The American Library Association has joined the National Institutes of Health promoting Go4Life. Go4Life, an exercise and physical activity campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH, is designed to help individuals fit exercise and physical activity into their daily life.

Older & wiser workout [videodisc]: for active older adults by with Sue Grant; produced by FitFlix Productions

Lilias! yoga: your guide to enhancing body, mind, and spirit in midlife and beyond by Lilias Folas

1861: the Civil War awakening by Adam Goodheart

Blood, bones, & butter: the inadvertent education of a reluctant chef by Gabrielle Hamilton

Blue nights by Joan Didion

Making artisan chocolates: flavor-infused chocolates, truffles, and confections by Andrew Garrison Shotts ; photography by Madeline Polss — Since December 29th is National Chocolate Day, do not let the chance to explore the art and world of chocolate escape you. In this book, you will get the chance to immerse yourself in the creation of chocolate that is to die for. Don't forget the artistic flair to make your new delights a one of a kind treat!

December 8 is National Brownie Day and one of my favorite bloggers, Janet Randolph of Dying for Chocolate, has rounded up dozens of recipes for brownies. (Photo: Ghirardelli: Gluten-Free Brownies)

Fred Meijer, the long-time chairman of the Meijer Corporation, reportedly has died of a brain hemorrhage. A statement released by a Meijer representative reads, "Fred Meijer, Chairman Emeritus of Meijer Corp., passed away Friday evening, November 25, 2011 at the Spectrum Health Systems in Grand Rapids, Michigan after suffering a stroke in his home in the early morning hours."

On November 9, CPL hosted a Diwali Celebration program that featured traditional and contemporary Indian music, dance, food, and more — all centered around the festival of lights. If you couldn't make it that night, check out the video above and pictures below to get up to speed:

Happy Thanksgiving. How much do you really know about the early years of America's formation?

Mayflower: a story of courage, community, and war by Nathaniel Philbrick

The pox and the covenant: Mather, Franklin, and the epidemic that changed America's destiny by Tony Williams

Grow herbs by Jekka McVicar — This guide to herbs has info on a lot more than just growing them. It also includes some history, basic information about what herbs are, designing an herb garden, propagation and harvesting techniques, a list of 100 top herbs for use in the kitchen,  recipes and instructions for use in cooking and throughout the home (for cleaning, remedies, relaxation, and more).

If you're a foodie who enjoys listening to audiobooks and a fan of Joanna Fluke's Hannah Swenson's mysteries you might enjoy:

Death in paradise [sound recording] by Carolyn Hart

The merlot murders [sound recording]: a wine country mystery by Ellen Crosby

A dilly of a death [sound recording] by Susan Wittig Albert

November is National Peanut Butter Lovers Month. According to the Peanut Butter Lovers website, Americans will celebrate by eating more than 65 million pounds of peanut better during the Month of November.

Southern Peanut Growers, representing southeastern peanut farmers, started the celebration as Peanut Butter Lovers Day on November 4, 1990. November 4 marks the anniversary of the first patent for peanut butter, applied for by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg on November 4, 1895. It grew to a month-long celebration in 1995 when peanut butter celebrated its 100th birthday!

October 28 is National Chocolate Day so bake something special for your special someone. You'll find lots of wonderful cookbooks dedicated to chocolate at the library.

Intensely chocolate: 100 scrumptious recipes for true chocolate lovers by Carole Bloom

Chocolate epiphany: exceptional cookies, cakes, and confections for everyone by Francois Payard; with Anne E.

Come celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights at Canton Public Library. The Diwali program is scheduled for Wednesday, November 9th at 7:00 PM in our Community Room. Diwali is one of the oldest and most important festivals in India. The name comes from the Indian word "Deepavali" and the literal translation means "an array of lamps". Diwali falls on the new moon night, so celebrants light lamps to ward off the darkness and to symbolize the removal of spiritual darkness and the onset of happiness and prosperity. Every Indian state celebrates the festival in its own way, but most celebrations include making special foods, buying new clothes, bursting fireworks, and lighting lamps and candles.

This free family friendly event will feature Indian music, dancing, rangoli, sampling of Indian food and the art of drawing henna patterns.

A chicken in every yard : the Urban Farm Store's guide to chicken keeping by Robert and Hannah Litt — The title of this book refers to the idea not that every yard must have chickens, but that every yard could. You can raise chickens virtually anywhere, and this book shows just how to do it. The authors have included a wealth of information gleaned from their own experience, including choosing the right breed, building a coop, feeding, preventing and treating diseases, recipes to use your chickens' eggs and more. They also include an all-important section on working with neighbors, family, and authorities to make your chicken-raising experience successful and positive for everyone.

What kind of dog do you wish you had? How fast does a Corvette really go? What does the inside of the human body look like? If you have ever asked yourselves these questions and more, then you should definitely visit the J600-699 collection in the Children's Section. This is the nonfiction collection that is chock full of cats, cars, pets, cooking, gardening, health, body parts, and so much more. See you in the stacks!

Growing fruit trees : novel concepts and practices for successful care & management by edited by Jean-Marie Lespinasse and Évelyne Leterme ; illustrations by Jean- Marie Lespinasse ; Kitren Glozer, consultant for North America ; authors, Gilles Adgié ... [et al.] — This book includes information on growing fifteen types of fruit trees including stone fruits, seeded fruits, dry fruits, and others. Each type of tree, including apple, cherry, olive, peach, plum, and many others, is outlined in great detail, including history and origins, characteristics, its annual cycle, soil and climate limitations, how to choose and train a tree, and more.

Blood, bones, & butter: the inadvertent education of a reluctant chef by Gabrielle Hamilton — Chef and restaurateur Hamilton, chef/owner of acclaimed New York City restaurant Prune, offers a sensuous and evocative memoir of her rural Pennsylvania childhood and her training as writer and chef. Hamilton is a very talented writer and offers an unusually compelling chef's memoir.

It's that time of year to start making plans for Halloween! Whether you're throwing a party, going trick-or-treating, or passing out candy, you can never have enough spooky treats around to snack on. Check out The Halloween Cooking Blog and Food Network's Halloween Cooking page for some great recipes, as well as our own collection of Halloween cooking and idea books.

Thursday, October 27th at 7:00 PM, Tweens and Teens are invited to join us for fun activities, games, and food!

Michigan's Harvest: Food, Farming & Community is taking place from September 24 to November 20, 2011 at the Albert L. Lorenzo Cultural Center at Macomb Community College. You'll find exhibits, presentations and activities on a variety of food topics including Michigan's agricultural heritage, modern methods of food production, and the local foods movement. Most events are free but require pre-registration.

Do you know what the following people have in common? Diogenes, the Greek philosopher to Ben Franklin, founding father, to actors Emily Deschanel and Brad Pitt to singer Alanis Moressette?  They are all vegetarians!  Find out about the vegetarian life style when we celebrate Vegetarian Awareness Month with the folks from VegMichigan on Saturday, October 22 at 12 noon.  Why do they do it?  It's a healthier, greener and more humane way to live your life.  Come learn why.