1.WhatisTheQuestioneers:Read.Question.Think.PLAY!exhibit?
Itisafree,interactive,hands-onexhibitinspiredbyTheQuestioneersbookserieswritten byAndreaBeatyandillustratedbyDavidRoberts Theexhibitbringsthebookseries’ belovedcharacterstolifethroughhands-onartsandSTEM-basedlearningexperiences thatencouragecuriosity,creativity,andperseverance
2.Whodevelopedtheexhibit?
TheDuPageChildren’sMuseumdeveloped,andislendingtheexhibit.Thelibrary activitieswillbesimilartothemuseum’sQuestioneer’sExhibit,adaptedtoAPLDspace andcommunity.
3.Whenandwherewilltheexhibitbeopen?
TheexhibitwillbeondisplayintheAtriumatSantori,andatWestBranch,fromJune12 throughJuly31,2026.
InstallationwilltakeplaceonJune8.Customersmaybeabletoexploreearlyandask whatisgoingon.TheofficialopeningisJune12th.
4.Wherecancustomersfindmoreinformation?
Customerscangotowwwaurorapubliclibraryorg/exhibitsformoreinformation
5.Whoisthetargetaudience?
Theexhibitisdesignedprimarilyforchildrenandfamilies,withafocusonengaging youngandelementary-agedchildren,underrepresentedandunderservedcommunities, multilingualfamilies,andvisitorsofvaryingabilitiesandlearningstyles.
6.Whatarethekeyfeaturesoftheexhibit?
Therewillbesixinteractiveareas,inspiredbytheseries’charactersandtheirareasof expertise.AtWestBranch,visitorscanlearntobeanengineerlikeRosieRevereandan artistlikeAaronSlater.AtSantori,visitorscanengageinsciencewithAdaTwist, leadershipwithSofiaValdez,andarchitecturewithIggyPeck;therewillalsobeaYoung Questioneersareafortheyoungestminds.
AllinformationwillbebilingualwithEnglish&Spanishcontenttoinspirehands-on interactionforallagesandabilities.
7.Ifit'sinteractive,howwillweknowwhattodo?Arethereinstructions?
Eachdisplayisdesignedtoencouragecuriosityandexploration,soinstructionsand guidelineswillbeminimal Wewanttoleaveroomforeverychild(andcaregiver)toplay andlearnintheirownway–tobecomeaQuestioneer! Staffwillalwaysbenearbyforassistanceandquestions.groupforeachbranch.Please usethistagforallcustomerquestions,interactions,andfeedbackabouttheexhibit!
7.Iheardtherewasapassport.Whatisitfor?
ThepassportencouragesvisitorstoengagewiththeexhibitsatbothWestandSantori. CompletedpassportscanbesubmittedtotheChildren’sServicesdeskforachanceto winagrandprizeaftertheexhibitcloses!
8.DoyouhaveQuestioneersbooksthatIcancheckout?
WedohaveacollectionofQuestioneersbooks,I’mhappytolookatwhatisavailable–doyouhaveaparticularcharacteryouareinterestedin?Sincethisisapopulartimefor thesematerials,ifwedon’thavewhatyouarelookingforthenwecansearchwithour InterlibraryLoanpartnersoraddyoutothewaitlistandhaveyoucontactedwhenit’s ready! VegaCatalogSearch:“Questioneers”
9.Whyisthisexhibitimportant?
Thisexhibitalignswithourmissiontoprovideinclusive,educationalexperiences: MakingSTEMlearningapproachableandengaging
Highlightingdiversecharactersandperspectives
Encouragingchildrentoseethemselvesasthinkers,creators,andproblem-solvers
10.Howdoesthisexhibitsupportourcommunity?
Theexhibitmeetscommunityneedsby:
Providingaccessible,hands-onlearningexperiences
Offeringbilingualcontenttoreachabroaderaudience
Reducingbarriersthatmaypreventunderrepresentedandunderservedyouthfrom engagingwithSTEM
Creatingopportunitiesforfamilyengagementandsharedlearning
Supportingthedevelopmentofconfidence,persistence,andcriticalthinkingskills
LoggingFeedback:Thereisanew“Questioneers_Exhibit”taginGimlet,locatedinthe focusedtaggroupforeachbranch.Pleaseusethistagforallcustomerquestions, interactions,andfeedbackabouttheexhibit!
