Blog Post
Now Available Through AADL: 250+ Downloadable & Streaming Albums from Ghostly International & Spectral Sound
by mariah
For over a dozen years, record label Ghostly International has made Ann Arbor its home. Haven't heard of them? The Ann's piece highlighting them as a "hidden gem" will help get you up to speed.
Founded in 1999 in a dorm room by a then-UM student, Sam Valenti IV, the label has grown steadily in scope and size. Beginning with talented locally-based artists such as Matthew Dear and Dabrye, the Ghostly crew has expanded over the last decade-plus to include illustrious alumni and around a dozen currently active artists, including Shigeto, ADULT., and Tycho. A spin-off/related label -- Spectral Sound -- also emerged, and 100+ of their albums are also included in this special AADL collection.
As its roster of musical artists has grown, Ghostly has also maintained a careful, deliberate approach to the visual elements of each release (and to the aesthetic of the label as a whole), evident by their attention to cover design and frequent partnerships with companies that are beyond the imagination (aim) of many more traditional labels.
AADL is thrilled to partner with Ghostly to offer DRM-free downloads and streaming of 150+ Ghostly and 100+ Spectral Sound albums to all AADL cardholders. All you need is to have an AADL library card. Then, login with your linked AADL online account, and all of these tracks are yours for the listening!
Blog Post
Youth & Teen Book Awards Announced!
by erin
For at least a year librarians all over the country read, and read, and read and then in the dead of winter in some predetermined location (this time it was Philadelphia) they meet at their annual conference and discuss, and argue and determine the best books, audio and video for children and teens! On Monday, January 27 the ALA (American Library Association) hosted the Youth Media Awards and came up with their best picks. Without further ado find out what books you should start reading NOW! The big three awards are the Newbery, Caldecott and the Printz, but there are many other awards so be sure to look through the whole list!
The Newbery Medal honors the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children
2014 Winner: Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventure, by Kate DiCamillo
Honor Books:
Doll Bones, by Holly Black
The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes
One Came Home, by Amy Timberlake
Paperboy, by Vince Vawter
The Caldecott Medal honors the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.
2014 Winner: Locomotive, illustrated and written by Brian Floca
Honor Books:
Journey, written and illustrated by Aaron Becker
Flora and the Flamingo, written and illustrated by Molly Idle
Mr. Wuffles! written and illustrated by David Wiesner
The Michael L. Printz Award is an award for a book that exemplifies literary excellence in young adult literature.
2014 Winner:
Midwinter Blood by Marcus Sedgwick
Honor Books:
Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
Kingdom of Little Wounds by Susann Cokal
Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner
Navigating Early by Clare Vanderpool
Other Awards:
The Batchelder Award is given to an American publisher for a children's book considered to be the most outstanding of those books originally published in a language other than English in a country other than the United States, and subsequently translated into English and published in the United States.
2014 Winner: Mister Orange written by Truus Matti, and translated from the Dutch by Laura Watkinson.
Honor Books:
The Bathing Costume or the Worst Vacation of My Life, written by Charlotte Moundlic, illustrated by Olivier Tallec
My Father’s Arms Are a Boat written by Stein Erik Lunde, illustrated by Øyvind Torseter
The War Within These Walls written by Aline Sax
The Belpré Medal honors a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose works best portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.
2014 Author Winner:
Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass written by Meg Medina
2014 Illustrator Winner:
Niño Wrestles the World illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales
Honor Books:
The Lightning Dreamer written by Margarita Engle
The Living,” written by Matt de la Peña
Pancho Rabbit and the Coyote written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh (for Author and Illustrator)
Maria Had a Little Llama illustrated and written by Angela Dominguez
Tito Puente,” illustrated by Rafael López
The Andrew Carnegie Medal honors the most outstanding video productions for children released during the previous year.
2014 Winner:
Bink and Gollie
The Geisel Award is given annually to the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished American book for beginning readers published in English in the United States during the preceding year.
2014 Winner:
The Watermelon Seed,” written and illustrated by Greg Pizzoli
Honor Books:
Ball,” written and illustrated by Mary Sullivan
A Big Guy Took My Ball! written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Penny and Her Marble,” written and illustrated by Kevin Henkes
This Odyssey award is given to the producer of the best audiobook produced for children and/or young adults, available in English in the United States.
2014 Winner:
Scowler,” produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Daniel Kraus and narrated by Kirby Heyborne.
