Blog Post
Meet Miss Moon, Dog Governess
by manz
You know that moment when you walk by a book shelf and a face-out book catches your eye, so you pick it up and open it, and you instantly feel the warm and fuzzies? This is one of those books for me. With beautiful oil paintings of so many dogs paired with such kind words of wisdom my heart just melted.
Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess is a picture book, but isn’t quite a story, and is absolutely not just for kids. Miss Wilhelmina Moon sets off to a small island off the coast of France to be a governess to sixty-seven dogs. (DOGS!) Each page is consumed with gorgeous full-color oil paintings of Miss Moon and her companions biking, bathing, reading, celebrating, and more. With each page the only text is a life lesson. Lesson One: Friends can come in many shapes and sizes. Lesson Two: Be true to your adventurous spirit. It’s really quite sweet, and the whimsical nostalgia-inspired images illustrate such wisdom perfectly. Don’t miss the “class photo” at the end.
This book is great if you like works by Maira Kalman, or are a fan of dogs or of wisdom for the soul kinds of books.
Since finding the book I have discovered that the Canadian author/illustrator Janet Hill has had her work featured all over, and she has an Etsy shop where her work is available for purchase – including art from Miss Moon: Wise Words from a Dog Governess! So if you’re into dogs doing amazing things, take a peek.
Blog Post
Genre-defying Costa Award Winner
by mansii
If you have never read British novelist Frances Hardinge, her genre-defying books may just become your new addiction! Fresh to AADL shelves comes Hardinge’s Costa award-winning novel, The Lie Tree. We could call it historical fiction, mystery, suspense, philosophical literary fiction, fantasy, cultural criticism—or a riveting blend of all of the above.
When Faith Sunderly’s father shows up mysteriously dead, her need for her late father’s approval, and fear of her family’s ruin drive her forward on a mission. She must prove her suspicion that he was murdered. Thus begins her dangerous flirtation with a mystical shrub whose fruit impart visions of truth in exchange for whispered lies. As her flirtation becomes obsession, who will she become? And how trustworthy—or misleading—are these fruit-born visions?
Faith’s story pushes against what fears drive us, what cravings lure us, and what redemption asks of us as we grapple towards it. Set in Victorian England, the stage is not only ripe for a girl deciding who she will become, but a woman asserting her place in a world of men. On top of all of this is a page-turning fiction that will pull you in, spit you out, and leave you wanting more.
Blog Post
New Kids Movies!
by manz
Many new TV shows and movies for kids (okay, adults, too!) are popping up in the catalog! Just in time for summer movie nights. Here are a few new big movies on their way to AADL, a few with characters you've already met in previous films.
Zootopia
Zootopia is a city like no other that is comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it's a melting pot where animals from every environment live together. But when optimistic Officer Judy Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn't so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde.
Hero Quest
A fairy tale about a grand life journey of ten-year old boy Savva, devoted to helping his mom and fellow village people to break free from the vicious hyenas.
Kung Fu Panda 3
Living large and loving life, Po realizes that he has a lot to learn if he's going to fulfill the next challenge from his beloved instructor. After reuniting with his long-lost father, Po must transition from student to teacher and train a group of fun-loving, clumsy pandas to become martial-arts fighters. Together, the kung-fu brethren unite to take on the evil Kai, a supernatural warrior who becomes stronger with each battle.
Open Season, Scared Silly
After hearing a story by the campfire, domesticated Boog is terrified by the story and decides to 'chicken out' of their annual summer camping trip until he knows the werewolf is gone. Determined to help Boog overcome his fears, Elliot and their woodland friends band together to scare the fear out of Boog and uncover the mystery of the Wailing Wampus Werewolf.
Blog Post
AAATA Expansion Coming in May!
by Beth Manuel
If you haven't heard, this May, AAATA will be expanding services with new routes and improvements-the biggest expansion since 1979!
Download this handy-dandy guide or pick them up at your nearest transit center to see what changes are in store. There will be public meetings about these changes on Tuesday, March 15 at 7pm at the Ypsilanti Township Board Meeting & Wednesday, March 23rd at 10am at the United Way, 2305 Platt Rd., Ann Arbor . More informational meetings will be posted on their site. Won't it will be nice to have a route to our Pittsfield Branch? Oh, the places we'll go!
Blog Post
Come see the new fairy door in the Downtown youth area!
by eapearce
Visitors to the Downtown Library in recent months might have noticed that the fairy door area was “under construction.” Just this week we installed a BRAND NEW fairy door and fairy door fans of all ages will definitely want to come check it out! Located in the same spot as the old fairy door, in the Downtown Youth Department, this new door is super special. You can peek inside to see an adorable scene with a tiny desk, fairy-sized chairs and pillows and little books. There’s even a cute hanging plant—in a thimble, of course! And, this fairy door has a special light that allows you to really see the details that make it so special. Each time you look inside, you’ll notice things that you hadn’t before—like how the walls are papered with dozens of images from old books. The new fairy door is really a treat—come see for yourself!
