By Melody A. Moxley
Rowan Public Library
While most of us may be wondering (due to the heat) whether the summer will ever be over, we also know that when the season does end it will still be too soon.
Rowan Public Library is offering more summer fun with the extension of Family Movie Nights into August: That means good movies, free popcorn and lemonade, and a cool room in which to enjoy it all on Tuesday, Aug. 2 and Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 6:30.
ěDiary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick Rulesî will be shown on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 6:30. This film, just released on DVD, is the sequel to ěDiary of a Wimpy Kid,î shown at RPLís Family Movie Night series earlier this summer, and is based on the book by Jeff Kinney.
The Wimpy Kid books are immensely popular with kids, and the movies have been, too. The reviewer for the LA Times notes that ěa youth-centered franchise without superheroes, magic or vampires is a rare thing these days, which imbues the Ö ëDiary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rulesí with a strange kind of íburb-bound, kid-powered charm. Hot on the heels of last yearís first movie foray into Jeff Kinneyís rabidly popular book series, the sequel dives headfirst into the turbulent dynamic between hapless, undersized tween diary-keeper Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) and his too-cool-for-school older brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick), who seems to tolerate Greg only when torturing him.î
Then, on Tuesday, Aug. 16 at 6:30 (again, with free popcorn and lemonade), RPL will show ěCloudy with a Chance of Meatballs,î the animated film based on the book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett. Yes, the movie is based on a picture book, so the story has been expanded a bit, but the concept is a lot of fun for all: Life is delicious in the town of Chewandswallow where it rains soup and juice, snows mashed potatoes, and blows storms of hamburgers ó until the weather takes a turn for the worse.
The Washington Post movie reviewer predicts that ěany moviegoers possessed of funny bones will laugh their fool heads off.î The reviewer also lets us know that this is a great film for adults as well as kids, given that ěthe filmís message to kids is blunt but welcome: Itís great to be smart. And with scenes of comic mayhem as funny as those in any adult comedy released (recently) it helpfully reminds parents that the lesson holds true for movies, too.î
Come and enjoy the last part of summer with Rowan Public Library at our family movie nights ó and pick up books and DVDs to check out and take home with you while you are here.
Computer classes: There are no computer classes in August.
Book Bites Club ó Aug. 30, 6:30 p.m., ěHouse Rulesî by Jodi Picoult. Book discussion groups for both adults and children are held at South Rowan Regional Library the last Tuesday of each month. The group is open to the public and anyone is free to join at any time. There is a discussion of the book, as well as light refreshments at each meeting. For more information please call 704-216-8229.
Displays: Headquarters óAnime by Robert Clyde Allen; South ó lunch boxes by Sharon Ross; East ó clowns by Elizabeth Ellenburg.
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.