Science Magic!

Fri, 08/31/2012 - 10:00am by manz

Friday, August 31 -- 2:00-3:00 PM -- Traverwood Branch -- Grades K-5

Learn a few tricks (and the science of how they work) to impress your friends! Come and watch a science magic demonstration involving wind power and learn how to make two optical illusion crafts.

J 507.2 Wi Magic science: 50 jaw-dropping, mind-boggling, earth-shattering, head-scratching activities for kids by Jim Wiese
J 507.8 To Experiments with magic by Salvatore Tocci
J 793.8 Be Magic up your sleeve: amazing illusions, tricks, and science facts you'll never believe by Helaine Becker
J 793.8 Bu It's not magic, it's science! : 50 science tricks that mystify, dazzle & astound! by Hope Buttitta
J 793.8 Ga Smart science tricks by Martin Gardner

Check out the full list of Science Magic tricks/experiment books!

This event is for grades K - 5.

Racing Machines

Tue, 08/28/2012 - 4:12pm by evelyn

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.

Books Celebrating Books!

Tue, 08/21/2012 - 11:41am by StoryLaura

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!

National Parks: a Kid's Guide to America's Parks, Monuments and Landmarks

Mon, 08/20/2012 - 7:28pm by Grace22

As summer draws to a close, you can relive your favorite visits or plan new ones for next year, with this perfect guide for your next family adventure. This fun-filled book explores more than 75 U.S. parks, monuments, and landmarks, from Maine's Acadia National Park to California's Sequoia National Park.

Organized alphabetically by state, National Parks: a Kid's Guide to America's Parks, Monuments and Landmarks takes readers on a whirlwind trip to 75 locations, including Denali National Park, Hot Springs National Park, Everglades National Park, Fort McHenry, White Mountain National Forest, Ellis Island, the Blue Ridge Parkway, Zion National Park, Block Island National Wildlife Refuge, Mt. Hood National Forest, and many more.

From Yellowstone to the Statue of Liberty, from Gettysburg National Battlefield to Mount Rushmore, National Parks is the only kid-friendly, family-oriented book that covers all of the U.S. national parks, plus famous monuments and landmarks. With a lively text and hundreds of color illustrations and photographs throughout, it offers fascinating, memorable information on every aspect of the parks, such as the history, geography, natural wonders, native wildlife and birds, and unique features that make each park special.

Also included are dozens of activities, such as quizzes, word and picture hunts, and car games.

Print Extravaganza... Make A GLOWSTER!

Sun, 08/19/2012 - 2:25pm by manz

Sunday, August 19 | 1-3pm | Multi-Purpose Room | Downtown | All Ages

Join us for a day of print making! You’ll get a chance to screen print a glow-in-the-dark dino poster- a GLOWSTER! While that’s happening we’ll also have pre-carved blocks, paints, and assorted paper for you to do some stamped prints of your own. All the fun happens in the multi-purpose room at the Downtown branch this Sunday. See you there!

Googly Eyes Galore!

Thu, 08/16/2012 - 4:00pm by StoryLaura

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!

Animals at Pittsfield!

Thu, 08/09/2012 - 4:32pm by StoryLaura

Steve Marsh, our very favorite wildlife expert, is returning this Thursday, August 9th, to the Pittsfield Branch Library for a 1 pm and a 3 pm program all about crawling, climbing, slithering creatures. Steve has rescued animals from all over the world and given them safe, healthy homes at the Creature Conservancy. This program is for K and up.

7th Annual LEGO Contest Winners!

Mon, 08/06/2012 - 6:11pm by erin

As always one of the most anticipated events of the year did not disappoint! We were in a new location this year and the competition was as stiff as it always is. Our judges this year were AADL Associate Director of IT & Production, Eli Neiburger, Comics Are Great Podcaster and Kids Read Comics founder, Jerzy Drozd and local artist, Jeremy Wheeler. It takes a full three hours for the judges to pour over the 200 or so entries, but they had a blast doing it and made their decisions. NEW this year were the PEOPLE's CHOICE awards! Anyone who attended the contest and saw the entrires from 6-7:30 were invited to vote for their favorite within each of the six age categories. Congratulations to the 2012 winners! We will have photos loaded soon as well.

