Great summer walks with Brenda Bentley

Mon, 07/06/2009 - 4:18pm by annevm

Don’t miss meeting Brenda Bentley, author of Riverwalks Ann Arbor when she speaks at the downtown library 7-8:30 p.m. Friday, July 10. Her book is gaining plenty of attention, and she recently spoke to city council against removal of Argo dam, according to the Ann Arbor Chronicle. Her library program is called "Walking For Fun, Exercise And Cultural Edification In The Ann Arbor Area." Books will be on sale, and a signing will follow the presentation.

July 4 - Independence Day Action

Fri, 07/03/2009 - 2:09pm by ryanikoglu

4th of July is "Independence Day".
Celebrate "Independence" by learning personal stories of people who have stretched the definition of civil liberty in US history.
Our Children Can Soar
Madame President
Elizabeth Leads The Way
American Heroes: Robert Smalls
River Of Words: Story Of William Carlos Williams
Boy Named Beckoning:True Story of Dr. Carlos Montezuma

PreK Bits - The World I Live In

Sat, 06/27/2009 - 1:57pm by ryanikoglu

On the NEW BOOKS shelf for kids, we have a NEW series of books that are very nicely done. Colorful illustrations include kids of many cultures. In The Nest
In The Pond
On The Moon
Under The Ground
The Rainy Day
The Sunny Day
Each title provides very satisfying pieces of information about the world we live in.

Following the crowds to Nora Roberts

Sat, 06/27/2009 - 8:50am by annevm

Just for fun, I typed Nora Roberts into our catalog--245 hits. More than Stephen King! Wow, I thought, maybe I will read one of these in our Summer Reading Game. Then, for more fun, I searched J.D. Robb, the name under which Roberts writes police procedurals. Whoa, another 72 hits! Clearly Roberts is beyond prolific, and you can learn (lots) more about this bestselling phenom in Lauren Collins’ wonderful profile in the June 22 New Yorker. As many as 27 Nora Roberts books are sold every minute, the article suggests.

PreK Bits - Once Around The Block

Tue, 06/23/2009 - 8:42pm by ryanikoglu

Ms. Rachel is doing stories about HOME and HOUSE this week. You
can read the same stories at home, or try more stories from around the block....
Friday My Radio Flyer Flew ... did yours?
Annabelle's Big Move from the arctic to the tropics.
"We Were Tired Of Living In A House," declared the kids.
Too Many Toys in the house. Familiar?
Hello Goodbye Window at Granma and Grandpa's house.
Jethro And Joel Were A Troll. With two heads, who gets the troll for the day?

Take a Hike! @Lakewood Nature Area

Thu, 06/18/2009 - 1:09pm by shannon riffe

Tonight at 7pm, join the City of Ann Arbor Natural Area Preservation staff in a botanical walk through Lakewood Nature Area. Meet in the parking lot of Lakewood School, 344 Gralake. This event is held in conjunction with the summer reading program, Local Motion, which encourages the use of local neighborhoods, gyms, recreational facilities and outdoor areas to move and get fit!

Kid Bits - Pencil Action

Wed, 06/17/2009 - 1:59pm by ryanikoglu

Got Pencils or Crayons? Get Movin'....
The NEW Books Shelf has NEW Drawing Books for Kids.
You might be an Artiste!
How To Draw Incredible Cars
Drawing: The Only Drawing Book You'll Ever Need
Draw 50 Baby Animals
Draw 50 Princesses
Ed Emberley's Drawing Book: Make A World
The Draw 50 Way
You might even illustrate your own book someday.

Motion Monday

Mon, 06/15/2009 - 1:14pm by sherlonya

We've all heard time after time that childhood obesity is on the rise. The next sentence or paragraph usually says something about exercise, maybe outdoor activities. Scholastic Parent & Child Magazine published one of these articles in their June/July issue. In this article they suggest bringing inside toys to the playground, planting a garden, turning a hike into a scavenger hunt or having a back yard dance party as suggestions for fun ways to introduce or add more exercise. You can see the article here. If you're looking for more local suggestions, ArborWiki is worth a look. Have fun!

Summer Reading = up, stress = down.

Sun, 06/14/2009 - 2:16pm by sherlonya

Library summer reading programs evolved from studies that show that students who do not read during the summer lose some of the gains that they made during the previous academic year.

Translation: children who read during the summer do better in school in the fall.

But what does reading do for adults? A newer study states that reading can help reduce stress. According to the study, “Subjects only needed to read, silently, for six minutes to slow down the heart rate and ease tension in the muscles.”

Reading is not the only way. Other activities were shown, during this study to reduce stress.

Listening to music reduced the levels by 61 per cent, taking a walk by 42 percent.
Playing video games brought them down by 21 per cent from their highest level but still left the volunteers with heart rates above their starting point.

I wonder what happens if you put them all together. What if you walk to your local AADL branch and participate in one of the gaming events or peruse a magazine while you’re there, then walk home?

First Time Camper Program

Fri, 06/12/2009 - 2:04pm by sherlonya

Have you been meaning to give camping a try? If so, the “First Time Camper” Program might be for you. This program, sponsored by Gander Mountain, aims to provide an opportunity for new campers to experience both campers and the outdoors. Equipment, instructions, gear and information are provided at an economic rate.

In order to help new campers prepare for their experience, each group receives a welcome kit that outlines what to expect, pack and wear. After check-in, DNR staff help participants through the process of setting up camp and settling in.

For more information about the program, including a list of participating parks and recreation areas click here.

Happy camping!