St. Patrick's Day Activities

St. Patrick's Day Roundup

On March 17, everyone wears green and becomes a little bit Irish to celebrate old Saint Patrick. Here are a few other things for you to do to celebrate your Irish heritage (whether real or fake)!

• Test your knowledge in the St. Patrick's Day Trivia Quiz.
• Take a quick video tour of Ireland.
• Play the St. Patrick's Would You Rather Game.
• Do an Irish jig in honor of the Irish member of One Direction, Niall Horan!!

Isn't Ireland beautiful? What is your favorite thing about St. Patrick's Day? Tell us in the Comments. 

 

Meet Jules!

Meet Jules: Hollywood's Next Little-Big Star!

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Dear Everyone in the Whole Entire World,

Usually my lists are for my eyes only, which means they usually end up in a recycling bin or sitting underneath my bulldog, Ugly Otis, catching his drool. But since someone asked me to write one of my lists to introduce myself to you, I am already feeling distracted picturing all of you all over everywhere reading it. So, I am going to pretend this is a regular old list for my teacher Ms. Leon's free-writing time and NOT a list for the whole entire world to see.

Now, should it be a list of ways I will get the new girl at my school, Elinor of London, to be my new best friend? Or maybe a list of the different smells that make me giggle? (And yes, one of them is my ex-best friend Charlotte Stinkytown's rosemary anti-lice conditioner.)

Oh, wait, I have it: Things I mostly do NOT worry about (this will be short) by Jules Bloom  

1. I do not worry about my little brother, Big Henry, since he can handle anything as long as he’s got a scooter and some dinosaurs rain boots.  
2. I do not worry about my parents because they have reasonable explanations for EVERYTHING, even astrology.  
3. I do not worry about Ms. Leon because, as second-grade teachers go, she just plain wins—best accent, nicest, smartest, most fashionable.

That’s it. The list of things I maybe do worry about are covered in drool right now, but they include pretty much everything else—especially whether or not you’ll like me, because maybe unlike me, you LOVE orange-flavored things, and you HATE worms, and maybe you think Teddy Lichtenstein and I really are meant to be. I forgive you for that one, because I like you so much already! So fingers-triple-crossed, you will like me, too. (And Big Henry and Elinor and my parents and Grandma Gilda and yes, even Stinkytown...)

Read a review of Starring Jules (As Herself).

March Pop-Corn

TV, Movies, and Music you won't want to miss this March!

X Factor judge Demi Lovato will give fans a sneak earful of her upcoming album's first single, "Heart Attack," on On Air with Ryan Seacrest on 102.7 KIIS FM on March 4.

Do you love The Wizard of Oz? Do you ever wonder how the Wizard got to Emerald City? The new 3-D prequel movie Oz the Great and Powerful (rated PG) explains that. Plus it’s got witches, flying monkeys, and some great new characters too! One of them is China Girl, a porcelain doll voiced by 13-year-old Joey King of Ramona and Beezus fame. "I love her because she's so delicate and fragile but she's feisty and sassy, too, and a little bit manipulative," says Joey, who recorded her part in a booth next to the set where she could see the other actors. "And they could hear me. That was really cool." The movie opens March 8.

Coco Jones from Let it Shine will release a four-song EP called Made Of on March 12. The EP includes her single "Holla at the DJ." Coco will perform on BET’s 106 & Park on March 13, and plans to announce her tour later this spring.

Bindi Irwin, the daughter of the late Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin, and a young animal expert herself, will star in Return to Nim’s Island, the sequel to the movie Nim’s Island. In the story, she and her dad (Matthew Lillard) try to save her island from resort developers and animal poachers. It premieres on the Hallmark Channel March 15 at 8 p.m. ET/PT.

If you miss watching The Wizards of Waverly Place on Disney Channel, good news! On March 15 the Russo family's Italian adventure, The Wizards Return: Alex vs. Alex, will premiere at 8 p.m. ET/PT. In the story, Alex (Selena Gomez) will have you seeing double because she accidentally conjures up two versions of herself, one good and the other evil. A sneak preview of the special will be available March 8 on Disney On Demand.

