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Monday, December 20, 2021 | View in browser
Our library locations are here for parents during Winter Break; the Main Library is open every day except 12/25 and 1/1. Robert Crown Branch Library is closed also on 12/24 and 12/31, due to the Crown Center being closed. (For the exact hours we're open during these holiday weeks, see this schedule.)
Exciting Drop-In Programs at both locations, by date:
Community Chain Art Activity at Robert Crown Branch Library: Drop in and design your own link to be added to the community chain. Tuesday, December 21-Thursday, December 30, all day, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
Winter Decoration Art Station at Robert Crown Branch Library: Drop in and design your own winter ornament! Wednesday, December 22-Monday, December 27, all day, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
Crown Storytime at Robert Crown Branch Library: Join this singing, story-loving group in Evanston for favorite stories and songs for preschoolers and toddlers! Thursday, December 23, 10:45 am; AND Thursday, January 6, 10:45 am, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
Snowman Name Tags Craft at Robert Crown Branch Library: Design your own snowman name tag that can be on display in the Robert Crown library. Monday, December 27-Tuesday, January 4, all day, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
Penguin Craft at the Main Library: Stop by the library and make your own little penguin to keep you company this winter. While supplies last. Tuesday, December 28, all day, Main Library: More Information.
Video Game Marathon at Robert Crown Branch Library (4th-8th graders only): Drop-in and play Mario Kart or Super Smash Bros with others. Kids sign-up for 30-minute intervals so that everyone gets a chance to play. Tuesday, December 28, 2 pm; AND Tuesday, January 4, 2 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
Seek and Find: Stop by the Main Library Children's Room anytime to take part in this indoor mini scavenger hunt. Twelve hidden pictures. A clue sheet in your hand. How many pictures can you find? Monday, December 27-Tuesday, January 18, Main Library.
Buttons & Bracelets at Robert Crown Branch Library (5 years and up): We are getting out the button maker and the friendship bracelet instructions! Drop in anytime between 2:30-4:30 to make your own unique, wearable creation to take home; staff will be on hand to guide you through the process. Wednesday, December 29, 2:30 pm; AND Wednesday, January 5, 2:30 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
Illinois Native Animals Coloring Calendar at Robert Crown Branch Library: Pick up your very own calendar for 2022 that you can color in yourself! Thursday, December 30, all day, while supplies last, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
New Year's Eve Craft at the Main Library: Get ready for your New Year's Eve celebration by making this fun craft. While supplies last. Friday December 31, all day, Main Library: More Information.
Carta A Los Reyes Magos at Robert Crown Branch Library: (Letter to the Three Kings) Monday, January 3-Thursday, January 6, all day, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
Drop In Origami at the Main Library (Grades K-5): Come any time between 11 am-1 pm to fold origami with us in our Art Garden. Our librarian and loads of paper are available to get you started. More experienced folders are welcome to make a more complex designs with our paper. Wednesday, January 5, from 11 am-1 pm, Main Library: More Information.
Cozy Movie Marathon at Robert Crown Branch Library: Drop in with your cozy blanket or your favorite stuffy and join us for a marathon of movies. Snacks will be provided. Friday, January 7, noon-6 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
 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.
Spanish Speaking and TWI Parents, register your elementary school student for this! Hora de Aventuras (Hour of Adventures) 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 27, 4 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: Register; Monday, January 3, 4 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: Register; Monday, January 10, 4 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: 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.
Sewing Class, Food: (4th and 5th Grade) Want to learn to sew? Join us as we learn to make simple, cute felt food crafts. For Evanston residents only, 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.
 Parents, the library has resources for great Winter Break reading and watching recommendations for your kids and more!
Visit Brookfield Zoo, the Botanic Garden or Legoland Discovery Center for less! Get a Museum Adventure Pass to use during Winter Break (One pass per family per week; the pass is good for one week from issuance. Each participating institution has a different "deal.")
Get great books for your kids from these Four Awesome Lists:
Movie Recommendations! Check out our great movie recommendations for families when either streaming from the library or picking out a DVD.
Your Kids STILL bored? Get them started on creating a 90 Second Newbery film of their favorite Newbery Award winning book! Competition deadline: 2/25/22.
What is Kwanzaa? Dr. Maulana Karenga, professor of Africana Studies at California State University, created Kwanzaa in 1966 to unite the African American community. On each of the seven nights of Kwanzaa, Sunday, December 26 through Saturday, January 1, families gather and light one of the seven candles on the Kinara (candleholder). Each candle stands for one of the seven principles of Kwanzaa, the Nguzo Saba, which are values of African communal culture. On the 6th night, families celebrate with a feast called Karamu Ya Imani (Feast of Faith). Come celebrate with us; all are welcome:
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Zawadi "homemade gifts" Craft Kits for Kwanzaa: (for kids 5 and up) To get ready for the celebration drop by the library for your free 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! While supplies last. More Information.
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City of Evanston Community Gathering at Fountain Square: Come for the Kinara Lighting at noon. Free and open to the public. Sunday, December 26, 12 pm, Fountain Square: More Information.
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Read all about it in our updated Kwanzaa booklist.
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Feast: Traditionally, folks enjoy a wonderful African stew for the main course of the Karamu Ya Imani feast on December 31. Enjoy this fun recipe for Ghanian Red Red as a main course for Karamu or for anytime you want to warm up!
This year the winter solstice takes place on Tuesday, December 21, 2021 at 8:59 a.m. CST. The Winter Solstice commemorates the longest night of the year which also begins the return of more daylight. For nature lovers, it's a day when we can be more in tune with nature and its gifts. First, check out our new Long Nights: Celebrating the Winter Solstice booklist. Great suggestions for celebrating (present free!):
- Create an Orange Pomander Ball with some cloves, an orange, and some beautiful string! Oranges are a symbol of the sun.
- Make Solstice Lanterns or enjoy an outdoor fire in a fire pit.
- Make some non-alcoholic Wassail. Be sure to include some citrus juice to symbolize the return of the sun.
- Check your noontime shadow around the time of the solstice: it will be your longest noontime shadow of the year.
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Take a hike in the winter weather. Also, check out this month of December outdoor activities to enjoy.
To those who celebrate, Merriest of Christmases to you! Christmas is the day when Christians celebrate the incarnation (becoming human) of God; Western Christians celebrate on December 25 while Eastern Orthodox Christians celebrate on January 7. Also, many folks celebrate Christmas as a secular holiday, too.
Enjoy lights at this dark time of year: create the Evergreen Tree luminary craft.
For some, Christmas is a 12-day celebration beginning on Christmas Day and ending on January 6, Epiphany, the traditional celebration of the arrival of the three kings who honored the new baby with gold, frankincense and myrrh. Some folks give gifts on Christmas Day, some on Three Kings Day! The well-known carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, reflects the 12-day celebration, sung in this case by Pentatonix.
If you celebrate Three Kings Day, El Día de los Reyes, get your free bulletin in Spanish with fun activities for the holiday available at both the Main Library and Robert Crown Branch Library. Also, there is a drop in Carta de los Reyes Magos activity. Monday, January 3-Thursday, January 6, Robert Crown Branch Library.
Make a wonderful set of three king crowns for decorating with this very simple craft.
 Here's hoping that 2022 will be better for kids than the last two years have been! We have a Happy New Year's booklist for you, so you can spend the beginning of the new year curled up with your child, reading.
Ōmisoka (大晦日) is a Japanese traditional celebration on the last day of the year. 明けましておめでとう! to everyone who celebrates! To learn more about Japanese American culture:
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