Evanston Early Childhood Council

11/26/2025

Mark your Calendar!

❄️📚 Get Ready for a Cozy Winter Morning of Fun! 📚❄️
The Evanston Early Childhood Council invites YOU and your little ones to our Cozy Winter Reading – Family Fun Event!

✨ Saturday, December 13th | 10AM–1PM
📍 Dr. Jorge and Luz Maria Prieto Community Center
430 Asbury Ave, Evanston, IL

Join us for a magical winter morning filled with:
📖 Storytime for young children
🎨 Winter-themed crafts
🍪 Cookie decorating activity
☕ Hot cocoa & cookies to keep everyone warm
📚 A pop-up bookstore + FREE books from Young, Black & Lit!
⭐ Special appearance by local children’s author Karla Valenti!

This FREE community event is the perfect way for families to celebrate reading, creativity, and winter wonder! Bundle up the kiddos and come enjoy laughter, learning, and festive fun with us. ❄️💙

We can’t wait to see you there!

❄️ 🎉 📖☕ 🌟 🏡 🏙️ 🍪 📚 📖 🌱 📚 ✨

11/24/2025

🍁✨ Hello Evanston Families & Little Explorers! ✨🍁
It’s Thanksgiving week, and we’ve got a cozy lineup of storytimes, songs, and book fun to keep your littles smiling all week long! Here’s what’s happening from Monday, Nov. 24 – Sunday, Nov. 30, 2025:

🧡 Monday, November 24
🎨 All By Myself! (Ages 3–5)
📍 Main Library | ⏰ 10:30–11:00 AM
📚 101 Great Books for Kids 2025 Open House
📍 Main & Robert Crown Libraries | ⏰ All Day
➡️ Come explore the best kid books of the year!

💛 Tuesday, November 25
👶 Time for Twos
📍 Main Library | ⏰ 10:30–11:00 AM
📚 101 Great Books for Kids 2025 Open House
📍 All day, all locations
➡️ Perfect day to grab a new favorite story!

💚 Wednesday, November 26
🎶 Let’s Learn and Sing in Japanese!
📍 Main Library | ⏰ 10:15–11:00 AM
📚 101 Great Books for Kids 2025 Open House
📍 All Library Locations | ⏰ All Day
➡️ Music, language, and fun!

🦃 Thursday, November 27 – Happy Thanksgiving!

💙 Friday, November 28
📚 101 Great Books for Kids 2025 Open House
📍 Main Library | ⏰ All Day
➡️ A perfect post-holiday outing with the kiddos!

💜 Saturday, November 29
📖 Saturday Storytime
📍 Bookends & Beginnings | ⏰ 11:00 AM
📚 101 Great Books for Kids 2025 Open House
📍 All Day
➡️ Snuggle up for some weekend storytelling!

🤎 Sunday, November 30
No official events — enjoy a slow, cozy Sunday! Maybe curl up with one of those great books you discovered this week. 📚✨

🍂 Wishing everyone a warm, joyful, and family-filled Thanksgiving week!
Follow us for more kid-friendly fun happening all around Evanston! 🧡

11/22/2025

11/22/2025

No child should wake up on a holiday morning without the joy, wonder, and love that even a simple gift can bring. Yet this year, more families in our community are struggling—and without timely support, many of our youngest children may go without.

Your donation to our Family-to-Family Campaign helps ensure every child feels seen, celebrated, and reminded that they matter. With the funds we raise, we will provide holiday gift cards for children and family members in our IWSE programs. Think of it like an Angel Tree—and you can adopt one of our angels this year!

Donate here: https://www.iwse.org/giving

Please note “Family-to-Family” in the comments section!

Thanks to generous donors, we’ve already received $2,700 in gifts. To reach every family on our list, we need to raise an additional $6,000 by December 5.

Here’s how you can help us get there:

60 gifts of $100 will put us at goal

120 gifts of $50 will put us at goal

240 gifts of $25 will put us at goal

Of course, gifts of any amount make a difference—and every dollar helps bring holiday joy to a child in our community.

Thank you for helping us brighten this season for the families we serve.

11/21/2025

❄️📚 Get Ready for a Cozy Winter Morning of Fun! 📚❄️
The Evanston Early Childhood Council invites YOU and your little ones to our Cozy Winter Reading – Family Fun Event!

