Community Calendar

Explore the world of the Questioneers at Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

Special children’s exhibit opens February 16; special price for kids on four Saturdays

The world of the Questioneers is coming to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum!  It’s a world where curious children get to explore art, science, and civics, in a hands-on exhibition featuring five fearless second-graders from the series of best-selling children’s books.

The Questioneers:  Read. Question. Think. PLAY! will introduce visitors to Ada Twist, scientist; Rosie Revere, engineer; Iggy Peck, architect; Sofia Valdez, future prez, and Aaron Slater, illustrator.  Each character’s story highlights problem-solving, determination, risk-taking, bravery, and the role of caring adults.

The special exhibit opens Friday, Feb. 16, and runs less than three months.  The final day will be May 5.  Access is included in the regular museum admission price.

And to make the exhibit accessible to as many people as possible, the ALPLM will admit children for just $1 on four Saturdays during the exhibit’s run.  Children 5-12 will be admitted for a dollar each, rather than the usual price of $5, on Feb. 17, March 16, April 20 and May 4.  Children 4 and under always get in free.

The Questioneers are the creation of author Andrea Beaty and illustrator David Roberts.  Their charming books tell rhyming stories about the children and their teacher, Miss Greer.  They also offer projects and activities that families can tackle together.

The exhibit brings that same spirit to creative activities for museum visitors.  Children will be able to:

- build flying contraptions

- pilot a “cheese-copter”

- transform Mount Trashmore into a park

- make an arch out of pancakes

- investigate why clocks go tick-tock

“The Questioneers help children develop traits that made Abraham Lincoln such a wonderful leader:  a sense of curiosity, a thirst for knowledge, an ability to learn from mistakes, and a willingness to keep working until a problem is solved,” said Christina Shutt, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum.  “We think our young visitors are going to love exploring this exhibit.”

Beaty, the Questioneers author, lives in Naperville, and the exhibit based on her work was developed by DuPage Children’s Museum.

“I am thrilled knowing that The Questioneers will come to life in this exhibit and inspire kids, young and young at heart, to share their curiosity and passion with others!” Beaty said.

Ada, Iggy, Rosie, Sofia, and Aaron promote personal empowerment, curiosity, and perseverance.  With different abilities, races, ethnicities, genders, and upbringings, each character is uniquely capable and committed to their creative, STEAM-based pursuits.  Their passions lead them to experiment, explore, fail, and try again.  Through these bold characters, young children learn that math, science, art, and civic responsibility are for everyone, and failure is part of learning.

For more information, visit www.PresidentLincoln.illinois.gov You can follow the ALPLM on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.