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Tuesday, March 28, 2023 | View in browser
The Blueberry Award Winner is... Listen to the Language of the Trees: A Story of How Forests Communicate Underground by Tera Kelley, illustrated by Marie Hermansson. Tara Kelley says, "I hope my book helps children keep marveling at and connecting to forests—where cooperation is just as common as competition, where individual trees recognize their kin and send them extra resources, and fungi and trees negotiate an unruly partnership. Thank you, Blueberry Awards for supporting books that connect children with nature!"
Check out the whole 2022 Blueberry List with 33 books for kids from 3 years old through 5th grade and up. Get the very best in nature and climate books for your kids; raise up citizen scientists, activists, and leaders for our future!
Katherine Applegate, Newbery winning author of The One and Only Ivan, and also author of 2022 Blueberry Honor Award winner, Odder, says: "...Delighted to hear that some wise folks have finally noticed the need to highlight nature and climate lit for children. And now, to be a part of that list? Well, I couldn’t be more pleased." And Mika Song, illustrator of Agatha May and the Anglerfish, dressed up as an anglerfish in a video for attendees!
Swing by the Main Library or the Robert Crown Branch Library to pick up some books and get the flyer as your guide to the best of kids' "nature and climate" literature.
Blueberry Webinar! Preschool teachers, lower elementary school teachers, homeschooling parents, and home daycare providers can join the Blueberry Committee in a Natural Start Alliance webinar that introduces many of the books and shares ideas on how to use them in a classroom! Register.
Evanston Public Library started the Blueberry Awards in 2021 to honor the best climate and nature books each year for kids 3-10 years old and to support parents, teachers and nature center staff who work with kids.
 “If you're anxious or worried about something, writing it down helps you get some control over it.” National Geographic, The Power of Poetry to Help Kids Cope. Poetry can improve kids' well-being, reading comprehension, and self-esteem—and they don't need to be award-winning poets to reap these benefits.
 Short & Sweet for April: Row, Row, Row Your Boat! Pick up a take home storytime kit. This month features that favorite song of little ones! Kits available while supplies last. Starts Tuesday, April 3, Main Library and Robert Crown Branch Library. More information.
Family Storytime and Craft (ages 3-7) Join us for stories, songs and a fun craft. Great for parents who are employed during the daytime. Books appropriate for ages 3-7 but all are welcome. Wednesday, April 5, 6:30 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register.
Miseracordia Hearts of Readers Storytime (ages 2-5) Bring your toddler or preschooler to Misericordia Hearts of Readers weekly storytime and activity, led by Misericordia residents! Come enjoy the fun! Monday, April 10, 10:15 am, Main Children's Room: More Information.
Jammie Time (ages 2-6) Visit the library in your jammies and let us do your bedtime reading. Whole families welcome. No registration required; just drop in for family storytime fun! Thursday, April 13, 6:30 pm, Main Library: More Information.
SingSong: A Family Singalong (ages 1 and up) Start your Saturday with some all-family singing at this fun, once a month, drop-in program! Hear Miss Jess play multiple stringed instruments and sing some of your favorite songs. Saturday, April 15, 9:30 am, Main Children's Room, Main Library: More information.
 All By Myself (ages 3-5) A special storytime for children who are ready to attend without parents and younger siblings. We'll share stories, songs and crafts. This is a four week program. Monday, April 10, 11 am, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register; OR Thursday, April 13, 1:30 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register.
Time for Twos (ages 24-36 months) Storytime filled with songs, picture books, puppets and rhymes for 24 to 36 months with parent, grandparent or caregiver. This is an amazing four week program full of fun! Tuesdays, April 25-May 16, 10:30 am, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register.
The Young and the Restless OUTDOORS (ages 0-2) Join this singing storytime for our youngest patrons. Singing is one of the best ways for little ones to learn language! This is a four week, drop-in program. Wednesday, April 12, 10:15 am, Smith Park: More information.
The Young and the Restless INDOORS (ages 0-2) Join this singing storytime for our youngest patrons. Singing is one of the best ways for little ones to learn language! This is a four week, registered program. Thursday, April 13, 10:15 am, Community Meeting Room, Main Library: Register.
