 Did you know that every month, Evanston Public Library volunteers deliver book bags filled with colorful age-appropriate books to 13 daycare providers across Evanston. In fact, we've been delivering monthly for more than 25 years.
"I’m delighted to be able to bring a little of EPL into the family child care homes each month," says Susan Munro, one of our volunteers. "For me this is the best volunteer job ever. The children are excited to see me and unzip the bag and examine the books!"
Laura Antolin, our Children's Engagement Librarian, leads this effort, which has expanded over the years. This program is partially funded by Community Works of the Evanston Community Foundation; as always, we're grateful for our partners who help us extend our impact.
One River School presents art from young Evanston artists in 3rd-12th grade inspired by the concepts of acceptance, inclusiveness, and empathy. The Main Library Children's Room is proud to host this show!
The show is called The Puzzle Project for April's Autism Awareness Month. Art projects reference the Light It Up Blue initiative, created by Autism Speaks, that encourages buildings to display blue lights on April 2, World Autism Awareness Day.
Come to the Children's Room of the Evanston Public Library anytime in April to view this beautiful blue exhibit showcasing the work of young Evanston artists from elementary school through high school!
Join us in April for Rhyme Time, singing & rhyming fun during poetry month
Singing is a great way to help your child develop language & literacy. Come sing with Mayor Hagerty, Library Director Karen Danczak Lyons or even your favorite librarian!
Through the month of April, bring your preschooler/ toddler to any library location to watch and hear Library staff and city employees share their favorite nursery rhymes. To access the rhymes, locate and scan each unique QR code posted throughout the Children's areas.
|
1, 2, 3, Play with Me is a Saturday morning play, circle time & craft class for parents and their children beginning Saturday, April 20th
Children ages 1, 2, and 3 and their parents/caregivers engage in creative play and mingle with each other and special guests from various fields. Join Ms. Robin for fun crafts! End with a fun, interactive circle time led by Mr. Brian! Register online, in person, or by calling 847-448-8610.
Saturdays, April 20, April 27, May 4, May 11 and May 18, 10 am, Community Meeting Room, Main Library.
|
Join Master Gardener and Librarian, Julie Rand
Hear fun stories, create your own planter and then plant flower seeds! Great for parents who want to share a library storytime with their children in the early evening.
Ms. Martha will share stories about seeds; Julie Rand will show how to make a fail-safe winter/spring planter with flower seeds designed to reward first time gardeners. Our Earth is precious; learn how to collaborate with Mother Nature; share nectar with bees and butterflies!
Please register your child. Children must be accompanied by an adult that can help with planter creation and planting. Program geared to 4 years old through 3rd grade (older and younger sibs welcome as guests if supervised.)
Monday April 22, 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library
|
Pull up a chair, pick your game piece and have a blast!
Want your child to spend time unplugged? Want to encourage growth in problem solving, strategy skills, and collaboration? Let them foster independence and social skills while having fun!
Register your 4th -5th grader for this monthly tabletop games group!
Monday, April 29, 7 - 8 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library
|
|
Experience wonderful new interactive play experiences with your baby! Playing with you is the best way for your baby to learn and grow.
Sign up for one or all of the Baby Creativity Labs! Meet other caregivers and enjoy fun times with your little one. A class of NU theater students studying Theater for the Very Young under the direction of Northwestern's Lynn Thompson Kelso will provide colorful experiences, direction and props. Siblings welcome if well supervised. Register in person, by phone at 847-448-8610 or by clicking on the dates below.
Friday mornings, 10 am, 5/03, 5/10, 5/17, 5/24, 5/31 Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library
|
Register your child today for this storytime introduction to the violin! Geared to preschoolers but all are welcome.
Meet the Violin introduces families to the violin in a fun, interactive format. Hear a story about the violin, sing songs, play some violin games, and get to try the violin at the end of the class! The session is led by Suzuki violin instructor Gretchen Rebar from the Music Institute of Chicago.
Registration now open! Tuesday, May 7, 10:30 – 11:30 am, Children’s Room, Main Library
|
Register now for a visit with Xelena Gonzalez, the award winning author of All Around Us, a gorgeous Latinx and Indigenous introduction to the circle of life. This book won multiple national and international awards including the 2018 Honor Pura Belpre Award and a 2018 Honor book for the American Indian Library Association. Evanston Public Library is proud to introduce Ms. Gonzalez to the Evanston community!
In this unique and dynamic program, Xelena will follow a reading of her book All Around Us with a movement-based retelling of the tale. Drawing upon her experience living in China, she will introduce participants to the basics of tai chi in a way that will make the story meaningful and unforgettable. Time permitting, participants will then engage in a group story circle that will involve their own ideas and movements inspired by tai chi, yoga, or other forms of expression. This program is appropriate for ages 5 to adult.
En este programa único y dinámico, Xelena leerá su libro All Around Us con un recuento basado en el movimiento de la historia. Aprovechando su experiencia de cuando vivió en China, Xelena presentará a los participantes los conceptos básicos del tai chi de una manera que hará que la historia sea significativa e inolvidable. Si el tiempo lo permite, los participantes se involucrarán en un círculo de historias grupales que incluirá sus propias ideas y movimientos inspirados en el tai chi, el yoga u otras formas de expresión. Este programa es adecuado para adultos y niños de 5 o mas grandes.
