Suburban Mosaic is a community-wide reading program and partnership between libraries, schools and other organizations in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Founded in 2004, it's a reading program with a mission: to foster cultural understanding and reduce prejudice through literature. Unlike many other reading programs, however, Suburban Mosaic selects not one book but five, each at a different reading level, so people of all ages -- from preschoolers to seniors -- can participate and work toward a common goal.

The Des Plaines Public Library is very proud to be one of the libraries participating in Suburban Mosaic. We have several Suburban Mosaic book discussions on our Events calendar. The first is Thursday, November 8 at 7:30 PM, when staff member Laura Adler leads a discussion of Enrique's Journey by Sonia Nazario. "When Enrique was five years old, his single mother made the trek from Honduras to the U. S. in search of a better life and enough money to return home for her children. When things don't work out as planned, Enrique decides to make the difficult journey north to find her." Click here to register and find out how to obtain a copy of Enrique's Journey.

On Monday, December 10th, children's librarian Sara McLaughlin hosts a very special family book discussion at 7 p.m. The title is another Suburban Mosaic selection, Project Mulberry by Linda Sue Park. "When Julia's mother
suggests a project raising silkworms like she did in Korea, Julia and her friend
Patrick learn not just about silkworms but about tolerance, prejudice, friendship and patience." This book discussion is recommended for children in grades 4 and up along with their parents and older family members. To register and learn more, just click here.

We are fortunate that Des Plaines is such a vibrant and diverse community - join the Suburban Mosaic book discussions and learn more about what makes cultures and ethnic groups unique, but just as importantly, what universal human qualities and experiences bind us all together.