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Monday, October 25, 2021 | View in browser
All Hallow's Eve or Halloween is this Sunday, October 31! This holiday has ancient Celtic origins: the day midway between the Fall Equinox and the Winter Solstice was celebrated as Samhain with a bonfire and the hope of communing with the dead. Last year, we missed out on most Halloween festivities. If you celebrate either an ancient Celtic Halloween or a modern American one, enjoy our suggestions for family fun:
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Read! Start with a great Halloween book from our brand new Halloween Booklist!
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Craft! Create decorative art with painter's tape for younger kids: Halloween spider web activity! Here's a great STEM project for older ones: Ghost Rockets!
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October Family Reading Night: Put on your pajamas, get cozy, and join your favorite EPL librarians on Zoom for October stories and songs. Books are selected for kids ages 3-5, but all are welcome. Thursday, October 28, 6:30 pm: Register.
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Trick-or-treat at the library! On Sunday, October 31, bring your kids to the Main Library or the Robert Crown Branch Library. Come anytime from noon till 6 pm. All treats are non-food items. (The official hours for trick-or-treating outside in Evanston are 4-7 pm)
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Pumpkin Book Characters Scavenger Hunt! We gave out 160 pumpkins to patrons so they could decorate them like their favorite book character. They brought their pumpkins to the library or sent us a photo for display. Come see how many pumpkins you can find at the Main Library (coming soon to Robert Crown Branch Library!) Meet pumpkin characters like Piggie of the Elephant and Piggie books and the dragon that loves tacos! More Information.
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City of Evanston's 6th Annual "It's the Great Pumpkin Compost!" Collection Event. This drive-up, drop-off event gives residents a way to keep their pumpkins out of the waste stream while helping Evanston's soil. Saturday, November 6, 9 am-12 pm, Morton Civic Center, 2100 Ridge Avenue. More information.
Need more celebration ideas? Check out this round up of Chicagoland events from Chicago Parent.
Día de los Muertos is a Mexican and Mexican-American holiday celebrating and remembering loved ones who've died. It is not "Mexican" Halloween. Día de los Muertos is a 3,000-year-old ancestor celebration originating in pre-Columbian Mexico. Come celebrate Día de los Muertos with us:
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Visit our Library Ofrendas! Ofrendas are an essential part of the Day of the Dead celebrations. The word ofrenda means "offering" in Spanish. The ofrenda is set up with pictures of the deceased, as well as their favorite foods, marigold flowers, and more. Both library locations have an ofrenda set up in honor of lost loved ones; feel free to add pictures of your relatives, too.
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Carnaval de Muertos! Join us for an evening of remembrance and fun! Visit the Robert Crown Reading Garden, where we will make shoebox altars or ofrendas, create muerto masks, do theater improv with Mudlark theater, and take pictures with Catrinas from Northwestern and more. Tuesday, November 2, 6 pm: More Information. Masks required!
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The Young and the Restless Outdoors! This is a sing-a-long program for infants through 2 year-olds (older siblings welcome, masked). With an outdoor location and a new leader, we are enjoying singing together. Just drop in; no registration required. Thursday, October 28, 10 am, Cornelia Lunt Park. More Information. Additional dates planned: 11/4, 11/11, and 11/18.
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Stroller Stories! Bundled-Up, Walking Storytime: Dress warmly and tuck your young one into the stroller for a new kind of storytime! Meet at the front entrance to Robert Crown. The group will walk around the athletic fields and stop for stories and songs along the route. Thursdays and Saturdays at 10:45 am. Thursday, November 4, 10:45 am: Register; Saturday, November 6, 10:45 am: Register. Additional dates planned: 11/11, 11/13, 11/18, 11/20 and 11/27.
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All By Myself: A special storytime for children ages 3-5 on Zoom. If you'd like to do the craft in real time, a list of supplies needed for all four crafts will be emailed prior to the start of the session. The four-week program starts Thursday, October 28, 11 am: Register OR Thursday, October 28, 1:30 pm: Register.
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Time for Twos: A storytime filled with songs, picture books, puppets, and rhymes for 24-36 months with parent, grandparents, or a caregiver. The four-week program starts Tuesday, November 9, 10:30 am: Register.
