Activity
Community Day: Family Story Time and Activities
Saturday, July 12, 2025, 2025
The Driehaus Museum invites families to a joyful celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community featuring author and artist Laura Smetana for a series of three hands-on demonstrations based on her book, My Love for You is Like a Garden.
Program:
11:00am – 11:30am
Storytime & Draw-Along (Preschool–Kindergarten)
Join Laura for a warm and interactive read-aloud of My Love for You is Like a Garden, followed by a hands-on demonstration of her signature cut-paper collage technique. Young artists will create a vibrant garden scene alongside L during a fun and age-appropriate draw-along session.
11:45 am- 12:30 pm Illustration, Inspiration, & Draw-Along (Grades K–5)
Discover the inspiration behind My Love for You is Like a Garden as Laura shares her story of resilience, creativity, and nature’s role in the creation of My Love for You is Like a Garden—especially how a tornado shaped her art and garden. Kids will get a behind-the-scenes look at her illustration process and participate in a guided draw-along followed by a Q&A.
1:00pm – 2:30pm Cut-Paper Collage Cardmaking Table (All Ages)
Bring your creativity to life with Laura at this open crafting table! Learn how to design your own unique cut-paper collage greeting card inspired by the art featured in My Love for You is Like a Garden and our current exhibition on the art of Rory McEwen. People of all ages are encouraged to make a card for a loved one or for Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care, the principal charity of The Chicago Highland Games, one of Driehaus Museum’s partners for our current exhibition.
This is a drop-in activity and requires no advance reservation.
Please note: This is not a drop-off event. A parent or guardian must accompany their child(ren) for the full duration of each program—thank you for helping us ensure a safe and enriching experience for all.
Spaces are limited—advance registration is strongly encouraged.
In addition to the special programs below, our latest exhibition is free to explore, with a required 1:1 adult-to-child ratio to ensure safety and an enjoyable experience for all visitors. If larger groups need accommodation, please reach out in advance to info@driehausmuseum.org
About the Author:
Laura Smetana is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. She loves creating bright, joyful cut-paper watercolor collages inspired by nature. Her latest author-illustrated book, My Love for You Is Like the Night Sky, is the companion to her Kirkus-starred, My Love for You Is Like a Garden, which was named a Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2023. She is also the author of Ice Cream with Grandpa: A Loving Story for Kids About Alzheimer’s & Dementia (illustrated by Elisabete B. P. de Moraes), and Little Squiggle’s Lake Adventure, which she co-authored with her son. When she isn’t writing or painting, Laura can be found inspiring kids to create their own books at school author visits, teaching collage art, gardening in her sunhat, and visiting the Isle of Skye in Scotland each summer with her family. Laura lives in the Chicago suburbs, and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, the Downers Grove Artists’ Guild, and The Morton Arboretum’s Nature Artists’ Guild. Visit her at www.laurasmetana.com.