Read this book on Purpose!

Today’s Book: American on Purpose: the improbable adventures of an unlikely patriot, by Craig Ferguson

The plot: The subtitle of this witty autobiography is “the improbable adventures of an unlikely patriot,” and that only just begins to describe this hilarious, honest story of Glaswegian Ferguson and his epic trip to becoming an American citizen. Starting as a Glasgow native with a punk-rock soul, the now-famous late-night host waxes poetic on his "ridiculously attractive" parents and tells the hard, forthright truth about being a drunk and a drug addict for chunks of his life, and how he, with the help of friends, managed to rise above it, raise a son, and become the rollicking and uproarious comedian he is today - all while chasing the dream of being an American (on purpose).

Why You’ll Love It: If you're already a fan of The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, you don't need any more reason than his nightly shenanigans to pick up this book. If you don't stay up late, or never watched The Drew Carey Show, you'll love this book for the laughter it will inspire in you; it's full of read-aloud quips, like when he speaks of his late-night-show colleagues and predecessor Johnny Carson: "A little bit of cool goes a long way; it lands on you if you are a late-night talk-show host. Consider the other guys: if Dave (Letterman) wasn't the king of late night he'd be just a cranky old man who drives too fast. Jay (Leno) would be a weirdly needy mechanic, and Conan (O'Brien) would have kids following him down the street calling him names. Without his show, Jimmy Fallon is just a thirty-five-year-old giggly adolescent; and Jimmy Kimmel is a good guy, but he'd be the first to admit he's not cool - in another life, he'd be a genial maître d'."

Who Will/Should Read It: Fans of Ferguson's turns on The Drew Carey Show as British boss Nigel Wick, of the host of the Late Late Show, or his favorite movies (written and starring him) - Saving Grace, The Big Tease, and I'll Be There, or anyone who enjoys a good laugh while reading a story of growing up Glaswegian and striving for the states. Also, as Ferguson mentions a few times in the book, those who "choose adventure."

Bio Ferguson WCV WMB

B Ferguson ROG SBL CHE

[Saving Grace is available at Warren Civic Center library on DVD and at Roseville and Shelby Township on VHS. The Big Tease is only available through Melcat requests, and I'll Be There can be ordered from Lenox Township and Roseville.]

Soon to be available as an audiobook read by the author!

Outside of a Dog, #66

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

Following up our recent post on suggested website gems, we couldn’t resist offering some book-specific websites that offer a variety of support to avid readers everywhere. Selected are websites that librarians love and we hope you, too, will find very useful.

Readers Read – Devoted more to book and publishing news than title suggestions, it’s a worthwhile spot to "check out" if you’re interested in book trends and insider publishing news. An exhaustive list of book blogging links is offered.

Shelf Awareness – A free e-mail newsletter dedicated to helping the people in bookstores, public libraries and those working on the Internet buy, sell, and lend books most wisely. If you want to know what authors will be on NPR, Oprah, Larry King, and many other media outlets, this site will tell you. Also, a fun part of being on their e-mail list is the contests that publishing companies and authors often run.

Generous Books – A growing community for those who love books and love sharing their thoughts with other readers.

Book Muse – Commentary, author biographies and interviews, and loads of reading suggestions make this a useful site for the more literary minded reader.

Last but not least, don’t forget publishing company websites. They often offer free newsletter links that can keep you up to date on favorite titles and authors. A few of the larger publishers include –

Avon Books (an imprint of Harper Collins, specializing in women's literature and romance)

Simon and Schuster (They currently publish Vince Flynn, Sandra Brown, and more!)

