Youth

Middle school gamers: Need a fun way to kick off the summer? The Troy Library will have a gaming event on June 23, from 1 - 4 pm in the Library's meeting room.

There will be Nintendo Wii and Play Station 2 consoles available as well as games such as Just Dance 3, DDR, Rock Band, Wii Sports.  Snacks will be provided. Bring your friends. There is no registration necessary.

For more information, contact the Library's Youth Services Department at ysref@troymi.gov or call 248.524.3541.

Introducing the Troy Library's first ever Youth Summer Reading Photo Contest. We want you to send us pictures of you doing your summer reading, in interesting places or with interesting people. We encourage creativity!

The contest runs from June 16 - August 16. Email your photos to ysref@troymi.gov. Include a parent or guardian's name, child's name and age, and a contact email. One entry per child. Your picture must include the participating child.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. Winners will be notified via email.

(Submission of a photo implies permission for the Troy Library to use photo for marketing and display purposes.)

Happy reading!

Summer is finally here and it is time for summer reading! Registration for the Troy Public Library's Youth Summer Reading Program begins on Saturday, June 9.  The program opens on June 16, when you will be able to start logging your books and collecting your prizes. You can register online from home or at the Library.

It is easy to participate in the Summer Reading Program. Just read a book and log it online each week. Then visit the Youth Services Department in the Library and pick up your prize. One new prize will be available each week, so be sure to visit us throughout the summer. Remember to check the program calendar for a list of fun, free programs, too!

Summer Reading will run through August 16. Children who complete the program will receive a ticket to the final event featuring Baffling Bill's Magic and Illusion Show. There will also be a grand prize drawing for a NOOK Color at the end of the Summer, provided by the Friends of the Troy Library.

Middle school students from the Troy Public Schools have selected Michael Vey: The Prisoner of Cell 25 as the Troybery winner for this year. It was selected from ten nominated titles.

This fast-paced, science fiction adventure is the story of a teenager with a unique superpower. When Michael and his mother move to a new town, he meets Taylor, who has a similar superpower. Can Michael and Taylor discover the mystery behind their abilities? Be sure to read this great title to find out!

Looking for more adventure? Don't miss the sequel, Michael Vey 2: Rise of the Elgen when it is released in August.

You will not believe all the great things that tumble out of the Troy Library's toy box during Play Time each Monday morning from 10 am - 12 noon! Children find an assortment of toys to enjoy, and they learn new skills by playing and discovering. Adults who accompany them spend quality time with their youngsters and meet new friends. Play Time is a worthwhile adventure for everyone.

Look for lots of Legos at the Library on Thursday afternoons from 4 - 6 pm. We have thousands of Legos of all sizes, and themed play sets for children age five and up. Build anything imaginable. Dream big and create a work of art.

Play contributes to early literacy development by increasing attention span, memory, creativity, and language and vocabulary skills. It also lays the foundation for logical mathematical thinking, scientific reasoning, and problem solving. These are things children will carry with them throughout their school years.

(Photos: bunchofpants and Slack pics)

Famed children's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak died on May 8 at the age of 83. He is best known for the picture book Where the Wild Things Are, which was later made into a feature film. Sendak has an extensive bibliography of books he has written and illustrated. For these, he has won many awards including the Caldecott Medal for illustration and the National Medal of Arts.

Sendak's work has been called brilliant, complicated, dark, and insightful, as he explores the childhood psyche and confronts historic events through his books. He has been interviewed many times, including on PBS by Bill Moyers and on NPR's All Things Considered.

Many of Sendak's books can be found in Troy Public Library's collection. His picture books, such as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, Pierre: A Cautionary Tale, Chicken Soup with Rice: a Book of Months, can be found under his last name in the Picture Book Collection. Picture Books that he has illustrated, but not written, can be found under the author's last name. A catalog search of his name will produce books, kits, and DVDs of all of his work. Give it a try and explore the full depth of this extraordinary author's work. For assistance, please a staff member at the Library's Youth desk.