Questions:PleasereachouttoMonicaBoyerorMiriamMeza-Gottowithcustomer questionsnotansweredhere.
WestBranch Children’sArea
Parkinglot
ROSIEREVERE(ENGINEERING)
CharacterStandee
EXPERIENCES
Thing-a-ma-bobtable
FlightTube
AirplaneLauncher
AirplaneLauncher
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Tinkering
Invention
FailureasLearning
Imagination
TrialandError
ProblemSolving
CauseandEffect
EarlyMath
Engineering
Thing-a-ma-bobtablewithcardboard&craftfoamshapes
Childrenwilluseavarietyofmaterialsincludingpaper,craftfoamshapes,and othercardboardtocreatething-a-ma-bobstotestintheFlightTube
Flighttubewithscarves&foamballs
AlongsidetheThing-a-ma-bobTable,childrenwillfindavarietyofscarves,balls, andotherreadytoflymaterialstotestintheFlightTube.
Airplanelauncherwithyardsticks&printerpaper
Afterfoldingtheirownpaperairplanes,childrenwillbeabletotestlaunchtheir creation Yardsticksandothermeasuringdevicesareavailabletotesthowfar theirplaneswillfly.
CharacterStandeeofRosieReverefromRosieRevere,EngineerbyAndreaBeaty
Tasks:
Cleanupandre-setspace
Re-stockpaperforairplanelauncher
Pickupscarves()&foamballs ()andputthemintocontainers
Checknumber&conditionofmaterials
KeepRosieRevereexperiencesinthesamepartofchildren’sarea
FLIGHTTUBE
Verticalairtube allowsforlooseparts experimentation Ruleralongthe verticalaxis
AIRPLANELAUNCHER
Launcher mechanismsends paperairplanes soaring Launchertableto housemeasuring sticksandpaper
EXAMPLEFLOORPLAN
AARONSLATER(ART)
Flowertablewithplasticflowerpetalsandstemspieces
EXPERIENCES
MasterpieceEasel
PetalStories
FlowerTable
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Child-Adult
Connections
Listening
Questioning
Visioning
Gross/FineMotor practice
Understandingdifferent waystolearn
Aaron’sFlowerTableallowsvisitorstobuild,stack,andsortwithflowerpetalandstem pieces.Flowerscanbe“planted”inthebasepiecestocreateagarden. MasterpieceEaselwithmagnets
Aaron’sMasterpieceeaselencouragesguesttopaintadigitalpaintingusingrealtools. Themagneticboardfeaturesmagnetswhichcanbeusedtomakewordsorpictures PetalStorieswith2buckets
Aaron’sPetalStoriesencourageschildrentostorytellthroughimagesandcolorsby usingindividualflowerpetalsas“pages”oftheirstories.
CharacterStandeeofAaronSlaterfromAaronSlater,IllustratorbyAndreaBeaty
Tasks:
Cleanupandre-setspace
Pickupflowertablepiecesfromfloor,flowerpetals()andflowerstems()
Removepetalstorypiecesandputthemintobuckets
MakesuremagnetsareonMasterpieceEasel
Checknumber&conditionofmaterials
KeepAaronSlaterexperiencesinthesamepartofchildren’sarea
PetalStories
FlowerTable
MasterpieceEasel
Buildabeautiful gardenorbouquet bystackingand sorting
PETALSTORIES
Tellyourstoryusing flowerpetalswith colors,words,and images
Changeandswap flowerfaceemotions toaidinstorytelling
Petalsstoredin scenicbaskets.
MASTERPIECEEASEL
Double-sided activity
Writeanddrawwith digitalMasterpiece
Createwithmagnets
SantoriFloorPlan Atrium
Benton Street SecurityDesk
River Street
ADATWIST(SCIENCE)
Smell-o-matic
GreatThinkingChair
EXPERIENCES
WreakHavoc
Bookshelf
Smell-o-matic
GreatThinkingChair
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Curiousity
Experimentation
ProblemSolving
Thinking&Reflection
Implementingthe ScientificMethod
AskingQuestions
Math(Counting& Measuring)
Explorationofdifferent senses
WreakHavocBookshelf
ChildrenwillbeabletoexperimentwithcolormixingonAda’sWreakHavocwall.Asetof bottlesisthecontrolcolorandaseachdifferentcoloristouched,childrenwillbeableto seehoweachcolormixeswithtwoothercolors Whenallsixbuttonsarepressedwithin acertainamountoftimethebottleseruptinanexplosionoflightandcolor.
