Teen Entrepreneurs

Lately, I've been addicted to the TV show Shark Tank. The premise of the show is that entrepreneurs pitch their companies and/or products to five "sharks," a panel of five potential investors. What has surprised me the most about the show are the teenagers who pitch their products and companies to the investors. Most notable are:

Henry Miller, who was sixteen when he appeared on Shark Tank, made a deal with Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec for his company Henry's Humdingers. Miller was offered $300,000 for 75 percent equity in his company. The deal eventually fell through, but what's important is that Miller had an idea that investors were interested in.

Carter Kostler, who was fifteen when he appeared on Shark Tank, pitched his product, The Define Bottle, a reusable water bottle that allows people to add fresh fruit to their water. Carter asked the sharks for $100,000 in exchange for 20 percent equity in his company. Robert Herjavec countered his offer with $100,000 in exchange for 40 percent equity. After trying to negotiate $100,000 for 30 percent equity, Kostler ended up leaving the show without a deal. Revenue from Carter's company was approximately $150,000 before going on the show; since being on Shark Tank, revenue has increased to over $225,000, according to an interview Carter did with Inside Business.

Then, I started thinking about other teen entrepreneurs I've heard about. The biggest name that came to mind is Bella Weems, who started a jewelry company called Origami Owl when she was 14 years old. She started the company to earn money to buy a car; in 2012, the company generated $24 million in revenue, according to an article in Forbes.

It's obvious that teens are creative, and that their ideas have the potential to be extremely successful. These stories started me thinking about how teens can be encouraged to take their ideas and try to build them into products and companies. The library has books that can help. The books listed are a mix of young adult books about starting businesses and adult books that provide advice and good information that can be applied to starting businesses and being a business leader.

How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

The Other 90%: How to Unlock Your Vast Untapped Potential for Leadership and Life by Robert K. Cooper

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson

Founders at Work: Stories of Startups' Early Days by Jessica Livingston

Be a Changemaker: How to Start Something That Matters by Laurie Ann Thompson

Know of any other good resources, books or otherwise, for teens who want to create their own products and businesses? Let us know in the comments!

New & Novel: Knit & Crochet Gifts & Seasonal Accessories

There's a chill in the air in the evening and early mornings now.  What better time to curl up with some yarn, and do some knitting or crocheting or both? You still have enough time to get some projects done before the holidays, too!  Here are some possible gift and seasonal accessory (hats, scarves, etc.) guides for the crafty amongst us...or for those who know someone crafty who might whip up some socks or mittens for their friends before the weather gets cold!

If you end up making anything from a library book pattern, we'd love to see it! Send your pictures to abcreads@gmail.com and we will display them in a blog post!

Knit

Quick Icelandic Knits: Sweaters, Hats, Socks, Mittens and More by Gunn Birgirsdottir

Farmyard Knits by Fiona Goble

Doggy Knits: 10 Original Patterns For Your Style-Conscious Dog by Alison Jenkins

Literary Knits: 30 Patterns Inspired By Favorite Books by Nikol Lohr

Sweet & Simple Handmade: 25 Projects to Sew, Stitch, Knit & Upcycle for Children by Melissa Wastney [eBook]

Knitted Animal Hats: 35 Wild and Wonderful Hats and More for Babies, Kids, and the Young at Heart by Fiona Goble

50 Yards of Fun: Knitting Toys from Scrap Yarn by Rebecca Danger

Northern Knits Gifts: Thoughtful Projects Inspired by Folk Traditions by Lucinda Guy  [eBook]

Crochet

Hello Kitty Crochet: Super Cute Amigurumi Patterns by Mei Li Lee

Clever Crocheted Accessories: 25 Quick Weekend Projects by Brett Bara [eBook]

Crochet One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects From Crocheters Around the World edited by Judith Durant and Edie Eckman

Simply Adorable Crochet: 40 of the Cutest Projects Ever! by Maki Oomachi

My Crochet Doll: A Fabulous Crochet Doll Pattern With Over 50 Cute Crochet Doll's Clothes and Accessories by Isabelle Kessedjian

Crochet Noro: 30 Dazzling Designs edited by Joy Aquilino


We recently became aware of the National WWII Museum's Knit Your Bit program, which allows you to knit or crochet scarves for veterans. They even provide patterns, such as "V for Victory"! This is an ongoing project, so if you are interested in participating you can send it a scarf at any time, but if you get it to the museum by early December, they can spread "holiday cheer".  Instructions are on their website. You can also check out this children's book on the topic:

Knit Your Bit: A World War I Story by Deborah Hopkinson

Beyond Pumpkin Spice: Fall Produce

Green chile season is already at an end, so the smell of roasting is fading from the air.  But there is plenty more seasonal produce you can enjoy in the fall! Whether you are looking for specific cookbooks, vegetable recipes, or just guides to seasonal eating, the ABC Library catalog should have something for every taste.