Speaking of Selena, she and TV brother Jake T. Austin plus Justin Bieber, Miranda Cosgrove, Kristen Stewart, Big Time Rush, Victoria Justice, One Direction, Katy Perry, Will Smith, Taylor Swift, Bridgit Mendler, and Maroon 5 are just a few of the stars nominated for Kids' Choice Awards this year. Tune in to see who wins on March 23 at 8 p.m. on Nickelodeon.

—Gerri, STACKS Writer

NEW Harry Potter Illustrator Kazu Kibuishi

NEW Harry Potter Illustrator Kazu Kibuishi

Meet Kazu Kibuishi, the illustrator of the new Harry Potter book covers coming out in September 2013. If you have read his Amulet series, then you know he is an awesome artist. If you have never heard of him before, you might be worried about his credentials. Is he worthy of the epic task of illustrating the book covers to the ultimate series of all time??

Click here to see the first new Harry Potter cover.

I had the chance to interview him a few years ago and he is so, so nice! For those Harry Potter fans who are worried about the new Harry Potter covers, I can assure you we are in good hands with this illustrator!

Watch my interview with him where he talks about being an artist.

And this interview where he shows us his real live, actual sketchbook!

He seems super-cool, right?  Leave a Comment to tell us what you think of the new Harry Potter covers!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

February Books of the Month

February Books of the Month

The Books of the Month series continues! Here's how it works. You write the titles of the books you are reading right now, and I make a word cloud out of all your recommendations. So here they are! You gave me a ton of awesome books for this month's word cloud. Remember, the more votes a title gets, the bigger the print. This month's winner is a tie between Percy Jackson and The Hunger Games (for ages 12 and up).

Keep the Comments coming for next month's Book Wordle! Leave a Comment with the title of the book you are reading right now, and I will make a new word cloud of all our reads for the whole month. 

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Starring Jules As Herself Book Review

Starring Jules (As Herself) by Beth Ain

"That's how you make a fizzy ice-cream cone / That's how you do it / That's how you do it."

Jules Bloom sure has plenty of pizzazz! She was just minding her own business, singing her fizzy ice-cream cone jingle when casting agent Colby Kingston overhears her. Obviously, Colby can’t help but be impressed. She sees something special in Jules, and invites her to audition for a Swish Mouthwash commercial. Jules couldn’t be more excited – until she sees that the mouthwash is orange-flavored!! The last time she had an orange she threw up! Yuck!Jules looks to everyone for help with her orange-phobia: friends, family, and even her ex-best-friend-Charlotte-Stinkytown.

On top of the audition stress, Jules is desperate to become friends with the lovely Elinor, a new student from London. Meanwhile, her ex-best friends The ABC’s (Abby, Brynn, and Charlotte) seem to be taking up different interests from Jules—including a whole lot of attitude! Luckily, Grandma Gilda is always on her side.

The shining star of Beth Ain’s new book, Starring Jules (As Herself) knows she’s on her way to becoming famous, but she just has to get through the audition first. And how does the audition go? Well, read the book and see! After you do, tell us what you would have done if you were in Jules’ shoes in the Comments below!

—Elysse, STACKS Writer

Just a Dog

Just a Dog by Michael Gerard Bauer

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He's more than just a dog! Mister Mosely is a special dog. Not just because he's so big or because he has a heart-shaped splotch on his chest. It's because he seems to know exactly what everyone in Corey's family needs, even when they don't know themselves. If you have a dog, you know how a dog can become the glue that holds a family together. That's exactly what happens with Mister Mosely and Corey's family!

Read chapter one and find out how Mister Mosely isn't "just a dog."

Does your family have a pet? If so, do you consider it part of the family? Let us know in the Comments! And if you don't have a pet, what animal would you want?

—Vanessa, Scholastic Staffer

One Direction Would You Rather?

One Direction Would You Rather?

Got the One Direction infection? Well look no further than today's Would You Rather for a temporary cure! If you are obsessed with all things Louis, Harry, Niall, Liam, and Zayn, then answer the questions below.

Would you rather . . . 