Honor Books:
Better Nate Than Ever,”produced by Simon and Schuster Audio, written and narrated by Tim Federle
Creepy Carrots!” produced by Weston Woods Studios, Inc., and written by Aaron Reynolds
Eleanor & Park produced by Listening Library, an imprint of the Random House Audio Publishing Group, written by Rainbow Rowell, and narrated by Rebecca Lowman and Sunil Malhotra
Matilda,” produced by Penguin Audio, a member of Penguin Group (USA) Inc., written by Roald Dahl, and narrated by Kate Winslet.
The Sibert Medal honors the author(s) and illustrator(s) of the most distinguished informational book published during the preceding year.
2014 Winner:
Parrots over Puerto Rico,” written by Susan L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore, illustrated by Susan L. Roth,
Honor Books:
A Splash of Red, written by Jen Bryant
Look Up!,written and illustrated by Annette LeBlanc Cate
Locomotive ”written and illustrated by Brian Floca
he Mad Potter,written by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan
The YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction honors the best nonfiction book published for young adults (ages 12-18) during a Nov. 1 – Oct. 31 publishing year.
2014 Winner:
The Nazi Hunters written by Neal Bascomb
Finalists:
Go written by Chip Kidd
imprisoned written by Martin W. Sandler
Courage Has No Color written by Tanya Lee Stone
The President Has Been Shot! written by James L. Swanson
The William C. Morris YA Debut Award, first awarded in 2009, honors a debut book published by a first-time author writing for teens and celebrating impressive new voices in young adult literature.
2014 Winner:
Charm & Strange written by Stephanie Kuehn
Finalists:
Sex & Violence written by Carrie Mesrobian
Dr. Bird’s Advice for Sad Poets written by Evan Roskos
Belle Epoque written by Elizabeth Ross
in the Shadow of Blackbirds written by Cat Winters
The Coretta Scott King Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults. Each year the recognize an author and an illustrator.
2014 Author Winner:
P.S. Be Eleven, written by Rita Williams-Garcia
2014 Illustrator Winner:
Knock Knock, illustrated by Bryan Collier
Author & Illustrator Honor Books:
March: Book One,” written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin
Darius & Twig,written by Walter Dean Myers
Words with Wings, written by Nikki Grimes
Nelson Mandela, illustrated and written by Kadir Nelson
The Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:
2014 Winner:
A Splash of Red, written by Jen Bryant (for younger children)
Handbook for Dragon Slayers,” written by Merrie Haskell (for middle grade children)
Rose under Fire, written by Elizabeth Wein (for teens)
The Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award is given annually to English-language works of exceptional merit for children or teens relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience.
2014 Winner:
Beautiful Music for Ugly Children, written by Kirstin Cronn-Mills
Honor Books:
Better Nate Than Ever, written by Tim Federle
Branded by the Pink Triangle, written by Ken Setterington
Two Boys Kissing,”written by David Levithan
Blog Post
Peter Seeger, iconic folksinger and political activist, has died
by sernabad
Pete Seeger, as beloved for his enduring folk songs as for his principled political activism for six decades, has died.
Seeger began his singing career as part of the Weavers in 1948, performing tunes of peace. Just seven years later, McCarthyism caught up with Seeger. The singer refused to testify. After years of legal wrangling, Seeger was convicted of contempt in 1961. A year later that conviction was overturned on a technicality.
For years, Seeger was blacklisted and banned from performing in schools and concert venues. He refused to be silent, writing and demonstrating whenever he could.
He was the inspiration for many folksinging giants, including Joan Baez who said of Seeger: "We all owe our careers to Pete Seeger." and Peter, Paul, and Mary who made famous Seeger's If I Had a Hammer. Other long-enduring Seeger classics are Where Have All the Flowers Gone and Turn! Turn! Turn!.
In 1994, the National Endowment of the Arts bestowed on Seeger the National Medal of Arts. In 1996, he won his first Grammy and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Twelve years later, he won his second Grammy. And just one year later, in a stunning moment of political validation, he performed at a celebratory concert in Washington, D.C. two days before President Barack Obama's first inauguration.
Seeger stayed politically active until the end of his life. In 2011, he marched in New York City with the Occupy Movement. He performed in last year's FarmAid concert and, as a lifelong environmentalist, this past November he asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to release the Arctic 30 who were granted their freedom the following month.
