Blog Post
College Cooking Made Simple!
by emilyas
Do you cower in the face of an ingredients list, or groan at the thought of slicing and dicing? When was the last time you cooked a meal for yourself instead of eating at the dining hall?
Be afraid no longer! Sister team Megan and Jill Carle just published the book for you! Check out College cooking: feed yourself and your friends for some great, easy recipes. One example, barbecue chicken pizza, is available online from Megan's appearance on NPR's The Splendid Table this past weekend.
Blog Post
Champagne at the Gandy Dancer
by annevm
Today is the birthday of world renowned poet Donald Hall, and to celebrate, The Writers Almanac is displaying one of his poems, “The judge was decent, but . . “ about Hall’s 1972 marriage in Ann Arbor to poet Jane Kenyon. As the poem says, it was a basic municipal marriage -- but afterwards they did drink champagne at the Gandy Dancer. Five years later they remarried in New Hampshire, ". . . joyful
in a wooden church,
a Saturday afternoon in April,
only Jack Jensen our
friend and minister with us . . ."
Hall taught at U-M from 1957-75, first as assistant professor, later as professor of English. The couple moved to New Hampshire, where Kenyon died in 1995 of leukemia. To read more about this famous literary couple, hop to our database Literature Resource Center.
Blog Post
"Aaarrr! Don't mention it! It's been a pleasure," said the Pirate Captain
by Van
Wednesday, September 19th, is Talk Like a Pirate Day, with its own website and Wikipedia article. To celebrate read one of Gideon Defoe’s funny, silly ahistorical novels about the Pirate Captain and his crew. I have read The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists: a Novel, a tale in which the pirates board the Beagle in the Galapagos, become friends with Darwin and Mr. Bobo (Darwin’s ape, trained to behave as a proper English gentleman), go to London to try to save Darwin’s brother Erasmus from the evil Bishop of Oxford, who seems to be responsible for the disappearance of numerous young ladies from the P. T. Barnum Circus of Freaks.
Or enjoy some other of the library’s piratical offerings: non-fiction, novels, kid’s books, or DVDs.
Blog Post
2007 Quill Book Awards Announced
by kidlit
The 2007 Quill Book Awards were recently announced. The Quills recognize books in a variety of categories. Titles are first nominated by a panel of editors from Publisher's Weekly and then voted on by the public.
There were three categories for children's books.
Flotsam by David Wiesner won in the Picture Book category. This title also won the 2007 Caldecott Medal. It is the story of a camera that washes up on a beach and reveals many wondrous sights.
In the Children's Chapter Book/Middle Grade category the award went to Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret. This book is half narrative, half graphic novel. It's almost like watching a silent movie.
Sold by Patricia McCormick won the Young Adult/Teen award. Written in free verse, this is the story of a 13-year-old girl who is sold into prostitution in India.
Blog Post
Hispanic Heritage Month
by Beth Manuel
Learn more about Hispanic Heritage Month on this site for kids--enlightening for grown-ups as well! There are some exciting local events beginning this week-end to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Fun for the whole family is Gran Noche Mexicana in Ypsilanti. Also this week-end, performing in Detroit, the talented Ballet Folklorico de Mexico. Feel like staying in and having a private salsa or merengue fiesta? Check out Baila! A Latin Dance Party!
Blog Post
If you like Irish music....
by Maxine
This Friday evening, September 14, Liz Carroll, fiddler extraordinaire will be performing with equally talented guitarist, John Doyle at The Ark. Carroll's and Doyle's joint performances, in concert and on cd have been described by the Irish Echo as "...a magnificent balance of virtuosity, drive, and finesse .... Carroll's bowing and Doyle's picking represent a kind of soloing in sync, each supporting and inspiring the other without a whiff of self-indulgence."
Check them out, if there are still tickets left. And look for a size able collection of Irish music at the Library.
Blog Post
Fall Holy Days
by Beth Manuel
Read about Rosh Hashanah! Check out Apples & Pomegranates by Rahel Musleah. Today also marks the first day of Ramadan. For a touching youth story on the subject read Magid fasts for Ramadan by Mary Matthews. More on Jewish holidays during autumn can be found in Celebrating the Jewish Year by Paul Steinberg. And to read about fasting & religion check out Fasting: Spiritual Freedom beyond our Appetite by Lynne Baab.
Blog Post
Greyfriars Bobby on DVD
by manz
Here’s a touching tale that’s great for any age. A tale that's well known in Scotland, Greyfriars Bobby: The True Story of a Dog is just that. Bobby is a determined and loyal pint-sized terrier living in Scotland in the 1850s. Under the care of the town’s constable he shows his loyalty and intelligence time and time again. After the constable becomes ill Bobby remains loyal to the grave of his former master and then follows the lead of a young boy named Ewan. When Bobby gets into trouble with the city, all of Edinburgh rallies to save their beloved Bobby. Talk about a feel-good and heartwarming story!
There is also a book called The ghost of Greyfriar's Bobby that tells more of the adventures of little Bobby.
Blog Post
20 years, 8 fellows: art & design at the institute
by muffy
The Institute for the Humanities, University of Michigan is a center for innovative, collaborative study in the humanities and arts. Each year fellowships for Michigan faculty, graduate students, and visiting scholars who work on interdisciplinary projects are awarded. Since 1987 the Institute has granted fellowships to 129 Michigan Faculty Fellows, 99 Michigan Graduate Student Fellows, and 156 Visiting Fellows.
To celebrate the Institute‘s 20th anniversary, fellows from the School of Art and Design present works inspired by their interdisciplinary research at the Institute in the exhibition 20 years, 8 fellows: Art & Design at the Institute.
It features artists
Jim Cogswell, Tirtza Even, Sadashi Inuzuka, Andrew Kirshner, Joanne Leonard, Patricia Olynyk, Marianetta Porter, and Ed West, on view through 10/19/2007, in Room 1010, 202 S. Thayer, Central Campus, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. daily. An open reception is planned for Wednesday, October 3, 4:30-6:00 pm.
Blog Post
DVD Bits - A Family Film
by ryanikoglu
Most people know Winnie the Pooh. Many people do not know Winnie The Pooh originated with a real bear named Winnie, shortened from Winnipeg. A.A. Milne and his son Christopher met the real Winnie at the London Zoo in 1926. A Bear Named Winnie is based on the story of that amazing bear. Thus began the whimsical tales that appeared in Now We Are Six; House At Pooh Corner; and When We Were Very Young.