If guys are looking for books that will keep them laughing, look no further than James Patterson as he brings back the hilarious Rafe Khatchadorian, this time at summer camp trying to fend off the popular kids in How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill; or Tom Angleberger who gets the origami rebel alliance together at McQuarrie Middle School in The Surprise Attack of Jabba the Puppett. If guys want edge-of-their-seat action, they won’t want to miss the Lauren Tarshis thriller I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 or book four of the Infinity Ring series, Curse of the Ancients.

For a complete list of Guy’s Read lists and recommendations, visit KDL’s Guys Read page, and for a list of new materials coming out this summer, visit KDL’s future releases page.

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=21606 0 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=21895 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=21895#comments Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:00:08 +0000 Morgan J. http://blog.kdl.org/?p=21895 Just try Googling “college financial aid” and see if your head doesn’t explode from all the information. The link below is considered by many to be Step 1 for any students looking to expand their education beyond high school.

Federal Student Aid Web Resources provides a list of websites that are available to students to help them learn about and apply for financial aid. The document also includes shortcut URLs to popular topics and lists resources for those who assist students in learning about financial aid.

This site comes from the U.S. Department of Education, which provides more than $150 billion in financial aid to college and career school students each year.

Music on the Deck
Come enjoy a summer evening with live music on the library deck.
Thursdays, June 13 – July 25, 7:00 PM (no program July 4) – Caledonia Township branch

Kentwoodpalooza
Five hours of Peace, Love and Happiness! We’re celebrating the endh of school and the beginning of Summer Reading @ KDL with music, food and prizes! Sponsored by the Friends of the Kentwood Library. For teens grades 6-12.
Wednesday, June 19, 4:00 PM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch

City of Kentwood 2013 Summer Concert Series
Free Wednesday evening concerts held at the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch amphitheater. Bring a blanket for lawn seating or a chair for plaza seating. Sponsored by DTE Energy and the City of Kentwood Arts Committee.
Wednesday, June 19, 7:30 PM –  Lindsay Lou & the Flatbellys (modern bluegrass)
Wednesday, June 26, 7:30 PM –  Northern Skies (Americana folk/rock)
Wednesday, July 31, 7:30 PM –  Wayne and Gordon (50s and 60s soft rock)
Wednesday, August 7, 7:30 PM –  Boogie Woogie Babes (pop/jazz, American songbook)
Wednesday, August 14, 7:30 PM –  Delilah DeWylde and the Lost Boys (rockabilly)

Kevin Kammeraad in Concert
Kevin teams up with his favorite puppets to bring us a fun, interactive musical show that’s sure to get even the youngest movin’ and groovin’.
Thursday, June 27, 2:00 PM – East Grand Rapids branch (Held at John Collins Park)
Thursday, June 27, 7:00 PM – Grandville branch

Carol Johnson in Concert
Join uniquely gifted singer/songwriter Carol Johnson for a lively, upbeat performance of her well-known original songs as well as other familiar tunes. Most are participatory, encouraging us to be good to each other, to ourselves and to the earth. Sponsored by the Friends of the Kentwood Library.
Tuesday, July 16, 10:00 AM – Kentwood (Richard L. Root) branch

Fiddlers ReStrung in Concert
This 19-piece string ensemble from Saline, Michigan, is one of the best high-school Celtic, bluegrass and American folk fiddle groups in the nation, engaging audiences of all ages with their energy and enthusiasm.
Thursday, July 18, 2:00 PM – East Grand Rapids branch (Held at John Collins Park)
Thursday, July 18, 7:00 PM – Grandville branch (Sponsored by Dr. Dave Cramer)

Music at the Market
Put your dancin’ shoes on and swing to toe-tappin’ vintage acoustic blues, jazz and country. The B-Side Growlers will entertain while you shop the market and enjoy a nice summer day. Sponsored by the Grandville Downtown Development Authority.
Tuesday, July 23, 10:30 AM – Grandville branch

Grandville Idol Talent Show
Catch the excitement with one of the city’s best events. The finest young talent in grades K-8 will perform for the top spot. Stop in the library for rules and entry forms. Sponsored by Macatawa Bank.
Thursday, August 1, 7:00 PM – Grandville branch

Happy listening!

