NEA Big Read Lakeshore

Jerry Craft: "Celebrating Home"
2023-11-14 18:00 - 19:00 (America/Detroit) | Frauenthal Center, 425 W Western Ave STE 200, Muskegon, MI, 49440, United States
Join the Muskegon Community Foundation’s Muskegon County’s Annual Gathering event – Celebrating HOME — featuring Newbery-Award-Winning and New York Times bestselling author Jerry Craft.

Jerry Craft Author Visits to West Ottawa Middle Schools
2023-11-15 08:00 - 13:00 | West Ottawa Middle Schools
Middle School students from West Ottawa Public Schools will gather to hear NYT Bestselling Author Jerry Craft. Jerry’s presentation takes kids on his journey from being a VERY reluctant reader to becoming a Newbery-Award-Winning author. Jerry loves kids and they can tell. He’s very attentive and interactive throughout his presentation, sharing art and writing tips, and inspires them to never give up on anything they want to do.

Jerry Craft school visit: "I Make the Books I Wish I Had When I was a Kid"
2023-11-15 12:30 - 2023-12-30 13:30 | West Ottawa Middle School, 1024 136th Ave, Holland, MI, 49424, United States
Jerry visits West Ottawa middle school at 10am and then later at 1:30pm! His presentation takes students on his journey from being a VERY reluctant reader to becoming a Newbery-Award-Winning author. Through an interactive presentation, Jerry will share art and writing tips with West Ottawa middle school students. He rounds out the presentation with drawing and answering their questions!

Learn to draw Comics with Corinne Roberts
2023-11-15 15:00 - 16:00 | Loutit District Library, 407 Columbus Ave, Grand Haven, MI, 49417, United States
Inspired by NEA Big Read Lakeshore’s Middle Read “New Kid” by Jerry Craft, Loutit District Library hosts an art event for all! Learn tips and tricks for drawing comics (sequential art) with local illustrator/author Corinne Roberts. Best for grades 4 and up. Registration encouraged.

Jerry Craft: "An Evening with Jerry Craft"
2023-11-15 17:00 - 18:00 | Herrick District Library – North Branch
How does a reluctant reader who was told that Comics would rot his brain grow up to create the graphic that won the Newbery medal? Jerry Craft takes you on his journey.

Little Learners Play and Learn
2023-11-16 09:00 - 10:00 | The Muskegon Museum of History and Science, 430 W. Clay, Muskegon, MI, 49440, United States
Join us for a special play and learn around the Lakeshore Mini Read book “The More We Get Together”. We will have activities, a craft, and storytime. Participants will get a kit to take home of the little read “Change Sings” by Amanda Goorman as well. Please call 231-722-0278 to register.

The More We Get Together: A Musical Adventure.
2023-11-16 13:30 - 14:00 | 221 Columbia Ave Holland, MI 49423, 221 Columbia Ave, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
Celebrate books and music with Herrick District Library and a brass quintet from the Holland Symphony Orchestra at Jack Miller Concert Hall at Hope College! You’ll learn a little bit about each of the instruments, and then the musicians will play some fun songs as we explore, read, and sing our first-ever Mini Read book The More We Get Together.

The More We Get Together: A Musical Event
2023-11-16 13:30 - 14:00 | Jack H. Miller Concert Hall, Hope College, 221 Columbia Ave, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
Celebrate books and music with Herrick District Library and a brass quintet from the Holland Symphony Orchestra! You’ll learn a little bit about each of the instruments, and then the musicians will play some fun songs as we explore, read, and sing our first-ever Mini Read book The More We Get Together.

Stories Alive: Change Sings Family Night
2023-11-16 16:30 - 17:30 | White Lake Community Library, 3900 W White Lake Dr, Whitehall, MI, 49461, United States
Stories Alive: White Lake Library brings our little Read book, Change Sings, to life with crafts, activities, music, and movement for the whole family. All are welcome to join in the activities!

Holland Rotary Club: Homegoing Book Discussion
2023-11-16 17:00 - 18:30 | Grace Episcopal Church, 555 Michigan Ave, Holland, MI, 49423, United States

Allendale Library: Homegoing Book Discussion
2023-11-16 17:30 - 18:30 | Allendale Library, 6175 Library Lane, Allendale, MI, 49401, United States
Allendale Library joins Big Read with a book discussion of Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Limited copies will be available to borrow starting Friday, October 27. All are welcome to participate in this book discussion!

