Blog Post
The Big Book of Things to Make
by manz
This amazing, stupendous, fun-filled book is jam packed with oodles of fun things to keep the kiddos busy this time of year!
The Big Book of Things to Make is divided into sections titled Make It, Do It, Know It and includes things to make, such as slime, alien masks, soap monsters, board games, and musical instruments. You can make things to eat like a pizza party, cookies, and glow-in-the-dark Jello. Or you can do things like magic tricks, write a story, spot deadly snakes, miniature golf, or host outdoor Olympic. Plus MANY, MANY more fun things!
The books is wonderfully laid out with pictures and simple directions that will lead to mass quantities of fun and games for elementary school age kids.
Blog Post
Kid Bits - 10 NEW themes in STORIES To GO collection for 2016 !!
by ryanikoglu
ATTENTION Parents, Teachers, and Child Care Providers !
NEW sets are ready for YOU !
STORIES To GO are themed sets of materials ... especially designed for use with Preschool and young Elementary children ages 2-7.
Each set includes 6-10 books, 1-2 DVDs, and an Activity Folder with suggested finger plays, songs, crafts, etc. related to the theme.
Just grab a theme and go.
10 NEW Themes for 2016 are available NOW. Here they are:
ANN ARBOR for introducing and exploring our community.
FAIRIES for those who enjoy the local fairy doors.
BIG MACHINES for those with a passion for wheels and work.
SIZE and MEASUREMENT: Math Readiness.
OUTER SPACE for those who like to explore the universe.
BABY SIGNS for people learning signing with their babies.
FEELINGS for exploring different types of young drama.
LIBRARIES ... and sharing.
SEEDS To PLANTS for early science discovery.
MONSTERS for those who want to explore Monsters!
You can browse the rest of the themes in STORIES To GO
HERE
Blog Post
PreK Bits - "R" is for RABBITS
by ryanikoglu
Ms. Rachel brought stories about RABBITS to Malletts Creek Library.
WHO'S IN RABBIT'S HOUSE is told by Verna Aardema and illustrated by Leo & Diane Dillon, all who are famous for winning more than one Caldecott Award.
We played "Kye Kye Kule" ... a west African type of "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes" activity chant.
DUCK! RABBIT! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal ... an exercise in "perception".
For more RABBIT tales try these favorites:
The WONDERFUL HABITS Of RABBITS by Douglas Florian.
The TALE Of PETER RABBITS by Beatrix Potter.
TOO MANY CARROTS by Katy Hudson.
MUNCHA! MUNCHA! MUNCHA! by Candace Fleming ... look for the rabbits in every picture!
WOLFIE The BUNNY by Ame Dyckman.
BUSY BUNNY DAYS by Britta Teckentrup.
HUGE HAROLD by Bill Peet.
Now ... do you feel in the mood for cabbages and carrots?
Blog Post
New Kids Non-Fiction!
by manz
When visiting the library the NEW book shelf is a great spot to find things that have just come out. You’re sure to find winners whenever glancing at it. Here are a few new gems for kids who are into non-fiction topics such slimy animals, upside down gardening, and the world’s largest cannoli!
Creative Gardening: Growing Plants Upside Down, In Water, and More! is a sweet book for all ages looking for simple and creative gardening craft projects to work on.
Pink is For Blobfish: Discovering the World’s Perfectly Pink Animals is a book asks the question “Think you know pink? Think again…” and features pink animals of all sorts including a tarantula, a mantis, a dolphin, and more! Think this sounds crazy? Read to find out the truth!
Awesome 8: Fifty Picture-Packed Top 8 Lists! is a great choice if you’re into the Guinness Book of World Records or just amazing and wacky facts. Read about the craziest water slides, the most expensive feather ever sold, a car with wings, a fish tank toilet, and the tallest roller coaster.
Blog Post
A Summer Start to Forever Friends
by mansii
If you haven't gotten on the list for Newberry award winning author Kate DiCamillo's delightful new book, you are seriously missing out. Raymie Nightingale will make you grin ear-to-ear, sob a little, and say, “I know exactly what she means!”—whether you are ten like Raymie, or all grown up.
In the wake of her parent's divorce and father's abandonment, Raymie enrolls in a Florida Little Miss contest, hoping to regain her father's affection with her baton-twirling expertise. What she doesn't expect is a blossoming group of unlikely friends: The Three Rancheros. Each privately possess a heart of small wounds they would rather not mention. In response, while one pretends to be as tough as nettles, the other invents grandiose stories to feel better. Still, little by little, they let each other in on their secrets and pool their unique strengths, rescuing a library book, an unexpected mutt, and a soaked person. Their real discovery is the kind of friendship that brings new purpose and hope. A friendship that makes life okay, even with the occasional mud-slide.
Despite themes as sensitive as divorce and poverty, Raymie bubbles with tenderness and humor. DiCamillo has a talent for helping us see the gifts placed before us even in difficult situations, one of the greatest of which is the belonging of friendship.
