Last Tuesday, January 16th at 8:08pm, a meteor lit up the skies over southeastern Michigan. The vibrations from the noise the meteor made as it entered the atmosphere were strong enough to register as a 2.0 earthquake on the Richter scale! 

But... what is a meteor made of? Where did it come from? Why did it make such a loud noise? What is the difference between a meteor and a shooting star? When does a meteoroid become a meteor? Is a meteor the same as an asteroid? You've got questions and we've got answers! Check out the list of books and DVDs below for your space-related information needs.

Astrophysics for people in a hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson
Also available in: e-book | audiobook | e-audiobook | large print

With Prince Harry's engagement to actress Meghan Markle, an American will join the British family for the first time since King Edward abdicated the throne and married Wallis Simpson in 1937. We've put together this book list (in reverse-chronological order) on British kings and queens, princes and princesses, to satisfy all your royal history and gossip needs. Check the end of the list for films and tv shows. 

Also available in: e-book
A royal duty by Paul Burrell

Today we recognize our fellow citizens, current and past members of the military, for their service to the country.  In this book list you'll find a variety of non-fiction texts including books on WWI, WWII, and the wars in Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan. These books detail the experiences of soldiers across generations and wars, many using our servicemen's and servicewomen's own words, including their experiences upon returning home. Click the blog title and scroll down to view all materials. 

 

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits and services available to veterans, including where to donate funds or volunteer to assist veterans, check out the links below.

Department of Veterans Affairs – Detroit regional benefit office

Veteran Support Center – Michigan chapter

Vietnam Veterans of America – Plymouth-Canton chapter

Department of Veterans Affairs - Volunteer at the VA

Charity Navigator – highly-rated charities dedicated to helping veterans

 

Silhouette Dot Painting

cat painting

 

Looking for something fun and creative to do over Winter break? Join us for silhouette dot painting and create your  own work of art using the wrong end of a paintbrush! It looks neat and it's a blast to do. This program is for ages 9-17. Registration is required.  

Animal by GDJ licensed under CC0 1.0

Upcoming sessions

There are no upcoming sessions available.

Many 80s and 90's kids know Louis Sachar from his Wayside School books, while 00's kids made Holes a bestselling book (and movie). But did you know Sachar has a bunch of other books and is still writing? His latest, Fuzzy Mud, came out in 2015. Check out the list below to introduce these favorites to your kids or discover something new by Sachar for yourself!     

Also available in: video | e-video

Humorous episodes from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, which was accidentally built sideways with one classroom on each story.

More humorous episodes from the classroom on the thirtieth floor of Wayside School, where students learn to tango, face the cafeteria's dreaded Mushroom Surprise, and study a hobo during Show and Tell. Sequel to Sideways stories from Wayside School.

This month saw the publication of The Rules of Magic, Alice Hoffman's prequel to Practical Magic. In honor of this, and the fact that it's Halloween, here is a list of witchy reads for all ages. These books are about witches, witchcraft, magic, or things so incredible they seem like magic! Each of these books (except Practical Magic) came out in 2017, and some were published so recently you can find them on our New Books shelf. 

The rules of magic by Alice Hoffman
Also available in: audiobook
Practical magic by Alice Hoffman
Also available in: e-audiobook | video

Stories about the alleged abusive behavior of Harvey Weinstein have dominated the news lately, as more and more women come forward to share their experiences. In this book list you will find non-fiction resources related to sexual harassment and sexual assault including: books for parents, teens, and children, books for survivors, for  educators, books for family, friends, or anyone interested in learning how to be a good ally. Some of these books feature discussion and analysis aimed at identifying the individual and/or systemic causes of sexual harassment or assault, while memoirs and other survivor accounts shed light on the effects of such abuse.

 

If you have experienced sexual assault, help and support are available by following the links below or by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-565-HOPE(4673).

RAINN - the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization.

First Step - Wayne County, MI non-profit organization providing comprehensive services for victims of domestic and sexual violence.

HAVEN - Oakland County, MI program that provides shelter, counseling, and advocacy for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. 

Teen Dating Violence - information from the Michigan Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Treatment Board.

Michigan Department of Health and Human Services - resources on domestic and sexual violence.

On Education: bodily integrity, healthy relationships, sexual harassment, consent

Provides children with confidence about accepting and rejecting physical contact from others, helping to give children a voice in uncomfortable situations.

The books featured below include stories of athletes who, either by choice or by circumstance, found themselves involved in one or more social issues of the day. If you're looking for children's books on the topic, check out the materials at end of the list. 

Wondering what the deal is with DACA, or "the dreamers," in the news the past few days?  If you'd like to learn more about the history of immigration in the U.S., life as an immigrant in the U.S., or current issues in the debate about immigration, we have resources that can help you. Check out this book list to get started.    

This list of books from our collection includes academic analyses from various disciplines, poetry, in-depth journalistic accounts, fiction, biography, statistics, interviews, history, poetry, and memoir. What these works have in common are their attempts to understand the historic and contemporary roles of race, ethnicity, and racism in the United States.  

Between the world and me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Also available in: e-book | audiobook | large print

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