Lynda Lowery Lecture
2023-11-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Winants Auditorium, Graves Hall, Hope College, 263 College Avenue, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
As the youngest marcher in the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Albama, Lynda Blackmon Lowery proved that young adults can be heroes. Jailed nine times before her fifteenth birthday, Lowery fought alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. for the rights of African-Americans. At this event, Lynda will reflect on her life experiences and explore themes from our Big Read Novel, Homecoming.

Movie Screening: Twelve Years a Slave
2023-11-21 17:00 - 19:00 | 14 S Church St Zeeland, MI 49464, 14 S Church St, Zeeland, MI, 4964, United States
Join us for an evening showing of the dramatic movie hosted by the Howard Miller Library, “12 Years a Slave,” which depicts the memoir of an African American who was kidnapped in Washington, DC, and sold into slavery in the antebellum South in 1841. Free popcorn will be served. Viewer advisory: This film is rated “R” and may be inappropriate for anyone under the age of 17.

Little Read Sing Song Yoga
2024-08-14 17:00 - 18:00 | Allegan District Library, 331 Hubbard St, Allegan, MI, 49010, United States
Join Deb Weiss-Gelmi as she guides you through movement, literacy, and music with this year’s Little Read Lakeshore Book, Dreamers by Yuyi Morales. Ages PreK-5th grade and their caregivers. This event is going to be held in the Carnegie Room at the Allegan District Library. Registration is required and can be found on the Allegan District Library website linked to the right.

Deb Weiss-Gelmi: Sing Song Yoga featuring the Mini Read Lakeshore
2024-08-15 09:00 - 09:45 | Herrick District Library, 300 South River, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
Come join the fun with Sing Song Yoga® founder Deb Weiss-Gelmi as she combines yoga, songs, and literacy for this family event. We will move and play and make this year’s Little Read selection come alive!

Adult Book Club
2024-08-15 17:30 - 19:30 | Allegan District Library, 331 Hubbard St, Allegan, MI, 49010, United States
Join our monthly adult book club in November as we discuss the Big Read Lakeshore book, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Adults of all ages are invited to join. No registration is required. This event will occur in the Riverfront Reading Room of Allegan District Library.

Friday Movie Matinee
2024-08-23 13:00 - 15:30 | Loutit District Library, 407 Columbus Ave, Grand Haven, MI, 49417, United States
Stop in for a free matinee showing! Feel free to bring snacks and drinks to enjoy during the film. Registering for one event in the Friday Matinee series registers you for the entire month, so you don’t miss out!
This month, we’re featuring two different versions of “The Great Gatsby” in partnership with Big Read Lakeshore. If you enjoyed those films, feel free to attend our book club discussion on “The Great Gatsby” and “American Born Chinese” on Wednesday, November 13 at 6:30 pm.
Friday, November 1: The Great Gatsby (1974)
Friday, November 8: The Great Gatsby (2013)
“The Great Gatsby follows viable writer Nick Carraway as he leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922. Chasing his own American dream, Nick lands next door to Jay Gatsby, and across the bay from his cousin, Daisy, and her husband, Tom Buchanan. Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the rich and their loves and deceits. As he bears witness, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams, and tragedy, and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.”
Friday, November 15: Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret “For over fifty years, Judy Blume’s classic has connected with readers through its relatable story, achingly funny details, and candid exploration of life’s biggest questions. In Lionsgate’s big-screen adaptation, eleven-year-old Margaret is uprooted from her life in New York City for the suburbs of New Jersey, going through the messy and tumultuous throes of puberty with new friends in a new school. She relies on her mother, Barbara, who is also struggling to adjust to life outside the big city, and her adoring grandmother, Sylvia, who isn’t happy they moved away and likes to remind them every chance she gets.”
Friday, November 22: Champions “A former minor-league basketball coach is ordered by the court to manage a team of players with intellectual disabilities. He soon realizes that despite his doubts, together, this team can go further than they ever imagined.”
Friday, November 29: Library CLOSED

"Lets Talk About Community" Play and Learn-Caterpillar Group
2024-09-03 09:30 - 10:30 | Allegan District Library, 331 Hubbard St, Allegan, MI, 49010, United States
Join us for a morning of learning and playtime! Learn all about the community we are a part of and how we can contribute. This will be a morning of fun learning with people who love their community just as much as you do!