Smell-o-maticWall/TablewithRecipeMaker
Ada’sSmell-o-maticMachineconsistsof12scentjarsandadigitalrecipemakerto recordtheresultsofchildren’sexperiments.Childrenmaymixuptofourscents.Once theysettleonarecipe,theymayentertheirresultsinthedigitalrecipemaker.Theycan themcomparetheiringredientstoothergueststoseewhatarethemostpopular ingredientsandreviewotherrecipeswhichtheycanthenrecreateinthescentmachine.
GreatThinkingChairwithFootStool
Ada’sGreatThinkingChairoffersguestsanopportunityforreadingandquietreflection inAda’sLivingRoom.BooksfromTheQuestioneersBookSeriesarefeaturedineasy reachofthechairnexttotheworkingclockfromAda’sLivingRoom.
RotatingBookshelfwithBooks
Tasks:
Cleanupandre-setspace
Putall12jarsbackintoholderonSmell-o-matictable
Makesurebooks()arestillonbookshelf
Checknumber&conditionofmaterials
KeepAdaTwistexperiencesinthesameareaintheatrium
WreakHavoc Bookshelf
SOFIAVALDEZ(LEADERSHIP)
RallySignStation
CityHall
Character Standee Talkback Station
Lectern&stool
CityHall,Lectern,&Stool
EXPERIENCES
CityHallTalkback Station
RallySignStation Lectern
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Advocacy
Social-Emotional
HelpingtheCommunity
BuildingSelfConfidence
CityHalloffersourgueststheopportunitytostandatthelecternandgiveaspeech aboutsomethingtheyaremostpassionateabout.Weencouragechildrentoraisetheir voicestosharewhattheyfeelmostpassionateabout
RallySignStationwithWritingTablets
ChildrencancreatetheirowndigitalRallySigntocarryinfrontofCityHallorthroughthe exhibit.ThisisanopportunitytojoinSofiainspeakingupandadvocatingfortheir communities.
TalkbackStationwithWritingTablets&Desk
Childrenareinvitedtogivevoicetowaystobecommunityhelpersonreusabledigital boards.PromptsonAbuelo’srollingpinencouragedrawings,poetry,orstories.
CharacterStandeeofSofiaValdezfromSofiaValdez,FuturePrezbyAndreaBeaty
Tasks:
Cleanupandre-setspace
Clearwritingtabletswhenneeded
Checknumber&conditionofmaterials
KeepSofiaValdezexperiencesinthesameareainatrium
RALLYSIGNSTATION
Writingtabletsfor messaging
Signholdersprovidea displayplacefor tabletstobemounted Scenicmuralonsixfootwall
CITYHALL&LECTERN
ScenicCityHallarchon six-footwall
Lecternandstoolfor makingaspeech
TALKBACKSTATION
EXAMPLEFLOORPLAN
Writingdeskwith promptsonaspinner rollerpin
Writingtabletsfor respondingtoprompts Displayshelftoadd ideastoacommunity gallery
Six-foottallscenic mural
IGGYPECK(ARCHITECTURE)
TwoBridge-Building Tables(photoof prototype)
EXPERIENCES
Twotablesforbridge andcitybuilding
PancakeArch
Construction
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Creativity
Planning
PerseveranceGross/FineMotor practice
IggyStandee
SpatialAwareness
ProblemSolving
PancakeArch Construction
2Bridge-BuildingTables
Visitorscanbuildbridgesandcityscapesatthetieredtables thetallestoneatADA height andtheshortestonemoretoddler-friendly.Questioneerscharactersare includedtobebroughtalongontheadventure!Includesavarietyofblocksto encouragebridgesandbuildings.
PancakeArch
Makealarger-than-lifePancakeArchwith2’stackingpancakes……Orplayandstack withtabletop-sizepancakes.
