If you visited Google.com today, you’ve seen the new Google logo designed by 7-year-old Dylan Hoffman from Caledonia, Wisconsin. Each year Google holds a contest for kids in grades K-12 to design a logo based on a theme. This year’s theme was the question, “If I could travel in time, I would…”. Dylan choose to follow a pirate theme using the sun for an “O”, a palm tree for an “L” and a treasure chest for a “E”. The next Doodle for Google context begins in Januray of 2013 so start warming up your crayons and colored pencils now. You could win a college scholarship, money for your school, and have your logo seen by people all over the world!  For more information about Dylan Hoffman and his winning logo, visit Time for Kids.com. 

Author and Illustrator, Maruice Sendak, passed away last Tuesday at the age of 83.  He is best know for his works  “Where the Wild Things Are”, ”In the Night Kitchen”,  ”Little Bear”, and his most recent picture book “Bumble-Ardy”.  To honor Sendak and all his contributions to children’s literature, we have put a collection of his books on display in the Children’s Department.  Come to the library and check one out! 

May is National Bike Month. Sisters, Sierra (right) and Savana (left) celebrate by snuggling up in our Kid Spot with Chilly the Library Penguin to read “Sally Jean, the Bicycle Queen” by Cari Best.  What are you going to do for National Bike Month?

The weather channel is reporting rain all week long.  Here’s a fun game for you to play inside during the cloudy, rainy days. Use your mouse to capture the same color balloons as they float through the sky.   You have to be quick; it’s tougher than you think!!!  PLAY GAME

A local student group, Guys and Gals on the Go, are collecting used running shoes for One World Running. This non-profit group collects used running shoes and distributes them to shelters and churches within the U.S. and ships them to developing countries around the world. One World Running accepts running shoes in every condition. Shoes that are too worn to pass on are ground up and used to make running tracks and playgrounds. The Chelsea Public Library has agreed to be a drop off point for Guys and Gals on the Go, so bring in those old running shoes that you’ve outgrown or worn out and give them a chance to make a difference in somebody’s life!

Congratulations to 6-year old Bria, 7-year-old Carlos, 7-year-old Anna Carolina, 9-year old Maria, and 10-year-old Anthony.   These five lucky patrons are the winners of our Hedgehog Hunt!  Seventeen portraits of Hans My Hedgehog where hidden around the Youth Department all through the month of March to celebrate our Authors in Chelsea event.  “Hans My Hedgehog” is the latest book illustrated by Author /Illustrator John Nickle, one of three authors who visited the Chelsea Library for the Authors in Chelsea event on March 27^th.   The two other authors who visited our library were children’s author Tony Abbott and graphic novel author Jim Ottaviano.  Seventy-nine kids entered the Hedgehog Hunt contest and only 20 were able to find all 17 Hedgehogs.    Out of the 20 correct entries, five names were drawn to be the winners!   Bria, Carlos, Anna Carolina, Maria, and Anthony each won a Webkinz Hedgehog!

 Have you ever wondered what mongooses like to hunt or how the armadillo got its name?   Do you want to know more  about chipmunks, lambs, meerkats, bunnies, or moles?  If the answer is yes, then you’re in luck!  A whole new set of animal books just arrived in our Early Reader section,  including books on all these animals and  more!   These books are written at  first and second grade levels and are full of great pictures and interesting animal facts.  So if you are doing a report for school or if you just like to learn about animals, come on in to check these new books out!

How many of you remember reading to Leo, our original Library Dog?

Leo first came to the Library on October 23, 2004, to start our very popular READ to the Library Dog program.

Children get to read to our friendly service dogs who listen carefully to every single word that they read. Research has shown that children can improve their reading skills by reading aloud to non-judgmental listeners–and that described Leo perfectly!

We are very proud that we were one of the first libraries in the area to have this program, but we couldn’t have done it without Leo (and his great trainer, Michelle McCarthy of K9 Homeschooling).

We are sorry to report that Leo passed away recently. He had a great retirement , but was getting pretty old for a dog. He also had a great life of service, visiting hospitals, schools, senior centers and libraries, for which we are very grateful.

THANK YOU, Leo, for being a great READ and service dog!

-Karen, Edith and Robin, youth department librarians

North Creek student, Marisol Silveri, published her own Kindle e-book with her mother, Cynthia Silveri.  The book, The Snow Bunny,  is avalible on Amazon.com and can be downloaded for free March 6, 16, and 24.   Click here to read all about it on the Chelsea Library Adult Services blog!  Click here to find the book on Amazon.com.  Congratulations on your first book Marisol and Cynthia!

In honor of John Nickle coming to the Chelsea Library for Authors in Chelsea on March 27th, we are having a Hans My Hedgehog Hunt!  Kids 12 and under, come to the Chelsea Library between now and March 26 to hunt for hedgehogs around the Youth Department.  Once you think you’ve found them all, fill out an entry form at the Reference Desk and you could win one of five Webkinz hedgehogs!