"Lets Talk About Community" Play and Learn-Butterfly Group
2024-09-05 09:30 - 10:30 | 331 Hubbard St Allegan, MI 49010, 331 Hubbard St, Allegan, MI, United States
Join us for a morning of learning and playtime! Learn about the community we are a part of and how we can contribute. This will be a morning of fun learning with people who love their community just as much as you do!

"Lets Talk About Community" Play and Learn-Butterfly Group
2024-09-10 09:30 - 10:30 | Dorr Township Library, 1804 Sunset Dr, Dorr, MI, 49323, United States

Mini Read Sing Song Yoga
2024-09-11 17:00 - 17:45 | Allegan District Library, 331 Hubbard St, Allegan, MI, 49010, United States
Join Sing Song Yoga® founder Deb Weiss-Gelmi as she combines yoga, music, and literacy to introduce this year’s Mini Read selection, Love: A Celebration of Mindfulness by Katie Wilson. Deb’s programming for libraries engages children with Sing Song Yoga® and makes books come alive by weaving yoga and song into stories. Copies of Love: A Celebration of Mindfulness will be given away to participants while supplies last

"Lets Talk About Community" Play and Learn-Caterpillar group
2024-09-16 09:30 - 10:30 | Ransom District Library, 180 S Sherwood Ave, Plainwell, MI, 49080, United States

Big Read Teacher workshop
2024-09-16 17:00 - 19:00 | Hope College Maas Auditorium, 264 Columbia Ave, Holland, MI, 49423, United States
The Big Read hosts an event with teachers participating in our programming. This event will be a workshop focusing on the Big Read books for this year.

Noveltea Book Discussion
2024-09-17 09:30 - 10:30 | Ransom District Library, 180 S Sherwood Ave, Plainwell, MI, 49080, United States
Come to the Ransome District Library and participate in an ADULT book discussion based on this year’s Big Read books!

With A Twist Book Club
2024-09-17 18:00 - 19:00 | Ransom District Library, 180 S Sherwood Ave, Plainwell, MI, 49080, United States
Join the Ransom District Library and The Big Read for a book discussion with a fun twist!

"Lets Talk About Community" Play and Learn-Butterfly group
2024-09-19 09:30 - 10:30 | Ransom District Library, 180 S Sherwood Ave, Plainwell, MI, 49080, United States

Million Milkweed Challenge
2024-09-21 11:00 - 13:00 | MADL Egelston Branch, 5428 E Apple Ave, Muskegon, MI, 49442, United States
Plant butterfly food! Winter sowing is a fun and easy way to get a jump start on the growing season. Melissa Eikenberry will present information about local plants needed by our winged friends. Registration Required. Registration is open from Aug 24 @ 11 am to Sept 21 @ 11 am. Registration can be found on MADL’s website linked to the right.

Big Read Block Party
2024-09-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Bethlehem Park, 421 W. Summit St, Muskegon Heights, MI, 49444, United States
You’re invited to kick off the Big Read Lakeshore with MADL in style! Bring your neighbors and enjoy a fun-filled afternoon featuring: a scavenger hunt featuring Yuyi Morales Dreamers, free food, and free swag and giveaways. All ages, No registration required.

Michigan Indian Day 2024 Celebration
2024-09-26 16:00 - 18:00 | Camp Jijak (Hopkins), 2558 20th St, Hopkin, MI, 49328, United States
Today is a day to recognize and honor the significant contributions that native american tribes have made throughout American history in Michigan.

The Great Gatsby Movie Night
2024-09-27 18:30 - 20:30 | Ransom District Library, 180 S Sherwood Ave, Plainwell, MI, 49080, United States
Join the Ransom District Library for a night of 1920s fun with The Great Gatsby Movie! Dress in Jazz Era attire to fully embrace the feel of the 1920s.
Hors D’oeurves and refreshments will be available after the show!