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Hora de Aventuras - Cuenta cuentos en español para niñas y niños de primaria: Hola! Ven a la biblioteca para escuchar cuentos en español. Algunos divertidos, otros tiernos, o de risa... o de miedo! Cada lunes a las 4 pm. Deja volar tu imaginación con nosotras! Monday, November 1, 4 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: Register; AND Monday, November 8, 4 pm: Register.
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Last Stop on Market Street Celebration! Northwestern University's Imagine U is performing the play based on the beloved Newbery Award-winning book! To celebrate, we will have an online party with a scene performed from the play, a brief interview with Michael Masini of Evanston's Interfaith Action Soup Kitchen, theater games, and directions for an amazing bus snack. Program aimed at K-5th grade. We'll award FREE tickets to two lucky families! Saturday, November 6, 11 am. Register.
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Curious Kids, A FREE Reading and Crafting Subscription Club (K-2nd grade only): Each month for three months, receive a themed package that contains library books plus a mini craft kit. Registration open now until October 26. Deliveries will be the week of November 8, December 6, and January 10. We will have a Zoom party on January, 22, 2 pm to celebrate and share our crafts. Register.
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Rainbow Therapy Dogs: Rainbow Animal Assisted Therapy is coming to the Library this fall! Meet a new furry friend and take some time to de-stress. Come visit them at the Main Library community room from 2-4 pm. on November 4 and 18; or at the Robert Crown Branch Library Multipurpose Room from 2-4 pm. on November 6 and November 20.
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STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics! National STEAM/STEM Day is November 8! Check out these great programs:
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Preschool STEAM Storytime Series! (for ages 3-5) Story time is in-person and outdoors in parks around Evanston. Bring a blanket, your boots, and your coat because we will be outside, rain, snow or shine. Together, we will read stories, sing songs, and have a lot of silly science fun! Monday, November 8, 10:30 am, Cornelia Lunt Park: Register; AND Monday, November 22, 10:30 am, Penny Park: Register; AND Monday, November 29, 10:30 am, Fireman's Park: Register.
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Art & Design Talk: Design with Ebere Agwuncha (Grades 3-6): Ebere Agwuncha is a designer, maker, and artist currently based in Chicago via Nigeria. We're excited to continue our partnership with such a talented engineer and artist! If you came to our last meeting in this series, this program is new and different. Registration is required, so you can get the Zoom link and the take-home design kit for the event! Thursday, November 18, 5 pm: Register.
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CSI Library Craft Kit (grades 5-8): Do you have what it takes to be a detective? A crime has happened at the Evanston Public Library! Pick up a Forensics STEAM kit with activities ranging from fingerprint analysis to cryptography. Once you finish the activities, you can cast a vote for the culprit on our Google Form and be entered into a raffle! Winners will be announced on November 15. Pick up kits starting Monday, November 8, while supplies last: More Information.
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Code it! Challenge (grades 5-8): Design and code a video game for the chance to win amazing prizes! Evanston Public Library co-sponsors this event lead by EvanSTEM. The rules are simple: design a video game using MakeCode Arcade, include at least 10 core game elements, and submit it by December 5. If you need help or have any questions, come to our weekly drop-in hours. Tuesday, October 26, 4 pm: Register; AND Tuesday, November 2, 4 pm: Register.
Great Author Visits for Your Kids!
Check out this incredible line up of diverse authors and illustrators to give your kids an inspiring literary experience! You can read these authors' books now by checking out this booklist from author visits.
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Caldecott Medal-winning author/illustrator, Juana Martinez-Neal Visits TOMORROW! This week, District 65 welcomes author and illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal for virtual visits. Alongside her school visits, she will also do a family visit with the Evanston Public Library, where everyone is welcome! Alma and How She Got Her Name was her first book as author-illustrator. She is the recipient of a Caldecott Honor, a Sibert Medal and a Pura Belpré Medal for Illustration. Juana was born in Peru and lives in Connecticut with her family. Tuesday, October 26, 6:30 pm: Register.
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Meet Illustrator Andrea Tsurumi and Author Jarrett Dapier-A Mr. Watson's Chickens Virtual Visit! Join the creators of the hilarious new picture book, Mr. Watson's Chickens! To get in the poultry mood, starting on Monday, October 25, come get your optional Chicken Grab & Go Craft at both library locations. Bonus: check out Andrea Tsurumi's recommended reads for kids! Learn how authors and illustrators work together to make magic on the page: Sunday, November 7, 4 pm: Register.
