In July, one of the large cottonwood trees that had stood proudly in front of the Dundee Library was struck by lightning during a summer storm. While it was not completely split, it was significantly weakened. Because the tree is so close to the building, we knew it had to come down. We were disappointed, but we do our best to turn negatives into positives here at FRVPLD, so we decided to explore the idea of transforming the tree into a sculpture that would add some character and prominence to our front yard.

The tree was planted around 1976, soon after the Dundee Library was built. It had grown several stories tall and was 10 feet around so it left us plenty to work with. It was cut down to six feet, and our search for a chainsaw artist began. Lucky for us, that led us to Chris and Brianne Hubbart of Hillsboro, IL, 250 miles downstate.

Chris and Brianne own Hubbart Wood where they create custom chainsaw carvings. A scroll through their website gallery and Facebook feed had us intrigued and after learning Chris’s “Wile E. Coyote In A Basket”, an entry piece for the 2018 Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta's Chainsaw Carving Invitational in New Mexico won first place, we made the call.

A fox with books was a natural design concept for us. We had many phone calls with Chris to hone in on our vision. It did take a bit of a leap of faith…Chris is a true artist and explained that the sculpture would emerge as he worked. He told us that if we loved the photos we had seen of his work, we would love what he would create for us. He was right!

At this same time, our beloved Friends of the Library group disbanded after many dedicated years of fundraising and support. They wanted to leave us with a parting gift, and were conducting research to find something that all patrons would enjoy for a long time. So a portion of the funds they left us with was used to commission the chainsaw sculpture.

Chris and Brianne arrived on the morning of Monday, November 7. We could tell right off the bat we picked the right artists. They were raring to go. They were inspired by the beauty of Dundee and the Fox River, and fueled by a memorable visit and cup of coffee from Elder + Oat Bread and Coffee Collective in West Dundee.

The Hubbart’s truck was loaded with multiple chainsaws, carving tools, blowers, paint, and scaffolding. They got right to work and it wasn’t long before a fox started to take shape.

Every time we went out to take a peek there was something new to marvel at. The big fox. The little fox reading a book. Our logo. Our name. A little cubby to hide surprises. The word “READ” in all caps. Lots of books. Their signature.

Soon the buzz spread. Neighbors stopped by. Those making deliveries to the library took a moment to marvel. People passing in their cars pulled over to get a look at what was going on. A reporter from the Courier-News came by to get the story. The smiles we’ve seen show us this will be a treasured landmark for years to come.

The Hubbarts finished on Thursday night and packed their truck back up. Chris said they’d be back for sure as he’s been signed on to make another sculpture in the area. He and Brianne travel coast to coast to share their gift and make travel videos to document their experiences. Click on the image above to visit the special Dundee Library page they added to their website to chronicle the project.  You’ll not only see a time-lapse of our chainsaw sculpture coming to life, but their enthusiastic impressions of the places they visited like Elder + Oat, Woodfire Pizza, Emmett’s Brewing Co., The Village Squire featuring musician Ben Bollero, and their stay in the 124 Lofts.

It’s been exciting to watch the sculpture emerge from a tree that’s been watching over us for the last 40 years. Chris and Brianne are so talented. It’s been a pleasure to get to know them and we are grateful to them for coming up here and creating a piece that fits so perfectly into the aesthetic of our community.

Our hope is to enhance the area come Spring with landscaping, seating, and a commemorative plaque honoring the Friends of the Library.

If you read horror all year long, or are just looking for a creepy read for the haunting season, here is a selection of teen horror books recently added to the collection:

Frendo Lives by Adam Cesare
A year after the Kettle Springs massacre, Quinn and her friends Rust and Cole become the focus of online conspiracy theories that recast them as villains rather than victims. Sequel to Clown in a Cornfield

The Sacrifice by Rin Chupeco
The island of Kisapmata would be the vacation destination...if not for the curse. The Filipino locals speak of it in hushed voices and refuse to step foot on the island. They know the lives it has claimed. They won't be next. A Hollywood film crew won't be dissuaded. Legend claims a Dreamer god sleeps, waiting to grant unimaginable powers in exchange for eight sacrifices. The producers are determined to document the evidence. And they convince Alon, a local teen, to be their guide. Within minutes of their arrival, a giant sinkhole appears, revealing a giant balete tree with a mummified corpse entwined in its gnarled branches. And the crew start seeing strange visions. Alon knows they are falling victim to the island's curse. If Alon can't convince them to leave, there is no telling who will survive.

