Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Christmas programs




Please register for programs here.

Visit with Santa
Saturday, December 14
10:15 A.M. or 10:45 A.M.

Visit with Santa, have your picture taken with him, and create a Christmas craft.
All ages are welcome.  Crafts are best for preschoolers through elementary ages.

Christmas Storytime
Toddlers and Preschoolers
December 17 – 20
See the Storytime page for details.

Christmas Stories & Crafts
Kindergarten - 2nd grade
Tuesday, December 17 at 4:45 P.M.
Hear a Christmas story and create a Christmas craft.

Christmas Treats
3rd - 5th grade
Wednesday, December 18 at 4:45 P.M.
Create edible Christmas treats. 

Teen Programs
See www.milanlibrary.org/teens for programs for 6th - 12th graders.
 

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Halloween Programs

Halloween programs

Hear Halloween stories, sing Halloween songs, and create a Halloween craft.  Costumes are welcome.

Please register here.  (If you usually attend Storytime on Thursday or Friday morning, you do not need to register again.)


Toddler Halloween Storytime
Thursday, October 24 at 10:30 A.M. and 
Thursday, October 24 at 7:00 P.M.

Preschool Halloween Storytime
Friday, October 25 at 10:30 A.M. and
Saturday, October 26 at 10:30 A.M.

Kindergarten - 2nd grade Halloween Program
Tuesday, October 29 at 4:45 P.M. (This session is full.)
UPDATE:  Second session added - 
                                                                Tuesday, October 29 at 6:45 P.M.


3rd - 5th grade Halloween Program
(slightly spooky stories and a Halloween project)
Saturday, October 26 at 2:00 P.M.

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

House of Hades

House of Hades by Rick Riordan was released today.

Add your name to the reserve list here.

Read the first chapter here.

Try one of these similar books while you are waiting.

 Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (J Fic Colfer)
Medusa Jones by Ross Collins (J Fic Collins)
D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths by Ingri and Edgar Parin D'Aulaire (J 292 D'Aulaire)
Pandora Gets Jealous by Carolyn Hennesy (J Fic Hennesy)
Goddess Girls series by Joan Holub (J Fic Holub)
Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy (J Fic Landy)
Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull (J Fic Mull)
Tales of Odyssey series by Mary Pope Osborne (J 883.01 Osborne)
The Kane Chronicles series by Rick Riordan (J Fic Riordan)
The Books of Beginning series by John Stephens (J Fic Stephens)

Friday, September 6, 2013

Library Card Sign-Up Month

 
September is Library Card Sign-Up Month.  Throughout September, everyone who signs up for a library card or uses the card they already have may enter a drawing for prizes to be awarded at the end of the month.

A library card allows you free access to books, DVDs, magazines, audiobooks, ebooks, state parks, some museums, and more.

You are eligible for a free card from our library if you are at least four years old and live in our service area which includes the city of Milan, Augusta Township, and the parts of York Township and Pittsfied Township that are in Milan Area Schools.  You may also receive a free card if you work full-time in the city of Milan.

If you have a library card from another library that participates in the Michicard program, you may use that card (with a Michicard sticker on it) at our library.

See here for everything you need to know about getting a library card at our library and here for everything you can do with your card. 




Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Back to School Books

Get ready to start school with a back to school book.  See these books and  more on the display shelf in the children's area.

Monday, August 26, 2013

Fall Programs

Fall Storytime, book clubs, and game days begin next month.

We'll kick off our fall Storytime sessions with this year's Michigan Reads! book, Woolbur by Leslie Helakowski.  The Michigan Reads! program highlights the importance of early literacy.  Each year, the Library of Michigan selects a picture book written by a Michigan author and encourages adults to read it to children during September and October.  At our Storytime sessions, children will hear this story and participate in related activities and crafts.  See the complete Storytime schedule and register here

Our elementary book clubs meet monthly.  Book Buddies (kindergartners through second graders) will listen to a story and participate in related activities each month.  In September, Book Buddies will hear the Michigan Reads! book Woolbur by Leslie Helakowski.  See the complete schedule and register here.

