Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 139

The New Health Care Law and You

The Plainfield branch will host a free presentation on Tuesday, February 19 at 6:30 PM for anyone interested in learning about the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The information will be presented by Lisa Ross, consumer outreach coordinator for the state of Michigan. You must register before attending this free event. Please stop by the Plainfield branch to sign up, or you can contact the library by e-mailing dstracke@kdl.org or calling 647-3939.

Celebrate Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week

Children’s Authors & Illustrators Week is February 3–9. Warm up on these cold winter days with some good children’s stories, plus great illustrations to match!

 

Extra Yarn, written by Mac Barnett; illustrated by Jon Klassen

With a supply of yarn that never runs out, Annabelle knits for everyone and everything in town until an evil archduke decides he wants the yarn for himself.

 

 

 

 

King Arthur’s Very Great Grandson,

written and illustrated by Kenneth Kraegel

On his sixth birthday, Henry Alfred Grummerson, a descendant of King Arthur and would-be knight, sets out for adventure, but neither dragon, nor cyclops, nor griffin, nor leviathan is willing to engage in a real battle.

 

 

Those Darn Squirrels,

written by Adam Rubin; illustrated by Daniel Salmieri

When grumpy Old Man Fookwire builds feeders to try to keep birds — the only creatures he likes — from leaving for the winter, he finds himself in a battle with clever, crafty squirrels who want a share of the abundant food.

 

 

 

 

Knuffle Bunny Free, written and illustrated by Mo Willems

This 2005 Caldecott Honor Book uses a combination of muted black-and-white photographs and expressive illustrations and tells a brilliantly true-to-life tale about what happens when Daddy’s in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong.

 

 

Early Lit Bits: Learning with Crafts — Groundhog Puppet

Playing with puppets is a great way to encourage conversation and build vocabulary. Here is a simple puppet to make in honor of Groundhog Day.

Materials:

Paper
Markers or crayons
Scissors
Bright light (or a flashlight)
Tape
Empty cereal box

Directions:

Draw a picture of a groundhog on a piece of cardboard. Color the groundhog and cut it out with a pair of scissors. Tape the picture of the groundhog to a wooden craft stick or a drinking straw.To use the puppet as a shadow puppet, aim a bright light at an empty wall and hold the puppet about a foot from the wall so that puppet casts a shadow image onto the wall. Talk about the tradition of Groundhog Day and about light and shadows. Have fun casting shadows on the wall with other objects from around the house.

 

 

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.

 

Free Computer & Technology Classes

Whether you’re a computer novice or looking to update your skills, KDL’s free computer classes can help you learn something new! Our spring schedule begins soon, offering the following classes:

Computer Basics: Mousing and More
Computer Basics: Where’s My Stuff?
Digital Photos: Creating Digital Photo Slideshows
Digital Photos: Online Photo Sharing, Saving and Ordering
Gadgets: Get Appy with Your iPad

(pre-registration not required)
Internet: Blogs, Wikis, Social Networking & More
Internet: Create Your Own Website or Blog
Internet: Email Basics
Internet: Facebook Basics
Internet: Getting Started on Craigslist
Internet: Internet Basics & More
Internet: Online Genealogy Research I & II
Internet: Online Resources for Book Lovers
Job Seekers: Career Transitions Workshops: Developing Your Personal Brand

(pre-registration not required)
Job Seekers: Career Transitions Workshops: Résumés, Online Profiles, Cover Letters & More

(pre-registration not required)
Job Seekers: Career Transitions Workshops: LinkedIn Bookcamp

(pre-registration not required if you bring your own laptop)
Job Seekers: Career Transitions Workshops: Networking (pre-registration not required)
Job Seekers: Career Transitions Workshops: Behavioral Interviewing (pre-registration not required)
Job Seekers: Job & Career Accelerator
Microsoft Excel Basics I, II & III
Microsoft PowerPoint Basics
Microsoft Word Basics I, II & III
Speak to a Geek (pre-registration not required)

For class descriptions and schedule, please see our brochure or search our events calendar.

