Every January, the American Library Association gives out various awards to children’s books published in the previous year. The Newbery Medal is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children and the Caldecott Medal honors the illustrator responsible for the most distinguished picture book for children. The BTPL Youth Department maintains a noncirculating collection of all Newbery and Caldecott winners as well as several circulating copies of all the award winners. The Newbery Medal has been in existence since 1922. Past winners include Dead End in Norvelt, by Jack Gantos (2012); The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman (2009); and A Wrinkle in Time, by Madeleine L’Engle (1963). Awarded every year since 1938, Caldecott titles include A Ball for Daisy, by Chris Raschka (2012); The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allsburg (1986); and Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, by William Steig (1970). Check these – and the dozens of other winners – out soon!

Of course you can visit our website, www.btpl.org, to find our latest programs, look up things in the catalog, and find our hours of operation, but there are many other virtual services available to you. Every month on the youth page you will find three projects to do with your little one. Selecting the “Read, Watch, Listen” tab takes you to recommended reading lists for various ages and genres. That same tab will connect you to our eLibrary where you can download eBooks and eAudio books. It is also where you can find the link to TumbleBooks, which are online storybooks for your child to read on his or her own. Finally, please make sure to look at the “Homework Help” tab. This is where you will find all of our youth databases. Youth databases cover subjects from science to social studies and everything in between. All of the content is age and academically appropriate making databases a far better search tool than Google for homework assignments.

Do you want some ideas for the next Brownie meeting?  Need to know the requirements for a Boy Scout merit badge?  Are you looking for stories to tell around the campfire?  Youth Services has a Scouting collection that includes the handbooks and badge books for the different levels of both Girl and Boy Scouts.  You can find support, ideas, and information to use with your own scout program.  These materials can be found just to the right of the story room door and are available to be checked out.

PBS will begin Season 3 of Downtown Abbey on January 6, 2013.  You can place holds on the Library's copies of the first two seasons, or watch Season 2 beginning December 2, 2012 on PBS.  There will be one new character to watch out for, Shirley MacLaine, as Martha Levinson, Lady Cora's mother.  It is certain that Lady Violet (Maggie Smith) and Martha Levinson will have their differences this season.  Get your popcorn ready for the new season!

Celebrate Henri Matisse's birthday on December 31.  Born in 1869, Henri was known most for his paintings.  However, he also designed textiles, cut outs and stained-glass windows.  The world gained a renouned artist instead of an attorney, quite by chance when, as Henri, while recouperating from an illness, began painting and drawing.  The Library has an outstanding collection of resources on Henri.

The Library has a wonderful selection of books to help you get organized for the New Year!  Make your New Year's resolution a little early, and get organized with the help of Bloomfield Township Public Library!

Stop by the Library and check out our travel collection.  We have books you can use to plan your winter getaway!  From the Bahama's to Hawaii, we have your travel needs covered!

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It’s time for the second annual Iron Chef Bloomfield Program! Children 8-12 are invited to sign up to compete in this fun cooking competition. Contestants will be divided into teams of three and each team will be tasked with creating a dish using the secret ingredient. Dishes will be judged on taste, presentation and creativity.

Iron Chef Bloomfield II will take place on December 15 at 1p.m. Registration opens on November 26. Click here to register online or call (248) 642-5800. The Youth Department would like to sincerely thank the Friends of the Library for sponsoring this program. 

Dr. Frank McGeorge visited the library on October 11, 2012 to speak about staying healthy during your senior years and to help us unveil the Library's new collection of VITALITY Kits.  You can listen to Dr. McGeorge's talk - watch the video on the BCTV website.

VITALITY Kits are a new collection of resources of senior living materials.  These VITALITY Kits cover a variety of topics including the loss or impairment of physical strength, movement, memory, vision and hearing to issues associated with Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and other issues seniors may be facing.  Kits contain instructional books, DVDs, audio CDs and activities focused on improving the quality of life for seniors.  The VITALITY Kit Collection was made possible by a generous grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Michigan.  These kits are available to borrow for three weeks at a time and are located in the Adult Services area.  Stop by the Library today to find a kit for your needs. 

