Christmas Programs at the Library

Christmas Tiny Tales & Storytime

Christmas stories, songs, crafts, and activities 

Please register at the circulation desk or online here.  (If you already attend Tiny Tales or Storytime, you do not need to register again.)

Tiny Tales (ages 2-3)

Thursday, December 17 at 10:30 A.M.

Preschool Storytime (ages 3-5)
Friday, December 18 at 10:30 A.M.

Evening Storytime (preschool - early elementary)

Thursday, December 17 at 7:00 P.M.

Family Storytime (best for preschool through early elementary, all ages are welcome)

Saturday, December 12 at 10:30 A.M.

Christmas Book Buddies

Kindergarten - 2nd grade

Thursday, December 17 4:45 - 5:30 P.M.

Christmas stories and crafts

Please register at the circulation desk or online here.  (If your child already attends Book Buddies, you do not need to register again.)

Christmas Around the World

Saturday, December 12

1:00 - 3:00 P.M.

Explore Christmas traditions around the world through crafts and activities.  Activities are best for kindergartners - 5th graders; all ages are welcome.

Come any time between 1:00 and 3:00.  

Please register at the circulation desk or online here. 

TNT (Teen and Tween) Programs

See information about programs for 6th - 12th graders here. 

New Children's Books

New picture books include:

- Familiar characters - Pete the Cat, Paddington, Llama Llama, and the Disney Frozen characters:

 - New books from familiar authors - The Nonsense Show by Eric Carle (with fun illustrations!), books about the Nuts by Eric Litwin (author of Pete the Cat), Holey Moley by Lois Ehlert, and a second book about Sophie from When Sophie Gets Angry - Really, Really Angry by Molly Bang

- Quiet stories (Waiting) and noisy stories (Fire Engine No. 9)

- A new version of Cinderella, Interstellar Cinderella, has a fun twist at the end.  Check this one out to read about what this Cinderella's dream is.  Although she meets and impresses the prince, she has a different goal! 

 - Two copies of Mo Willems's new book about Piggie and Elephant.  The illustrations in this one may be my favorite, yet!

 
New chapter books include:

- Familiar characters and continuing series

- Fun and useful nonfiction books

- Movie tie ins - Read about the characters from these movies.
 

See our catalog for more new books.  Some of our new books are featured on the home page of our catalog.  To see more new books:

1. Go to our catalog.
2. Click on "advanced" to the far right of the search box - on the far right of the screen.
3. On the advanced search screen, choose an option from the drop down menu for "Search by Date Items Added."  You can search for new books this week, this month, or additional intervals up to two years.
4. You may use the options under "Narrow Your Search" to locate specific items - just picture books, just DVDS, etc.  If you do not choose any options under "Narrow Your Search," all items added in the time period chosed in #3 will be displayed.  For a more specific search:
1. Click on "Libraries" to choose juvenile (all children's books - picture books and chapter books), easy (picture books), young adult, juvenile nonfiction, etc. 
2. Click on "Formats" to choose audiobooks, DVDs, CDs, books, etc.
5. Click on the purple "search" box on the right near the top of the page.

Halloween Programs

Halloween programs will be held for children of all ages this month.  Costumes are welcome at all Halloween programs.  Please register here.  (If you are already registered for Tiny Tales or Storytime, you do not need to register again for those programs.)  If you have older children, see our TNT (Teen & Tween) programs here.

Halloween Tiny Tales (ages 2-3) Thursday, October 29 at 10:30 A.M. Halloween stories, songs, and crafts. Halloween Storytime (ages 3-5) Friday, October 30 at 10:30 A.M. Halloween stories, songs, and crafts.    Halloween Family Storytime Saturday, October 24 at 10:30 A.M. Halloween stories, songs, and crafts. Pumpkinpalooza (3rd - 5th grade) Saturday, October 24 at 2:00 P.M. Decorate a pumpkin and hear a Halloween story. Halloween Fun! (kindergarten - 2nd grade) Monday, October 26 at 4:45 and 6:45 Halloween stories, songs, and crafts.

Bookworms Book Club

This month, our Bookworms book club for second and third graders read Space Taxi: Archie Takes Flight by Wendy Mass.  When Archie is 8 years, 8 months, and 8 days old, he is able to go to work with his father.  He knew his father drove a taxi, but he didn't know he drove passengers in space instead of on Earth.  Archie is his father's navigator as they begin a trip that becomes quite an adventure.  Archie Takes Flight is the first book in a series, so if you enjoy it, you can read more about Archie in two more books. 

