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Monday, April 11, 2022 | View in browser
 The international theme of Earth Day, Friday, April 22, 2022, is Invest in our Planet. To start your celebration, check out our Earth Day booklist for kids!
Ecology Center Celebration: Come visit the library booth at the Evanston Ecology Center on for a copy of our newly announced 2021 Blueberry List, our selection of the best books for kids about nature and the planet. We will also have some gorgeous ephemeral Nature Art to do together! Saturday, April 23, 10 am-12 pm, 2024 McCormick Blvd: More Information.
Self-Organized Neighborhood Clean Up: Clean up a park or public space in your neighborhood! Free gloves and trash bags can be picked up at the Evanston Ecology Center or Robert Crown Community Center beginning Thursday, April 21.
4th Annual Earth Day Cleanup! The Main Dempster Mile is sponsoring an organized clean up of streets along the mile. Earn treats like free gelato, peanuts, and for the adults Sketchbook beer! Saturday, April 23, 11 am–1 pm: More information and registration.
How to Talk to Children About Climate Change! Genie Albina, former District 65 teacher, Earth Week Environmental Curriculum lead, and Parent Coach will show us how to bring compassion, understanding and action to this important conversation. Climate change is one of those topics that is both critical to talk about with our kids and also confusing on how to bring up and how much to share. Wednesday, May 4, 7 pm, Robert Crown Community Center, Multipurpose Room B: Register.
Great spring activities to celebrate the earth's changes with your kids:
Madelyn Rosenberg, author of Blueberry Honor book, One Small Hop, wrote to us: "Grateful that you are spotlighting this topic...Here's hoping you connect more kids with nature and help them save the world!"
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The Young and the Restless Outdoors (ages 0-2) Join our sing-a-long storytime outdoors at our local park! Being outdoors means we will sing in our coats and boots, but the clear air should make it a joy. Singing is one of the best ways for little ones to learn language. Thursdays, April 14 and April 21,10 am, Cornelia Lunt Park (between the lake and the Main Library): More Information.
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Crown Storytime (toddlers and preschoolers) We will sing together and share stories, old and new! Stories and songs are chosen for younger kids. No registration required, just drop in. Ongoing Mondays, April 18, 10 am, Robert Crown Branch Library: More information.
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Spring Purple Crayon Players Storytime (for age 2 and up) Come to the Main Library for a rousing sing-a-long storytime with NU Theater students. You'll go home with craft materials for a great craft. Friday, April 15, 22 and 29, 10 am, Main Children's Room: More information.
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Pajama Night Storytime: Bedtime Stories and Songs! (3-7 years) Get in your jammies and come over to Crown! Read and sing with us before bedtime. Drop-in, no registration required. Wednesday, April 27, 7 pm, Robert Crown Programming Room: More information.
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Bilingual Storytime / Hora de cuentos bilingües! From now until July, we will be hosting a bilingual (English/Spanish) storytime at the Robert Crown Branch. Join us on every second Saturday of the month (May 14, June 11, and July 9) for stories, songs and fun! For preschoolers and toddlers, registration not required! Saturday, May 14, 1 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: More information.
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National Pet Day Craft! Celebrate your furry friends: turn a paper bag into an animal puppet using construction paper, markers, and your imagination! National Pet Day was yesterday, Sunday, April 10, so this week at Robert Crown Branch Library, you can make a puppet at our activity table in honor of your favorite pet, or an animal you wish could be a pet. During open hours on Monday, April 11 through Thursday, April 14, Robert Crown Branch Library, 1801 Main St: More information.
Hora de Aventuras-¡Es primavera! (Grades 1-5) Cuentos y juegos en español Acompáñanos para escuchar las cuentos y jugar al veo veo, adivina adivinanza, Simon de Palabras y más! Te esperamos en la biblioteca de Robert Crown cada lunes! Only half an hour and now including riddle games and a craft kit! Monday, April 18, 4 pm, Robert Crown Branch Library: Register; AND Monday, April 25, 4 pm: Register.
Virtual Microwave Cooking Class: Breakfast Part II (grades K-5) Bring EPL into your kitchen and cook with us! This month, we will be making a Blueberry Muffin, French Toast, and a Quiche using a mug and a microwave. An ingredient list will be sent out ahead of time so you can cook your own breakfast with Ms. Kim, and all recipes will be emailed to you after the program. Saturday, April 16, 11 am: Register.
LIVE Graphic Novel Book Club for Kids: Apocalypse Taco (grades 3-5)! You love graphic novels, now come talk about them! This month we will discuss Nathan Hale's action/adventure graphic novel, Apocalypse Taco. We will be meeting IN PERSON! You can place a copy on hold to read here or you can check out an ebook copy via Hoopla here. Saturday, April 16, 3 pm, Main Library: Register.
Community Art Building Workshop: Make art with Kids Create Change in response to the Bias Inside Us exhibit! Visitors of all ages are invited to add to a community tapestry that will weave together our individual commitments to acknowledge and combat bias. The workshop will include an introduction to art making for social change and the opportunity to discuss themes explored in the exhibition. All materials will be provided and no previous art experience is necessary. Saturday, April 16, 1 pm, 3rd Floor, Main Library. Register; AND Saturday, April 23, 1 pm: Register.
