Arrive early to this special event as Season 4 Top Chef winner Stephanie Izard returns to AADL with cooking tips and copies of her new book "Girl in the Kitchen: How a Top Chef Cooks, Thinks, Shops, Eats And Drinks." This event includes a book-signing and books will be on sale at the event (a perfect gift for the Holidays!). The event is co-sponsored by the Friends of the Ann Arbor District Library.Stephanie Izard knows how to inspire, captivate, and cook up a storm. Fan favorite and the first and only woman to win on TV's Top Chef, she is also the chef and owner of the acclaimed Girl & the Goat restaurant in Chicago. Join us as she discusses her life and her new book."The Girl in the Kitchen" collects more than 100 of Izard's best recipes, from innovative appetizers like Asian-Spiced English Peas to luscious desserts like Quince and Fig Cobbler with Vanilla Mascarpone. Beautifully photographed and bursting with flavor, personality, and insights into the Top Chef's process, the book also includes where she finds her cooking muses, how she shops for food, and which beers and wines she chooses to accompany her meals. 'The Girl in the Kitchen' represents the culmination of a craft and provides inspiration that reaches far beyond the kitchen walls. Do not miss this deliciously amazing event as Stephanie Izard returns to the Library!

Relive 1970's television as famed TV sitcom writer Mark Rothman, best known for his involvement with the creation and production of "Laverne and Shirley," visits AADL. He was also the head writer for numerous other shows including "Happy Days" and "The Odd Couple."Join us as Mark recalls many show biz memories - and reads from his book "Mark Rothman's Essays: Many About Show Biz and All About Life." Books will be available for sale and the event includes a book signing

With over thirty-seven million books in print, Jan Brett is one of the nation's foremost author/illustrators of children's books. Her books are known for colorful, detailed depictions of a wide variety of animals and human cultures ranging from Scandinavia to Africa. Her best-known titles include "The Hat," "The Mitten," "The Three Snow Bears" and "Gingerbread Baby."Join Jan for a fun look at how she creates her stories. After her brief demonstration, Jan will meet with fans and sign books.

John J. Miller, U-M graduate and author of "The Big Scrum: How Teddy Roosevelt Saved Football," will discuss his new book, the history of college football and the social changes in America that made college football popular. This event includes a book signing and books will be on sale.In this fascinating new book, Miller delivers the intriguing, never-before-told story of how Theodore Roosevelt saved American Football--a game that would become the nation's most popular sport.

Guest artist Dan Mishkin will talk about what a comic book writer does, and how it's important to think visually and to understand how comics work -- valuable information for writers, but also for artists. Dan is the co-creator of the comic book series "Amethyst", "Blue Devil", "Creeps" and "Spellgame", and author of the children's illustrated novel "The Forest King." Join the Forum to get fresh ideas for your next comics or graphic novel creation. Drawing supplies will be provided, so drop in for drawing, learning, and sharing.

AADL is proud to host Professor Sylvia Nasar - economist, journalist and the author of "A Beautiful Mind," the mega-bestseller that inspired the Academy Award-winning film starring Russell Crowe.

Learn more about the history of the Michigan Law Quadrangle when retired Law Library Director and author Margaret Leary discusses her book "Giving it All Away: The Story of William W. Cook and His Michigan Law Quadrangle." This fascinating book not only illuminates a critical chapter in the history of the University, but sheds light on the development of laws pertaining to corporations and the communications industry.

Join us as acclaimed medical historian and UM Professor Howard Markel discusses his new book - the astonishing account of the years-long cocaine use of Sigmund Freud, young, ambitious neurologist, and William Halsted, the equally young, path finding surgeon. Markel writes of the physical and emotional damage caused by the then-heralded wonder drug, and how each man ultimately changed the world in spite of it--or because of it.

Join us for a delightful evening as author Jael McHenry, a talented and enthusiastic amateur cook who grew up in Michigan and Iowa, discusses her new book "The Kitchen Daughter" (recently selected by Oprah as one of this summer's Tantalizing Beach Reads). Jael will also discuss her love for cooking and her Simmer blog, where she blogs about food and cooking. A book signing will follow this event, and books will be on sale.Jael currently resides in New York, where she is a monthly pop culture columnist and Editor-in-Chief of Intrepid Media, online at intrepidmedia.com.

Taking a true story of a murder in her own Michigan family, author Becky Thacker has crafted a page-turning mystery novel! "Faithful Unto Death" provides a window into the daily lives of small-town Michiganders at the turn of the century, wrapped up in a riveting whodunit.... Why was the pious daughter of missionaries suddenly stricken with a mysterious and fatal ailment - was it an illness -- or suicide -- or MURDER?!