Earn your Curtains Up badge by listening to one of these great audio book performances:

Bossypants [sound recording] by Tina Fey

Steve Jobs [sound recording] by Walter Isaacson

The Mark of Zorro [sound recording] by written by Johnston McCulley, produced by the Hollywood Theater of the Ear

Watch a movie based off a book. Here's a list of the top 100 movies based off books. Take the next step and read the book to compare the two!

Geek n.

1. An unfashionable or socially inept person.
2. A person with an eccentric devotion to a particular interest: "A computer geek".

We have lots of books in our Children's Library starring geeks. And quite often, they are the heros. Check one out today.

Notes from an accidental band geek by Erin Dionne

NERDS: National Espionage, Rescue, and Defense Society by Michael Buckley; illustrations by Ethen Beavers

Teen books made into movies:

Nick & Norah's infinite playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

The princess diaries by Meg Cabot

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Flipped by Wendelin Van Draanen

Sewing basics: all you need to know about machine and hand sewing by Sandra Bardwell

The sewing machine classroom: learning the ins and outs of your machine by Charlene Phillips

Sewing 101: a workshop in a book by [editors of Creative Publishing, International]

Write a short poem and recite it to someone to earn your Curtains Up Badge.

Join us on Saturday, June 23 for a power walk around the lake adjacent to the library in Heritage Park from Noon-12:30 p.m. Meet at the "clock" and kick your summer off on the right foot. Bring your walking buddy, whether it's a 2-legged or 4-legged friend. We'll also have walks on these Saturdays, weather-permitting: June 30, July 7, July 14, July 21 and July 28.

Quilting step by step by Maggi Gordon

Firefly's step-by-step encyclopedia of needlecraft: patchwork, embroidery, quilting, sewing, knitting, crochet, appliqué

Kaffe Fassett's quilts in Sweden: 20 designs from Rowan for patchwork quilting by Kaffe Fassett

File M for murder by Miranda James

Cats can't shoot: a Pru Marlowe pet noir by Clea Simon

Grey expectations by Clea Simon

No cooperation from the cat: a mystery by Marian Babson

The Children's Library has lots of nonfiction on your favorite geeky subjects. Here are some fun ones to get you started.

The real spy's guide to becoming a spy by Peter Earnest and Suzanne Harper, in association with the Spy Museum

The big book of spy stuff by Bart King; illustrations by Russell Miller

The dangerous book for boys by Conn Iggulden, Hal Iggulden

It's often said that people fear public speaking more than death. While that's not exactly true, talking is front of people is a major fear — one you can conquer!

Places to Speak

• Canton Communicators Toastmasters club — Toastmasters is a great way to hone your speaking
• Speech classes at Wayne County Community College
• Spotlight Players — acting at the Village Theater

Other places often welcome speakers, such as conferences, meetup groups, places of worship, and even the library!

Books on Speaking

Speaking your way to success by Sheryl Lindsell-Roberts

Public speaking success in 20 minutes a day

Time machines provide a fun learning experience, a unique business opportunity, and a contrived way to manipulate your plot arc. Watch out, though — depending on the make and model you choose for your temporal vehicle, they can often be expensive to build and difficult to maintain. See below for several types of time machine, along with assembly instructions when available.

Hot Tub

The mechanism for how a hot tub can become a time machine isn't well-explained. However, if you acquire a hot tub and the chronological mechanism never works, at least you have a hot tub, right? For further instructions view:

Bad dog: a love story by Martin Kihn

Chow hounds: why our dogs are getting fatter and a vet's plan to save their lives by Ernie Ward

The complete idiot's guide to positive dog training by Pamela Dennison

Memoirs About Dogs- Some of these titles may also be available as books on CD or e-books and a few have been made into DVDs:

A dog for all seasons: a memoir by Patti Sherlock

Dog house: a love story by Carol Prisant

Drinking with Miss Dutchie: a memoir by Ed Breslin

Beginning June 23rd and every other Saturday ending August 18th, teens going into grades 7-12 can hone their creative writing skills. This five-week course (you must attend all weeks) will be taught by Linda Weatherford Papa, Instructional Designer at The University of Detroit Mercy.

Origami for everyone: beginner, intermediate, advanced by Didier Boursin

Origami zoo: 25 fun paper animal creations by Paul Jackson and Miri Golan; illustrations by Paul Jackson; photographs by Avi Valdman

The new encyclopedia of origami and papercraft techniques by Ayako Brodek; edited by Claire Waite Brown

In love with paper crafts by [editor-in-chief, Jennifer Schaerer]

The complete book of home crafts: projects for adventurous beginners by edited by Carine Tracanelli

Fun family crafts by Kelly Doust

Connect Your Summer is back and better than ever, and with it are 12 new badges. Click on the badges below to see the reading, program, and activity recommendations from our staff experts for how to earn each badge. Once you've completed an experience, claim the badge online for a chance at some great prizes:

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's court by written by Mark Twain ; illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

From time to time: a novel by Jack Finney

The house on the strand by Du Maurier, Daphne, Dame, 1907-1989

Hyperion by Dan Simmons