More than 85 million children around the world learned to read English from the Dick and Jane primers between 1930, when they were first published, and 1965, when they fell out of favor because the fictional family didn’t represent the multicultural makeup of the American family. Now the books are collector’s items. The original artwork from the primers, as well as vintage photographs of the real-life models who donned outfits from Sears, Roebuck and Co. to pose for the artist, are on display in an exhibit called “Dick and Jane: Illustrations of An American Education,” which runs through June 9 in the Special Collections Exhibit of the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State St.; call 312-747-4740.
– Nancy Maes
WINDY CITY MINI-GOLF
If golfing the ball from Buckingham Fountain to the John Hancock Center to the Indiana Dunes seems like a feat reserved for PGA Tour power-driver John Daly, think again. Those landmarks — plus a slice through a piece of Chicago-style pizza and a putt past Mrs. O’Leary’s cows — are available to miniature golfers of all ages at the Crystal Gardens at Navy Pier, where the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago has packed a mother lode of local attractions into 18 elaborate holes of fundraising fun. The cost is $5 per person; hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday; call 312-939-8622.
– Patrick Kampert
DANCE ON CELLULOID
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The Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St., is presenting a film series called “ChicagoDance: Community Cadence,” which explores how dance energizes everyday life and helps people identify with their culture or define their individual identity. The free screenings at 5 p.m. on Tuesdays in April include “Fame” on April 9, “Saturday Night Fever” on April 16, “Dirty Dancing” on April 23 and “Sarafina!” on April 30. Call 312-744-6630.
– Nancy Maes
SHEAR EDUCATION
In a demonstration at Kline Creek Farm, a sheep shearer will use both his legs to hold the animal still, the way the Australians do, so his hands can be free to do the shearing. He will show how the wool used to be removed 100 years ago with a pair of over-sized scissors, then later with a hand-cranked generator producing electricity to power the blades, and how it is done today in a matter of a few minutes with electric shears. The free demonstrations take place from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Saturday and April 13, Kline Creek Farm, County Farm Road north of Geneva Road in Winfield. Call 708-876-5900.
– Nancy Maes