Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 125

Book Spine Poetry

April is National Poetry Month, and a quick and fun way to celebrate is to create book spine poetry.  These can be created from books you have around the house or library books! Just put together some titles and see what happens.

If you would like to see other examples, do a quick Google search. Or take a picture of your poem and upload to a site of your choice.  Just let us know in the comments so we can take a peek!

 

Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence

Congratulations to the six authors and publishers that made the second-ever shortlist for the Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence in Fiction and Nonfiction. 

The Andrew Carnegie Medals for Excellence were established in 2012 to recognize the best fiction and nonfiction books for adult readers published in the U.S. the previous year. The winners (one for fiction, one for nonfiction) are announced at the ALA Annual Conference.

Fiction

       

Nonfiction

       

 

Teen Crew: Be Part of the Fun

We’re looking for a few good teens to volunteer their time to help with our summer reading program. Enthusiasm and energy are a must. Fun times guaranteed! Registration is required via a paper application. Applications available after May 1. Visit your local branch for details.

Orientations will be held:

Saturdays, May 11 and June 8, 1:30 PM – Sand Lake/ Nelson Township branch

Wednesdays, May 15 and June 12, 6:00 PM – East Grand Rapids branch

Monday, May 20, 4:00 PM – Krause Memorial branch

Monday, May 20, 5:30 PM – Walker branch

Tuesday, May 21, 4:00 PM – Byron Township branch

Tuesdays, May 21 and June 4, 4:00 PM – Wyoming branch

Wednesday, May 22, 4:00 PM – Gaines Township branch

Thursday, May 23, 4:00 PM – Caledonia Township branch

Thursday, May 23, 4:00 PM – Comstock Park branch

Thursday, May 23, 4:00 PM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch

Thursday, May 23, 5:00 PM – Cascade Township branch

Tuesday, May 28, 5:30 PM – Walker branch

Tuesday, May 28, 7:00 PM – Plainfield Township branch

Thursday, May 30, 4:00 PM – Alto branch

Saturday, June 1, 10:00 AM – Spencer Township branch

Saturday, June 1, 11:00 AM – Alpine Township branch

Saturday, June 1, 11:00 AM– Englehardt branch

 

Author E.L. Konigsburg Dies at Age 83

[image error]E.L. Konigsburg, author of two Newbery Medal books, died Friday at age 83. Her first Newbery Medal book from 1968 is , a beloved children’s book. That same year, her book was a Newbery Honor book. Having a medal and honor book the same year placed Konigsburg in a special category.

She received her second Newbery Medal in 1997 for The View from Saturday. Again, this made her one of the few authors to have multiple medals. Over the course of her career, she wrote 16 children’s books and illustrated three picture books.

 

Oh Mama! Your Happy Pregnancy Classes

Join us for one or more of this three-part series led by chiropractor Dr. Jessica Avery Karns. And pick up a library card for the little one while you’re there — it’s one of the best things you can do for your new baby (not to mention we’re offering a ton of perks to new and existing cardholders right now!).

Prepping Your Body to Make a Superbaby

Saturday, May 4, 10:30 AM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch

Saturday, May 11, 2:00 PM – East Grand Rapids branch

Congratulations, You’re Pregnant! Let’s Make This a Great Experience!

Saturday, May 18, 10:30 AM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch

Saturday, May 25, 2:00 PM – East Grand Rapids branch

The Bundle of Joy is Here: What to Do for Baby and for Momma

Saturday, June 1, 10:30 AM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch

Saturday, June 8, 2:00 PM – East Grand Rapids branch

 

Englehardt Branch Reopens 4:00 PM

The flood waters came close, but the Englehardt branch in Lowell remained dry this weekend! Staff will be working hard today to put all the furniture and materials back in place, and the branch will reopen at 4:00 today (Monday, April 22).

Thank you to everyone for your patience and well wishes as we dealt with this unprecedented situation.

 

Early Lit Bits: App Review

Looking for a fun app that helps teach your child the letters of the alphabets and their shapes? Letter School is a fun and entertaining app where kids are given clear direction on how to trace letters and numbers by following the shape. They are rewarded with fun sounds and animations that will keep them entertained as they learn. Help your child trace over the letters with the index finger of their writing hand. Tracing letters using a finger is a first step in learning to write letters and helps build  tactile memory and fine motor control. This app is available in a free lite version and is $2.99 for the full version.

This article originally appeared in our Early Lit Bits eNewsletter. Read the most recent issue online or sign up to receive this monthly update highlighting early literacy tips and resources for parents and caregivers.

2013 Pulitzer Prize Winners

Columbia University announced the 2013 Pulitzer Prize Winners this week. Works receiving the award have shown excellence in various categories including newspaper journalism, literary achievement and musical composition. Here are some of the winners you can find through your local KDL branch or on the KDL eBook site:

Fiction: The Orphan Master’s Son by Adam Johnson

History: Embers of War: The Fall of an Empire and the Making of America’s Vietnam by Fredrik Logevall

Biography: The Black Count: Glory, Revolution, Betrayal, and the Real Count of Monte Cristo by Tom Reiss

Poetry: Stag’s Leap by Sharon Olds

General Non-Fiction: Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America by Gilbert King

          

 

History of Barbie Program Canceled

Due to flooding in the Lowell area, today’s History of Barbie with Afternoon Tea program scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Lowell Township Hall is CANCELED.

KDL’s Englehardt branch in Lowell remains CLOSED on Saturday, April 20. During this time, Englehardt’s book drop will not be accessible. Items may be returned to the Alto, Cascade Township or any other KDL branch. All current HOLDS for Englehardt patrons will be available for pickup at the Alto branch during the Emergency Closing period. (Alto is closed on Fridays, but will be open from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM on Saturday.)

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Today’s History of Barbie Program Cancelled

Due to flooding in the Lowell area, today’s History of Barbie with Afternoon Tea program scheduled for 2:00 PM at the Lowell Township Hall is CANCELLED.

KDL’s Englehardt branch in Lowell remains CLOSED on Saturday, April 20. During this time, Englehardt’s book drop will not be accessible. Items may be returned to the Alto, Cascade Township or any other KDL branch. All current HOLDS for Englehardt patrons will be available for pickup at the Alto branch during the Emergency Closing period. (Alto is closed on Fridays, but will be open from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM on Saturday.)

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.