Tweens
Move over Babelfish!
Traveling to a non-English speaking country this summer? Getting letters from a pen pal or family member in a language you're learning? Feeling a little shaky with your translation?If you answered yes to any of those questions, then you might be interested in this cool online translation dictionary. You can also click on the suggested definitions to see how they're pronounced.
They currently offer 28 dictionaries, including Arabic and Hindi, as well as European languages.
- MotherGoose
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Thorndyke Thoughts
Hey Kids!Thorndyke here! I am so enjoying seeing all of you here at the library! I hope you are having a great summer! As promised, here's the latest update of what LB has been up to. This time he went some where local, the Toledo Zoo! And he got to see some REAL bears! Did you know that the Toledo Zoo has a new polar bear cub? In fact, he's the only polar bear cub in the whole US! And there's a whole website about him! Isn't it cool to have something so neat so close to home? Makes me want to check out some books about polar bear books! Sometimes the librarians say that they work in a zoo, but they're just joking... I think.
LB's been here at the library for a week or so, but he's gearing up to go on another big adventure soon! The people here at the library sure love taking him on their trips! He's a pretty popular bear! I'll give you a hint to where he's headed next. It's not in the USA, but you can get there by car! Where do you think he's going? Tell me your guesses!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke
Thorndyke Thoughts
Hey Kids!As promised, here's an update on where LB has been! Did you make a guess about where he was headed? He just got back from Williamsburg Virginia! Were you right? LB came back with this really great letter about where he'd been, which he said I could share with you...
Wow! What a fun adventure! Thanks Ms. Jeanine for taking LB with you! Now I've got a whole bunch of new places to read about. Remember, you can see all the pictures from LB's adventure on the library's flickr account. LB left on another fun adventure almost as soon as he got home. This time it was somewhere more local. I'll give you a hint, there's lots of animals and it starts with the letter Z! Can you guess?Wow! It's only mid June and I've already become a well-traveled bear! I had a great time up north with Ms. Ophelia and after a short stop back at CPL, I was on my way south on a road trip with Ms. Jeanine and her daughter. We left June 10th and drove all the way to Williamsburg, VA, in one day (about 12 hours driving)! We stayed at the Patrick Henry Inn, just a short walk from Colonial Williamsburg. (Patrick Henry was the patriot famous for saying, "Give me liberty or give me death!") The next morning, we visited the Yankee Candle "flagship" location in Williamsburg. They have a really cool room that looks like a starry sky at night, and every 15 minutes it "snows" right in the room! I made myself right at home in the shop full of stuffed animals. Needless to say, there are a lot more than candles at the Yankee Candle complex!
In the afternoon, we stepped back in time and walked through Colonial Williamsburg. It looks a lot like it did back in the late 1700s, around the time of the Revolutionary War. At the town hall, Ms. Jeannine put me in the stocks (where they used to punish convicted criminals), but it was just for fun, because I'm a really good bear! We also visited the campus of William and Mary College, the second oldest college in the country and the place where Thomas Jefferson earned his law degree. We later had dinner at Christiana Campbell's Tavern, where George Washington himself often dined! Then at night, we took a "Ghosts of Williamsburg" candlelight tour — kinda scary, but I'm a really brave little bear! No ghosts were spotted that night...whew!
Saturday morning, we were back on the road, this time to Kill Devil Hills, NC, which was the location where Orville and Wilbur Wright made their first successful airplane flight and literally "flew" into the history books! They picked Devil Hills because it's a flat, sandy and very windy island on the Atlantic Ocean coastline. It's a great place to fly kites, too! I got a taste of salty air and ocean breezes on the beach and wanted to stay all day, but unfortunately, they don't make sunscreen for bears. :-( . Ms. Jeanine's daughter gets to spend all summer in Kill Devil Hills (she has a summer job there), but Ms. Jeanine had to get back to Michigan and CPL, so we flew Monday evening from Norfolk, VA, to Detroit. Hmmmm, maybe I should sign up for frequent flyer miles so I can get a free airplane trip later in the year!
