The first winner of the Printz Award in 2000 and author of amazing novels before and since, Walter Dean Myers, has been named the next national ambassador for young children's literature.

The University of Michigan's Museum of Natural History presents a series of three fun family workshops about science. This year, to tie in with their temporary exhibition at the Museum called Evolution and Health (February 2012-January 2013), they are focusing on showing families what doctors mean when they talk about health, and how factors in our daily lives may affect our health.

We invite you to register for the first workshop in the series titled How YOU work: What are you made of and what do your vital signs mean?. The event takes place in the Community Room on Saturday, January 14, 2012, from 1:00-2:00 PM. You will explore what makes you who you are. You'll look at the building blocks that make our bodies (cells and DNA), figure out what the numbers doctors talk about really tell you, and see how it all works together. Workshops are designed for children ages 6-11, accompanied by an adult. Online registration begins December 31 at 9:00am.

Have you ever looked at your kids and wondered "What are we going to do today?" Starfish Family Services will present a workshop for parents, caregivers and daycare providers titled Making Playroom Materials from Everyday Items on January 5, 2012, 9:30-11:00 AM. Attendees will identify natural, real, recycled and scrap materials for your playroom. During the program you will also make playroom materials to take back to your setting. Childcare will be provided by licensed Starfish Family Services staff. Online registration begins on December 22, 2011.

Marcel the shell with shoes on : things about me by Jenny Slate & Dean Fleischer-Camp ; paintings by Amy Lind — Marcel is a shell. He also has shoes. And just how does that work? Check out this fun, new picture book created by writer, actress and SNL alum Jenny Slate and her partner Dean Fleischer-Camp. The book is based on a short film made by the duo in 2010 that went on to win the grand jury prize at the 2011 New York Int'l Children's Film Festival. Big accomplishments for such a little creature!

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 particularly aim for the senior that does not usually receive many visitors or mail. Come to the Purple Room on December 10 at any time between 1:00-4:00 PM and create a Holiday/Winter card to send to these oft-overlooked members of our community. All ages are welcome to participate. Supplies will be provided.