Parents, grandparents and caregivers, join the professionals from Starfish Family Services as they discuss the importance of math during the preschool years. They will also outline materials from the home that may be used to support math learning. The program takes place on Tuesday, April 24th from 9:30-11:30 AM. Starfish Family Services also provides licensed daycare providers to watch over your children as you attend the workshop.

This fun program will be for kids that love poems and kids who don't. We will look at "giggle poetry" for kids online, answer some riddles and vote on our favorite silly poems, while enjoying popcorn. This program is for kids third through fifth grade. Register online beginning March 26.
When: Tuesday, April 24, 7:00-7:45 PM
[Popcorn! by Andrew Rivett is licensed under CC BY 2.0]

Have you checked out the Scholastic Storybook Treasures series yet? These are short movies of your favorite picture books told in differening animation styles. Many have recieved the ALA Carnegie Medal for excellence in Children's video. Some DVDs in the series also include a "read-along" feature for beginning readers. It's an great choice if your looking to expand your child's exposure to literature. Some of our favorites:

The Pigeon finds a hot dog [videodisc]: and more stories by Mo Willems — Author Mo Willems voices the pigeon in the title story. Special features includes a read-along story and an interview with the author.

All ages may enjoy a storytime program in Tamil presented by Sivakami Rajendran

Program Date: Thursday, May 4th at 7:00 PM in the Purple Room

The Nancy Drew series will be temporarily unvailble while changes are being made to reflect its new location: J Fiction Keene

Thank you again for your patience and understanding during this process.

Good helpers, everyone needs one sometime. Here are some picture books to read with the kids, to show them how to be great helpers at home, in school, or in your community.

Arthur helps out by Marc Brown

The Berenstain Bears lend a helping hand by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Boswell wide awake by Alexandra Day

Is your little one a rocker at heart?  Looking for some Beatles, Madonna, or Van Halen just right for your baby?  Then look no further!  Check out Rockabye Baby!  Enjoy soothing, sleep inducing tunes from Def Leppard to Kanye West.

Rockabye baby! [sound recording]: lullaby renditions of depeche mode

Rockabye baby! [sound recording]: lullaby renditions of Dave Matthews Band by Bissell, Andrew, 1979-

Rockabye baby! Lullaby renditions of the Flaming Lips [sound recording] by Boone, Steven

Baby Storytime begins May 1. Designed for babies up to age 18 months with a caregiver, this interactive storytime features simple stories, songs, and fingerplays.

Register online beginning April 17.

TinTin is on the prowl in this new adventure The Black Island by Herge. He is a brave reporter and also solves mysteries. It has action, adventure, and a mystery.  Can you solve the crime before our hero?  Good luck!

Do you know anything about your family history?  For example, many families have  descendants that came to America through Ellis Island in New York. April 17 is "Ellis Island Family History Day." More immigrants were processed on this day in 1907, than any other day in history. The statue of liberty was the first glimpse of America for millions of immigrants. Ellis island has a unique and interesting history as America's immigration station with a lot of family history to offer.

ABC Activity Time begins the week of April 30. This is an informal session where parents, caregivers, children and babies meet together in a relaxed environment. This drop-in playtime includes sensory activities, puzzles, and matching games for children ages birth to 5, with caregiver. No registration required. Program takes place in the Community Room, unless otherwise noted. (April 30-June 9):

• Mondays 10:30-11:00 AM and 1:30-2:00 PM
• Tuesdays 7:30-8:00 PM
• Wednesdays 10:30-11:00 AM and 7:30-8:00 PM
• Thursdays 10:30-11:00 AM
• Fridays 10:30-11:00 AM
• Saturdays 10:30-11:00 AM in the Purple Room

Notes

• On June 7^th the Family Storytime/ABC Activity Time session will be in collaboration with Starfish Family Services Program for parents and caregivers titled Word Play: Rhymes and Other Pre-Reading Activities. The workshop is for adults and Starfish brings along licensed day care providers to watch your children if you choose
• There will be no Activty time on June 8 (for a blood drive)

Family Storytimes begin the week of April 30. These storytimes are designed for children ages 5 and under with a caregiver. Storytimes are held in the Community Room and do not require registration. Saturday sessions are in the Purple Room.