Virtual Author Visit: We Move Together! Join the authors and illustrator to discuss their book We Move Together. The book is "a perfect tool for having conversations about disability, accessibility, social justice and community building." Learn how to advocate for more accessible spaces in your neighborhood through a fun interactive online craft-based exercise. Place a hold on the book, or for different versions to address accessibility, visit their website. Hosted by the Evanston, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles-Maine District, and Skokie Public Libraries. Thursday, April 21, 6 pm. All ages: Register.
Young Scientists Book Club: Chasing Vermeer! (grades 3-5) Love STEM? Love reading? This is the book club for you! This month, we will be discussing the thrilling University of Chicago Lab School-based Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett. Of course, there will be a cool STEM project! Please visit the Children's Desk at Main to pick up a copy of the book. Saturday, April 30, 3 pm, Art Garden, Main Library: Register.
Children's Book Week Drop In Storytime: Floyd Cooper Mega Reading Celebration! Celebrate 2022 Children's Book Week with a special tribute to the late Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award and Caldecott Honor winner Floyd Cooper! EPL staff members will read a variety of Floyd's most beloved books on this early dismissal day. Check out our new Floyd Cooper booklist for suggestions. Wednesday, May 4, 1:30 pm, Main Children's Room, Main Library: More information!
Minecraft Mania! Spend your half-day off from school hanging out and building in the world of Minecraft! No experience is necessary. A Minecraft account is required and should be set up prior to event. This event will take place IN PERSON. Bring your device and hop online to hang out! Wednesday, May 4, 3 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library. Register.
 “Día de los Niños” or “Day of the Child” is a celebration that originated in Mexico and dates back to 1925. Celebrated each year on April 30, it's about recognizing the importance of children in society and promoting their well being including the joy of reading!
Encanto Viewing and Craft: Join us for a themed craft activity and stay for an interactive sing-along movie viewing of Disney's ENCANTO! Get free children's and tween/middle-grade books to take home after the event. These events are first come, first served.
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Friday, April 29, 3:30 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library:More Information.
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Saturday, April 30, 5 pm, Robert Crown Programming Room, Robert Crown Branch Library: More information.
Looking for some great books to read on Día de los Niños? Check out these wonderful Pura Belpré Award winners:
 Fun ways to share poetry with your kids:
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Read poetry together. Check out our newly updated Poetry Month Booklist which also includes novels in verse for bigger kids!
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Poetry Month Seek and Find (K-5): Create a Found Poem. Poetry has been described as "the best words in the best order." Visit the Main Library to find the best words from poetry on display and put them in the order you think is best. Bring your "found poem" to the desk for a prize. We'll add your poem to our "Poetree." Available during open hours at the Main Library Children's Room starting April 4: More information.
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Rhymetime Seek and Find (infants through preschool): Nursery Rhyme Bingo. A special seek and find for our youngest patrons. Grab a bingo card and set out to find the Nursery Rhymes displayed around the room. When you find a rhyme, say it with your little one or scan the code to watch a special guest performance. Find all eight rhymes for a special prize! Available during open hours at the Main Library, beginning April 4: More information.
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April Short and Sweet: The Wind and the Sun a DIY story time kit (toddlers and preschoolers). Listen to a short poem and then make a sweet craft. You can even use the craft to act out the story! Come to the Main Library and pick up a craft kit including a poem, a link to a video of the poem, and supplies to make your own Wind and Sun. Kits are available while supplies last April 4-30: More information.
Other continuing commemorations:
Ramadan, the month of fasting for Muslims, continues through the evening of Sunday, May 1. The greeting for Ramadan is Ramadan Mubarak, "Have a Blessed Ramadan!" Learn more from our Ramadan Booklist for kids!
Money Smart Week continues through April 16. Find great books for your kids about money and ideas on developing financial skills for all ages with our Money Smart Booklist!
 For Christians, Easter is the annual celebration of the resurrection that is the culmination of the Holy Week starting with Palm Sunday and moving to Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and finally, Easter morning. Easter is also a fun, secular holiday celebrating the arrival of spring with bunnies, chocolate treats and dyed Easter eggs! Happy Easter to all who celebrate, in whatever way you celebrate.
 Passover (or Pesach in Hebrew) begins the evening of Friday, April 15, 2022 and ends the evening of Saturday, April 23! Passover, a major Jewish holiday, celebrates the exodus of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt as recounted in the Tanakh or Hebrew Bible. The first night of Passover begins with a Seder, a ritual feast when the liberation of Israel is recounted with the whole family and sometimes many friends present.
Make a gift. What is an appropriate gift for Pesach? While it is always good to give Matzoh or Dates, another traditional favorite is Coconut Macaroons. Make them with your kids and enjoy a delicious holiday tradition!
Read a book. Check out our brand new Passover Booklist which showcases books recommended by Mollie Bass, from the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation's Early Childhood Center.
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