May We Suggest?

May We Suggest?This blog provides customized book recommendations to our patrons. To get your own, just fill out the May We Suggest form and you can expect results within 10 days. You can also like May We Suggest on facebook.

Count Fireflies

June 15, 2020 | Michelle

Picture this--the breeze is gentle, the air is warm, but not muggy, the sun gently setting so it is not quite dark but not quite light, out pops a yellow dot of light. It catches your eye and you then see it again, and another, and another.  The magical glow from hundreds of tiny fireflies light up your yard and you run to catch one, just to see if you can.  Fireflies are amazing little creatures and we have some great ways for you to explore more about them in this 62 Days square.

 

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

By The Book!

Libraries and Books: A Celebration for Children

June 15, 2020 | strande

 

Can't get enough stories about literature and people who create and distribute it? Explore the following titles that touch on topics like the importance of books and libraries, the hidden lives of authors and librarians, and more.

How to read a book by Kwame Alexander
Also available in: e-audiobook

A poetic and beautiful journey about the experience of reading. Begins with planting oneself beneath a tree and leads to a book party one hopes will never end.

Dreamers by Yuyi Morales
Also available in: e-book | audiobook | e-audiobook | video | e-video

A celebration of making your home with the things you always carry: your resilience, your dreams, your hopes and history. It's the story of finding your way in a new place, where one beacon of hope and support is the local library.

Grow Green

June 15, 2020 | Michelle

Gardening comes in many shapes and sizes from the super elaborate outdoor garden maze that takes up acres of land and you can see from a helicopter to the simple succulent in a small pot on your windowsill. No matter what kind of gardener you are (or are striving to be), there are many resources available to help you complete this 62 Days square and Grow Green.

 

Head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

Photo by Michelle Neuwirth Gray

By The Book!

Books for Inspiring Dance

June 15, 2020 | strande
Dancer in Brazil by Diego Rosa on Unsplash.jpg

 

 

Looking for inspiration to start your next dance party? Maybe you just need a rest from an endless succession of dance breaks?

Try some of the dance-themed reads listed below. Those intended for older audiences are further down. Those at the beginning might be appreciated by all ages.

And of course, there are always more dance books to be found in our library catalog. Use the search options to browse our collections, you can use keywords and subject headings to find different lists of items to browse. You can also ask a librarian for assistance.

Flora and the peacocks by Molly Schaar Idle
Also available in: e-book

In this wordless book with interactive flaps, a little girl named Flora forms a friendship with two peacocks as the three learn to dance together. You can find Flora in many other books if you can't get enough. She's also on Hoopla.

Confronting Racism with Kids

June 1, 2020 | strande

 

Parents and caregivers have many difficult jobs, but talking about hard things with kids can be one of the most challenging. These discussions do not happen once, but over and over again as children grow. Sometimes the hardest part is getting started. The following books and resources can help you begin. 

e-Picture Books

Sulwe [electronic resource]. by Lupita Nyong'o
Also available in: print

Sulwe has skin the color of midnight. She is darker than everyone in her family. She is darker than anyone in her school. Sulwe just wants to be beautiful and bright, like her mother and sister. Then a magical journey in the night sky opens her eyes and changes everything. 

April is Autism Acceptance Month

April 1, 2020 | sobczakd

April is Autism Acceptance Month! Autism is a set of complex, developmental challenges that affect an individual's social skills, communication, relationships and self-regulation. About 1 in 59 children are diagnosed with autism in the United States. Want to learn more? You can contact the Autism Alliance of Michigan. The library has resources to help too! 

Autism spectrum disorder : what every parent needs to know

This accessible and authoritative guide helps parents understand how autism spectrum disorder is defined and diagnosed and offers an overview of the most current behavioral and developmental therapies for children with ASD. Topics include: symptoms, accessing care, services in the community, and the role of complementary and alternative medicine. Parents will also find inspirational and relatable stories from other caretakers, helping them feel less alone. 