Random House(Publishers of the new Dan Brown book "The Lost Symbol" and a host of entertainment biographies, like Kathy Griffin and Tracy Morgan)

Harper Collins (Publishing the PostSecret books and one of our favorites - Neil Gaiman; they also have e-mail lists for children's books and teens)

Penguin (Home of Patricia Cornwell, Charlaine Harris, and John Sandford; they have podcasts every week about new and exciting book selections)

Kensington Books (A great place to find your favorite mystery series writers, like Joanne Fluke and G.A. McKevett, as well as urban lit up-and-comers Kimberla Lawson Roby and Wahida Clark)

What's the Suburban Library Cooperative?

Warren Public Library is a member of the Suburban Library Cooperative, an association of Macomb County libraries (which also includes Harper Woods). Since we're members of the SLC, we can request books and movies and many other items from any library in the system - for free! You can also use your Warren Public Library card at any library in the cooperative, too, so if you're ever out in Shelby Township, you can visit their library with your card.

What do all the letters in the Outside of a Dog posts mean?
These are abbreviations of the libraries included in the system. There's is a short list below, but you can view (and print!) the full list, with addresses and phone numbers here.
ARM - Armada
CLL - Centerline
CHE - Chesterfield
EPL - Eastpointe
FRA - Fraser
HPW - Harper Woods
LEN - Lenox Township
LWM - Lois Wagner Memorial (Richmond)
MPL - MacDonald (New Baltimore)
MTC - Mount Clemens
RAY - Ray Township
ROG - Romeo Graubner
ROK - Romeo Kezar
RSV - Roseville
SCS - St. Clair Shores
SBL - Shelby Township
SHL - Sterling Heights
UPL - Utica
WMB - Warren (Maybelle Burnette)
WDB - Warren (Dorothy Busch)
WAM - Warren (Arthur Miller)
WCV - Warren (Civic Center)

Outside of a Dog, #65

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

It’s always a treat to discover a new and useful website. The internet offers so much and so many, it is often easier just to rely on old standbys, but you’d be missing some real gems. Here are a few that you might just want to consider bookmarking the next time you're surfing.

Discover America
As the “official” travel and tourism website of the United States, I honestly can’t think of any place, topic, or travel information it doesn’t offer, including allowing you to search by destination, state, attraction, and find other travel organizations and links. A definite first stop when planning any journey that takes you farther than your own backyard.

Book Club Girl
Not strictly for girls, this is a great site to browse for a variety of reading suggestions, even if you’re not in a book club. Including author information, links to book clubs, book blogs, and author websites, you’ll never again wonder what to read next.

USA.gov
The tag is “government made easy” and it does do a pretty decent job of leading you through whatever government agency, department, or question you might need to research. Everything from financial aid, passport information, addresses of elected officials, currency exchange rates, zip code lookup, and much much more is offered. It also has links to state and local governments.

Ravelry
Ravelry is a knit and crochet community that is rivaled by no other. You do have to register, but don’t worry - it's free! Afterwards you can check out an endless list of free patterns, projects, and needlecraft links. But beware - you might find yourself so addicted to this site that you’ll have less time to actually pick up that crochet hook or knitting needle.

What They Play
If you're a parent of a tech-savvy kid today, you'll notice that video games are one of the biggest "I want that!" items on wish lists. What They Play gives you parent reviews and screenshots (photos of in-game activity) and sometimes videos of the most popular games, so you know what your kids are asking for.

Spread the Sign
The sign language dictionary of the world is live and is it ever a great resource! You can type in any word, number, or even a full sentence, and this search site will help you learn how to sign it - in ASL (American Sign Language), and sign language in Czech, German, Lithuanian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish!

Flag Identifier
This is the place to go when you see a flag and you don't know what country it symbolizes. Flag Identifier lets you search by the style of flag, what colors it is, or just what symbols were on it. It includes world flags, state flags, and more.

Outside of a Dog, #64

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

As promised, now that you're bopping to the groove of great jazz music, tune your brain to one of these books to find out more...

Jazz by Walter Dean Myers

A series of love poems to the music, this kids' book is great for adults, too, bringing to mind the swinging Harlem-Renaissance poetry of Langston Hughes.

