Snowflakes!

Don't you guys just love snow? Come into the Main branch to make your own snowflakes! I mean, they're made of paper, but they're cool--and we'll put them on display on our bulletin board! We have a few instructions printed out, but for awesome designs, look at samples online!

And speaking of snow, when people say, "No two snowflakes are alike," they're totally right. But they don't mention how incredible snowflakes are up close! Here are some samples from a photographer named Alexey Kljatov (who even teaches you how to photograph snowflakes on his blog!):

 

Unreal, right?!

And for more snowy weather fun, grab a mug of hot cocoa and settle in with one of these books for snowy days (all of which are available through the library system!):

• Let It Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle
• Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan
• Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Stories by Stephanie Perkins, Holly Black, Ally Carter, Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, David Levithan, Kelly Link, Myra McEntire, Matt de la Pena, Rainbow Rowell, Laini Taylor, and Kiersten White
• Six Months Later by Natalie Richards
• Starry, Starry Night: Three Holiday Stories by Lurlene McDaniel
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• Brian's Winter by Gary Paulsen
• The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan (we have the graphic novel and audiobook, too!)
• Wintersmith by Terry Pratchett
• The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa
• Holiday Princess by Meg Cabot
• Tug-of-War by J.C. Pearce
• The Year the Wolves Came by Bebe Faas Rice
• The Diamond of Darkhold by Jeanne DuPrau
• Far North by Will Hobbs
• The Trap by John E. Smelcer
• Winter On Her Own by Elizabeth Howard
• Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling (or really any HP book; they have great winter scenes)

The Heroes of Olympus Update + Percy Jackson Book!!!

Rick Riordan gave his fans a plethora of amazing spoilers on his blog. Let's bullet point this:

• If you've downloaded the short story "The Staff of Serapis," which features Annabeth Chase + Sadie Kane, you'll get a sneak peek of the first chapter of The Blood of Olympus. (Here's a sample of the first few pages of "The Staff of Serapis"!)
• BTW, here's the cover for the final book in The Heroes of Olympus series, due to be released October 7:

• RR also released some info about the book itself, including its length (about as long as the others) and what will happen at the end (no epilogue or cliffhangers but complete closure for the characters and story arc!).
• Before that, though, you can read Percy Jackson's Greek Gods, and the illustrations look bananas. (Not like actual fruit bananas, but like, "it's so cool, it's making me crazy, like I'm 'going bananas.'" You guys remember Gwen Stefani, right??)

 

• RR also mentioned what his next two projects are going to be and MAN, they sound good!!
• His next series will be based on Norse mythology! It will be released Fall 2015, though the title (and some hints??) will be revealed at the end of The Blood of Olympus. 
• Also, here's a quote directly from RR:

Other things going on: I am presently writing the third crossover story in the Kane/Percy Jackson saga, in which Percy, Sadie, Carter and Annabeth finally team up all together. This will be told from Percy's point of view, a la the 'old school' Percy Jackson novels. I'm having a lot of fun with it. I'll get you more info -- the title, the publication date -- as soon as it's all confirmed.

!!! Worlds are colliding, guys! I'm going to wear out the + key on my keyboard, talking about Pecy + Sadie + Carter + Annabeth.
• THE LOST HERO GRAPHIC NOVEL LOOKS SO GOOOOOOD!

• RR also mentioned he's going on a book tour starting October 7 to promote The Blood of Olympus, as well as the new paperback boxset that's been released.

It's just been a really exciting week for RR/Percy Jackson fans. If you're not up-to-date on any of his books--or if you want to read them over again--check them out from MRL!

Photo credits: Rick Riordan, Nate Powell, someone named Wes? Sorry Wes, I don't know you, but cool bed. Very Rocko's Modern Life.