Illinois Libraries Present: Raise Your Voice with Jason Reynolds
2024-10-22 19:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago)
Welcome Jason Reynolds, #1 New York Times bestselling author, advocate, mentor, and 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. The recipient of a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, a Carnegie Medal, an NAACP Image Award, and multiple Coretta Scott King honors, Reynolds’ beloved and award-winning titles include Stamped (with Ibram X. Kendi), Stuntboy, the Track series (Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu), Miles Morales, All American Boys (with Brendan Kiely), When I Was the Greatest, The Boy in the Black Suit, Look Both Ways, Ain’t Burned All the Bright, and Long Way Down. He has appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, The Daily Show with Trevor Noah, Late Night with Seth Meyers, CBS Sunday Morning, and more.
The short documentary “Dear, Dreamer” is a lyrical portrait of Reynolds’ life and work as a rising literary star, as well as a testament to shared experiences and the power of seeing yourself in books. In his podcast, My Mother Made Me, he and his mother, Isabell, explore their shared history and what they’re teaching each other.
Reynolds lives in Washington, DC, where he is on faculty at Lesley University, for the Writing for Young People MFA Program.
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.

For youth and adults. Via Zoom. Please register.

Elementary Explorers
2024-10-23 13:30 - 14:30, 2024-10-30 15:30 - 16:30, 2024-11-13 13:30 - 14:30, 2024-11-20 15:30 - 16:30, 2024-12-04 15:30 - 16:30, 2024-12-11 15:30 - 16:30
Join us every Wednesday for a fun, one hour after school program! Activities will rotate monthly. We’ll usually meet from 3:30-4:30 pm, but we’ll move it up to 1:30-2:30 pm on early dismissal days.
September: Art Club

September 4, 11, 25: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
September 18: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

October: Pokémon Club

October 2, 16, 30: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
October 9: no meeting
October 23: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

November: LEGO Club

November 6 and 27: no meeting
November 13: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)
November 20: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)

December: Art Club

December 4, 11: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)

Grades K-5. No registration required.

Page Turners: Tween Book Club
2024-10-24 16:00 - 17:00
Dive into captivating stories with our book club for students in grades 5-8! Join us for a journey through the thrilling tale and lively discussion of Counting by 7s by Holly Goldberg Sloan.
Grades 5-8. Registration required.

Teddy Bear Hospital
2024-11-02 10:00 - 12:00
Kids, grab your favorite stuffed sidekick and join the incredible Vet Med students from the University of Illinois for a check-up! Your plush pals are in for a treat as they undergo a thorough examination, complete with temperature and weight checks. But that’s not all – our expert vet students will tackle any other concerns your cuddly companions might have.
Please bring one stuffed animal per child. Ages 0-10. No registration required.

Graphic Novel Book Club: Ink Girls
2024-11-08 16:00 - 17:00
Calling all graphic novel enthusiasts! Join us as we read and discuss a set graphic novel at each book club session. Participants are welcome to bring and/or talk about other graphic novels they’ve enjoyed.

Dates and Books:
September 27: Misfit Mansion by Kay Davault
November 8: Ink Girls by Marieke Nijkamp

Grades 3-7. Please register for each session individually.

Illinois Libraries Present: The Magic of Raina Telgemeier
2024-12-10 19:00 - 20:00
Join us for a night with critically acclaimed comic artist, Raina Telgemeier! Raina is the author and illustrator of the graphic novels Smile, Drama, Sisters, Ghosts, and Guts, all #1 New York Times bestsellers. She also adapted and illustrated four graphic novel versions of Ann M. Martin’s Baby-Sitters Club series, and has contributed short stories to many anthologies. New in 2024, The Cartoonists Club is a one-of-a-kind graphic novel from Raina and Scott McCloud.
Raina’s accolades include six Eisner Awards, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor, a Stonewall Honor, and many Best-of and Notables lists. Raina grew up in San Francisco, then moved to New York City, where she earned an illustration degree at the School of Visual Arts. Raina currently lives and works in San Francisco, CA.
Children’s Librarian Genevieve Grove will join Raina in conversation.
This event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present (ILP), a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
ILP is committed to inclusion and accessibility. To request accommodations, please email illinoislibrariespresent@gmail.com.
Via Zoom. Please register at the link below.

Stuffed Animal Sleepover
2024-12-13 17:30 - 2024-12-14 09:30
Children can drop off one stuffed animal friend to spend the night at the Library! Bring a friend to our “Good Night” Storytime. Then, stuffed friends will spend the night at the Library, and will be reunited with their human friends at our “Good Morning” Storytime. Sleepover pictures will be posted to social media throughout the evening!
Goodnight Storytime: Friday, December 13 from 5:30-6:00 pm
Good Morning Storytime: Saturday, December 14 from 9:30-10:00 am

Limit ONE stuffed animal per child. No registration required.

Elementary Explorers
2025-01-15 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-01-22 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-01-29 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-02-05 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-02-12 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-02-19 13:30 - 14:30, 2025-02-26 15:30 - 16:30, 2025-03-05 15:30 - 16:30 and 4 more dates
Join us every Wednesday for a fun, one hour after school program! Activities will rotate monthly. We’ll usually meet from 3:30-4:30 pm, but we’ll move it up to 1:30-2:30 pm on early dismissal days.
January: LEGO Club

January 15 & 29: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
January 22: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

February: Art Club

February 5, 12, 26: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
February 19: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)

March: Pokémon Club

March 5 & 26: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)
March 12: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)
March 19: no meeting

April: Maker’s Club

April 2: no meeting
April 9: early dismissal (1:30-2:30 pm)
April 16, 23, 30: regular time (3:30-4:30 pm)

Grades K-5. No registration required.

Acting Out: Theatre Workshop
2025-01-18 10:00 - 16:30
Theatre kids from all backgrounds and experience levels are welcome to join us for a workshop focusing on basic acting skills and exercises. Students will learn about characterization, improvisation, and interpreting a script. There will be separate sessions for different age groups.
Grades K-12. Register for the session that corresponds to your age group.

Age Groups and Times:
Grades K-3: 10:00-11:30 am (register here)
Grades 4-6: 12:30-2:00 pm (register here)
Grades 7-12: 3:00-4:30 pm (register here)

Graphic Novel Book Club: The Night Librarian
2025-01-31 16:00 - 17:00
Calling all graphic novel enthusiasts! Join us as we read and discuss a set graphic novel at each book club session. Participants are welcome to bring and/or talk about other graphic novels they’ve enjoyed.

Dates and Books:
January 31: The Night Librarian by Christopher Lincoln
March 28: Wings of Fire: the Dragonet Prophecy Graphic Novel by Tui Sutherland

Grades 3-7. Please register for each session individually.

Cartoon Club
2025-02-06 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-03-06 15:30 - 17:00, 2025-04-03 15:30 - 17:00
Are you a cartoon fanatic? Join our Cartoon Club, a club for discussing cartoons instead of books! We’ll come together, watch two episodes of a cartoon, and then discuss it in the same way a book club would.
Grades 3-8. No registration required.

Dates (First Thursdays):
February 6
March 6
April 3

Beach Blanket Bingo
2025-03-20 10:00 - 11:30
Dive into Spring Break fun at the Library! Grab your beach blanket or towel, take a seat, and join the BINGO extravaganza for a shot at scoring some awesome prizes. This special program is exclusively for the little beachgoers. Let the Spring Break celebration begin!
For kids in Kindergarten-fifth grade. No registration required.