Go Hunt Me by Kelly deVos
A dream trip to a remote Romanian castle turns into a nightmare for Alex and her horror buff friends when they begin to be killed one by one.

Dead Flip by Sara Farizan
Eighteen-year-olds Cori and Maz, once inseparable best friends, reunite to solve the mystery of what happened to their other friend Sam--who disappeared five years ago and has now returned, not having aged at all.

The Gathering Dark: An Anthology of Folk Horror edited by Tori Bovalino
A cemetery full of the restless dead. A town so wicked it has already burned twice, with the breath of the third fire looming. A rural, isolated bridge with a terrifying monster waiting for the completion of its summoning ritual. A lake that allows the drowned to return, though they have been changed by the claws of death. These are the shadowed, liminal spaces where the curses and monsters lurk, refusing to be forgotten.

The Getaway by Lamar Giles
Jay is living his best life at Karloff Country, one of the world's most famous resorts. He's got his family, his crew, and an incredible after-school job at the property's main theme park. Life isn't so great for the rest of the world, but when people come here to vacation, it's to get away from all that. As things outside get worse, trouble starts seeping into Karloff. First, Jay's friend Connie and her family disappear in the middle of the night and no one will talk about it. Then, the richest and most powerful families start arriving, only... they aren't leaving. Unknown to the employees, the resort has been selling shares in an end-of-the-world oasis. The best of the best at the end of days. And in order to deliver the top-notch customer service the wealthy clientele paid for, the employees will be at their total beck and call. Whether they like it or not. Yet Karloff Country didn't count on Jay and his crew--and just how far they'll go to find out the truth and save themselves. But what's more dangerous: the monster you know in your home or the unknown nightmare outside the walls?

Two Truths and a Lie by April Henry
When a troupe of theater students get stranded in a creepy old motel during a blizzard, they play a foreboding game of truth and lies that leads to real danger when a murderer is discovered in their midst.

The Weight of Blood by Tiffany D. Jackson
When Springville residents--at least the ones still alive--are questioned about what happened on prom night, they all have the same explanation . . . Maddy did it. An outcast at her small-town Georgia high school, Madison Washington has always been a teasing target for bullies. And she's dealt with it because she has more pressing problems to manage. Until the morning a surprise rainstorm reveals her most closely kept secret: Maddy is biracial. She has been passing for white her entire life at the behest of her fanatical white father, Thomas Washington. After a viral bullying video pulls back the curtain on Springville High's racist roots, student leaders come up with a plan to change their image: host the school's first integrated prom as a show of unity. The popular white class president convinces her Black superstar quarterback boyfriend to ask Maddy to be his date, leaving Maddy wondering if it's possible to have a normal life. But some of her classmates aren't done with her just yet. And what they don't know is that Maddy still has another secret . . . one that will cost them all their lives.

Wake the Bones by Elizabeth Kilcoyne
After dropping out of college, nineteen-year-old Laurel Early returns to her uncle's tobacco farm, where she encounters a monster as well as her mother's ghost, and soon Laurel realizes that she must tap into her own innate magic to save everyone she loves.

The Honeys by Ryan La Sala
Mars has always been the lesser twin, the shadow to his sister Caroline's radiance. But when Caroline dies under horrific circumstances, Mars is propelled to learn all he can about his once-inseparable sister, who'd grown tragically distant. Mars's genderfluidity means he's often excluded from the traditions--and expectations--of his politically-connected family. This includes attendance at the prestigious Aspen Conservancy Summer Academy, where his sister poured so much of her time. But with his grief still fresh, he insists on attending in her place. What Mars finds is a bucolic fairy tale not meant for him. Folksy charm and sun-drenched festivities camouflage old-fashioned gender roles and a toxic preparatory rigor. Mars seeks out his sister's old friends: a group of girls dubbed the Honeys, named for the beehives they maintain behind their cabin. They are beautiful and terrifying--and Mars is certain they're connected to Caroline's death. But the longer he stays at Aspen, the more the sweet mountain breezes give way to hints of decay. Mars's memories begin to falter, bleached beneath the relentless summer sun. Something is hunting him in broad daylight, toying with his mind. If Mars can't find it soon, it will eat him alive.

