Sprout is a professional member of CGCC.

From  https://www.facebook.com/Chilovebooks/ . . .

Yet again, Chicagoland proves itself to be the dream destination for book lovers and readers of all ages! More than two dozen independent bookstores in the greater Chicago area—from Lake Forest to Beverly, and Naperville to the Loop—are collaborating on a third annual #ChiLoveBooks Challenge, which encourages book lovers to indulge in bookstore tourism by visiting 10 or more stores in a single day.

The annual challenge is being held again on Independent Bookstore Day (IBD), which is a one-day national party celebrating indie book stores on the last Saturday in April. Each store creates its own unique events—including guest authors, special kids’ story times, readings, contests, giveaways, and special sales.

To begin their trip, readers can pick up a #ChiLoveBooks passport and their first stamp with an initial purchase of $25 or more from the store of their choice.

Additional bookstore visits throughout the day (no purchase required) enable them to collect an additional stamp at each subsequent bookstore. The payoff comes for visits at the following levels:

Visit TEN stores in one day and get 10% off at all bookstores listed below for an ENTIRE YEAR!

Visit FIFTEEN stores in one day and get 15% off at all bookstores listed below for an ENTIRE YEAR!

Also, readers are encouraged to post a snapshot of themselves and their Independent Bookstore Day haul on #ChiLoveBooks.

The #ChiLoveBooks Challenge is being sponsored by the Chicagoland Independent Bookstore Allliance (ChIBA), an association formed in 2016 to raise awareness about the vitality of the area’s indie stores, and the Great Lakes Independent Booksellers Association (GLIBA).

Here is the list of participating stores so you can start to plan. You can also head to www.chilovebooks.com for even more info!
57th Street Books
Abraham Lincoln Book Shop, Inc.
Anderson's Bookshop - Naperville, Lagrange & Downers Grove
Book Bin Northbrook
The Book Cellar
The Book Stall
The Book Table
Bookends & Beginnings
Bookie's - Chicago
Bookie's - Homewood
Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore
City Lit Books
The Dial Bookshop
Lake Forest Book Store
Open Books - Pilsen & West Loop
Pilsen Community Books
Powell's Books Chicago
Quimby's Bookstore
Read It & Eat
RoscoeBooks
Rosenberg Bookshop at the Newberry Library
Sandmeyer's Bookstore
The Seminary Co-op Bookstores
Volumes Bookcafe
Wicker Park Secret Agent Supply Co.
Women & Children First Bookstore

From the AudioFile Magazine April newsletter . . . Free Summer Listening April 25th, Opening Day!

SYNC Audiobooks for Teens 2019 will give away 28 titles—two paired audiobook downloads a week—April 25th through August 1st. Authors include Jennifer A. Nielsen, Emma Donoghue, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Tanaz Bhathena. Check out the complete list of exciting audiobook titles.

How can you promote SYNC?

Utilize the print and digital items available in the SYNC Toolkitto introduce SYNC to your patrons, students, and other readers. Encourage teen readers to text syncya to 25827 to receive text alerts about all the featured titles. Visit www.audiobooksync.com and sign up for title alerts by email. Have your listeners download the OverDrive appin advance of the program. [Please note – the Libby app will not work with SYNC]

SYNC Program Questions

For questions about the program, titles, and how to use the toolkit to connect with students, patrons, and other listeners, please contact the SYNC Manager, Michele Cobb, at sync@audiofilemagazine.com.

From the Museum of Science and Industry web site:

Teen Advisory Committee

Apply for the 2019 program now through April 12!

Teens are invited to share their ideas on how MSI can better engage youth audiences in this new initiative.

MSI provides experiences that deepen the engagement and interaction of youth, and people of all ages, in science and science-related disciplines, with a vision to inspire and motivate in the fields of science, technology, engineering and medicine.

Our Teen Advisory Committee (TAC) is seeking youth ages 14–17 who love science, especially MSI. We want to hear your ideas on “Hacking the Museum” and feedback on a range of Museum content.

Eligibility

• Youth ages 14–17 by July 11, 2019
• Able to commit to a term lasting from July–August 2019
• Have access to the internet for online assignments
• Be able to attend ALL meetings at MSI as scheduled

Responsibilities

Teen Advisory Committee members are required to attend four meetings, complete short, online tasks before each meeting, and provide feedback on a variety of content topics. Members should be comfortable speaking in front of a group of their peers and senior Museum management.

MANDATORY meetings (from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.):

• Thursday, July 11
• Thursday, July 18
• Thursday, July 25
• Thursday, August 1

Benefits

All TAC members will receive:

• 20 service learning hours
• $50 Amazon or Target gift card
• A voucher to visit MSI separately with friends and family (five people maximum)

Also, participating in TAC will look great on resumes and college applications!

Important dates

• Applications open from February 18 – April 12, 2019
• Applications/essays reviewed from April 15 – April 26, 2019
• Selection decisions made by May 10, 2019
• New committee members notified via email by Friday, May 17, 2019

Interested?

Complete the application and answer a few questions that will help us get to know you better. All applications must be submitted by April 12, 2019 to be considered for the committee.

Apply now

Questions?

