Happy Teen Read Week!

Teen Read Week is an initiative of the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), which started in 1998. This year's theme is Picture It @ your library®, which encourages teens to read graphic novels and other illustrated materials, seek out creative books, or imagine the world through literature, just for the fun of it. You heard it, read graphic novels and other illustrated materials just for the fun of it. This week we will highlight new graphic novels we think you may like to read for fun, showcase books to help you create your own graphic novel or comics, and give you the low-down on which classics have turned graphic. Here's a hint for you - Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliette in full color.

You might wonder why we celebrate Teen Read Week? Here's a good answer taken straight from YALSA's website...

Teens have so many options for entertainment, so it's important to remind them to spend time reading for pleasure: it's free, fun, and can be done anywhere! Research shows that teens who read for fun have better test scores and are more likely to succeed in the workforce. Also, it’s a great chance to let your school or your public library communities know how important teen services are! Let teens know the possibilities that exist within your doors, and within the covers of books.

So check out which branches are hosting programs during Teen Read Week! Don't forget to check here to see which graphic novels and other illustrated materials will be highlighted and picture yourself reading them.