April 30-June 9

• Mondays 10:00-10:30 AM and 1:00-1:30 PM
• Tuesdays 7:00-7:30 PM
• Wednesdays 10:00-10:30 AM and 7:00-7:30 AM
• Thursdays 10:00-10:30 AM
• Fridays 10:00-10:30 AM

Notes

• On June 7^th the Family Storytime/ABC Activity Time session will be in collaboration with Starfish Family Services Program for parents and caregivers titled Word Play: Rhymes and Other Pre-Reading Activities. The workshop is for adults and Starfish brings along licensed day care providers to watch your children if you choose
• There will be no storytime on June 8 (for a blood drive)

To wrap up our Earth Week celebrations, CPL will present a screening of the original, 1972, animated version of Dr Seuss's The Lorax. Join us on Friday, April 27 at 4:00 PM to watch the story of the greedy, truffula tree-chopping Once-lers and the brave little Lorax who speaks up for the vanishing forest. When the film is over patrons are invited to create their own truffula tree vista to brighten up their home. This program is open to families and kids of all ages.

This post is part of our Earth Day 2012 celebration.

Kids, do you see animals around your neighborhood and wish they’d pay your yard a visit? Join us Thursday, April 26, from 7:00-8:00 PM to continue our Earth Week celebrations and learn how to use feeders, houses, baths, and more to make your yard the happening place to be. Participants will have the opportunity to create their own nestball to attract nesting birds.

For the past few years, the Canton Public Library has held a donation drive to commemorate Memorial Day by helping service men and women. Once again we will be collecting donations, this year for the VA Hospital of Ann Arbor , but there are many other rewarding ways to observe Memorial Day, including:

• Visiting cemeteries and placing flags or flowers on the graves of our fallen heroes
• Visiting war memorials
• Flying the U.S. Flag at half-staff until noon
• Participating in a National Moment of Remembrance at 3:00 PM to pause and reflect upon the true meaning of the day
• Attending a parade
• Watching a patriotic movie or reading a patriotic book

Check out websites like [White House] Joining Forces, where you can actually send a message of thanks to a military family and get other ideas for showing appreciation. Also, be sure to visit the library's displays on Memorial Day and the history behind some of our military traditions.

Before we celebrate Memorial Day, let's commemorate. Please help CPL as we collect items to be donated to the VA Hospital of Ann Arbor for distribution to homeless veterans. Donations will be appreciatively accepted beginning Thursday, May 10 through Thursday, May 31 at the Reception Desk.
Suggested donations include:

• Rolls of Lifesavers (or other hard candy)
• Rice Krispies bars (or granola bars, etc.)
• Plastic utensils (knives, forks, spoons)
• Napkins
• Ritz snack mix (or other trail mix)
• Easy-open cans of tuna, chicken or other meats

Other general requests include $5-10 gift cards to Wendy's or McDonald's; cans of coffee (regular or decaf); prepaid telephone calling cards; new crossword puzzles and word search books.

Who has time for family dinners anymore? We all do, according to author Miriam Weinstein in The Surprising Power of Family Meals. The benefits of eating a meal together are astounding, considering you don't have to sign-up, register, or pay for them outside of your grocery budget. Family meals are available, modest and valuable to your family. At a meal children can learn manners, family values, and good conversation. It's a great time for families to slow down and re-group.

Iceberg, right ahead!: the tragedy of the Titanic by Stephanie Sammartino McPherson is a wonderful resource for the latest information regarding the Titanic. On April 14, 2012 one century will have passed since this tragic maritime disaster occurred and many books have been published and events are planned to commemorate it. Seventy-three years separate the sinking of the vessel and the dramatic 1985 discovery of the wreck by Robert Ballard. McPherson fills in this time frame with actual stories about the victims, survivors, rescuers, reporters, investigators, and many others showing  the far-reaching effects this tragedy has had on society as a whole.

Meet and learn about some of Michigan's animals that wake up when you go to bed! The Organization for Bat Conservation will present their program: Animal Adaptations: Bats! Owls! Flying Foxes!. Discover the fascinating features and adaptations of a variety of Michigan's native nocturnal creatures. In this program, learn what adaptations are, how they are formed and why animals develop these amazing tools for survival. Live animals will be present! Join us on Sunday, April 22nd from 2:00-3:00 PM to kick off our Earth Week celebrations.

This post is part of our Earth Day 2012 celebration.

We're celebrating Earth Day all week (April 22-27) and want you to join us! See the write up in the Canton Observer. There will be events for adults, teens, tweens and children, including:

• Bats! Owls! Flying Foxes! — Sunday, April 22, 2:00-3:00 PM
• Living Green in Southeast Michigan — Monday, April 23, 7:00-8:30 PM
• Composting and Healthy Lawns — canceled
• Vegetarian Eating for Everyone — Wednesday, April 25, 7:00-8:30 PM
• Attracting Backyard Wildlife — Thursday, April 26, 7:00-8:00 PM
• The Lorax (original 1972 animated version) — Friday, April 27, 4:00-5:15 PM