1. See Harry get back together with Taylor Swift OR date Selena Gomez?
2. See Niall with a purple mohawk OR Liam with a pink crew cut?
3. Have your dad get a giant tattoo of the band members OR have your mom spray paint their pictures on her minivan?
4. Have a private 1D concert at your house OR get a VIP invite to see them perform at the Kids Choice Awards?
5. Their next song be titled “I Left My Heart on a Turkey Farm in Kentucky” OR “Mud Wrestling Broke My Heart and My Arm?”
6. Meet Zayn as a zombie, or meet Harry as a werewolf?
7. Go snowboarding with Louis OR go skydiving with Zayn?
8. Get their next album before anyone else OR get to keep a pair of Liam’s sweaty gym socks?
9. Let out a really loud and smelly fart while the boys are signing an autograph for you, OR have a large booger hanging out of your nose while you meet them?
10. Star in a 1D video once and never see them again OR be an unknown member of their stage crew who gets to see them every day?

Leave your answers in the Comments below. And let us know YOUR most outrageous 1D Would You Rather questions! Until next time.

—Ratha, Stacks Writer

Athlete Personality Quiz Results

Personality Quiz Results: Which Pro Athlete Are You?

Last week, we posted an Athlete Personality Quiz to find out which pro sports star you are most like. Are you ready for the results? Count up all your answers to find your place in the lineup.

Mostly A's: LEBRON JAMES
You are one of the hottest basketball players to ever take the court. You were drafted into the NBA straight from high school, and set numerous "youngest player" ever awards like Rookie of the Year, and MVP. Every team you play for gets better with you on the court. You have a super serious work ethic, and school and academics are important to you. Math is your favorite subject, and if you weren’t playing basketball, you’d be an engineer. You like to dress sharp off the court, and usually are wearing a suit. Your advice to make it big is “Always work harder than you normally do.”

Mostly B's: LINDSEY VONN
You are a groundbreaking daredevil ski champion! You started skiing at the age of 2 and grew into the most successful American skier in history. You’ve won 4 overall World Cup Championships and 53 World Cup races in your career. Downhill, Super G, slalom – you name it, you’ve won it. All your hard work and discipline has paid off. You ended up on top, becoming not only a champion, but a media sensation, and a model. When you find something you are passionate about, you go for it.

Mostly C's: DEREK JETER 
You are the face of the most famous team in baseball – the New York Yankees! People either love you or hate you, (but mostly love you). You never miss a game, and are a hard worker. You have won 5 World Series and have broken countless baseball records, including most hits in Yankee history. You have a quiet confidence and are a supreme athlete. You have classic good looks and like to hang out with celebrities. No doubt, you’ll go down as a legend in your sport.

Mostly D's: VENUS AND SERENA WILLIAMS 
You are an unconventional sports star, and get noticed both on and off the courts for your style and attitude. You are fiercely competitive, and work hard to get ahead. As sisters, you have won 10 doubles championships and various Grand Slams and U.S. Opens. You have a strong family bond not only with each other, but with your parents, who continue to coach you in tennis. But you don’t stop at sports. You have your own fashion line, do TV appearances, art, interior design, and charity work. The sky is the limit for you!

Are you happy with your pro-athlete alter-ego? Leave a Comment to tell us which sports star you are most like.

—Ratha, STACKS Writer

Create a Caption: Benni Dog

Create a Caption: Benni Dog

This dog, Benni, looks like a real team player. Look at how eager he looks! What a dependable-looking guy. If dogs could talk, I bet this is what Benni would be saying in this photo:

“Alright, guys. We’ve got this. Fido, you’re our offense superstar. I want you to give this your all – the dogs on the other team won’t know what hit them. Max, I want you to keep Fido covered at all times. Buddy, our defense lineup is strong but I need you to still have your head 100% in the game – I don’t want the other guys to score a single goal today. You’ve been slacking off a little lately. Don’t let your teammates down. Alright guys, you ready to kick some major butt in soccer today? GO TEAM!”

Think I’m way off-base? What do YOU think is going on with Benni? Share your caption in the Comments!

— En-Szu, STACKS Intern (a.k.a. MidnightMagic5)