Congratulations are in order for Canton Charter School student Siddharth Varanasi! A resident of Canton Township, Siddharth, 11, just won the Detroit News Spelling Bee this past weekend and will go on to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee this June! If you're interested in learning more about the kinds of words used in these competitions, check out the Scripps/Merriam-Webster study site or one of the library's many dictionaries! Happy spelling!

How'd They Do That? is another cool history series that just hit our shelves! It examines how people lived hundreds of years ago. If you've ever wondered what people used to do when they got sick or how they had fun, this is the series for you. It covers everywhere from Ancient Persia to Colonial America. Look for these books on the Children's New Bookshelf today!

Registration for February's Tween Book Discussion is now open. We're meeting on Saturday, February 13, from 1:00-2:00PM to talk about Gordon Korman's Schooled. This funny book is about the adventures of a boy raised by a hippie grandmother, trying to survive when he has to go to a "normal" public school. Sign up today - we look forward to hearing what you think!

If you're looking for more ways to making reading non-fiction fun, you should try the Kaleidoscope Kids Book series. They feature all kinds of interesting information on different countries, science, and history, along with related activities and games you can try at home. Our newest book in the series is Knights & Castles, with game and craft suggestions to help kids "experience the Middle Ages." Give one a try today!

If the cold temperatures are keeping you indoors, why not try doing some fun crafts to beat the winter blues? The book Crafts to Make in the Winter has some cool ideas, or you can try the Apples 4 the Teacher website for further suggestions. So get those creative juices flowing - there's all kinds of awesome stuff you can make!

If you've ever wanted to dance like a Bollywood movie star, this program is for you! Anuja Rajendra of Ann Arbor's BollyFit is coming to teach some basic steps you can combine with popular Indian movie tunes to create an exciting, lively dance/exercise routine. No dance experience is necessary and the program is open to everyone! The program takes place Saturday, January 2, from 4:00-4:45PM and registration opens Saturday, December 19, @ 9:00AM - can't wait to see you there!

With colder weather coming fast and more holiday vacations in sight, it's always great to think about activites you can do indoors with young children. One easy and economical idea is creating your own at-home storytimes. I've gotten some great ideas from Pam Schiller and the library has many of her books and CDs available for check-out. My favorite is The Complete Book of Activities, Games, Stories, Props, Recipes, and Dances for Preschoolers!