Don’t Go to Sleep by Bryce Moore
In 1918 New Orleans, seventeen-year-old Gianna Crutti's worries about her family's grocery, the Great War, and influenza are overshadowed when a murderer returns to terrorize the city--years after he attacked Gianna's parents and left her with a psychic connection between them.

Man Made Monsters by Andrea L. Rogers
Haunting illustrations are woven throughout these horror stories that follow one extended Cherokee family across the centuries and well into the future as they encounter predators of all kinds in each time period.

Primal Animals by Julia Lynn Rubin
While at the college prep Camp Rockaway, sixteen-year-old Arlee Gold is tapped to join a secret society, with deadly consequences.

Hell Followed With Us by Andrew Joseph White
Sixteen-year-old trans boy Benji is on the run from the cult that raised him--the fundamentalist sect that unleashed Armageddon and decimated the world's population. Desperately, he searches for a place where the cult can't get their hands on him, or more importantly, on the bioweapon they infected him with. But when cornered by monsters born from the destruction, Benji is rescued by a group of teens from the local Acheson LGBTQ+ Center, affectionately known as the ALC. The ALC's leader, Nick, is gorgeous, autistic, and a deadly shot, and he knows Benji's darkest secret: the cult's bioweapon is mutating him into a monster deadly enough to wipe humanity from the earth once and for all. Still, Nick offers Benji shelter among his ragtag group of queer teens, as long as Benji can control the monster and use its power to defend the ALC. Eager to belong, Benji accepts Nick's terms... until he discovers the ALC's mysterious leader has a hidden agenda, and more than a few secrets of his own.

Direwood by Catherine Yu
In this velvet-clad 1990s gothic horror, Aja encounters a charming vampire who wants to lure her into the woods--just like her missing sister.

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month as a family with the Youth Services Department! Stop by to make a craft, relax with some coloring, and find something to read. These recommendations from Youth Services librarians feature new biographies and stories recognizing and honoring Hispanic people and their culture. Click on the book cover to check the FRVPLD catalog for more information.

Vengan a celebrar el mes de la Herencia Hispana en el departamento de servicios para niños. Pueden hacer una artesania, colorear, o relajarse con un buen libro. Los libros que ven aquí son recomendaciones de bibliotecarias del departamento de servicios para niños que honran las historias de los hispanos y su cultura. Para más información de los libros, presione en el libro que lo llevara al catálogo de la librería.

       With Lots of Love/Con Mucho Amor by Jenny Torres Sanchez, illustrated by André Ceolin, is a picture book about Rocio, a girl who has just moved to the United States with her family. While thinking about all the people and things she misses from her old life like the sound of her Abuela’s voice and the smell of her homemade tortillas, she gets a birthday surprise from her Abuela that makes her feel much more at home. Recommended for ages 4-8. 

        Growing an Artist/Cultivando a un Artista by John Parra is a picture book inspired by the author’s own childhood experiences. Juanito is excited to go to work with his dad at his landscaping business, then realizes he can use his drawing abilities to design landscapes and to tell the stories of people who work to make the world a more beautiful place. Recommended for ages 4-8.  

  Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa by Julian Randall is a fun adventure story that intertwines magic with Dominican culture. While researching her cousin Natasha who disappeared almost 50 years ago, 12-year-old Pilar Violeta Ramirez is transported to the island of Zafa where Dominican myths and legends are real, and she’ll have to face the Dominican Boogeyman if she hopes to save her cousin and return home. Pilar is relatable Latinx protagonist who is rightfully suspicious of what her eyes are showing her and is always looking to investigate more. This is the first in a duology and would be perfect for grades 4-6 (ages 9-12) and those interested in Percy Jackson-style adventures with a hint of mystery as well.  

  Falling Short by Ernesto Cisneros is a novel about two best friends who must support each other to keep from falling short of their goals. Isaac and Marco already know sixth grade is going to change their lives. But it won’t change things at home—not without each other’s help. This year, star basketball player Isaac plans on finally keeping up with his schoolwork. Better grades will surely stop Isaac’s parents from arguing all the time. Meanwhile, straight-A Marco vows on finally winning his father’s approval by earning a spot on the school’s basketball team. This novel is for grades 3-7 (ages 8-12) and would appeal to those who enjoy friendship stories.  

