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Encourage the kids to submit a family recipe for a dish that makes them happy to our Cozy Evanston Community Cookbook.

This cookbook will be available free online to show our community’s nurturing, resilient spirit during the pandemic. Let’s all share our favorite recipes to make now as well as to document this historic moment. (Parents and caregivers, please send in your recipes too!) Deadline to submit is April 30. 

Songs, Stories, Graphic Novels & More

Our librarians are sharing songs and stories on the EPL YouTube channel! Have a look: 

Wow! Said the Owl flannel board storytelling by Ms. Leigh

Ms. Louise’s Graphic Novel Book Review of New Kid by Jerry Craft, available on Hoopla 

Pimpón cantada en español por Ms. Bea

Ms. Kim’s new storytime about food

This is the Way We Play in the Mud song from Mr. Brian

Ms. Bridget reads Flower Talk

Hear The Earth Book and sing songs with Ms. Paula

Attend Graphic Novel Book Club with Ms. Jessica and Ms. Louise. We’ll be talking about They Call Me Güero, available on Hoopla. Be sure to sign up to get your Zoom password!  For grades 3 to 5. Saturday, April 25, 1 pm 

Monthly performances from Northwestern’s Imagine U start this Sunday!

Mr. Brian’s Ebook Recommendations

22 new ebooks for younger readers and 22 new ebooks for older readers.These books are available on Hoopla for free with your library card. Never used Hoopla before? Here’s some help: How to use Hoopla

Celebrate Earth Day

The 50th anniversary of Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22! Here are suggestions for ways to celebrate and honor the planet:

Learn to identify the names of flowers with tiny Flower Flash Cards. (2nd grade and above)

Try Nature Weaving. You need only string, twine or ribbon, plus a walk outside to collect natural supplies.

Spring is the time that songbirds migrate through Evanston! The Chicago Botanic Garden has local information about which migrating birds you can see and how to identify them. Audubon is helping parents and kids learn about birding with their bird watching app.

Plus, watch our live Falcon Cam.The four eggs in the nest may hatch around Mother’s Day, so keep checking back!

Now is a good time to start seeds indoors. The Evanston Park District explains how. 

Need help to calm kids’ anxiety? Barefoot Books has suggestions for mindful activities involving nature.

Check out the City of Evanston’s Earth Week Challenge.There is also a great One Earth Mini Film Festival that starts today.

Great STEM Activities 

Learn all about Naked Mole Rats with loads of great activities and reading recommendations from Ms. Sally! (K-5th)

New EvanSTEM challenge (3rd-5th) Make a Musical Instrument!

Check out other kids’ Marble Runs or Rube Goldberg Challenges. 

PBS Kids Design Squad’s Idea Spinner links your child to short videos about cool things to make with everyday objects.

Exercise and Movement Fun

Exercising is great for mental and physical strength

Preschool Stretch from City of Evanston Parks and Rec

Gymnastics Challenge for older kids, also from Evanston Parks and Rec

Girls Play Sports offers this skills drill video collection

Anytime you go outside the house, remember to follow the CDC guidelines for safe time outdoors.