May 2020 - Posts
**Video may contain spoilers**
Join APL staff each week for a discussion of some of their current reads! Each week they will discuss a book from a different genre. Join the discussion live on Facebook each Friday at 1 p.m. (MST) and leave your thoughts in the comments below!
The next discussion will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 8, 2020 on our Facebook page and will feature "The Wild Geese" by Mori Ōgai (available instantly on hoopladigital.com).
Other upcoming titles, all available instantly from hoopla digital, include:
- May 15, "The Hidden Life of Trees" by Peter Wohlleben
- May 22, "All Out: the No-Longer-Secret Stories of Queer Teens Throughout the Ages" by Saundra Mitchell
- May 29, "A Princess in Theory: Reluctant Royals #1" by Alyssa Cole
Draw It! by Kristin
Grab a pencil and piece of paper - it's time to Draw It! Our APL staff member Kristin shows step-by-step how to draw a pirate ship ready to sail the seas (or soar off to Neverland)!
Let us know how your pirate ship turns out in the comments below and tell us which drawing tutorial you'd like to see next!
Makey Makey with Brandy Brandy (formerly known as Mr. Brandon)
Have you ever stopped to think: “Jeeze, I wish I could combine my love of science with my love of fruit”? No, neither have I…but still wouldn’t it be cool if our fruit could make music? Well thanks to the lovely folks at Makey-Makey, you can now make that happen, along with a wide variety of other awesome activities! You can even play 2D platformers similar the style of a classic Mario game with your kit! If something requires a few simple controls, Makey Makey can probably make it work, pun intended! For the kiddos out there reading this, please make sure you receive permission from your parents before playing, creating music or performing mad science with your food.
So what is a Makey Makey?
What it is, is a small circuit board that can turn some of your household objects, such as an apple or banana, into buttons for your computer! It works by creating electrical circuits which you play a part in making! Your computer first provides the initial power source which then flows into the item such as a banana. We need to complete the circuit though, so a person must be holding the ground wire which works as the return route for the electricity!
Do I have Superpowers?
So why is it that the electricity can flow through you as well? Why are you conductive? Are you a child of Odin? Well no, but the answer is quite ionic…I am sorry. Really though, your body is full of ions! Flow of charged energy and ions creates an electrical current and you currently play host to sodium ion, potassium ion and so much more! Thankfully though, your epidermis (surface of your skin) keeps you from becoming a human lightning rod. Your skin helps provide resistance to becoming too conductive and keeps potential electrical flows at a very minimum level. This is a reason why the low energy that flows into a Makey Makey kit is completely safe for you. In fact, if your hands are too dry, you might have some difficulty completing the connection so please keep that in mind. Alright, you got the details and now it is time for some fun! If you want to see Makey Makey in action, you can check out Mr. Brandon’s video below or you can pick up one for home from makeymakey.com. You also have the option of reaching out to us on this blog and we will get back with you to help guide you on your way.
Thank you so much for taking your time to learn with us at Aurora Public Libraries and we hope you are doing well!
On May 4th, 2020 at around 9:20p.m., the Aurora Police Department Public Safety Communications Center received reports of a shooting at 291 South Sable Boulevard.
Upon arrival, officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. The victim later succumb to his injuries and was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
This is still an active investigation and investigators from the Major Crimes/Homicide Unit are working to determine what led to the shooting and death of the victim. His identity will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office once he has been positively identified and his next of kin have been notified.
We currently do not have anyone in custody. We are asking anyone with information about this case to call Agent Glenn at 303.739.6068 or they can remain anonymous by contacting Denver Metro Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867) and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Officer Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Aurora Police Department
720.432.5095
May Family Book Club
by Tess J.
In this club we read middle grade fiction appropriate for ages 6-12, but anyone is welcome if you enjoy children's literature! I will be posting discussion questions weekly based on the book we are reading and I will also provide activities that relate. Please comment on the discussion questions so we can stay connected through reading!
May's Book: "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker
Reading Schedule:
· May 4-10 Chapters 1-11 (Questions posted on Monday, May 11)
· May 11-17 Chapters 12-23 (Questions posted on Monday, May 18)
· May 18-24 Chapters 24-34 (Questions posted on Monday, May 25)
I’m excited for this novel! I hope we all enjoy it!
On 05/03/20 at 6:12 P.M. Officers were dispatched to a two vehicle accident involving a 2013 Kia sedan and a 2014 BMW SUV at E. Yale Ave and S. Vaughn Way. It appears the BMW is at- fault attempting to pass the KIA in on-coming traffic lanes, sideswiping the KIA killing the driver of the KIA. Several occupants of the vehicle fled the scene and were apprehended in the area. Investigation is on-going through the Aurora Police Traffic Investigations. Identity of the Kia driver is not being released at this time pending identification by the Arapahoe Coroner's office. It appears drugs may be involved. Arapahoe County Coroner advised.
Sergeant G Garcia
Aurora Police Traffic Unit
Day shift
303-739-6293
Review of "The Last to Die" by Kelly Garrett
Review by Janelle H.
Synopsis:
It all started out as a game. Just a way to have fun. We figured as long as we had rules, it wouldn't be a problem.
RULE #1: Only break into one another's houses.
RULE #2: Only take stuff that can be replaced.
It worked for a while. Whoever's turn it was to break in got a rush, and the rest of us laughed over the trophies they brought back. But then someone went too far. Lives got ruined. Someone is dead. And I might be next.
Janelle's Review:
This book starts out as a typical "bored youth needing some excitement"; what it ends up being is a plot-twist thriller. You meet several characters that are all intertwined, whether it be by family, friendship or romance. While set mostly in a character’s basement or school, it keeps moving forward at a steady pace. As the book progresses, the red herrings are vast, especially after the death of a main character. Following along with prejudiced clues and teenage logic , you find yourself knowing they are wrong, but wondering who it could possibly be. When the end of the mystery is revealed, you do have a slight aha moment, but also a “well done, author" moment. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a surprise ending with a touch of drama.
This book reads like:
"One of Us is Lying" by Karen McManus
"Ten" by Gretchen McNeil
Ready to read?
Check out the audiobook version of this book instantly with your library card from hoopla digital!
Need a library card? Sign up for a virtual library card here!
Have you read this book? Tell us what you thought of it in the comments below!
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