Friday June 21, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Parking Lot

Bring your ropes, your rhymes for a jumpin' good time! We've got Chinese, Double-Dutch and standard jump ropes to share. Special guests, the St. Francis Heartbeats, will demo their skills. If it rains, we'll jump inside!

This event is for teens and pre-teens (grades 4-12).

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.

Monday June 24, 2013: 11:00 am to 1:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

Design and fly spacecraft that are capable of trans-continental or even interplanetary travel!

Kerbal Space Program is a multi-genre game where players create their own space program. It's a Slapdash Spaceflight Sandbox, and you're in control of your nation's space program.

Participation in "Race to Space" events includes codes for Summer Game space badges and requires your attendance for the entire scheduled time.

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).

Monday June 24, 2013: 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

This session ratchets up the difficulty level with the goal of leaving Kerbal's orbit and landing on the Mun!

Kerbal Space Program is a multi-genre game where the players create their own space program. Participation in "Race to Space" events includes codes for Summer Game space badges and requires your attendance for the entire scheduled time.

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).

Tuesday June 25, 2013: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Explore the fundamentals of logic, programming and robotics design with LEGO NXT! You will build, test, and tweak your robot, then COMPETE.

Participation in "Race to Space" events includes codes for Summer Game space badges and requires your attendance for the entire scheduled time.

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).

Tuesday June 25, 2013: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Make jewelry, key chains, pet tags, pins, clothing buttons - the sky's the limit!

Shrinky Dinks shrink to approximately 1/3rd their original size and actually become 9 times thicker! In two magic minutes your creation gets smaller and smaller.

This event is for adults, teens and pre-teens (grade 4 and up).

Tuesday July 2, 2013: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Repurpose pages from discarded books into paper flowers and embellish with buttons and beads.

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

Tuesday July 2, 2013: 6:30 pm to 8:45 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

Does gaming development interest you? Propose ideas, use some programming techniques, and make games using Scratch and GameMaker! Check out the Python I and II classes, too--think of the games you might create!

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

Saturday July 6, 2013: 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Engineer a device to keep your egg safe from a big drop. Hope it doesn't break!

This event is for grades 4-8.

Monday July 8, 2013: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Can you meet the Super Comics Challenge?

At this weekly series, you'll design dangerous fortresses, awesome heroes, lugubrious villains, and unlock achievements of the comics-storytelling masters! Each week you'll have two fun drawing challenges to level up your comics-making powers and get special Summer Game codes. Come every week to collect a special series of video challenges! Become the supreme master of visual storytelling!

Sessions will be held at Malletts Creek Branch on Mondays, 6 - 8 pm, July 8 - August 12.

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

Monday July 8, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Make a dreamcatcher with local crafter Dawn Henry.

Feel free to bring a favorite object to weave into your dreamcatcher. This project will take the entire time.

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

Thursday July 11, 2013: 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm -- Traverwood Branch: Program Room

Local crafter Beth Battey will get you started in the wonderful world of crochet with a basic beginners project.

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

Sunday July 14, 2013: 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Spend the afternoon with Anna Hrachovec - famous Brooklyn knitter, fiber artist and creator of the amazing Mochimochi Land world of tiny knitted toys, creatures and spectacular installations.

Anna will do a fun slideshow presentation, answer questions and talk about the amazing world of tiny knitting she has created.

Mochimochi Land was launched in 2007 as a place where knitted toys and people can live together in a spirit of tolerance. The characters that inhabit Mochimochi Land are Anna's original designs. Anna finds inspiration in Hello Kitty, Pee-Wee's Playhouse, and illustrators like Dr Seuss and Mary Blair. Anna's knitted toys have been featured on The Martha Stewart Show, all around the web, and in print. The mochimochiland.com website also features Anna's books, kits, and downloadable knitting and cross-stitch patterns. Printed Mochimochi Land patterns and kits are also available.

When she's not designing patterns to share with fellow crafters, Anna creates character-based fiber art, which has been exhibited throughout the US, Europe, and Asia. You can also see her art at annahrachovec.com.

Anna's three books will be on sale and she will be signing after her presentation. Players of the AADL summer game keep your eyes peeled for special MochiMochi badges, installations around town & more!

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

Monday July 15, 2013: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Can you meet the Super Comics Challenge?

At this weekly series, you'll design dangerous fortresses, awesome heroes, lugubrious villains, and unlock achievements of the comics-storytelling masters! Each week you'll have two fun drawing challenges to level up your comics-making powers and get special Summer Game codes. Come every week to collect a special series of video challenges! Become the supreme master of visual storytelling!

Sessions will be held at Malletts Creek Branch on Mondays, 6 - 8 pm, July 8 - August 12.

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

Thursday July 18, 2013: 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Multi-Purpose Room

Explore the fundamentals of robotics design with LEGO NXT! Build, test, tweak your robot, then COMPETE.

Participation in "Race to Space" events includes codes for Summer Game space badges if you attend the entire event.

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).

Monday July 22, 2013: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

Can you meet the Super Comics Challenge?

At this weekly series, you'll design dangerous fortresses, awesome heroes, lugubrious villains, and unlock achievements of the comics-storytelling masters! Each week you'll have two fun drawing challenges to level up your comics-making powers and get special Summer Game codes. Come every week to collect a special series of video challenges! Become the supreme master of visual storytelling!

Sessions will be held at Malletts Creek Branch on Mondays, 6 - 8 pm, July 8 - August 12.

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

Monday July 22, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Pittsfield Branch: Program Room

Local crafter Beth Battey will show you how to use your hands, wool, soapy water and some patience to create your own felt ball! It can be a gift, a pet toy, a fun baby ball or ... you decide!

This event is for adults, teens and youth (grade K and up).

Tuesday July 23, 2013: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm -- Malletts Creek Branch: Program Room AB

We'll have the chemical-free dyes and the bandanas, or bring a t-shirt, and we'll tie-dye with local crafter Dawn Henry!

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).

Friday July 26, 2013: 11:00 am to 12:00 pm -- Downtown Library: Training Center

Kerbal Space Program is a multi-genre game where players create their own space program.

You'll have complete control of your nation's space program. Codes for Summer Game space badges will be included if you attend the entire event.

This event is for teens (grades 6-12).