Youth

February 1 marks the beginning of African American History Month. To learn more about African American history, visit the display in the Troy Library's Youth Services study area. The display includes books on famous African Americans such as Jackie Robinson, W.E.B. Dubois, Frederick Douglass, and Michael Jackson.

When you visit the display, be sure to check out the Newbery Award honor book The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, written by Flint native Christopher Paul Curtis, and the Carter G. Woodson Book Award-winning Through my Eyes, by Ruby Bridges.

Show friends and family just how much you love them this Valentine's Day with beautiful, handmade valentines.

Children of all ages are invited to drop in to the Youth Craft Room at the Troy Public Library on Saturday, February 11 from 2-4pm for M.Y.O.V.: Make Your Own Valentine! You bring the creativity and we will provide the supplies. 

Make sure to check out our selection of Valentine's Day craft books for even more fun projects to make. 

The American Library Association has announced the awards for books and media for children and young adults.  The most well-known of the awards are the Newbery and Caldecott Medals, considered to be the Academy Awards of children’s literature.

The Newbery Medal for the most distinguished contribution to American Literature for children was awarded to Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, in which twelve-year-old Jack Gantos spends the summer of 1962 grounded for various offenses until he is assigned to help an elderly neighbor with a most unusual chore involving the newly dead, molten wax, twisted promises, Girl Scout cookies, underage driving, lessons from history, typewriting, and countless bloody noses. The Newbery Committee chose two Honor Books:  Inside Out & Back Again by Thanhha Lai and Breaking Stalin’s Nose by Eugene Yelchin.

This year’s Caldecott Medal for most distinguished American picture book went to A Ball for Daisy illustrated by Chris Raschka, a tender and colorful wordless book about losing a special toy and finding a new friend. Three Honor Books were named: Blackout, illustrated and written by John Rocco, Grandpa Green, illustrated and written by Lane Smith; and Me…Jane, illustrated and written by Patrick McDonnell.

Click here for more information about these and all of the Youth Media Awards.

Andy, a pure-bred labrador retriever, and Jane Alkon are part of the nationally recognized Canine READ Program(Reading Education Assistance Dogs). Andy has worked for 3 1/2 years as a therapy dog, inspiring children and adults, listening to children read, and making friends.

Andy and Jane will be at the Troy Public Library on Saturday, February 18, at 11 am. Jane will read from her newest book on his work The Remarkable Mr. Boy.

Troybery 2012 is underway! All middle school students in the Troy School District can participate in this popular reading program. Students should register at their school and read a minimum of three selected titles. Readers then have the opportunity to vote for the winner in April. 

Once again, the Troy Public Library is happy to be a partner in Troybery 2012. The Library has all the titles selected for the program. In order to make the books available to as many students as possible, individuals may check out only two Troybery titles at a time. Books are checked out for seven days and cannot be renewed.

If you have any questions or would like assistance placing holds for these Troybery 2012 books, please contact a Youth Services librarian at ysref@troymi.gov or 248.524.3541.

Christmas came early to the Troy Public Library this year, in the form of a $2,300 donation from southeast Michigan businesswomen representing Meritor, Henry Ford Health Systems, GM and Inforum. These women are part of a leadership class that included a community service project.

This donation will enhance the Library’s Special Needs collection, and be used for materials and equipment for children with reading disabilities associated with visual impairments such as albinism, dyslexia, ADHD, traveling eye, an inability to see color, and more.

The Library will purchase large print materials, with emphasis on novels for ages 8-12; non-fiction books on visual impairments; and magnifiers to assist in reading. The Friends of the Troy Public Library have contributed an additional $300 towards this project, to purchase kits with special reading materials and magnifiers that children can use at home.

Join us for a special story time, at 11:15 am, on Saturday, January 21, to introduce the community to our new collection. This event is especially for children ages pre-school through 2nd grade. Afterw the event, there will be a demonstration on how to download ebooks to ereaders, and a tour of the enhanced Special Needs Collection.