For questions regarding the Museum of Science and Industry’s Teen Advisory Committee, please email MSITNAC@msichicago.org. 

Every Saturday in April, Sulzer Regional Library's home-grown poet, Eleanore Tisch, will lead their Pop-Up Poetry Club, culminating in an open mic during their Poetry Fest on April 27.

Pop-Up Poetry Club (Grades 6-12) Saturdays, Apr. 6–27, 11 am–noon, In this four-week long workshop, young poets will be invited to generate new material, discuss the work of a wide array of classic and modern poets, and learn re-visioning techniques for their own writing. All levels and experiences are welcome - come exactly as you are and be a ready to dive deeply into the luminous world of poetic language!

Click here for complete details.

There is a lot going on at Sulzer Regional Library! Check out their spring brochure: Sulzer Spring 2019.pdf

From the Chicago Film Festival email . . .

The CineYouth Film Pitch is a one-day program that allows select participants to present their works-in-progress to a panel of industry professionals for a chance to get direct feedback from the experts who know the film business best. One lucky pitch participant will win a cash prize to support their project! The Film Pitch will take place Sunday, April 28 during the CineYouth Festival in the Music Box Theatre Lounge from 10:00am-2:00pm. Applications are now open. Applicants must be between 16 and 22 years old to participate. Submit your project by April 1 to be considered for The Pitch.

Apply Now

CineYouth Festival 2019 Save The Date: April 26-28, 2019

Created in 2005, CineYouth is the Chicago International Film Festival’s annual three-day showcase of short films made by filmmakers 22-years-old and younger from around the world! CineYouth 2019 goes down April 26-28 at Chicago's historic Music Box Theatre. Stay tuned for full schedule and free tickets in early April. Follow @CineYouth on Twitter to stay up to date.

Learn More

An Anderson's First Look Event

Meet the author and illustrator before the book is published! Anderson's First Look Pre-Pub Event MarcyKate Connolly & Dan Haring The Star Shepherd Tuesday, May 7th 5:30 PM Anderson's Bookfair Company 520 Exchange Court, Aurora, IL 60504 This is a Middle Grade novel. To attend this free event, you must be a student or educator in grades 3-6 (no parents please) and read the ARC ahead of time. To reserve your spot, please email angie.gaul@andersonsbookshop.net to make arrangements to pick up your advanced reading copy of The Star Shepherd at the Naperville, Downers Grove, or LaGrange store, or the Aurora warehouse. Please include your name, phone number, grade & school, whether you're a student or an educator, and where you’d like to pick up your Advanced Reading Copy. Dinner is served, but space is limited.

Gifted children need a non-competitive opportunities to enjoy mathematics and to explore their mathematical interests and flex their analytical muscles. An excellent opportunity to do this is to participate in a math circle. A math circle has puzzles, activities and games that are low barrier entry - that means even children that have not been taught a lot of mathematics can do it, but, at the same time, the activities can be extended to a high level of complexity that may challenge much more experienced participants. This is why MAGE will be sponsoring a first in Chicago: an Elementary Math Circle for grades 1-4! If you are interested in this program, please email MAGE by clicking here.

Join WCGTC in Nashville for the 23rd World Conference focusing on A World of Possibilities: Gifts, Talents, & Potential. The World Conference is a great opportunity for researchers, educators, psychologists, parents, and other stakeholders to gather from around the globe to discuss the vital matters, issues, and concerns that impact the field of gifted education and gifted and talented children. The World Conference will be hosted by the WCGTC Executive Committee.

The WCGTC consists of its Members, Executive Committee, Delegates from member countries, and a Headquarters that is located at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Kentucky USA. The World Council was founded over 35 years ago and hosts a biennial World Conference at a major international city during late July or early August in odd-numbered years. Members of the WCGTC receive a discount to attend the World Conference.

Below are some important World Conference Dates. These dates are tentative and subject to change. If you have any questions about these important dates, please email us at headquarters@world-gifted.org.

• August 1 – December 15, 2018: Abstract Proposal Submission Available
• March 1, 2019: Abstract Proposal Acceptance Notification Deadline
• April 15, 2019: Last Day for Presenters to Register
• April 15, 2019: Early Registration Ends
• April 16 – June 30, 2019: Regular Registration
• May 15, 2019: Conference Schedule Finalized
• July 1 – 28, 2019: Late Registration
• July 24 – 28, 2019: 23rd Biennial WCGTC World Conference

Click here for complete conference details including registration information.

CineYouth Film Challenge

The CineYouth Film Challenge invites students 13-18 years old to join our one-day film camp! Participants will have one day to make a short film with their assigned team. The finished films will go on to be screened at the CineYouth Festival Festival, April 26-28 at Chicago’s iconic Music Box Theatre.

Film Challenge teams will be assembled according to age group. No prior filmmaking experience is necessary, though basic camera knowledge and experience with editing software is welcome. Entry fee is $15. All gear and lunch will be provided.

CineYouth Film Challenge
Saturday, April 6, 2019 • 9am – 5pm
Flashpoint Chicago: A Campus of Columbia Hollywood
28 N. Clark Street, 5th floor, Chicago, IL 60602

Click here for complete details and registration.