Today is National Hamburger Day.

Do you love burgers? Really, really love burgers? Then meet Benny. Burgers are all he eats. "If you don't watch out, you'll turn into a burger one day," warns his mom.

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World Turtle Day

Have you ever wondered about turtles? How many kinds are there? Why do turtles have shells? What do they eat? How long can turtles live?

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Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Full Moon

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live on the moon?

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Grandma’s House by Alice Melvin

Exploring this book and all of the wonderful details will evoke many treasured memories if you have ever spent time or spend time at a beloved Grandma’s house. The cutout pages from one room to another and the fold out flaps take you on a detail filled journey to find Grandma. Children and adults will enjoy looking at the pages filled with every little thing one might expect to find in grandma’s house. The journey ends with the granddaughter finding grandma in the garden waiting for her with a birthday tea party.

Reviewed by Michelle Zimostrad, Hoyt Library

Recommended for ages 4-7

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Limerick Day

Check out this light verse form rich with ridiculous humor, wordplay and infectious rhythm. You may end up trying your hand at writing a limerick of your own!

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Happy birthday, Christopher Paul Curtis!

Flint, Michigan native and Newbery Medal winner Christopher Paul Curtis was born on this day in 1953.

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Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this title in our catalog.

Bear and Bunny by Daniel Pinkwater

The delightful singing bear and his tender bunny pal from Bear in Love are back for another tale of friendship and sharing.  Still confused thinking the other is just a different sized version of their own species, the bunny and bear wander, eat, sing, and share their individual adventures with each other.  The bunny suggests one day that they should get a pet.  After a nap, song and meandering about, the silly pair discover and misidentify a new animal to be their companion.  The pastel illustrations tug at your heartstrings while the chums’ lightheartedness will have everyone giggling.

Reviewed by Jennie Tuttle, formerly at Wickes Library

Recommended for preschool - first grade

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It's Cinco de Mayo!

May 5 marks the anniversary of an important victory of the Mexican army over the French in 1862. Cinco de Mayo is a day for celebrating Mexican culture. For history, more cultural information and fun activities check out titles like these:

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Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Don't forget - Saginaw's Cinco de Mayo parade will be held on Saturday, May 7.

May 1 is Mother Goose Day

Celebrate Mother Goose Day by sharing your favorite nursery rhyme.

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Haiku Poetry Day

Today celebrates haiku poetry, a form of Japanese verse which is written in 17 syllables, divided into three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. It uses highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature. Your library has many books of haiku poetry to enjoy, like this one by Japanese master poet Issa.

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National Unicorn Day

Celebrate unicorns (in all their greatness) by reading:

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Counting Lions by Katie Cotton

Counting Lions is an over-sized counting book with some of the most outstanding charcoal drawings.  Each page has an endangered or threatened animal species and a little information about how they live.  On page one is the lion and the charcoal drawing is so beautiful it is hard to tell if it is a drawing or a black and white photograph. This book can be enjoyed by the entire family and give children a gentle insight into animal conservation.

Reviewed by Michelle Zimostrad

Recommended for ages 3 and up

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April is National Poetry Month

Jacqueline Woodson is the Poetry Foundation's Young People's poet laureate. In Brown Girl Dreaming, Woodson uses free verse to share her growing up years.

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Cesar Chavez Day

This day is a  national commemorative holiday in the U.S. as well as the birth date of Cesar Chavez. He was born on March 31, 1927 near Yuma, Arizona and dedicated his later life to helping American farm workers.

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Happy Easter!

Happy Birthday, Kate DiCamillo!

Award-winning writer Kate DiCamillo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on this day in 1964. Celebrate her special style of storytelling with one of these titles.

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Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

World Water Day

Get a cool drink and check out these titles on this precious resource.

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Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Happy First Day Of Spring!

Celebrate Spring with this lovely tribute to the season.

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March Is National Craft Month

Feeling crafty? Visit your library and check out books like these for cool project ideas.

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Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Earmuffs Were Patented On This Day in 1887.

Let's hope we don't need these again until next winter!

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March Is Youth Art Month

Browse the art collection at your library to learn more about famous artists and their work or to make some art of your own!

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Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Click here to find this book in our catalog.

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

I just read it this morning and couldn’t put it down.  When I did, all I could think was, “Wow.”

Long ago, a boy named Otto was lost in the woods and rescued by three sisters imprisoned there by a witch’s curse.  In return for their help, he promises to help break the curse by carrying their spirits hidden in a magical mouth harp—what we know today as a harmonica, and passing the instrument along to the right person at the right time.    This harmonica ties Otto with three other children—Friedrich in Germany during the Third Reich, an orphan Michael during the Great Depression and Ivy during World War II.  Each child has a musical gift and is faced with personal struggles.  Friedrich and his father must escape Nazi Germany because they don’t fall into line with Hitler’s grand scheme.  Michael and his brother are orphans, trying to stay together, and Ivy faces prejudice because she’s Mexican and her friends are Japanese.  Their stories are linked by their musical talents and fate bringing Otto’s harmonica into their lives, coming together in a triumphant conclusion at New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Recommended for grades 5 and up

Reviewed by Kathy Thornhill, Zauel Memorial Library

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I (Don’t) Like Snakes, by Nicola Davies

Our young protagonist DOES NOT  like snakes.  She REALLY REALLY does not like snakes—which the rest of her reptile loving family does not understand.  As she goes through the list of things she does not like about snakes, one-by-one, her family refutes her arguments, explaining why the thing she does not like (i e: they're icky, slimy, scaly skin), is in reality what makes snakes REALLY REALLY cool.   Being a fair young lady, she listens to her family’s arguments favoring snakes, and eventually decides that, yes, snakes are really pretty nifty creatures.

Recommended for grades K-3

Reviewed by Kathy Thornhill, Zauel Memorial Library

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March 2 Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss!!

The beloved writer and illustrator was born on this date in 1902. Visit your library and choose your favorite Dr. Seuss title to read today.

March 1 Today is National Pig Day.

Curl up and wait for spring with The Adventures of a South Pole Pig: A Novel of Snow and Courage by Chris Kurtz.

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It’s Leap Day!

February 29 is known as Leap Day and occurs in most years that are divisible by four. Use your extra day this month to visit your library.

World Read Aloud Day

Funny, sad, or enlightening, celebrate the power of words by reading something aloud today.

Alphabet Trains by Samantha R. Vamos

All aboard!  Two perennial childhood themes combine in this delightful title.  Hop on and chug through the alphabet with rhymes featuring both general and specific trains from around the world.  Young train enthusiasts will appreciate the soft realistic illustrations that incorporate both capital and lowercase versions of each highlighted letter.  A brief glossary provides additional information at an appropriate level.  Whether to read before bed or as part of a storytime, Alphabet Trains is sure to have everyone whistling with pleasure. 

Reviewed by Jennie Tuttle, formerly at Wickes Library

Recommended for ages 3-7

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