The Downtown library has a shelf in the Youth Department known as the Parent Shelf. On this shelf you’ll find a variety of parent-child related books on a multitude of topics- including everything from phonics to tantrums to potty training to diet. These books are available for checkout, and can be found in the catalog when searching “parent shelf,” if you’d like to have one sent to a branch of your choice.

An important aspect of childhood is play. It promotes cognitive, social, and emotional development that children need and crave. We have some books in the AADL collection that can help guide parents through some new (and old) play ideas for their little ones. Try these:

The Parent's guide to play

Fifty dangerous things (you should let your children do)

Catch a fish, throw a ball, fly a kite : 21 timeless skills every child should know (and any parent can teach!)

The complete book of rhymes, songs, poems, fingerplays, and chants

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 ChickenJulie and David will join us at the Downtown Library on Saturday, October 6th at 11 am. This is a storytime crowd favorite!

Eric Carle, celebrated author and illustrator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, has also illustrated more than 70 other books. His dream of creating a place where original picture book art could be enjoyed and appreciated came true in 2002 when he opened the first full-scale museum in the United States devoted to national and international picture book art. The Museum’s goal is to foster connections between visual and verbal literacy and to provide visitors of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to explore their own creativity and the confidence to appreciate and enjoy art of every kind.

The Museum is adjacent to the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. You can take a virtual tour here.

Check out and enjoy some of Carle's delightful books here.

Join me at the Children's Literacy Network Bookfair this Saturday! This festive celebration was created by the awesome Family Book Club, now called Children’s Literacy Network. I’ll be representing AADL and sharing stories at 11:30 am.

If you’re in a royal mood, join us this Saturday for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee crafts extravaganza at 10 am at the Downtown library. We’ve got pom poms, pipe cleaners, sparkles, and other colorful decorations. You will return to your castle with a crown, keys to the kingdom and a jester stick puppet. Make the Queen proud!

The 2012-13 Dawn Farm Education Series begins this month with the first of its series Addiction 101. Presented by James Balmer, this session will examine the dynamics of drinking and drug use; addiction as a brain disease and the basic recovery process. All programs are free and ALL are WELCOME. Tuesday, September 18 from 7:30-9:00 PM at the SJMH Education Center

Saturday, September 8 | 10:30-11:15 AM | Traverwood Branch | Ages 6 mos. – 2 yrs.

Joins us this Saturday for a morning of sign language for infants and toddlers! Certified instructor Kathy Brady of Signing Smart will be presenting, and sharing her knowledge. She’ll talk about how to add signs into songs and play, and how to make signing easy and fun for both children and their caregivers. This event is designed for hearing infants and toddlers, ages 6 months to 2 years, with an adult. No older siblings, please.

For additional resources on sign language for children, check out this list of materials to get you started.

Sunday, September 9 | 1:00-3:00 p.m. | Downtown Library | Multipurpose Room

Join us for a little world building even if it’s out of this world! Cartoonist James Anderson will show you how he has created a world full of alien flora and fauna for his web comic strip Ellie on Planet X!

Join the Forum to get fresh ideas for your next comics or graphic novel creation and/or feedback from fellow cartoonists. Drawing supplies will be provided, so drop in to draw, learn, and network with other cartoonists.

Young readers have been following the adventures of Henry, Jessie, Violet and Benny Alden for 70 years. They are as popular now as they were in 1942
when a first grade teacher from Connecticut, Gertrude Chandler Warner, wrote the first one. She wrote 18 more until her death in 1979.
Other authors began writing mysteries with the same characters and the series continued.
The series is a staple for chapter book readers, but there are now Boxcar Children beginning readers and graphic novels as well!
In honor of this major anniversary the publisher of these books, Albert Whitman, is re-issuing the series with updated covers. The first six titles
have been re-issued so far. Only the covers are changing, the inside art will stay in original form. They are also publishing a prequel
to the children's story written by the well-known children's author Patricia MacLachlan called The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens at Fair Meadow Farm. It is on order for AADL.

The Boxcar Children have a website that includes related lists and activities.

The Downtown library has a shelf in the Youth Department known as the Parent Shelf. On this shelf you’ll find a variety of parent-child related books on a multitude of topics- including everything from phonics to tantrums to potty training to diet. These books are available for checkout, and can be found in the catalog when searching “parent shelf,” if you’d like to have one sent to a branch of your choice.

This time of year many parents and kids have one thing on their minds: back to school and how to cope. Parent shelf resources will come in handy when it comes to homework help. Here are a few titles that may be of use:

* How to help your child with homework: The complete guide to encouraging good study habits and ending the homework wars

* Same homework, new plan: How to help your disorganized kid sit down and get it done

* The pressured child: Helping your child find success in school and life

Don’t forget about AADL’s homework help page! It lists a variety of resources available including face-to-face tutoring, as well as online tutoring via BrainFuse, which is available to AADL card holders who are logged into aadl.org.