      Miss Quinces/Srta. Quinces by Kat Fajardo is a graphic novel about a young girl who would rather do anything than celebrate her quinceañera. Sue just wants to spend the summer reading and making comics at sleepaway camp with her friends, but instead she gets stuck going to Honduras to visit relatives with her parents and two sisters. They live way out in the country, which means no texting, no cable, and no Internet! When her mom announces that they’ll be having a surprise quinceañera for Sue, things take a turn for the worse. This graphic novel is perfect for grades 3-6 and those who love a good laugh and some coming of age problems. 

       Nuestra América: 30 Inspiring Latinas/Latinos Who Have Shaped the United States/Nuestra América: 30 Latinas/Latinos Inspiradores Que Han Forjado la Historia de los Estados Unidos by Sabrina Vourvoulias, was published in association with the Smithsonian Institution and the Molina Family Latino Gallery, to highlight influential Latina, Latino, and Latinx figures through the sharing of uplifting personal stories. Detailing incredible contributions to the cultural, social, and political character of the United States, this guide to features beautiful portraits, a glossary of terms and reading guide with discussion questions. 

       Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers/Latinitas: Una Celebración de 40 Soñadoras Audaces by Juliet Menéndez, features the origin stories of influential Latinas. As a collection of short biographies featuring figures from across Latin America and the United States, this publication is a celebration of women who followed and achieved their dreams, complimented by colorful hand painted portrait illustrations. 

Create your own trivia challenge on Hispanic culture around the world with the fast facts and great pictures found in our online encyclopedias in English and Spanish, or through the resources in Scholastic Teachables.

Pueden crear su propio reto de trivia sobre la cultura hispana alrededor del mundo con datos de información y fotos encontrados en la enciclopedia en línea o por los recursos en Scholastic Teachables.

 - Enciclopedia Estudiantil Hallazgos es un nuevo recurso para estudiantes, completamente en español. Provee información específica sobre temas tales como personas, lugares, las ciencias y las matemáticas, las religiones del mundo, plantas y animales, historia y gobierno, las artes, deportes y pasatiempos.

 - World Book Kids is a highly visual encyclopedic database designed for children in K-5th grade. Children can conduct a search or explore through a variety of grouped topics.

  – Hispanic Heritage Month Resources - Scholastic Teachables provides thousands of printable activity sheets, lesson plans, reading passages, and more. It also has games and puzzles, clip art, and bulletin board ideas. Content is available for PreK - 8th grade. This database is great for parents, teachers, homeschoolers and students.

Can't get enough manga? If you enjoy browsing the teen area to find new manga series, be sure to also check out the titles we have available in ebook format. The following series are available on Axis 360. Search for these titles on the Axis 360 app, or follow the links directly to check out and read the books on your device. I think you will find some new series and authors to check out here! 

Bizenghast by M. Alice LeGrow
Meet Dinah, a disturbed young girl who has been sent to the small town of Bizenghast to live with her aunt following the tragic death of her parents. Dinah thinks her aunt's house is haunted, but her aunt thinks she has some sort of mental illness. Dinah sneaks out with her only friend, Vincent, and together they discover a lost graveyard where Dinah reads from a stone engraving. This act binds her to a contract requiring Dinah to release spirits stuck somewhere between life and the afterlife. So Dinah begins her quest of "cleaning" the vaults, crypts and graves of lost souls, while struggling with the haunts at home and suspicions of her growing mental illness.

The Daily Lives of High School Boys by Yasunobu Yamauchi
In this slice-of-life comedy, high schoolers Tadakuni, Yoshitake, and Hidenori tackle the wacky and awkward situations they’re thrown into in their everyday lives! The trio do everything a normal group of high school boys would do. They play games, they tell ghost stories, and they even...wear skirts?! There’s no shortage of witty one-liners in this knee-slapping series!

Fence by C.S. Pacat
Nicholas Cox is determined to prove himself in the world of competitive fencing, and earn his place alongside fencing legends like the dad he never knew, but things get more complicated when he’s up against his golden-boy half-brother, as well as the sullen fencing prodigy, Seiji Katayama.

Futaribeya by Yukiko
This four-panel-style comic follows the everyday life of two high school roommates as they go to class together, tackle the mundane necessities of laundry and grocery shopping for two, and learn more about one another in a cute and heartwarming series of short stories.