Pockets the cat was the group's favorite character in this book.  Here are a couple of illustrations of Pockets:

 After discussing the book, we made models of our own space taxis.  Here's one:

Our next Bookworms program will be held on Tuesday, November 10 at 4:45 P.M.  Read any book in Ron Roy's Calendar Mysteries series before the program.  During the program, we'll discuss the books and solve our own mystery.  See more information and register here.  

Author or series alerts

Would you like to know when our library has new books by your favorite author or in a series you read?  You can set up alerts in your account to notify you when new items are added to our catalog.

To set up an alert:
1.  Log in to your account.
2.  Click on "Your Account" or the menu option.
4.  Click on "Active Alerts."
5.  Click on "Add Alert."
6.  Enter an author, series, subject, etc.in the first box and fill in any other parameters you choose. 

7. Click "save" in the bottom right of the page if you are on a computer. You may need to expand your screen to see the "save" option.  Or from a mobile device, go to the last box on the page and click "go" on the device keypad (not on the screen).  You'll then get a confirmation on the screen stating the alert has been added.  

You will receive emails when new items that fit your search criteria are added to our catalog.

If you have any questions, please call us at 734-439-1240 or email us at youth@milanlibrary.org.

(Updated 2022 with new procedures.)

New Children's Newsletter

We have started a new monthly children's e-newsletter to provide information about children's programs, new children's books, library news, and more.

You may read this month's newsletter here and sign up to receive future newsletters here.

If you asked to receive the newsletter when you registered your child for our Summer Reading Program, you should have received this newsletter by email on September 1.

If you did not receive the newsletter and would like to, please sign up here.

If you received emails about programs last year, but did not sign up for the newsletter this year, you will not receive emails.  The new newsletter is replacing the emails with program information from last year.  You will only receive the information if you sign up for the newsletter.

What would you like to see in future newsletters?  Let us know here.

If you would also like to receive the TNT (Teen & Tween) newsletter, you may sign up here.

Library Card Sign-up Month

September is Library Card Sign-up Month, a time when Milan Public Library joins with the American Library Association and public libraries nationwide to encourage our community to sign up for and use library cards.

Studies show that children who are read to at home and who use the library perform better in school. The beginning of a new school year is a good time for children to get library cards and discover the opportunities available at the library.

To celebrate National Library Card Sign-up Month, Milan Public Library is offering a prize drawing for receiving and using library cards throughout the month. Entries may be earned for

• signing up for a new card
• renewing an expired card
• checking out items from the library (You may enter once each day you check out items.)
• checking out e-books or e-audiobooks (You may enter here once each day you check out e-books or e-audiobooks.)
• submitting a photograph of your library card for our display

Your library card can take you anywhere (through the books you read and movies you watch).  Where have you taken your library card?  

The library is creating a display of where our library cards have been. You are invited to take a picture of your library card at the park, at a coffee shop, or anywhere else interesting you have taken your card and submit the photo to the library for the display. Everyone who submits a photo will also receive an entry in the prize drawing.  Enter at the library when you submit a photo to the library or here if you email a photo to us at info@milanlibrary.org.  See the photos in the display case at the library and here. 

Residents of the city of Milan, Augusta Township, and the parts of York Township and Pittsfield Township that are in Milan Area Schools are eligible for a free library card at Milan Public Library. Additional information about receiving and using a library card is available here.  

Milan Public Library participates in the MILibrary Card program, which offers library card holders the opportunity to check out items from other participating libraries in the state. Monroe County Library System also participates, so with a card from either library and a MILibrary Card sticker, individuals may check out items from both libraries. 

Although a library card is necessary to check out items from the library, resources at Milan Public Library are available to everyone in our community.

A library card is not required to read or research in the library, use computers, attend programs, and receive assistance from the library staff. Our library offers access to a variety of print and digital resources that can be accessed in person or online as well as services including photocopying, faxing, and scanning. 

Milan Public Library provides programs for all ages. Fall programming begins in September and includes TinyTales (for 2 and 3 year old children), Preschool Storytime, Evening Storytime, Family Storytime (Saturdays), children's book clubs, youth game days, Books and Bites for 6^th through 8^th grade students, and a newly formed Teen/TweenAdvisory Group. Additional information about youth programs is available through the links above, www.milanlibrary.org/children, and www.milanlibrary.org/teens.

We hope to see you at the library this month!

Back to School Books

Our "back to school' picture books are on display by the new picture books.  Stop in to check out a book as your children get ready to start school.

Hero Events and Activity Logs

Children and teens may continue to receive prizes and enter the prize drawing for completing activities on our Activity Logs through Saturday, August 29.   Our final events of the summer will also be held on Saturday, August 29:

Hero Scavenger Hunt & Crafts
preschoolers/kindergartners
drop in between 10:00 and 12:00
Children will search for pictures of heroes throughout the library and create a hero craft.  Hero themed books will be available for children to read with their grownups or check out.  Best for preschoolers and kindergartners; all ages are welcome.

