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Monday, December 6, 2021 | View in browser
Happy, healthy winter break to everyone! First, plan to get a Museum Adventure Pass for a suburban museum like Brookfield Zoo, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and Legoland Discovery Center to use during Winter Break (One pass per family per week; the pass is good for one week from issuance.)
Register now for both virtual and live programs over Winter Break:
Virtual Minecraft Mania for 2nd Grade and Under: Join us for a session of fun in-game challenges. Participants will work together to learn basic coding, digital citizenship, problem solving and critical thinking all through Minecraft! No experience is necessary. A Minecraft account is required and should be set up prior to event. Monday, December 27, 3 pm: Register.
Virtual Book Chat and Craft Club: Magic Mirror! (Grades 2-3) Enjoy this fast-paced, interactive program that highlights the first book in the Once Upon a Fairy Tale series. Sign up to get your own magic mirror craft to assemble during the program. The magic mirror craft kits are available at the Main Library's Children's desk and Robert Crown Branch Library starting December 10. Monday, December 27, 4:30 pm: Register.
Virtual Minecraft Mania for 3rd-5th grade: Bored this winter break? Love Minecraft? Join us for an online, afternoon Minecraft gaming session. Wednesday, December 29, 3 pm: Register.
Stories to STEM: The Pied Piper! (K-2 with a parent). Join us as we read the story of The Pied Piper, then explore some music-based STEM activities! Evanston residents only, please. Thursday, December 30, 10:30 am, Community Meeting Room, Main Library: Register.
Virtual Tween Game Nights: Among Us (Ages 8-12) Compete in this multiplayer game of teamwork and betrayal. Note: Zoom participants must have access to the game via mobile download or computer. Monday, January 3, 4 pm: Register.
STEM Explorers: Superhero Science! (K-2 with a parent) Want to be a superhero? Come test your skills in person at the challenges we've set out for you and see how you measure up. Evanston residents only, please. Tuesday, January 4, 10:15 am, Community Meeting Room, Main Library: Register.
Virtual Tween Game Nights: Skribbl.io. (Ages 8-12)Test your creativity with the multiplayer drawing and guessing game! Wednesday, January 5, 4 pm: Register.
Early Coding Playground (Ages 3-7 with a parent)! Want to play together with some fun, basic coding toys? We’ll have Code Hopper, Code and Go Mouse, Code-a-Pillar, Mbots and more available. Evanston residents only, please. Thursday, January 6, 2 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library: Register.
Sewing Class, Food! (4th-5th Grade) Want to learn to sew? Join us as we learn to make simple, cute felt food crafts. For Evanston residents please. Friday, January 7, 3 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library: Register.
Virtual Tween Game Nights: Gartic Phone (Ages 8-12) Similar to the game of Telephone, participants will have to label and draw what they think they are seeing! Saturday, January 8, 4 pm: 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! Próximo: Monday, December 13: 4 pm: Register; AND Monday, December 20, 4 pm. Register. Both events at the Robert Crown Branch Library.
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Short and Sweet: Storytime and Craft! (Best for Ages 3-7) You choose: live or virtual! Listen to a story then pick up supplies to make a simple craft at the library or at home. Watch virtually (link below) or come to the library for a live performance. Saturdays, December 11, and 18, 11 am and 3 pm, Art Garden, Main Library. More Information.
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Virtual Author Visit with Dr. Zetta Elliot (Grades K-5)! Chicago-based children's author/poet/activist/educator Zetta Elliott will visit with us, talk about her Dragons in a Bag series, and celebrate the upcoming release of a brand new Dragons book: The Witch's Apprentice! Check out this booklist for more great reads by Zetta Elliot. Swing by the Main Library to pick up your (optional) dragon puppet kit! Register now! Saturday, December 11, 4 pm: Register
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December's Story Star at the Main Library: Sprouting Wings: The True Story of James Herman Banning, the First African American Pilot to Fly Across the United States. Come to the Main Library to read the story together by walking through the Main Children's Room. Then, try your hand at crafting paper airplanes, working with tools, and making a Sprouting Wings-inspired sun catcher craft! Through December 12, Main Library: More Information.
