The Newark and Elizabeth Public Libraries were filled with laughter, curiosity and the magic of storytelling as young scholars gathered for a special book reading event celebrating Black History Month. Families from the community joined in for an afternoon of imagination and fun with an engaging guest reader leading the way.

The event featured Sherri Smith, General Manager at Teterboro Airport who bought the story of Bessie Coleman to life with animated voices and expressive storytelling. To honor Black History Month, the book selection, “Flying Free, How Bessie Coleman’s Dream Took Flight” by Karyn Parsons featured themes of resilience, culture, and achievement. We later shared moments in building paper airplanes and flying them across the room!

Events like these reflect the agency’s commitment to being a good neighbor and highlighting the importance of the libraries as a community hub to inspire future generations and promote civic awareness.