Halloween Events

Our Halloween events:

Family Halloween Storytime

Saturday, October 26

10:30 A.M.

Our Family Storytime is best for preschool and early elementary ages. All ages are welcome!

We'll read fun Halloween stories, sing Halloween songs, and make a Halloween project. Costumes are welcome.

Please register here.

Halloween Fun!

kindergarten - 2nd grade

Monday, October 28

4:45 P.M.

Halloween stories, songs, and crafts. Costumes are welcome. Please register here.

Milan Area Chamber's

Downtown Trick or Treat

Friday, October 25

5:00 - 6:00 P.M.

We'll be in Tolan Square for Downtown Trick or Treat.

Nature Walk and Wander Pack Exploration

Wandering Washtenaw is donating 3 Wander Packs to our library. Thank you, Wandering Washtenaw!

These backpacks will contain items you can use to explore nature: binoculars, compasses, and more. They will be available to check out by our library patrons soon.

We're launching this program with a Nature Walk on Saturday, September 21 at 10:30 A.M. We'll start at the library, walk through Wilson Park using items from the backpacks to explore what we see, and wrap up back at the library with a nature craft.

If you'd like to attend the event on Saturday, September 21, please register here. Registration is not required, but is appreciated. It will help us plan for the appropriate number of people.

If you'd like to check out one of the Wander Packs, you can reserve one after we add them to our catalog. We'll post the link here when we have them and you can search our catalog for Wander Pack.

Summer Reading Prize Packets

Every child and teen who completes the 3rd goal (30 days or 15 hours) on our reading logs will receive a prize packet.

The prize packets contain:
a certificate for reading (children)
a certificate for a free book from the library's book sale
a certificate for free ice cream from McDonald's
a certificate for 2 free games of bowling at Bel-Mark Lanes
a certificate for a free game at Zap Zone
a coupon for a free ride or snack item at Saline Community Fair (if you respond to the email about the fair coupons)

If you turn in your 3rd reading log ticket by Tuesday, August 13, your prize packet will be available to pick up on Friday, August 16 - or any time after that.

If you turn in your 3rd reading log ticket after August 13 and by the end of the program on Saturday, August 31, your prize packet will be available to pick up on Friday, September 6 - or any time after that.

On Friday, August 16, we'll have the following in the meeting room:

• prize packets 
• craft projects remaining from our summer events  If you missed an event or want to repeat a project, stop in to create!
• space-themed props for you to pose with and take photos

Everyone is welcome on Friday - even if you don't have a prize packet, yet. Stop by to create a project and take a picture - and then keep reading/listening!

Read Away Your Fines

We recognize the importance of reading throughout the summer and want all children and teens to be able to check out books and read this summer.

We are offering a "Read Away Your Fines" program to help youth with fines have the opportunity to reduce their fines and be able to check out books.

Children and teens can read away their fines during the following times:

Saturday, July 6, 10:00-2 :00
Thursday, July 11, 12:00-4:00
Friday July 12, 12:00-5:00
Tuesday July 16, 5:00-8:00

Stop by the library during any of those times and ask check in at the circulation desk to get started.

If you can't come during any of those times, please let us know and we'll arrange a time that will work for you.

Details:

• This program is for youth - under 18 or 12th grade and under.
• $5 will be waived for every 30 minutes they read. 
• Only fines will be waived.  Lost and damaged items will still need to be paid for.
• Youth can read to themselves or parents/adults can read to children; any reading counts.
• The reading must be done in the library during designated Read Away Your Fines times.

If you have any questions, please let us know here, call 734-439-1240, or stop by the library.

Touch a Truck

UPDATE: This event has a new location.  It will be held in the parking lot at Milan Middle School.  We appreciate Milan Area Schools for providing us with this new location.

Our annual Touch a Truck event will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, July 18.  Milan Parks and Recreation is co-hosting the event with us during Milan Main Street's Third Thursday.  

You'll see a variety of community vehicles, meet the people who drive and work with them, and learn about their jobs and their importance in our community.  

