Staff report
Youngsters played games on the lawn, jumped for joy in a bounce house and enjoyed free hot dogs Saturday at Livingstone College.
And each child got two books to take home and feed their imagination with stories of history, animals and adventures.
An estimated 300 children attended the Children’s Book Festival, a joint venture of the Rowan Public Library and Livingstone College.
Library staff members and Livingstone sorority and fraternity members put on the book festival, carrying on a tradition started nearly 20 years ago.
Deborah F. Johnson, assistant vice president for advancement at Livingstone, was among the college staff members participating.
The festival is open to children ages 3-12 throughout the county, but most of those who attend live near the college.
“We gave away all the books we had,” said Erin Allen, youth services supervisor for the library. “We gave away about 600 books.”
The Friends of the Rowan Public Library bought 500 books for the giveaway. Additional books came from the Carnegie Library.
Friends of the Library, including Carolyn Sadler and President Fran Burding, worked to solicit donations and assistance from area businesses.
Food Lion donated hot dogs and both Cheerwine and Coca-Cola provided free drinks.
Livingstone students helped out with the food and entertaining the youngsters.
Obakunle Akinlana, a professional storyteller, enthralled the children with African stories and music.
Roary the Reading Tiger, the library’s mascot, and Blue Bear, the Rowan Smart Start mascot, took a few rolls and tumbles on the campus green with the youngsters.