Hero Buttons, Magnets, & Crafts
kindergarten - 5th grade
drop in between 1:00 and 3:00
Create your own buttons or magnets from our superhero designs or create your own designs.  Also, create hero crafts.   

Summer Reading Program prizes

Children and teens who read for at least 10 hours or 20 days and submitted the second tickets on their Summer Reading Program logs have earned a prize packet with additional prizes: a free pizza from Hungry Howie's, a free book from the Friends of the Library book sale, a stuffed animal donated by Kohl's, a free game at Zap Zone, free Cheezybread from Marco's Pizza (kindergarten and older), and more.  You may pick up your packet from the circulation desk any time this month.  We would like all packets to be picked up by the end of August.  

If your name was drawn in the prize drawing, you will have a note on your prize packet indicating what you won.  Prize drawing prizes included:
free passes to Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum donated by Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
free passes to Zap Zone donated by Zap Zone
books donated by Nicola's Books  
gift cards to Basil Boys donated by Basil Boys
an elephant purse donated by Collins Center
Disney Pixar Write and Erase Look and Find books donated by Kohl's
Disney Pixar Look and Find Family Fun Puzzle donated by Kohl's
book store gift cards donated by the Friends of the Library
"Every Hero Has a Story" tote bags and drawstring backpacks
 
Thank you to our community businesses who donated prizes:
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Basil Boys Pizza
Collins Center
Friends of Milan Public Library
Hungry Howie's
Kohl's
Marco's Pizza
Milan Dairy Barn
Nagle's Market
Nicola's Books
Zap Zone 

Touch a Truck

Touch a Truck

by Sarah Knechtel

On July 10, kids from all over Milan came to explore and learn about different jobs and vehicles. 

Huron Valley Ambulance, Milan Area Fire Department, Milan Department of Public Works, Milan Police Department, Milan Post Office, Milan Seniors for Healthy Living, Monroe County Farm Bureau, Kiser Farms (Ricky and Janice Kiger), the Monroe County Chapter of the American Red Cross, UPS, and the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office all came to Milan to teach kids about their jobs. Children were able to talk to different people from our community's organizations, learn about their jobs, and even sit in the vehicles. 

 “My goal is to make customers happy,” states Debra Doss who works for the U.S. Post Office. “The best part of my job is all of the people I get to meet,” says UPS worker Scott Watson. “I enforce laws to keep people safe,” states Jessica Wion, a Washtenaw County Sheriff. 

About 180 children came to this event, not including adults. Kids were fascinated to sit in and touch the vehicles, meet the people, and learn about the jobs they do. 

These jobs all help our community in some way. Whether they keep people safe or make people smile, these jobs are all important.

Library's note: 

See photos from the event here.

Thank you to everyone who participated:

City of Milan
Huron Valley Ambulance
Milan Area Fire Department
Milan Department of Public Works
Milan Police Department
Milan Post Office
Milan Seniors for Healthy Living
Monroe County Farm Bureau, Kiser Farms (Ricky and Janice Kiger)
Monroe County Chapter of the American Red Cross
UPS
Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office

Milan Summer Fest

Milan Summer Fest is next weekend (July 31 - August 1).  Plan to stop by the library for Superhero programs in the afternoon.  Registration is requested, but not required.  If you'll think you'll be able to come, please register here.  (If you've already registered for these programs through our Summer Reading Program, you do not need to register again.)  We'll also prepare for a few extras, so drop by on Saturday afternoon if you can. 

Activities are planned for the age groups listed, but older and younger siblings/friends/etc. may also attend. We hope to see you there!

Superhero Adventures

Kindergarten - 2nd grade

Saturday, August 1 ~ 1:00 - 2:00  P.M.

This program will be held in the library.  You'll hear a story about superheroes, make your own flying superhero, and test your superhero vision by making an I Spy bottle. 

Superhero Explorers

3rd - 5th grade

Saturday, August 1 ~  2:30 - 3:30 P.M.

This program will be held in the library.  You'll make your own superhero "rocket" and other superhero projects.   

Touch a Truck

Our Touch a Truck event will be held tomorrow (Friday, July 10) from 10:30 until 11:30 A.M. in the parking lot at the end of Neckel Court, by the ball fields.

Registration is NOT required.  Invite a friend and drop by to meet our community heroes and see a fire truck, police car, ambulance, and more.

