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Now that April's rain has gone away, it's time to tell stories about flowers and plants!

Kids ages 4-14 will learn the proper way to greet dogs and cats to avoid bites and scratches. There will even be a dog at the class to allow the kids to practice. Presented by the APA of Missouri.

Classes are free and will be held at the following times and locations of the St. Louis County Library:

Monday, April 6 at 6:30 p.m. at the Oak Bend Branch.

Watch the best robotics teams from around with world face off in a rock 'em, sock 'em competition with homemade robots. Teams compete for top honors in design excellence, competitive play and sportsmanship.

Events include the FIRST Robotics Competition, FIRST Tech Challenge World Championships and te FIRST LEGO League World Festival. Also featured is the Junior FIRST LEGO League World Festival Expo. 

All events are free and open to the public.

Competition times vary.  Events are held at the Edward Jones Dome, Union Station and America’s Center.

Tour the Challenger Learning Center to celebrate Earth Day. Preview the newest simulated space mission at the center: Earth Odyssey, and take part in hands-on activities, like the new Wind Turbine Design Challenge workshop, then enjoy snacks, environmental activites and giveaways.

2 to 6 p.m. Free, but registration is requested.

With the help of the St. Louis Modern Chinese School and Chinese Culture and Education Services, the Magic House will host games and sports popular with children in China today. 

Kids can learn to spin a Diabolo, inspired by a Chinese yoyo, kick around a shuttlecock in a round of Chinese hacky sack, pick up a games of pink pong or skip a rubber band as they jump up, down and all around for a game of Chinese jump rope.

Author Deborah Zemke will read from her new book, The Case of the Missing Carrot Cake during this free story time at Left Bank Books. In the story, when food goes missing on Ed's farm, Detectives Wilcox and Griswold do what it take to track down the thieves. In this case, Miss Rabbit's carrot cake has disappeared. Has it been stolen? Eaten? Or both? And who did it?

10:30 a.m. at Left Bank Books in the Central West End. Free.

This special story time features David Backes, St. Louis Blues captain and co-founder, along with his wife Kelly, of Athletes for Animals. Backes will read Oh, The Pets You Can Get by Dr. Seuss and talk to children about his compassion for animals, the importance of pet adoption and responsible pet ownership.

The  Waldorf School of St. Louis has partnered with Childgrove Dancers to host Family Contra Dances, a communal style of folk dancing that is fun and easy to learn. No experience is necessary.

Children and adults engage in simple movements which encourage concentration, coordination and sequencing, all while having fun. This is a time-honored American pastime combining movement and social connection with beautiful live music. Best for families with children ages 6 and up. All are welcome.

Bring your toddler or preschool-age little ones to Whole Foods Market for this free Mommy and Me Spanish class with Montesorri Bilingual Academy. You'll enjoy songs, stories, games and a snack. 

Taught by Veronica Greene of the Montessori Bilingual Academy. The class will be held in the Kids Club Play Area.

Free, reservations are not required. 10 a.m. to 10:40 a.m. at Whole Foods Market in Town and Country.

More information: wholefoodsmarket.com

St. Louis Bicycle Works is partnering with the Clayton School District to host a bike drive to collect adult and children's bicycles. Donations will benefit children and young adults in the St. Louis area by giving them an opportunity to receive a bike.

Bring your family to The Magic House for Fitness Fun Fridays where kids can stretch their muscles and their minds. Visitors wear pedometers and find out just how much they move while playing throughout the museum. Each month features a different theme and fitness experience.

Navigating the abundance of conflicting information regarding childhood vaccinations can be daunting. In this free presentation for parents, Dr. Rachel Orscheln, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease at Washington University and St.

Enjoy an evening of art, music and culture in Grand Center the first Friday of event month. Take a guided tour of the museum, enjoy live music and refreshments. A special Spanish language tour is being offered tonight in collaboration with the International Institute. Families are welcome.

Free. 5 to 9 p.m. at the Contemporary Art Museum.

More information: camstl.org

The Saint Louis Science Center has partnered with Tau Beta Pi - a national Engineering Honors Society - to provide STEM engineering-based programs for children in grades 3 through 6. MindSET is a national initiative let by Tau Beta to help students become interested in STEM careers by organizing programs that are both fun and educational.

The St. Louis County Library Foundation presents a special story time and panel discussion of the new book Painting for Peace in Ferguson by St.

The Challenger Learning Center, known for offering 'out-of-this-world' science learning for kids, is offering Family Workshops this spring. Workshops are designed for parents and children to work together on aerospace, aviation and engineering-themed projects.

Workshops include all supplies and materials to build a rocket, robot or model airplane. Spaces are limited and reservations are required.

Beavers are always busy, it seems. They are very industrious and seem to never stop cutting down trees and building all kinds of neat stuff. Beavers are by far the largest rodents in North America, and a main reason that St. Louis was established here 250 years ago.

Kids ages 6-12 can learn more about the beaver, conservation efforts for them and why they are thriving in Missouri.

9:30-11 a.m. Free, but reservations are required.

At August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area. 

Bring your little ones to Rockwoods Reservation to explore the underground world of earthworms. Be prepared to get messy, because they'll dig in the soil and touch living worms!

11 a.m. to noon. Free, but reservations are required.

More information: mdc.mo.gov

This is a good time of year to celebrate furry little animal babies. Aren’t they cute? They wake up, dash around, leap and jump, play hard with each other, and then cuddle up and fall asleep again. While their parents feed, protect and teach them, the babies are learning about the world around them.

Bring your kids, age 3 and up, to celebrate animal babies, and make a furry little animal to take home.

9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Free. At Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center.

Peanut the turtle is a female red-eared slider who is famous for her figure. Her shape is the result of litter – a plastic six pack ring that she crawled through and got stuck in as a young turtle. After being rescued in 1993, she has since become the mascot for the “No More Trash” campaign.

Peanut now lives at Powder Valley Nature Center where she continues to spread the word about littering.