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Avatar, the Last Airbender

by Enzy

If you're looking for a fun TV show that appeals to both kids and adults, check out Avatar, the Last Airbender. This cartoon has a great plot that will keep you interested until the very end.

The wold is divided into four nations (Earth, Water, Fire, and Air). Each nation’s people are able to manipulate their specific element. This manipulation is called “bending” and each nation’s bending is based off of a specific martial art (for example, water bending is based on tai chi, and fire bending is based on Northern Shaolin). There is one person who is born with the ability to bend all of the elements called the “Avatar,” this person is also in charge of keeping peace between the nations. However, when the Fire Nation decides to attack, the Avatar disappears.

A hundred years later, the Fire nation is now on the verge of dominating the entire world. But two siblings from the water tribe, Katara and Sokka, have just found the missing Avatar, a twelve-year-old boy named Aang, and his flying bison frozen in an iceberg. But can Aang learn to master all four elements and restore peace in time?

While this cartoon is not technically considered anime, it is heavily influenced by anime in it’s character designs. The fighting sequences are incredibly entertaining to watch and there are plenty of humorous moments which makes this cartoon a hit with the young and not-so-young.

If you enjoy the TV show, you should also check out the books, graphic novels, or even The Last Airbender movie that was directed by M. Night Shyamalan (disclaimer, if you are a big fan of the cartoon, this movie may miss the mark).

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AADL at the Earth Day Festival this Sunday

by eapearce

Come visit the Ann Arbor District Library table at the 43rd Annual Ann Arbor Area Earth Day Festival this Sunday, April 27th from 12:00 to 4:00pm! Coordinated by the Environmental Education Network of Washtenaw and hosted at the Leslie Science and Nature Center, the Earth Day Festival is a fun-filled afternoon of exploration, activities and education for all ages. Over 40 local environmental, governmental and nonprofit organizations will have tables at the festival covering a wide range of topics including live animal demonstrations, sustainable agriculture, environmental quality testing and more. There will also be local food vendors at the festival.The AADL table will have a number of our science tools available for people to try out, including our portable digital microscope.

Admission to the festival is free, and the festival is a zero waste event. Lots of recycling bins will be available and patrons are encouraged to bring their own refillable water bottles. You can read more about the festival here

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Described Video Service/DVS

by Beth Manuel

AADL continues to grow its collection of films that have a Descriptive Video Service or DVS feature, which are more accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. More films are being produced for children and adults that are Described Video Recordings for L-Card users to borrow. There are comedies, action, animation, horror and science fiction films available. Many can be sent by mail to WLBPD patrons as Free Matter for the Blind. If there's a member of your family who has been missing out on movies due to low-vision, look at our list of described videos that you can watch together!

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Join us for Chesstastic at Traverwood Sunday, April 13!

by eapearce

The monthly Chesstastic program will be occurring this Sunday, April 13 from 1:00 to 4:00pm at the Traverwood branch of the AADL. Chesstastic is a great way to meet new people, hone your chess skills, and learn more about the game from talented players. All ages and skill levels are welcome and encouraged to drop in! Chess sets are provided.

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Take a family adventure with Larry & Pete!

by PattySmith

With summer fast approaching, the whole family can share in the fun of vacation planning with the help of the Larry Gets Lost Series!
These fantastic books have brightly colored, retro-like illustrations and great rhymes that take your family on a journey with Larry and Pete through the streets of Seattle, New York and Chicago, to name a few. In every book Larry the dog lets the tasty smell of local foods lure him away from his good pal Pete and spends the day exploring a new city in his quest to be reunited with his boy. The stories combine fun verse, geography and history to create a wonderful travel guide for children and adults alike!

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March is National Craft Month!

by manz

There is no better time to celebrate your inner crafter than National Craft Month. The snow is staring to melt (and will be back again soon) but the knitting needles are still on your coffee table next to a stack of movies to watch. It’s time to grab your knitting needles, jewelry pliers, embroidery floss, and scissor and get making.

Whatever your craft, AADL has you covered for books to get you started. The 700s contain many books on a variety of topics, including: jewelry making, sewing, crocheting, origami, felting, scrapbooking, quilting, and more.

If you're looking to get crafting but don't know where to start, join us at AADL for one of the many craft programs we regularly host! We host SO MANY great craft programs that are always free of charge for anyone to attend. There are folks to guide you and supplies to work with. Keep an eye on the schedule for upcoming hands-on events for all ages.

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Humorous Travel Audiobook

by skcramer

Fans of P. G. Wodehouse and other classic British humorists will want to know about Three Men in a Boat: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Jerome K. Jerome.

Published in 1889, this nonfiction account of Jerome’s ill-fated boating trip down the river Thames is a wonderful example of travel writing. Anyone who has ever gone on vacation will likely relate to Jerome’s packing woes and travel exhaustion. Jerome manages to tell the tale in typically dry British style that had me laughing out laugh more than once.

The audiobook is expertly narrated by Hugh Laurie, whom Wodehouse fans may also remember starred as Bertie Wooster in Wodehouse’s Jeeves and Wooster miniseries.

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Weasels: What do they do?

by Allison B

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Synopsis: Overcaffeinated weasels and world domination. Need we say more?

Weasels, by Elys Dolan. Adorable, hilarious and brand new to AADL in the Youth room. Please consider putting it on your list.

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Maps for All Ages to Enjoy

by manz

Not your average geography book, Maps by Aleksandra Mizielinska and Daniel Mizielinski is a beautiful book with amazing illustrations. The full page maps include images of cultural and historical interest in addition to famous natives and specific places within each country. It’s such a visual treat! This large book is great for anyone who is into maps, places, illustration, or design, and would be a great coffee table book when it's not on a child's bookshelf. The other titles by the same author are also beautiful.

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Health Hearts Initiaitive

by Sunny29

The Ann Arbor YMCA is piloting a program to help prevent heart disease through self-monitoring techniques and recording blood pressure. Between now and the end of March, the YMCA is recruiting 75 people with high blood pressure and internet access to participate in the Healthy Hearts Initiative. Each participant will be given a blood pressure monitor and shown how to record readings at least twice a month for the next four months. To learn more or enroll in the program, please contact Diane Carr at (734) 661-8056.