April 23rd is Shakespeare’s birthday and The Loft is celebrating The Bard’s 445th with this great list of books! Here you’ll find modern novel re-tellings of Shakespeare plays, stories inspired by the great scribe’s life (and the lives of his characters), Manga adaptations, as well as gripping non-fiction titles that explore his creative genius, biography, and thematic obsessions. Dive into the exciting, vibrant world of The Bard to combat the early spring doldrums! Happy Birthday, Will!
The Naming Of Cats 
April is National Poetry Month! Looking for a place to publish your poetry? Submit your poems to Teen Ink, a national teen magazine, book series, and website devoted entirely to teenage writing and art.
Submit your work online, 
or send it by email or regular mail. Check out the submission guidelines online, or stop by the Loft and relax in the lounge with our print copy. 
Feeling lost in Shakespeare’s verse? Don’t have a chance to see the plays performed on stage? The Loft now has a selection of Shakespeare’s plays in Manga form! Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet - the Bard’s immortal poetry and stories come alive in stunning illustrations and shrewd adaptations. Let’s face it: Shakespeare’s words, while exquisitely rendered and timeless, can be a struggle to read on your own. Why not get a grip on the stories first with an edition of MANGA SHAKESPEARE? You’ll find them at call number YA 822.44, or ask a member of The Loft staff to help you find one.
Also, listen to this Wisconsin Public Radio broadcast from two weeks ago on Shakespeare in the modern world. Towards the end you’ll find a fascinating segment on adapting Shakespeare into graphic novel and comic book form.
April is National Poetry Month! Join the free verse project. Do certain images make you recall lines of a poem? Pull out your camera, capture that thought, then send your picture, poem and original source here.
The lake’s floor exists floorlessly,
and its shore exists shorelessly.
It’s water feels itself neither wet nor dry
and its waves to themselves are neither singular nor plural.
They splash deaf to their own noise
on pebbles neither large nor small.
-Wislawa Szymborska, from View With a Grain of Sand
Looking for poetry suggestions? Visit the Loft’s List, and Diverse Verse.
Celebrate Poetry! Read a poem a day, or find just the poem or poetry website you need here. Read poetry by Evanston teens*, and write one of your own!
Stop by the Loft and find a book of poetry on display.
*The poetry featured here by Evanston teens was written during a program that was partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
My Interesting Eyes
My interesting eyes are like
the moon and sun mixed together.
Half of my eye is bright
the other side of my eye is dark.
In the morning they match
my clothes and breakfast.
At night they match
with my pjs and dinner.
Whenever the lights are off,
my eyes are like sharks.
When the lights are on,
my eyes are like cat’s eyes.
When I wake up,
it was a dream.
-Alexis J.
New York is My Home
New York is my home it’s where I’m free, when I’m not there it’s like a shell you see
I want to go home yes home that’s my home, I don’t live there that’s for sure I live in Evanston
but that’s not where I’m from
I love the sound of taxicabs it’s so wonderful I’m never sad
I’m one thousand miles away that’s what I say, I tell my Dad it’s just a plane ticket but that’s not the case
I wish I could go home just for the summer so I can smell the sweet New York luster,
you think I’m bluffing just wait and see, this ain’t no type of game to me
I express the best when I’m in my New York dress
I cry, I try, I do what I can, but nothing will help me fulfill my plan.
Who knows how I feel I’m so bottled up here, you just see a face that smiles every day
but do you see me inside when I cry?
You see my laughter the place where I live ain’t no Sherman
It’s New York understand it, don’t ever judge if you don’t know where I’m from
you don’t know my background New York is my home
I try and try and try to be free, to express myself but it’s not that easy
Step in my shoes if you dare I’m telling you now just beware
New York is my home and I can’t get there but you know what? That’s just not fair.
Me happy go lucky Ashley is what you see, but is it really?
But do you really know I’m in a deep hole crowded by pain,
New York is the only place I can be plain and simple me.
-Ashley L.
*This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
N
Slam Dunk
Basketball is my life
I would make Spaulding my wife.
Only playing one-on-one with the best
to put my skills to the test. There’s
no time for rest.
