This Summer, Teen Creative Writing students were asked to write a story based on a selected list of genres. Each story developed over the course of the six week class, beginning with gathering ideas, a rough draft, and the final product represented in the audio recordings of the finished products below.

The Mirror World

by Arsh Kaiser

Synopsis: When his parents purchase a strange mirror as a gift for his sister, Sam discovers that there's more to a reflection than he ever imagined.

Download MP3

The Normal Ghost Tracer

by Kriya Shah

Synopsis: A young girl befriends an interesting boy who teaches her how to understand ghosts. Together they begin a quest to help the dead and the living understand and accept each other.

Download MP3

Clown Mania

by Nabeel Baig

Synopsis: Imagine a world run exclusively by clowns. This funny account of a world gone crazy offers a silly overview of a year in the life of President Daffy the Clown.

Download MP3

They Wouldn't Believe Me

by Abdulhafeez Peracha

Synopsis: An out-of-this-world visit to Canton Public Library

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Ghost Keeper

by Sravya Emmadi

Synopsis: A teenage girl alone in an old house discovers the unexpected and goes on an adventure.

Download MP3

The Canton Public Library would like to thank Linda Papa for 3 years of excellence in teaching. Linda, an instructor at University of Detroit Mercy, has been teaching our creative writing class for teens for the past 3 Summers. This class emphasizes free expression with a focus on artistic creation. Linda's patience and love for writing and teaching makes this a very popular program each summer. Over the next few weeks look for audio recordings of stories the students created in the class.

All ages may enjoy a storytime program in Tamil presented by Sivakami Rajendran.
Program Dates: Thursday, September 1, 7:00-7:45 PM

Our new Connect Your Summer program reinvented the Canton Public Library's traditional summer reading program. Connect Your Summer simplified and streamlined participation by creating one program for all ages that could be completed singly or as a group, team, or family. While we continue to offer a paper-based format, Connect Your Summer was primarily designed to be completed online—so you could complete your log at anytime, from anywhere—and allowed library staff to provide more meaningful interactions with you through our increased programming and events. Badges could be earned by reading as well as other means. Our overarching mission is "Connecting Your Community," and Connect Your Summer focused on community partners, community events, and shared experiences, with the library serving as the hub.

Because Connect Your Summer is a new approach to summer library programming, we are asking you to provide feedback to help us learn from and improve it:

• If you participated in Connect Your Summer, Share your feedback
• If you did not participate, Share your feedback

Thank you in advance for sharing your thoughts with us!

Sincerely,

Eva Davis, Director

Good luck to everyone to entered the Destination College Savings sweepstakes! All entries had to postmarked by August 12, 2011 and received by August 19, 2011. Therefore, the entry forms will no longer be available in the library. Thank you to all who participated. Let's hope this awesome education program will be offered again next summer.

Starfish Family Services will present a workshop on the importance of reading with preschoolers.  Childcare will be provided by Starfish Family Services. Registration begins Tuesday, August 2.
Program Date: Tuesday, August 16 9:30-11:30 a.m.

Celebrate the end of summer with some fun in the sun. Activities include games, music, magic, farm animals and ice cream. All activities will take place behind the library.
Program Date: Saturday, August 13, Noon-2:00 PM

Adults have asked for it, so here it is — your very own anime club! Saturday August 20th, 2:00-4:00PM. Watch the hottest new shows/films and enjoy japanophilia together.

Kids and Tweens going into grades K-6, improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading aloud to a dog. Sign up for a 10 minute session. Space is limited, on a first come, first serve basis, beginning at 6:25PM.
Program Date: August 10, 6:30-8:30PM

Are you going to kindergarten in September? Are you a little nervous about going to school for the first time? Come to this special storytime, just for you and your caregiver! This fun Welcome to Kindergarten programming will take place on Augut 24, 2011 from 2:00 to 2:45PM. Registration starts August 10, 2011 for children going into Kindergarten and their Caregivers.

Are you looking for something fun and exciting to read? Well, look no more, have we got the section for you. Check out the J Nonfiction 300 to 399 section for all sorts of great reads including folktales, fairytales, environmental topics, career books, government books, Boy Scout badge books, Girl Scout books, and so much more. See you there!

Hey kids!
LB's had a busy couple of weeks. Not only was he traversing around Cape Cod, but he just back from a trip in the Northern Michigan visiting one of our relatives, Uncle Smokey the Bear! Uncle Smokey has the very important job of reminding people of the dangers of forest fires. And he gets to wear a cool Park Ranger's Hat. He even has his own website! Uncle Smokey's a pretty tech-savvy bear! Of course, I'm pretty tech-savvy myself. I just don't have a website that's all my own. Check out LB's adventure over on flickr! And don't forget you just have one more week to earn badges in Connect Your Summer!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke.

Hey kids!
LB earned us another badge from Connect Your Summer. Here's some pictures of him earning the Traveler Badge! He traveled to Massachusetts and, apparently, back in time! He visited Plymouth and saw the Plymouth Rock. Funny. LB says it's in a great big cage. I think they think it may try to run away! And then he got to tour the Mayflower II. It's not the original ship, but is a full-scale replica that sailed from Great Britain to Plymouth in 1957 just like the real Mayflower did! LB says he would have visited Plimoth Plantation as well, but it was over 100 degrees (a little warm for a fur coat!) so he settled on visiting the beach instead.
This has got me wanting to learn more about the Pilgrims, so I checked what we had to offer here at CPL. Found a lot of great books! I didn't really check them out (because I never leave the library) so, if YOU want to, they are all still here! Happy Reading!
Bear hugs!
Thorndyke

The Best in Show Dog Show was a lot of fun! We took a lot more pictures than just these, which we'll put up soon; but for now, enjoy these snaps of our canine friends and their families as they entered or exited the show.

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. The book selection for this month is Joey Pigza Loses Control by Jack Gantos. Register online today.
Program Date: Tuesday, August 16 2:00-2:45 p.m.

All next week, join the CPL staff in dressing fun, and earn badges during the last week of Connect Your Summer too! Just come to the library in spirit-appropriate attire on the following days:

Day	Theme	Badge
Monday, August 8	Animal Clothing	Animal Lover
Tuesday, August 9	Crazy Hat	Entertainent
Wednesday, August 10	Pajamas	Dreamer
Thursday, August 11	Mis-match	Artist
Friday, August 12	Dress Like a Tourist	Traveler

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

Guess what kids? Registration for the First and Second Grade Book discussion starts Thursday, August 4, 2011! Seats are limited so be sure to sign up. This month we are reading Uh-oh Cleo by Jessica Harper. Don't forget to pick up your book at the Children's Reference Desk after you register. Book group will meet on Thursday, August 18, 2011 from 2:00 to 2:45 p.m.

Local author James DiStefanis shares his knowledge and passion for fly fishing on Wednesday, August 3rd from 7:00-8:30PM. Learn how to tie a fly and perhaps cast a line or two. No registration necessary.

Note: This event has been canceled.

Are you a master driver or pro mushroom thrower? On August 11 from 2:00-4:00PM, teens going into grades 7-12 can prove your driving skills at our Mario Kart Tournament.