JUV 781.65 M WAM

Visions of Jazz: The First Century by Gary Giddins

This is a big book, to be sure, but well worth picking up, especially if you're curious as to how Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker got their nicknames. Seventy-nine chapters are in this labor of love by the Village Voice music critic Giddins, and each one takes you in-depth about a famed jazz musician, and includes some insight into pop musicians who sometimes sing jazz, like Rosemary Clooney and Frank Sinatra.

781.65 G WDB

The Billboard illustrated encyclopedia of jazz & blues by Ted Drozdowski

Billboard is one of the best-known music magazines worldwide, making and publishing lists of hot music in almost any genre you can imagine, so it's no wonder that an encyclopedia by them is a fantastic resource for history and photos. This is a reference book only, though, so you'll have to look at it in the library; you can't take it home with you.

REF 781.65 B WCV

John Coltrane: A sound supreme by John W. Selfridge

It's never too early to get your kids listening to great music, and learning about the most famous artists. "A sound supreme" is a short biography for kids of all ages that details the life of saxophonist John Coltrane, now known for the complex harmonies in songs like "Giant Steps."

JBiog Coltrane WMB

Outside of a Dog, #63

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

The classic period for jazz music occurred back in the mid-50's to the mid-60's. some of the musical icons of that era included Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, Art Tatum, Thelonious Monk, Chet Baker, Gerry Mulligan, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, and Duke Ellington. Below is a listing of several musical selections available at Macomb County libraries.

The best of Chet Baker Plays - Chet Baker
CD Jazz Baker WAM

Miles Smiles - Miles Davis
CD Jazz Miles SHL

The Drum Battle - Buddy Rich
CD Jazz Drum MTC

Dave Brubeck's Greatest Hits - Dave Brubeck
CD Jazz 1391 WDB

Charlie Parker Plays Standards - Charlie Parker
CD Jazz Parker WCV

The Symphonic Ellington - Duke Ellington
CD Jazz Ellington WCV

The Very Best of John Coltrane - John Coltrane
CD Jazz Coltrane WCV

And if you're interested about life behind the scenes of this famous music scene, next week, we'll feature some books on the jazz life.

Outside of a Dog, #62

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

It’s back to school and that means one thing – Homework. The following books and audio visual material offer a little help and advice in that area, so you won’t have to be caught saying “but the dog ate my homework”.

How to do homework without throwing up by Trevor Romain

Mr. Romain who has a slew of DVD’s and books to his credit gives us a 30 minute DVD that makes homework look pretty darn exciting as 2 students jump off the page into the Amazon jungle to learn some new homework skills. Fun and definitely lighthearted. Also available in book format.

Juv 371.3028R WCV

Homework improvement: Parent resource by Roberta Schneiderman

You’ll learn how to help and support your child with their homework without doing the assignment for them.

649.68S – WCV

Juv 371.3S – WAM

How to remember everything: Memory shortcuts to help you study smarter by Ellen Gibson

Specifically aimed at grades 6^th through 8^th this book focuses on comprehension in all areas.

Juv 371.3G WCV

How to write book reports by Harry Teitelbaum

Everyone’s had to do this something or other in their school career. Not really as difficult as it sounds when you follow some basic guidelines. Of course, it helps to have read and even enjoyed the book.

808.02T – WCV

Remember: The sooner you come to the library to get the books on your research paper or Accelerated Reader or AP English list, the better! It's much easier to get your books the first week of an assignment, instead of the last; your classmates might have checked them all out already. (Also keep in mind that it takes 3-5 business days to get a book shipped from another library - don't put your homework off til the last minute!)

Outside of a Dog, #61

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

Health Care – An issue that has taken the political center stage recently, health coverage of is of vital interest to each of us. The following titles offer a variety of viewpoints and suggestions to discover and learn more about the issue.