Thank you to the following businesses and organizations who will have vehicles at this event:

Abate Michigan - Region 14
American Aqua
American Red Cross Michigan Region
Bob's Arctic Cat
Dave's Towing Milan
DTE Energy
FedEx
Golden Limousine International
Gotts Transit Mix
Huron Valley Ambulance
Just Right Grain Systems
Kiger Farm
Milan Area Firefighters
Milan Area Historical Society
Milan Area Schools - Connected
Milan Dragway
City of Milan, Michigan Government, Department of Public Works
Milan Police Department
Milan Seniors for Healthy Living
Monroe County Road Commission
Pepsi Beverage Company, Milan
Wayne Ruston (1965 taxi cab)
U.S. Army
University of Michigan Transportation
University of Michigan Heavy Equipment Garage
UPS
Washtenaw County Road Commission
Washtenaw Sheriff

Thank you, also, to Milan Area Schools for providing us with the location and Best Image Printing for donating part of the signs for this event.

Teacher TALES

Teacher TALES (Teachers And Learners Enjoy Stories!) returns this summer.

Teachers from Milan Area Schools will read some of their favorite stories. Then we'll create space-themed projects.

Recommended age groups are listed, but all ages are welcome. Projects will be best for the ages listed. If your child wants to come listen to a teacher read, please come - even if they are older or younger than listed.

Registration is not required, but is requested. It will help us prepare for an accurate number of children. 

You may register here or at the library.

Teacher TALES
Kindergarten - 5th grade
at Milan Public Library

Monday, June 24 at 6:45 P.M. - Mrs. Stafford will read. This event has moved to The Center (Senior and Community Activity Center)
Wednesday, July 24 at 6:45 P.M. - Mrs. DeLong will read.


Teacher TALES & Crafts in the Park
Kindergarten - 2nd grade
Wilson Park Pavilion
10:30 - 11:30 A.M.
In the event of inclement weather, please call the library or see the website or Facebook page for possible program changes.

Wednesday, June 26 - Mrs. Wagner will read.  Then we'll make paper rockets that will launch with some human help.

Wednesday, July 17 - Mrs. Farmer will read.  Then we'll make two alien crafts.

Wednesday, July 31 - Mrs. Miller (4th grade) will read.  Then we'll make astronaut masks and test our astronaut skills with some fun challenges.


Teacher Tales & Universe Explorers
3rd - 5th grade
in The Center (previously the Senior and Community Activity Center)
4:00 – 5:00 P.M.

Wednesday, July 10 - We'll make a variety of rockets and other flying machines. 

Wednesday, July 24 - Ms. Jennifer from the library will read.  Then we'll test our "astronaut" skills with some precise (and fun!) challenges.

Wednesday, August 14 - Mrs. Barker from Milan Middle School will read.  Then we will make galaxy slime.   **Registration is required for this event so we can prepare for the appropriate number of participants. You can register through the Summer Reading Program here or email us at info@milanlibrary.org.**

Summer Reading Program

Note:  This post includes our schedule on April 8.  To see updated information after this time, please see our Summer Reading Program page here.

Our Summer Reading Program theme this year is A Universe of Stories.  Everyone - children, teens, and adults - is invited to read, earn prizes, and attend events at the library this summer.

All children may participate in our children's Summer Reading Program: younger children can listen to books, older children can listen and/or read.

See information about our TNT (Teen & Tween) Summer Reading Program for 6th through 12th graders here.

Friday, June 14 Thursday, June 13 is the first day to pick up a reading log and start recording your reading and/or listening.  You can choose to count the number of days you read (you choose how much to read each day) or the amount of time you spend reading. (Friday was originally the first day, but since the last day of school in Milan Area Schools is now the 13th, you can pick up reading logs beginning on the 13th.)

Saturday, August 31 is the last day to submit your reading/listening time and receive prizes for reading/listening throughout the summer. 

