Back by popular demand, the outrageous industrial re-percussionist Billy Jonas will kick off our exciting Make it Happen Summer Reading program at The Ark on Wednesday, June 23. Doors will open at 6:30 for summer reading sign-up and then Billy will rock the house at 7 pm. We can’t wait to see everyone there!

Some grown-ups might remember the marvelous SongSisters who entertained thousands of Michigan kids a while back. The good news is, the talented SongSister, Julie Austin, who now lives in Atlanta, is returning to Ann Arbor on June 17 at 7 pm at the Downtown Library. Julie will invite everyone to stomp-along and sing-along and you can purchase her CDs for a little summer treat! Also, don't forget all our wonderful local talent when you head off on those long car trips. Nothing like the Chenille Sisters or Gemini Brothers to keep you clapping on the road!Julie austin

Touch-a-Truck

Has your child ever wanted to sit in the driver’s seat of a school bus? Explore the inside of an ambulance? Climb aboard a cement mixer? Then Touch A Truck is a perfect activity for you and your family! Get up close with these and many other vehicles at Touch-a-Truck! Held at Briarwood Mall on Saturday May 22 from 9:00 am-noon Rain or Shine with lots of community resources there to share information. Brought to you by Washtenaw Success by 6 and the Washtenaw Great Start Parent Coalition.

kids

Are you looking for something to do in between storytime sessions? Come on down for creative movement, dancing and singing, when Kris Groh and Noah Haiduc Dale turn us all into Jumping Beans on Wednesday, May 12 at 10 am at the Downtown Library.

dancing babies at TraverwoodAnuja Rajendra, creator of BollyFit Ann Arbor, will lead DANCING BABIES on Saturday, April 17, 11-11:40 a.m., at the Traverwood Branch Library. This program is for families with children under 5 years old. Remember to put on your dance toes!

literacy calendarLibrarian Denise Lyons of the South Carolina State Library has developed a printable day-by-day literacy calendar to help families with young children be prepared for first grade. For the price of love, caring, and a few minutes of time, anybody can fall into the literacy habit and benefit the rest of your life.

BabySigning

Learn how and when to sign with your baby or toddler to improve communication! Join us at the Traverwood Branch on Saturday, March 27, 2010 from 11-11:45am as Kathy Brady of Signing Smart guides you and your young one through games, songs, and other activities that make learning signs fun and easy.

yellow duck

It is duck week at the Pittsfield Branch. Ducks of all sizes and colors will be around for the Babies' Playgroup at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday and the preschool storytimes at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday and 10:00 a.m. on Friday. Do ducks wear socks? Can ducks ride bicycles? Ever been on a duck hunt? Come and quack with us.

Directions for making a duck out of a paper plate can be found here.

Folks are still saying that here in Michigan we have often had spectacular snowstorms in March. But at the Pittsfield Branch our preschool storytimes are charging into Spring with no regard of what happens outside.
We have our storytimes on Thursday evenings at 7:00 p.m. and Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. Each storytime features live music by one of our talented musicians as well as an easy craft related to the week's theme.
This week's stories will feature some puddle stomping by a father, a son and a big dog as well as an exuberant cat that sings and dances.

If your kids love to do the crafts, check out this website. It has ideas for all occasions and links to other crafty sites.

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