Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 63

FREE Teen Audiobooks from SYNC

This website is awesome: Each week, SYNC offers free downloads for one bestseller audiobook and one classic. This is a summertime deal only, so take advantage. Check out the upcoming releases and sign up to receive a text when titles are released. So simple!

 

Get Your Free Concert Tickets at KDL

KDL is once again a ticket sponsor for the WGVU Real Oldies Concert at the Ball Park! This event will be held on Saturday, May 31 at 6:00 PM at the Fifth Third Ball Park, featuring The Vogues, and other special guests. Pick up your free tickets at any KDL branch.

We hope to see you there!

 

 

Share Your Story Contest — Early Childhood Essentials

Have you taken any of our Early Childhood Essentials classes? If you have, woo-hoo! We want to hear from you.

Click here to fill out the share your story form and tell us what brought you to the classe(es), how the material covered impacted your personal or professional life and what you enjoyed about the class. Best entry gets a $25 Schuler Books & Music gift card and shared on our patron stories page. Contest deadline: 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 31.

Early Childhood Essentials classes, sponsored by Great Start CONNECT, are open to adults. Many attendees are childcare providers, and take the classes to receive professional development hours. Whereas some agencies charge a fee, ECE classes at KDL are free. Yep, free.

 

June LibraryReads Staff Picks

You already know that your local KDL staff provide great recommendations when you’re looking for your next favorite book. Now library staff across the nation have connected to offer LibraryReads, a nationwide “Top 10″ list of favorite titles each month! Check out these upcoming titles that librarians across the country have read, loved, and want to share with you.

Elizabeth Is Missing: A Novel by Emma Healey

“Maude sinks into a confusing world in this gripping psychological mystery written in the voice of an aging woman with Alzheimer’s. She can’t remember what she’s doing or where she is, but she is obsessed with one thought—her good friend Elizabeth is missing. Book groups will enjoy this satisfying and entertaining read!”

—Mary Campanelli, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Columbus, OH

 

China Dolls: A Novel by Lisa See

“Set in 1938 San Francisco, this book follows the lives of three young women up through WWII. Grace travels to California seeking stardom, where she meets Helen, a young woman from Chinatown, and the two find jobs as nightclub dancers. While auditioning, they cross paths with Ruby, and the book alternates between all three viewpoints. Lisa See is one of my favorite authors, and her newest title doesn’t disappoint.”

—Catherine Coyne, Mansfield Public Library, Mansfield, MA

 

The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street: A Novel by Susan Jane Gilman

“In the tenements of old New York, a young Russian Jewish immigrant woman is taken in by an Italian family who sells ice. Through sheer persistence and strong will, she manages to build an ice cream empire. Lillian Dunkle is a complex character who will both make you cheer even as you are dismayed. Have ice cream on hand when you read this book!”

—Marika Zemke, Commerce Township Public Library, Commerce Twp, MI

 

I Am Having So Much Fun Here Without You: A Novel by Courtney Maum

“Set mainly in Paris, this love story for grown-ups tells the story of a decent man who almost ruins his life and then goes to great lengths to restore his marriage. If your path to a happy marriage has been straight-forward, you may not appreciate this book—but it’s perfect for the rest of us!”

—Laurel Best, Huntsville-Madison County Public Library, Huntsville, AL

 

The Matchmaker: A Novel by Elin Hilderbrand

“Set in romantic Nantucket, Hilderbrand’s newest novel is a heartwarming and moving story about the power of love. Dabney Kimball Beech, long denied her own true love, is determined to match up those closest to her before it is too late. This captivating book had me weeping through the last few chapters. A beautifully written and heartbreaking story!”

—Jill Kaufman, Desloge Public Library, Desloge, MO

 

Summer House with Swimming Pool: A Novel by Herman Koch

“A deliciously nasty study in sociopathy, veiled in the alluring sheen of European upper class lifestyles and sensibilities. Summer House with Swimming Pool will grip you with an uneasy dread and won’t let you stop turning the pages until the riveting end. Fair warning: you will never look at your family doctor the same way again.”

—Kristin Cole, The Seattle Public Library, Seattle, WA

 

The Lobster Kings: A Novel by Alexi Zentner

“This well-crafted story truly captures the beauty and brutality of living by the sea. The characters show what it’s like to have saltwater in your veins and commitment to family and community. Zentner depicts a way of life that is fast disappearing. Perfect for summer reading.”

—Lisa Marie Joyce, Portland Public Library & South Portland Public Library, Portland, ME

 

The Hurricane Sisters: A Novel by Dorothea Benton Frank

“Having just completed my annual trek to the Carolina Lowcountry, compliments of Dorothea Benton Frank, I’m happy to report that a good time was had by all. It was, as ever, a pleasure to meet her new characters, travel down Highway 17 (llama optional), sit back with a glass of wine and take in the beautiful sunsets and ocean breeze, all without leaving the comfort of my easy chair.”

