FARGO — To commemorate the 25th anniversary of the historic 1997 flooding in the Red River Valley, the Fargo Public Library is hosting a series of kid-friendly events related to local author Elizabeth Raum's 2021 middle-grade novel "Storm Warning" .
The project is called Red River Valley Kids Read and will be hosted at the public libraries in Fargo, Grand Forks, Moorhead, Wahpeton and West Fargo. Children throughout the area can read the book to learn how a fictional 12-year-old boy named North handles the challenges associated with the real-life flooding that happened in Ada, Minn., where the novel is set.
The events include a photo exhibit in the Main Library that will be available April 1-30 and is offered in partnership with Forum Communications. Another event called "Water Water Everywhere" is set for 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 2, and will feature hands-on activities and water demonstrations. The event is geared toward kids ages 5 and old, and registration is not required. Officials from the U.S. Army Corp or Engineers, the Cass County Soil Conservation District, the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Weather Service will participate in the demonstrations.
Everyone is invited to a panel discussion "Remembering the 1997 Red River Valley Flood" at the Fargo City Hall Commission Room at 2 p.m. on Sunday, April 3.
Second graders and older are invited to a screening of "The Raging Red", a film about the record-breaking flood, which will be shown at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 7 at the Main Library. WDAY Meteorologist John Wheeler will share how the weather contributed to the disaster.
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Finally, Raum will visit the Main Library at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 21 at the Main Library to talk about her experiences of the 1997 flood and her inspiration to write the fictional story . A former teacher and librarian, Raum has written more than 160 books and splits her time between Fargo and Greeneville, Tennesee.
The project is supported in part by funding from the North Dakota Council on the Arts, according to a press release.
Registration is not required for any of these event.