Graphic Novel Book Club for Kids (grades 3-5) You love graphic novels, now come talk about them! This month we will be discussing Jen Wang's graphic novel, Stargazing. Stop by the children's desk to pick up a copy to read beforehand. Must be an Evanston resident or attend school in District 65 to participate. Saturday, April 1, 11 am, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register.
Matinee Movies at Main (all ages) This Spring Break, join us for a matinee movie here at the Main Library. We'll be showing Universal Pictures' The Bad Guys and Puss In Boots! Wednesday, April 5, 11 am, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: More information; AND Thursday, April 6, 11 am, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: More information.
Sewing Drop IN (grades 4 and up) Like designing your own clothing? Want to learn some basics? Have an old item you want to decorate? Come to the Robert Crown Sewing Drop-In and fashion your next favorite outfit! Wednesday, April 12, 4 pm, Robert Crown Multipurpose Room: More information.
Be a Maker: Embroidery (come with an adult) Learn basic embroidery stitches in this pop-up program. We will have supplies for a small project to take home; if you'd like to bring your own cloth item to embroider that's great too! No registration is necessary, however children sixth grade and younger must come with an adult. Saturday, April 15, 1:30 pm, Robert Crown Multipurpose Room: More information.
Word Rangers Writing Club (grades 3-5) Attention young aspiring writers: this club is for you! Do you like to write stories, poetry, songs, or other forms of creative writing? Come to the library to discuss writing, find new story inspiration, grow your creative writing skills, and meet others who share a passion for writing! We hope to create a safe space to express ourselves and, if you like, share our work with others. Sunday, April 16, 2 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register.
Purple Crayon Players Presents the PLAYground Festival (grades 3-7) Join the artists of the PLAYground Festival of Fresh Works to celebrate theatre for young audiences! Watch sneak peeks of the plays, do fun activities, and meet the playwrights! Friday, April 21, 4 pm, Main Library: Register.
Wonderful Words with Northwestern's Girl Up Chapter (grades 3-5) It is always a great experience when younger kids can be cheered on by college kids! We’re celebrating women and all people who identify as female by empowering and uplifting girls and girl-identifying children through fun activities. Northwestern's Girl Up Chapter members help us celebrate the world's Wonderful Women and empower program attendees to explore their gifts. Come home with a cool bracelet and your own handmade dictionary! Saturday, April 22, 2 pm, Main Library: Register.
Plant Swap Bring in a plant cutting and pick up a new plant to add to your family's collection on Saturday afternoon. We'd love houseplants of all kinds as well as vegetable and flower seedlings; enjoy this perfect opportunity to connect with other plant lovers of all ages. Saturday, April 1, 12-3 pm, Robert Crown Multipurpose Room, Robert Crown Branch Library: More information.
A Family Lounge! The Main Children's Room at the Main Library has a family lounge with a sink and a rocking chair for nursing parents and other parents whose kids need quiet space. Just ask for the key at the Main Children's Desk.
Get a Museum Pass! Take your kids to visit a museum, zoo, garden or other fun venue with a pass from Museum Adventure or Explore More Illinois! For Evanston Public Library patrons. One Museum Adventure Pass per family per week, More information.
Take a Book Survey! A team of educational researchers from the University of Utah and Penn State University is seeking to learn more about readers' book preferences across time. This link takes you, the adults, to a short, confidential questionnaire about the types of books you liked to read in the past and those you like right now. Thank you in advance for participating and completing this survey!
 For many Christians, the week preceding Easter is called Holy Week; Easter is the most important and joyful celebration of Jesus Christ during the year. Easter is also celebrated as a fun, cultural spring celebration by many people, with bunnies, colored eggs and lots of chocolate! To all those who celebrate, however you celebrate - have a happy Easter!
 Passover commemorates the Jewish people's flight from slavery, as recounted in the Hebrew scriptures and runs from sunset on April 5 through sunset on April 13.
 Muslim adults are fasting now during Ramadan through April 20 and children often await sundown for their big meal, too. Here's how to learn and experience more with your kids:
 Thank you to all of the kids in Evanston who helped us create the sticker mosaic celebrating Lunar New Year! That dragon looks fantastic.
Be on the lookout; we will soon have another sticker mosaic up in the Main Children's Room in anticipation of Earth Day! To get ready, check out our Earth Day Book List!
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