Blog Post
Storytime: W is for Wind!
by eapearce
This week at storytimes at Westgate and Traverwood, AADL storyteller Elizabeth shared stories about wind! Whoooosh! An old man complained about his noisy house and the wind outside in Too Much Noise, until the town’s wise woman solved his problem in a unique way. Ben floated away to the moon with his red balloon in Come Back, Ben and the mouse and his boat were blown every which way by the wind in The Mouse and the Wind, a story from Arnold Lobel’s classic Mouse Tales. We also tracked down the owner of a lovely hat that the wind had whisked away in Whose Hat Is That?
For more windy favorites for preschoolers, try Windblown by Edouard Manceau and The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins.
Blog Post
Storytimes: D is for Dog!
by eapearce
Elizabeth shared Dog stories this week at storytimes at Traverwood and Westgate! We heard about the adorable, yet misbehaving dog who wouldn’t drop the shoe in Drop It, Rocket … until he heard a story, of course! Farm animals had to bravely venture into the scary doghouse to find their missing ball in Jan Thomas’ The Doghouse. Mack the dog ate a cake intended for the farmer in The Cake That Mack Ate, and we met a “talking” dog in Lois Ehlert’s Rrralph! Of course, storytime wouldn’t have been complete without a rousing version of B-I-N-G-O!
AADL’s new Westgate storytimes take place three times a week in the program room:
Mondays, from 11:00-11:30am
Wednesdays, from 1:00-1:30pm
Fridays, from 10:00-10:30am
Storytimes are intended for ages 2-5 years. All are welcome and no sign-up or registration is required.
Blog Post
R U OK?
by Beth Manuel
Here's a disturbing statistic: One out of seven Washtenaw County middle and high school students have contemplated suicide. What can we do about it?
Through the collaboration of ONE Washtenaw, agencies, organizations and the faith community are working together to coordinate their efforts to prevent suicide, especially of our young citizens. One of their joint ventures is the 'R U OK?' Suicide Prevention Campaign. Community Mental Health, Ozone House and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline have created this awareness campaign. Additionally, training is available for anyone who would like to be a 'lifeguard'. By following the training components of R U OK community members & students can learn how to detect signs of depression & hopelessness, what to say and resources to share. Sometimes just ONE positive interaction can make all the difference for someone contemplating ending their life.
If you feel like you're not O.K. and need someone to talk to here are some important phone numbers: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, Washtenaw Community Mental Health Access: 734-544-3050 or 800-440-7548 and Ozone House: 734-662-2222.
Spread the word & find out: R U OK?
Blog Post
Family Books for All!
by evelyn
We have two new beautiful picture books celebrating diverse families.
A Family is a Family is a Family, written by Sara O’Leary and with illustrations by Qin Leng, is a wonderful meditation on how many different kinds of families there are. The narrator is a young girl who is nervous to tell her class about her family because they are different than other families. However, after each of her classmates describes their unique families, she feels comfortable talking about her own foster mom. The illustrations in this sweet book show all different families as they explore, play, eat, and most of all, love each other.
Home at Last is the last book by renowned children’s book author Vera B. Williams. Finished posthumously, with illustrations by Chris Raschka, this lovely book tells the story of Lester, whose adoption day has finally arrived. Although he already feels that he, Daddy Rich, and Daddy Albert are a family, he is nervous to sleep in his own bed at his new home. Luckily, their dog Wincka jumps in to help out. This book is great not only for adopted kids, but for any kids struggling with change or getting used to sleeping in their own big kid bed.
Want to find more great picture books about families? Take a look at this list!
Blog Post
Are We There Yet?
by manz
Long car rides can be downright boring. Especially for the kids in the backseat calling out “are we there yet?” The picture book, Are We There Yet? is by Caldecott medalist Dan Santat (The Adventures of Beekle) and is a funny look at one family’s road trip adventure. The beautiful illustrations set the backdrop for a looooong ride to Grandma’s house that's filled with imagination. The book has you turning it round and round, upside down and backwards to follow the adventure, in a way that won’t make you carsick. The moral of the story is, you never know where life may take you, so sit back and enjoy the ride.
