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Tuesday, June 6, 2023 | View in browser
 Pride Month is a celebration of our LGBTQIA+ community! (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, and More including Nonbinary and Pansexual) Celebrated every June, Pride Month is a great time to show your family's support for LGBTQIA+ friends, family, community members and library employees! Join us as we celebrate our diverse community:
First, use these booklists to find a great book for your child:
Then, come to our fun events:
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DIY Mini Pride Floats Pick Up Tiny float, big celebration! Pick up a kit with everything you need to make your own pride float or join us for a drop in and make it here. Sunday, June 4, All Day, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
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DIY Mini Pride Float Drop In Tiny float, big celebration! Join us as we have snacks, listen to music and make mini Pride floats! Thursday, June 8, 4 pm, Multipurpose Room, Robert Crown Branch: More Information.
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Pride Unites Us Open House Stop by the library for our Pride Unites Us Open House and Artists Reception. There will be garland making, refreshments, and an opportunity to meet local LGBTQIA+ artists. Thursday, June 15, 4:30 pm, Falcon Room, Main Library: Register.
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Drag Queen Storytime! Celebrate PRIDE month, by joining us for a fun filled family story time with the fabulous Coco Sho'Nell! Saturday, June 24, 11 am, Reading Garden, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
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Drag Queen Bingo! Celebrate PRIDE month, by joining us for a fun filled family friendly game of BINGO with the fabulous Coco Sho'Nell! Stay and play for the chance to win some fun prizes! Saturday, June 24, 3 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library: Register.
 Join the Evanston Public Library as we mark 150 years of service by participating in the 150 Years Summer Reading Challenge for children from birth to rising 5th graders. Come to the Main Library, Robert Crown Branch Library, or meet us outdoors at parks and events around Evanston this summer and:
- Pick up an activity card
- Complete the 5 activities
- Turn in your card anytime after June 12 and receive a free book!
- Compete a second card and get a prize!
All participants will be entered into weekly prize drawings and a Grand Prize drawing at the end of the Challenge! We will even have a special activity card for our very youngest patrons. More Information about Summer Reading for Birth-5th grade!
Little Book is back! See our newest Summer Reading movie with Little Book and friends. Hint: it's one of the activities on your first card!
Summer Reading Kick Off Party Join us at the Evanston Public Library Robert Crown Branch to welcome the start of our summer reading program! Sunday, June 11, 1 pm, Reading Garden, Robert Crown Branch Library: More Information.
EPL On the Fly! At Mason Park Drop in for a STEM or craft project in the park. Register for Summer Reading Challenge! Pick up a free book! Weather permitting. Wednesday, June 14, 11:30 am, Mason Park: More Information.
 Tomorrow: Family Storytime and Craft! Join us for stories, songs and a fun craft. Books appropriate for ages 3-7 but all are welcome. Wednesday, June 7, 6:30 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register.
Jammie Time (pre-K to grade 2) Visit the library in your jammies, bring your favorite stuffy, and listen to stories, sing songs, and have fun. All family members welcome. Thursday, June 8, 6:30 pm, Children's Room, Main Library: More Information.
Singsong (ages 1 and up) Join Miss Jess for a fun, once a month, drop-in set of songs! Hear her play multiple stringed instruments! Stay until the end for a chance to strum the instruments yourself! Saturday, June 10, 9:30 am, Garden Gates, Main Library: More Information.
July Family Storytime and Craft! Join us for stories, songs and a fun craft. Great for working parents. Books appropriate for ages 3-7 but all are welcome. Wednesday, July 5, 6:30 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register.
 Minecraft Scavenger Hunt This month's scavenger hunt is all about Minecraft! Find all the images to get entered into a raffle for the chance to win a fun prize! All Month, Main Library: More Information.
Dime Dance Off (all ages) Join EPL and Mr. Marcus from Dime Dance for another evening of hip-pop and other grooves! The library will be there to support with free book giveaways and more! Friday, June 9, 5 pm, Brummel Park: More Information.
Falcon Banding! (all ages) Come see Mary Hennen, Director of the Chicago Peregrine Program at The Field Museum, band the young peregrine falcon. The chick will be removed from the nest, brought inside, and then returned to the nest after the banding is done, and Hennen will answer questions from the audience. Falcon fans are encouraged to submit their name ideas, and the names of the mother and her chick will be announced at the banding. Friday, June 9, 10:30 am, Main Library, 3rd Floor.
Graphic Novel Book Club for Kids (grades 3-5) This month we will be discussing Molly Ostertag's thrilling graphic novel, The Girl From the Sea. 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, June 10, 11 am, Main Library: Register.
