Monday May 20, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Henry Ford was born the year of Gettysburg and died two years after the atomic bombs fell - and in that time become the most famous and richest man in America.

Richard Snow, acclaimed popular historian and former editor-in-chief of American Heritage Magazine, will discuss Henry Ford and Snow's just-released (May 14) new book "I Invented The Modern Age: The Rise Of Henry Ford," a meticulous and entertaining account of Ford, the Model-T, and the remaking of American industry in the early 20th century. This special event will also include a book signing and books will be for sale.

The car made Ford a national hero-- but that's not the end of the story. Ford was driven by a sense of messianic philanthropy, but once he'd achieved his goal he felt fettered by his very success. In Snow's capable hands, Ford is a tragic figure we watch rise and fall. Filled with scene and incident, character and dialogue, Snow's book presents us with the young, unknown, industrious, and altogether resourceful young man rising in the years when people were vying to build the machine that would define the dawning age in America. In many ways his story is well known, but Snow sheds new light onto this fascinating man by viewing him through his greatest creation-- the Model T.

Richard Snow worked at American Heritage magazine for nearly four decades and was its editor-in-chief for seventeen years. The author of several books, Snow has also served as a consultant for historical motion pictures --among them "Glory" --and has written for documentaries, including the Burns brothers' "Civil War," and Ric Burns's award-winning PBS film "Coney Island," whose screenplay he wrote. Most recently, he served as a consultant on Ken Burns' World War II series, "The War."

Tuesday May 21, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Are you ready to reexamine long-standing ideas about parenting? Tired of being the referee? Eager for new ideas to help the kids resolve squabbles?

Heather Shumaker, the author of "It's OK Not to Share..And Other Renegade Rules For Raising Competent And Compassionate Kids" breaks down age-old parenting conventions and offers new ideas based on emerging neuroscience and child development. This event includes a book signing and books will be for sale.

Learn counter intuitive ideas about sharing, saying 'sorry,' coping with angry outbursts, rough play, social rejection, toy weapons and other topics. Be prepared to change your mind! Heather's presentation will lead you to confront deeply meaningful questions about parenting and communities in today's world.

Heather is a speaker, journalist, blogger and advocate for free play and no homework for young children. She's been featured on Fox & Friends TV, Huffington Post, New York Post, Parenting, Parents.com, USA Weekend, Wisconsin Public Radio and other media.

Sunday June 2, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: 4th Floor Meeting Room

Cartoonist and teaching illustrator Joe Foo will discuss the creative process of building characters out of abstract forms and never setting limits on your creations. Joe is the creator of "Desmond's Comic". He also is working on a series of books and videos that will teach kids the joy of drawing.

Join the Forum to get fresh ideas for your next comics and network with other cartoonists. Drawing supplies will be provided, so drop in.

This event is for adults and teens (grade 6 and up).

Monday June 3, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Local youth author Shutta Crum is the guest speaker as the Library honors the winners of the first AADL short story contest for 3rd - 5th graders.

Shutta will discuss the art of writing and present the awards to the winners.

Monday June 10, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Twelve years ago, Ron Tanner and his then-girlfriend, Jill, did the impossible. They bought condemned property -- a big Baltimore Victorian brownstone - and vowed to bring it back to its original glory.

The house had been home to Baltimore's most notorious fraternity for a decade and now, wrecked and abandoned, it was filled with garbage. If that weren't daunting enough: Ron and Jill had been dating for only six months and they knew nothing about fixing up old houses! Friends, family, and concerned onlookers told them not to do it - they would surely lose their shirts and their love in the bargain.

In 2003, Ron and Jill were married in the house. In 2008, This Old House magazine did a feature about the couple and their house. Ron also wrote a book about their experience - "From Animal House to Our House: A Love Story," which was published in 2012....and the adventure still continues.

Join us for a delightful evening as Ron provides some hilarious tales and sound advice about fixing old houses -- including an awesome slide show! The event includes a book signing and books will be on sale.

Tuesday June 11, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Whether you call them franks, wieners, or red hots, hot dogs are as American as apple pie, but how did these little links become icons of American culture?

Join hot dog scholar Bruce Kraig and photographer Patty Carroll for a fascinating and colorful look at the history, people, décor, and venues that make up hot dog culture! Their 2012 book "Man Bites Dog: Hot Dog Culture In America" will be on sale and the event includes a book signing as well as hot dog tastings from a local Ann Arbor venue! This event is co-sponsored by the Culinary Historians of Ann Arbor.

Bruce Kraig has loved hot dogs since his first bite at Nathan's when he was 5 years old. Since then he has studied hot dogs, and for over 25 years, has been the leading authority on the culture of Hot Dogs. He is Professor Emeritus at Roosevelt University and Adjunct Faculty at Kendall College Culinary School and is a noted food historian. As the leading expert on hot dogs, Kraig has appeared on ABC Nightline, Martha Stewart Radio, ABC National News and NPR's Talk of the Nation, CBS News, WGN and NBC News Chicago, as well as BBC News and Radio New Zealand-all about hot dogs.

