Ten Dogs is a delightful counting book written and illustrated by Emily for children 3-5 years of age. The story hosts 10 dogs all wanting to eat the tasty sausages that are on the kitchen table. Some dogs are larger and taller than others and that makes all the difference to the dogs in this counting- romp! (Boxer Books/ Sterling Publishing) 2023

Gone to Pieces Quilt Guild of Alpena recently celebrated it's 30th anniversary. Members come from all over Northeast Michigan to be part of a community that inspires one another, and create quilts for charity's.

I Will Read To You written by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Charles Santoso is a touching picture book about the beauty of storytelling at bedtime. The little boy in this picture book wants everyone including the animals of the night to be given the opportunity to hear a bedtime story. With the okay of his mother, he calls ghosts, vampires, dragons, giants, and witches to come to him for a bedtime story. The illustrations are a delight. (Little, Brown and Company) 2023.

Beautification comes after micro-grant from the Michigan Municipal League.

The Little Wooden Robot and the Log Princess written and illustrated with clever details and super- illustrations by Tom Gauld is about a King and Queen who want a child. The King asks for help from the royal builder who builds the King a perfect wooden robot and the Queen gets help from a clever witch who builds a little log princess. The King and Queen are very happy with their expanded royal family. However, this story has a complication-----as most fairytales do. Whenever the log princess falls asleep, she turns back into a log and cannot wake up until someone says, “Awake Little Log, Awake.” This picture book will delight readers 4-8 years of age(Neal Porter Books/Holiday House, 2021).

In the Night Garden written and illustrated by Carin Berger is a fascinating night trip by a cat through a beautiful garden filled with butterflies, crickets, a hoot owl, baby foxes and flowers filled with interesting paper collage materials such as musical notes, tickets and bank statements. From the first page, where the cat walks across the roof of the house, the young reader will be charmed by gorgeous shades of incredible blue. This picture book is designed for young children 3-6 years of age (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House) 2023.

In the Night Garden written and illustrated by Carin Berger is a fascinating night trip by a cat through a beautiful garden filled with butterflies, crickets, a hoot owl, baby foxes and flowers filled with interesting paper collage materials such as musical notes, tickets and bank statements. From the first page, where the cat walks across the roof of the house, the young reader will be charmed by gorgeous shades of incredible blue. This picture book is designed for young children 3-6 years of age (Neal Porter Books/Holiday House) 2023.

Alpena's Fresh Wave art initiative brings two new murals to the downtown alleyways to inspire and bring fresh art to the community.

Sometimes It’s Nice to Be Alone written by Amy Hest and illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Philip Stead is about a young girl who understands the beauty of doing things alone as well as with friends. Philip Stead’s illustrations are full of touching details and lush colors. This thoughtfully written book is designed for readers 4-8 years of age( Neal Porter Books, Holiday House) 2023.

My Head Has A Bellyache and More Nonsense written by Chris Harris and illustrated by Andera Tsurumi is a fun-filled collection of poems and pictures that children 6 and up will thoroughly enjoy. The situations are funny and thought-provoking as the book takes on friendships, meteors, favorite words, siblings, and sausages! (Little, Brown and Company) 2023.