Fall Produce

Halloween Sweets and Treats by Ruth Owen

Pumpkins & Squashes by Caroline Boisset

Winter Squash & Pumpkins by Mary Anna DuSablon [eBook]

Giving Thanks: Thanksgiving Recipes and History, From Pilgrims to Pumpkin Pie by the Plimoth Plantation

Apples, From Harvest to Table: 50 Recipes Plus Lore, Crafts and More, Starring the Tried-and-True Favorite by Amy Pennington

Brassicas: Cooking the World's Healthiest Vegetables - Kale, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts and More by Laura B. Russell

A Platter of Figs and Other Recipes by David Tanis


Vegetable Recipes

River Cottage Veg : 200 Inspired Vegetable Recipes by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Vegetable Literacy: Cooking and Gardening with Twelve Families from the Edible Plant Kingdom, With Over 300 Deliciously Simple Recipes by Deborah Madison

Plenty More: Vibrant Vegetable Cooking from London's Ottolenghi by Yotam Ottolenghi

Root-to-Stalk Cooking: The Art of Using the Whole Vegetable by Tara Duggan

Tender: A Cook and His Vegetable Patch by Nigel Slater [eBook]


Seasonal
The One-Block Feast: An Adventure in Food From Yard to Table by Margo True & the staff of Sunset magazine [eBook]

The Farm: Rustic Recipes For a Year of Incredible Food by Ian Knauer

Saving the Season: A Cook's Guide to Home Canning, Pickling, and Preserving by Kevin West
Eat Greens: Seasonal Recipes to Enjoy in Abundance by Barbara Scott-Goodman & Liz Trovato

Handmade Gatherings: Recipes & Crafts for Seasonal Celebrations and Potluck Parties by Ashley English

Seasonal Southwest Cooking: Contemporary Recipes & Menus for Every Occasion by Barbara Pool Fenzl
Preserving by the Pint: Quick Seasonal Canning for Small Spaces by Marisa McClellan

Real Food All Year: Eating Seasonal Whole Foods for Optimal Health & All-Day Energy by Nishanga Bliss


Links

Fall  Produce Guide [Cooking Light]

What's In Season? Fall [Fruits & Vegetables More Matters]

Fresh Fall Produce [Food & Wine]

Fall Fruits and Vegetables [About.com]

PickYourOwn.org - New Mexico

Featured Author: Ben Aaronovitch

Ben Aaronovitch started his writing life writing Doctor Who serials, so it makes sense that when he started writing books, they would fall in the urban fantasy and fantasy mystery genres. However, his Rivers of London series almost never got written when an early version of the concept was compared to The Dresden Files! Aaronovitch distinguishes his work from Jim Butcher's on many points, first and foremost being that his series is less "noir". Peter Grant, the protagonist of Rivers of London, is a police constable and magician's apprentice, the North-London-born biracial son of a jazz musician and an African immigrant. Grant can see paranormal beings such as ghosts, which brings him to the attention of the head of the magical police force. From there, encounters with the supernatural in forms including vampires, evil wizards, haunted subways, and ancient powers ensue, with Grant level-headed and wryly humorous as he attempts to learn spells to compliment normal police procedures.

If you are seeking to read something "intricately plotted, fast-paced, atmospheric, witty" [NoveList], why not give Peter Grant a try?

Rivers of London

[Peter Grant novels] 

Midnight Riot

Whispers Under Ground

Moon Over Soho

Broken Homes

Readalikes

The Devil You Know by Mike Carey

Storm Front by Jim Butcher

Links

The Folly

"Welcome to the Folly, official home of British magic since 1775 — or at least home of the magic depicted in the continuing adventures of Peter Grant, police constable and apprentice wizard."

"A Conversation with Ben Aaronovitch, Author, Midnight Riot"

[Del Rey Science Fiction & Fantasy]

"A Doctor Who writer breathes life into the 'magical detective' novel"

[i09.com]

"Come With Us to All the Magical Londons!"

[Tor.com]

TOON Books: High Quality Comics for Kids

“Don’t be suspicious of something just because kids love it.”  

~Françoise Mouly

Have you seen TOON Books and TOON Graphics in stacks? They're not just another publishing house! Françoise Mouly, art editor at The New Yorker, founded TOON Books as "a whole new approach to books for beginning readers—a rethinking as radical as the first time Theodor Geisel put a hat on a cat."*

Ms. Mouly grew up in France reading comics such as the Asterix series by René Goscinny, and when she came to the United States in the 1970s, taught herself English by reading comics. She is married to cartoonist Art Spiegelman, author of Maus, and together they co-founded, co-edited, and co-published the comic magazine Raw in the 1980s. When Mouly and Spiegelman had children, they realized how difficult it was to find good comics in English for children - so they started the Raw Junior imprint, which publishes the Little Lit anthologies, whose contributors include Neil Gaiman and Lemony Snicket. This led Mouly to create TOONs.

TOON books are comics for children as young as 3. Some are listed as Easy in the ABC Library catalog, indicating that they are picture books; others are Easy Readers, for the kids who are just beginning to read by themselves. TOON Easy Readers are marked as as "Easy to Read Comics" or "Toon Into Reading", and on the back a reading level will be listed (interestingly, on their website, the levels are defined by both "reading level" - such as grades K-2 - and "interest level" - ages 3+) . TOON graphics are aimed at 4th graders and older - what you would find in J Fiction in the library stacks. Each TOON book has been reviewed by educators (checking the language and story), and many TOON books are on recommended reading lists, including those published by the American Library Association.