Friday, June 21: Apollo Adventure by Michigan Science Center

Ten hands-on, space-themed science activities will be available between 9:30 and 12:30.  We recommend allowing an hour or longer to move through the activities at your own pace. You may arrive at any time during the event. This event is best for preschoolers through middle schoolers; all ages are welcome.  It will be held in The Center (previously the Senior and Community Activity Center).

Thursday, July 18: Touch a Truck
Our annual Touch a Truck event will be held from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. during July's Third Thursday.  You'll see a variety of community vehicles, meet the people who drive and work with them, and learn about the jobs they do.  Check back for a list of participants.

Friday, August 9: The Supernatural Intergalactical Summer Reading MAGIC Spectacular by Jeff Wawrzaszek of A2 Magic
This magic show will include several space-themed illusions.  This event will be held at 10:30 A.M. in The Center (previously the Senior and Community Activity Center) and is for all ages (children and teens).  

Additional events
Additional events will include Tiny Tales (ages 2 and younger), Storytime (ages 3-5), craft and reading events for elementary ages, and more.  

Check back in May for the final schedule on our Summer Reading Program page here.  

Registration
Online registration begins on Monday, June 3 here.  
Paper registration begins on Thursday, June 13 in the library.

Questions
If you have any questions about our Summer Reading Program, please ask us at the library or online here.  

Summer Reading t-shirts
The Friends of the Library are selling t-shirts with the summer theme, A Universe of Stories.  See more information here.  

Updates
This post includes our schedule on April 8.  To see updated information after this time, please see our Summer Reading Program page here.

Summer Reading T-shirts

The Friends of the Library are selling t-shirts with our Summer Reading Theme: A Universe of Stories.

Update:  We will place one more order on Wednesday, July 3.  If you'd like a t-shirt, please fill out the order form here.

Update:  Due to requests, we may be able to place a second order.  We ordered extra children's sizes with our first order; those are available for purchase now.  We may be able to place another order for adult sizes if there is enough interest.  Please see the order form here to see what sizes are available and to let us know which ones you would like. 

Pre-order here by April 30. Deadline has been extended to May 10.  Only the orders are due now; you'll pay when you pick up your t-shirt(s) in June.

Questions? Ask them here.

Navy

$10 – children’s (2T – large)
$10 – adult S-XL
$12 – 2XL and 3XL

Black – Blue letters

$10 – adult S-XL
$12 – 2XL and 3XL

Black – Yellow/Gold letters

$10 – adult S-XL
$12 – 2XL and 3XL

Navy – Women’s Cut

$12 – S-XL
$14 – 2XL & 3XL

  

Purple – Women’s Cut

$12 – S-XL
$14 – 2XL & 3XL

Sapphire – Women’s Cut

$12 – S-XL
$14 – 2XL & 3XL

Launchpads

Our library now has Playaway Launchpads for use in the library and to check out.

Launchpads are learning tablets containing preloaded interactive educational apps. They are designed to be child-friendly with durable cases and no internet access.

The library has started the collection with 11 tablets for preschool and elementary aged children. Each individual tablet contains apps focusing on a specific theme such as literacy, STEAM, or critical thinking.

Launchpads are located on the shelf behind the reference desk, facing the Books on CD for adults.  You can find them in our catalog here.

Launchpads check out for 3 weeks and are NOT renewable. 

This collection was funded by a generous donation in memory of Marilyn Alexander. Mrs. Alexander was the president of the Friends of Milan Public Library for many years, and a strong personal supporter of the library. She was especially invested in supporting youth literacy through the Summer Reading Program, Books for Babies, and more. The library is privileged to honor her memory with these tablets which will support literacy and technology skills among children in our community

March Madness: Book Edition

We're having our own March Madness with books this month!  Our TAG (TNT Advisory Group) has created brackets with the books that have checked out the most in the last year.  You'll vote for your favorites each week as we narrow the field from 16 books to one winner.

Click on the image below to enlarge the chapter book/graphic novel book bracket and vote here.