Ten things every child with autism wishes you knew by Ellen Notbohm

A child's voice leads into each chapter, offering a one-of-a-kind exploration into how ten core characteristics of autism affect our children's perceptions and reactions to the surrounding physical, sensory and social environments. This revised and updated third edition sharpens the focus on these basic aspects while expanding on how our own perspectives shape the life of our child and ourselves, today, tomorrow, and for years to come. An all-new section illuminates the surprising breadth of our power of choice and outlines potent strategies for strong decision-making in every situation. 

March 23 is National Puppy Day!

March 20, 2020 | sobczakd

National Puppy Day celebrates the unconditional love, affection and joy a puppy can bring to our lives. Statistically, people who have pets in their home lead happier and healthier lives. If you don't own a furbaby, consider adoption at your local animal shelter. Need ideas to celebrate National Puppy Day? Dress up your pet for a fun photoshoot, enjoy the dog park together, make a homemade dog treat, get your dog a new toy, or donate or volunteer to get your dose of puppy love! Here's some books from our pet collection to learn more! 

The golden rules of positive puppy training : everything you need to know for your puppy's first year by Jean Cuvelier

Whether you've had a puppy before, it's been awhile, or you're totally new to having a furry friend, this go-to guide is fun to read, visually adorable, and full of must-have information. Providing easy step-by-step instructions on training methods and how to best care for a puppy, this is an enjoyable read with tons of helpful tips and charming drawings and photographs to prepare you and your new puppy for a wonderful first year together! 

Puppy training in 7 easy steps : everything you need to know to raise the perfect dog by Mark Van Wye

If you're anything like most new puppy parents, it won't take long to realize that your fuzzy little bundle of joy can also bark, chew, jump, and mysteriously get into A LOT of trouble around the house. Don't panic--slowly remove the shoe from your pup's mouth and open this book, because it's time to start successfully training. Puppy Training in 7 Easy Steps is a practical, step-by-step guide to guarantee that your cute and curious friend stays cute. From puppy proofing your home to mastering need-to-know commands, this fool-proof training manual sets you and your canine companion up for a lifetime of positively reinforced obedience and tail-wagging fun!

Let's Talk About Germs

March 10, 2020 | marianne

Looking to start a conversation with your children about the importance of hygiene, hand washing, and preventing the spread of germs? Check out these Juvenile Fiction and Nonfiction selections below. Click on the titles for exact location and availability.

Juvenile Fiction

The Berenstain Bears come clean for school by Jan Berenstain

Nevertheless, She Persisted

March 1, 2020 | SuzyQ

In honor of Women's History Month learn about some of the intelligent and fearless women who have shaped the world's history.

Hidden figures : the American dream and the untold story of the Black women mathematicians who helped win the space race by Margot Lee Shetterly
Magnificent minds : sixteen remarkable women of science and medicine by Pendred Noyce

Spanning five centuries, details the lives of sixteen women who've made significant contributions to the fields of science and medicine.

Katherine Johnson, NASA Mathematician, 1918-2020

February 24, 2020 | strande
Reaching for the Moon book cover

 

Katherine Johnson was a talented mathematician in a field dominated by white men.

After graduating high school at the age of 15 in the midst of the Great Depression, she earned a full scholarship to West Virginia State Institute's math department. Johnson briefly taught high school and then in 1940 was one of the first Black graduate students chosen to integrate West Virginia University.

In 1953 she began work as a research mathematician for what would become NASA. Katherine Johnson shattered barriers for all women, but particularly for Black women, earning the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015.

To celebrate the inspirational life of Katherine Johnson, check out the resources below or explore NASA's website. Learn about her and other amazing barrier-breaking mathematicians and scientists.

Reaching for the Moon : the autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson by Katherine G Johnson

This is Johnson's autobiography, but there are many books to introduce readers to her life in the Children's Biography collection.

Pages