In 2012, Seeger published Pete Seeger: In His Own Words.
Seeger, who was 94, died of natural causes.
Pete Seeger is no stranger to area music lovers. He made several trips to perform here. His benefit concert for the Ark is fondly remembered. Check out these Old News articles on this beloved musician.
Blog Post
Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads: Present and Past
by muskrat
On Tuesday, January 21, from 7-9 pm at Washtenaw Community College, Morris Lawrence Building, Ruta Sepetys, author of Between Shades of Gray, this year's AA/Ypsi Reads selection, discusses her book as well as signs copies. (With doors opening at 6 pm.)
But you can explore previous AA/Ypsi Reads authors right now. Our online Video Collection includes the AA/Ypsi Reads lectures from Jonathan Weiner, author of the 2006 selection The Beak of the Finch: A Story of Evolution in Our Own Time, William Poy Lee, author of the 2008 selection The Eighth Promise: An American Son's Tribute to His Toisanese Mother, Timothy Ferris, author of the 2009 selection Seeing in the Dark: How Amateur Astronomers are Discovering the Wonders of the Universe, Jerry Dennis, author of the 2010 selection The Living Great Lakes: Searching for the Heart of the Inland Seas, and Richard Glaubman, co-author of the 2011 selection Life is So Good.
There are also audio podcasts featuring interviews with Timothy Ferris, Jerry Dennis, and Richard Glaubman.
And if you're looking to expand your AA/Ypsi Reads horizons beyond the authors, check out the Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti Reads Video Collection Page containing related lectures and discussions from the past nine years.
Blog Post
Audiobook: Scientists and Spies
by skcramer
Sometimes, the truth is even more exciting than fiction. At least it is in Bomb: The Race to Build and Steal the World's Most Dangerous Weapon by Steve Sheinkin. This non-fiction account of the scientists and spies involved in the development of the first atomic bomb is an amazing story, full of gentle humor, suspense and thoughtful insights into the cost of developing atomic weaponry. While written for youth, this book will appeal to science and spy lovers of all ages. Parents should note, however, that descriptions of the atomic bombings and their horrific aftermath are included.
The book was awarded a Newbery Honor medal in 2013.
Blog Post
Best New Music At AADL
by patrickpdunn
AADL is constantly adding to its diverse selection of new CDs. If you're seeking some great new tunes, consider the following must-hear material.
"The Electric Lady," Janelle Monae: The easiest way to categorize Janelle Monae's music would be "R&B," but the young singer-songwriter is far more versatile than that. As on her previous masterpiece, The Archandroid, she plays fast and loose with genres from funk to soul to rock to jazz...even a bit of baroque folk. Creating an android alter-ego for herself, she weaves bits of tongue-in-cheek sci-fi dialogue into the album, which plays like an hour of the funnest, funkiest radio you've ever heard. Featuring excellent guest artists from Prince to Erykah Badu. (Fun fact: if you haven't heard of Monae before, you've almost certainly heard her voice. She's featured on Fun's smash hit "We Are Young".)
"The Speed of Things," Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.: If you're seeking some locally-grown jams, look no further than the new record from Detroit indie-pop duo Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.. These guys seemed on the verge of major celebrity status with their previous record It's A Corporate World. While their latest isn't quite the big, radio-friendly push they need, it's still full of cheery, hooky, danceable tunes. (Just listen to "If You Didn't See Me (Then You Weren't On the Dancefloor)" and try NOT to spend the next hour humming that riff.)
"Dream River," Bill Callahan: Some may recognize Bill Callahan from his work under the name Smog, but he takes a more personal approach on this record, his fourth to be released under his own name. There's something fascinating, beautiful and a little spooky about Callahan's sparse, autumnal arrangements. You could describe the record's genre as "folk," but Callahan's whispery, often spoken lyrics are too unique to pin down to an established genre. Lie back and let Callahan's pensive lyrics and atmospheric arrangements wash over you.
Find more great new CDs here.
Blog Post
Fabulous Fiction Firsts #445 - Dead man scheming
by muffy
You really ought to start with Dead Anyway * * * (2012), the first in the Arthur Cathcart series by Chris Knopf. The BOCD was perfect for a recent family road trip. Don't let that scary-looking cover fool you.