Read Aloud 21-Day Challenge

The Read Aloud 15 Minutes National Campaign is issuing a 21-day Read Aloud challenge this month during National Reading Month.

Reading with your child introduces them to new words and concepts, builds early literacy skills which contribute to future reading success, inspires curiosity and imagination, creates positive feelings about reading, provides bonding experiences between parents/caregivers and children, and so much more.

It takes 21 days to form a habit.  The 21-day Read Aloud challenge encourages you to make reading a habit.  Start today or any day this month and read aloud with your child 15 minutes every day for 21 days - and then keep going!

Read anything you'd like - books or magazines, fiction or nonfiction, a new book each day or the same day multiple times each day!  Just read aloud with your child every day.

You can keep it simple and mark each day that you read on the tracker below or try some new things with calendar of activity suggestions.

See more information on Read Aloud's website here and download resources below to track your reading and see ideas for each day.

21-day Challenge Tracker

21-day Challenge Calendar of Activity Suggestions

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover & Surprise Stories

"Don't Judge a Book by its Cover" and "Surprise Stories" are back!

We've selected and wrapped some books for you to check out this month.  

Are you not sure what you want to read next? Or want to try something new? Stop by to check out one of these books and see if you find a new favorite!

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
Our Don't Judge a Book by its Cover choices are in front of the reference desk and contain books from our Juvenile (chapter book/middle grade book) section.  These books are color coded to help you choose a good book, from beginning chapter books wrapped in red yarn to longer, more complex books in blue yarn.  We've included a few clues about the book on a tag attached to the book.  

Surprise Stories
Our Surprise Stories choices are in our younger children's section and contain books from our Early (picture books and early readers) section.  Picture books are wrapped in white yarn; early readers are wrapped in brown yarn. 

Stop by to try something new this month!

2018 Favorite Children's Books - Board Books

We're continuing our lists of the most popular youth books in our library with board books today.

These lists are compiled based on the number of times the books were checked out in 2018.

Check our catalog here to reserve any books you'd like to read. 

Board Books

1. Eight Silly Monkeys by Steve Haskamp

2. PAW Patrol : Shape patrol!  

3. Ten Little Ladybugs by Melanie Gerth

4. (tie) Clifford's First Christmas by Norman Bridwell

4. (tie) Tractors by Sarah Creese

4. (tie) Small Pups, Big Adventures! (PAW Patrol)

4. (tie) Big Brother Daniel by Angela Santomero

8. (tie) Llama Llama, Nighty Night by Anna Dewdney

8. (tie) Easter Surprise: My First Lift and Learn

10. (tie) Ten Playful Penguins by Emily Ford

10. (tie) Hello Kitty, Hello Winter by Jean Hirashima

10. (tie) Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse! by Laura Joffe Numeroff

10. (tie) Disney's the Little Mermaid:  Ariel's Secret by Denise Lewis Patrick

10. (tie) The Babies and Doggies Book by John Schindel

10. (tie) Baby Loves Quantum Physics! by Ruth Spiro

10. (tie) Whose toes are those? by Sally Symes

Previous Lists

See our lists of juvenile fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels here.
See our lists of picture books, early nonfiction, and early readers here

See other organizations' "Best of 2018" lists here.

2018 Favorite Children's Books - Early Readers and Picture Books

We're continuing our lists of the most popular youth books in our library with early readers and picture books today.

These lists are compiled based on the number of times the books were checked out in 2018.

Check our catalog here to reserve any books you'd like to read. 

