Wowed by Science - Steve Jenkins books for children

Sat, 10/11/2014 - 5:11pm by SaraP

Did you know that the giant squid has eyes that are 12 inches across? Did you know that if you line up every kind of plant and animal on Earth, one of every four will be a beetle? What about the fact that octopuses are highly intelligent and, in captivity, easily solve mazes and puzzles and escape their tanks? And who knew there were elephant-sized giant ground sloths roaming around South America 10,000 years ago???

Find these facts out and more in some of author/illustrator Steve Jenkins' amazing picture books for kids! The search for exceptional non-fiction books to feed hungry little minds is constant for those of us with curious tots. Sometimes it's a challenge, but it's usually rewarding - especially when you get to pour over Jenkins' stunning collage illustrations and quirky facts that will blow your mind (that's right, these books will amaze adults too!).

Many of Jenkins' books are about animals and the Earth. For great animal size comparisons, check out
Actual Size or Prehistoric Actual Size. For bug fanatics, get a look at different kinds of beetles and their actual sizes in one of my all time favorites, The Beetle Book. If you're interested in anatomy, go the extra mile with Bones. Feeling adventurous? Then grab a copy of The Top of the World to learn about Mount Everest.

There is so much to discover in Jenkins' books that we put together a list of recommended titles to help you find them. If you happen to be a teacher, take a peek at this classroom activities guide that complements the books. Whatever you do, though, have fun!

What Happens When…

Fri, 10/03/2014 - 1:19pm by manz

My balloon floats up, out of the zoo…? And to my bucket when I leave it on the beach…? And to the cottage when we go back to school…?

This charming new picture book, What Happens When…, answers these questions in a whimsical way with fold out pages featuring simple and colorful illustrations depicting what *might* just happen. It’s quite magical. Kids will enjoy following along with you and finding the hidden items and using their imaginations to give other examples of what happens to those lost socks, etc.

Hilarious new BIRD picture books!

Mon, 09/29/2014 - 12:48pm by eapearce

School is back in session, but not everyone goes to elementary school: little birdies have to attend flight school! Or at least, those little birdies do who are SUPPOSED to learn how to fly. When Penguin arrives for HIS first day of flight school, Teacher is taken aback.

"But you, dear, are a penguin," she says.
"Undeniable," Penguin replies, "but I have the soul of an eagle."

So begins the hilariously told and illustrated story of Penguin's attempts to learn to fly in Lita Judge's Flight School. And just imagine what happens when Penguin decides to bring his friend Ostrich along for a lesson!

If you're interested in other goofy bird books, The ABC of Fabulous Princesses, by Willy Puchner, is a must-read. Prince William must find a wife, and all of the bird empresses are eager to impress him. Some are big, some are small, some are quiet, some are loud... but they all come from different countries bearing a unique gift for Prince William. Puchner's illustrations and rhymes are funny and fantastic. This is a great book not meant just for folks first learning their alphabet!

At the Art Table: Leaf Rubbings

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 3:10pm by manz

The next time you’re at the Downtown Library, pop into the Youth Department and check out the new art project at the art table.

This month we're making leaf rubbings in fall colors! Celebrate fall with this easy and fun project.

At the library we'll be using plastic leaf rubbing plates, but did you know you can make your own leaf rubbings at home using real leaves?! Try it! It's pretty fun. Happy Fall!

Ann Arbor | Ypsilanti Reads

Mon, 09/08/2014 - 2:09pm by aadl staff

It's that time again! The communities of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti join literary forces to read and discuss one book. The 2015 theme is A Very Good Read .

We are down to two finalists, We Need New Names by NoViolet Bulawayo and A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki.

The judges want your feedback, which book should be the one that Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti reads? Read them and share your opinion by visiting the Finalist page, then click on the link that takes you to the book's page, and tell us what you think. Both titles are available for AADL cardholders to borrow. The Finalist will be selected in October.

You can listen to an interview with Ruta Sepetys the author of last year's Read winner, Between Shades of Gray, when she visited AADL. You can also visit the Ann Arbor Ypsilanti Reads website to find out more about the program.

