Love your library? Here's a way to show it. LEGO Duplo and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) have joined together to support local libraries. Please go to the Read! Play! Build! project and nominate Canton Public Library. The most nominated library receives $5,000 for books and supplies. The top 200 libraries recieve a special LEGO Duplo toolkit that would be used in our early literacy area. You can nominate once per day, so vote often! Nominations close October 1st, 2012.

Take the Time Travel To Historic Canton Quiz! A new question will be posted every week, so check back often.

Week 5 Question

What is the name of the cemetery located at Gyde and Ridge Roads?

Rules

• A new question will be posted every week
• Use the Canton Township reference books, at the Main Adult Help Desk, for clues
• Submit your answer, along with your contact information, at the Main Adult Help Desk
• Those participants who get all of the answers correct will be placed in a drawing for a prize!

The dragon turn by Shane Peacock will captivate readers, even if they have not read the first four cases in the award winnning The Boy Sherlock Holmes series. Actually, Sherlock is an astute teen, not boy, in these books and in addition to solving crimes Scotland Yard cannot, he is dealing with male teen coming-of-age issues. Malicious magicians, affairs d'amour gone awry, a missing body, terrifying creatures, and hidden identities keep Sherlock and readers searching for clues that will illuminate what is really going on behind the scenes of The Egyptian Hall. Adding to Sherlock's agony, is his conviction that a female's guiles has spurred him to win the freedom of a wizard who really is the murderer.

Check out these great reads about the creepiest, crawliest creatures around!

Incredible arachnids by John Townsend

Ant lions and lacewings by text by Elaine Pascoe; photographs by Dwight Kuhn

Goliath bird-eating spiders and other extreme bugs by Deirdre A.

There are lots of fun ways to keep cool this summer and earn your Connect Your Summer Badges too. Read a book about an animal under a shady tree and earn your Make Tracks Badge. Or make a cool treat, and earn your Chow Down Badge. Go see a movie in a chilly theatre and earn your Curtains Up Badge. You can even go swimming in a lake or pool for your Go Wild badge, and read a favorite book on a raft.

Come on out and see your Plymouth Whalers play some awesome hockey on Saturday, August 4, 2012. Not only is this their Alumni skate game, with players coming in from teams all over the country, but the Whalers are collecting canned goods for Gleaners. There are two ways to see the game:  you can pay $10 for a ticket at the door or you can bring 10 cans of food to donate to a wonderful group. For more information, see the Plymouth Whalers website.

Are you dazzled by all the wonders in the night sky? Do all the wonders and mysteries of the universe(s) intrigue you? Then take advantage of Jack Brisbin's wonderful presentation for young astronomers, kids going into 5th - 8th grade. Join us on July 18, from 7:00 - 7:45 PM. 

Have you earned your Go Wild badge yet? If not, summer isn't over yet--so you still have time. Now that the weather has gotten better, be sure to get out and Go Wild by taking a walk in the woods or at a park, enjoying Art in the Park this weekend, July 13, 14, and 15, 2012 in Downtown Plymouth, or run through the sprinkler to cool off. No matter what you choose to do, Go Wild and have fun!

Chess is a great way to exercise your mind this summer, and July 20th is International Chess Day. Chess is played world wide by millions of people and calls for some good strategy and thinking skills. If you would like to learn more about chess or try your hand at a game, open chess is available at the library on July 22, and on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. You could also play or learn chess for your Conquer it or Game on Badge.

Who left their tracks behind in the library? It’s up to you to find out! Here’s how:

1. Print a log or pick one up at one of the library help desks
2. Find a set of tracks somewhere in the library. (Hint: you may find some in the nonfiction sections)
3. Find the number listed on that set of tracks.

This unique program combines interactive storytelling, beautiful music, full audience participation and hands-on fun with musical instruments. From 2:00-3:00 PM on Friday, July 13, The Storytellers present music and instruments from the Caribbean, West Africa, North America, Brazil, Australia and other countries. Children will be invited to play various instruments at this memorable storytelling concert.

[BW music by buttons.butterflies is licensed under CC BY SA 2.0]

If you liked the Mysterious Benedict Society, then try one of these books:

The mysterious case of the Allbright Academy by Diane Stanley

Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett ; with artwork by Brett Helquist

The name of this book is secret by Pseudonymous Bosch ; illustrations by Gilbert Ford

On Monday, July 9 from 7:00-8:00 PM, Jim McKinney of the Golden Griffon Stringtet will instruct us on and "call out" a litany of traditional folk dances. This lively, energetic and very fun program harks back to a different time when do-si-dos and sashays were the hot new thing. Costumes optional. Come join the fun!

[Austen folk dancing by Michael R Perry is used under CC BY-SA 2.0]

Are you looking for a super fun way to earn your Go Wild Badge? Every Wednesday until the end of CYS on August 11, 2012, wear your favorite wild animal clothes! They can have animal prints, animal pictures, or animal sounds. It'll be a jungle in here!

Michigan Pet Finders Community is a great local resource that has links for posting about a lost pet, a found pet, tips for keeping pets safe in this extreme heat, and other great links. Be sure to check this site out and don't forget to give you pets plenty of water and keep them cool this summer!