Ann Swanson has no idea how much money her family saves each month by using the library, but she’s guessing it’s plenty.

In a typical 30-day span, Ann said, she and her two youngest children check out two movies, a couple of video games and up to 30 books. Then there are the dozen or so books she checks out weekly to read to the children in the daycare she operates. And when they are offered, Ann attends KDL’s Early Childhood Essentials classes for free, rather than paying fees of about $25 per class.

Minus the classes, that’s an estimated $638 the Swanson family checks out in library materials every month, according to KDL’s Value Calculator. And that also doesn’t include the weekly Storytimes she brings her daycare children to at the Kentwood (Richard L. Root) and other branches.

“You should see my calendar at home right now; it’s just filled with anything and everything to do (at KDL) that fits,” said the mother of five. “With such a large family, I never could have afforded to do so many fun things on our own.”

As much as they get from their library, the Swansons also give back. Two of Ann’s children have been library volunteers for many years, and this year her youngest, Kolby, 11, will become the third.

An avid reader since childhood, Ann said she was not a heavy library user until she became a parent because she grew up living far from a public library.

“I think that’s why I really didn’t know all the services that were available at libraries until I had kids of my own,” she said. “I still know people who don’t use libraries and I can’t imagine why not. I definitely get my money’s worth.”

Ann Swanson was the winner of KDL’s “Tell us how KDL has saved your family money” contest, and has received a $25 Schuler Books & Music gift card. Share your own story here.

Though the story is familiar, Teague puts his own twist on this tale, and it becomes clear that the wolf isn’t always bad, just hungry. After their farmer pays them for their work and moves to Florida, the pigs must each decide how to spend their money, with predictable yet humorous results. In the end, all four animals wind up living together in the brick house, happily ever after.

With its large, colorful illustrations, this book is perfect for reading aloud to a group. Because the story is one they have likely heard before, asking children what they think will happen next will elicit a positive response and allow for conversation as you read together. Check out other picture books by Mark Teague and notice how the illustrations are similar. Children delight in seeing characters they recognize in books, and Teague’s comical illustrations help tell his stories. Talking about the pictures and asking what will happen next are both great ways to get your child ready to read!

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.

• Free programs (including the Hybrid Home Guy, free computer classes & more!)
• Summer Reading @ KDL for adults (win great prizes!)
• Free downloadable eBooks, music, and magazines
• Local Indie @ KDL
• Monthly eNewsletters

Enjoy!

Download WJRW6-10-13.mp3

Karen Russell, a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for her debut novel Swamplandia!, is a master of the short story, and her St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves and Vampires in the Lemon Grove are both available at KDL. Also, those who have enjoyed Truman Capote’s A Christmas Memory would also like his Complete Stories. Readers who want to take a quick trip to Latin America for the summer might enjoy Happy Families by Carlos Fuentes. Be warned, however, that those families are not all happy.

Many of these short story collections and more are available for download as eBooks.

]]> http://blog.kdl.org/?feed=rss2&p=21721 0 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=21725 http://blog.kdl.org/?p=21725#comments Sat, 15 Jun 2013 15:00:00 +0000 Katie http://blog.kdl.org/?p=21725 Barb, our wonderful youth librarian at the Byron Township branch, shares her childhood memories of Summer Reading Club:

I grew up in the country and didn’t have many kids to play with in our area.  My sisters were 8 and 12 years older than I was, so they really didn’t want to play much.  My oldest sister started college the same time that I started kindergarten. 

My favorite thing to do was read, and I absolutely loved Summer Reading Club.  One year the program included a chart with the presidents on it.  I can still remember wondering what color president I would have for my chart.  There were about five colors and we didn’t get to choose a color. The following year the theme was states, and again I couldn’t wait to fill in my chart. 

I went to the library every Saturday, and once in a while during the week as well.  I can remember the end of the SRC parties to this day.  I can even remember what the library smelled like.  I read every Nancy Drew book even though the librarian didn’t consider them quality literature. When I ran out of those books, I read biographies and I believe that started my love of American history.  I majored in American studies at college and still love biographies.

Summer Reading Club is a passion of mine;  I want to connect children with the many joys I experienced each summer at the library.  I love SRC and have participated in over 30 of them!

We want to hear your memories too! Please leave us a comment and share your memories of participating in Summer Reading as a child.