Preschool

1st Place = Milo Varnum
Runner-Up = Iggy Reem
Honorable Mention = Emma Khu
People's Choice = Milo Varnum
Best Motorized = Alexander Smith
Best Architectural/Engineering = Kevin Chu
Coolest Robot = Kaiden Davis
Best Vehicle = Dominic Nazario
Most Creative = William Epps
Most Sophisticated = Theo Sacks-Thomas
AADL LEGO Master Builder = Daniel Mazza
Most Enigmatic = Elijah Davis

Grades K-2

1st Place = Hudhaifah Rehman
Runner-Up = Maxwell Mayman
Honorable Mention = Devayani Pradhan
People's Choice = Micah Davis
Best Motorized = Armann Kamat
Best Architectural/Engineering = Keegan Globke
Coolest Robot = Joseph Bonenberger
Best Vehicle = Ocean Brabbs
Most Creative = Heeryun Kim
Most Sophisticated = Adir Vuppala
AADL LEGO Master Builder = Noah Nieman
Most Magical = Elise Meints

Grades 3-5

1st Place = Betsy Nieman
Runner-Up = Derek Mrachko
Honorable Mention = Anisha Fujii
People's Choice = Elliot Varnum
Best Motorized = Koen Van Nieuwstadt
Best Architectural/Engineering = Kyan Stevdle
Coolest Robot = Grant Pierfelice
Best Vehicle = Liam Farr
Most Creative = Sofiya Palcyzinski
Most Sophisticated = Alina Mankowski
AADL LEGO Master Builder = Elliot Varnum
Most Delicious = Abby Dobson
Most Sustainable = Aakarsh Verma
Most Career-Advancing = Bach Nguyen

Grades 6-8

1st Place = Leah Fleming
Runner-Up = Celeste Forester
Honorable Mention = Ryan Sauer
People's Choice = Lesh Fleming
Best Motorized = Robby Duquette
Best Architectural/Engineering = Justin Nieman
Coolest Robot = Hamza Khan
Best Vehicle = Taras Palczynski
Most Creative = Jeffrey Brooks-Conrad
Most Sophisticated = Kareem El-Tawil
AADL LEGO Master Builder = Casmir Mankowski
Best Flyswatter Based Summer Blockbuster = Peter Johnson
Leafiest Giant = Beatrix Dergis
Best Simulation of Ann Arbor Zombie Apocolypse = Oliver Mayman

Grades 9-12

1st Place = Logan Benton
Runner-Up = Cameron McLaughlin
Honorable Mention = Kevin Tian
People's Choice = Logan Benton
Best Architectural/Engineering = Alianha Porter
Coolest Robot = Alex Morey
Best Vehicle = Luke Thompson-Kolar
Most Creative = Bethany Pletzer
Most Sophisticated = Lee Thompson-Kolar

Adult

1st Place = Allen Ano
Runner-Up = Nieka Apell
Honorable Mention = Brian Mickey & Max & Rose Locke
People's Choice = Allen Ano
Best Architectural/Engineering = Sherif El-Tawil
Coolest Robot = Michele Loewe
Most Creative = Richard Mascotto
Most Sophisticated = Joshua Bartell
AADL LEGO Master Builder = David Papp

Play and Connect!

Sun, 08/05/2012 - 6:01pm by StoryLaura

Imagine a big, interactive and colorful space for pure play at the Play Connection on Sunday, August 5th from 1:00 – 3:00 pm at the Pittsfield Branch. All parents with children on the autism spectrum are invited to join the kids as they bounce bumpy balls, crawl through tunnels, create towers with construction toys, put on a puppet show, dig in buckets of buttons or feathers and more! Onna Solomon and Dr. Rick Solomon, from the Play Project, will be there to chat and share their wisdom with parents and children.

The LEGO Contest! See all the projects tonight starting @ 6 & vote for YOUR favorite!

Thu, 08/02/2012 - 5:00pm by erin

One of the most hotly anticipated events of the year is almost upon us! The 7th annual LEGO contest is on Thursday, August 2 at the Kensington 610 Hilton Blvd. at Briarwood Mall behind Sears. The contest is open to all ages from Preschool to Adults! If you plan to enter the contest be sure to read the complete rules and guidelines. Attendees please note that this year there will be a "People's Choice" award in each age group! Drop-off is from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm; Doors close for judging from 3:00-6:00 pm and doors open for public viewing from 6:00-8:00 PM. The award ceremony is at 8:00 pm.