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Zawadi "homemade gifts" Craft Kits for Kwanzaa (for kids 5 and up)! Join the Evanston community in celebrating this seven-day holiday which honors the African heritage of many Americans by making related crafts! Check out our updated Kwanzaa booklist! Pick up a kit at both the Main Library and Robert Crown Library Branch locations. Choose one: a Mkeka mat, a paper bead bracelet or stamps to create your own Adinkra printing! Starting Monday, December 13, while supplies last! More Information.
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Poetry Night with the Grandparents of Family Focus: Join us virtually for this special evening of local poetry! Your kids will be inspired to write and perform poetry for themselves. Presented by EPL, Family Focus and Northlight Theatre: Tuesday, December 14, 7 pm: Register.
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Microwave Cooking Class: Lunch and Dinner. Calling K-5th graders who want to learn how to cook using their microwave! This month join us in making Mac and Cheese, Potato Soup, and a Pizza using a mug and a microwave. An ingredient list will be sent out ahead of time. Saturday, December 18, 11 am: Register.
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Young Scientist's Book Club! Let's discuss Coop Knows the Scoop by Taryn Sounders; an ebook copy is available on Hoopla here. Kids will work on a STEM activity or challenge that ties into the reading, then discuss their creations and the science behind them. The science activity available for pickup at Main starting December 11; registration is required. Must be an Evanston resident or attend school in District 65 to participate. Saturday, December 18, 3 pm: Register.
Parents/Library Listening Session - Ever wanted to share your ideas or thoughts with the library staff? Now is the time! What can the library do to help you make our community the best it can be? Have any brilliant ideas on how to support Evanston kids? Come chat with us and feel free to come as a (parents) group, too. Wednesday, December 8, 5 pm: Register.
LENA Start Information Session! Learn about LENA Start and how you can participate in a 10-week virtual parent program that helps build your 0-3 year old's brain! Evanston residents, only. Tuesday, December 7, 11 am, English session: Register; Spanish session: Register; OR Thursday, December 9, 2 pm. English Session: Register; Spanish Session: Register; OR Saturday, December 11, 10 am: English Session: Register; Spanish Session: Register. Don't miss this!
Family Lounge/Breastfeeding Room at the Main Library! Ever need to have some private time with your child to nurse, change a diaper, feed or calm your child? Ask at the Main Children's Room desk for the key.
New Way to Access Kanopy! Do you love using Libby? Have you tried your library's Kanopy film streaming service yet? Starting December 6, you will be able to sign up and use Kanopy via your Libby app!
Check out these three great lists of recommendations for your kids:
International Human Rights Day commemorates the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations General Assembly on December 10, 1948. 'Human rights' refer to basic rights or freedoms that include people's right to life, health, education, freedom of speech and thoughts, and equal rights.
This is a sweet introduction to human rights for kids created in 2008 in the UK by Amnesty International.
What is a solstice? Happening twice a year, it marks the exact moment that one of Earth’s poles is at its maximum tilt. So, on the day of the winter solstice, the sun travels its shortest path through the sky. This year the winter solstice takes place on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 8:59 a.m. CST for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere. A Neo Pagan or Wiccan holiday, the Winter Solstice also commemorates the return of more daylight, something everyone can celebrate! For nature lovers, it's a day when we can be more in tune with nature and its gifts. Ways to celebrate, no holiday shopping required:
If you or your ancestors are from a European country like Germany, Poland, the Netherlands and more, you may celebrate Saint Nicholas Day on December 6. If you or your ancestors are from Scandinavia, you may celebrate St. Lucia Day on December 13. Happiest of commemorations to those who celebrate!
- St. Nicholas Day can include imitating the 3rd Century Bishop Nicholas* by giving money to the less fortunate and to children.
- St. Lucia visited Christians hiding from persecution in the underground tombs, balancing candles on her head to keep her hands free to carry food for them, according to legend.
Simple crafts to celebrate these Saints' Days:
* St. Nicholas of Myra in Turkey serves as kind of a model for the idea of "Santa Claus" as a gift giver. Sinterklaas is Dutch for Saint Nicholas.
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