International Astronomy Day is observed on a Saturday near the first quarter moon between mid-April and mid-May. This year it will fall on May 2nd. To learn more contact Gary Tomlinson who is located in Comstock Park, MI or visit the website sponsored by Astronomy Day Headquarters. Great biographies on the most famous astronomers are available at the library, as well as many informative books on outer space. Have fun exploring the realms which inspired such Sci-Fi hits Star Wars and Star Trek!

Yikes! It sure has been a windy day today! You know, with winds like these, it's the perfect day to fly a kite. Have you ever flown a kite before? You need lots of wide open space so you don't get your kite stuck in a tree. Trust me, I know! Don't have a kite, but still want to read some stories about them? Try some of the books in our Readers section. How about The Berenstain Bears and the Big Red Kite? Or, find out what happens when Curious George Flies a Kite.

Indiana author Michael Koryta last night won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller category for his 2008 novel, ENVY THE NIGHT.

From the creator of YuYu Hakusho, Hunter x Hunter dishes up a helping of wildly creative tournament style battle with a side of treasure hunting adventure.&n

Farewell, My Subaru: An Epic Adventure in Local Living is Doug Fine's autobiographical account of his radical lifestyle change from nomadic journalist to sustainable desert rancher. Fine leaves behind a life of convenience, instead choosing to raise a couple of temperamental milk goats and make his newly acquired New Mexico property (lovingly christened the Funky Butte Ranch) into a self-sufficient, solar-powered homestead.

Crime Through Time.  Have you tried these historical mystery series?

Thirteenth night : a medieval mystery by Alan Gordon

Cocaine blues : a Phryne Fisher mystery by Kerry Greenwood

A play of Isaac by Margaret Frazer

Sweet poison by David Roberts

New York City, the most fun city in the world. It has something(s) for everyone. 
Times Square, Broadway, Museums, Central Park, Rockefeller Plaza (esspecially at Christmastime), the subway (what an adventure), the Brooklyn Bridge, awesome buildings, and many, many restaurants.

Motown Records, founded by Berry Gordy, marks it's 50th anniversary by celebrating all year long.  Discover some of Motown's history through the library's collection of books and videos.  Re-live the sounds with some tunes by

The weather is getting warmer and children are eager to play outside.  Their curiosity often leads them to investigate all the little critters crawling about, and sometimes a bug or two might even make its way home with them.  Then what do you do?  The Animal Planet Pet Care series has a book Bugs as Pets which tells you how to house and properly care for your new "pet". 

If you are considering a new addition to your family, the library is a great place to start. We have many books available to help you select a pet for your family. The Animal Planet Pet Care series has books on dogs, cats, hamsters, birds, fish and even bugs as pets!

Parents, looking for some fun titles to encourage your little one to start using the potty? Check out some of these humorous picture books, and good luck!

Everyone poops by Taro Gomi; translated by Amanda Mayer Stinchecum

Have you seen my potty? by Mij Kelly

The princess and the potty by Wendy Cheyette Lewison; illustrated by Rick Brown

Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep through the night? If so, you're not alone. In fact, more than 25% of adults have had symptoms of insomnia at some time, and less than 10% have chronic insomnia. There are many remedies to help you get a good night's sleep and feel refreshed during the day. Explore our collection of materials on insomnia. You can also learn about other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy, and sleep apnea. Sweet dreams!

Get crafty with help from these books. These craft projects with They Might Be Giants playing in the background could lead to a very fun rainy day!

Nature's art box: from t-shirts to twig baskets, 65 cool projects for crafty kids to make with natural materials you can find anywhere by written by Laura C. Martin; with drawings by David Cain

Crafty kids: fun projects for you and your toddler by Rosie Hankin

Sun-Proof your skin.  Spring is here. Before summer heats up, protect yourself and your skin with sunscreen. Remember your sunglasses and hat! For more tips check Sun Protection for Life.

Fresh, delicious, homemade bread that is easy to make. Sounds too good to be true, but that's the claim for Kneadlessly Simple, a book on order at CPL. I'm eagerly awaiting my chance at the copy, and as soon as I've tried out a recipe or two, I'll report back and let you know if the recipes really work as promised.

Hey kids, did you know that this Thursday (April 23) marks the anniversary of both William Shakespeare's birth and death? Celebrate "The Bard" with a fun mystery like Shakespeare's Secret by Elise Broach or check out the rest of the Children's Department's collection of Shakespeare-related materials.

Great adult authors have recognized that teen readers are more alive than ever; they know a hot trend when they see it. Celebrate Support Teen Literature Day by grabbing a teen book by an adult author. There are so many to choose from: Walter Mosley's 47, Michael Chabon's Summerland.

Mark Fidrych was introduced to the Detroit area back in 1976.  He was energetic, unique, and talented.  Fans everywhere watched his antics on the field from talking to the ball to kneeling down and smoothing out the mound. He won the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1976 and went on to spend his major league career with the Detroit Tigers. Remember Mark Fidrych in his book No Big Deal published in 1977. 

Now that the sun is shining more and more, why not learn about how you can use the sun's energy to generate electricity and power. Here is a nifty website with more on solar power and below are some books to help you learn more:

Energy from the sun by Allan Fowler

Harnessing power from the sun by Niki Walker

Solar power: a true book by Christine Petersen

With so many ponds nearby, I've been noticing a lot of ducks waddling around outside the library. Ducks are such nice birds — sometimes I like to feed them bread! I like reading about ducks, too. What about you? The library has lots of great books in our Readers section all about ducks! Try:

Ducks in muck by Lori Haskins ; illustrated by Valeria Petrone

Lucky duck by written by Ellen Weiss ; illustrated by Brian Lies