love,
LB
Until next time!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke
Happy anniversary to the Post-it Note
The Post-It Note will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year. This was an accidental invention and is now a popular office supply item. We have a few materials that feature the post-it:
Why didn't I think of that? : 101 inventions that changed the world by hardly trying by Anthony Rubino, Jr
Accidental inventions [videodisc] : 10 inventions, 10 extraordinary stories
- robertsone
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State Book
Who Knew?Michigan has an officially recognized state book titled "The Legend of Sleeping Bear" by Kathy-Jo Wargin and Gijsbert van Krankenhuyzen. Read the book and earn a drawing slip for Summer Reading which qualifies for a non-fiction read about Michigan. Good Luck!
- robertsone
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Project SNAP Mural
Thank you to everyone created artwork that helped design the mural created by Project S.N.A.P. The mural was unveiled yesterday and is hung on the wall outside the Children's Library. If you created artwork for the mural, you can find the exact location of your picture in the web gallery. Next time you're in the library take a look at this wonderful piece of art.
Summer Reading 2010
Summer Reading is now in full swing! Canton Public Library has programs for babies, listeners, readers, tweens, teens, and adults, so everyone can join in the fun. At each age group we have great prizes and activities, so if you like reading and/or winning things, you'll really like what we have in store.Come in to the library any time this week and join us in the Community Room to register and find out about the program. We'll also have special events and some extra-special visitors, so coming to the library could be a wonderful surprise! If you can't make it, registration will be available at any reference desk until Wednesday, August 11.
New this year is our online Summer Reading version. You can log in to your account or create a new one and instantly register and participate in the festivities.
Along with colorful, interactive online logs, you're also provided with targeted suggestions for many of the activities. These blogs posts are available all in one place and at our Summer Reading Blog [RSS feed].
To Participate Online
It's easy! After you log in, just hit the 'yes' button in the Summer Reading box at the top of your account page. If you don't see the box, you may be in your Patron Record. We have website accounts, which is where you want to be.When you hit the button you'll go to a page where you can guess the number of seashells in our guessing case. Guess the number of shells for a chance at a great prize!
After that you'll go to your log. There's a drop-down menu for age level. Select your age group and then save your log. You'll now see custom graphics for your log as well as the specific suggestions for your activities.
If you wish to view or edit your log at any time, a link is available on your "My Account" page. It's that easy!
Check back often for blog posts and other Summer Reading updates here on the Canton Public Library website.
- Brad Czerniak
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Mysteries for Tweens
Here are some great reads with a real whodunnit sort of vibe.
Shakespeare's secret by Elise Broach
The fairy-tale detectives by Michael Buckley; pictures by Peter Ferguson
Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
Water Books
Ocean realm by Rebecca Moesta and Kevin J. Anderson
Stormchaser by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell
The jade necklace by Paul Yee ; illustrated by Grace Lin
More Rainy Day Reads
Looking for great tween lit to read on a rainy day? Try the tweenlit.blogspot.com for many more suggestions. All the books below were listed on that blog!
Firegirl by Tony Abbott
The Traitors' Gate by Avi ; illustrated by Karina Raude
Great Series for Tweens
Some newer series as well as perennial favorites. Looking for more tween lit? Try tweenlit.blogspot.com.
The book of three by Alexander, Lloyd
May Bird and The Ever After. Book 1 by Jodi Lynn Anderson ; illustrations by Leonid Gore
Peter and the Starcatchers by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson ; illustrations by Greg Call
Project SNAP Mural Unveiling
Hey Friends! Join us Monday, June 21, 2010 at 7:00PM for the unveiling of our mural created by Project S.N.A.P. from all the artwork created by students and families in PCCS. I'm so excited to see how it all came together and can't wait to have the black cloth of secrecy lifted. See you at 7:00! Oh and immediately following we have a small reception in the Purple Room in the Children's Department, so don't forget to stop in, say "Hi," and make a fun animal-shaped bookmark.Ramona on the big screen
One of my favorite childrens' series are the Ramona books by Beverly Cleary. My son enjoys them as well. Now you can see Ramona on the big screen. Ramona and Beezus will be in theaters on July 23rd. Check out the Ramona series, as well as Beverly Cleary's other books such as the Henry Huggins series, Mitch and Amy and The Mouse and the Motorcycle.World Cup Soccer 2010
Let's get our cleats on and root for Team USA! Right now we are standing strong having tied our game with England over the weekend. Root our boys on as they kick, pass, and score their way to the top. For all the latest FIFA information check out their website www.fifa.com and be sure to click on the page for Team USA. Also, be sure to check out our books on soccer so you can hone your skills and maybe someday be playing for Team USA!
