One of my favorite things to do this time of year is start thinking about recipes I'll use for upcoming holiday celebrations. Cooking can be even more fun when you're able to include helpers, and the Children's Department has a whole range of cookbooks that work well with kids. I've enjoyed The Kids' Holiday Baking Book, but there are many other cookbooks that can help you create memorable, yummy holidays creations for whatever holidays you celebrate!

Registration is now open for the November Tween Book Discussion. This month we're reading The Akhenaten Adventure by P.B. Kerr (Book 1 in the Children of the Lamp series). We're meeting over a pizza lunch at 2pm on Saturday, November 7, so sign up today and come to the children's reference desk to pick up a copy of the book.

Get in the Halloween spirit by signing up for this month's Tween Book & Pizza Club meeting on Saturday, October 31, from 1-2pm. This month we're reading The Mysterious Benedict Society - a creepy story about a mad scientist trying to brainwash the world! Full of interesting riddles and mysteries for you to solve along the way, it's sure to entertain! Registration begins Saturday, October 17, at 9am, so sign up and come to the children's reference desk to pick up a copy of the book.

One of my favorite things to do in October is curl up with a spooky story. That's why I'm really enjoying Gary Blackwood's Unsolved History series. These books feature true stories of mysterious deaths and unexplainable events throughout history. Full of possible conspiracies and fascinating characters, these books are sure to send a chill down your spine. Stop by the Children's Department's New Book shelf today to check out this series!

If you enjoyed Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time or The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen, you might be interested in learning that we have many more books about children coming to terms with being multiple races/ethnicities. I enjoyed Half and Half by Lensey Namioka and I Wanna Be Your Shoebox by Christina Garcia. There are many more to choose from (ranging from picture books to chapter books), so stop by the Children's Department today to pick up a good read!

There's still plenty of time for 5th and 6th graders to register for this month's Tween book discussion. We're reading The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen, the story of a girl trying to figure out how to fit in with both her American and Indian cultures. We're meeting to discuss the book over a pizza lunch from 1-2pm on Saturday, September 12. Once you sign-up online, come to the Children's reference desk to pick up a copy of the book. Hope to see you there!

Every August I look forward to the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival! There's lots of cool crafts for sale, yummy fair food, and a living history area where you can see how 19th century Michiganders lived. Whenever the festival comes, it always makes me want to pick up a good piece of Civil War historical fiction. My favorites are the ones by Ann Rinaldi. She even wrote one about a girl from Michigan who runs off to join the Union Army during the Civil War. There's a ton to choose from at the library, so stop by and give one a try. Happy reading!