Blog Post
Election Day Reads for Kids
by evelyn
Want to talk to your kids about election day and civic engagement? Look no further than your library!
For a basic primer on voting and democracy, check out Every Vote Matters or School House Rocks: Election Collection.
Help your little ones learn about the people who fought for the right to vote with these great titles. I especially recommend the beautiful and moving book Lillian’s Right to Vote, which is about the Voting Rights Act of 1965. With lovely illustrations and stirring text, this book will help kids learn understand how hard citizens have worked to earn the vote.
For even more books on voting and democracy, take a look at this list!
Blog Post
Teens Using Drugs: Education Series
by Beth Manuel
The Dawn Farms Education Series, "Teens Using Drugs: What To Know and What To Do" reconvenes in January, 2017. This is a free, two-part series that will be presented from 7:30-9:00 pm Tuesday, January 3rd (part one, "What to Know"), and Tuesday, January 10th, (part two, "What to Do"). The programs will be held in the "Exhibition Room" on the first floor of St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Education Center at 5305 Elliott Drive, Ypsilanti. The sessions are presented by the Dawn Farm Youth & Family Services team. This program is targeted primarily to parents/caretakers of teens & young adults but is inclusive of other family members, teens, professionals, students, people who sponsor or support teens, and others interested. Please contact 734-485-8725 or info@dawnfarm.org or see the link to Dawn Farm for further information.
Blog Post
New Beautiful Fall Picture Books
by manz
I found two cute picture books on the NEW shelf recently and they happen to have the same illustrator. The illustrations are the main reason I grabbed each of these books! The images by Susan Gal are made with charcoal on paper and digital collage and the result is bold colors in broad strokes of oranges and reds that fully illustrate that fall feeling. Looking through these books makes you want to head outside and look all the lush fall colors this October.
Hocus Pocus, It’s Fall! takes the reader on a fall tour and finds things like dried pods, squirrels, red leaves, apples and more fall staples. It’s a darling rhyming story.
With a similar palette, Bella’s Fall Coat is an actual story. Young Bella has a favorite coat, and her Grams urges her throughout the story that it’s time for a new coat, as Bella is getting too big for her old one. “But it’s my favorite,” cries Bella. And out the door she runs to play. As fall turns into winter, it might just be time for a new coat after all, and what should happen to Bella’s old favorite coat? Well, it finds a precious new home. A lovely, lovely book!
Blog Post
One to Make You Cry, One to Make You Spy
by manz
Here are two new and absolutely fabulous picture books from the new shelf in the youth department. And yes, one will make you cry and one will get you to spy!
Let’s spy first. Search and Spot Animals is a beautifully illustrated book that invites young readers to look at the illustrations and find assorted animals! One moment you’re searching for dogs on their morning walk, and the next you’re searching for animals that belong in the forest. It is a wonderful book to read and seek together.
Okay, time for the grown-ups to cry. Perhaps. I love You Always starts out with a little boy being put to bed by his mother. He asks, “Mom, will you love me my whole life?” Her reply: “Well, let me tell you a secret.” And she goes on to tell the child how she has loved him from the day she met him and even before then. How she loves him when he can see it and when he can’t. The book goes on and on in this manner, and it is tender and dear and may just pull on those heart strings. This book would also make a great readaloud, especially in a quiet moment, or before bedtime.
Blog Post
Parenting on Your Own?
by Beth Manuel
Join The MSU Extension at The Hope Center for a weekly parenting session for single parents.
Sessions are every Thursday from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and are at no cost. Pre-register by calling 734-222-3943. AADL has a large collection of parenting books and there's plenty to peruse on the Parenting Shelf in the Youth Department, too. It never hurts to brush up on your parenting skills!