Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown

Mon, 11/11/2013 - 1:27pm by manz

Mr. Tiger is bored with being proper. He wants to have more fun. So he decides to go wild, which is just what this suit and tie wearing tiger does! He goes a little bit too wild and ends up confusing his fellow proper animal friends. They tell him he should go to to the wilderness where he belongs! And he does go away, but he gets lonely and misses his city and his friends. When he gets back to town he is so surprised and happy by what he sees.

Peter Brown is a Caldecott Honor illustrator and the images in Mr. Tiger Goes Wild were made with India ink, watercolor, gouache, and pencil on paper, then digitally composited and colored. They are simply amazing in this picture book.

The book was recently listed on Publishers Weekly's Best Picture Books of 2013.

We've Got Community!

Wed, 11/06/2013 - 9:42am by StoryLaura

Playing at the Downtown Library tot table with the garages, cars and traffic signs, provides a great opportunity to talk to your little one about our community, ">neighborhoods and incredible C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. Watch out for that stop sign!

Pete the Cat: The Wheels on the Bus

Tue, 11/05/2013 - 2:14pm by manz

Pete the Cat is one groovy cat, and he and his picture books are popular among the preschool crowd. Sure, he loves his white shoes. But he also rocks in his school shoes, saves Christmas, has four buttons, and sports a pair of magic sunglasses. Did you know he is also a bus driver and is into Thanksgiving? Yes, this Pete the Cat is into everything.

Some of the new books, including the beginning reader books, are nice to read if you want to read more books about Pete, but they don’t really compare to the original Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes. But no fear, it’s all good.

What is your favorite Pete book?! Here’s a handy list to see if you've missed any.

Halloween Storytime

Wed, 10/30/2013 - 2:24pm by kidlit

Don't want to go trick-or-treating? Bring the costumed little ones to the Pittsfield Branch on
Thursday, October 31 at 7:00 p.m. for a Halloween storytime. We'll tell stories that aren't very
scary, sing songs, have cider and donuts, and do some very special crafts. It will be fun for the
whole family.

For some Halloween stories, look here.

At the Art Table: Veterans Day Cards!

Mon, 10/28/2013 - 3:13pm by manz

Next time you’re at the Downtown branch, stop by the art table in the Youth Department and create a Veterans Day card! We've got the supplies needed to make a SUPER STAR card for a Veteran. All cards collected in time will be delivered to the Ann Arbor VA hospital in time for Veterans Day on November 11.

Recipe for Fun at the Tot Table Downtown

Wed, 10/16/2013 - 2:55pm by StoryLaura

One pretend apple pie
Multi-flavored scoops of ice cream
Colorful plates for serving
Very young chefs
Grown Ups who love to sample apple pie
And...while you are here, check out some of the apple pie books and children’s cookbooks.

At the Art Table: Fun With Texture

Wed, 09/25/2013 - 12:26pm by manz

The next time you’re at the Downtown branch, check out the new art project at the art table in the Youth Department! Sometimes 2D art can have the feel of something soft, fuzzy, smooth, or bumpy, simply by using paint and a canvas. Budding artists will enjoy using bumpy boards and crayons to create their own masterpiece.

The Animals are Out!

Thu, 09/19/2013 - 4:15pm by StoryLaura

As you check out the farm party at the red barn on the tot table Downtown, don’t forget that the real McCoy can be found within a few miles in any direction. You can stroll through a corn maze, treat yourself to cold cider and warm donuts and even shop the farmer’s market with your favorite cows, sheep and chickens at the beautiful farms nearby. For us city folk there is sometimes nothing more soothing than a big red barn!

Signing Language For Infants & Toddlers

Sun, 09/01/2013 - 4:02pm by manz

Saturday, September 7 | 11:00-11:45 AM | Malletts Creek | Ages 6 mos. – 2 yrs.

Joins us this Saturday for a morning of sign language for infants and toddlers! Certified instructor Kathy Brady of Signing Smart will be presenting and sharing her knowledge. She’ll talk about how to add signs into songs and play, and how to make signing easy and fun for both children and their caregivers. This event is designed for hearing infants and toddlers, ages 6 months to 2 years, with an adult. No older siblings, please.

For additional resources on sign language, check out this list of materials to get you started.

Preschool Yoga

Sun, 08/04/2013 - 1:36pm by manz

Saturday, August 10 | 10-10:40am | Pittsfield Branch | Ages 2-5yrs with an adult

Ananda Children’s Catalina Arango will lead preschool aged children in activities involving stories, puppets, and movements that promote coordination, flexibility, and fun.

This event is for children between the ages of 2-5 years, with an adult.