Boy!  I can’t wait for March to get here.  Why?  Because March is Reading Month!  And Reading Month means First Grade Round Up!    This is the 18^th year the  Children’s Tween and Teen Services Librarians will host first grade classes from local schools.  And I haven’t missed one yet!    Kids get a tour of the library and meet my Giraffe friends Caribou and Rafiki.  Then they make a craft and see a really funny puppet show.  The best part of First Grade Round Up is that each First Grader gets a library card and checks out a book that day

Book Buddies  come together with other kids and talk about a fantastic book.  Register online then come to the Children’s Information Desk to check out a copy of the book. Please register for only one session per month.

We have added new computers in the Children's Library:


These eight stations are for kids and their parents, and have the Microsoft Office suite as well as games and Internet access. Kids and parents can surf with or next to each other, or parents can get things done while kids play games or do homework.

The 3rd annual World Math Day will take place on March 4, 2009. Children from around the world will be uniting to answer a record breaking number of mental arithmatic questions.  Unicef and 3D Learning have partnered to bring about this event, which is open to kids ages 5-18.  Practice is open now on the website and classrooms, homeschoolers or individual students are invited to register.  Are you ready to participate?

Have fun at the library during Mid-Winter Break!

Fun Variety Show - Children ages 5-12 and their caregivers can join us for a fun filled variety show with Vikki Gasko's case of characters. You’ll enter into a hilarious, musical world of fun filled family entertainment. Register online today.
Program Date: Tuesday, February 24 at 2:00 PM

What’s for dinner tonight?

Starting March 8th and ending May 31st, the DIA will be hosting paintings by the artist Norman Rockwell.  He spent his time painting scenes from the world around him, many of his paintings having a small town feel to them that was both welcoming and enduring.  His recognizable art lives on all around us and brings us back to a time when soda fountains were all the rage and kids really did do the darndest things. For a chance to see Mr.

Wondering if the latest movie is appropriate for your kids? Need help determining if a game is too violent for your family before you check it out? Search for reviews, ratings and advice at Common Sense Media, an online resource with information on web sites, books, games, movies, TV and music. One of the niftiest features are the lists of media by age group. This feature is sure to help those of you concerned about age-appropriateness. You can also submit your own review. Hey, they've just added a review for High School Musical 3!

That Lucas Grabeel (Ryan of HSM fame) starred in a little known 2008 film called The Adventures of Food Boy.  He plays Ezra, who learns (at a rather inopportune time) that he has the power to make food appear in his hands.  Like every super hero, Ezra struggles to decide whether he will use his powers to benefit himse

Do you love superhero adventures but aren't so crazy about superhero books being checked out all the time?  Go on some great adventures with these heroes that you may not have heard of:

Picture Books
Traction Man is Here!
Traction Man Meets Turbodog
Superhero ABC
Superhero Max
Super Guinea Pig to the rescue

Biography

Noboby Owens, or Bod, is a 'normal' boy fated to be raised in a graveyard by ghosts and a guardian who is neither dead nor alive. Magical, terrifying, and filled with gripping adventures, The Graveyard Book is another supernatural masterpiece by Neil Gaiman and was justly awarded the 2009 Newbery Medal. Coraline, another creepy  Gaiman concoction, was made into a 3D step-motion animated film and is now showing at theaters. Check it out!

Learn about the decades in a fun way by using our database Pop Culture Universe. Each decade, from the 1920s to the 2000s, is populated with facts about the arts, culture, fasion, movies, food and drink, literature, music, politics, TV and radio of the time period. A must-stop for any school "decades research" assignment! An excellent source for a glimpse of Americana!

Did you love the Chronicles of Narnia movies, but aren't quite ready for the books? Not to worry! Pick up one of these new beginning reader books based on the original Narnia series. The Chronicles of Narnia: This Is Narnia and The Chronicles of Narnia: Lucy's Journey offer plenty of excitement and action perfect for younger readers. Check one out today and begin your own adventure into the magical world of Narnia!

This the last week of storytimes for the winter session.  Our next storytime session will begin on April 20, 2009.  Online registration begins on April 6 for Canton residents and April 8 for non-residents.  For more information about storytimes, view our March-April edition of Connections. 

Valentine's Day Video Gaming Program
Saturday Feb. 14, 2009 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Join us this Saturday for a fun Fathers and kids program! We'll have video games and snacks set up in the community room for your enjoyment! See what all the gaming fuss is about and have a great time playing MarioKart, Guitar Hero, and other fun games.  See you there!

They Might Be Giants took home the Grammy last weekend for their latest collection of children's music, Here Come the 123's. Check out one of our copies which includes a DVD of music videos for many of the songs.  It's kids' music that even a parent can appreciate!

Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809.  He is considered one of our nation's greatest presidents.  Learn more about him in our Children's Biography collection, or read fictional stories about him in our Children's Fiction collection.

With thoughts of spring upon us, shorts and swimsuit weather is getting near.  Whether you need to drop a few pounds or simply want to get your muscles moving again after a long cold winter, the Wii My Fitness Coach might be just the thing you need.  It offers an exercise program to meet your individual needs right in the comforts of your own home, and it doesn't require the Wii Fit.  You can customize your routine using

If you're interested in discussing a great book with other Tweens over a pizza lunch, look no further than our monthly Tween Book & Pizza Club! February's selection is The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. This month's program is scheduled for 1pm on February 28, and registration begins at 9am this Saturday (February 14). Hope to see you there!

Children ages 5-8 can drop by to make something unique with Scrap Box materials. Registration not required.
Program Date: Wednesday, February 25 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM