jillean's Blog
You could WIN staff art!
Your library would like to give back to you this summer! In honor of the Summer Reading theme, Be Creative @ Your Library, the Canton Public Library staff decided to make works of art for you to win. We've got quilters, knitters, woodworkers, photographers and many other creative people here. For a view of our craftsy items, check out our Flickr page.
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Henry the bear
"Green" and "eco" are popular terms today, but how do we explain these concepts to young children? Why not teach them about nature through a series of picture books based on the life of Henry David Thoreau? In these books, Henry is a bear and a very self-sufficient one. He walks to work, grows his own food, hikes thirty miles to a neighboring town, barters and builds his own home. These picture books are a wonderful way to begin a conversation about the environment and an appreciation for nature.
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An introduction to art for kids
Katie loves art and adventure. One day, on a visit to a museum, she finds herself stepping into a painting by Paul Cezanne. On another day, she hangs out with Mona Lisa. Check out these books by James Mayhew and explore the world of art through Katie's eyes. There is something for all ages in these books. Young children will enjoy the shapes, the colors and the movement of turning pages. Older kids will appreciate the story, Katie's curiosity and the beautiful paintings. It may even inspire them to learn how to paint!- Login to comment
Adopt a new summer friend
Here is a fun way to welcome summer, adopt a pet! Don't worry about pet care, the library has lots of materials on the subject. If you are ready to get a new pet, visit the Michigan Humane Society in Westland or the Humane Society of Huron Valley on Cherry Hill Road in Ann Arbor. Either place will provide adoption counseling. Get ready for your new pet by making a pet toy with the help of Step-by-Step Crafts for Gifts by Kathy Ross.- Login to comment
Looking to rent, sell or buy housing?
What do you get when you mix Craigslist with Google Maps? MapsKrieg.com! A nifty website that allows you to search visually for real estate, rental properties and sublets by region, neighborhood, even down to the street you'd like to live on. Don't you just love a good mash-up?
Yoon and the Jade Bracelet
Looking for a new picture book to share with your curious little one? Try these three stories about Yoon, a young Korean girl who learns of her family's many traditions as she adjusts to life in America.- Login to comment
Get ready for...summer camps!
Looking for something fun and educational to do during the summer break? Check out Summer-Daycamps.com, a website where you can search for summer day camps by area code. On Kidscamps.com you can search for day camps and away camps. Just imagine, you could spend the summer designing a video game, composing a song, caring for farm animals, painting, collecting worms or becoming a dramatic actress in a theater camp. Summer is bound to be fun with these possibilities!
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Writing is a craft
You can be a writer and compose amazing stories, too. Check out Gail Carson Levine's helpful book, Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and Stories by Celia Warren to find help with grammar, developing a plot, character development and much more. Happy writing!
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So you want to be a farmer
Spring is the perfect time to learn about one of the worlds oldest occupations: farming. Check out these informational books about how to do it, or stop by the Canton Farmer's Market, Sundays from 10am to 2pm, to chat with real farmers and pick up fresh fruits, vegetables and other treats.- Login to comment
Kindred by Octavia Butler
Originally published in 1979, Have a craftsy Cinco de Mayo
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with crafts! Visit Kaboose to learn how to make a foam mariachi guitar, a clothespin doll and the Mexican flag. For library materials related to the holiday click here.- Login to comment
Get your free comic book!
We're celebrating FREE COMIC BOOK DAY! Come to the Children's Desk on Saturday, May 2 any time between 9am to 6pm and pick up your free comic book, compliments of Comic City. After you get your comic, head down to Comic City for an appearance of the Great Lakes Garrison of the Star Wars 501st Legion! From 10am to 2pm you can take your picture with members of the biggest Imperial Star Wars costuming group in the world.- Login to comment
Russian Cultural Celebration
Come and enjoy music and stories from Russia! Join us in the Community Room on Saturday, May 9th at 2pm for sounds from the balalaika and other traditional instruments played by Aleksandr "Sasha" Chernyak. He promises to take us all on a trip through Russia with music. This program is open to the entire family. Registration is now open.Crafts for a Rainy Day
Get crafty with help from these books. These craft projects with They Might Be Giants playing in the background could lead to a very fun rainy day!
Nature's art box: from t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere by written by Laura C. Martin; with drawings by David Cain
Crafty kids: fun projects for you and your toddler by Rosie Hankin
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Solar Power: Get it While it's Hot
Now that the sun is shining more and more, why not learn about how you can use the sun's energy to generate electricity and power. Here is a nifty website with more on solar power and below are some books to help you learn more:
Energy from the sun by Allan Fowler
Harnessing power from the sun by Niki Walker
Solar power: a true book by Christine Petersen
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