✨ Saturday, December 13th | 10AM–1PM
📍 Dr. Jorge and Luz Maria Prieto Community Center
430 Asbury Ave, Evanston, IL

Join us for a magical winter morning filled with:
📖 Storytime for young children
🎨 Winter-themed crafts
🍪 Cookie decorating activity
☕ Hot cocoa & cookies to keep everyone warm
📚 A pop-up bookstore + FREE books from Young, Black & Lit!
⭐ Special appearance by local children’s author Karla Valenti!

This FREE community event is the perfect way for families to celebrate reading, creativity, and winter wonder! Bundle up the kiddos and come enjoy laughter, learning, and festive fun with us. ❄️💙

We can’t wait to see you there!

❄️ 🎉 📖☕ 🌟 🏡 🏙️ 🍪 📚 📖 🌱 📚 ✨

11/18/2025

We're 2/3 of the way to our goal! We're so grateful for the support of generous local sponsors like you who come together to provide gift cards for families in our programming. The gift cards make it possible for parents to select their own holiday gifts for their children, as well as purchase some special holiday food to enjoy together. We'd love for you to join in this effort! A link to donate is in our bio. If you'd like to participate, please make your donation by Monday, December 1st so we can ensure that our families receive gift cards before the holidays!



Happy Holidays and THANK YOU from Team CNE!

11/17/2025

🍁✨ Hello EECC Families!
Here’s your lineup of FREE fun for little ones happening in Evanston this week — November 17–23, 2025!
We hope you’ll bundle up, come out, and enjoy stories, music, movies, and community connections with us. 💛

📚 Monday, November 17

🎉 Crown Storytime — Main Library
10:30–11:00 AM & 11:10–11:30 AM
🎉 All By Myself! — Main Library
11:00–11:45 AM

📚 Tuesday, November 18

🐾 Time for Twos — Main Library
10:30–11:00 AM

🎶 Wednesday, November 19

🎵 Let’s Learn & Sing in Japanese! — Main Library
10:15–11:00 AM

📖 Thursday, November 20

🌟 101 Great Books for Kids – Open House
Main Library — All Day

📖 Friday, November 21

🌟 101 Great Books for Kids – Open House
Main Library — All Day

📚 Saturday, November 22

📘 Saturday Storytime — Bookends & Beginnings
11:00 AM
🌟 101 Great Books for Kids – Open House
Main Library — All Day

🍿 Sunday, November 23

🎬 Matinee Movie & Munch — Main Library
2:00–3:30 PM
🌟 101 Great Books for Kids – Open House
Main Library — All Day

👕✨ BONUS! FREE Children’s Clothing Swap

A cozy community event hosted by a child & family psychologist, Grateful Yoga, and Dr. Ida Salusky
📍 Grateful Yoga Studio — 1108 Davis St
🕒 Sunday, Nov. 23 | 2:00–5:00 PM
Swap sizes from preemie to 6T—we especially welcome warm winter gear!
Bring what you can, take what you need. 💙
Everyone is welcome!

❄️💙 SAVE THE DATE — Winter Family Fun Event!

Get ready for a warm + cozy celebration full of reading, activities, and winter magic.
📅 Saturday, December 13, 2025
🕙 10 AM – 1 PM
📍 Dr. Jorge & Luz Maria Prieto Community Center
430 Asbury Ave, Evanston
✨ Flyer dropping soon! ✨

We hope to see you and your little ones out and about this week!
For more family-friendly fun, visit: www.evanstonearlychildhood.org

💙 Evanston Early Childhood Council (EECC) — Supporting Families, Growing Together.

11/10/2025

It's time again for one of our favorite campaigns - Family to Family! The campaign helps our IWSE families celebrate a joyful holiday season.

A gift from your family will help an IWSE family purchase meals and gifts.

It's simple.

1. Donate whatever amount you choose here: https://www.iwse.org/giving and once at our Donate page, please indicate in the Additional Comments box that your gift is for Family-to-Family.

2. You also may mail a check to: IWSE, 2200 Main Street, Evanston, IL, 60202, Attn: Family-to-Family.

We’ll pool the donations and distribute holiday gift cards to IWSE families in December. Parents then have the freedom, dignity, and joy of choosing gifts and meals that are just right for their children.

