Kent District Library (MI)'s Blog, page 92

The Affordable Care Act: Learn More

Priority Health and Kent District Library present The Affordable Care Act and You, a FREE informational seminar for those age 64 and younger who are responsible for purchasing health benefits for their family. Topics include why you should get health insurance, how you can get covered and when and how to enroll for coverage in the Healthcare Marketplace.

Schedule:

Monday, December 2, 6:30 PM – Krause Memorial branch

Wednesday, December 4, 6:30 PM – Wyoming branch

Thursday, December 5, 6:30 PM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch

Wednesday, December 11, 6:30 PM – Grandville branch

Thursday, December 12, 6:30 PM – Plainfield branch

For maps to our branches, click here.

If you are unable to attend one of these sessions, Priority Health has made their materials available for download at http://www.priorityhealth.com/member/plans/health-reform/toolkit.

 

Two for Tuesday – Dystopian Thrillers

 

2 Adult Dystopian Thrillers

Pure by Julianna Baggott

In a post-apocalyptic world where those undamaged by the cataclysmic events are kept safely inside the Dome, a young girl on the outside teams up with a boy on the inside to search for his missing mother.

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Living in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims, Justin March, a man from a near-future world decimated by religious extremists, is invited to join an elite branch of the military by genetically enhanced soldier Mae, with whom he confronts formidable enemies to solve a string of ritual murders.

 

Deadline for Write Michigan is Approaching!

The deadline for submitting an entry to the second annual Write Michigan Short Story contest is November 30… so get writing! Opportunities like this don’t come around every day, so don’t miss out on this chance to get published and win money! With categories for youth, teen and adult, the entire family can participate.

See www.writemichigan.org for complete details.

 

 

 

2013 Thumbs Up! Award Winner

The votes have been tallied and a winner has been announced!  The Reluctant Journal of Henry K. Larsen by Susin Nielsen received the top Thumbs Up! award for 2013. This is a phenomenal book dealing with bullying and loss.  Henry’s family is shattered after his brother Jesse leaves the house with a hunting rifle. The book is about Henry coming to terms with everything that happened to his brother and his family and how he slowly lets people into his life. This book already has received numerous awards including the 2013 Canadian Library Association’s Children’s Book of the Year. A great read for a reluctant middle or high-school reader!

There were three additional books chosen for honor nominations:  Every Day by David Levithan, How to Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller and The Last Dragonslayer by Jasper Fforde.

           

Program Cancelled: Feeding Wars – Stop the Struggles

Due to unforseen circumstances, the Feeding Wars – Stop the Struggles program scheduled at the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch tonight (Monday, November 18 at 6:00 PM) has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and will let you know if and when the program is rescheduled.

New Booklists

Winter weather is fast approaching, so it’s the perfect time to sit back, relax and enjoy a book from some of our latest booklists:

Amish Series You May Have Missed

Publishing (Yes, You Can Publish)

Middle East History, or Turmoil and War

Books to Films

Glimpses of Heaven (Near-Death Experiences)

 

For additional booklists, be sure to check out the KDL Recommends section on our website.

 

Early Lit Bits: Book Review — “Mr. Tiger Goes Wild”

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild by Peter Brown

It is author Peter Brown’s opinion that everyone should find time to go a little wild, as does Mr. Tiger in this new picture book. Bored by city life and proper manners, Tiger decides to venture out into the wilderness. Soon the other animals join him and find time to be wild, too.

While reading together one-on-one, talk about the different animals in this book and ask your child to identify them. The animals in the book also use some fabulous vocabulary as well. Talk about words that may be unfamiliar such as “peculiar” and “magnificent,” and help your child define them. Of course you’ll need to practice your very best “roars” as you read together. Talking about words and meanings helps expand your child’s vocabulary and is a great way to get ready to read!

– Liz W. at KDL’s Plainfield Township branch

 

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.

 

Aviation History Month

November is Aviation History month — it has been 110 years since the Wright Brothers first flight!

If you need a great audiobook for your upcoming holiday trip, be sure to check out One Summer: America 1927 by Bill Bryson.  While the book covers much more than aviation, it does have extensive information on the early aviation field as well as Lindbergh’s famous 1927 flight from New York to Paris.  Plus the audiobook is read by the author, which adds to the audio experience.

For the kids, try Amelia Lost: The Life and Disappearance of Amelia Earhart by Candace Fleming.  Amelia has been missing for 74 years but her legend lives on.  This book covers the life of Amelia as well as interesting sidelines about the history of aviation.

 

KDL Top Ten – 11/15/2013

This week’s Top Ten presents the 10 hottest Cookbooks at KDL!  Stir up something new, stop by our Cooking section today.

And while you’re here — what’s your favorite cookbook?

Learn a New Language Through Film

Always wanted to learn a foreign language? You may already know about Mango Languages, an easy, effective language learning resource available FREE to all KDL cardholders. Mango offers courses in 61 foreign languages and 17 ESL languages and is available online or with free mobile apps for iOS and Android. Now, Mango has gotten even better with the launch of their new Mango Premiere feature, which teaches language, grammar, vocabulary and culture through feature films.

There are currently four movies available – Kung-Fu Dunk (Mandarin Chinese), Negative Happy Chainsaw Edge (Japanese), I’ll Believe You (ESL for Spanish speakers) and The Diary of Anne Frank (ESL for Spanish speakers) — with a total of 20 movies in 7 different languages planned to be released by the end of the year.

Watch the video below to see Mango Premiere in action, then start using it today!

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YJy50B4Jxg