Looking for a quick and easy craft you can do with materials from around the house? Check out this way cool paper castle! The best part about it is that you can use whatever materials you happen to have on hand - if it looks like the photo, great, but you can also show your creativity and make it look however you'd like.
You can also check out our wide selection of stories about castles or read up on what it was like to live in a castle.

Many parents use web monitoring software to keep track of what their children do online - it's the next best thing to being there, right? Maybe not. The Associated Press reports that several major brands of this type of software offer kids' chat message logs to businesses hoping to tailor their marketing messages to children. There are some software companies that do not sell information to other businesses - you may want to check to see what practices your web monitoring software engages in. CPL also has lots of resources for parents and kids on Internet safety.

We've done it this time! We've got 1000 sheets of origami paper just waiting to be folded at our Fantastic Origami program on Tuesday, September 22 from 5-7pm in the Purple Room. Come learn about Sadako Sasaki and celebrate the International Day of Peace on September 21 by making paper cranes. Registration is now open for third and fourth graders.

With the increasingly digital nature of our culture, will writing become a lost art? No!
A recent study showed that the time young people spend on Facebook, texting, and other digital (text-based) interactions actually improves their writing. They are, on the whole, better able to write effectively to specific audiences and have far more experience writing than previous generations.

photo by Zawezome used under Creative Commons license

President Obama addressed students today in a back-to-school speech focused on staying in school and trying your best. He encouraged them to set their own goals including "spending time each day reading a book." As a new school year begins, Raising Bookworms, can help parents instill the love of reading in their child. Author Emma Walton Hamilton also has written 16 books for children with her mother, Julie Andrews.

Three movies based on your favorite Children's books!

Now that Labor Day weekend is upon us, grab some friends for some rousing sporting events. You could have backyard foot races, play a little badminton, toss a few horseshoes, or get a baseball or football team together. Check out our wide variety of sports books to help you learn how to play a new sport or brush up on the rules of an old favorite! Have a great weekend!

Positive parenting pays off more than you might think. Researchers at Oregon State University have released the results of an extensive study which shows that positive parenting has lasting impact on children and on the way those children parent when they have their own children.
For more info, check out the multitude of parenting resources available to you here at CPL.

image Family Story Minute by sean dreilinger used under Creative Commons license

Get together with other first graders and talk about a great book! Register online, then check out the book at the Children’s Desk.
Program Date: Thursday, 09-17-2009, 7:00PM - 7:45PM
Book Title: The Adventures of Snail at School by John Stadler

In a state report released today, Michigan schools are showing improvement in meeting federal education standards. Check out how your school did here and to boost your academic potential check this out, High School Advantage. It's an interactive learning resource that combines lessons, exercises and quizzes for a fun approach to studying.

Get together with other third graders and talk about a great book! Register online today, then check out the book at the Children’s Desk.
Program Date: Wednesday, September 16 5-5:45pm
Book: Nim's Island by Wendy Orr

Children ages 3-6, dress in your fanciest attire and enjoy activities celebrating the Fancy Nancy series by Jane O’Connor. Register online today.
Program Date: Wednesday, September 16 from 1-1:30 pm

September is National Sewing Month, and whether you're an experienced seamstress, a novice, or just an appreciator of the art, CPL has the resources for you. You can check out materials on how to sew or stories about sewing. Admire the amazing textile creations pictured in Camio, the Catalog of Art Museum Images Online.

I love apples. You can make so many things with them...apple pie, applesauce, caramel apples, apple cider...and of course you can just enjoy them plain! Want to read some books about apples? We have bushels of them! Among these books are many easy-to-read ones that you can read on your own. Also, check out some nonfiction books to find lots of information about apples and how they're grown. Happy autumn!

Looking for stories to share with your family during this Ramadan season? Check out Ramadan Moon by Na'ima B. Robert for a colorful description of this Islamic holiday from a child's perspective. Try Magid Fasts for Ramadan for a story about an eight-year-old boy who decides to fast even though his family thinks he is too young. Will Magid make it to Eid ul-Fitr?

There's still plenty of time for 5th and 6th graders to register for this month's Tween book discussion. We're reading The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen, the story of a girl trying to figure out how to fit in with both her American and Indian cultures. We're meeting to discuss the book over a pizza lunch from 1-2pm on Saturday, September 12. Once you sign-up online, come to the Children's reference desk to pick up a copy of the book. Hope to see you there!

Handmade Home: Simple Ways to Repurpose Old Materials into New Family Treasures by Amanda Blake Soule
This book includes over thirty projects you can easily make from materials you may have around the house or could easily find in thrift shops or on clearance at retail stores. The projects range from hot pads to tote bags to blankets to hats, and all are easily accomplished by someone with basic sewing skills. The photographs feel like those you'd find in your old family albums and the handmade items have a homey, very doable feel.

Staying in Canton during Labor Day weekend? Enjoy a walk along the Lower Rouge River Recreation Trail. The walk is Monday, September 7^th from 5-7pm and Trail Bingo will be provided by the Canton Leisure Services Staff. Having just recently taken a bike ride on the trail, I can tell you first hand that it is a beautiful piece of Canton that everyone should go out and enjoy.

Reading Rainbow has been a staple on many PBS stations for decades, but as of today, that contract expires and it will no longer be aired.
But don't fret! You can still check out DVDs of past Reading Rainbow episodes here at CPL.

The Michigan Promise Program's future might be in jeopardy if the lawmakers and Governor Granholm can't agree on the state's budget deal. As college students arrive in dorms to begin their new semesters, some are being asked to meet the shortfall if the program isn't funded. Other schools are encouraging their students to search for financial aid. This book, Scholarships, is one place to start your search.