Get on the bus! University of Michigan is sponsoring a bus to take you on a day trip to their Natural History Museum in Ann Arbor and participate in Health Discovery Day.

Health Discovery Day is the final celebration of the Vital Signs Health programs CPL has offered over the last few months. Discover the connection between health and evolution. Come find out if you are a "super taster", and what that might have meant for our ancestors' survival. Ever wonder what's in a cell? Explore some specimens under a microscope and make you own model cell to take home. Test your vital signs just like the doctors do and learn about some of the things you can do to make sure your body continues to run like a well-oiled machine. So many activities and so many guests… who knew health could be so much fun?! The event is free, open to the public and takes place throughout the entire Museum.

The bus will be leaving Canton Public Library on Saturday, March 24th at 9:00 AM and returning to CPL at 5:00 PM. Please bring a lunch with you or plan to walk to one of Ann Arbor's great eating establishments. Online registration begins March 10th and is required for all participants. Open to children age 6-11. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

Soldier bear by written by Bibi Dumon Tak — is a wonderful, heartwarming novel based on a true story about a bear, Voytek, and a group of Polish soldiers who adopt him as a cub during World War II. Voytek grows into one smart bear who learns to act as a spy and carry bombs and, thereby, earns the honor of being made an official soldier of the company. While the horrors of war are not minimized, this delightful story keeps the reader laughing as it relates the crazy antics and mischief Voytek gets into. He is helped by a monkey and some dogs who are also part of the troop. During very difficult times he boosts the morale of all those he comes in contact with. Reading this real-life adventure, you realize just how special and emotionally fulfilling human-animal relationships can be.

Some of our most-loved picture books at the library are about our canine friends. Check out some dog tales today and discover a new favorite!

Sally goes to the vet by written and illustrated by Stephen Huneck

10 little hot dogs by John Himmelman

Bark, George by Jules Feiffer

Join us on Thursday, February 23 from 9:30-11:30 AM for, Let’s Be Friends – Supporting Children’s Social and Emotional Development. Highly trained staff from Starfish Family Services will encourage participants to explore how a young child’s thinking and reasoning impacts their social relationships as well as identify ways to help children learn about others, environmental strategies to encourage friendships and practice interaction strategies that support social learning. This program is open to parents, daycare providers, caregivers and their children. Childcare will be provided by licensed Starfish Family Services staff.

With the mild winter we've been having, it feels more like spring outside! We've seen more rain lately than snow. Why not curl up with an easy-to-read book about a rainy day? Listed below are some fun titles about rainy day adventures. Happy reading!

Olivia and the rain dance by adapted by Maggie Testa; illustrated by Guy Wolek

Rain [kit] by written by Marion Dane Bauer; illustrated by John Wallace

Hi there Kids! Do you love whales? They are so graceful and lovely, aren't they? Come to our Whales All Around program on Monday, March 5th from 7:00-7:45 PM. We'll have lots of fun reading about whales, making a craft, and having a sea worthy snack. This program is open to kids ages 3 years to 5 years old with a caregiver. Registration begins Monday, Feb. 20th. See you there!

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.

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

Program Date: Thursday, March 1st at 7:00 PM in the Purple Room

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.

Closet monsters: stitch creatures you'll love from clothing you don't by written & illustrated by John Murphy

We all know that closets are havens for scary monsters that come out after dark, but did you know that your closet can also be the source for making your own terrifying creatures? These critters are all made from clothing, so you can re-use your old stuff, or maybe drop by our local Goodwill to find some monster fodder. This book gives step by step instructions for 13 unique creatures, and from there you can customize them to make them as scary or cute as you'd like.

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.

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!

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

Did you know that our Copy Station not only offers a place to print documents, but also has the resources to staple, hole-punch or cut your documents? A stapler, hole-punch and scissors are available at the Copy Station during regular library hours. If you come to the library to work on a project, you may make use of our Social Zones to put your project together, but you must bring any additional supplies.

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.