Explore More Illinois is Back!
Explore More Illinois is back! Explore More Illinois provides FDL card holders with access to free and discounted admission, parking, and gift store purchases from cultural attractions in Illinois, including museums, cultural centers, zoos, aquariums, gardens, historical societies, park districts, and more! This program is sponsored by RAILS (Reaching Across Illinois Library System) and includes attractions throughout the state.
Access Explore More Illinois by clicking on the logo above and log in with your library card barcode and password. Patrons can also go directly to exploremore.quipugroup.net and choose their home library from the drop down menu. Once logged in, view currently available offers or search by date, attraction name, or location. Adults can make short-term reservations for tickets for a specific date and can have two active reservations at a time. A photo ID must be shown at the attraction on the day of the reservation, as well as either the printed passes or a smartphone showing the digital passes.
Users should cancel the reservation(s) if they’re unable to attend; otherwise, the reservation will count as being used. Please note that once a pass is printed or downloaded, the reservation cannot be cancelled.
Current attractions include:
- Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum / Springfield
- Edwards Place / Springfield
- Ernest Heminway Foundation of Oak Park / Oak Park
- Galesburg Parks & Recreation Lake Storey Beach Boats / Galesburg
- Galesburg Parks & Recreation Lakeside Recreation Facility / Galesburg
- Galesburg Parks & Recreation Lakeside Water Park / Galesburg
- Illinois Holocaust Museum / Skokie
- Kankakee County Museum / Kankakee
- Lincoln Heritage Museum / Lincoln
- Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art / Oak Brook
- Love’s Sweet Arrow / Tinley Park
- Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College / Chicago
- Peoria Park District Golf Learning Center & Academy / Peoria
- Peoria Park District Owens Recreation Center Ice Arena / Peoria
- Peoria Riverfront Museum / Peoria
- Springfield Art Association / Springfield
- Vermilion County Museum / Danville
More attractions will be added as places reopen from COVID-19, and offers are subject to change, so check the Explore More Illinois site before planning your visits!
Story Time (Online) – Birthdays!
It’s almost Miss Alice’s birthday, and she wanted to celebrate early with you! It might be your birthday, it might be your unbirthday, but either way, have a fantastic day with some great books!
Song: Hello, Friends
(using ASL, to the tune of Goodnight, Ladies)
Hello, friends! Hello, friends!
Hello, friends! It’s time to say hello!
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Song: Open Them, Shut Them
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap!
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap!
Creep them, creep them, slowly creep them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin!
Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in!
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Song: Ten Little Fingers
I have ten little fingers, and they all belong to me. (point to self)
I can make them do things. Do you want to see? (point to eyes)
I can squeeze them up tight. I can open them up wide. (squeeze hands shut, then open them)
I can put them together. I can make them all hide. (clap, then hide hands behind back)
I can make them jump high. I can make them jump low. (wiggle fingers above head, then reach down)
I can fold them up quietly and hold them just so. (fold hands and place on lap)
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Book: Bulldozer’s Big Day
Written by Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann, and published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers.
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Song: Five Little Ducks
Five little ducks went out one day, over the hills and far away.
Mama Duck said, quack, quack, quack, quack, but only four little ducks came back.
(Continue until there are no little ducks.)
Mama Duck went out one day, over the hills and far away.
Mama Duck said, quack, quack, quack, quack. And all of her five little ducks came back!
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Book: When’s My Birthday?
Written by Julie Fogliano and published by A Neal Porter Book, Roaring Brook Press.
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Song: One Little Red Fish
One little red fish swimming in the water, (hold up one finger, then put hands together to make fish)
Swimming in the water, swimming in the water.
One little red fish swimming in the water,
Bubble bubble bubble bubble pop! (swirl hands in the air upwards and clap above head)
Two little blue fish…
Three little yellow fish…
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Book: A Big Surprise for Little Card
Written by Charise Mericle Harper and published by Candlewick Press.
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Craft: Spring Flower
Use dyed pasta to create a pretty sunflower for Spring!
Included in kit:
- Background
- Various pieces of colored, non-edible pasta
Not included:
- Glue
Instructions:
Create a spring flower with pasta! Lay out your pasta and glue all at once, or glue as you go. It’s up to you!
