George did it by Suzanne Tripp Jurmain ; illustrated by Larry Day — Do you ever get nervous about a big job you have been asked to do? George Washington did. Americans wanted George to be the first President of the United States, and George didn't want to do it. He was nervous about this huge job and all that it entailed. But George was a humble and reliable man, and he put aside his own feelings to help his new country when they needed him. A true hero, George Washington's birthday is on February 22.

Hayao Miyazaki's new film The Secret World of Arrietty opens in theaters this weekend. Now that title may not ring any bells, but the movie is based off of Mary Norton's Borrowers series. The series has been made into a movie several times before, the most recently with John Goodman and Hugh Laurie. You can also find many of Miyazaki's critically acclaimed and oscar winning films here at the library.

On February 16th in 1923, Howard Carter, an English archaeologist entered the tomb of King Tutankhamen (know to most as King Tut). Inside the tomb was a coffin made of gold containing the mummified body of King Tut. Despite the rumors that a curse would betide anyone who disturbed the tomb, all the treasure found inside were cataloged and removed. These treasures can been seen in the traveling exhibit, "Treasure of Tutankhamen".

Many of the puppets in the children's department have gone on vacation for a few days so they can be cleaned and sanitized. They will be back soon, and look forward to playing with their many fans.

Come join us as we premiere our newest puppet show… The Monkey's Heart! Children ages 2 to 7 and their caregivers are invited to view the puppet show and make a craft based on the story. Tuesday, February 21st at 3:00 PM.

Hey Hockeytown! Tuesday night, February 14, 2012, our Detroit Red Wings will be playing for not just another win against the Dallas Stars. They will be playing for a record breaking win. Currently, our Wings have tied the record at 20 home games won in a row, tomorrow they are hoping to break that record with their 21st home game win. I have tickets, do you? If not, be sure to watch the game on TV or check our awesome selection of items on the Red Wings. My fingers are already crossed, are yours?

If you are looking for the books either the Animal Ark series or The Secrets of Droon, they will be unavailable for a few days as they make their move from J Series to the J Fiction collection. Thanks for your patience!

It's official: The Red Wings and Maple Leafs will face-off in Ann Arbor at the Big House in the 2013 Bridgestone Winter Classic on New Year’s Day. Stay connected to receive future updates. Meanwhile, continue cheering the Wings on as they move forward in their quest to beat the NHL record of 20 straight home game victories. Don't forget that the library has loads of books and dvds on the Red Wings, and even a couple on the Leafs.

Forever Hockeytown!: how the 2008 Red Wings reclaimed the Stanley Cup by editor, Mark Francescutti

The Children's Holiday Book collection has moved. Holiday picture books, including those about Valentine's Day, can be found on the Children's Holiday Book shelf, located between the Baby Nook and the J CD collection. Please ask at the Children's Desk if you need assistance locating an item.

The CTT Book Discussion Kits have moved and are now located in the Tween Scene. As ever, you can check out one of these kits to have your own book discussion. Each kit includes eight copies of the book and a resource guide that includes discussion questions. We have over 100 titles available, of interest to school age kids from kindergarten through high school.

The University of Michigan's Museum of Natural History presents a series of three fun family workshops about science. This year, to tie in with their temporary exhibition at the Museum called Evolution and Health (February 2012-January 2013), they are focusing on showing families what doctors mean when they talk about health, and how factors in our daily lives may affect our health.

As part of CPL's 100 Days of Health series, we invite you to register for the second workshop in the series titled Germs, Bacteria, and Allergies, Oh MY!: What makes us sick and what makes us well? The event takes place in the Purple Room on Saturday, February 11, 2012, from 1:00-2:00 PM. You will look at some of the things that make us sick, and find out what our bodies do to protect themselves. Workshops are designed for children ages 6-11, accompanied by an adult. Online registration for this event begins on January 28, 2012 at 9:00 AM.

Kids and Tweens in grades K-6, improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a dog. Sign up begins at 6:25 PM and is on a first come, first serve basis. Sessions are 10 minutes long.

Program Date: Monday, March 26, 6:30-8:30 PM

Breaking Stalin's nose by Eugene Yelchin — a gripping story about a seldom covered historical era — Russia, or the then Soviet Union, under Stalin's rule. Ten-year-old Sasha begins a 24 hour period in a state of utter elation, the day has finally arrived for him to join the Young Pioneers. At last he will be able to serve the Communist Party and Comrade Stalin, just as his father does who works for the secret police in State Security. But poor, niave Sasha soon finds his whole world spiraling into an abyssmal black hole. His father is arrested in the middle of the night leaving him homeless. He accidentally breaks the nose off of a bust of Stalin at school and knows he could be arrested, too, if anyone reports him and he will never be able to join the Young Pioneers.

Has your teacher assigned a country report assignment recently? Do you need print and online resources to complete your assignment? Don't forget to check out Culturegrams. This database, which you can also access from home, has up to date information and is quite easy to use. You can also find pictures, sound clips, and citing information for your report.

Canton Leisure Services' Village Theater wants to take you to a play. On Saturday, February 11 at 11:00 AM, The Village Theater presents Are You My Mother? based on the classic children's book by P.D. Eastman. Adapted for the stage by playwright and lyricist Greg Gunning and composer Richard DeRosa, Are You My Mother? is an enchanting musical about Baby Bird’s journey — an adventure that overflows with love, dedication, and friendship — and shows children and adults alike how loss can be turned into empowerment; and how Baby Bird ends up finding more than she is looking for. The Village Theater will be giving away two family packs of four tickets to the show. Come to the staff desk in the Children's library and enter the drawing today! Drawing takes place on February 10. Tickets will be held at the Village Theater will call box office the day of the event.

On Thursday, February 9, from 7:00-7:45 PM, love is in the air! Along with great love stories there will be crafts, a delicious snack and a free book to add to your collection at home. This Valentine's Day themed programming is supported by Target and the Friends of the Canton Public Library.

We invite you to visit the Children's Library to tour Turner Town, a Turner Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities Awareness Campaign, during the month of February (Turner Syndrome Awareness Month). This collection of doll houses is an interactive self-teaching traveling exhibit that depicts the everyday challenges of a girl with Turner Syndrome and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities from birth and through her later teenage years. It has already been displayed in Livonia libraries, the Plymouth District Library and the Detroit Children's Museum. We are excited to have it visit us as well! Turner Town will be on display for the month of February.

For more information please visit Turner Town's website and the Turner Syndrome Society.

The American Girl series is moving from the series collection in aisle 19 to the J Fiction Collection in aisle 16. Because more than one author writes books for this series, it will be shelved by the series name, American Girl. Once again, we appreciate your patience and understanding while these items are temporarily unavailable in order to change the spine labels.

Meryl Davis and Charlie White, two figure skaters trained here in our very own Canton Michigan, just won their fourth consecutive U.S. Figure Skating Championship title. Not only that, but they're the longest running Ice Dance team in the U.S.! We make some mighty fine ice skaters here in Canton. Congrats to the medal winners.
[Photo by Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP]

Jim Gill, master of all things fun and silly, has a new album.

Jim Gill presents music play for folks of all stripes [sound recording] by Gill, Jim — If you love bananas or pizza, this album has songs for you. If you love Mozart or friends, look no further. Jim Gill has created another great dancing, clapping, silly songs album for everyone young and old. You can find other Jim Gill albums in the Children's Department, too. Happy listening!