PreK Bits - Dancing Babies

Sat, 02/16/2013 - 12:24pm by ryanikoglu

Denise Owens will lead the DANCING BABIES Program @ Malletts Creek Library on Saturday Feb 16, 2013 from 10:00- 10:40 am.
Denise leads Kindermusik Classes in the Ann Arbor area, and she will have her information available at the program.
DANCING BABIES is a music and motion program for children 0 to 5 years, with their adults.

If you want more MUSIC and MOTION with your kids ... try these:
A Family Album by Verve Pipe.
15th anniversary collection : celebrating 15 years of the best in children's music packed with worldly classics.
Jim Gill Presents Music Play For Folks Of All Stripes
It's Time To Get Up!: Music For Kids Of All Ages
Kid's Dance Party: a Salute To Highschool Musical
Dinostory: The Ultimate Dinosaur Rock Opera!
Dance Along
Exercise Party
... so push back the coffee table ... roll up the rug ... and let the dance begin!

Here Come the Kerfuffles!

Thu, 02/14/2013 - 4:33pm by StoryLaura

This is the first time we are hosting the Kerfuffles at the AADL and you are all invited to snap along, tap along, sing along to this jazzy A2/YPSI kid's band. We discovered Trent Collier strumming in the lovely Kerrytown garden one Farmer's Market Saturday morning and now we will get to hear Five Bananas and much more on Sunday, February 24 at 2 pm at Pittsfield!

KinderConcert this Friday!

Fri, 01/25/2013 - 9:47am by StoryLaura

The littlest ones will love this celebration of the most well known instrument in the orchestra, the violin. Join Barbara Sturgis-Everett, Principal Second Violinist in the A2SO, pianist Kathryn Goodson, and child movement specialist Gari Stein to dance, sing, listen and learn this Friday, January 25 at 9:30 and 10:30 am!

Let's Party with Gemini!

Mon, 01/14/2013 - 12:51pm by StoryLaura

Let’s celebrate with my dear friends, the awesome Gemini, on Sunday, January 13 at 2 pm at the Downtown Library with music and stories galore! I knew the first time I met these talented twin boys, when we were just young punks, that they would bring harmony to A2 on so many levels. Even when I moved far away to Boston, my family danced to the Deli song before we had ever tasted a Zingerman’s Gemini sandwich and my daughter convinced us to get a dog by singing the Puppy Love song until we had to give in! See you there this Sunday!

Happy Birthday, Amelia Bedelia!

Mon, 01/07/2013 - 2:08pm by kidlit

It's hard to believe that the maid who takes everything literally is 50 years old.
Peggy Parish, the original author of the Amelia Bedelia books, was a third grade teacher
in Manhattan. She often shared loving anecdotes about her students' vocabulary mix-ups.
Isn't it funny when some idioms and phrases are taken literally? Amelia Bedelia was published in 1963.
Ms. Parish wrote 12 Amelia books before her death in 1988. Her nephew, Herman Parish, has
been writing them since then.
In honor of the anniversary a reprint of the original title will be re-issued on January 29th.
And there will be two Amelia Bedelia chapter books coming out later this month as well. Those are on order at the Library.

Stories, Songs and New Year Nonsense

Fri, 12/21/2012 - 12:53pm by StoryLaura

My friend Rosalie Koenig is joining me for a cozy, silly storytime with music and riddles and family fun on Thursday, December 27 at 2 pm at the Downtown Library. Rosalie was the elementary vocal music teacher at Mitchell School for years and she'll join us with bells on her toes and guitar in hand! Bring your out of town guests and settle in for some good old fashioned singing and storytelling!

Joe Returns!!

Wed, 12/19/2012 - 2:01pm by StoryLaura

It’s always a party when Joe Reilly hits the stage at the AADL! Bring the little ones for dancing, singing and learning about this beautiful, mysterious and spinning planet of ours! Wiggle out the winter lazies on Sunday, December 30th at 2:00 pm Downtown and check out Joe's newest CD.

Wonderful New Picture Book: 'Waking Dragons'

Tue, 12/18/2012 - 2:56pm by annevm

When illustrator-author Derek Anderson visited the Malletts Creek Branch of the AADL in October, I watched as Ann Arbor children and adults fell under his spell. Sketching shapes looked like such fun! Anderson even talked a bit about his life and career. Afterwards I was drawn to buy his book, Waking Dragons and to have it signed for my son. I took the book home, read it, and stole it back for myself.

This picture book, written by master storyteller Jane Yolen, is beautiful and magical, and brought to life by Anderson's gold-washed paintings. After the dragons "bumble" and "tumble" out of bed, the determined boy-knight who is in charge of them prepares a delicious breakfast of waffles -- served from a catapult -- in time for the dragons to fly the boy off to Knight School. As you read the rhymes, don't miss the humor, such as the sign on the fire extinguisher, "In Case of Dragon Breath."

Anderson probably is best known for his Little Quack books, but I'm also a fan of Gladys Goes Out to Lunch. For more good reading for adults, go to Derek's web page, and read "In the Studio: A Creative Journal." Fascinating.

Families Fall into this Glorious Season!

Thu, 10/04/2012 - 3:50pm by StoryLaura

Whether you enjoy Autumn by the water, the forest, the ice, on Main Street or at the Farmer’s Market, you must surely check out the Halloween storytimes at AADL!

Julie's Back in Town!

Fri, 09/28/2012 - 12:23pm by StoryLaura

We are always ready to sing and dance when the talented Julie Austin, who now lives in Atlanta, Georgia, returns to Ann Arbor to join up with her good friend David Mosher for stomp-along, sing-along family fun! Julie and David will join us at the Downtown Library on Saturday, October 6th at 11 am. This is a storytime crowd favorite!