The Aurora Public Library District (APLD) is thrilled to welcome an esteemed author for an upcoming special storytime event. Longtime Aurora resident, and former The Voice columnist, Jo Fredell Higgins, will share her delightful new children’s book, A Zoo Menagerie, with families at the Eola Road Library Branch at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 16 This event will be a fantastic opportunity for young readers to meet a real author, hear a captivating story brought to life, and participate in interactive fun.
Jo is an internationally-published author and award-winning photographer and essayist. She had written a weekly article for The Voice newspaper for the past 16 years. She has written eight titles of communities’ histories with Arcadia Publishing, including two books on the City of Aurora and its history (available at APLD). Honors include the “State of Illinois Volunteer of the Week” by the Governor’s Office in 2021; the “God and Fellow Man Award” in 2019 from the Kiwanis Club in Aurora; she was chosen as a “Woman of Distinction” in 2004 by the Aurora YWCA; and she won three Kodak International photography awards. She served as vice president of the Aurora Public Library Foundation Board. This event will be her second storytime appearance at the Library.
“APLD is excited to welcome back Jo Fredell Higgins as she shares her latest children’s books,” said APLD Senior Children’s manager, Monica Boyer. “We welcome children and their caregivers to this distinctive experience.”
The inspiration for Jo’s stories is found in life. “I could be inspired by watching geese in flight, a song, a poem, a sunrise, a conversation, a garden, or a memory,” she said. Her 12th children’s book, A Zoo Menagerie, gives details on the lives of zoo animals and includes Jo’s photographs taken of animals in various zoos, including, Brookfield, Cosley, and Phillps Park.
Additional colored pencil illustrations were created by the author. For her 2020 book Patsy the Panda, Jo called on the help of Aurora children and former students to create hand-drawn panda illustrations. The results give the story of Patsy’s life a delightfully personal touch. Jo is working on three children’s books which will be finished this year and has three more planned for 2025! Within all her stories, lie hours of dedication, fueled by a passion for writing and sharing her work with audiences of all ages.
Geared towards children ages four to nine, our Storytime with Author Jo Fredell Higgins, seeks to spark a love of reading and ignite young imaginations. This event highlights the power of authors within our communities and stresses the importance of fostering a vibrant literary community. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the magic of storytelling Thursday, May 16 at 10 a.m. at the Eola Road Library Branch. Copies of A Zoo Menagerie will be available for sale for $10 cash. For more information, please visit www.aurorapubliclibrary.org/event/9977790, or contact the Library at 630-264-4117.
Andrea Tiberi is the communications coordinator for the Aurora Public Library District.