Kids going into grades 3rd through 5th can join us at 2:00 PM on Friday, August 3rd for our August Make and Take. We'll be making a book out of paper lunch bags that has compartments for hiding secret messages.

Program Date: Friday August 3rd, at 2:00 PM in the Purple Room

Kids going into grades 3rd through 5th can drop in any time between 2:00 and 3:00 PM on Friday, July 6th for a Make and Take craft program. We'll be making super fun monster bookmarks that hold your place in your favorite book.

Program Date:Friday, July 6th at 2:00 PM in the Purple Room 

Kids in grades two-six, join us Tuesday, July 10 from 7:00-8:00 PM and make a special book, card or other craft for someone you love. We will have everything you need, but if there is something special you want to include on your craft, bring it with you.

You heard it here first. Friday, July 13th is Embrace Your Geekness day. If there were ever a day to earn the Geek Out badge, this would be it. To add to the fun, get your geek on and come to the library rocking your best geek outfit. There might just be a prize in it for the best costume.

Read a story in a new way. Tumblebooks is an online database that contains hundreds of well loved children's books told in an animated, interactive format. Many contain games, quizzes or other activities at the conclusion of the story. You can access it from your home computer or iPad or here in the library. If you are reading here in the library don't forget to bring your headphones so you'll be able to listen to the story.

From board books, to pictures books, to chapter books, it's is so hard to choose?

Tweens and Teens, do you watch the Amazing Race on TV? Interested in embarking on your own adventure? Join us in the library for a race of your own. You will travel around the library and complete tasks from all around the world. Maybe you will be the one to conquer the Dewey Decimal System!

Who: Kids, Tweens and Teens, going into grades 4 & up
When: Friday, August 5, 1:00-2:30PM
Where: Library Community Room
Registration begins Friday, July 22

Kids, have you ever seen a mask that made you laugh, or scared you, or made you think, "What is that?" Masks are a tradition in many cultures. They are used in ceremonies, for celebrations, or for decoration. Here's your chance to make your very own scary, funny or adventurous mask.

Who: Children, ages 5-9, with a caregiver
When: Monday, August 8, 1:00-1:45PM
Where: Library Community Room
Registration begins Monday, July 25.

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

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