Critical Condition: How health care in America became big business and bad medicine by Donald L. Barlett and James B Steele

Time magazine journalists, Barlett and Steele give readers a definitive explanation of our current U.S. health care system as well as including an informative and detailed historical perspective how we got here in the first place.

362.1 B WCV

Critical: What we can do about the health-care crisis by Thomas Daschle

Senator Daschle gives voice to solving the complex medical care issues and economic factors that influence our fast-rising health care costs.

362.1 D WCV

The healing of America: A global quest for a better, cheaper, and fairer health care by T.R. Reid

Health care systems around the world are explored in this comprehensive look at why the United States spends more but still is not able to adequately insure all its citizens.

362 R WCV

Health care on less than you think: The New York Times' guide to getting affordable coverage

by Fred Brock
How to manage your family's health care costs and maximize their care.
362.106 B WAM

The new health insurance solution : how to get cheaper, better coverage without a traditional employer plan by Paul Zane Pilzer
Most Americans receive and lose their health insurance along with their jobs and employers. But what about those who get no insurance through their employers, make too much for Medicaid benefits, or are unemployed? This book can help!
368.382 P WAM

NEW! Career Library Database

Looking for a career for the first time, or even giving it a second try? Want to research on what you'd be best at, and what colleges and programs would be best for you?

Try the NEW Career Library Database!

It allows you to take assessment tests of your skills and "career clusters," as well as helping you find the programs and colleges that are right for you!

Go to: http://library.coin3.com/

and log in with the information below.

Site ID: trialmi

Login: 4211033

Leave us a comment and let us know what you think!

Love Your Librarian? Let Them Know!

Last year, the New York Times, in a partnership with the American Library Association, and the Carnegie Corporation, presented the I Love My Librarian award for the first time. 10 librarians from across the states won the award, and the Times is doing it again! Check out the link below for more details.

Nominate your librarian today for the Carnegie Corporation of New York/New York Times I Love My Librarian Award!

Outside of a Dog, #60

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

Here at the Civic Center Library, we have a few regular patrons who love to read biographies. The most popular and juicy ones, of course, are famous film stars! Here’s a few of our favorite classic film stars’ biographies:

It’s Only a Movie: Alfred Hitchcock, a personal biography – Charlotte Chandler

Most anyone who’s seen the silhouette and heard the creepy tinkling piano music knows who Alfred Hitchcock was, and they know to expect suspense, murder, and mystery along the way. Here, biographer Chandler interviews many colleagues and family members to try to learn what no one seemed to know about the venerable director.

Bio Hitchcock WMB

Psycho [DVD] – Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh

Possibly Hitchcock’s most famously terrifying movie. When it was released in 1960, Hitchcock refused to allow theatergoers late admission!

DVD Fic Bloch WCV

DVD P14 WAM

Audrey Hepburn: an elegant spirit – Sean Ferrer Hepburn

As characters Eliza Doolittle and Holly Golightly, Hepburn made a mark on the world as a gorgeous, classy film star. In this recent biography, her son writes about his remembrance of the actress.

Bio Hepburn WCV

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Roman Holiday [DVD] – Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Eddie Albert

Of course you recognize the little black dress of Holly Golightly, and the intricately beaded white gown from My Fair Lady; but do you remember seeing Audrey Hepburn as Princess Ann? In her first movie, she plays a princess who sneaks away from her duties for a few days, just to see how the other half lives. Handsome co-star Gregory Peck plays a shrewd gambler working for a news service in Rome; will he keep Ann’s secret?

DVD 791.43 Roman WCV

Marilyn Monroe – Barbara Leaming

In contrast to other biographies of the famous and torrid leading lady, Leaming’s effort paints Monroe as a more sympathetic figure. She includes private love letters from some of Marilyn’s family, husbands, and lovers, as well as interviews the famous and not so famous companions Monroe kept.

Bio Monroe WDB

The Misfits [DVD] – Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift

One of Monroe’s last films, here she plays a divorcee on a Nevada ranch. She meets up with neighbors who fall in love with her, and things get a little wild.

