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!

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.

Come listen to local artist and author Robb Johnston talk about the process behind his wonderful book The Woodcutter and the Most Beautiful Tree. Robb will demonstrate how he draws and answer questions. He will also be available for a book signing after the event.

The Woodcutter and the Most Beautiful Tree gained a star review from Kirkus Reviews, who also named it one of the best books of 2011. Don’t miss this chance to see Robb work!

This event will be on Monday, August 13th at 1pm in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Downtown Library.

This event is for grades K to 5.

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.

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.
Play Project

On Wednesday, August 1, several more benefits that are part of the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare) are now in effect. This week's changes affect women’s health care. Women with health insurance will now see the following changes:

* A free annual well-woman visit with follow-up visits, if necessary.
* Women over 30 can be tested for HPV (Human pappilomavirus) every three years.
* Pregnant women can receive free testing for gestational diabetes. This will ensure that they get the proper care for a safe pregnancy.
*Pregnant women can now receive support for breastfeeding, including equipment for new mothers returning to work
*Women are now able to receive free contraception

For a full explanation of this new law, including the elements that went into effect in 2010 (such as, no more denial for pre-exisiting conditions; all children are now covered up to age 26, regardless of marital or student status; free preventive care, including colonoscopies for adults over age 50 and mammograms; no more “donut hole” for seniors’ prescriptions, please check this website or check out Landmark: The Inside Story of America's New Health Care Law and What It Means for All of Us (2010), by the staff of the Washington Post or journalist David Nather's book, The New Health Care System: Everything You Need to Know (2010).

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.

Margaret Mahy, a New Zealand children's author, died July 23rd at her home in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Ms. Mahy was a children's librarian who wrote books on the side. Twelve years into her career, an editor from Franklin Watts Publishing happened upon one of her stories in a New Zealand educators' journal and flew to NZ to meet with Ms. Mahy. It was a successful discussion and by 1980, Ms. Mahy quit her library position to write fulltime.

Her youth novel, The Haunting (1982), won her her first of two Carnegie Medals for Children's Literature. In this charming, edgy book, eight-year-old Barney has ESP. Two years later, Mahy won the Carnegie again for The Changeover, in which 14-year-old Laura battles to save her little brother who is possessed by evil spirits.

Her whimsical, lyrically catchy Bubble Trouble (2009) became a bestseller.

In 2006, the Swiss-based International Board on Books for Young People bestowed upon Ms. Mahy the Hans Christian Andersen Award for her lifelong contribution to children's literature.

Ms. Mahy, who was 76, had been battling cancer.

"The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph, but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well." (The Olympic Creed).

Soon, participating countries will again set aside their differences for two weeks to cheer on their athletes in the world’s most prestigious sporting competition. To get your family into the spirit of the 2012 Summer Games, here are some fun facts, lessons, activities and games to share with children.

Wenlock and Mandeville, the official London 2012 mascots, have their own website, where you can play games, watch films, make your own mascot and more.

Here are some printable Olympics coloring pages, and ideas for crafts

And of course, don't forget to check out our books about the Olympics.

Ann Arbor Kindergarteners are going to school for a full day beginning this fall. This means they will have more time for ABCs, 123s, and stories We have fun picture books and informational books for parents, to help your future fulltime Kindergartener get in the mind set!