PEEPS
It's our 1st Annual PEEPS® Photo Contest! Preschoolers all the way up to Adults can enter a photo of a PEEPS® diorama they have created. Gift Cards to Target will be given out in six age categories. For full details, rules and guidelines click here! Have fun and celebrate spring!

The lives of ordinary people as they deal with oppression, Jim Crow laws and violence are highlighted in this book of poems by award winning author Ntozake Shange. Parents should be warned that the illustrations are extremely graphic and may be disturbing to some readers.

The Oscars air Sunday, March 7th, which makes now a great time to watch a few past Oscar winners with your kids. The Best Animated Feature Film Category was introduced in 2001, and the winners make great movies to enjoy with your family.

Films distinguished by winning Best Animated Feature Film include Shrek (It's sequel, Shrek 2 was also nominated in 2004), Spirited Away (a Japanese anime film dubbed with English actors), Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Happy Feet, Ratatouille, and WALL-E. Clearly computer generated movies by Pixar have been big winners in this category.

Treasure Planet earns an honorable mention from me as my personal favorite nominee for Best Animated Feature Film, as I've always liked Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island and I think setting the story in space only improved it.

Fairy had a Party, and all the Friends came.
They ate Fairy Treats.
They made Fairy Crafts.
Then they played Fun Games.

Want information about space, counting, health, going to school or other topics for your preschooler? Check out Stories-to-Go. Stories-to-Go are large tote bags with books, CD’s, DVD’s, and an Activity folder. They are available at all locations of the Ann Arbor District Library. They have recently been moved to the end of the Reader section, Isle 15 at the Downtown branch. So the next time your child wants to know about pond life or shapes. Check out Stories-to-Go.

There will be hands-on digging, dating, displaying and more when the UM Exhibit Museum of Natural History joins us on Saturday, March 13 at 2:00 p.m. at the Traverwood Branch. Children aged 5 and up can get a behind-the-scenes glimpse of work at a successful museum. We are delighted that one of our favorite partners is returning to educate and play!

Bingo

B-25! That's Bingo. We'll be playing bingo and giving away lots of books as prizes. It's a great way to spend a winter afternoon so come over and join us for this fun game.

Thursday, February 25th | 2:00-3:00 p.m. | Pittsfield Branch

The story of the Underground Railroad, a wooden sparrow, hope and triumph mark this page turner about a courageous family and the townspeople who protect them. Hear a retelling of this amazing story at the Ann Arbor District Library’s Pittsfield branch at 2:00 on Wednesday, February 24th

My friend Mother Goose and her very fine Gander will be entertaining us with her merry and magical tales and rhymes on Tuesday, March 2 at 10:00 am at the Downtown Library. If you have encountered Mother Goose at the Kerrytown Market, where she has delighted hundreds of families over the years, you know you are in for a treat!
Trudy

Come to the Malletts Creek Branch on Monday, February 22nd at 2:00 p.m. to see The Book That Eats People! Local author John Perry will be on hand to warn you about this carnivorous book. Start off your mid-winter break with this fantastic program . . . . if you dare!