If you're looking for something silly and short to share with your little one, take a look at the Sandra Boynton items in our collection. The board books are quick little reads: some have silly themes like belly buttons and others are fun stories about animals. If you're looking for children's music that won't drive you crazy, Philadelphia Chickens is my favorite. The songs aren't obnoxious, but they are catchy enough that you'll remember them later if you need to entertain your baby on the go.

Are you looking for some ways to keep your children busy at home as the temperature outside turns colder, and you find yourself inside more? Here are some CDs that feature stories, songs, dances, and movement exercises for children, babies on up. Try a few out and stay active!

We're going on a bear hunt story by Michael Rosen

Leaping literacy: rhythm sticks, ribbons, & games for reading readiness by Pam Schiller

Preschool action time: activities and finger plays by Carol Hammett

Nursery rhyme time: songs, rhymes and movement activities created by Georgiana Stewart

Diaper gym: fun activities for babies on the move by presented by Playful Parenting; activities created by Priscilla Hegner & Rose Grasselli]

Canton Public Library is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. To celebrate, we're making 30-item lists of interesting facts and links. For music lovers, here's a list of great albums:

1. Fear of a Black Planet by Public Enemy
2. Exile in Guyville by Liz Phair
3. Renegades by Rage Against the Machine
4. Nevermind by Nirvana
5. London calling by The Clash
6. Ten by Pearl Jam
7. 1999 by Prince
8. Born to run by Bruce Springsteen

Ever since we've had hold music on our telephone system, it seems we've been committed to letting people know what we're playing. The picture above is from our Fugitive Fact File (more on that in a coming post) and shows that we kept a record of which songs played over the phone system.

For our present phone system, we've loaded our MP3 player with select Creative Commons-licensed jazz and other recordings from the Internet Archive:

• Fred Baty — Crepusculum — Sky Diaries EP
• top-40.org — Summer Time [top12]
• Carl Jasper Hoffman (October 27, 2004)
• Marcos Oliva And Free Bossa Jazz Trio
• Eric Bednarz — Aicha

Special thanks to the artists for releasing their wonderful music for the world to share! If you're interested in open access to information, check out Open Access Week (this week!).

When it drops is an attractive, concise website for seeing all the new movies, albums, DVDs, video games, and books that come out in a given week. It also features an RSS feed. [via kottke and The Daily Dish]

Looking for a quick way to see what's in our catalog on other websites, such as When it drops? Try our bookmarklet, available on our Tools page. Not familiar with bookmarklets? Read how to use them.

America's Largest Free Jazz Festival comes to Detroit this Labor Day Weekend. Subtitled "Flamekeepers: Carrying the Torch of Modern Jazz" the DJF salutes the legacy of Art Blakey, Ray Brown, Miles Davis, Horace Silver, Betty Carter, Lester Bowie and Gil Evans. Sprawling over several city blocks in downtown Detroit, from Hart Plaza to Campus Martius, the festival offers fun for the whole family. From educational activities, storytelling, food and the launching of Jazz Planet.tv. The festival boasts five stages and 100 acts over the four day weekend which runs from Friday through Monday. A Complete list of Concerts and Events click on the DJF link.
Photo courtesy of AP Images

Not ready to get back to school? Not ready to say goodbye to summer? Still looking for school supplies? Maybe some of these songs will create a back to school mood! Check out these CD's to say goodbye to summer and get inspired to get Back to School.

Bottle of sunshine [sound recording] by Milkshake

Multiplication [sound recording] by Teacher and the Rockbots

Disney's beach party [sound recording]

Back to school [sound recording] by Mr. Al & Stephen Fite

Today is the first day of the first day of Elvis Week in Memphis, Tennessee and the beginning of a week long remembrance of the 33rd anniversary of Elvis' death. Some of the planned events include a tour of the Graceland Mansion, Shake, Rattle & Roll at the Shell (a benefit concert for the Alzheimer's Association), the Elvis Presley 5K Run, Walk, Rock & Roll to benefit cerebral palsy, and a tour of the Elvis Presley Automobile Museum.

Summer is finally here! And we all know what that means in Michigan — don't we? Orange cones! Traffic snarls! Gridlock! It seems there's no avoiding it, especially in and around the Canton area where it seems that every major road is under repair — including right in front of the library. Well, as they say, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em — in song, that is. Sing along with gridlock! And to get you started just try any one of the many great songs about cars and driving from our list below. Start your engines!

• Automobile (1979) — John Prine
• Cadillac Ranch (1981) — Bruce Springsteen
• Cars (1980) — Gary Numan

Songs from Lonely Avenue by The Brian Setzer Orchestra

Fans of the Brian Setzer Orchestra will not be disappointed by this latest album, a soundtrack to a film that doesn't exist. It's what Setzer imagines might be the appropriate accompaniment to a throwback noir film, including blues, swing, and jazz tunes that feel like they could be classics. It's a fun exploration that provides plenty of opportunity for Setzer to show off his virtuosic guitar chops.

Wild Young Hearts by Noisettes

This album is full of fun, upbeat songs that feature the versatile vocals of lead singer Shingai Shoniwa. She seems completely comfortable with styles from disco to 60s soul to jazz, all of which are reflected in the pop songs on this album. Perfect for bopping around the house or around town, these happy songs will keep a spring in your step.

Plymouth Symphony Music Director and Conductor, Nan Washburn, will present a multi-media presentation on the Life and Music of Tchaikovsky on Thursday, March 4, at 7:00PM. Come hear this presentation in the library Community Room and have an opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the Tchaikovsky Spectacular at the Village Theater at Cherry Hill on Saturday, March 13th at 7:30PM. It's a win/win opportunity for all.

Are you a woman who has a life-changing story about your library? Would you be willing to share it with others? If yes, consider entering the Woman's Day/American Library Association essay contest. Up to four winners will have their essays published in an upcoming Woman's Day issue. Good luck!

Road to Rock by the Boogers

What more perfect name for a punk rock band for kids could there be than the Boogers?  This album is loaded with high-energy Ramones-style punk that is completely appropriate for all ages. From new takes on old standbys (Bah Bah Black Sheep, The Wheels on the Bus) to originals, this album is raucous and irreverent, and a real treat for parents and kids alike.

R&B legend Teddy Pendergrass passed away earlier this week after a long illness. Pendergrass, 59, got his start singing gospel music in Philadelphia churches, and later became a drummer for a local group called the Cadillacs. After merging with another more well known group, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, he became their lead singer in 1970. He later left the group and struck out on a solo career after signing with Philadelphia International Records - where his next several albums went gold and platinum. During this time he received several Grammy nominations, Billboard's 1977 Pop Album New Artist Award, an American Music Award for best R&B performer of 1978, and awards from Ebony magazine and the NAACP. A tragic car accident in 1982 left him paralyzed from the waist down. He made a dramatic return to the stage at the Live Aid concert in 1985, and in 1998 he founded Teddy Pendergrass Alliance to aid people with spinal cord injuries.

A Treasury of Field Recordings from the Library of Congress is a collection of recordings. These recordings have been collected since 1928. They include folk songs from all across America. The ones from the back roads in the Delta are examples of the precursors of the Blues. It is a great historic record of American music.

To all who celebrate, Merry Christmas. Check out the PowerPoint presentation.

'Tis the season for some great Holiday music. First, come to the Library, browse our wonderful music collection. Second, choose your selection and come to the checkout desk where our friendly associates will greet you with a smile and gladly checkout your items for you. Lastly, go home and sit in front of the fireplace...(don't forget your snuggie) and enjoy some relaxing Holiday music. Happy Holidays!!