By Erika Kosin
Rowan Public Library
Children’s biographies are usually seen as a source of facts and dates on historical figures such as Abraham Lincoln for reports or tidbits on popular musicians and sports heroes that children are interested in.
What sometimes gets overlooked are the biographies that tell interesting stories about people’s lives that took place throughout history. Many of these interesting stories about people can not only be found with biographies, but also with the picture books, especially if the story is simply told with many illustrations.
Some of these books may not be about someone famous, but rather about a person who knew someone famous or just had an interesting life.
Whether basic or in-depth, these stories may pique a child’s interest, causing them to research a topic previously unknown to them.
Some of the interesting stories about real people that can be found at the Rowan Public Library include:
• “Mary Smith” by A. U’Ren — Ever wonder what people did before alarm clocks? How did they get to work or school on time? This story about Mary Smith tells of how the townspeople in one English village made sure they got up on time using a pea shooter.
• “The Magical Garden of Claude Monet,” “Picasso and the Girl with a Ponytail” and “Camille and the Sunflowers: A Story about Vincent Van Gogh,” by Laurence Anholt — This series of three books contains stories about young people and their encounters with famous artists. All inspired by real people, these are great story books for a child’s first look at some famous artists.
• “The Day-Glo Brothers” by Chris Barton — Have you ever seen a traffic cone with that bright orange color? This fun biography tells the story of Bob and Joe Switzer, who invented fluorescent colors and how these colors changed the way we live today.
• “Stone Girl, Bone Girl: The Story of Mary Anning” by Laurence Anholt — Ever find a fossil hidden in the earth? Mary Anning discovered one of the most important fossils, the great ichthyosaur, when she was 12 years old in Lyme Regis in Dorset, England. Learn about her path to discovery, starting with her surviving a lightning strike at 15 months old.
Computer classes: Classes are free. Sessions are approximately 90 minutes. Class size is limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Dates and times at all locations are subject to change without notice.
Headquarters — Jan. 24, 7 p.m., Fun with Flickr.
South — Jan. 20, 11 a.m., Introduction to Excel.
Book Bites Club: South only; Jan. 25, 6:30 p.m., “The Zookeeper’s Wife,” by Diane Ackerman. Book discussion groups for adults and children are at South Rowan Regional Library and meet the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public. There is a discussion of the book and light refreshments at each meeting. For more information please call 704-216-8229.
Teen program: Come dressed as your favorite character, screen select Anime titles and create Manga Shrinky Dink Key rings all while sampling some Japanese treats.
Headquarters, Tuesday, 5:30-7 p.m.
East, Jan. 24, 5:30-7 p.m.
South, Jan. 25, 5:30-7 p.m.
Library closings:Monday, all RPL locations closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
Displays: Headquarters — Looking Glass Collective, Moon Eye stone artifacts; South — SRHS art class; East — Rubber stamping by Glenda Trexler.
Literacy: Call the Rowan County Literacy Council at 704-216-8266 for more information on teaching or receiving literacy tutoring for English speakers or for those for whom English is a second language.