Unless otherwise noted, pre-registration is required and will begin the month before the scheduled classes on the first Monday of each month for KDL cardholders and the second Monday for non-KDL cardholders (if space is still available):

March classes: Registration begins Monday, February 4 for KDL cardholders

(Monday, February 11 for non-KDL cardholders)
April classes: Registration begins Monday, March 4 for KDL cardholders

(Monday, March 11 for non-KDL cardholders)
May classes: Registration begins Monday, April 1 for KDL cardholders

(Monday, April 8 for non-KDL cardholders)

To register, please call 616-784-2007.

KDL Top Ten – 2/1/2013

View the 10 most checked-out titles in Children’s Fiction at KDL this week — click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!  And tell us — What are some of your favorite children’s books and why?

Write Michigan: And the Winners Are…

You can write, Michigan!

Nearly 600 Michigan writers entered the inaugural Write Michigan short story contest, and after a volunteer crew of some 80 preliminary judges whittled those entries to a list of top 10 finalists, you voted for your favorites.

Click here to see a complete list of winners!

Also, mark your calendar for Tuesday, March 19, when winners will gather at the Grand Rapids Public Library for an awards ceremony and the kickoff sale of the collection of their work, published by Schuler Books & Music’s Chapbook Press.

Congratulations to the winners, and until next year!

Win Tickets to Disney on Ice!

We are excited to offer you the chance to win tickets to 100 Years of Magic, presented by Disney on Ice! Stop by your local branch by February 15 and register to win by filling out an entry form (one entry per person please). Each of our 18 branches will be giving away a family four pack of ticket vouchers to the opening night performance taking place at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 28 at the Van Andel Arena. Winners will also receive a Disney prize pack!

Join the celebration as 65 of Disney’s unforgettable characters from 18 beloved stories come to life in 100 Years of Magic! Join the one and only Mickey Mouse, the irresistible Minnie Mouse, Goofy, Donald Duck, Jiminy Cricket, Pinocchio and all the Disney Princesses in a skating spectacular you’ll remember forever.

The show visits Grand Rapids from February 28 – March 3 for seven performances at the Van Andel Arena. Tickets can be purchased at the Van Andel Arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets or by phone at 1-800-745-3000.

Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to win a free evening of family fun! Good luck!

 

What Do I Read Now??

Feeling a little let down after you closed the cover of that really amazing book? Does that book make you want to go back to the beginning and read it again because it was JUST THAT GOOD? Aren’t sure you can find anything quite like it ever again?

Never fear. KDL has some great resources to help you find that next GREAT read!

Check out the BOOKS & MORE section of our website for links to read-alike suggestions, lists of award winners and picks from our incredibly well-read staff!  We also offer suggestions for Teens and Kids.

One of our newest resources is our Popular Authors by Genre. This section of our website includes lists of  authors in categories such as Mysteries, Classics, Chick Lit, etc., to help you find your next favorite book.

Happy Reading!

 

Short Story Contest: Last Day to Vote!

Today is the final day to vote in our inaugural Write Michigan short story contest. If you haven’t maxed out your allowed votes, go to www.writemichigan.org and vote today for up to one adult and one youth entry.

Grand prize winners will be announced tomorrow, and an awards ceremony featuring Wade Rouse – bestselling (and hi-LAR-ious) West Michigan humorist and memoirist – will be held at the Grand Rapids Public Library on March 19.

All finalists’ stories will be included in a collection published by Schuler Books & Music.

Nearly 600 people entered the contest this year – a tremendous turnout. You can write, Michigan!

Early Lit Bits: Music Minute

Singing goes hand-in-hand with reading aloud to a child as one of the five practices that help children get ready to read and write. Many authors have created engaging, beautiful and educational picture books that are also set to music.

Author/illustrator Jane Cabrera has published some wonderful versions of classic nursery rhymes like Old MacDonald Had A Farm, Ten in the Bed and The Wheels on the Bus.

Sandra Boynton has created original songs in her fun and entertaining books like Dog Train, which includes a CD.

Check out this list for more suggestions of books that will have you and your child singing together!

 

 

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.