Picture Books

1. Disney Princess: Princess Collection 
2. (tie) Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella by James Mayhew
2. (tie) Ella Bella Ballerina and the Sleeping Beauty by James Mayhew
2. (tie) The Cow Who Climbed a Tree by Gemma Merino
2. (tie) Pony Pop Stars (My Little Pony series)
2. (tie) PAW Patrol: Pup, Pup, and Away (PAW Patrol series)
2. (tie) PAW Patrol Little Golden Book Favorites (PAW Patrol series)
2. (tie) The Pups Save Friendship Day! (PAW Patrol series)
9. (tie) Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by Kim Dean
9. (tie) Pete the Cat and the Bedtime Blues by Kim Dean

And since there are so many series books in the picture book list, here are a few individual titles and one series that barely missed the top ten:

Sticky, Sticky, Stuck! by Michael Gutch 
Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds
The Dino-sports series by Lisa Wheeler
Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Cookiesaurus Rex by Amy Fellner Dominy

Early Nonfiction

1. The Big Book of Dinosaurs by Angela Wilkes (E 567.9 Wilkes)
2. 5 Wild Creature Adventures! by Martin Kratt (E 590 Kratt)

3. (tie) A World of Pausabilities : an Exercise in Mindfulness by Frank Sileo (E 155.423 Sileo)

3. (tie) The Gingerbread Man retold by Eric Kimmel (E 398.2 Kimmel)

3. (tie) Alphabet Animals : a Slide-and-peek Adventure by Suse MacDonald (E 591 Macdonald)

3. (tie) Where's Waldo? : the Fantastic Journey by Martin Handford (E 793.73 Handford)

7. (tie) Cityblock by Christopher Franceschelli, Christopher (E 307.76 Franceschelli)

7. (tie) The Gingerbread Boy : a Folk Tale Classic retold by Paul  Galdone (E 398.2 Galdone)

7. (tie) First Big Book of the Ocean by Catherine Hughes (E 551.46 Hughes)

7. (tie) Meerkats by Laura Marsh (E 599.742 Marsh)

7. (tie) Robots by Gail Tuchman (E 629.8 Tuchman)

7. (tie) The Disney Princess Cookbook by Cindy Littlefield (E 641.512 Littlefield)

Early Readers

The Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems made a clean sweep of the top ten:

1. Happy Pig Day!

2. My New Friend is so Fun!

3. The Thank You Book

4. Waiting is Not Easy!

5. Let's Go for a Drive!

6. I Really Like Slop!

7. I Will Take a Nap!

8. (tie) I Broke My Trunk!

8. (tie) Listen to My Trumpet!

8. (tie) Should I Share My Ice Cream?

8. (tie) I'm a Frog!

Mo Willems completed the Elephant and Piggie series with The Thank You Book.  (The Thank You Book will be more enjoyable if you read the other books in the series first.)  

Piggie and Elephant now introduce books by other authors in the new series Elephant and Piggie Like Reading.  And, Willems has begun a new series, Unlimited Squirrels.  If you've finished all the Elephant and Piggie books, you may want to try one of these new series.

Check back tomorrow for our most popular board books.

Previous Lists

See our lists of juvenile fiction, nonfiction, and graphic novels here.

See other organizations' "Best of 2018" lists here.

2018 Favorite Children's Books - Juvenile Fiction, Nonfiction, and Graphic Novels

We're taking a look at the most popular (based on the number of times they have been checked out this year) books in our library in 2018.

We'll start with our Juvenile section (chapter books/middle grade novels/nonfiction).

Check our catalog here to reserve any books you'd like to read.

Juvenile Graphic Novels

1. Dog Man and Cat Kid by Dav Pilkey
2. Dog Man: a Tale of Two Kitties by Dav Pilkey
3. Dog Man Unleashed by Dav Pilkey
4. Dog Man by Dav Pilkey
5. Dawn and the Impossible Three by Gale Galligan
6. Smile by Raina Telgemeier
7. Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
8. Drama by Raina Telgemeier
9. Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier
10. (tie) Dog Man: Lord of the Fleas by Dav Pilkey
10. (tie) Mighty Jack by Ben Hatke

Juvenile Fiction

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Getaway by Jeff Kinney
2. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Last Straw by Jeff Kinney
3. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
4. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Old School by Jeff Kinney
5. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney
6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck by Jeff Kinney
7. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: a Novel in Cartoons by Jeff Kinney
8. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney
9. (tie) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days by Jeff Kinney
9. (tie) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul by Jeff Kinney
9. (tie) Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth by Jeff Kinney

Since the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series almost swept the entire juvenile fiction top 10, we also took a look at the top 10 with each series only included once.

1. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: the Getaway by Jeff Kinney
2. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
3. Bad Kitty: Camp Daze by Nick Bruel
4. The 78-Story Treehouse by Any Griffiths
5. Big Nate on a Roll by Lincoln Peirce
6. Wonder by R.J. Palacio
7. Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers by Dav Pilkey
8. The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
9. Escaping Peril by Tui Sutherland
10. The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan

Juvenile Nonfiction

1. Guinness World Records 2018 (J 031 Guinness)
2. Garfield Takes the Cake by James H. Davis (J 741.569 Davis)
3. Garfield Rounds Out by James H. Davis (J 741.569 Davis)
4. Garfield, Food for Thought by James H. Davis (J 741.569 Davis)
5. Big Nate: Thunka, Thunka, Thunka by Lincoln Peirce (J 741.569 Peirce)
6. Big Nate: a Good Old-fashioned Wedgie by Lincoln Peirce (J 741.569 Peirce)
7. Big Nate: What's a Little Noogie Between Friends? by Lincoln Peirce (J 741.569 Peirce)
8. Epic Big Nate by Lincoln Peirce (J 741.569 Peirce)
9. Big Nate, Say Goodbye to Dork City by Lincoln Peirce (J 741.569 Peirce)
10. Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson (J 741.569 Watterson)

And, including each series only once:

1. Guinness World Records 2018 (J 031 Guinness)
2. Garfield Takes the Cake by James H. Davis (J 741.569 Davis)
3. Big Nate: Thunka, Thunka, Thunka by Lincoln Peirce (J 741.569 Peirce)
4. Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson (J 741.569 Watterson)
5. Ripley's Believe it or Not!: Out of this World Edition 2018 (J 031.02 Ripleys)
6. Starfinder: the Complete Beginner's Guide to the Night Sky by Carole Stott (J 523.8 Stott)
7. Snoopy: Party Animal, a Peanuts Collection by Charles Schulz (J 741.569 Schulz)
8. Star Wars Made Easy by Christian Blauvelt (J791.437 Blauvelt)
9. (tie) Weird but True! 7: 300 Outrageous Facts (J 031.02 Weird)
9. (tie) 50 Wacky Things Animals Do: Weird & Amazing Animal Facts by Tricia Martineau Wagner (J 591.5 Wagner)

Check back tomorrow for best picture books, early readers, and early nonfiction books.

See more "best of 2018" lists here.

Best Books of 2018

There are a lot of "best" lists published at the end of the year.  Here are some of our favorite "best of 2018" lists.

We have many of the books on these lists.  Check our catalog here to reserve books you'd like to read.  If there's a book we don't have and you think we should, submit a suggestion here.  We'll let you know if we can order it.

Notable Children's Books by ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children)

Notable Children's Books - 2018
Lists include books for Younger Readers, Middle Readers, Older Readers, and All ages.


School Library Journal's 2018 Best Books

2018 Best Books
Lists include picture books, chapter books, middle grade novels, nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and young adult books.


The Nerdies by The Nerdy Book Club (best books of 2018)

The Nerdies: Young Adult Fiction
The Nerdies: Middle Grade Fiction
The Nerdies: Nonfiction
The Nerdies: Graphic Novels
The Nerdies: Poetry & Novels in Verse
The Nerdies: Early Readers and Early Chapter Books
The Nerdies: Nonfiction Picture Books
The Nerdies: Fiction Picture Books


The Cybils Finalists (the Children's and Young Adult Bloggers' Literary Awards)

Easy Readers and Early Chapter Books
Elementary/Middle Grade Non-Fiction
Elementary/Middle-Grade Speculative Fiction
Fiction Picture Books and Board Books
Graphic Novels
Poetry
Middle-Grade Fiction
Junior/Senior High Non-Fiction
Young Adult Fiction
Young Adult Speculative Fiction