Patty Carroll, is currently Adjunct Full Professor of Photography at the School of The Art Institute Of Chicago and at Columbia College Chicago. She is a distinguished photographic artist with a deep interest in American popular culture and has published and exhibited widely on American cultural topics including Elvis Impersonators, American suburban lawns, and resorts at night, as well as hot dog stands.

"Man Bites Dog" is the ultimate source--informative, fun, and tasty--on the role of hot dogs in American culture. It's a must-have for the dog fan, the foodie, the pop culture maven, and the street-cart obsessed.

This event is for adults and teens (grade 6 and up).

Saturday June 22, 2013: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Lobby

AADL hosts the 2013 Kids Read Comics Celebration on Saturday June 22 & Sunday June 23, bringing more than forty cartoonists and writers to the Downtown Library for the entire weekend. This is the fifth annual KRCC, an event that promotes comics as a part of lifelong reading and as a means of creative expression for kids and teens.

Among the guests are Ben Hatke of "Zita the Spacegirl;" Raina Telgemeier, creator of the award-winning "Smile and Drama;" Dave Roman of "Jax Epoch And The Quicken Forbidden" and "Astronaut Academy;" and Rafael Rosado, who has been a writer, director, producer and storyboard artist for shows as diverse as Animaniacs, Men In Black The Animated Series, Curious George, and The Venture Brothers. His all-ages graphic novel, "Giants Beware!" was published by First Second Books earlier this year.

Stressing active engagement over passive consumption, the weekend will include hands-on workshops covering such topics as learning to draw funny people from wacky shapes, writing and drawing minicomics, and much more. Artists will demonstrate how they do what they do while answering audience questions, and the always popular Quick Draw competitions will pit artists head to head as they improvise drawings based on suggestions from spectators. Other programs will be geared to educators and librarians to help them learn how to use comics most effectively in their settings.

At tables in Artists' Alley, kids, teens and parents will have a chance to talk one-on-one with comics creators -- who have been known to toss off free sketches along with offering their comics and books for sale. Free giveaways will also include comic books donated by publishers big and small, including DC Comics, Archie Comics, Top Shelf Productions and Oni Press.

The Kids Reads Comics Celebration offers something for just about everyone, using the magic of comics to open up the imaginations of kids of all ages. And all activities, as well as every artist's and writer's table in Artists' Alley, will offer a code as part of AADL's Summer Game.

Kids Reads Comics is co-sponsored by the Ann Arbor Book Festival. Information about Kids Read Comics guests and programming is available at www.kidsreadcomics.org.

This event is for grade 4 - adult.

Sunday June 23, 2013: 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Lobby

AADL hosts the 2013 Kids Read Comics Celebration on Saturday June 22 & Sunday June 23, bringing more than forty cartoonists and writers to the Downtown Library for the entire weekend. This is the fifth annual KRCC, an event that promotes comics as a part of lifelong reading and as a means of creative expression for kids and teens.

Among the guests are Ben Hatke of "Zita the Spacegirl;" Raina Telgemeier, creator of the award-winning "Smile and Drama;" Dave Roman of "Jax Epoch And The Quicken Forbidden" and "Astronaut Academy;" and Rafael Rosado, who has been a writer, director, producer and storyboard artist for shows as diverse as Animaniacs, Men In Black The Animated Series, Curious George, and The Venture Brothers. His all-ages graphic novel, "Giants Beware!" was published by First Second Books earlier this year.

Stressing active engagement over passive consumption, the weekend will include hands-on workshops covering such topics as learning to draw funny people from wacky shapes, writing and drawing minicomics, and much more. Artists will demonstrate how they do what they do while answering audience questions, and the always popular Quick Draw competitions will pit artists head to head as they improvise drawings based on suggestions from spectators. Other programs will be geared to educators and librarians to help them learn how to use comics most effectively in their settings.

At tables in Artists' Alley, kids, teens and parents will have a chance to talk one-on-one with comics creators -- who have been known to toss off free sketches along with offering their comics and books for sale. Free giveaways will also include comic books donated by publishers big and small, including DC Comics, Archie Comics, Top Shelf Productions and Oni Press.

The Kids Reads Comics Celebration offers something for just about everyone, using the magic of comics to open up the imaginations of kids of all ages. And all activities, as well as every artist's and writer's table in Artists' Alley, will offer a code as part of AADL's Summer Game.

Kids Reads Comics is co-sponsored by the Ann Arbor Book Festival. Information about Kids Read Comics guests and programming is available at www.kidsreadcomics.org.

This event is for grade 4 - adult.