Hi-Score Girl by Rensuke Oshikiri
The year is 1991, and the world is on the cusp of the golden age of 2-D fighting games. And on the outskirts of town, in a shady arcade that's a second home to delinquents and businessmen, one girl descends with dignity into her seat at the game cabinet... Her name is Akira Oono, and she's about to humiliate hardcore gamer Haruo Yaguchi, who fancies himself something of an arcade king, at Street Fighter! Will Haruo ever live down losing to a girl from his class?!

Laughing Under the Clouds by Karakarakemuri
Under the curse of Orochi, the great demon serpent reborn every 300 years, Japan has been shrouded in clouds for as long as anyone can remember. The era of the samurai is at an end, and carrying swords has been outlawed. To combat the rising crime rates, an inescapable prison was built in the middle of Lake Biwa. When brothers Tenka, Soramaru and Chutaro Kumo are hired to capture and transport offenders to their final lodgings in this prison, they unexpectedly find themselves faced with a greater destiny than any of them could have imagined.

Nichijou by Keiichi Arawi
In this just-surreal enough take on the "school genre" of manga, a group of friends grapple with all sorts of unexpected situations in their daily lives as high schoolers. The gags, jokes, puns, and haiku keep this series off-kilter even as the cast grow and change. Check it out and meet the new ordinary.

Otherside Picnic vol. 1 by Iori Miyazawa
In this sci-fi/fantasy survival thriller, the dangerous and deadly realm of the Otherside--where urban legends, cryptids, and folkloric legends roam--calls to two women, both in search of something. As they set out to sate their curiosity and explore this other world, will the most earth-shattering thing they discover on the Otherside be their feelings for each other?While on the trail of alleged paranormal activity, amateur urban explorer, depressed college student, and all-around loner Sorawo discovers a door to a curious destination--the Otherside. There, she has a near-miss with a creature both repulsive and mesmerizing...but before she can fall prey to the strange beast, the beautiful Toriko comes to her rescue! What horrors await the pair as they continue to explore this parallel world and its bizarre and dangerous denizens?!

Wandering Witch: The Journey of Elaina by Jougi Shiraishi
Ever since she was a little girl reading books of magic and adventure, Elaina has dreamed of following in the footsteps of her childhood idol, the witch Nique, and living a life of travel. Now a full-fledged witch herself, Elaina sets off on a journey without a destination, wandering far and wide to see the world. With each new place she sees and person she meets, Elaina's world grows a little bit richer.

June is Audiobook Month/Audiobook Appreciation Month, and we at FRVPLD are always ready to celebrate this way of reading. Aren’t audiobooks cheating, you may ask? Definitely not! Reading is reading, whatever form it takes. Studies have shown that there is no significant difference in how the brain comprehends audio vs text books. Humans were oral storytellers for tens of thousands of years before the written word evolved, so it takes us back to our roots.

Audiobooks can be wonderful for people with dyslexia because they eliminate the frustrating decoding of words on paper or screen. Audio is also a way to facilitate understanding of different dialects, assisting in learning pronunciation of unfamiliar terms. Are you going on a road trip this summer? There’s no reason you can’t finish a couple books while driving to help you reach your Summer Reading Challenge goal!

At FRVPLD, we have multiple formats to get you into listening to books. We have books on CD and in digital format through our Hoopla, Libby/Overdrive, and Axis360 e-resources. Specifically for kids, we have Vox books and read-along books at the library, and the TumbleBooks Library online has a read-along selection.

Take a look at some of the newest popular titles throughout our collection. 

CD:

HOOPLA:

LIBBY/OVERDRIVE:

AXIS 360:

Dive in to the ocean of possibilities awaiting you at the library this summer! Explorers of all ages will find books, programs, and activities that will make it a summer to remember.

This year’s theme illustrates the endless possibilities of discovery at the library --  from humanity and nature to culture and science. We’ve used the theme to develop a log of programs and events to help you get the most out of your library value, have fun, and learn something new.

The benefits of summer reading are clear. National research finds that students who participate in library summer reading programs scored higher on reading achievement tests at the beginning of the next school year than those who did not participate. The mission of summer reading challenges is to provide student with the tools to bridge this summer gap, while inspiring literacy and life-long learning in readers of all ages.

The 2022 summer reading challenge will be offered using the online platform Beanstack. Participants earn badges by reading and completing activities. It is available using a web browser as well as an easy, fun to use app for all mobile devices. Patrons can also register at the library and keep track of their progress with a paper log, if preferred.

