Blog Post
Homeschool Helps -- An Artist Study
by Crafty
Have you done an artist study in your home school? Artist studies (or “picture studies”) have been popular with Charlotte Mason style home schoolers but they can be valuable for any style of homeschool. Studies could use one picture or a few pictures of art done by a particular artist.
At the downtown library we have large art books located on the third floor and art prints on the second floor. The Art Prints are ideal for a group to view while art books (a.k.a. coffee table books) are good to view a variety of works by the same artist or during a particular era.
For example use Lighthouse and building; Portland Head and Automat to spur discussions of how the artist (Edward Hopper) uses light, shadow, settings, focus, and mood to communicate to the viewer. Is there a story being told?
An overview of the Edward Hopper’s other paintings and a little about his life can be found in the book The complete oil paintings of Edward Hopper or a in book for children like Edward Hopper.
Heading to a museum? The Fandex family field guides : Painters might be the perfect guide to take along to provide some background from many Western artists.
You don't homeschool? This would be a great snowy/rainy day activity for any family!!
Blog Post
Newbery, Caldecott, Printz & ALL the Youth and Teen Book, Audio and Video Awards Announced!
by erin
On Monday, February 2 in a snowed in Chicago The American Library Association (ALA) today announced the top books, video and audio books for children and young adults – including the Caldecott, Coretta Scott King, Newbery and Printz awards – at its Midwinter Meeting. A hotly anticipated day for librarians, publishers, and lovers of youth and teen literature the awards the announcements culminate a year's worth of reading, listening and watching by a wide variety of librarians and educators all over the country. Over the years the variety of awards given out has grown to cover
John Newbery Medal for the most outstanding contribution to children's literature:
“The Crossover,” written by Kwame Alexander, is the 2015 Newbery Medal winner.
Two Newbery Honor Books also were named:
“El Deafo” by Cece Bell
“Brown Girl Dreaming,” by Jacqueline Woodson
Randolph Caldecott Medal for the most distinguished American picture book for children:
“The Adventures of Beekle,” illustrated by Dan Santat, is the 2015 Caldecott Medal winner.
Six Caldecott Honor Books also were named:
“Nana in the City,” illustrated and written by Lauren Castillo
“The Noisy Paint Box,” illustrated by Mary GrandPré, written by Barb Rosenstock
“Sam & Dave Dig a Hole,” illustrated by Jon Klassen, written by Mac Barnett
“Viva Frida,” illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales
“The Right Word,” illustrated by Melissa Sweet, written by Jennifer Bryant
“This One Summer,” illustrated by Jillian Tamaki, written by Mariko Tamaki
Coretta Scott King (Author) Book Award recognizing an African American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults:
“Brown Girl Dreaming,” written by Jacqueline Woodson, is the King Author Book winner.
Three King Author Honor Books were selected:
Kwame Alexander for “The Crossover,”
Marilyn Nelson for “How I Discovered Poetry,” illustrated by Hadley Hooper
Kekla Magoon for “How It Went Down,”
Coretta Scott King (Illustrator) Book Award:
“Firebird,” illustrated by Christopher Myers, is the King Illustrator Book winner.
Two King Illustrator Honor Book were selected:
Christian Robinson for “Josephine,” by Patricia Hruby Powell
Frank Morrison for “Little Melba and Her Big Trombone,” by Katheryn Russell-Brown
Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Author Award:
“When I Was the Greatest,” written by Jason Reynolds, is the Steptoe winner.
Pura Belpré (Illustrator) Award honoring a Latino writer and illustrator whose children's books best portray, affirm and celebrate the Latino cultural experience:
“Viva Frida,” illustrated and written by Yuyi Morales, is the Belpré Illustrator Award winner.
Three Belpré Illustrator Honor Books were named:
“Little Roja Riding Hood,” illustrated by Susan Guevara, written by Susan Middleton Elya
“Green Is a Chile Pepper,” illustrated by John Parra, written by Roseanne Greenfield Thong
“Separate Is Never Equal,” illustrated and written by Duncan Tonatiuh
Pura Belpré (Author) Award honoring Latino authors whose work best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience:
"" is the 2015 Pura Belpré (Author) Award winner. The book is written by Marjorie Agosín, illustrated by
One Belpré Author Honor Book was named:
"Portraits of Hispanic American Heroes," written by , illustrated by Raúl Colón">Raúl Colón">Raúl Colón
Theodor Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished beginning reader book:
“,” written by and illustrated by , is the Seuss Award winner. The book is published by Two Lions, New York.