Blog Post
New Books for Curious Kids
by eapearce
In The Book of What If…?, authors Matt Murrie and Andrew R. McHugh encourage kids to think about what the world would be like if things were much different than they actually are. For example, what if humans had elephant noses? What if there were no holidays? What if you could move objects with your brain? The authors offer prompts that get kids to think about what life might be like in all these wacky situations! Real kids offer suggestions for what they think might happen if these crazy things were true, and their answers are collected throughout the book, too. There are also related activities to go along with each “what if” question, which are fun to do with friends, family, or by yourself. This book really has it all and will keep kids with wild imaginations interested and engaged for hours, if not days, weeks, or months!
Everyone loves a good list, and the Top 10 of Everything 2015 is a giant book full of lots and lots of—you guessed it—amazing lists! From the “Most Powerful Engines” to the “Heaviest Animals in the Ocean” to the “Biggest Star Wars Lego Spaceships,” this book has lists for everyone. Although most of the lists are based in fact, with cited sources, there are also a few fun “unofficial” top 10 lists, like “Coolest Movie Alien Crafts” or “Most Awesome Female Artists.” This book is filled with brightly colored pictures and fun facts. Ann Arbor is even featured on one of the lists! Kids (and adults!) who love facts will consider this tome a must-read.
Blog Post
Dawn Farm Ride for Recovery!
by Beth Manuel
The 7th Annual Dawn Farm Ride for Recovery is Sunday, April 24th with early registration already under way! This is a family-fun-filled fitness event & a fundraiser for Dawn Farm. There many ways to participate at any fitness level; with 10-100 K bike rides; 5K & 10K walks or runs. There will also be food & tours of the working farm. This event gives our community an opportunity to support a critical service. Dawn Farm is committed to helping people find recovery from addiction, regardless of their ability to pay. Community support for events like the Ride for Recovery helps to keep these vital services available for those who need them most! For more information call: 734-485-8725.
Blog Post
Log On to Brainfuse!
by Beth Manuel
AADL subscribes to a live online tutoring service called "Help Now" by Brainfuse, also known simply as
"Brainfuse", and is available to anybody accessing it from inside any AADL location, or to cardholders from home or elsewhere.
There are several facets to Brainfuse that not only help with homework & study skills, but skill building and writing support.
Users can log on to Brainfuse to access EXPERT help in a variety of ways: live tutoring any time from 2:00 PM-11:00 PM except on Federal Holidays. Simply choose the grade or age level that suits the user’s needs, be it elementary, middle or high school, ESL or even computers and technology.
SkillSurfer is a learning library that contains thousands of lessons, quizzes, & tests to help users master academic concepts. Check out the STUDY portal and look at FLASHBULB, which is a library full of flashcards & self-tests for a huge array of subjects! Go to the COLLABORATE portal to schedule meetings with friends in their private virtual study rooms. There’s a writing lab where users can upload documents to a teacher and have them edit/critique their work within 24 hours. Brainfuse's "Send a Question" gives users the opportunity to ask a question any time of day and get a written response from one of their tutors within one business day.
Whether you are an English Language Learner, a student of any age or an adult trying to get back into the workforce, Brainfuse may have just the answer to your academic and technical questions.
Blog Post
A Celebration of friendship: Harper Lee and Truman Capote
by mansii
If you have affection for Harper Lee's Scout Finch and her endearing, if imperfect, small town in the South, you will be delighted by G. Neri’s brand new book Tru and Nelle. Inspired by the real-life friendship of Harper Nelle Lee and Truman Capote, this precious chapter-book recounts the fictionalized adventures of this imaginative pair who forge their friendship from mutual quirkiness and love for books. Tru, a seven-year-old gentleman who wears pristine suits with pride, feels abandoned when he is sent by his parents to stay the summer in Monroeville, Alabama. Yet it is here that he finds a place to belong alongside little sized but big-hearted Nelle, who is more comfortable in overalls than a dress. With Sherlock Holmes as their hero, the two step out to unravel the mystery of a theft, and end up revealing both prejudice and courageous kindness in the hearts around them. A tale for those who have ever felt like the odd-one-out, this celebration of the healing joys of sincere friendship will bring smiles to anyone young or old who can’t get enough of To Kill A Mockingbird, enjoys historical tidbits, or even just craves a good mystery!
Blog Post
The Wonder Garden
by eapearce
Icelandic illustrator Kristjana Williams collaborated with author Jenny Bloom on the new children’s book The Wonder Garden, a gorgeous look into five drastically different habitats. Williams and Bloom use unique locations around the world to introduce young readers to 80 amazing animals that we likely wouldn’t encounter here in the United States. From the Amazon Rainforest, they take us to the Great Barrier Reef, to the Chihuahuan Desert, to the Black Forest, and finally drop readers off in the Himalayan Mountains, where we get to learn about animals like the Asiatic Black Bear and the Bengal Tiger. The diversity in these habitats really allows Williams and Bloom to emphasize the beauty and uniqueness of our planet and showcase some of the world’s more unusual flora and fauna. Kids and adults alike will be drawn to the big, bright illustrations in this book, and will be eager to turn the pages to see what world awaits them next. The cover perhaps says it best: “Fold back the covers of this book and let the gates to Earth’s wonder garden swing wide open.”