DVD Misfits WAM

Golden Boy: the untold story of William Holden – Bob Thomas

William Holden acted in a number of famous films like Sunset Boulevard and Stalag 17, even while serving with the Air Force during World War II. This book is a heartfelt tribute to the actor, who eventually died of a fall in his apartment when he was 63.

Bio Holden WCV

Sabrina [DVD] – Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden

While Bogart and Hepburn are the big names here, Holden plays an integral role as playboy David Larrabee, whom the titular Sabrina falls for. (This was remade in 1995 with Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond, and Greg Kinnear.)

DVD 791.43 Sabrina WCV

Outside of a Dog, #59

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

Show Your Library Love!

What would you do without your librarian? These books, and many more, feature the fact-finding heroes and heroines as lead characters!

A Bone to Pick – Charlaine Harris

While Harris is now widely known and regarded as one of the best talents in vampire fiction (with the Sookie Stackhouse books giving rise to the explicit HBO show “True Blood”), she once wrote a few other series, too, including these, the Aurora Teagarden mysteries. If you like her writing style, but have gone through the Sookie books (or prefer your mysteries with a little less ‘bite,’ try this on for size.

Mys Pbk Har WCV WMB

The Collectors – David Baldacci

Set among Baldacci’s other Camel Club mystery-thrillers, The Collectors delves into the dangerous world of rare-book collectors. Here, the Library of Congress’ rare books and special collections director drops dead after reading a manuscript, it’s to ex-CIA agent Caleb Shaw to find out why – and who – done it.

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The Camel Bookmobile – Masha Hamilton

Fiona, the novel’s protagonist, wants to do something good and meaningful with her life. She sets off for the bush of northeastern Kenya, intent on getting classic books like Shakespeare and Dr. Seuss into the hands (and minds) of those less fortunate. However, Fi finds herself in the middle of traditionalist ways and modern wants.

Fic Hamilton WCV

Rex Libris: I, Librarian – James Turner

Librarians in comic books? Bet you’d never guess that hero Rex, black and white all over, solves library conundrums and does interplanetary travel at the behest of his boss, the ancient god Thoth. While Rex totes a gun and combat skills, he also knows where to find the book that tells how to defeat a samurai warlord – as that warlord is threatening to decapitate him! Funny, even for those of us who aren’t in the profession.

Y 741.5973 T SCS

The Ice Queen – Alice Hoffman

Hoffman, author of Practical Magic, The Blue Diary, Incantation, and other works starring smart women, shows us here the life of lonely librarian, struck by lightning and fenced off from the rest of the world. The narrator is never formally named, but her story is complex and twisting, both in words and heart.

Fic Hoffman WCV WDB

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Outside of a Dog, #58

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

Since we celebrated sisters last week, this week, we’re looking at brotherly love.

Savvy – Ingrid Law

Mibs Beaumont has two brothers – one can cause hurricanes, and one can spark electricity. Her mother is perfect – literally. When she turns 13, she should be able to figure out what her ‘savvy’ – her special power – is, just like the rest of her family. She wants it to be something amazing, like her brothers, but maybe it will be what her father – in a coma from a car accident – needs.

JFic Law WCV WMB WAM

BKD JFic Law WCV

Rules – Cynthia Lord

Catherine’s brother, David, is autistic, and sometimes, her parents put her in charge of him, even though she doesn’t want them to. She takes to art for an outlet, and fills sketchbooks with “rules” for her brother on how the world works – just so he knows, if she’s ever not around to take care of him.

JFic Lord WCV

BKD JFic Lord WCV

Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie – David Lubar

Scott, a high school freshman, is trying to navigate the world of 9^th grade with too little sleep, less friends than he used to have, and crushes on girls who are now completely unattainable. Of course, now’s the time his mother announces she’s pregnant. He decides that life for his coming little brother will be easier if he has a survival guide – so Scott starts writing one.

