Previous Special Events

Peabody Award-winning radio personality Michael Lasser explores the songs inspired by our town, from “Everything’s Up To Date in Kansas City” to the rock classic “Kansas City” with its “pretty little women,” a tune recorded by artists as varied as the Beatles and Trini Lopez.

Lasser has been called “a walking encyclopedia of American song” and is the author of America’s Songs: The Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley.

He hosts the weekly syndicated radio show Fascinatin’ Rhythm.

Children and parents are invited to be part of monthly interactive story times presented by the Coterie Theatre. Coterie Theatre artists read from favorite children's books while audience members enjoy an opportunity to "jump into the story" and then participate in an improvised story of their own making.

October is National Anti-Bullying Awareness Month, making it just the right time for children and their parents to be introduced to the remarkable characters in Edward Hemingway’s new book Bad Apple: A Tale of Friendship.

Mac is an apple living in a world populated by other apples. There’s his Grandmother (a green Granny Smith apple) and a bunch of unpleasant crab apples.

Children’s songwriter Dino O’Dell sings and tells stories of space aliens, monsters under the bed, and swimming in peanut butter. Put on your Halloween costume and join in the fun at the Kansas City Public Library!

Catherynne M. Valente’s 2011 book for young adults, the New York Times best seller The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making, was a fantasy embraced both by children and adults.

Now Valente introduces her just-published followup volume, The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There.

The evening includes a book signing. This event is recommended for ages 10 and up.

Novelist Naomi Benaron and filmmaker Leah Warshawski, descendants of Holocaust survivors, discuss their work about Rwandan genocide.

Benaron’s debut novel, Running the Rift, is the story of a Rwandan athlete whose Olympic dreams collide with ethnic hatreds.

Warshawski’s upcoming documentary Film Festival: Rwanda follows filmmakers who create a traveling film festival to restore pride in their country.

Join us for a public viewing of the 2012 Presidential and Vice Presidential Debates.

A panel discussion follows each debate.

Co-sponsored by A&S Continuing Education at the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Jim Chappell has accumulated a treasure trove of sports memorabilia that covers the walls of his restaurant. Dozens of sports personalities have talked of their lives and careers over dinner and drinks at Chappell’s. Now Chappell and co-writer Matt Fulks share the stories told by local professional and collegiate stars of football, baseball, basketball, and sports journalism.

Chappell is the owner of Chappell’s Restaurant & Sports Museum in North Kansas City. Fulks is a sports journalist, author, and broadcaster who works for Kansas City’s Metro Sports.

Twenty Films Essential to Cinema Literacy

Think you’re film literate? Not until you’ve experienced the masterpieces of world cinema presented as part of this new series. Former Kansas City Star film critic Robert W. Butler (now a member of the Library’s Public Affairs staff) provides opening and closing remarks.

Come dressed in your favorite costume and enjoy an interactive concert by The Fine Arts Chorale. The concert, which is designed for children of all ages, features Halloween characters and involves the audience with singing, movement, and Halloween sounds.