Bookworms (second and third graders) and Chapter Chatters (third through fifth graders) will read a book in advance of each program and then discuss the book and participate in a related activity or craft each month.  Bookworms and Chapter Chatters will each discuss their own favorite books in September.  Beginning with October's book clubs, Bookworms will all read the same beginning chapter book and Chapter Chatters will all read the same chapter book.  See the complete schedule and register here.

Children can play Wii games, board games, and cup stacking during our game days on September 26 and November 16.  See details here

Our fall program schedule is on our calendar.  If you use Google calendar, you can add events to your calendar from ours. 

We hope to see you in the library this fall.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Summer Reading Program


Thank you to everyone who participated in our youth Summer Reading Program this year: children and teens for reading and parents for bringing your children to the library and encouraging them to read.

We also appreciate the Friends of the Library for funding the program each year and the following businesses for donating prizes: Basil Boys, Collins Center, Hungry Howie’s, Marco’s Pizza, McDonald's, Nagle’s Market, Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum, Nicola’s Books, and Kohl’s.


All children and teens who submitted at least 10 hours or 20 days of reading have prize packets to pick up.  Packets include certificates for reading, free pizza from Hungry Howie's, and free Cheezybread from Marco's and other items. 

Prize drawing prizes include free admission to Ann Arbor Hands-on Museum; gift cards to Nicola's Books, Basil Boys, and Nagle's Market; stuffed animals donated by Collins Center and Kohl's; Summer Reading Program themed tote bags; and other items.  Prize drawing winners were notified with an additional label on their prize packet telling them what they won.  

Monday, July 15, 2013

Dig Into Something New

We are halfway through this year's Children's Summer Reading Program.  If your child is looking for something new for the last half of the summer, try our "Dig Into Something New" reading challenge.

"Dig Into Something New" encourages you to try new things this summer:  read a book from a genre you don't usually read, try something new (magic trick, craft, experiment, etc.) from a book, read to someone else, etc.

There are choices for younger children (act out a nursery rhyme or song) and older children (read an article from a reference book), so there should be something of interest to everyone.

You can choose from 10 activities.  After you complete five activities, bring the form to the library to choose a prize from the prize box and enter the prize drawing.

The time you spend reading for these activities may also count for your reading time or reading days on the logs you already have.

You can download and print a copy of the "Dig Into Something New" form here or pick up a copy at the library.  They are in the display rack on the front of the circulation desk. 

We hope you have fun "digging into something new" this summer!

Friday, June 7, 2013

Summer Fun

Summer vacation begins for many of you today.  Are you looking for things to do this summer?  Try these:

1.  Sign up for our Summer Reading Program.  Earn prizes for reading or listening to books.


2.  Attend programs at the library.  See our calendar of events here.

3.  Visit a museum.  Use your library card to check out free passes or discounts to select museums through the Michigan Activity Pass program. 

4.  Play outside. Check out Go Out and Play for game suggestions.

5. Learn a magic trick.  See these books for ideas.



6.  Create a craft project.  Try paper crafts, dinosaur crafts, American girls' crafts, origami, or browse the children's 700 section for additional ideas.

7.  Go camping in your backyard or away from home.



8.  Explore a state park.  Check out a Michigan Big Green Gym pass from our library for a free entrance pass into any state park or recreation area.  Choose your state park by visiting the Michigan DNR Parks and Trails Directory.

9.  Visit the Hack House

10. Plant a garden.  Try one of these books for ideas:  Show Me How I Can Grow Things, Green Thumbs: A Kid's Activity Guide to Indoor and Outdoor Gardening, and The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids.  

What are you planning to do this summer?

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Summer Reading Program




2013 Summer Reading Program

Join us this summer to read, earn prizes, and attend programs at the library.  All children are invited to participate.  See information about our teen (6th - 12th grade) program here.

Friday, June 7 is the first day to pick up reading logs from the library and begin reading or listening to books.

Tuesday, June 25 - "Digging Books and Beats that Rock" by Beverly Meyer
This program for children of all ages will be held at 10:30 A.M. in the Senior Center.  Children will hear stories and songs and share in music activities in this interactive musical program.