Thank you to the following for volunteering their time to participate in this event:

Huron Valley Ambulance - ambulance
Milan Area Fire Department - fire truck
Milan Department of Public Works
Milan Police Department - police car
Milan Seniors for Healthy Living - bus
Monroe County Farm Bureau/Ricky and Janice Kiger - farm equipment
Red Cross, Monroe County - emergency response vehicle
UPS - UPS truck
United States Post Office, Milan - mail truck
Washtenaw County Sheriff's office - sheriff's car

Summer Fun

Are you looking for things to do this summer?  Try these ideas.

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

2.  Attend programs at the library:  Storytime, Crafts in the Park, Hero Adventures, Hero Explorers, Touch a Truck, The Science of Superheroes, and more.  See our calendar of events here.

3.  Come to the library to hear a story by a teacher or principal from Symons Elementary on Thursday afternoons and a few other days.  See the schedule here. 

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

5.  Play outside. Check out Go Out and Play for game suggestions or The Kids' Outdoor Adventure Book : 448 Great Things to do in Nature Before You Grow Up for more ideas.  

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

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

8.  Explore a state park.  Check out a pass for free entry into a state park or recreation area through the MI Big Green Gym program.  This year, passes are available through the Michigan Activity Pass website.  Search the site by zip code and then search the page of results for a state park or see a list of all locations here.

9.  Plant a garden.  Try one of these books for ideas:  Show Me How I Can Grow Things and The Book of Gardening Projects for Kids.  

10.  Visit the Hack House.  The Hack House museum is open from May to late November
Sundays from 1:00 until 4:00 P.M.

11.  Hear a concert and see a movie during Milan Parks and Recreation's free Concerts and Movies in the Park series on Thursday evenings.  See the schedule here. 

12.  Attend a program presented by Milan Parks and Recreation.  See their schedule here. 

13.  Schedule nothing to do for one day and see where the day takes you.

14.  Let your child plan the day from beginning to end.  Have fun with what he or she chooses.

15.  Try a new recipe.  See these cookbooks or ChopChop magazine for ideas. 

Need more ideas?  See this article about 101 Free Things to do with Kids in Michigan. 

What are you planning to do this summer?

Symons Teachers Read at Milan Public Library

Mr. Wright, Mr. DeSarbo, and teachers from Symons Elementary will read at our library on Thursday afternoons and before some of our library's events thorughout the summer.  Teachers will choose books with their third through fifth grade students in mind and Mr. DeSarbo will choose with his kindergarten through second grade students in mind, but everyone (regardless of age and school attended) is welcome to attend. 

Registration is NOT required to attend these events.  

If you are attending Crafts in the Park, Hero Explorers, or Hero Adventures immediately following the teachers reading, please register for those programs here.

Teachers will read at the following times:
Ms. Nichols - Thursday, June 18 at 2:00 P.M. in the library
Mr. Fleming - Wednesday, June 24 at 10:00 A.M. at the Wilson Park pavilion (Crafts in the Park follows at 10:30 and 11:45)
Mr. Wright - Thursday, June 25 at 2:00 P.M. in the library
Mr. DeSarbo - Monday, June 29 at 3:30 P.M. in the Senior Center (Hero Adventures follows at 4:00)
Senora Chris - Thursday, July 2 at 2:00 P.M. in the library
Mr. Adams - Tuesday, July 7 at 6:15 P.M. in the library (Hero Explorers follows at 6:45)
Ms. Blacklock - Thursday, July 9 at 3:30 P.M. in the Senior Center (Hero Explorers follows at 4:00)
Ms. Kerns - Wednesday, July 15 at 10:00 A.M. at the Wilson Park pavilion (Crafts in the Park follows at 10:30)
Ms. Farmer - Thursday, July 16 at 2:00 P.M. in the library
Mr. Reeves - Thursday, July 23 at 2:00 P.M. in the library
Ms. Brobst-Walsh - Thursday, July 30 at 3:30 P.M. in the Senior Center (Hero Explorers follows at 4:00)
Ms. Smith - Wednesday, August 5 at 10:00 A.M. at the Wilson Park pavilion (Crafts in the Park follows at 10:30)
Ms. Stafford - Thursday, August 6 at 2:00 P.M. in the library
Ms. Reeves - Thursday, August 13 at 2:00 P.M. in the library
Ms. Lawver - Thursday, August 20 at 2:00 P.M. in the library

Mrs. Nichols read Roger the Jolly Pirate and sang The Ballad of Jolly Roger.

Mrs. Nichols read Roger the Jolly Pirate and sang the Ballad of Jolly  Roger.

Mr. Fleming read Penny Lee and Her TV and poetry by Shel Silverstein in Wilson Park.

Mr. Wright read The Library Lion in the LIBRARY while sitting on the LION on the jungle carpet!