First Chapter Friday Episode 72 | Izzy at The End of The World by K. A Reynolds on AADL.TV

Join Lucy as she reads the first chapter of a new or favorite Middle Grade or YA book. A great way to get ideas for new titles and to jump start reading! Titles highlighted will be available from Overdrive and AADL.

Izzy at the end of the World is a middle grade book recommended for age 8 and up.

Author Event | Hanna Kim: Ben Lee—The Magic Lunch Box

Hanna Kim shares her book for young readers: Ben Lee - The Magic Lunch Box.

Fourth-grader Ben Lee is anxious to make new friends at his new school in Michigan. But on his first day, things take a turn for the worse. The other kids act grossed out by the homemade kimbap in his lunch box. Embarrassed, Ben makes an impulsive wish, and soon strange things start happening. At first, Ben is thrilled. But soon the magical switcheroos start happening regularly. How far will the lunchbox magic go? And how far will Ben go to set things right?

First Chapter Friday Episode 71 | Alice Austen Lived Here by Alex Gino on AADL.TV

Join Lucy as she reads the first chapter of a new or favorite Middle Grade or YA book. A great way to get ideas for new titles and to jump start reading! Titles highlighted will be available from Overdrive and AADL.

Alice Austen Lived Here is a middle grade book recommended for age 9 and up.

Jeremy Wheeler on Comics, Blacklight, Watercolor, and Summer Game Art

Come along on an artistic adventure with Jeremy Wheeler, the multifaceted Ann Arbor artist behind the 2023 Summer Game art. Dive into his wild and varied career, from his early days in the small press comics scene to his electric experiments with mind-bending blacklight creations. You'll also get a taste of the delicately soft watercolor world that Jeremy loves exploring.

First Chapter Friday Episode 70 | When Sea Becomes Sky by Gillian McDunn on AADL.TV

Join Lucy as she reads the first chapter of a new or favorite Middle Grade or YA book. A great way to get ideas for new titles and to jump start reading! Titles highlighted will be available from Overdrive and AADL.

When Sea Becomes Sky is a middle grade book recommended for ages 8 and up.

Concert | The Arab Blues

Karim Nagi (Egypt/Chicago) and Rami Gabriel (Lebanon/Chicago) create a dynamic and unique amalgam of traditional Arabic music and Chicago Blues. Authentic Arabic instruments like the Oud, Buzuq, Tublah and Riqq are used along with Guitar and Drum Set to create a sound that could have only been imagined in America. Karim & Rami express their tradition and identity through the compositions and improvisational excursions from their two traditions.

Capturing the Cosmos: Exploring the Universe through Astrophotography

Join Michigan-based astrophotographer Jason Guenzel as he shares his passion for exploring the cosmos through his camera. This presentation is a general overview of the expansive topic of astrophotography. Learn about Jason's journey, the equipment, what goes into an image, and even how to get started yourself. He will present his fascinating photos of outer space and highlight the specialized techniques used within the many niches of astronomy imaging (deep sky, solar, lunar, planetary, nightscape, and more).

First Chapter Friday Episode 69 | Not An Easy Win by Crystal D. Giles on AADL.TV

Join Lucy as she reads the first chapter of a new or favorite Middle Grade or YA book. A great way to get ideas for new titles and to jump start reading! Titles highlighted will be available from Overdrive and AADL.

Not an Easy Win is a middle grade book recommended for ages 10 and up.

Japan Week | Bon Odori Dance Festival with the Sakura Japanese Instrumental Group

Join the Sakura Japanese Instrumental Group for a mini concert of festival and folk music followed by a Bon Dance. Bon Festivals celebrate life and bring community together. After the performance, join in on the interactive dance. Participants will learn a simple series of moves to be performed standing or seated and dance along with the musicians!

This event is in partnership with the UM Center for Japanese Studies.