Chocolate swamp, lollipop forest, the gumdrop guy . . . do you remember all those places and characters?

Come to the Pittsfield Branch on Tuesday, April 3 sometime between 1:00 and 4:00 p.m and take your turn along the multi-colored path of the Candyland game. You will be the moving game piece. There will be a reward when you make it all the way through.

This is for grades K - 5. Younger children will need their adults with them at all times. There will be excellent photo opportunities!

We will have all kinds of board games here at the Library for you to play as you await your turn through Candyland.

Start Spring Break with a Magic Show!

Let's hope the nice weather holds out through this week when the Ann Arbor Public Schools have Spring Break.
Regardless of the weather, we'll have lots of fun things for kids to do.
We'll start out with a magic show. Ann Arbor's own Jeff Wawrzaszek will bring his new magic show to the Malletts Creek Branch on Monday April 2, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. This is for all ages. Who doesn't love a good magic show?
And Jeff is the best!

Here are some materials to help you try some tricks of your own.

All of us storytime tellers have been reading and telling the best-selling story of Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by Eric Litwin since it landed on our shelf. It’s one of our favorites, so we are so excited that Eric Litwin will be performing at the Downtown Library this Friday, March 23 at 7 pm for the whole family! We just know, with Pete along for the ride, it’s going to be groovy!!

Celebrate The Lorax and Read Across America at our Toast to The Truffula Trees craft program on Thursday, March 15 at 7 pm at the Downtown Library! Families with children of all ages are invited to make a ridiculous Truffula Hat out of recycled materials from our favorite treasure trove, the Scrap Box. A dramatic reading of The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss, will entertain creators as they color, cut and glue with pom poms, pipe cleaners, stickers and lots of colorful recycled junk!

Bill HarleyBack by popular demand, the stellar Bill Harley returns for a library sponsored event at The Ark this Sunday, March 11 at 2:00 pm. We are hosting this grammy award winning musician and storyteller for a free family show at The Ark for ages five and up. Now is your chance to catch one of the best, and if you have enjoyed Bill in the past, we know we will see you there again! When Bill came through town last year I invited all my friends to the grown-up evening performance and they loved it so much they are all returning this Sunday at 7:30 pm.

Reader's Digest large print

You think large print is for when you’re old?
Not when you talk to the folks we’ve polled
Large print type’s great for reading outside
It lowers the glare so you’re not glass-eyed

For readers who don’t like to read too much
You can read large type while you do thus and such
16 point font if you have to ask
Is ideal for those who multi-task

Brainfuse

Remember last year's Summer Game and how geeked you were to win prizes just for using our website? Well you can continue to (sorta/kinda) win points by using our website, specifically if you log onto Brainfuse Tutoring. OK, not points per se, but you would be sure to win points from your parents and teachers. (Can I hear a collective "Cool!" being uttered by the masses)? Brainfuse has on-line learning options that are sure to enhance your study experience. The HelpNow 3.0 upgrade Study Suite will offer study tools for an array of Standardized Tests.

Come to the Malletts Creek Branch on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. to
celebrate Mardi Gras by making brightly colored masks and stringing beads.
This program is for preschoolers through fifth graders. All supplies will be provided.

For materials about this holiday, click here.

Meet Timothy Michling on his oboe, listen to classical piano with Kathryn Goodson and hear a story with Gari Stein in a musical celebration for young children at the Downtown Library on Friday, February 17 at 9:30 and 10:30 am. Our partnership with the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra has brought thousands of children and their families to the library for music appreciation over the past several years.Oboe

Calliope -- pronounced kuh LIE o pee -- was a muse of the arts and sciences and it also serves as the name of an oldie but a goodie magazine for kids that is now back on the shelves of your library. Exploring world history, this Cobblestone publication covers history by highlighting art, museums, and maps for grades 5 and up.
Newly added are two Canadian magazines, Yes Mag The Science Magazine for Adventurous Minds. Topics in the premiere issue include: keeping turtles out of shrimping nets, extreme racing-what makes these athletes tick, and how to make a balloon-powered mini-racer. The companion mag for younger audiences, Know features in its premier issue caves, beehives protecting farmer's crops from elephants, a home lab recipe for 'drip-drop' rocks, along with a look and find challenge in each issue.
What are you waiting for? Check these out today.