From Itsy Bitsy Spider to Anansi: Tales and Nursery Rhymes Around the World
| When | Thursday, February 19, 2026 from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM |
|---|---|
| Where | International Studies Reading Room Hatcher Library North, First Floor, Room 110 View building informationView floor plan |
| Event type | Reception/Open House |
| Series | Third Thursdays at the Library |
This month we’re exploring the foundations of language, but we don’t mean grammar and syntax. Come join the International Studies team as we feature many of the first stories children read or hear in their own languages. From nursery rhymes and poems to tales and songs, these elements of playful language often stretch beyond language itself and impart important cultural values and beliefs.
Join us (on the 1st floor of Hatcher) for Third Thursdays at the Library, a themed monthly open house where we share materials from our collections. While you’re here, pick up a passport and collect a stamp from each of the four Third Thursday Open Houses — Asia Library, Clark Library, International Studies, and Special Collections Research Center — to win a prize!
Anansi the Spider looks at his reflection in the water, from the book Anansi written by Brian Gleeson and illustrated by Steven Guarnaccia, 1992.
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Library contact
Mary Christine Lawrence · lawrenm@umich.edu
Library events are free and open to the public, and we are committed to making them accessible to attendees. If you anticipate needing accommodations to participate, please notify the listed contact with as much notice as possible.