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Virtual Author Visit with Dr. Zetta Elliot! Meet Chicago-based children's author/poet/activist/educator Zetta Elliott. Dr. Elliot will focus on her beloved Dragons in a Bag series and celebrate the upcoming release of a brand new Dragons book! She's also the author of the powerful and inspiring A Place Inside of Me: A Poem to Heal Your Heart, which received a 2021 Caldecott Honor for illustrator Noa Denmon. For grades K-5. There will be a special dragon craft tie-in to this visit, to be announced. Saturday, December 11, 4 pm: Register
If you picked up a pumpkin, a quilt square, or a Mola kit, please bring your art back to us!
1 Quilt Square. If you attended the Cozbi Cabrera Author/Illustrator/Fabric Art Event, please bring your completed quilt square to the Children's Services Desk at the Main Library by November 1. We want to include everyone's square in the community quilt, which we will display.
2. Book Character Pumpkin. If you picked up one of our 160 pumpkins from the Main Library, please bring your decorated book character pumpkin back into the library or email eplpumpkins@gmail.com with a picture of your art, so we can put it on display!
3. Mola art. If you picked up a Mola kit from us during Hispanic Heritage Month, please bring your completed art into the Robert Crown Branch library so we can put it on display! ¡Muy divertido!
Thank you all for crafting with us.
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Diwali means a "row of lights" and it is the Hindu festival of light that celebrates the beginning of the Hindu New Year. The holiday is about the triumph of good over evil, and light over darkness. Diwali is celebrated on November 4, but it's part of a festival from November 1-6. People wear their finest clothes, illuminate their homes with diyas (lamps) and rangoli (sand art), perform worship ceremonies of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity and wealth, light fireworks, and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. Here's some ideas for you and your kids to learn about or celebrate Diwali this year:
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Taste! The taste of Diwali is sweet. Coconut Ladoo are often given as a gift during Diwali. You and your kids can make some together with this fun recipe! (The recipe uses condensed milk. If you avoid milk products, use coconut milk because it is thicker.)
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Craft! Younger kids can make this colorful leaf garland to decorate for Diwali (or just for fall); older kids will enjoy this perfect lotus tealight!
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Read a kid-friendly version of the story of Rama and Sita, one of the stories of Diwali, to your children or just learn about Diwali itself with our new Diwali Booklist.
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Feast! Evanston has some great Indian restaurants: Sherpa Curry House, Mumbai Grill, Mt. Everest Restaurant, and more! Or visit Devon Avenue in Chicago, also called "Little India."
A parent in our community, who is also a member of our African American Collections Advisory Committee, checked out a New York Times bestselling kids book from the Evanston Public Library, written by two Minecraft YouTubers in 2018. Reading it aloud, she discovered first a subtle racism in the story and then, at the end, overt racism. It was a shock, and we are so sorry for what she and her kids went through in reading this book together. Several parents came to the board meeting on October 20 to see what could be done to screen kids books for racism. (Everyone is always welcome to attend our Board Meetings. The next board meeting is November 17.)
We have two main selectors employed at the library for buying Adult and Kids books. They use School Library Journal, Kirkus, Booklist, and other industry review magazines as a guide to buying the best books for kids. Both selectors also review books themselves professionally. They have served on numerous childrens' book and AV review committees nationally. We are very proud of our selectors and their work among us to find and support excellence in children's literature.
As children's librarians, we also do our very best to acquire the books kids love even if they don't get glowing reviews. When kids are excited about a book, and get their parents to put it on hold, we try to buy it quickly! Research shows that children's choice drives improved reading skill. That's what we think happened in this case; we bought it in response to holds Evanston parents had placed on the book. It is a New York Times bestseller, but the book has no professional reviews. When we recently contacted the publisher, they had never had an issue raised about this book before, which surprised us.
The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion committee at the Evanston Public Library is working on innovative and exciting ways we can both support the freedom to read while also alerting parents and kids of problematic content and teaching moments. We are so grateful for the support of the volunteers in our community that help us do better for Evanston's kids! If you are concerned about this issue, contact us.
If you are looking for a great book for your child, don't hesitate to get in touch. We have a long list of online booklists as well as our monthly staff picks to introduce your kids to a world of topics. We also operate Kids Litmatch where we can match books specifically to your child. And we love it if you come to the library staff in person and ask for recommendations!
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