Each Kate DiCamillo book is more delightful than the last: read them all here. And once you've read them (or even if you haven't) look for AADL's upcoming Raymie Nightingale craft, and, soon after, author event. Yes, you heard correctly: Kate Dicamillo will be at AADL IN PERSON. NEXT MONTH. Click here for more info.
Blog Post
Meet 2016 “It’s All Write!” Guest Speaker: Patrick Flores-Scott!
by BugsAndSlugs
Patrick Flores-Scott is the guest speaker at this year's "It’s All Write!” Teen Short Story Contest Final Celebration and the author of the award winning novel, Jumped In. In Mr Flores-Scott's debut novel, the protagonist, Sam, is intent on slacking his way through high school until a love of music and poetry spark an unlikely friendship with Luis - the undisputed scariest kid in school. Jumped In was named to the 2014 YALSA best fiction for young adults list and was a finalist in the Michigan Great Lakes - Great Books competition for 2016.
For more about Patrick Flores-Scott, check out his blog, watch for his new novel American Road Trip coming in January, 2017, and celebrate all the “It’s All Write!” contestants while the top nine finalists are announced on Sunday June 12, 2016 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm in the Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room!
Stay tuned to find out the winners of the 2016 “It’s All Write!” Teen Short Story Contest!
Blog Post
Meet 2016 “It’s All Write!” Judge #8 - Adi Alsaid!
by BugsAndSlugs
The final judge for this year's “It’s All Write!” Teen Short Story Contest is Adi Alsaid! Adi was born and raised in Mexico. He currently lives in Mexico City, where he writes and coaches basketball.
Adi Alsaid is the author of two YA novels Let's Get Lost, the story of a 17 yr old girl who travels cross-country and touches the lives of four strangers, and Never Always Sometimes, about teenage friends Dave and Julia, and their discovery that avoiding all the clichés can mean missing out on some of the best parts of high school.
Adi Alsaid is also working on a third and still untitled YA novel, due to be released in 2017!
Up Next: Patrick Flores-Scott, this year’s guest speaker for the “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest final celebration on June 12th!
Blog Post
Meet Miss Moon, Dog Governess
by manz
You know that moment when you walk by a book shelf and a face-out book catches your eye, so you pick it up and open it, and you instantly feel the warm and fuzzies? This is one of those books for me. With beautiful oil paintings of so many dogs paired with such kind words of wisdom my heart just melted.
Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess is a picture book, but isn’t quite a story, and is absolutely not just for kids. Miss Wilhelmina Moon sets off to a small island off the coast of France to be a governess to sixty-seven dogs. (DOGS!) Each page is consumed with gorgeous full-color oil paintings of Miss Moon and her companions biking, bathing, reading, celebrating, and more. With each page the only text is a life lesson. Lesson One: Friends can come in many shapes and sizes. Lesson Two: Be true to your adventurous spirit. It’s really quite sweet, and the whimsical nostalgia-inspired images illustrate such wisdom perfectly. Don’t miss the “class photo” at the end.
This book is great if you like works by Maira Kalman, or are a fan of dogs or of wisdom for the soul kinds of books.
Since finding the book I have discovered that the Canadian author/illustrator Janet Hill has had her work featured all over, and she has an Etsy shop where her work is available for purchase – including art from Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess! So if you’re into dogs doing amazing things, take a peek.
Blog Post
Spot, the Cat
by manz
Can you spot the cat in Spot, the Cat? In this charming and wordless new picture book by Henry Cole Spot the cat weaves his way through busy cityscapes. When Spot is off exploring his young owner is busy looking for him. While Spot is exploring the city the reader gets an inside look at what’s going on around town, and we are invited to search the detailed black and white pen and ink illustrations for the cat named Spot, the white cat with a big black spot on his back. We venture to the farmer’s market, the museum, the park, and busy streets, stretching our eyes and minds to spot Spot. The tender book helps demonstrates the bond that exists between a cat, his home and his young boy caregiver. There's so much to say without words and this book does it well.
Blog Post
New Kids Movies!
by manz
Many new TV shows and movies for kids (okay, adults, too!) are popping up in the catalog! Just in time for summer movie nights. Here are a few new big movies on their way to AADL, a few with characters you've already met in previous films.
Zootopia
Zootopia is a city like no other that is comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it's a melting pot where animals from every environment live together. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn't so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde.
Hero Quest
A fairy tale about a grand life journey of ten-year old boy Savva, devoted to helping his mom and fellow village people to break free from the vicious hyenas.
Kung Fu Panda 3
Living large and loving life, Po realizes that he has a lot to learn if he's going to fulfill the next challenge from his beloved instructor. After reuniting with his long-lost father, Po must transition from student to teacher and train a group of fun-loving, clumsy pandas to become martial-arts fighters. Together, the kung-fu brethren unite to take on the evil Kai, a supernatural warrior who becomes stronger with each battle.
Open Season, Scared Silly
After hearing a story by the campfire, domesticated Boog is terrified by the story and decides to 'chicken out' of their annual summer camping trip until he knows the werewolf is gone. Determined to help Boog overcome his fears, Elliot and their woodland friends band together to scare the fear out of Boog and uncover the mystery of the Wailing Wampus Werewolf.