A hit man shows up at the Cathcarts' Stamford, Conn. home and shoot them both in the head after he forces Florencia, owner of an insurance-brokerage firm to sign a piece of paper. His wife is dead but Arthur Cathcart survives, barely. With the help of his physician sister, he is declared dead. A crackerjack market researcher skilled with electronics, Arthur is able to create a series of new identities to stay out of sight while he plots and schemes to track down the "who" and the "why".
"Knopf's tale is suspenseful from the get-go, with an intellectual, yet visceral, vigilantism coursing through the pages,... (he) never misses an angle and manages to weave a bit of humor into a storyline that could have been purely dark. "
"(R)eminiscent of Richard Stark's (aka Donald Westlake) Parker novels with a dose of Grosse Pointe Blank", the Arthur Cathcart caper continues with Cries of the Lost * * (2013).
Readers who enjoy their mystery mixed with comedy would want to check out the author's "reflective, quietly loopy" Hamptons-based series featuring Sam Acquillo and Jackie Swaitkowski.
* * * = 3 starred reviews
* * = 2 starred reviews
Blog Post
The Puck Drops Here and the Winter Classic help ring in the new year in Ann Arbor!
by eapearce
At 1:00pm on New Years Day, hockey fans will pack The Big House in downtown Ann Arbor for the 2014 Winter Classic. The battle between the Detroit Red Wings and the Toronto Maple Leafs is not only expected to shatter the record of the highest attendance ever at a hockey game, but is also expected to break the overall attendance record in the Big House, which currently stands at over 115,000.
To welcome visitors in town for the game and celebrate the New Year, local Ann Arbor groups have worked together to create The Puck Drops Here, an outdoor celebration being held in downtown Ann Arbor tonight. There will be over 6 hours of live entertainment throughout the event, most notably The Voice finalist and Ann Arbor native Michelle Chamuel, and a midnight ball drop on Main Street. Many Main Street restaurants plan to re-open their outside seating for the evening, so the guests can watch the festivities under the warmth of outdoor heaters.
In conjunction with this event, the Farmers Market space in Kerrytown will have family-friendly activities including a skating rink, ice carvings, and marshmellow roasting.
You can read more about activities related to these events at AADL. Kids will enoy Z is for Zamboni: A Hockey Alphabet. Red Wings fans can explore The History of Hockeytown: Detroit Red Wings, 75 Years and The Winged Wheel: A Half-Century of Detroit Red Wings in Photographs. And, you can hear more of Michelle Chamuel’s work on Dancethink Systems, by My Dear Disco, the local band she was part of before competing on The Voice.
Happy New Year to all!
Blog Post
Family Books for the Car
by sherlonya
Every week many of us spend hours of time in the car with the kids. If you're getting tired of hearing the same songs on the radio, or would rather skip the next car-listening power struggle maybe one of these audiobooks can help.
Elijah of Buxton is the story of a sensitive and scared boy in Canada's Buxton settlement, a refuge for freed slaves and their families. Elijah Freeman, the first free born child in the community battles his fears in this book, and ultimately has to put his mastery of them to the test. Be prepared to field questions about slavery and why people do bad things to others.
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg takes place during the Civil War. Homer goes on an adventure to save his brother who was illegally recruited to join the Union forces. Homer does not hesitate to exercise his creativity throughout his adventures; he is pretty loose with facts and details. It feels wrong to call a wartime children's book fun, but if the shoe fits....
A Crooked Kind of Perfect is a fun, light read about families, fears, and how sometimes unexpected outcomes are exactly what is supposed to happen.
Blog Post
Audiobook for Kids: Whispering to Witches
by skcramer
Whispering to Witches by Anna Dale is part fantasy, part mystery, and plenty of fun.
As the story begins, Joe is not happy about being sent to Canterbury to spend Christmas with his mother, but on the train ride there, something peculiar happens. Soon Joe finds himself teaming up with a young witch named Twiggy to investigate the mysterious incident, which seems to have something to do with a missing page from a famous magical book. Can they find the missing page before it falls into the wrong hands? And is there more to this mystery than meets the eye?
While I found this book has been frequently compared to the Harry Potter series – with its train rides, witches and magical candies – I actually found myself thinking of it more like a book by Diana Wynne Jones. Something about the voice and the tightly-plotted mystery, I suppose. Its narration, though, by John Curless did remind of Jim Dale's performance in the Harry Potter audiobooks. Fans of either who are looking for something to try this holiday season may wish to check it out.