For those who are not convinced that kids reading comics is a good thing, the TOON website* assures us:

Comics have always had a unique ability to draw young readers into a story through the drawings. Visual narrative helps kids crack the code that allows literacy to flourish, teaching them how to read from left to right, from top to bottom. Speech balloons facilitate a child's understanding of written dialogue as a transcription of spoken language. Many of the issues that emerging readers have traditionally struggled with are instantly clarified by comics' simple and inviting format.

So if you see a TOON book in the stacks, why not give it a try?  Here's a sampling of TOON titles available in the library catalog:


Hansel & Gretel by Neil Gaiman, Lorenzo Mattotti

Hearts by Thereza Rowe

Tippy and the Night Parade by Lilli Carré

Benjamin Bear in "Bright Ideas!" by Philippe Coudray

Maya Makes a Mess by Rutu Modan

Barry's Best Buddy by Renée French

Benny and Penny in the Big No-No! by Geoffrey Hayes    

A Trip to the Bottom of the World with Mouse by Frank Viva

Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons by Agnes Rosenstiehl   


You can easily find more of these books in the catalog with a keyword search using "Toon book" or "Toon graphic".


Links

"Françoise Mouly’s Toon Graphics Takes Comics to Classrooms" [New York Times]

"Our Mission" - TOON Books*

 

If you like the Romanov Sisters...

We recently read The Romanov Sisters: The Lost Lives of the Daughters of Nicholas and Alexandra by Helen Rappaport, and found it unputdownable! With that title in mind, a new royal baby in the offing, the recent passing of the Duchess of Devonshire (last of the six Mitford sisters), and the Scottish referendum recently in the news, we thought that now would be a good time for royal readalikes! Here's a few likely non-fiction and fiction titles for the ardent monarchist and followers of famous families throughout history.


Non-Fiction

From Splendor to Revolution: The Romanov Women, 1847-1928 by Julia P. Gelardi

The Duchess by Amanda Foreman

Marie Antoinette: The Journey by Antonia Fraser

Cleopatra: A Life by Stacy Schiff

Mary, Queen of Scots, and the Murder of Lord Darnley by Alison Weir

A Circle of Sisters: Alice Kipling, Georgiana Burne-Jones, Agnes Poynter and Louisa Baldwin by Judith Flanders

The Sisters: The Saga of the Mitford Family by Mary S. Lovell

Aristocrats: Caroline, Emily, Louisa, and Sarah Lennox, 1740-1832 by Stella Tillyard

The Last Princess: The Devoted Life of Queen Victoria's Youngest Daughter by Matthew Dennison

We Two: Victoria and Albert - Rulers, Partners, Rivals by Gillian Gill

The Heir Apparent: A Life of Edward VII, The Playboy Prince by Jane Ridley

Not In Front of the Corgis: Secrets of Life Behind the Royal Curtains by Brian Hoey

The Royal Stuarts: A History of the Family That Shaped Britain by Allan Massie

The Sisters Who Would Be Queen: Mary, Katherine, and Lady Jane Grey - A Tudor Tragedy by Leanda de Lisle

The Titled Americans: Three American Sisters and the British Aristocratic World Into Which They Married by Elisabeth Kehoe

Five Sisters: The Langhorne Sisters of Virginia by James Fox  

  

Fiction

The Tsarina's Daughter by Carolly Erickson

Elizabeth I by Margaret George

The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory

Duchess: A Novel of Sarah Churchill by  Susan Holloway Scott

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

The Complete Tudors: Nine Historical Novels by Jean Plaidy [eBook]

The Secret Daughter of the Tsar by Jennifer Laam

Girl on the Golden Coin: A Novel of Frances Stuart by Marci Jefferson


Links

Masterpiece Theatre: Love In a Cold Climate (Mitford Sisters)

BBC Two: Russia's Lost Princesses
  

Top Ten Best Albums

About a month ago, I checked out 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, edited by Robert Dimery. As a music lover, I was curious to see what albums Dimery included in the book, and while there are some great albums and artists represented in his book, there are so many more that aren't there. It's partly due to the fact that the book was published in 2006, and some amazing albums have come out since then.

Since I looked through 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, I've been thinking about what albums I think everyone should listen to. These are my go-to albums whenever I'm stressed or just wanting to listen to something I know I will love and never get tired of.

Backstreet Boys: In a World Like This
Backstreet Boys: Millennium

Black Hawk Down soundtrack

Luke Bryan: Crash My Party
Luke Bryan: Tailgates & Tanlines

Eric Church: The Outsiders

Crosby, Stills, and Nash: Crosby, Stills, and Nash

Lady Antebellum: Golden
Lady Antebellum: Own the Night

A.J. McLean: Have It All

Update: The library now has most of these albums! I've created a playlist on Spotify so you can enjoy some of the songs on most of the albums (the exception is the A.J. McLean album, which isn't available on Spotify).