Green Is a Chile Pepper

Mon, 09/08/2014 - 10:20am by manz

Green Is a Chile Pepper: A Book of Colors is a new picture book with beautiful illustrations. The book features a little girl who discovers and learns about all the colors found around her Spanish-American neighborhood and wonderfully depicts the culture. Green is cilantro, red is a ribbon, purple are the rides, pink are piñatas. Each page of the book has rhyming text, Spanish words, and Spanish color words. It also contains a mini glossary of the Spanish words found throughout the story. The book is a real treat for many reasons. Bueno!

Parent’s Corner: Back to School

Tue, 09/02/2014 - 3:28pm by manz

Summer’s over. The backpacks and lunch boxes have been dusted off. The yellow bus is full of kids. Yep, school’s back in session for most. Which means homework, reports, projects, new friends, new schools, and so much more. Whether the kids are preschoolers or seniors in high school, a new school year means new challenges for both the parent and the child.

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 4th grade math to potty training to language to bullying. These books are available for checkout and can be found in the catalog when searching “parent shelf.”

Here are a few back to school related titles to look for:

* The parent backpack for kindergarten through grade 5: How to support your child's education, end homework meltdowns, and build parent-teacher connections

* How to tutor your own child: Boost grades and instill a lifelong love of learning, without paying for a professional tutor

* Help your kids with math: A unique step-by-step visual guide

* School success for kids with ADHD

* Cracking the 4th grade: A parent's guide to helping your child excel in school Reading & math

For additional resources on homework help, don’t forget to check out our Homework Help page! You’ll find information on free tutoring, research resources, and lists of books by reading level!

Furry Friends at the Tot Table

Tue, 09/02/2014 - 2:08pm by StoryLaura

Check out all the furry forest friends at the tot table in the youth area of the Downtown Library. Possums dangle from the big tree and fawns curl up in their hidey hole. Raccoon chases squirrel through the log tunnel and watch out for those skunks! For real wildlife adventures make sure to visit Leslie Science Center or The Creature Conservancy or take a walk through Saginaw Forest while the beautiful weather holds!

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month

Tue, 09/02/2014 - 10:48am by aadl staff

September is National Library Card Sign-Up Month. Give yourself or your child one of the greatest gifts you can give: Free Knowledge!

AADL is full of books to read and explore, graphic novels and magazines to escape into, and movies and music to transport your imagination to new places. But that is not all! We have a growing collection of unusual stuff to borrow which includes music tools, home tools, games, art prints, telescopes, and activity passes for many statewide attractions, to name a few.

AADL also offers services like homework support and resources for job-seekers and small business entrepreneurs. There are also on-going, drop-in ESL conversational groups.

Getting a library card is a rite of passage; many adults have never forgotten when they first received "the keys to the castle" as a child. Maya Angelou, a great supporter of public libraries once said, "The best candy shop a child can be left alone in, is the library." And if you are an adult without an AADL card, remember, it's never too late! Stop into any location to get your card, there is no fee if you live within Ann Arbor District Library boundaries. To see the details of what you will need to bring, click here.

We would love see pictures of new cardholders with their cards. Tweet them to @aadl or share them on Instragram at @aadlgram and use the hashtag #MyFirstAADLCard.

Help! We Need A Title!

Fri, 08/29/2014 - 2:56pm by manz

Any fans of the fabulous interactive picture book Press Here by Hervé Tullet? Help! We Need A Title! is his newest. It’s a clever and sweet book that has half drawn “characters” that speak to the reader, because the book is not finished! There are no characters, story or plot. Until they knock on the author’s door! He then supplies a short little story that doesn’t quite satisfy the characters looking for a story. My favorite part is the nod to Press Here, where the reader is asked to “press here” to turn off the author’s desk lamp. A bit quirky, but indeed fun.

For another fun book where the author "speaks" in the book, check out Chloe and the Lion by Mac Barnett. The book comes to a halt when the writer and the illustrator disagree. It's a great read and super funny.