KINGSTON — Many of the little ones at Kingston Cooperative Preschool can tell you about the habits of the tree frog, what a walking stick insect eats (blackberry brambles), and when certain plants in the school garden are expected to sprout.

They’ll add book-making and the marine environment to their growing knowledge April 30.

Thanks to a grant from the Target Corporation, the preschool’s first Family Reading Night of the year will feature wildlife author and scientist Ron Hirschi. Hirschi’s presentation will begin at 6:30 p.m. and is open to the public.

Hirschi will read one of his books and share a book-making activity with preschoolers, teacher Debbie Manos said. Each child will receive a copy of one of Hirschi’s books, thanks to the grant.

Hirschi lives in Port Hadlock but is from Port Gamble. He is the author of books on the ocean, the environment, climate change and endangered species. He frequently visits schools for hands-on environment-related writing and art activities.

Manos said this is the first twice-annual Family Reading Night that will feature a local author.

“We want to foster that love of reading, and to show that books don’t have to be about stories we make up,” Manos said. “His books are based on his background in wildlife ecology, and we do a lot of nature studies in our classrooms.”

Kingston Cooperative Preschool is located at 11128 NE Maine St., Kingston.