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Children get to learn about turtles and enjoy one of Vachel Lindsay’s most famous poems May 20 at the Vachel Lindsay State Historic Site, while adults can hear the work of an up-and-coming poet the next day.

 Little Turtle “Little Turtle Day” takes place Saturday, May 20, at 1 p.m. Kids will get to play with puppets and act out Lindsay’s poem about a turtle that liked to climb on rocks and snap at mosquitoes, minnows and people.

 The event was inspired by World Turtle Day on May 23, so visitors will be able to learn more about turtles and even touch one, courtesy of the Henson Robinson Zoo. Refreshments and a take-home craft will also be provided. Participants are encouraged to wear the color green.

 On Sunday, May 21, poet Amy Strauss Friedman reads from her book, “Gathered Bones are Known to Wander,” at 2 p.m.

 Friedman’s poetry, creative nonfiction and book reviews have appeared in numerous literary journals. She was born and raised in Chicago, where she taught English at Harper College, Aurora University, and Northwestern's Center for Talent Development. She now lives in Denver.

 Reviewers say her poems “ease us into comfort before stunning us with unexpected insights” and are “so inviting that I found myself happily wandering along with them.”

 Both “Little Turtle Day” and the “Poets in the Parlor” event are free.

 The Vachel Lindsay Home State Historic Site, located at 603 South Fifth Street in Springfield, was built about 1850. Poet, author and artist Nicholas Vachel Lindsay was born there in 1879 and died there in 1931.

 It is open by appointment. Call 217-782-6776 to arrange a tour.

 The site is operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. IHPA protects the state’s historic resources, which contribute to education, culture and the economy. IHPA sites include ancient burial mounds, forts and buildings erected by settlers, and homes connected to famous Illinoisans.

 Learn more about IHPA at www.IllinoisHistory.gov, on Twitter and on Facebook.