If you’re in a royal mood, join us this Saturday for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee crafts extravaganza at 10 am at the Downtown library. We’ve got pom poms, pipe cleaners, sparkles, and other colorful decorations. You will return to your castle with a crown, keys to the kingdom and a jester stick puppet. Make the Queen proud!

Are you a policy wonk? Then you should enter this contest!!

This Year's Theme: Message to the President

C-SPAN is asking students to consider what issue the president should address in 2013, and create a video documentary explaining why it's important.

This Year's Theme is : Message to the President

What do you think is important and should be addressed by the president? Make a short film and enter it in this contest for a chance to win some cash!!. It will be fun to do and a great item to put on your resume (some day!).

Now in its ninth year, C-SPAN's national competition invites all middle school students (grades 6-8) and high school students (grade 9-12) to produce a five- to eight-minute video documentary using C-SPAN programming.

This year, students will have the opportunity to produce a documentary focusing on "A Message to the President: What's the most important issue the president should consider in 2013?"

The C-SPAN Education Foundation supports the contest by awarding 75 student and 11 teacher prizes, totaling $50,000 in cash.

Entries must represent varying points of view, and incluide C-SPAN video that supports the documentary's topic. Students, working alone or in groups up to three, must upload their videos by January 18, 2013, and winners will be announced in March. A full list of guidelines, FAQ's and past winning videos can be found at studentcam.org.

If enough students enter from Ann Arbor we can reserve a night to run the documentaries and you can invite all your friends!!

Thursday, August 30 | 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm | Malletts Creek Branch Program Room

Make a joyful noise! For thousands of years, folks in Australia have been using a musical instrument called the Didgeridoo to create music. In this Summer Science program, we'll be turning an ordinary object into a maker of this big cool sound and learning about the science that explains the noise, too!

Here is a list of cool books about sound and music science.

This event is for grades K - 5.

Come make your own balloon-powered cars at the Racing Machines program! We’ll build the cars and see how fast they go.

Want to learn about the science behind cars and speed?

Toy and Game Science, by Peter Pentland and Pennie Stoyles
Inside and Out Guide To Speed Machines, by Steve Parker
How Does a High-Speed Train Work?, by Sarah Eason

Or learn about how to build other kinds of cars and machines!
Pinewood Derby Designs and Patterns by Troy Thorne
Pinewood Derby Speed Secrets, by David Meade
Build Your Own Car, Rocket, and Other Things That Go, by Tammy Enz

This program is for grades K-5 and will be held at the Pittsfield Branch at 2pm on Tuesday, August 28.

Get in line. The 9th Captain Underpants adventure, Captain Underpants and the Terrifying Return of Tippy Tinkletrousers, was released today. Get it while it's hot off the press. In this one George and Harold go back to their kindergarten days where they have to face a 6th grade bully, the principal's nephew!!!!

Fans won't have to wait very long for the 10th Captain Underpants title. Captain Underpants and the Revolting Revenge of the Radioactive Robo-Boxers, will appear in
January 2013.

For all of the books, look here.

Friday, August 24| 2:00-3:00 PM | Traverwood Branch | Program Room

How much protein is in your milk? How much iron is in your breakfast cereal? Want to learn how to make popcorn dance? Check out this event and play with your food.

Here are a few Kitchen Science books:

Y 507.8 Ga Chemistry science fair projects using french fries, gumdrops, soap, and other organic stuff by Robert Gardner
J 507.8 Le Kitchen science by Shar Levine & Leslie Johnstone
J 507.8 Pe Kitchen science by Peter Pentland and Pennie Stoyles
J 507.8 To Experiments with foods by Salvatore Tocci
Y 540.72 Ga Science projects about kitchen chemistry by Robert Gardner
Y 579 Ba Kitchen science experiments: how does your mold garden grow? by Sudipta Bardhan-Quallen
J 641.3 Ma Simple kitchen experiments : learning science with everyday foods by Muriel Mandell
Y 641.5 McC Eat Your Math Homework: Recipes for Hungry Minds by Ann McCallum

Check out the complete Kitchen Science list!

This event is for grades K - 5.

We’ll be sharing stories about stories at the 2012 Kerrytown BookFest on Sunday, September 9 at 3:00 pm in the Children’s Storybook Corner. Bring your imaginations and we’ll make story books together with markers, stickers and more!

How funny looking can you make your little stuffed creature? We will play with pipe cleaners, felt, thread, yarn and other scrap box goodies on Thursday, August 16th at 7:00 pm at the Downtown Library. The endlessly creative Beth Battey will show us basic sewing techniques to make outrageous stuffies!

Come listen to local artist and author Robb Johnston talk about the process behind his wonderful book The Woodcutter and the Most Beautiful Tree. Robb will demonstrate how he draws and answer questions. He will also be available for a book signing after the event.

The Woodcutter and the Most Beautiful Tree gained a star review from Kirkus Reviews, who also named it one of the best books of 2011. Don’t miss this chance to see Robb work!

This event will be on Monday, August 13th at 1pm in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Downtown Library.

This event is for grades K to 5.

Saturday August 11 | 3:00 - 4:00pm | Malletts Creek Branch

Interested in what happens to our trash? Have you ever wondered what types of items decompose? Visit us at the Malletts Creek Branch on Saturday August 11 to build your very own trash tank. We will use common household items, soil, and water to start your experiment. You will also receive the tools you need to continue the experiment over the summer. After all, trash doesn't decompose over night!

More resources for those interested in this program can be found here. You can also see all the other featured events and science programs in the summer JUMP brochure.