YA Fic Lubar WCV WDB WAM

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius – Dave Eggers

With both of his parents dead from cancer when he’s only 22, Eggers tells here about having to raise his little brother Toph, who is only 8. While you might expect a story like this to be sad-but-true and woe-is-me, Eggers manages to keep the reader interested and not feeling sorry for him throughout.

Fic Eggers WCV

Bio Eggers WDB WMB WAM

The Millionaires – Brad Meltzer

Recently famous for his bestseller “The Book of Lies,” Meltzer here tells the story of two brother working for a high-rollers-only investment firm. Charlie and Oliver Caruso find there’s $3 million just sitting in an unused, untraceable bank account at the firm, and decide they can get away with stealing it. Overnight, it’s grown from 3 million to 300 million, and the Secret Service is after them!

Fic Pbk Mel WCV

Fic Meltzer WMB WDB WAM

If you’d like to dig into series books about brothers, try the Spiderwick Chronicles by Holly Black and Tony DiTerlizzi, or the Fullmetal Alchemist manga series.

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.]
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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!

Outside of a Dog, #54

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

When the days are warm and sunny, what better way to spend your time than outside in the sun with a good book? “Beach Reads” are usually light, frothy titles, but we’ve included some serious fare, as well.

Queen of Babble – Meg Cabot
Lizzie is a fashion designer wannabe who only wants to graduate and go to England to live with her boyfriend, Andy. Unfortunately, she finds out that her plans aren’t necessarily going to go off without a hitch: Andy is a disaster (in more ways than one), and she has to write a thesis! She tells all of this to a handsome stranger on a train, but what will happen when Lizzie and the stranger both end up at the same summer Chateau? (This is the first book in the Queen of Babble trilogy.)
Fic Cabot WDB

Bandit Queen Boogie: A madcap caper of two accidental criminals – Sparkle Hayter
Two girls, complete opposites of each other, decide to backpack across Europe the summer they graduate from college. Traveling isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, though, as Blackie and Chloe end up taking sleazy married men for all they’re worth, and using their loot to fund a higher style of vacation.
Fic SCS
Fic Hayter RSV

Summer Sisters – Judy Blume
A serious novel from one of the pioneers of literature that challenges readers of all ages. Caitlin and Vix, girls from different class and family backgrounds, spend summers together from their teenage years well into adulthood, but the changes each girl goes through might send the other spiraling out of control.
Fic Pbk Blu WDB
Fic Blume WAM WMB

Everyone Worth Knowing – Lauren Weisberger
The author of “The Devil Wears Prada,” Weisberger visits the New York scene again, this time with another working girl trying to make good. Bette (read here by Buffy, Tru Calling, and Dollhouse star Eliza Dushku) lands a job in the exclusive PR industry. What follows is a whirlwind journey, much in the style of Prada, exposing the underbelly of the shiny, glittering world of celebrity.
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The Ivy Chronicles – Karen Quinn
In New York, everything is competitive, especially private school admissions. Ivy Ames loses her corporate job, her cheating husband, and her Park Avenue pad, and starts from scratch, advising families how to get their kids into the best private schools. While she sometimes toes the moral line, her story is a touching, fun ride.
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The Goddess Rules – Clare Naylor
Naylor, best known for her novel “The Second Assistant,” delves into the style of an aging French film star. Mirabelle Moncur advises artist Kate on how best to get what she wants out of life, without letting herself down.
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Read this book, fast as lightning!

Today’s Book: The Lightning Thief, Percy Jackson and the Olympians, #1


The plot: Perseus Jackson, troubled New York kid who gets kicked out of school regularly, finds out that he’s actually a demigod, and that all the Greek gods and goddesses are real (and lots of them are related to him!) In this first book, he’s accused of stealing Zeus’ original lightning bolt, and sent on a dangerous quest with his best friend Grover (a satyr who’s searching for the god Pan) and Annabeth (a demigod daughter of Athena, the goddess of wisdom) to retrieve it and prove himself innocent.