Creative Writing Open Mic (grades 2-6:) Young poets and storytellers are invited to share their poetry, writing, or other spoken word piece in a safe and supportive setting! Spectators also welcome. Each child may share for a maximum of 3 minutes. Sunday, June 11, 2 pm, Garden Gates, Main Library: Register.
MakerKids: Seed Starting Workshop (grades 3-5) Join us for this seed starting workshop to learn the basics of starting and maintaining your own edible garden. Participants will have the opportunity to get their hands in the soil to start their own seedlings. For Evanston residents only please. Thursday, June 22, 2 pm, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room, Main Library: Register.
Instrument Petting Zoo (all ages) Join members of Sigma Alpha Iota Evanston Alumnae as they share their instruments and love of music with us! Children and their families will learn about the instruments of the orchestra and get a chance to try them out. Children who stay and try them all will earn a prize! Sunday, June 25, 2 pm, Community Meeting Room, Main Library: More Information.
MakerKids: Strange New Planet (grades K-2) Learn how scientists study new planets and then make your own! For Evanston residents entering grades K-2 only, please. Wednesday, June 28, 3 pm, Main Library, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room: Register.
Maker Kids: Making Music (grades 3-5) Learn chords, notes and how to strum on a stringed instrument! Kids will then create a cardboard representation of the Woodrow to practice their finger placement and strum technique. Thursday, July 6, 3 pm, Main Library, Barbara Friedberg Storytelling Room: Register.
Father's Day was created in 1910 as a way to celebrate all of the fantastic fathers and father figures in the world. This year, it is held on June 18. Big thanks to all our dads, both those who raised us and those who mentored us.
Here are a few ways to celebrate:
While Father's Day is a joy for some, other members of our community might find that the day can bring up some unpleasant feelings. With the recent pandemic, many people have lost father figures in their lives. LGBTQ+ families might find that Father's Day is not inclusive of their family dynamic. Here are some things to do to honor all families:
- Learn about inclusivity with this article about supporting LGBTQ+ families through Father's Day!
- Read a book from our Love Makes a Family Booklist to celebrate the different forms that family can take!
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Rainbows for All Children is an Evanston-headquartered organization that provides support groups for children struggling with grief.
 Juneteenth means June 19 and commemorates the Emancipation Proclamation. June 19, 1865 is the day when enslaved Black people in Texas were told about their freedom-almost 3 years after the order was signed! Texas made it a state holiday in 1980 and in 2021, President Biden made it a federal holiday. Here are some things to do to honor Juneteenth in Evanston this year:
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Read! Our Juneteenth Booklist has great selection of books to help your children learn about the holiday!
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4th annual Juneteenth Parade! Catch the South Shore Drill Team and The Jesse White Tumblers along with floats, walking groups, marching bands and cars! The parade starts at Robert Crown Community Center on June 17, 10:30 am and ends at Ingraham Park around noon where the fun continues! More Information.
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Juneteenth Celebration! Join this great party to celebrate freedom! Saturday, June 17, 12-6 pm, Ingraham Park More Information.
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1619: The Journey of a People: The Musical! This show commemorates the arrival of the first 20 Africans on the shores of Point Comfort, Virginia on August 20, 1619. Presented by Fleetwood Jordain Theater and the Evanston Public Library during the Juneteenth Celebration, this production includes hip-hop, jazz, and blues to commemorate the struggle and to celebrate the stories and journeys of America's African sons and daughters. Saturday, June 17, 2:30 pm, Ingraham Park: More information.
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Black Family Game Night: Juneteenth Edition Come and enjoy catering from some of Evanston’s Black-owned restaurants and participate in family-friendly competitions of Uno, Black Card Revoked and other games! Friday, June 30, 5 pm, Rooms B/C, Robert Crown Branch Library: Register.
 Congratulations to the kids graduating this month!
Are you a preschool teacher or preschool center director? Know someone who works with young kids? Evanston Public Library's Blueberry Team is doing a webinar to introduce the Blueberry Award to those who want to focus on nature in their home day cares and preschool classrooms. Wednesday, June 14, 1 pm, Online: More information and registration.
 Check out some books for your kids from our Joys of Summer booklist!
District 65 Summer Reading Bingo! Are your kids going for BINGO this year with your District 65 summer reading? We've got the whole list here to review so you can reserve whichever book is next in your child's bingo quest:
Also, here's the bingo link to both elementary school bingo cards if you still need it!
Need some ideas for the reading activities on your Summer Reading Card? Get some great new-to-you titles from these Illinois Kid's Choice award lists:
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