Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 138

Early Lit Bits: Book Review — “Mice”

Mice by Rose Fyleman

Do you think mice are nice? Featuring Lois Ehlert’s signature paper collage illustrations, this new book shares some of their endearing qualities. The rhyming text is spare, which allows for plenty of conversation as you and your child read together. Ask if he or she can guess the next rhyming word. This book would also work well in a group setting, as the pictures are vivid and large.

In a one-on-one setting, point to various objects in the collages and see if your child recognizes items of use to the mice. Notice that each item is labeled, encouraging word association and expanding vocabulary. As an extension, cut circles, rectangles and triangles out of scrap paper and have your child create a unique mouse collage. Allowing them to do the cutting also encourages fine motor skills, which is an excellent way to get ready to write!

 

 

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.

 

KDL Top Ten – 2/8/2013

Dearest KDL,

What books make your heart go pitter-patter?  Please share suggestions for great romantic reads below.  Want to see titles others in your community are smitten with?  Click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!  These are 10 of the most popular Adult Romances at KDL right now.

 

More Short Stories

Has the Write Michigan contest whetted your appetite for more short story reading? Fear not — there are many collections for your enjoyment! Here are a few I have enjoyed lately:

Blasphemy: New and Selected Stories by Sherman Alexie

Sherman Alexie is funny and deadly serious at the same time; these 31 stories of varying lengths all deal with the modern experience of being a Native American in a white-dominated culture. Available in print.

 

Astray by Emma Donoghue

These 14 stories use historical vignettes from Britain and the U.S. as a starting point to explore what it feels like to be set adrift in a different culture, either voluntarily or involuntarily.

Available in print, on CD and as a downloadable e-audiobook.

“Straying has always had a moral meaning as well as a geographical one, and the two are connected. If your ethical compass is formed by the place you grow up, which way will its needle swing when you’re far from home?”

 

Dear Life: Stories by Alice Munro

These 14 thoughtful stories are mostly set in small Ontarian towns near Lake Huron and feature quiet lives that are irrevocably altered by chance encounters or twists of fate.

Available in print and on CD.

 

Voice of America by E. C. Osondu

A few of these 18 stories showcase the experience of Nigerians living in the U.S., but most portray the wide variety of life experiences in modern-day Nigeria. Osondu won the 2009 Caine Prize for African Writing.

Available in print.

 

Catch Me When I Fall by Patricia Westerhof

This satisfying book leaves the reader with an appreciation for the complexities of life and love as the author uses 11 interconnected stories to explore the depths and struggles of faith and life in a close-knit community of Dutch-Canadian families in rural Alberta. Available in print.

 

 

 

Enjoy!

 

KDL Closed Until 12:00PM Friday

All branches will be closed until 12:00 PM today (Friday, February 8), but will then resume normal hours. All morning programs and activities for Friday are cancelled.

KDL Closed Until 12:00PM Today

All branches will be closed until 12:00 PM today, but will then resume normal hours. All morning programs and activities for Friday, February 8 are cancelled.

Emergency Closing (5:00 PM Thursday)

Due to hazardous weather conditions, all Kent District Library branches will be closing at 5:00 PM today (Thursday, February 7.) All evening programs have been cancelled.

We will resume normal business hours as the weather permits.

Thank you for your patronage and we hope to see you soon.

Craft Party for the Whole Family

It’s our Heart to Heart Craft Party, just in time for Valentine’s Day, with snacks and crafts, no less. Stop by these branches and let your kids get their crafties on:

Monday, February 11 – Thursday, February 14, 10:00 AM

– Plainfield Township branch

Monday, February 11, 6:30 PM – Byron Township branch

Tuesday, February 12, 10:00 AM – Alpine Township branch

Tuesday, February 12, 10:30 AM – Sand Lake/ Nelson Township branch

Tuesday, February 12, 6:30 PM – Comstock Park branch

Tuesday, February 12, 6:30 PM – Krause Memorial branch

Wednesday, February 13, 10:30 AM – Comstock Park branch

Wednesday, February 13, 7:00 PM – Alpine Township branch

Thursday, February 14, 10:30 AM – Englehardt branch

Thursday, February 14, 5:00 PM – Tyrone Township branch

Thursday, February 14, 7:00 PM – Caledonia Township branch

Thursday, February 14, 7:00 PM – Cascade Township branch

Saturday, February 16, 2:00 PM – Gaines Township branch

Book Bash Prep: The Freezing Cold Edition

Hot tubbing? Naaaah. This looks waaaaaay more fun…

KDL staffers were in our  Service Center warehouse (unheated, open to receive trucks) this morning, braving sub-zero temperatures while sorting 15 carts of books to be added to our inaugural Book Bash in April.

Book Bash will include a giant warehouse book and media sale (over 100,000 items), local author book fair, children’s book swap, Fill-a-Bag sale, children’s activities, refreshment area, Zumba classes and more.  The Book Bash is expected to draw more than 5,000 visitors during the two-day event, with an additional 1,000 visitors at the preview night. Preview night will include free refreshments, prize drawings, local celebrities and, of course, first choice of all the books.

Preview Night: Friday, April 26, 5:30 – 8:30 PM (must have a ticket to enter)

 Regular Sale: Saturday, April 27, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM

 Fill-a-Bag Sale Day: Sunday, April 28, 1:00 to 4:00 PM

The event is free to the community. Proceeds will go to support the Summer Reading Program and other programs of Kent District Library. Contact Development Director Linda Krombeen (at lkrombeen@kdl.org or 616-784-2092) if you have any questions or would like to be involved — volunteers get first dibs on sale items during preview night.

Kent County Teen Film Festival Winners!

This past Saturday’s seventh annual Kent County Teen Film Festival was a huge success!  More than 170 filmgoers braved the winter weather to cheer on their favorite teen films.

This year’s winners are:

• People’s Choice Award: The Mission (Directed by Jagienka Timek and Corrah VanWingen)

• Best Feature Short: The Mission (Directed by Jagienka Timek and Corrah VanWingen)

• Best Documentary Short: Finding Paradise (Directed by Emily Livermore)

• Best Commercial Short: Danny Rade (Directed by Danny Anderson, Zach Bingel, Nolan Darby and Mike Robert)

• Best Director: Emily Livermore (Finding Paradise)

• Best Screenplay: Jagienka Timek and Corrah VanWingen (The Mission)

• Best Actor: Kris DeYoung (Conflicted)

• Best Actress: Jagienka Timek and Corrah VanWingen (The Mission)

Congratulations to all our winners, and a big round of applause to all our teen filmmakers!

Be sure to like Kent County Teen Film Festival on Facebook to keep up to date with festival news, and to watch the winning movies.

And remember—it’s never too early to start filming for 2014!

Patron Story: the DeHollander Family

Byron Township branch patron Aimee DeHollander’s sons love their library. They also love to play chess. When it came to bringing the two together, Aimee learned that sometimes all you have to do is ask.

Read the DeHollander family’s story here.

 

(Do you have a KDL story to share? Let us know!)