Here is this year’s challenge

Reading Badges

Earn a reading badge for every two hours you read. Collect all the reading badges in your age category to earn your finisher book prize and ticket to the Finisher Pool Party at the Dolphin Cove Family Aquatic Center on Sunday, August 7.

The challenge closes on July 31. Make sure to log all of your reading badges to receive your prizes. Prizes can be picked up at the Dundee Library or the Randall Oaks Library from June 15 - August 6.

Bonus Activity Badges

Activity badges are fun challenges that will help you learn, explore, and try new things! Each activity badge earns you a chance in our bonus prize drawings. The more you collect, the more chances you have to win!

For prereaders and youth, the bonus activity prize is a Dundee Township Park District 10-Punch Pool Pass and Beach Toy Basket. Three winners will be randomly chosen and will be contacted via email or phone.

For teens and adults, the bonus activity prizes are $25 gift cards to Van’s Frozen Custard & Burgers, Village Pizza, and Half Price Books. Twelve winners will be randomly chosen and will be contacted via email or phone.

The drawings will take place on Monday, August 15.

Sign Up

On Your Computer

frvpld.beanstack.org. Create one account for the whole family or your own individual account. If you already have a Beanstack account, just log in and sign up for the new challenge.

On Your Device

Keep your challenge at your fingertips by downloading the Beanstack mobile app for your Apple or Android device.

In Person

Sign up and receive a paper reading log at the Dundee Library Info Services or Youth Services Desk, or at the Randall Oaks Customer Service Desk.

Mark Your Calendars!

Free Summer Lunches at the Dundee Library

DUNDEE LIBRARY CRAFT ROOM
DINE IN ONLY
MONDAYS THROUGH FRIDAYS
JUNE 6  - AUGUST 15
NOON TO 1 P.M.
All children 18 and under can get free, healthy, and nutritious meals when school is out. No registration is necessary. Meals are paid for by the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), a federally funded program managed by the USDA and operated by the Illinois State Board of Education in conjunction with the Northern Illinois Food Bank.

BIBLIOTECA DUNDEE - CUARTO DE ARTESANÍAS
SOLO PARA COMER DENTRO
DE LA BIBILOTECADE LUNES A VIERNES
DE LAS 12:00 A LA 1:00 DE LA TARDE
6 DE JUNIO - 15 DE AGOSTO
Niños menores de 18 años podran recibir almuerzos gratuitos, saludables y nutritivos durante el verano. No requiere registración. El Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) paga los almuerzos. Este programa, de presupuesto federal,  es manejado por el USDA bajo la operacíon del Illinois State Board of Education en conjunto con el Northern Illinois Food Bank.

Finisher Pool Party on Sunday, August 7 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

All summer reading challenge finishers will earn a ticket to the pool party! You must turn in your completed log at the library to receive your ticket by Sunday, August 7. The ticket is good for the finisher and his/her family. Capactiy at the pool is 1000 people.

The challenge:  

April is National Poetry Month and I’m sure it comes as no surprise to you that at FRVPLD, we have a few poetry lovers on staff. This served as inspiration for our newest reading challenge in Beanstack. Just like our other Beanstack challenges, readers will select badges of their choice to finish. This time, however, 5 badges out of 13 will need to be completed to finish the challenge. Each badge is based on a theme or a style of poetry and offer multiple options for poems. Those poems are directly linked from inside the badge for the ultimate ease of access.  

With this reading challenge, we also want you to flex your poetic muscles. One of the badge options is to share a favorite poem with us and another is to share one you composed yourself. We can’t wait to see what you share with us, whether by your own hand or someone else’s.  

Registration and prize info: 

The challenge runs from April 1-April 30 and is available through the Beanstack app (App Store or Google Play) or website. You can also register in person at the library. Once you log in, you’ll be able to join the new challenge. Click on any badge for reading recommendations. Once you’ve read a poem in any given badge, enter the title in the text box and move on to the next badge!  

All who sign up for the challenge will receive a poetry bookmark. Adults and Teens who complete the challenge will receive a National Poetry Month journal to continue your journey with poetry. 

Sign-up and finisher prizes can be picked up from either the Dundee Library or the Randall Oaks Library. All prizes are while supplies last. Prizes will be available beginning the week of April 4. 

If you’re looking for additional collections to continue the month-long celebration beyond the poems featured in the Beanstack challenge, here are some additional recommendations for you to check out from our collection.