Culture | May. 2026
NEWSWORTHY: MAY 2026
By Dustin O’Regan
FLEURS DE VILLES
The global flower show sensation Fleurs de Villes returns to 900 North Michigan Shops with the Chicago debut of Fleurs de Villes FLORA, an all-new, fashion-forward celebration of spring couture in bloom. Running May 21 to 25 and open to the public, FLORA showcases the extraordinary talent of Chicago’s floral designers through a curated collection of floral installations, including their iconic fresh floral mannequins. Inspired by the energy and renewal of spring, designers transform flowers into original couture creations—where fashion, art, and nature collide. Visitors are invited to wander through a vibrant world of color, creativity, and craftsmanship, experiencing floral artistry from a bold, modern perspective. Don’t miss this joyful, immersive way to welcome the season in the heart of the city. For more information, visit fleursdevilles.com.
NIGHTTIME ON THE NORTH SHORE
Goodnight, Chicago’s North Shore is a cozy, rhyming bedtime story that gently tucks in the region’s favorite places. From Wilmette’s iconic Bahá’í House of Worship to Glencoe’s gardens and Highland Park’s sandy shores, each page celebrates familiar places with warmth and wonder. The bite-sized local history highlights from each town are perfect for sparking curiosity beyond bedtime. A bonus map of Chicago’s North Shore pinpoints every featured landmark, inviting families to turn story time into a real-life adventure. For even more screen-free fun, pair the book with its coordinating coloring book, ready to be brought to life with color. Order at TDTbooks.com or shop locally at Little Elm (Winnetka), Yellow Bird (Wilmette), and Lake Forest Book Store. For more information, visit taylordtomlinson.com/goodnight-chicago-north-shore.
LIGHT, STORIES, WONDER
Inspire a love of reading with this magical storyteller that transforms story time into an immersive, screenfree adventure. Perfect for playtime, travel, bedtime bonding rituals, or independent quiet time, Luna is a portable three-in-one device that functions as a story projector—allowing children to watch, listen and read along as stories come to life with beautiful illustrations and gentle motion graphics—an audio and music player for stories and songs, and a night light that eases little ones into a stress-free bedtime with soothing lights and lullabies. Developed by children’s publishing experts, Luna delivers trusted, educational content for children ages 3 to 7. Each Content Character provides 30 to 70 minutes of edutainment, from original stories to preschool favorites like Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, PAW Patrol, and Sesame Street. The Starter Set includes the Luna StoryTime Projector with carry handle, Owl Content Character (five classic stories and five songs), and “Nest” stand. For more information, visit lunastorytime.com.
LOVE TO SPEAK
Former Oprah Winfrey Show audience producer Sally Lou Loveman—once the exuberant force behind the show’s legendary pre-show warm-up—announces her debut children’s picture book, Livy Lou Lovely Loves to Speak. Inspired by her own childhood, the story follows a young girl learning to quiet self-doubt, trust her inner voice, and step into her confidence. Loveman, founder of the speaking platform LOVESPEAKS and author of SPEAK: Love Your Story, Your Audience Is Waiting, has entertained more than half a million people from the Oprah stage and now helps clients connect to their stories and speak without fear. With Livy Lou Lovely Loves to Speak, she turns her focus to young readers, encouraging self-expression and reminding children that their voices matter. Published by Mascot KIDS!, a division of Amplify Publishing Group, the book is available through major retailers. For more information, visit lovespeaks.com.
