Not sure what to make for those holiday parties or cookie exchanges? Is your cookie jar empty? Do you have a sweet tooth that can only be sated by the very best in seasonal baked goods?

Have no fear! Canton Public Library is here to help with these top-notch cookbooks, specializing in putting some extra sweetness in your sugarplums: (Note: If you do end of baking a dozen or so extra delicious cookies, please join us on Saturday, December 8 at 2:00 PM, for our Family Holiday Cookie Competition, or share your recipe on CPL's recipe blog)

Come join the staff of Premier Athletics: Little Explorers as they jump and tumble, dance and sing.  This program incorporates music and games to inspire children to learn and grow both mentally and physically.  Caregivers and their children aged two to five are encouraged to check it out for themselves on Tuesday, December 18 at either 10:00 AM or 2:00 PM.  Please only attend one session. 

On Thursday, December 27 from 1:00-3:00 PM, we will be converting the Purple Room into a fun, drop-in, do-it-yourself craft space. Come in and get your creation on!

61/365 Glitter by Mykl Roventine is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Join us on Friday December 28, for an all-day family movie extravaganza starting at 10:00 AM with a film for our youngest patrons and gradually getting more sophisticated, until the 3:00 PM showing of Snow White and the Huntsman.

• 10:00 AM — Ruby and Max: Every Bunny Loves Winter and Little Bear's Winter Games (G)
• 12:00 PM — Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (PG)
• 3:00 PM — Snow White and the Huntsman (PG-13)

You may bring pillows, snacks, even your own comfy lawn chairs if you like.

Join us Saturday December 29, at 11:30 AM  in the Purple Room for our family celebration of Kwanzaa and its seven principles: unity, self-determination, collective responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. 

Are you in 5th, 6th, or 7th grade and looking for ways to fulfill your community service requirement for school? Join us and work as our Tween Service Corps. You can earn one hour of your community service time and also have fun helping out in the Children's Department. Our next date will be Monday, December 17, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you!

Thank you for nominating Canton Public Library in the LEGO DUPLO Read! Play! Build! project. CPL received 419 nominations, landing us in the top 200 libraries. We just received a fabulous set of DUPLO blocks — including people, animals, house and vehicle parts — that you will soon see in our ABC Activity Times and Family Lego Days. We also received a special group format version of their Read and Build kits that we are excited to use in other programming. Thank you again for supporting your Canton Public Library!

The holidays are a time of eating and most familes have a favorite holiday cookie that they cannot wait to eat during this time of the year.  On Saturday, December 8, at 2:00 PM, we invite you to take part in our Family Holiday Cookie Competition. Bring in a dozen cookies (or more!) from one of your favorite recipes, four to share with our panel of judges to evaluate on both taste and presentation and the rest to share with the lucky attendees.  While you're at it, you may share your recipe on the Canton Public Library's recipe blog here.

The Detroit Historical Museum will celebrate its  re-opening on Friday, November 23rd. The Museum will stay open for 55 1/2 hours,  offering free admission and special events.  There's plenty to see and do with the entire family, from walking the streets of 19th century Detroit, to mixing up some music at the new Kid Rock Music Lab.  Can't wait until Friday? There's lots of fun to be had on the Detroit Historical Society website right now.   

Are you a creative kid? This program is tailored to kids who are 7 to 10 years old. Let your creative side flow in our monthly program, Creatapillars. This exciting program will alternate between art themed and writing themed activities each month. For our December date, we will create festive noodle art. We will meet on Monday, December 3, 2012 from 7:00 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.  Registration will begin Monday, November 19, 2012. See you there!

[Update: due to high demand an additional walk-in session has been added on Saturday, December 8th from 4:00-5:00 PM] 

The Alumni of the Wayne State University School of Library and Information Science are partnering up with the Hip Hop Knit Shop to collect donations of new books and toys for the patients at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.  A list of suggested donations can be found here.  Due to the health conditions of the donation recipients, we can only collect new items at this time.  Through December 12, our donation bin will be located next to the library's reception desk.    Help us bring joy this holiday season to the patients of the Children's Hospital of Michigan by making a donation today! 

Christmas spirit abounds as we gather on Sunday, December 9 at 4:00 PM to listen to the holiday sounds of the Detroit Handbell Ensemble.  Members share their musical talents by playing familiar holiday music on the amazing bells.  You will also learn a bit of history and how-to about bells.

Children ages 4-6 who are pre-K or in kindergarten are invited to this program designed especially for them. We will have great stories, a snack and a craft centered around a Christmas theme. Come join us for this fun time at the library on Tuesday, December 18, 4:00-4:45 pm.

Kids in grades K-4, join us for Snack Tales on Saturday, November 17, from 2:00-3:00 PM. We will read some turkey stories, and you will get to make a special treat. Registration begins Thursday, October 25. Please indicate any food allergies when registering.

Sunday, November 11th is International Tongue Twister Day. Early childhood research encourages tongue twisters as a method to teach alliteration and nurture young children's love of language. Additionally, they are simply, wonderfully fun! So celebrate by challenging your tongue's dexterity with a couple of twisters after dinner on Sunday. You can find lots of examples here at CPL, or find a few over at Simple Kids.

NHS students are here to provide 3rd-12th graders free homework help. If you're interested in getting tutored:

• You must be in 3rd through 12th grade
• If you're under 12, your parent must remain in the library
• You must bring the assignment and any other needed materials

Days and Times

• Monday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk
• Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk
• Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Plymouth District Library
• Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Plymouth District Library
• Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk

Tutors will not be here during snow days or the holiday breaks, they need a break too!

The Wayne State University School of Library and Information Science Alumni are partnering with Hip Hop Knit Shop and Children's Hospital of Michigan to bring sick kids books, toys and stories and both the Canton and Plymouth Libraries are drop-off points. Starting November 1 through December 12, we will be collecting books and toys, telling stories, navigating art carts and knitting blankets for the kids at Children's Hospital. Join us as we help to make kids feel better this holiday season!

Favorite children's author Steven Kellogg celebrated his birthday on October 26. He has written many fun and silly books for kids. Check some of them out:

A-hunting we will go! by Steven Kellogg

Pecos Bill: a tall tale by retold and illustrated by Steven Kellogg

On November 29, from 6:30-8:30 PM, Starfish Family Services will present the second of a two-part Problem Solving series titled, Children Can Solve Their Own Problems. Their trained instructor will present an important six-step process to encourage children to resolve conflicts on their own. Attendees are encouraged to bring their children into the Purple Room to play with Starfish's licensed daycare providers while the caregiver's program takes place in the Community Room.