U.S. Mourns the Death of Civil Rights Activists

July 18, 2020 | Boydl

On Friday, July 17, 2020, America lost two very influential and important Civil Rights icons. Rep John Lewis and Rev C.T. Vivian. We have curated some materials below which relate to their contributions toward and about the Civil Rights Movement. 

The voting rights war : the NAACP and the ongoing struggle for justice by Gloria J Browne-Marshall
March. Book 1 by 1940 February 21- John Lewis
Also available in: e-book

New Middle Grade Realistic and Historical Fiction

July 1, 2020 | Boydl

Realistic fiction is just like it sounds, fiction that could actually happen or seems plausible. Wonder by R. J. Palacio is a prime example of this genre. Realistic fiction can take place in the current time, or from times past. This type of realistic fiction is referred to as historical. An example of a popular historical fiction novel is The War that Saved my Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley. These days books written for Middle-Grade readers are better than ever now, with many authors touching on topics that are timely and could have been borrowed from headlines past and present. Below are some new novels in this genre, as well as some backlist bumps toward the bottom.  

Planet Earth is blue by Nicole Panteleakos

Autistic and nearly nonverbal, twelve-year-old Nova is happy in her new foster home and school, but eagerly anticipates the 1986 Challenger launch, for which her sister, Bridget, promised to return

Nowhere boy by Katherine Marsh

 

Fourteen-year-old Ahmed, a Syrian refugee living on his own in Brussels, Belgium, meets Max, a thirteen-year-old American boy, and the two form an important friendship

Dystopian YA for Fans of Popular Series

July 1, 2020 | Boydl

Young Adult dystopian books remain popular. Dystopian novels are set in an alternate setting that can have similarities to the world we know. Many of the books and seem to focus on female protagonists and give attention to intersections involving race, gender, power and empowerment, sexuality, class, and social justice issues. Though these novels are set in a fictional future, some of them seem eerily familiar and not too far fetched. We are going to start with newer titles below, and then there are some backlist bumps near the bottom. Enjoy! 

Newer Dystopian:

The light at the bottom of the world by London Shah

Leyla McQueen, who lives beneath the ruins of a submerged London in 2099, joins a prestigious submersible race in the hope of clearing her father's name before encountering government corruption and a hidden world. 

Newer Early Chapter Book Series

June 25, 2020 | Boydl

Looking for a new series to read? Check out these newer series for readers who love to read with a continuing cast of characters! See read-alike suggestions next to each book to pick a great new series today.

The haunted house next door by Andres Miedoso

This series is about a ghost hunting investigator and is recommended for lovers of Eerie Elementary and The Haunted Library. 

How to test a friendship [electronic resource] : Magnificent makers series, book 1. by Theanne Griffith

Upbeat STEAM-based fiction with a lovable cast of characters perfect for fans of Pete the Cat and Mercy Watson. 

STEAM Stop Gross Science: Dissecting Owl Pellets

Boydl
Owl making a surprised face, words Gross Science Owl Pellets

Owl puke is fascinating. Not convinced? All patrons aged 7 years old and up are invited to join us for a Virtual STEAM program where we will investigate owl vomit (commonly called pellets). Each patron can pick up an actual owl pellet and tools that the library will provide to you so can dissect them LIVE with us! Registration begins on July 6 and ends on July 17.

How will we do this live?

First, make sure you have a device that supports Zoom.

Next, register at the link below. 

Then, you will receive an email directing you to schedule a time to pick up your Gross Science kit at the library.

Finally, you will receive an email 24 hours before the program begins with the Zoom link to join us live and dissect our owl pellets together! All program kits must be picked up by July 22 in order to participate. 

Upcoming sessions

There are no upcoming sessions available.

STEAM SQUARE: Splash Lab

June 15, 2020 | Boydl
Splash lab, hose nozzle, glass of ice water, water ballon splashing

Splash lab is all about using different principles of STEAM to explore one of our most abundant compounds made of two elements: hydrogen and oxygen. Though water is everywhere on Earth, it is a very unusual compound because of the nature of the chemical bonds between its atoms. Here are a few facts:

  • Water is denser in its liquid state than in its solid-state, which is why ice can float on or in liquid water.
  • Water has an unusually high boiling point based on its molecular weight.
  • Water is often referred to as the "universal solvent" because of its amazing ability to dissolve so many substances.

We have collected the following activities for you to experiment with water this summer.   

Skittle Investigation

STEAM Stop

June 15, 2020 | Boydl
Image of the acronym S T E A M

 

This is the landing page for our 62 Days of Summer STEAM Stops! The acronym STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math. Please scroll down to see what we have available to keep you and yours engaged this summer.

 

STEAM Stop: Flight

Summer Jams

June 15, 2020 | Boydl
Summer Jams, boombox playing music, logos of camping, BBQ, and pool

We have got you covered on some music to groove to this summer! Whether you are having a social distancing or virtual block party this summer, or your family is enjoying a backyard cookout, we want to provide you with some options for a summer soundtrack. We have two playlists to choose from on multiple platforms to stream or download for later. We also have provided some links below to our in house music collection as well as digital titles for you to download for free with your Canton Public Library card! 

 

 

Exclusive CPL Playlists

STEAM Stop: Performance Science

June 15, 2020 | Boydl
STEAM Performance, couple dancing, Dj playing music, actors

With this STEAM Square, we invite you to use different aspects of performance to complete the challenges below. There is science behind several aspects of performance, and we have included challenges related to acting, writing, singing, composing, and dancing for you to enjoy this summer. Curious about how a focus on the performing arts is integral to science and math? Read this article from Forbes magazine or check out our links below to see correlations you be unaware of.

 

Looking for more stuff to do? Check out our other STEAM Stop activities here or head back to the 62 Days of Summer home page for more ways to participate in the summer program!

 

 

Dance Challenge

STEAM Stop: Gross Science

June 15, 2020 | Boydl
dripping words Gross Science, fly farting, pile of poo, a moldy old broken bone

It is necessary to experiment and learn about the things related to the gross area of science because though it seems a bit yucky, it is necessary for us to understand how things work. An example would be studying sweat and perspiration to make sure that our bodies are fueled correctly for the activities we want to participate in. Another relates to understanding how our skin repairs itself with blisters, scabs, and scars to help facilitate healing and prevent infection. Everyone poops, so why not explore and learn more on the physics related to poop? And finally, we have some experiments to uncover the germiest place in your home. Tune into this TED Talk on Gross Science to find out more about the importance of the gross part of science. 

Want to experiment on your own? Below are some activities and materials for all ages and abilities to explore this topic in different ways. 

Bodily Functions

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