Learn how your daily activities affect the water quality of area rivers. Rivers and Rain Barrels will take place at several KDL branches this spring.  The West Michigan Environmental Action Council will discuss what each of us can do to protect our treasured resources. Participants can also construct rain barrels for $20, which can be paid by cash or check. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited. Please register online or by calling 784-2007.

Schedule:
Saturday, March 9, 10:30 AM – Spencer Township branch
Wednesday, April 24, 6:30 PM – Alpine Township branch
Thursday, April 25, 6:30 PM – Grandville branch
Monday, April 29, 6:30 PM – Plainfield Township branch
Thursday, May 2, 6:30 PM – Tyrone Township branch

The library is the place for building fun! Several KDL branches will host a Family Building Bricks Party this spring. It’s your chance to design, build and bond. Bring the whole family and create a towering monument using the library’s building bricks. The best part? There’s no big mess at home to clean up!

Schedule:

Saturdays, March 2, April 6 and May 4, 10:00 AM – Grandville branch
Saturday, March 9, 10:00 AM – East Grand Rapids branch
Saturday, March 9, 2:00 PM – Gaines Township branch
Saturdays, March 9, April 13 and May 11, 2:00 PM – Comstock Park branch
Saturdays, March 9 and April 20, 2:00 PM – Caledonia Township branch
Saturday, March 16, 10:30 AM – Tyrone Township branch
Saturday, March 23, 10:00 AM – Walker branch
Saturdays, March 23, April 20 and May 18, 10:30 AM – Alpine Township branch
Saturdays, March 30 and April 27, 2:00 PM – Plainfield Township branch
Monday, April 1, 1:00 PM – Englehardt branch

Get your creative juices flowing and join us for some creation mania at the library!

Teen angst, drama… not in these books!  These teen titles are KDL Happiness Project approved… sure to turn those frowns upside down!

I recently watched One Night in Turin, an awesome sport documentary that focuses on the English soccer team during the 1990 World Cup.  It is narrated by actor Gary Oldman and includes match action as well as never before seen footage.

The Barclay’s Premier League is now a world-leading soccer league which attracts interest from foreign investors and spectators from all over the globe. But before the Premier League became the shining star that it is today, English football was in a state of shame, scarred by hooliganism and a struggling national team. That is, until Sir Bobby Robson took charge of the English National team and during the 1990 World Cup in Italy managed to restore the hope of the nation and faith in their national game.

KDL has lots of other great documentaries on DVD; be sure to check out your local branch and see what they have.

This March, KDL is offering fantastic prizes to residents who register for a library card. These rewards are a fun way to encourage new customers to take advantage of the great services and resources available at KDL.

Don’t worry — existing cardholders can also reap worthwhile benefits!

Look for this image at the following vendors and proudly display your KDL card to connect with special discounts. Visit these local businesses and let them know you appreciate all the perks of having a KDL library card!

• Clique Coffee Bar, 1600 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, 10% off all orders
• Creekside Garden Center, 4015 Fruit Ridge Ave. NW, Grand Rapids, 10% off all merchandise
  (not in conjunction with other discounts)
• Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Arena, 130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, $7 off the price of a Lower Level Faceoff ticket for all Sunday and Wednesday home games
• PJ’s Pizza, 3836 52nd St. SE, Kentwood, 10% off all orders
• Quaker Steak & Lube, 515 28th St., Kentwood, 15% off all orders

The best part? These deals are good for the whole year!

Recently, I finished reading two Historical Fiction books for Teens that really grabbed my attention.  I finished each book with a little sadness because they are not part of a series so I had to leave those characters behind.  The first one is Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys.  (Her first book Between Shades of Grey was excellent also!)  Out of the Easy is set during the 1950s in the French Quarter of New Orleans and the story centers around Josie Moraine.  Josie desperately wants to escape her life in the French Quarter, where her mother works as a prostitute, and go to college.  But she becomes entangled in a murder investigation which may tie her tighter to everything she wants to leave behind.

The other book is Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein.   This book is set during World War II and is divided into two parts.  The first part is narrated by “Verity”, who has been captured by the Germans while she is working as a spy in France.  The story she tells is how the Germans were able to capture and torture her for information and about her friendship with a British girl named Maddie.  The second part is Maddie who helps the reader understand who “Verity” really is and ties up the questions from part I.  This is a story that will linger with the reader after the book is finished!

The Coretta Scott King Book Awards are given annually to outstanding African American authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults that demonstrate an appreciation of African American culture and universal human values. The award commemorates the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and honors his wife, Mrs. Coretta Scott King, for her courage and determination to continue the work for peace and world brotherhood.

Take a look at our Coretta Scott King Author Award Winners booklist and our Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Winners booklist.

The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

The 2013 Newbery Medal winner is The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate. Ivan’s transformative emergence from the “Ape at Exit 8” to “The One and Only Ivan, Mighty Silverback,” comes to life through the gorilla’s own distinct narrative voice, which is filled with wry humor, deep emotion and thought-provoking insights into the nature of friendship, hope and humanity.

The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children.

The 2013 Caldecott Medal winner is This Is Not My Hat, written and illustrated by Jon Klassen.

In this darkly humorous tale, a tiny fish knows it’s wrong to steal a hat. It fits him just right. But the big fish wants his hat back. Klassen’s controlled palette, opposing narratives and subtle cues compel readers to follow the fish and imagine the consequence.

One great way to entice children to become actively engaged in music is to use scarves. Any light-weight, sheer fabric will work as a great dancing scarf to help direct movement in a more rhythmic way. Have children wave the scarf around, make it fly like a kite or flap like a flag.

Some great songs to use with scarves with directed movement are Silly Dance Contest by Jim Gill, Shake Your Scarves by Johnette Downing, Coconut Soap by Frank Leto or Rock and Roll Freeze Dance by Hap Palmer. Just grab a scarf and pick some of your favorite tunes to dance and have a fun, family experience with your child.

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.

View 10 of the most popular titles in Children’s Nonfiction at KDL this month — click on the link to the KDL Top Ten List!  Kids really click with Lego!  If your youngsters like Lego too, come join us at one of our Family Building Bricks Parties!