CharacterStandeeofIggyPeckfromIggyPeck,ArchitectbyAndreaBeaty
Tasks:
Cleanupandre-setspace
PutblocksandQuestioneerscharactersontables
Takedownpancakestructuresifnochildrenarecurrentlyplaying
Checklocation&conditionofmaterials
KeepIggyPeckexperiencesinthesameareaintheatrium
BRIDGE-BUILDING TABLES
Two(2)tablesat differentheightsfor youngerandolder children-oneatADA height.
Avarietyofblocksto encouragebridgesand buildings
Asetofsintra Questioneers charactersforchildren tointeractwithonthe tables
EXAMPLEFLOORPLAN
PANCAKEARCH
2'pancakesforstackingandplay onthefloor OR
Smalltabletoppancakesfor stackingandarchbuilding
YOUNGQUESTIONEERS
Cheese Kiosk
EXPERIENCES
BeeHive
PicnicSortingTable
LoosePartsPlay
CheeseKiosk
LEARNING
OBJECTIVES
Sorting
GrossMotorSkills
FineMotorSkills
Creativity
PicnicTablewithplayfruit&vegetables,plates,andasetofcheckerednapkins
Eventheyoungestofvisitorscansort,count,orpretendsnackonplayfruitsand vegetables.Thespaceincludesatinypicnictable,platesandcheckerednapkinssetfor apicnic.
CheeseKioskwithplaybreadandcheese
Childrenscancrawlinsidethelarger-than-lifecheesewedge,whichisstockedwith breadsandcheesetotradeandpretendplay.
BeeHivewith16colorfulcrochetbees
ABeeHiveandsetofcolorfulbeesallowstinyvisitorsandtheircaregiverstocount,sort, andtuckawaybeefriendsintotheircubbies.
LoosePartsShelfwithstoragebins,rubberducks,rocketstackers,andplayfood
GuestshavethesenseofenteringCitizen’sParkwhentheyseethepark’sarchway. Loosepartsintheareacanbestashedinthebookshelftowhichthearchisattached.
Tasks:
Cleanupandre-setspace
PutitemsintostoragebinsofCitizens’Parkshelfifnochildrenarecurrentlyplayingin exhibit(playfood,picnicitems,andanyadditionaltoys)
Putall16beesbackintobeehive
Checknumber&conditionofmaterials
KeepYoungQuestioneersexperiencesinthesameareaintheatrium
PicnicTable
PICNICTABLE
Children’spicnictable
Setofnapkins
Playfruit&vegetables
BEEHIVE
16crochetbeesof variouscolors
Sortbycolorand placeincubbies
Pretendplayatyour picnic
CHEESEKIOSK
Alarger-than-life cheesekiosktoclimb insideof
Sort,trade,orpretend toplaywithcheeses andbreads
LOOSEPARTSSHELF
Storageforlooseparts: Fruits&vegetables
Plasticdinnerplates Rocketstacker
Rubberducks
Storagebins
MaterialsCheck
Pleasemakenoteonthespreadsheetonthebackifmaterialsare missingordamaged.Foranydamagedtablets,pleaseletstaff(or forstaff,Monica)knowASAP.
RosieRevere
Scarves(),foamballs() Yardsticks
AaronSlater Flowerpetals(),flowerstems() Petalstorypieces(),buckets(2) Easelmagnets()
Example: 1 crochet bee, Young Questioneers, 5/1
MaterialsCheck
Pleasemakenoteonthespreadsheetonthebackifmaterialsaremissingor damaged.Foranydamagedtablets,pleaseletstaff(orforstaff,Monica)knowASAP.
AdaTwist
Scentjars(12)
SofiaValdez
Lectern&stool(1ofeach)
Writingtablets()
YoungQuestioneers
Crochetbees(16)
Storagebins()
Playbread(),playcheese(),playplates(),playnapkins(),play fruit(),playvegetables()
Rubberducks()
Rocketstackers()
Ex: 1 missing crochet bee, Young Questioneers, 5/1
Pleasemarkatally(ingroupsof5)foreverypersoninteractingwithexhibit.
Pleasemarkatally(ingroupsof5)foreverypersoninteractingwithexhibit.
Pleasemarkatally(ingroupsof5)foreverypersoninteractingwithexhibit.
Pleasemarkatally(ingroupsof5)foreverypersoninteractingwithexhibit.