Summer Ready Manis & Pedis
June 30th from 2:00-3:00PM Teens in grades 7-12 and Tweens in grades 5-6 can get your hands and feet ready for your summer sandals with manis and pedis. For more information, or to register, click here.- SuperMegaAnna
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Happy Birthday Jacques Cousteau!
Today would have been Jacques Cousteau's 100 birthday! How appropriate that it falls just one week before Summer Reading 2010, Make a Splash @ Your Library. Get in the wet and wild mood by checking out a biography about this fascinating marine conservationist. And don't forget registration begins for Summer Reading on June 21st.Thorndyke Thoughts
Hey Kids!Well, LB just got back from another fabulous adventure! And now, you can see all the fun he's having on the library's Flickr account! Thanks Miss Laurie for showing me how that program works! I'm getting to be quite a tech-savvy bear.
LB just got back from Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Traverse City! It sounds like such a neat hotel — there's a pool, and the Aerie Restaurant that has a revolving floor so you can see all the pretty scenery!
LB also got to see the Bay (too cold to go swimming) and climb the Sleeping Bear Dunes! Have you read the legend about those dunes? We have it here at CPL. You should check it out. But bring kleenex. It always makes me cry. I'm such a softie.
And then he "checked out" the Petoskey District Library. (Get it? Checked out? Just a little library humor.) That library's been around a long time! The original building was built way back in 1909 and funded by Andrew Carnegie. He's a rich guy from a long time ago that funded lots of libraries across the United States. Anyway, it's a very neat library. But no cool bears like Your's Truly! They did have a special exhibit on Lewis and Clark. Now there's some interesting history. And we have lots of information about those guys here at our library too!
So that's what LB's been up to. Of course, he wasn't home long! He left on Wednesday for another fun place! So keep watching and see where LB goes next. I'll give you one hint...It's Historical, and in a state named after a ruler of another country! Where do you think he's going? tell me your guesses! Let's see if you get it right!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke
Thorndyke Thoughts
Hey Kids!Nope, that's not me in that picture! That's my Little Buddy, LB! He get's out more than I do. In fact, in this picture, he's all the way down in Texas! He went there with Miss Kristen a little while back. They did a lot of fun things! They went camping and went to the park, and, as you can tell, LB made some new friends! There's lots of fun things to do in Texas! You can visit the Alamo, pretend you're a cowboy, or eat chili! Did you know that this animal is the state animal of Texas? Did you know that we have a stuffed animal one here in the library? Are you curious to learn more about Texas? There are lots of book about it here in the library!
Man, LB is so lucky! Now that it is warm out, he has all kinds of adventures planned. I'm just staying home. But I'm okay with that because it's my favorite time of year...Summer Reading! I can't wait until you all start coming in to get your reading log! It's only 20 days away you know! Woohoo! I'm so excited! See you SOON!
Bear Hugs!
Thorndyke
Be Green for Audiobook Month!
June is Audiobook Month! Join our "green" friends to celebrate this occasion. Choose a format that suits you — books on CD, MP3-CD, Playaway, downloadable, or cassette. Rest your eyes and let your ears do the reading!
Connections Newsletter Summer Reading 2010
The Summer Reading issue of Connections is available online now as a pdf document. Expect home delivery after June 9.You may subscribe to an RSS feed of library communications by pasting
/forpress/rss.xmlinto your feed reader.