February Festivities

February is often described as the winter doldrums, when things slow down to a glacial speed and most people eagerly look forward to the spring and summer. There are many events to celebrate in February though, and some of them are listed below.

Some events celebrate our history, some are intended to make us thoughtful in how we treat others and ourselves, and some are just plain fun!

Take a look at the selected events below and then check out your local library to see what resources are available to connect you to these events.

Black History Month

Feb. 1: National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Feb. 2: Groundhog’s Day

Feb. 12: Abraham Lincoln’s birthday

Feb. 14: Valentine’s Day

President’s Day (third Monday)

Feb. 21: International Book Giving Day

Feb. 22: George Washington’s Birthday

National Eating Disorders Awareness Week (last week of February)

Feb. 26: Tell a Fairy Tale Day

University of Illinois Children’s Book Events

The Center for Children’s Books (CCB) is hosting its Thirteenth Annual Book Sale, February 17-19, 2014. They are selling thousands of new children’s books for youth, ages birth through high school. Titles represent the full spectrum of children’s publishing in fiction and non-fiction: board books, picture books, easy and transitional readers, chapter books, series fiction, novels, activity books and kits, non-fiction series, mass-market paperbacks, and more.

Admission is FREE and open to the public Monday, February 17 (President’s Day) through Wednesday, February 19, 10am-6pm. A pre-sale will be held on Sunday, February 16 from 1-4pm. Admission for the pre-sale is $20 per person. To attend the pre-sale, you must make a reservation. Details about the book sale and pre-sale are available by contacting the CCB at ccb@illinois.edu or (217) 244-9331.

October 2014

Looking ahead, another free event related to children and youth will be held at the University of Illinois campus on Saturday, October 18, 2014. The Youth Literature Festival celebrates the value of literature in the lives of youth by bringing together local and national authors, illustrators, poets, and storytellers to share their stories, their craft, and their enthusiasm with children, teens and adults. The festival includes a Community Day Celebration that is free to the public on October 18, 2014. Community Day activities encourage all ages to share in the value of literature with hands-on activities, performances, and author presentations.

Give February festivities a chance, and don’t forget to be on the lookout for other exciting ways to share literature with the children in your life.