The library will host a storytime with crafts at the Canton Farmers Market on Sunday, July 10. The Canton Farmer's Market is open from 10:00AM to 2:00PM at Preservation Park.
Storytimes will be at 11:00AM and 1:00PM.

Get together with other tweens and teens to talk about a great book. Register online, then check out the book at the Children’s Desk. Register online today.
Program Date: Thursday, July 14, 2:00-2:45PM
Book Title: The Postcard by Tony Abbott

Hey kids! Are you curious about the world around you? What are some of those crazy landmarks we have? Come to our Where in the World program on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 from 7:00 to 7:45PM and have a fun time learning about landmarks both here and in other countries. We'll do some trivia, eat a tasty snack, and make some creative crafts. Registration starts June 29 and is open to Children ages 5 years to 8 years-old with a Caregiver. See you there!

Hey Kids!
Boy! I've seen a lot of you here at the library the last couple of days. As you can see from this picture, I was working hard on my reading for Connect-Your-Summer today. I like to do my reading under a tree. It's a good thing we have one here in the library! Do you ever read under trees? I finally figured out what badge LB and I can earn next. It's called the Adventurer Badge! This badge is perfect for LB, because he's always having adventures! Based on the books I'm reading, can you figure out where his next adventure will be? You'll have to keep watching to see if you guess right! And don't forget to tell me what you're doing to earn your Connect Your Summer badges too! I love reading about them!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Create a beautiful scrapbook the digital way. Bring a flash drive with a few of your pictures to play with, or instructor Dawn Montagano will have plenty for you to do. This is cutting edge scrapping with beautiful results. Join us on June 30 at 7:00PM in the Internet Lab. Registration is required as space is limited.

Flyfisher's guide to Michigan by Jim Bedford

Trout streams of Michigan: a fly-angler's guide by Bob Linsenman and Steve Nevala; foreword by Ernest Schwiebert

Beginner's guide to fly fishing by Jim Casada

Kids, come and listen to some great tales from around the world. Folktales are a great way to pass down stories and experiences from one generation to another. We will share stories and make a craft too.

Who: Children, ages 5-9 with caregiver
When: Monday, July 11, 11:00-11:45AM
Where: Library Community Room
Registration begins Monday, June 27

All ages can see the Whalers mascot Shooter and hear a special story.
Program Date: Monday, June 27, 2:00-2:30PM

Until Tuesday: a wounded warrior and the golden retriever who saved him by Luis Carlos Montalván with Bret Witter

Dog sense: how the new science of dog behavior can make you a better friend to your pet by John Bradshaw

Drinking with Miss Dutchie: a memoir by Ed Breslin

Johnny Applestack. Worm Diving. Chocolate Unicorn. They're all games from Minute to Win It. You've watched the TV show, now it's your turn! Check out NBC's Minute to Win It website and start brushing up on your mad skills for our Minute to Win It program on July 8th at 2:00PM. This program is for Teens and Tweens. Registration begins June 24th.

Hey Kids!
I'm super excited because I just earned my very first Connect Your Summer Badge! I told you that LB and I signed up as team, right? Well. We just got our very first badge... the Multicultural Badge. And it came with a nifty little star on it because we shared what we did with all of you! I read a book called Zoo-Ology by Joelle Jolivet. It's a big huge book (you can see it in my last blog post) with really neat pictures in it. And I learned a little bit about all the different animal cultures that are different than me. LB decided he would study People Culture, so he visited the Canton Historical Society. They have lots of neat stuff there. And LB got to sign his name in the guestbook (he has very nice handwriting) and put a pin on the map where he lives. He brought back lots of pictures to show me, and it sure looks like he had fun!
Boy we both had super lots of fun. We can't wait to earn our next badge! I need some ideas though... What have you done to earn yours? Can't wait to hear all about it!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Book #1 in Brandon Mull's new Beyonders series is beyond belief. Action, suspense, humor, magic, mystery, plot twists, bizarre portals to alternate realms, epic battles between good and evil — A World Without Heroes has it all. Jason, a regular teenager with no dreams of glory, suddenly finds himself devoted to overthrowing an evil tyrant after slipping through the mouth of a hippo into the realm of Lyrian. Just when you think he must undertake this mission impossible alone, he encounters Rachel, who was also magically ported into Lyrian. These two intrepid teens must quickly learn not only to trust each other, but to recognize honesty and deception in the many bizarre creatures they encounter on their quest.

Babies, birth-18 months with caregiver, may join us for this special program focusing on books, literacy and interactive play. Register online beginning June 21.

Program Date: July 5, 10:00AM

The Connect Your Summer program centers around badges:

1. Deciding which badge to earn
2. Deciding how to earn it
3. Having a Summer experience
4. Sharing your experience to claim the badge

The links below will help you with steps 1 and 2, with blog recommendations from librarians plus experiences from Canton patrons like you:

Adventurer

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Staff recommendations for adventurers, including:
  • Adventurous Summer Library Programs
  • Canton Parks
  • Adventurous Kids Reads
  • Teen Reading Adventures
  • Books for Adventurers

Animal Lover

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Staff recommendations for animal lovers, including:
  • Summer Library Programs About Animals
  • About the Canton Dog Park
  • Children’s Books About Animals
  • Teen Books About Animals
  • Books About Animals for Adults

Artist

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Staff recommendations for artists, including:
  • Library Programs for Artists
  • Art Exhibits to Visit
  • Books for Young Artists
  • Books for Teen Artists
  • Books for Artists