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Song: I am Special
(to the tune of Frere Jacques)
I am special, I am special, (point to self)
You can see, you can see. (point away from self)
Someone very special, someone very special, (hold hands out in questioning motion)
That is me, that is me. (point to self)
– Miss Alice, Youth Services Manager
Story Time (Online) with Kylo Ren!
Welcome to a special story time with Kylo Ren! Kylo is visiting the library for Star Wars Week to read us a story about the most infamous character in the galaxy – his grandfather Darth Vader!
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Song: Hello, Friends
(using ASL)
Hello, friends! Hello, friends!
Hello, friends! It’s time to say hello!
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Song: Open Them, Shut Them
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Give a little clap, clap, clap!
Open them, shut them, open them, shut them.
Put them in your lap, lap, lap!
Creep them, creep them, slowly creep them,
Right up to your chin, chin, chin!
Open wide your little mouth,
But do not let them in!
Book: Are You Scared, Darth Vader?
Written by Adam Rex and published by Disney Lucasfilm Press.
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Song: I am Special
(to the tune of Frere Jacques)
I am special, I am special, (point to self)
You can see, you can see. (point away from self)
Someone very special, someone very special, (hold hands out in questioning motion)
That is me, that is me. (point to self)
Craft: Color Resist Death Star
Pick up a craft kit from the Youth Services Department or the drive-up window while supplies last!
Included in Kit:
- White crayon
- Black marker
- Coffee filters
Directions:
- Flatten out the coffee filter and use the white crayon to trace the segments of the Death Star.
- Color all over the coffee filter with the black marker. What happens to the crayon?
- Try this out: color chromatography! Create your Death Star, then try dripping water on it, or dip it in water. What happens to the marker?
– Alice, Youth Services Manager
FDL Book Talk – Star Wars from a Certain Point of View
For our Star Wars Week edition of FDL Book Talk, Melissa shares why From a Certain Point of View is one of her favorite Star Wars books. We’ve got it available in all formats (analog, audiobook, and eBook and eAudiobook on Axis 360 and Overdrive), as well as the The Empire Strikes Back: From a Certain Point of View. Place a hold and let us know your favorite new point of view!
FDL Reads: Pilu of the Woods
Pilu of the Woods by Mai K. Nguyen
Reviewer: Cindy, Youth Services Assistant
Genre: Graphic Novel
Suggested Age: 10 & up
What is this book about? After getting in a fight with her older sister, a young girl named Willow runs into the woods to be by herself. She finds another girl, named Pilu, crying alone and decides to help her. Pilu explains that she ran away from home because she doesn’t think her mom cares about her, but now she’s lost and doesn’t know what to do. Willow becomes determined to help Pilu get back home, and along the way, the two girls learn how to view life from another person’s perspective and make peace with their own turbulent emotions.
My Review: This is a great book for kids who are struggling with feelings of grief and/or loneliness. The subject matter is a little heavy, but it’s handled delicately. I think a lot of kids (and adults) would be able to relate to Willow and Pilu in one way or another. Everyone knows what it feels like to lose or become separated from a loved one, but for kids who are going through this for the first time, it can feel really big and impossible to deal with. Pilu of the Woods does a great job of showing how scary and upsetting the world is to a child who feels like they’re completely alone. Considering everything that’s happened in the past year, it’s nice to have stories like this to remind us that there are still lots of little acts of love we can show one another and different ways of finding the strength to move on after a difficult event.
Rating: 4/5
Three Words That Describe This Book: forgiving, therapeutic, emotional
Give This a Try if You Like…ecology, magical realism, Robot Dreams by Sara Varon
About FDL Reads
FDL Reads is a series of weekly book reviews from Fondulac District Library.
Story Time (Online) – Unicorns
Good morning and welcome to story time. I’m Miss Sharon. Did you know that tomorrow is National Unicorn Day? We all know unicorns are magical one-horned horses. Did you know unicorns can be mischievous, too? Let’s read some stories about these magical, mischievous creatures.
Song: The More We Get Together
The more we get together, together, together,
the more we get together, the happier we’ll be.