Saturday May 11, Noon - 1:30 pm, Main Children's Room, Main Library
|
Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes!
Parents and caregivers! Are you looking for something fun and creative to do with your preschool kids on a Sunday afternoon? We're honored to host former preschool teacher and innovator,Tee Washington, at this fun afternoon storytime!
Join us for this great "books into life" program featuring: Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes. Children will learn the concepts of adding and subtracting and will become little detectives themselves.
Sunday, April 14, 2 - 4 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library
|
Let us do your bedtime reading for you! Jammie Time is here at 6:30 pm every 3rd Thursday. Children ages 2 to 9 can come to the library in their jammies and listen to stories, sing songs, and have fun.
Thursday Night April 18, 6:30 - 7 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library
|
Join us for our Día Celebration! Begin with a performance of Yuyi Morales's Just A Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book, starring Rosa McAndrew, from Washington School. Then visit our Latino activity booths to collect a prize!
Empezaremos con una presentación de Yuyi Morales's Just a Minute: A Trickster Tale and Counting Book, presentado por Rosa McAndrew. Entonces visite cada estación con activida Latina para recibir un premio! Evento para todas edades en la biblioteca principal departamento de niños, Abril 28 de 2-4 pm. Sunday, April 28, 2 - 4 pm, Children's Room, Main Library
|
Volunteers listen to your child practice their reading -- or will share a great story with them.
School's out early on May 1st! Come to the library to check out books and enjoy practice reading out loud with a volunteer. Preschoolers looking for a great story or English as a Second Language students also always welcome. Wednesday, May 1, 2 - 4 pm, Children's Room, Main Library
|
 |
|
Let’s celebrate spring! Come paint and decorate your own mini-birdhouse with us on a D65 half-day! Bring your kids to the library to do some crafting that welcomes birds to our yards. Wednesday May 1, 2 - 3:30 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library
|
Ramadan is a solemn month of fasting and charity, showing solidarity with those who have less. The daily Ramadan iftar (breaking the fast) when families and friends gather to eat at sundown is joyous. Let's prepare for Ramadan together with a story, learning about the waxing and waning of the moon and the Islamic Calendar, and creating lovely decorations for the month! Everyone is welcome, whether or not you observe Ramadan. Ramadan Mubarak! Have a happy/blessed Ramadan Join us Wednesday, May 1, 6:30 - 8:00 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library
|
A Bilingual TWI Storytime
Acompaña a los estudiantes bilingües de NU en contando cuentos, cantando canciones y haciendo algunas manualidades relacionadas - ¡todo en dos idiomas, Español y Ingles!
Join bilingual NU students to listen to stories, sing songs and do some related crafts -- all in 2 languages, Spanish and English! Ideal para estudiantes K-2, pero niños preescolares siempre son bienvenidos. Ideal for TWI students K-2, but preschoolers always welcome!
Join Us in the Children's Room (Main Library) from 4:00pm - 5:00 pm on:
|
Celebrate Free Comic Book Day at the library!
In addition to providing free comic books, we will be offering comic and superhero themed activities:
- Make a Superhero Mask
- Comic Coloring Station
- Take Green Screen Photos - select different comic themed backgrounds and put yourself in the action
- Get Me Pictures of Spider-Man! - photo scavenger hunt in the library
- Gotta Catch 'Em All - program robots using markers to catch pokemon
Anyone who wears a costume or comic inspired outfit gets to spin our prize wheel! Comics, supplies, and prizes are limited and will be given out on a first come, first served basis. (Description of Main Library event only -- other fun events at both North and Chicago Ave Main Street branches)
Saturday, May 4th, 10 am - 1 pm, Main Library, AND 10 am - 6 pm North Branch and Chicago Ave/MainStreet Branch
|
For District 65 4th and 5th graders only!
Enjoying Battle 2.0 books? Come to the Kahoot! Battle. Play your friends' games or show off your own game!
One of the activities for District 65's Battle 2.0 has been creating a game using questions about a book on Kahoot! If you've been reading books for Battle 2.0, you can come and play your friends' Kahoot! games at the library. Just bring a device, a phone or tablet with the Kahoot app downloaded. Invite friends to come. (If you want your game to be played, register at your school.) A limited number of laptops and iPads will be available at the library for those who don't have a phone or tablet. Battle of the Books Kahoot! Battle, Thursday, May 9th 6:30 - 7:30 pm, Falcon Room, Main Library
Parents, this is a great way for kids reading the Battle 2.0 books to meet up with other kids, test their knowledge about the books, and enjoy a fun competition!
(If your child HASN'T had a chance to create a Kahoot! game, the Library is here to help! Your kids can attend the Drop In Kahoot! Creating @ the Branches. We will help you create your own Kahoot game to play at the May 9th event. In order to create a Kahoot game, kids will need their own LOGIN or their school LOGIN if they've already started to create a game. Saturday April 13th, 11 am - Noon, North Branch, 2026 Central Street and/or Monday April 22, 4 - 5 pm Chicago Avenue/ Main Street Branch, 900 Chicago Ave
|
|
