Outside of a Dog, #57

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

In honor of a family birthday today, we're choosing books about sisters.

Just as Long as We're Together, Judy Blume
Sometimes it's not about the sisters you have, but the ones you make and keep that matter most. Judy Blume is a controversial author with books like "Are You There, God, It's Me, Margaret" and "Wifey," but in this 1987 teen classic, she strikes true with an involving story about old friends, new friends, and the families in between.
YA Fic Blume WCV WAM

Beezus and Ramona, Beverly Cleary
Of course we couldn't forget one of the most famous pairs of literary sisters! Ramona Quimby and her older sister Beatrice fight and get in trouble in turns, like most sisters do, but they're always there for each other when it counts.
Juv Pbk C WDB

My Sister's Keeper, Jodi Picoult
It's almost impossible not to have heard of this book (and its new-in-theaters movie adaptation)! A small-town family must deal with a pair of sisters - one with a devastating disease, and the younger sister, born specifically to be a compatible organ donor. When the younger sister sues for the rights to her own body, will the family be torn apart by the verdict? [Be aware, moviegoers, the book's ending is very different from the movie.]
Fic Pbk Pic WAM
Fic Picoult WCV
BKD Fic Picoult WCV

House of Daughters, Sarah-Kate Lynch
By the author of the witty "Blessed are the Cheesemakers" and "By Bread Alone," comes another tale of the family food business, this time, set in Champagne, France. When vineyard heiress Clementine's father dies, he stipulates in his will that she must share the land with a half-sister she hasn't seen in twenty years. Worse yet, there's a man between the girls. Read this fantastic third novel if you enjoyed the first two, or if you're a fan of Joanne Harris' Chocolat.
Fic Lynch WCV

Outside of a Dog, #56

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.


(We apologize for missing our "Outside of a Dog" column from last week.)

The anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing was on Monday, celebrating 40 years of scientific achievement. If you ever wanted to be an astronaut, or see the planets, try one of these books!

First man: the life of Neil A. Armstrong – James Hansen
Neil Armstrong, by his own account, was a man of no special talent or notice, but this biography, chronicling his life before, during, and after the Apollo mission gives a new look at a determined individual who is now a national hero.
CD Bio Armstrong WDB
BKD Bio Armstrong WCV WMB

The first moon landing – Steve Kortenkamp
Kids who want to explore the first landing and the science behind it will find a great start in this book from the "First Facts" series.
Juv 629.454 K WCV

A man on the moon: the voyages of the Apollo astronauts – Andrew Chaikin
Based on hundreds of hours of interviews with the 24 men who have been on the moon since 1969, this book is an astonishingly in-depth view of what it means to touch another world.
629.454 C WAM

Moonshot: the flight of Apollo 11 – Brian Floca
This picture book, intended to help young children learn about the Apollo 11 mission, is full of gorgeous watercolors of the space flight and moon landing. It covers the event in detail that is perfect for your easy reader.
Juv 629.454 F WCV

We interrupt this broadcast: relive the events that stopped our lives—from the Hindenburg to the death of Princess Diana – Joe Garner
Something that has always drawn people of different backgrounds together is the question, "Where were you when...?" This book gathers 38 historical moments - including the moon landing - that people all over the world still talk about, from the point of the newscast onward.
070.915 G WAM

Outside of a Dog, #55

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read." - Groucho Marx.

This weekend marks the 29^th Annual Art in the Park festival, held in Warren’s City Square. Next week and weekend will be the famous Ann Arbor Street Art Fairs, a city-wide celebration of artists nationwide. Whether you’re looking to read about art, look at art, or make art, we’ve got the books for you!

The Oxford companion to twentieth-century art – Harold Osborne
Sometimes a reference book, this Oxford companion indexes and informs about art styles, artists, and artwork from the turn of the century to approximately the 1990s.
709.04 O WCV
REF 709.04 O WMB

Art masterpieces of the Louvre – Ted Smart
Of course you know the Louvre has the Venus de Milo, the Mona Lisa, and the Winged Victory, but this books details much more than just those few famed works.
708.4 S WDB

The art of painting on glass: techniques and designs for stained glass – Albinas Elskus
Stained glass is a beautiful addition to many classic churches and other buildings. Here, you can learn how to make and paint your own.
748.5 E WCV

Fine art reproductions of old & modern masters: a comprehensive illustrated catalog of art through the ages – New York Graphic Society
The New York Graphic Society is a publishing company that deals very specifically in art books. Here, reproductions, suitable for framing are presented for the collector, aficionado, and the interested amateur.
750.8 F WCV

Design with paper in art and graphic design – Raymond Ballinger
Origami is the art of folding paper to make small sculptures. This book will show you how to do papercraft, putting together paper shapes to make larger scale works of art.
702.8 B WAM

Don’t forget the Museum Adventure Pass! You can get two passes to the Detroit Institute of Arts, or four passes to Arts and Scraps, so you can make your own art!