—Yvonne Jefferson, Pittsylvania County Public Library, Dry Fork, VA

 

The Quick: A Novel by Lauren Owen

“This book starts out slowly, with an unconventional Victorian-era romance and builds to an unexpected development by the end of part one. Owen continues the slow boil of suspense with a curiously-enticing plot, centering on members of an exclusive London gentleman’s club who are testing the boundaries of their own organization. For those who enjoy historical fiction with a twist.”

—Lucy Lockley, St. Charles City-County Library, St. Peters, MO

 

Rogues edited by George R.R. Martin & Gardner Dozois

“This anthology is worth reading for the Rothfuss’s story alone! ‘The Lightning Tree’ follows Bast spending a day outside the tavern, which left me anxious for Kingkiller Book 3 to come out. Other stand-outs are stories by Garth Nix, Cherie Priest and Connie Willis. Rogues should enjoy a large audience of Martin fans and is a good entry point to the other contributing authors’ works.”

—Keith Hayes, West Regional Library, Wake County Public Libraries, Cary, NC

 

See http://libraryreads.org for more information and find your next great read!

 

Meet the Author: Josh Malerman

Josh Malerman (who, mark my words, will soon be bestselling author Josh Malerman) will be at Schuler Books & Music on 28th Street in Kentwood at 7:00 PM on Friday, May 16. Go. Please, go.

From time to time I sneak into our assistant director’s office and borrow a few of her LibraryReads hopefuls. That’s how I got ahold of .

It was several months ago, but I haven’t stopped thinking about this post-apocalyptic, stark and terrifying-in-broad-daylight novel by Detroit’s Malerman (also the lead singer of rock band The High Strung). The clipped dialogue and short, tight sentences matched the book’s “frantic in a sort of hopeless way, really” pace. It’s crazy-original, and just wicked, wicked good fiction.

Universal Pictures has already optioned the movie rights – of course they have, and it has the potential to be a terrific flick. But to get the full effect, read the book.

Need more convincing before you go to Schuler on Friday? Here’s a recent article.

 

Early Lit Bits: Music Minute

May is a great month to celebrate rhythm and music. Save all those left-over plastic Easter eggs and put them to good use as maracas and shaker instruments. Choose some interesting ingredients for filler, like dried rice, pasta, beans, gravel, metal pop can tabs or even sand. Fill each egg with a different substance to make a unique sound, then seal with hot glue or clear adhesive tape. For older children, try filling two eggs with each substance to create a matching game! See if your child can identify which eggs sound the same. Eggs can easily be stored in an egg carton.

Have your child copy your movements as you sing this fun shaker egg song to the tune of London Bridge is Falling Down:

 

Can you shake along with me?

Can you shake your eggs with me,

Eggs with me, Eggs with me?

Can you shake your eggs with me?

It’s so easy!

Place your shaker on your knee,

On your knee, on your knee.

Place your shaker on your knee,

It’s so easy! (Add as many verses as you like, using the same pattern.)

For even more fun, try a selection of children’s music to add to your shaker egg activities:

Alabama Mississippi by Jim Gill Jim Gill Sings the Sneezing Song and Other Contagious Tunes
I Know a Chicken by Laurie Berkner Whaddaya Think of That? 

–Sara M. at KDL’s Sand Lake Branch

 

Happy Mother’s Day!

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.

Meet the Author: Jaime Westenbarger

Jaime Westenbarger, President and CEO of Forest Hills Financial and author of a chapter in Steve Forbes’ new book Successonomics, will visit two KDL branches to present “Would You Be a Client of Your Business?” Jaime will be at the Cascade Township Branch at 6:30 PM on Monday, May 19, and at the Plainfield Township Branch at 6:30 PM on Wednesday, May 21. Learn how to grow your business even in the toughest of times. Free copies of Successonomics will be distributed and a book signing will take place.

We hope to see you there!

KDL Top Ten — Crafts

If you love all things creative, grab some books from our Crafts section.  Stitch, knit, crochet, paint, bead, decoupage, felt, refurbish… You get the picture.  Have fun!  And enjoy this week’s Top Ten:

For more arts and crafts resources, follow us on Pinterest.

Start a Fire – Outdoor Cooking

Winter seemed endless but finally grilling season is here! Time to clean out the grill and get ready to try some new recipes! Or maybe you need something new to cook over an open fire while camping. KDL has the resources for you. Check out our new booklist Start a Fire – Outdoor Cooking.

You can request any of the titles on this list for pick up at any Kent District Library branch. The titles range from The New Trailside Cookbook: 100 Delicious Recipes for the Camp Chef to Pizza on the Grill Expanded: 100+ Feisty Fire-Roasted Recipes for Pizza & More. So shake those winter blues and get grilling today!

 

Catalog Maintenance Tonight

The online catalog will be unavailable tonight as the Lakeland Library Cooperative performs routine maintenance on the server. Downtime will begin around 9:15 PM and will last 30-90 minutes.

Library services that will NOT be available during this time include:

Browsing both the Encore and “classic” catalog websites
Viewing your account online
Placing holds and renewing items (including MeLCat items)
Placing holds on or downloading eBooks and eAudiobooks
Downloading music from Freegal

Thank you for your patience!