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Pigs are savers. I save letters from friends, stickers in my scrapbook, and funny noises. My computer has software that can record sounds. When I'm in my wheel barrow and writing to you, I might hear a frog croak, a bird whistle, or a beaver's tail slap the water in the stream. I record those sounds and save them. I like listening to them later. That's what's great about saving--you have something that you can share with someone else.
Pigs save money, too. That's why there are piggy banks! Pennies, nickels, and dimes add up. That's another reason that I love the Library. I can check out books and audiobooks for free.
Then I have more money for stickers.
Yours with snorts,
Climate change, or global warming, is a hot topic today. On October 3 at the Plaza Branch, the Library will host a conversation about climate change and global justice. The following week on October 8, the president of the National Trust for Historic Preservation will discuss how the preservation of older buildings should be an important component of sustainable development efforts, including efforts to combat climate change. This list of resources features some books about climate change for adults and kids, a few novels with climate change themes, and several documentary films about the topic.
In case you missed Jerry Seinfeld’s recent local appearance in Kansas City, you can catch up to lots of the great stand-up comedy acts by visiting your Kansas City Public Library. Among the many DVDs available are these:

The Aristocrats
What’s reputed to be the world’s dirtiest joke gets told, re-told, and deconstructed by a cadre of the best storytellers around in a joke-fest not designed for the fainthearted.
Bill Cosby, Himself
One of the longtime masters of stand-up comedy, Bill Cosby, treats his many fans to this funny, satirical and heartwarming live concert.
Comedian
A behind-the-scenes look at the world of comedy clubs as Jerry Seinfeld proves he still has what it takes and up-and-coming comedian Orny Adams has to prove that he has whatever it takes to click on the comedy circuit.
At last night’s second meeting of the Jewish American Literature book discussion series, Demons, Golems, and Dybbuks: Monsters of Jewish Imagination, over 30 eager readers gathered a the Waldo Branch to discuss S. Ansky’s seminal play, The Dybbuk.
What books did you love as a child? On October 1, 2008 at the Plaza Branch, children’s book historian Leonard S. Marcus discussed his most recent book, Minders of Make-Believe: Idealists, Entrepreneurs, and the Shaping of American Children's Literature. Explore some of his work about children’s books, learn more about children’s literature, or check out a few classic Little Golden Books.
Books by Leonard S. Marcus | Children’s Literature & Publishing |
Classic Little Golden Books for Kids
Books by Leonard S. Marcus

Minders of Make-Believe: Idealists, Entrepreneurs, and the Shaping of American Children's Literature
By Leonard S. Marcus
Marcus offers this animated history of the visionaries--editors, illustrators, and others--whose books have transformed American childhood and American culture.
I was in the garden the other day (plucking peppers) and saw many wonderful bugs. Big black and yellow spiders strung webs among the tomato plants. The webs trapped insects as strong as grasshoppers and as small as flies.
Roly-poly bugs tracked across the dirt. They seemed to like devouring vegetables that fell to the ground. In the tall sunflowers, butterflies and moths flew: white ones, blue ones, monarchs, and little fuzzy ones with wings like autumn leaves.
What bugs have you seen this summer? Ask a Librarian to help you find great books or movies on spiders, grasshoppers, bees, butterflies, moths, ladybugs, praying mantises, or your favorite insect.
Yours with snorts,
Prior to this year's Plaza Art Fair, explore the life and works of some prominent 20th and 21st century artists via these DVDs available through your local Kansas City Public Library.
Andy Warhol
A portrait of the artist as personality; his impact on the world of art has been undeniable.

Ansel Adams
Explore the life and work of this prominent photographer/environmentalist through this portrait by Ric Burns.
Chuck Close: A Portrait in Progress
Traces Close's painterly evolution from his first series of black-and-white heads. Follows him into the contemporary art community of New York where he encounters other artists.
Francis Bacon
Explore the work of this important British artist of the 20th century.
There are infinitely worse ways to spend a Saturday night in Kansas City, and not many better ones, than to spend it with Robert Day and the Kansas City Symphony at The Writers Place.
On September 25, 2008 at the Central Library, Jennet Conant discussed her new book, titled The Irregulars: Roald Dahl and the British Spy Ring in Wartime Washington. Explore Conant’s earlier books surrounding American involvement in World War II, learn more about author and spy Roald Dahl through his own memoirs, or pick up a title about British intelligence during wartime.
It was a hard weekend in the book world. Two of its most respected and revered authors turned the last page.