Written by: Christopher A. Kearney

Written by: Caroline J. Blakemore and Barbara Weston Ramirez

Written by: Susan M. Greve

Written by: Marion blank, Phd.

If your preschooler can't get enough of cutting, drawing and painting, check out Hands on Art at the Main Library this Friday at 11 am.  This program features simple art for the very young (ages 2-5) plus stories and songs.  Hands on Art focuses on activities that, not only encourage creativity, but also build the skills children need for kindergarten.   The books below will also increase your child's knowledge of art and the world around him.  So check them out and head downtown on Friday, January 4th at 11 am with your own pint-sized Picasso for free, fun, Hands on Art! 

The holiday season blows through, bursting with family and friends!  Gatherings, food, festivities, and joy…

It is that time of the year when we resolve to be better than ever. We have the resources and the knowledge to help you achieve your goals...whether your quest is for a better mind, body, or soul.

Middle school can be a time of change. Your child may have new interests, new friends and lots of new questions. Books are always the best way to explore the world – whether it's a book about different cultures or a book about the girl-next-door. Reading a book alone or together as a family can start a discussion about all those new emotions that are a part of growing up.

What does a clever cat, a literate mouse and Queen Victoria have in common?  They are all characters in The Cheshire Cheese Cat:  A Dickens of a Tale by Carmen Agra Deedy and Randall Wright.  When the story opens, it is the worst of times for poor alley cat, Skilley.  His luck soon changes when he discovers that Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, one of Victorian London's most popular inns, is looking for a mouser.  Just when it appears that Pip and his fellow mice might have met their doom, Skilley surprises everyone with a secret of his own.  That's just the beginning of a tale full of friendship, danger, the chance to save someone and help Mr. Dickens with his novel.  The illustrations by Barry Moser are a welcome addition to a perfect family read aloud.  So, what are you waiting for?  Check it out--this book will prove that reading aloud as a family is certainly the best of times.

Zoom! Vroom! Chugga, Chugga, Choo Choo! Beep! Beep! Beep!