Thank you for being part of this generous and caring community!

11/10/2025

We're about 25% of the way to our goal of collecting $12,000 in gift cards to distribute to families in our Head Start programming for their holidays. We'd love to be able to provide each family with a meaningful amount to make their holidays special, but we need your help! Our deadline of December 1 will be here before you know it.
Here is how you can participate:
Click on the "Donate for Gift Cards" button below to be directed to an external page managed by our partner, Marketing Innovators. Their partnership allows us to bulk purchase the gift cards at a discount. When you click on “Make a Donation,” you will be routed to a PayPal processor to complete your gift.

https://www.micharitydonations.com/Donate?Charity=CNE

11/10/2025

🌟 Evanston Early Childhood Council Weekly Highlights: Nov 10–16, 2025! 🌟

Hey Evanston families! 🍁 There’s a full week of fun ahead for our youngest learners — from storytimes to art play and even a sneak peek of Shrek the Musical! 💚

📅 Monday, Nov 10
❌ All By Myself — Canceled
📚 Crown Storytime | Robert Crown Library | 11–11:30 AM
Fun songs + stories for babies, toddlers & preschoolers! (Reg. required)

📅 Tuesday, Nov 11
👧 Time for Twos | Main Library | 10:30–11 AM (Waitlist only)
🎨 Mini Makers Art Play | Art Makers Outpost | 10–11 AM
🐾 Dog Man Day | Booked, 506 Main St | 3:30–6 PM
🦢 Origami Night | Robert Crown Library | 6:30–7:30 PM (Full – Waitlist)

📅 Wednesday, Nov 12
👶 Infant Playgroup | Little Gems, 709 Washington St | 10–10:45 AM
Meet other caregivers & babies (up to 18 months)! 💕

📅 Thursday, Nov 13
🎶 The Young & the Restless (0–2 yrs) | Main Library | 10:15–10:45 AM
🌙 Jammie Time | Main Library | 6:30–7 PM
Wear your PJs & join us for bedtime stories + songs! 💤

📅 Saturday, Nov 15
🎭 Purple Crayon Players: Shrek the Musical | Main Library | 10–10:45 AM
A live family preview from Northwestern’s Purple Crayon Players! 💚
🎄 Tree Lighting Celebration | Independence Park | Evening
Music, lights & family fun under the stars! 🌟

📅 Sunday, Nov 16
🎲 Game Play Sunday | Main Library | 1–4 PM
Enjoy puzzles, cards, and games with your family! 🧩

💙 All events are geared toward children 0–5 years unless noted.
📲 Visit www.evanstonearlychildhood.org
for full details + registration info.

Let’s grow, learn & connect — together in Evanston! 🌈

11/03/2025

🍁 Hello November! 🍂
Welcome to a month full of family, fun, and fall adventures across Evanston. Here’s what’s happening the week of Monday, November 3 → Sunday, November 9 — bring your little ones and make some memories!

Monday, Nov 3
• Crown Storytime — Robert Crown Branch Library — 10:30–11:00 AM & 11:00–11:30 AM
• All By Myself! — Main Library — 11:00–11:45 AM

Tuesday, Nov 4
• Time for Twos — Main Library — 10:30–11:00 AM

Friday, Nov 7
• Mini Makers — PreK Story Time & Art Making — Art Makers Outpost — 10:00–11:00 AM

Saturday, Nov 8
• Saturday Storytime — Bookends & Beginnings — 11:00 AM

Sunday, Nov 9
• Puppets & Blocks Playtime! — Robert Crown Library — 4:00–6:00 PM

All activities are family-friendly and many are geared toward children 0–5 years old. Some programs require registration — please check details before you go.

For more information and updates, visit 👉 www.evanstonearlychildhood.org

10/29/2025

Following the tradition of our Fall Frenzy, this family-friendly event will celebrate the season and Dia de los Mu***os (Day of the Dead) with music from DJ Corey Bless, face painting by A Hardy Party, and plenty of candy and crafts.

Date: Thursday, October 30
Time: 4-6 pm
Location: Ridgeville Park, 908 Seward St.

Come dressed up, or come as you are- all are welcome.