Snail Mail for Seniors is a non-profit group set up to send greeting cards and children's drawings to senior citizens free of charge. They aim particularly for the senior that does not usually receive many visitors or mail. Come to the Purple Room anytime between 2:00-4:00 PM on January 3 and create a card to send to these oft-overlooked members of our community. We will be focus on creating Valentine's Day cards. All ages are welcome to participate. Supplies provided.

We are proud to announce our partnership with the Plymouth Canton Citizens for Diversity and Inclusion, a diverse group of community members. Its goal is to further diversity and inclusion throughout the Plymouth/Canton Community. Their vision is to guide our community to recognize the importance of building a culturally diverse place with the spirit of inclusion which will create a welcoming environment. The first movie in our Diversity and Inclusion Movie Series is:

The great debaters — starring Denzel Washington. This deeply-inspiring film based on a true story. Washington stars as a brilliant, politically radical debate team coach who transforms a group of underdog African American college students.

Tim Heller, avid chess player, hosts informal open play on the second and fourth Sundays of most months in the Community Room while providing instruction and pointers on improving your game. Beginners welcome. The fourth Sunday of each month also includes a tournament by "Library Chess Clubs." For tournament information and registration, please email clubchess@wowway.com. January dates areJanuary 13 and 27 at 1:00 PM in the library Community Room.

Thank you to everyone who entered our Harry Potter Fan Fiction Contest. We had some great stories to read! The winners are:

• 6th-8th grade: The Cat in the Rafters by Erin B.L.
• 9th-10th grade: The Christmas Party by Morgan C.
• 11th-12 grade: Stars by Ruby R.
• Adult: Hedwig's Story by Cynthia B.

Lovers of dogs and/or dog stories will be delighted to know that a deluge of delights awaits them this publishing season. Here is but a sampling of some recent dog tales. Take your pick of the litter!

A dog called Homeless by Sarah Lean

The vanishing by Christopher Holt

The dogs of winter by Bobbie Pyron

Please join us on Monday, January 21st as we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King changed all of our lives during the 1960's civil rights movement. Share stories of his life with the following films:

• 12:00 Noon — Man of Peace in a Time of War
• 1:15 PM — King: Go Beyond the Dream to Discover the Man
• 3:00 PM — In Remembrance of Martin

The dogs of winter by Bobbie Pyron is an incredible, heart-pounding survival story based on fact.  Ivan is but one of 80,000 to 2 million homeless children forced to fend for himself in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union. Most of these abandoned children form packs and live in vacant buildings and/or underground train stations. What distinguishes four year old Ivan Mishukov is his decision to depend on a pack of feral street dogs instead of other children for his survival.  For two years they eek out an existence together, helping one another just as a family would.  Enduring the brutal Russian winters with temperatures often twenty below zero is almost beyond belief.  As Ivan is later quoted as saying, "I was better off with the dogs.

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.

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.

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!

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.

On Thursday, December 6, 7:00-7:45 PM, Thirupu Siva will teach young people from 6-16 years of age the basic asanas, building up to various intermediate poses.  Please wear loose fitting clothing and bring a towel or yoga mat to work on.  Registration for this program begins on November 22. 
[Halasana - Postura del Arado/Amineko Yoga by ((carola)) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

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!

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.

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 Wednesday, November 7 from 7:00-7:45 PM, Thirupu Siva will teach young people from 6-16 years of age the basic asanas, building up to various intermediate poses.  Please wear loose fitted clothing and bring a towel or yoga mat to work on.  Registration for this program begins on October 25. 
[Halasana - Postura del Arado/Amineko Yoga by ((carola)) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

Beginning on November 10th at 2:00 PM, we will host a six-week series (you must attend all weeks) that will guide tweens in 7th and 8th grade to develop their creative writing skills in a fun and nurturing environment. Through both discussion and exercises, participants will learn the basics of choosing a genre, creating characters and setting, keeping a journal, and other skills to build their writing talent. Each week, participants will also create, share and workshop material in a constructive atmosphere. Registration begins on October 25. The first session will be in the Purple Room. Sign up today!
[Writing by jjpacres is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]