Two Geisel Honor Books were named:
“Mr. Putter & Tabby Turn the Page,” written by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by
“Waiting Is Not Easy!” written and illustrated by Mo Willems
Stonewall Book Award - Mike Morgan & Larry Romans Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award given annually to English-language children’s and young adult books of exceptional merit relating to the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender experience:
“This Day in June,” written by Gayle E. Pitman, Ph.D., illustrated by Kristyna Litten is the winner of the 2015 Stonewall Children’s & Young Adult Literature Award.
Three Honor Books were selected:
“Beyond Magenta,” by Susan Kuklin, photographed by Susan Kuklin
“I’ll give you the sun,” written by Jandy Nelson
“Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress,” written by Christine Baldacchio, pictures by Isabelle Malenfant
Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for most distinguished informational book for children:
“The Right Word,” written by Jennifer Bryant, is the Sibert Award winner.
Five Sibert Honor Books were named:
“Brown Girl Dreaming,” written by Jacqueline Woodson
“The Family Romanov,” written by Candace Fleming
“Josephine,” written by Patricia Hruby Powell, illustrated by Christian Robinson
“Neighborhood Sharks,” written and illustrated by Katherine Roy
“Separate Is Never Equal,” written and illustrated by Duncan Tonatiuh
Schneider Family Book Award for books that embody an artistic expression of the disability experience:
“A Boy and A Jaguar” written by Alan Rabinowitz, illustrated by Catia Chien
“Rain Reign” written by Ann M. Martin
The teen (ages 13-18) award winner is “Girls Like Us,” written by Gail Giles
YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults:
“Popular,” written by Maya Van Wagenen, is the 2015 Excellence winner.
Four other books were finalists for the award:
“Laughing at My Nightmare” written by Shane Burcaw
“The Family Romanov” written by Candace Fleming, and published by Schwartz & Wade, an imprint of Random House Children’s
Books.
“Ida M. Tarbell” written by Emily Arnold McCully
“The Port Chicago 50” written by Steve Sheinkin
Recognized worldwide for the high quality they represent, ALA awards guide parents, educators, librarians and others in selecting the best materials for youth. Selected by judging committees of librarians and other children’s experts, the awards encourage original and creative work. For more information on the ALA youth media awards and notables, please visit http://www.ala.org/yma.
Blog Post
Is Your Teacher A Monster?
by manz
Peter Brown, author and illustrator of the popular and fabulous picture book Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, brings us a new bit of fun in My Teacher is a Monster. In this picture book Bobby has a big problem at school. Her name was Ms. Kirby. She was the meanest teacher who stomped and roared and did not allow paper airplanes in class. She was a monster. But then one day something happens and Bobby sees her in a whole new light.
The book is delighfully illustrated in true Brown fashion, and would be a fun read whether your teacher roars or not.
Blog Post
Homeschool Help: A Body of Knoweldge
by Crafty
For most homeschooling families, library visits are a regular part of the routine.
But are you aware of some of our other resources to encourage learning in your homeschool?
Our Science Tools are great for supplementing curriculum or focusing on a particular science topic. We have models of different human anatomy components.
What is in our heads? The MRI Head, Brain, and Sinuses can give your students hands on answers! How do the sound get from the Ear to the brain? How are our Teeth attached into our mouths?
How are the chambers of the heart connected? How does the blood get from our lungs to our heart?
Check out our Lungs and Heart.
Is the foot bone really connected to the leg bone? The Skeleton will show you from head to toe!
Many of our "parts of the body" Science Tools models are painted by artists and are signed by the artist!
Included with each model are resource books relating to the subject as well as a guide to the model parts with the scientific name for each part. The models are appropriate for many ages and grade levels.
So the gathering of the materials is done! Just check out the model, take it home and have fun learning together.