Why You’ll Love It: As epic as Harry Potter, but with a little more real world, and a lot more attitude. Riordan creates a world alongside ours that makes a lot of sense (the entrance to the Underworld is in Los Angeles, and the entrance to Mount Olympus is at the top of the Empire State Building), all the while including chunks of Greek myth; Percy meets Medusa, who sells garden statuary out of the people she turns to stone. And Percy, while a hero very much like the wizard Potter, is a little less tragic, and little more sarcastic. Part of the fun is reading his reactions to all of the new things his new world has to offer.

Who Will/Should Read It: While the Percy books are classified as juvenile/children's, readers of all ages can find delight in his stories. Chapters are short (only about ten pages each), so it makes for a great read-before-bed book. Read if you loved Harry or Charlie Bone, and especially if you have an interest in Greek mythology.

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Also available as an e-audio book!

Outside of a Dog, #53

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

Summer’s here, and the time is right for a family vacation! Whether you journey to a theme park, out of the country, or simply out of the city for a few days, here are some travel books we suggest.

FamilyFun Vacation Guide: The Great Lakes
FamilyFun magazine, published by Disney, aims to show kids and parents alike how to create memorable vacations and great family activities. There are several FamilyFun Vacation Guides; this one focuses on the Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
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Walt Disney World & Orlando 2009 – Frommer’s
Frommer’s is one of the best known and respected travel guide publishers. They have been producing travel guides since 1957. If you’re headed to Florida for Walt Disney World, or just to get some sun, check out this newest arrival.
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Lake Michigan Backroads: Your guide to wild and scenic adventures in Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana – Robert W. Domm
Listed here are 19 backroads driving tours around the Lake Michigan area. Take these tours and see nature and the state like you never have before!
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Frommer’s Family Vacations in the National Parks – Charles Wohlforth
Once again, Frommer’s makes the list, this time with suggestions for the best places in national parks to camp and see the sights.
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100 Best Cruise Vacations – Theodore Scull
Another option still is to take a cruise. This book will suggest some of the best trips, how much they cost, and how to get the most out of them.
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Art in Detroit Public Places – Dennis Nawrocki
If you’re staying in Detroit this summer, why not check out some of the great art on display everywhere in the city?
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And don’t forget – the Warren Public Libraries offer the Museum Adventure Pass, sponsored by Macy’s! Check out two and four FREE admissions to some of the great museums and sights in the state! Stop by for a booklet with all the information, and stay tuned to this blog for more details on how the program works!

"Check Out" a Museum!

Did you know you can “check out” a museum in the Detroit area? You can, with the Museum Adventure Pass, sponsored by Macy’s!

Come into any Warren library branch, and take a look at the selection, then check out your free pass to many of Detroit’s attractions.

Here’s how it works:

1. Come into a Warren library.
2. Browse the available tickets on the display.
3. Choose a ticket and take it to the Circulation Desk, just like you were checking out a book.
4. The librarian will give you a paper ticket to your museum of choice.
1. You may check out one pass per library card, per week.
2. Each pass is good for one week from the date you check out.
3. Each museum only has five passes available at any one time. If they are all checked out, choose a different museum, or wait for the pass to be checked in again.
4. We cannot place holds on museum passes.

The Museum Adventure Pass includes tickets to the Detroit Institute of Arts, MOCAD, The Henry Ford Fairlane Estate, and Arts and Scraps, as well as many more!

The Detroit Institute of Arts is a two-person pass this year, and it is one of the most popular museums available. You’re welcome to call ahead to find out if a pass is checked in. All libraries have a free paper booklet with the pass restrictions, museum addresses and hours available for the taking, and there's a website (linked above) with all the information you need, as well.