Tuesday, August 20 - "Dinosaurs to Reptiles" by Dynamic West Assemblies
This program for children of all ages will be held at 10:30 A.M. in the Senior Center.  Explore the characteristics of dinosaurs, ancient amphibians, and reptiles of long ago and today.  See live animals, skulls, bones, fossils, and artifacts.

Additional programs for all ages will be held throughout the summer.  

See the Summer Reading Program page and our calendar of events for updated information and additional programs.  Registration will begin in June.

Questions? Ask them here

Thursday, April 18, 2013

National Poetry Month Poetree

April is National Poetry Month.  Our Bookworms and Chapter Chatters book clubs wrote poetry to create a "poetree" this month.


Bookworms read poetry by Jack Prelutsky and shared their favorites during book club.  Did you know most of his poetry can be sung to the tune of "99 Bottles of Pop on the Wall?"  We had fun reading and singing his poetry.

Chapter Chatters read poetry by Shel Silverstein and shared their favorites before writing their own.

Stop in to read a poem or check out a book of poetry. See our catalog here for poetry books in our children's area or browse the nonfiction 811 areas of our library. 

Monday, January 28, 2013

Youth Media Awards

The American Library Association (ALA) announced the 2013 youth media awards today.

Books that we have in our library are listed below.  See the complete list of winners here and check our catalog to see which ones are available or reserve them.

Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:

The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate.
When Ivan, a gorilla who has lived for years in a down-and-out circus-themed mall, meets Ruby, a baby elephant that has been added to the mall, he decides that he must find her a better life.
Read about the real Ivan who inspired the story here.








Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished picture book for children:

This Is Not My Hat illustrated and written by Jon Klassen
A tiny minnow wearing a pale blue bowler hat has a thing or two up his fins in this underwater light-on-dark chase scene.






Caldecott Honor Books
in our library:

Extra Yarn illustrated by Jon Klassen and written by Mac Barnett
Green by Laura Vaccaro Seeger


Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:

Up, Tall, and High! by Ethan Long
Through illustrations and simple text, birds demonstrate the meanings of the words up, tall, and high.









Geisel Honor Books in our library:

Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by Eric Litwin, created and illustrated by James Dean
Let's Go for A Drive (an Elephant and Piggie book) by Mo Willems


 Robert F. Sibert Medal for most distinguished informational book for children:

Bomb: The Race to Build - and Steal - the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin
Recounts the scientific discoveries that enabled atom splitting, the military intelligence operations that occurred in rival countries, and the work of brilliant scientists hidden at Los Alamos.







Sibert Honor Books in our library:

Electric Ben: The Amazing Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by Robert Byrd 
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson

  

Laura Ingallls Wilder Award honors an author or illustrator whose books have made a substantial and lasting contribution to literature for children.  This year's winner is Katherine Paterson.  Her books in our library include Bridge to Terabithia and The Great Gilly Hopkins.


 Michael L. Printz Award for excellence in literature written for young adults:

In Darkness by Nick Lake
In the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake, Shorty, a poor, fifteen-year-old gang member from the slums of Site Soleil, is trapped in the rubble of a hospital and as he grows weaker, he has visions and memories of his life of violence, his lost twin sister, and of Toussaint L'Ouverture, who liberated Haiti from French rule in 1804.



Printz Honor Book in our library:


Code Name Verity by  Elizabeth Wein
In 1943, a British fighter plane crashes in Nazi-occupied France and the survivor tells a tale of friendship, war, espionage, and great courage as she relates what she must do to survive while keeping secret all that she can.








Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:

Teen award winner:

Somebody Please Tell Me Who I Am by Harry Mazer and Peter Lerangis
Wounded in Iraq while his Army unit is on convoy and treated for many months for traumatic brain injury, the first person Ben remembers from his earlier life is his autistic brother. 








Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults.  This year's winner is Tamora Pierce.  Her books in our library include the Song of the Lioness series and Protector of the Small series.