Cause your friends are my friends,
and my friends are your friends,
the more we get together the happier we’ll be!
Source: Supersimple A Place To Learn and Grow
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Book: How to Catch a Unicorn
Written by Adam Wallace, illustrated by Andy Elkerton and read with the permission of Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.
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Flannel: Five Little Unicorns
I saw five little unicorns – creatures from folklore
I watched the blue one prance away, and then there were four.
I saw four little unicorns resting by a tree
I watched the purple one prance away, and then there were three.
I saw three little unicorns, but as near to them I drew
The green one pranced away, and then there were two.
I saw two little unicorns – I watched them run and run
the yellow one pranced away, and then there was one.
I saw a lonely pink unicorn standing in the sun.
when I blinked by eyes, it pranced away, and then there were none.
Source: jeninthelibrary.com/tag/unicorns/
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Book: You Don’t Want a Unicorn!
Written by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Liz Climo, and read with the permission of Little Brown.
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Song: If You’re A Unicorn…
If you’re a unicorn and you know it, shake your horn.
If you’re a unicorn and you know it, shake your horn.
If you’re a unicorn and you know it, then your magic will surely show it.
If you’re a unicorn and you know it, shake your horn.
…stamp your hooves
…toss your mane
…twitch your tail
…prance around
Source: literacious.com/unicorn-storytime/
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Book: Unicorn Day
Written by Diana Murray, illustrated by Luke Flowers, and read with the permission of Sourcebooks Jabberwocky.
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Song: Skinnamarink (with actions)
Skinnamarinky dinky-dink (Put your left elbow in right hand, wave)
Skinnamarinky Doo (Right elbow in left hand, wave)
I (Point to eye)
Love (Cross your arms over your heart)
You! (Point to audience)
Skinnamarinky dinky-dink (Left elbow in right hand)
Skinnamarinky Doo (Right elbow in left hand, wave)
I (Point to eye)
Love (Cross your arms over your heart)
You! (Point to audience)
I love you in the morning (Cross arms above your head)
And in the afternoon (Cross arms around your chest)
I love you in the evening (Cross around your tummy)
And underneath the moon! (Cross arms above head again)
Skinnamarinky dinky-dink (Left arm in right hand, wave)
Skinnamarinky doo (Right arm in left hand, wave)
I (Point to eye)
Love (Cross your arms over your heart)
You! (Point to audience)
Too (Show two fingers)
Boo boop we doo! (Wave and kiss!)
Source: youtube.com/watch?v=Ix_LyeuYbcI
Craft: 3D Paper Unicorn
Craft kits are available to pick up in the Youth Services department or the drive-up window while supplies last.
Kit Supplies:
- 3D Construction Paper Unicorn craft template
- Instruction sheet
Supplies needed from home:
- coloring supplies (crayons, markers or colored pencils)
- scissors
- glue
- glitter glue for some magic (optional)
Instructions:
- Color and cut out the unicorn template (skip the hooves).
- Add glittery accents with glitter glue if you wish your unicorn to look fancier, but you will have to wait for the glitter glue to dry before moving forward. Glitter sure does add magic to this fairy tale creature.
- Fold the hooves on the unicorn body. Apply glue on the bottom of the hooves and stick the unicorn body on the cloud base. Color in the hooves (hint, hint pink).
- On the unicorn head, apply glue on the area marked with the word glue. Glue together in a roll. Apply glue at the bottom of the head or on the body of the unicorn and stick the head on the body.
- Glue the mane on the head. Fold bottom part (along the line) on both horns. Glue the two horns (top parts) together, so it’s colored on both sides. Apply glue on the bottom part and stick it on the unicorn head. Fold the ears and stick them on the head.
- Fold the tail (along the line), apply glue on the back of the tail and glue two tail halves together. Stick the tail on the body of the unicorn.
Source: easypeasyandfun.com/3d-construction-paper-unicorn/
Song: Thanks for Coming
(Tune: Oh My Darling Clementine)
Thanks for sitting, thanks for listening,
Thanks for coming here today!
Now that story time is over
Hope you have a lovely day!
Source: Literary Hoots
Join Miss Alice next week for story time!
– Miss Sharon, Youth Services Specialist