Blog Post
At the Art Table: Shapescapes!
by manz
At the art table in the downtown youth department we're featuring playable art! This time it's Shapescapes. Shapescapes are amazing, colorful and sturdy shapes that are interlocking. They can be put together in a myriad of ways to form a variety of neat sculptures! Children will enjoy putting them together, taking them apart, and creating something all new with the same pieces. Check it out and start shapescaping!
Blog Post
Cool new nonfiction for kids: Skyscrapers!
by eapearce
Are you curious about how huge buildings like the John Hancock Center, the Eiffel Tower and the Chrysler Building were constructed? I know I am, and I’ve always been interested in the architectural feats that keep such towering structures upright for—in some cases—over a hundred years. The amazing new book Who Built That? Skyscrapers, by Didier Cornille, is an introduction to familiar skyscrapers and their architects geared towards kids… but absolutely fascinating for all ages!
My favorite part of the book are the amazing illustrations that show different stages of construction of each building, including the inside skeleton and the frame, so readers can find out how the structure manages to stand so tall. It is so cool to see! Readers can also learn a little bit about each architect including what inspired them to build the featured structure, and what other unique buildings they constructed during their careers.
If you want to learn even more about skyscrapers, try Skyscrapers: Inside and Out, Unbuilding, or Skyscraper, all available at the AADL.
Blog Post
Taco Tuesday: Books!
by manz
It’s Taco Tuesday! What are you making for dinner? Are you reading books about tacos? No?!
AADL has some fun children’s picture books to help complete your Taco Tuesday. Even better would be to nom on some tasty tacos while reading together.
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin is hilarious! And is probably my favorite taco book of all time. The author also has a new non-taco book called Big Bad Bubble that is also worth a read. If you want to make Tuesday pizza day instead, then read Rubin’s Secret Pizza Party and be ready for laughs.
Have you ever eaten Mud Tacos? In this picture book the kids find out that the best thing about making mud tacos is not eating them. But no worries, after the kids take a trip to the market some real tacos are in order and are way more delicious.
Hungry yet? Don't eat mud. If you’re looking for dinner plans, here’s a list of taco-tastic cookbooks with recipes to last for many Tuesdays to come.
Blog Post
An Alphabet Book For Everyone
by evelyn
Sick of regular old alphabet books? Never fear! The brand new picture book Take Away the A, by Michaël Escoffier and Kris Di Giacomo, will delight readers of all ages.
"Take Away the A" goes through the alphabet letter by letter, showing what would happen if that letter were removed from a word. On the first page, the beast becomes the best, and is donned with a sash proclaiming him the “Scariest & Hairiest.” My favorite page shows the G disappearing, causing a glove to fall in love. Throughout the book, tiny mice watch the scenes unfold in lovely and meticulous detail.
Kids learning the alphabet will have fun searching for where the letter is missing, and the whole family will adore the illustrations and funny scenarios.
Blog Post
A New Dental Clinic in Washtenaw County!
by Beth Manuel
For folks who are uninsured & low income, dental concerns can be a big pain and we know they can lead to other medical issues. This new clinic, located in the Haab Health Building on Huron Street in Ypsilanti, will serve adults and children who are uninsured or low income, or who are enrolled in Medicaid, MIChild or Healthy Kids. The Dental Clinic is a program of Washtenaw County Public Health in partnership with Michigan Community Dental Clinics (MCDC), St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the Washtenaw Health Plan and opens in February, 2015. They are now taking appointments. Call 877-313-6232 to schedule. Llame al 877-313-6232 para hacer su cita.
Blog Post
Parent’s Corner: Reading
by manz
The Parent Shelf is located in the downtown youth area, and on this shelf you’ll find a variety of parent-child related books on a multitude of topics- including everything from homework to potty training to time-outs to bullying. These books are available for checkout and can be found in the catalog when searching “parent shelf.”
There are some great books in the collection that focus on books and reading, including choosing what to read and how to help encourage children to read. To get you going, check out these titles:
Reading in the wild: The book Whisperer's Keys to Cultivating Llifelong Reading Habits
Diversity in Youth Literature: Opening Doors Through Reading
Book love: Developing Depth, Stamina, and Passion in Adolescent Readers
For additional resources on kids and reading , check out this longer list of parent shelf titles.