Join us for informal open play as well as a tournament by the "Library Chess Clubs" on the fourth Sunday of each month in the Community Room. For tournament information and registration, please email clubchess@wowway.com.

On Wednesday, February 13 at 4:00-4:45 PM, Thirupu Siva will teach young people from 6-16 years of age the basic asanas, building up to various intermediate poses. Please wear loose fitting clothing and bring a towel or yoga mat to work on. Registration for this program begins on January 25.

[Halasana - Postura del Arado/Amineko Yoga by ((carola)) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

This year at CPL, the University of Michigan's Museum of Natural History presents a series of three, fun Family Reading and Science workshops titled Just Like me: exploring culture, biology and the human experience. To tie in with their temporary exhibition at the museum called RACE: Are we so different? (February 2013-June 2013), they are focusing on and exploring how biology, anthropology, physics, geography and chemistry all play a part in race and culture.

We invite you to register for the second of three monthly workshops in the series titled Everybody Cooks! Exploring how geology, geography and human migration influenced food. The workshop takes place in the Community Room on Saturday, February 9, 2013, from 1:00-2:00 PM. You will learn that every culture has a cuisine, but why do the same ingredients, cooking techniques or types of food pop up all over the world? Families will learn how geology and geography relate to food, what "cultural transmission" is, and will also get to make their very own bread starter. Workshops are designed for children ages 6-11, accompanied by an adult. Online registration begins January 25.

Join us Thursday, February 7 at 7:00 PM as we celebrate Black History Month and the 100th anniversary of Rosa Parks' birth with speaker Gregory J. Reed, Esq.  Mr. Reed, an attorney, author and advocate, has helped preserve and tell the Rosa Parks story, as well as garner proper recognition for Ms. Parks' acts as a true hero of the equality movement.  He has a special tale to tell of advocating on her behalf to get her proper recognition via the Medal of Freedom and the new postage stamp being issued in her honor this month.  Mr. Reed will sign copies of his book, Quiet Strength: the Faith, the Hope and the Heart of a Woman Who Changed a Nation. 

Did you have fun creating a beautiful work of art for our mural? If so, be sure to come and show us where your picture is on the mural and we can make sure you get a limited edition poster of your very own! Just stop in at the Children's Reference Desk to pick up your poster. See you soon!

Chapter 1: The Assembly

“They have failed when we needed them the most,” The old man said in a loud voice. “We must get another group to fulfill this mission and save the universe. We must do this! Are you all with me? This mission must be done. We alone can't stop this, but the right group - only the bravest, smartest, strongest, and most skillful - can stop the sun from exploding.”

In a raspy voice a white clocked man said “yessss, this group mussst be able to get to Sssaturn and get the plassmetic ray ssstaff and sssave the universsse.”

“Do you allow this, high council,” asked a black cloaked man.

“We do,” said the high council at the same time.

“Then, commence operation!”

Location: High Head Quarters, also known as HHQ -

“Sir, we must talk,” said Commander Bob.

“Yes, Commander Bob,” Said Leader Kern.

“We have been approved about the operation. The high council agreed.”

“WHAT? Why would they?

I stared at my toes wiggling in the sand, feeling the wind tug at my loosely braided blond hair when I felt it. I felt a poke in my back. I turned around, having some ridiculous hope that it was a crewmember from the cruise ship. But why would it be? That cruise ship left me stranded here on Gale Island a week ago, taking my parents and everyone else with it. Sadly, it also took my twin brother Adam, too. Adam was the only person that could understand me, and I was the only person that could understand him. Of course, we both had good friends, but we were best friends because we were so much alike. He loved adventures as much as I did, and we always snuck off to get into trouble. I really wished he was there. But, of course no person was there. It was a bottle. It must have fallen from the sand dunes, I thought. I picked up the bottle and gave it a once over. I took a double take. There was a piece of paper coiled up inside!

As we moved on to the next trial, I found myself checking everywhere around me in anticipation. Then, after what seemed like an eternity, we came to a gigantic gold door encrusted in jewels. Cautiously I pushed on it, it swung open, and it was surprisingly light. Raising my sword I walked in and saw… a sea of teddy bears blocking the exit.

Seriously, I’m not kidding. It was a circular room probably about 20 paces across and it was split into two sections, one was where Jonah and I were standing and the other side was a pit filled with an assortment of stuffed Kittens, Puppies, and teddy bears. They were all smiling so wide it made me want to throw up because of the happiness. I turned around expecting to see Jonah’s face puffing up as he tried not to laugh, but instead I saw a face full of fear. I tried so hard not to laugh that I must have looked like I poked my head in a beehive and got a face full of hurt.

Check out the pieces submitted during the fall 2012 Tween Creative Writing Series.  Developed by a local Creative Writing Masters student, the kids were encouraged to stretch their writing skills and think outside the box.  Thanks to all of those that attended and took part.    

• STRANDED by Alaina S.
• Cosmetic Power by Surya B.
• The Bane of Telsamon by Nolan W.

On Wednesday, January 9 from 7:00-7:45 PM, Thirupu Siva will teach young people from 6-16 years of age the basic asanas, building up to various intermediate poses. Please wear loose fitting clothing and bring a towel or yoga mat to work on. Registration for this program begins on December 26.
[Halasana - Postura del Arado/Amineko Yoga by ((carola)) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0]

Are you in 5th, 6th, or 7th grade and looking for ways to fulfill your community service requirement for school? Join us and work as our Tween Service Corps. You can earn one hour of your community service time and also have fun helping out in the Children's Department. Our next date will be Saturday, January 19 from 2:00-3:00 PM. See you there!

NHS students are here to provide 3rd-12th graders free homework help. If you're interested in getting tutored:

• You must be in 3rd through 12th grade
• If you're under 12, your parent must remain in the library
• You must bring the assignment and any other needed materials

Days and Times

• Monday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk
• Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk
• Tuesday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Plymouth District Library
• Wednesday from 6:00-8:00 PM at Plymouth District Library
• Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM by the Teen Desk

While you are waiting for the snow to really start falling, create a few flakes of your own (like the one seen here) over on the Make-a-Flake website. Need inspiration? We have lots of books with beautiful pictures of actual snowflakes here at Canton Public Library.

My life undecided by Jessica Brody

Audrey, wait! by Robin Benway

The sisterhood of the traveling pants by Ann Brashares

Every soul a star: a novel by Wendy Mass

Like adventure, action, and suspense in your books? Try one of these:

Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz

Theodosia Throckmorton and the Serpents of Chaos by R.L. LaFevers

Shipwreck by Gordon Korman

Kids and Tweens in grades K-6, improve your reading skills and make a new friend by reading to aloud to a dog. Sign up begins at 6:25 PM and is on first come, first serve basis. Sessions are 10 minutes long.

Program Date: January 28, 6:30-8:30 PM

Yeah kids, we know you are out of school and we know you are getting bored! Bring your friends to the library and game, game, game. On Friday, January 4 from 2:00-4:00 PM, we will have the Community Room hooked up to Wii, PS3, Xbox 360 with Just Dance 4 on the big screen! Bring games from home or play those we have here. See you then!

Who has the record for the most home runs in a season? Who holds the record for the most 3-pointers in their basketball career? All this cool sports trivia can be found in the pages of our Sports Illustrated Records Books in the Children's Reference section, and the children's circulating collection. These are really fun books to browse through at the library. Football and Hockey Records are available as well.

The ultimate collection of pro hockey records by Shane Frederick ; [Anthony Wacholtz, editor]

The ultimate collection of pro basketball records by Tyler Omoth