 
See additional award winners and honor books here

Friday, January 25, 2013

Chapter Books to Read Aloud

If your preschooler or early elementary aged child is interested in hearing longer books and you're looking for chapter books to read aloud, here are some suggestions.  These are chapter books to consider for reading aloud to your young child (4 - 8 years old) and are great for older children to listen to or read alone as well.  Some families enjoy reading a chapter or two together each day and talking about the story together.

Our library owns the books on the list below.  You can check our catalog to see if they are currently available, read summaries of each book, and reserve them.

Have you read any of these books with your children?  Do you have any other suggestions?  Leave a comment to let us know what you're reading and what you think of it.  



Chapter Books to Read Aloud

Beginning chapter books
located by the author's last name in the Early Reader section

Young Cam Jansen series by David Adler
Jennifer Jansen is nicknamed Cam (short for camera) for her photographic memory which helps her solve mysteries with her friends.

Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo
This series features the adventures of a pig named Mercy and her human family.

Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel
This series features the adventures of two friends, Frog and Toad.

Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant
This series features the adventures of Henry and his large dog Mudge.

Not exactly a chapter book, but a longer book in which each “chapter” is a different story:
You Read to Me and I'll Read to You: 20th Century Stories to Share
located in the E Nonfiction section: E 808.8 Schulman
Each chapter features a different story – sometimes a picture book, sometimes a selection from a chapter book.


Chapter books
located by the author's last name in the Juvenile Fiction section

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater
A delivery of an Antarctic penguin leads to a house full of penguins and changes the lives of Mr. Popper and his family.

Berenstain Bears series by Stan and Jan Berenstain
This series features the adventures of the Berenstain bear family.

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for fifty cents.

A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond
A very small bear found by Mr. and Mrs. Brown at Paddington station becomes one of the family.

Flat Stanley series by Jeff Brown
After a bulletin board falls on Stanley while he's sleeping, he finds that being flat has its advantages.

Arthur chapter books by Marc Brown
This series features the adventures of Arthur the aardvark and his friends.

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
A boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate.

Ralph series by Beverly Cleary
(Runaway Ralph, The Mouse and the Motorcycle, and Ralph S. Mouse)
The adventures of Ralph, the motorcycle riding mouse.

Ramona series by Beverly Cleary
The adventures of Ramona and her family.

My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
trilogy included in Three Tales of my Father's Dragon
A young boy determines to rescue a poor baby dragon who is being used by a group of lazy wild animals to ferry them across the river on Wild Island.

Andrew Lost series by J. C. Greenburg
Andrew's inventions lead to interesting adventures. Each adventure last four books. In book one, Andrew and his friends are shrunk by one of his inventions, books one through four follow his escapades while small, and he returns to his normal size in book four. A new adventure begins in book five.

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren
The escapades of a lucky little girl who lives with a horse and a monkey--but without any parents--at the edge of a Swedish village.

Winnie the Pooh books by A. A. Milne
Pooh and his friends Piglet, Eeyore, Tigger, Kanga, and others share adventures with Christopher Robin.

Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne
Siblings Annie and Jack travel to a different location and a different time in history via a magic tree house in each book of this series.

Clementine series by Sara Pennypacker
The adventures of eight year old Clementine, her family, and friends.

The Littles series by John Peterson
The Littles are a family of tiny creatures who live in the walls of a house owned by the Bigg family.

Mrs. Noodlekugel by Daniel Pinkwater
Nick and Maxine have a new babysitter--the eccentric Mrs. Noodlekugel who lives in the funny little house behind their drab high-rise apartment building along with her feline butler, Mr. Fuzzface, and three myopic mice.

Jigsaw Jones series by James Preller
Jigsaw Jones and his partner Mila solve mysteries.

Little House on the Prairie by Wilder
The day to day life of Laura Ingalls and her family in the late nineteenth century.

Thursday, January 17, 2013

New Books

New books this week include the latest books in the Nancy Clancy, Captain Underpants, and Seekers series, Horten's Miraculous Mechanisms (a mystery mixed with magic), Who Was George Washington (a biography in the popular Who Was series), nonfiction books about space and stars, and more.

See our catalog to reserve these books or look for additional new books.