Dreamer

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Staff recommendations for dreamers, including:
  • Surreal Summer Library Programs
  • Park and Read Passes
  • Books About Dreams for Kids
  • Reading a Teenage Dream Tonight
  • Dream Books That Won’t Put you to Sleep

Entertainment

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Entertaining staff recommendations, including:
  • Entertaining Library Programs
  • Community Performances
  • Children’s Play Time
  • Teenage Drama
  • Play Books

Foodie

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Staff recommendations for foodies, including:
  • Library Programs for Foodies
  • Sources to Find Local Restaurants
  • Kids Cookbooks
  • Cookbooks for Teens
  • Connect Your Kitchen

Multicultural

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Multicultural staff recommendations, including:
  • Multicultural Library Programs
  • Become a Polyglot
  • World Literature for Kids
  • Multicultural Books for Teens
  • World Literature for Adults

Reader

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Staff recommendations for readers, including:
  • Believe it or Not! CPL Has Programs for Readers
  • Book-club-in-a-bag Kits for All Ages
  • Local Bookstores and Summer Author Talks
  • New Books for Kids
  • New and Different Teen Books
  • New and Different Books for Adults

Sports Fan

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Staff recommendations for sports fans, including:
  • Sporting Library Programs
  • Guide to 2011 Local Sports
  • Sports Books for Kids
  • Sports Books for Teens
  • Sports Books

Traveler

• Badge Page and shared experiences
• Staff recommendations for travelers, including:
  • Travel to These Library Programs
  • Websites for Travelers
  • Travel Books for Kids
  • Teen Travel Books
  • Rough Guide to Travel Books
  • Armchair Traveler

More

You can also see all posts in one place:

• All shared experiences
• All Connect Your Summer blog posts
• All users who opted in to share their badges

Welcome to Connect Your Summer 2011, our new Summer program that encourages you to connect to the Canton community through reading and activities.

Connect Your Summer is truly a community-wide program. Like our logo, the library is the hub of Connect Your Summer, with spokes leading out to our partners: the Friends of the Library, Canton Leisure Services, the Canton Downtown Development Authority, the Canton Chamber of Commerce, the Cherry Hill Village Theater, the Michigan Philharmonic, and others.

Sign in to your individual, family, pair, or group account to start earning virtual badges for reading, attending community events, attending library programs, attending programs put on by one of our partners, visiting places in our community, using the library, or for activities you come up with on your own. As you complete activities, click 'Claim' next to the appropriate badge to get that badge. Publish your earned badges and write reviews of your activities to share your experiences with other Connect Your Summer participants.

Connect Your Summer is designed to be completed online, at your own pace, when it is convenient for you. Want to mark your badge completed at 10:30 at night? No problem! Do you find it tough to keep track of reading logs for every member of your family? There are no more paper logs to keep track of (or lose!). Have you wished you could take a solitary activity and make it a group event? Now you can — create a new account to register for Connect Your Summer as a group, and because it's one program designed for all ages, you can earn your badges together.

I am proud of the work my staff has done to create this innovative new program that turns the traditional library Summer program on its head and allows for multiple ways to participate, at a level that you can tailor to meet your needs. Our overarching goal with Connect Your Summer is to encourage you to make connections within your community. I think that you, your family, and your friends will enjoy the variety of ways you can use Connect Your Summer to learn more about your neighbors and the entire Canton community.

Best,

Eva M. Davis, Director

If you're looking for a great read — a really great read — and enjoy non-fiction titles, May We Suggest these books from the Guardian's The 100 greatest non-fiction books:

The shock of the new by Robert Hughes

The story of art by E.H. Gombrich

Gator is an alligator a little boy flushed down the toilet. Gabby is a little girl who doesn't have any friends and refuses to speak because she is always picked on by the school bullies. Together they form a friendship that helps them both be comfortable with who they are. A quick, light read with many giggles. Enjoy Gabby and Gator by James Burks.

Attention kids going into First or Second Grade! Join us for our book group on August 18, 2011. This month's book selection is Uh-Oh Cleo by Jessica Harper. Registration begins on August 4, 2011. After you register, be sure to stop at the Children's Reference Desk to pick up your copy of the book.

Hey Kids!
Did you sign up for Connect Your Summer yet? LB and I did today! We are going to tackle it as a team. As you can see, I'm getting a start on my reading for my Multicultural Badge. And LB is off on a little adventure to fulfill another criteria for the badge. That's how we split it up. I really like to read, so I'm going to do all the reading. But I can't really leave the library. That's where LB comes in. He's going to take care of all the off-library-campus activities for me so we can earn badges. It's going to be so much fun! and I've already learned a lot! I can't wait to log into my account and read about all the fun and exciting books you've read and the activities you've participated in too! So don't forget to tell me all about what you're doing over on the Connect Your Summer page!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke

Children's Programs

• Storytime at the Farmer's Market — June 26, 11:00-11:45AM or 1:00-1:45PM
• Fun in the Garden — June 27, 11:00-11:45AM
• Family Storytime - July 7, 22, and 27 10:00-10:30AM July 12, 7:00-7:30PM
• Dear Dumb, Dork and Wimpy Diaries — July 7, 2:00-2:45PM
• First and Second Grade Book Discussion — July 12, 2:00-2:45PM
• Third and Fourth Grade Book Discussion — July 13, 2:00-2:45PM
• Reading Assistance Dogs — July 28 and August 10, 6:30-8:30PM

Tween Programs

• Dear Dumb, Do