper, I think they would sound a lot like the Jellydots.   The Jellydots  also prove that Queen is not the only band that can write a rockin’ song about a bicycle.  I’m not ashamed to say that I’m putting their album “Hey You Kids!” on my ipod, and I don’t have any children.  I’m also very excited for their next album, Changing Skies, that comes out in March.

 -Dana

The Library of Congress on Flickr

Recently, the Library of Congress has posted historical photos on social photo-sharing site, Flickr.  At the moment, they have more than 2,000 photos posted.  Click here to view the collection.  Click here to see how you can become involved.

Read a Good Teen Book

Hey grown-ups, don’t be embarressed to venture into the library’s teen area!  There are some great novels located in this section…read one today, or grab one for your kids:

 Staying Fat For Sarah Byrnes by Chris Crutcher

The daily class discussions about the nature of man, the existence of God, abortion, organized religion, suicide and other contemporary issues serve as a backdrop for a high-school senior’s attempt to answer a friend’s dramatic cry for help.

 A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world.

 P.S.  This is the first book in a just-completed trilogy, so also check out the second book, Rebel Angels and the third book, A Sweet Far Thing as well!

 P.P.S. Bray grew up in Denton and still has family in the area, so show some love by reading her fantastic trilogy! 

  The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

A series of letters to an unknown correspondent reveals the coming-of-age trials of a high-schooler named Charlie,  a high school freshman in Pennsylvania. The novel follows Charlie as he is introduced to love, literature and drugs while mourning the loss of his best friend to suicide.

 Keep checking back, there will be more to come!

 -Dana