Almost Done Preparing!

This summer it’s all about the amazing planet that we inhabit with our theme of Earth Rocks @ the Library. Our Earth is an amazing place of varied ecosystems, geography and natural wonders. Get ready to go exploring with our theme that will encourage an appreciation and respect of Earth’s resources and encourage sustainability in a fun way. A full brochure with all the details will be available in our Department in mid-May, so get ready to explore your world at the Library.

Registration for all summer events will begin on June 9 in-person at the Library. You must have a valid Library card to register for the program, and registration for the program is a requirement for any program attendance. Weekly programs, storytimes and events all begin on June 16 and will run for an eight-week session through August 8th. The last day to report on books and receive prizes will be August 11.

Register for the program, grab a booklog and start reading for great prizes. This year we will be giving away fair trade chocolate, crayons, books, jump ropes and other prizes that are safe, biodegradable and eco-friendly. Our little one program will also feature handmade item giveaways from individual Etsy sellers like canvas totes, organic snuggle dolls, cloth memory match games, re-purposed fabric pants and more. It’s a new page for us in how we award prizes, and it’s prizes that our Earth can live with and kids will like too.

A highlight of our program will be the prize of a planting table sponsored by the Western Springs Garden Club. Other perks include prizes of coupons like ice cream at Snackers, pizza from Luminati’s Pizza, or DuPage Children’s Museum Tickets. Extra weekly drawing prizes will include tickets to the Art Institute of Chicago, the Cernan Space Center and more. Take your young players to local sports teams like the DuPage Dragons and the Windy City Thunderbolts. Stay tuned for more details as our program progresses. Our finale pizza party will be held at Enchanted Castle on August 14.

Beginning June 9, kids can pick from four reading groups: Arctic Explorer (read-to-me), Mountain Climbers (beginning readers), Rainforest Readers (jr. chapter books) or Savanna Stars (novel length). Little ones including infants and toddlers can select to be in the young program and be a Pebble reader and earn prizes specifically for them.

Look for exciting activities all summer long like a prize and contest table, plant displays, our series of Monday Movies, Friday craft tables, performers and a science themed workshop series. Check our webpage at www.fordlibrary.org to download our brochure or pick it up in the Children’s Department in May.