I just wanna ball but they wanna
see me fall. I can prove to my
fans once and for all that I
can ball. No need for side track
just stick your best D and pack that.
Interrupt the opponent and go for
the layup. Time for the checkup,
go for the jumpshot. Don’t comment
just say it was hot.
I’m skilled and I’m lucky like
the number thirteen. My moves are
clean and my attitude is mean.
Have to be the most valuable player
in the game ‘cuz no other is the same. All the time was worth, put
the other team in a hearse.
Going for the fast break
the whole court’s gonna shake.
Sweat drippin’ down, situation
Like slow motion.
Now for the signature move,
back flip has the fans drop a lip.
slam dunk, now the game is
over. I just won but just for
Fun.
-Knight W.
My Lil’ Mama
I got the blues
My lil mama won’t look at me no mo’
Oh y’all I got the blues
My lil mama won’t look at me no mo’
I guess I’ll go on back to Mississippi
I’ll just pack my bags and hit the do’
Tuggin’ me back n’ forth
I don’t know what to do
Ya tuggin me back n’ forth, baby
I just don’t know what to do
The way I see things right now baby
You tellin’ me “I don’t want you.”
You’se a mean woman
You treatin me so wrong
Ooooooh you’s a mean woman
You know you doin’ me so wrong.
I’m so shocked I don’t know what
To say so this is the end of my song
-Chauncey G.
*This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
Just because I am from another country,
doesn’t mean I should be your servant
doesn’t mean I don’t know your language
doesn’t mean I can’t follow the rules.
Just because I’m bigger
doesn’t mean you can call me giagantor
doesn’t mean I am like a tree trunk
doesn’t mean I’m a meany
Just because I’m black
doesn’t mean I can’t learn
doesn’t mean you should treat me like a slave
doesn’t mean I’m from the chocolate world
It’s just how I am.
-Alexis J.
Just Because…
Just because I talk ghetto
Doesn’t mean I’m simple or slow
Just because I am chubby
Doesn’t mean I always “Have it My Way”
Just because my teeth are crooked
Doesn’t mean I’m a freak
Just because I fight
It doesn’t make me a bully
Just because I rap
Doesn’t mean I qualify for the senseless statistics
Just because I’m hard
Doesn’t mean I can’t be soft
Just because I’m black
Doesn’t mean I always eat chicken
Doesn’t mean I always eat watermelon
-Chauncey G.
Don’t Judge Me
Just because I’m a girl
Doesn’t mean I’m weak
Doesn’t mean I can’t win
Doesn’t mean I’m bossy
Just because I’m a nerd
Doesn’t mean I can’t let loose
Doesn’t mean I’m a stick in the mud
Doesn’t mean I’m a geeky bookworm
Just because I’m tall
Doesn’t mean I’ve been held back
Doesn’t mean I’m a giant
Doesn’t mean I’m a freak
That’s just how I am so you
Either take or leave it
-Tyler D
*This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
The Truth Behind My High Voice
Just because I have a high voice.
Does not mean I’m not loud.
Don’t let that fool you.
Don’t listen to how I sound listen to what I say.
Does not mean I don’t get mad, doesn’t mean I’m not heard of.
I have a voice so I’m gonna use it
and I’m gonna say what I’ve got to say.
Just because I have a high voice
Does not mean I’m not LOUD.
-Juliana N.
ARIEL
Just because I’m a small thirteen year old girl.
Doesn’t mean I don’t have feelings.
Doesn’t mean I can’t understand what you older kids are going through
Doesn’t mean that my size can tell you what I can do.
Just because I look like a nice person
Doesn’t make you think I’m so easy
Doesn’t mean I can’t be sassy
Doesn’t mean I can’t bring out the ghetto in me.
Doesn’t mean I can’t be loud.
Just because I’m small
Doesn’t mean I don’t play sports.
Doesn’t mean I can’t run track
Doesn’t mean I can’t be tough
Doesn’t mean I can’t play football
Just because I’m reading this poem
Doesn’t mean this is all of me.
-Ariel M.
*This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
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