It is almost America's favorite holiday - Thanksgiving!  There are numerous websites to help you prepare the best meal ever!  Butterball is, of course, a favorite!  This site is filled with expert advice for cooking your turkey and how to use up your leftovers!  The Food Network is prepared to help you build your feast.  Let Paula Deen create and you follow!  Martha Stewart can help you with your cooking AND creating the perfect centerpiece!  Or, you may want to create your very own Thanksgiving, like your Mom used to.   Sometimes that is the best of all.  Enjoy your day with some Lion's football, too! 

Rex Stout, born December 1, 1886, created two of the most enduring characters in the mystery genre: Nero Wolfe and his sidekick Archie Goodwin.  Mr. Stout received the Grand Master Award in 1959 from the Mystery Writers of America.  In case you have never read his works,  there are several books available to borrow at the Library.

71 years ago on December 7, 1941, nearly 200 Japanese aircraft attacked Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.  The raid, which lasted little more than an hour, left nearly 3,000 dead.  Almost the entire United States Pacific Fleet was at anchor there and  just a few ships escaped damage.  Several ships were sunk or disabled while 200 aircraft on the ground were destroyed.  The Library has a vast collection of books on World War II available to borrow.

PJ Theater is a great family program to enjoy at the Library.  Each month is a different show – magicians, puppeteers, movies, and so on – filled with entertainment! All ages are welcome to join us for the fun while wearing their favorite pajamas and munching on snacks from home, if desired. In November, we will be showing the Disney Pixar movie Brave, which is rated PG and runs 100 minutes.  In December, look for a fun holiday show near the end of the month. Who knows what January will bring? Because every month is different, your little one will look forward to the new excitement awaiting him or her at PJ Theater!

The Youth Department extends our sincere thanks to the Friends of Bloomfield Township Public Library for generously supporting PJ Theater. Please visit our events calendar for exact dates and times of this and all other programs.

For the thrills, chills and shivers of the season, why not pick up these ghoulishly delightful selections!  

Scary Sound Effects: Nightmarish Noise for Halloween, music, songs and sound effects for your haunted house.  Child CD 394.26 SCA  

The Big Book of Horror:  21 tales to make you tremble, Adapted by Alissa Herman. Y Story Collection BIG  

Check out Monster High Ghoul Spirit, available in both NDS and Wii.  

A Halloween Cookbook by Sarah L. Schuette. J641.568 SCH  Holiday

Did you know that by using the Freegal database anyone with a Bloomfield Township Library Card can download free music to keep forever? Just enter your library card number and last name to download up to five songs per week. Choose from over 100 genres of music from the Sony Music Entertainment catalog including children’s songs and holiday music. There is also plenty for adults including many of today’s hits from a variety of artists.

The Holiday Collection in the Youth Services Department houses fiction and nonfiction books on almost 40 different holidays celebrated around the world. Organized by calendar year, you can browse everything we have to offer from January to December. We’ll see you in February to learn about Groundhog Day, stop by in April to pick up a book of Earth Day crafts, visit in October to pick up a picture book on Halloween…and, of course, you’re welcome to peruse every holiday in between!  

Use this wonderful and extensive collection to find books about the holidays you celebrate and learn more about the holidays observed by other cultures. This collection is one more way to serve and celebrate our wonderfully diverse community.

Looking for something fresh and new to read?  Find it on the Library's homepage!  Check out the Adult Services Books Listening and Reading page.  This is where to start when you want to find out what's new!  Don't forget to bookmark it!

Luciano Pavarotti would have turned age 77 on October 12!  You can still celebrate his life and his music by checking out some great classics from the Library.  Pavarotti was the most popular tenor of his time.   He was known for his perfect tone, especially his higher ranges.  Widely considered to be the best bel canto singer of the 20th century, he died in Modena, Italy September 6, 2007.

 If your grandchildren are going to be visiting soon, why not ask them to bring the XBox 360, WII or Playstation along with with them?  The Library has an exceptional collection of child and adult games to borrow, and all are free!  According to a 2009 article in The Herald  , video games "are being held up as the catalyst for family bonding and a more healthy lifestyle."  This might be the time to break out and experience something new!  Let your grandkids show you the way!

Charles L. Bowers School Farm, located at 1219 E. Square Lake Road, will be hosting The Haunted Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch again this year.  You won't want to miss this incredible community attraction!