By Jennifer Nicholson

Rowan Public Library

Labor Day has passed and summer is coming to an end. Schools are back in session, and the kids are getting back into a routine. This is sometimes the time of year when parents wonder where the time has gone as little ones start kindergarten, first grade, middle school or even high school.

As a mother of a 4-year-old, I am now finding myself doing the same thing, wondering when my newborn turn into a preschooler. While I am slowly bracing myself for him to start kindergarten next year, I am also trying to ensure that he is ready for kindergarten. He is already curious about the world he lives in, and especially curious about reading. Yet, to a 4-year-old who already knows his alphabet, making the connection from knowing his letters to putting them together to create words and reading those words is not an easy concept.

Rowan Public Library is proud to introduce Bob Books. These books were created by a kindergarten teacher who wanted to give young children the tools to cross from learning letters to reading words.

These books provide parents and teachers easy-to-follow tips to help encourage and introduce young children to reading. Each series will have about eight to 10 books, while each book will help children become more familiar with sight words and different word concepts, such as rhyming words and complex words.

At the beginning of each book, parents will find helpful tips, as well as the words that will be introduced in that book. While the illustrations are simple and some parents may feel the books are too simple, remember that repetition is key in helping children learn new words.

Another series to help introduce reading to preschoolers is one created by The Child’s World Inc. publishing company. This series features large type and simple sentences and supports a given phoneme. The series is based on current research on how the brain acquires sounds and how that process is applied in learning to read. This series helps children learn how each letter sounds and how to sound out words, and provides key sight words that children need to learn. This is a great way to help children learn phonics.

While reading to your child is one of the best ways to introduce words to his or her vocabulary, simple interaction with parents and other family members is also a great way to broaden and enhance a child’s vocabulary.

The Rowan-Salisbury School System has provided parents free access to a program called Ready Rosie. Parents can download the app or access the Ready Rosie website at https://readyrosie.com/register. Enter your zip code and select the Rowan-Salisbury School System, and create a username and password. It only takes two minutes to complete.

Ready Rosie provides parents and grandparents tips to help build a child’s literacy and vocabulary through everyday play and activities. Have a child who loves race cars? There is a great video of a grandparent teaching a child the words “flip” and “slide” through playing with race cars. Ready Rosie has tips to promote reading while visiting a grocery store. Ready Rosie is a great free and easy program that any parent in Rowan County can access.

Reading to a child is still the best and easiest method to introduce reading concepts. Parents and grandparents can access many great resources through the library that can build literacy and vocabulary. For more information or to check out the Bob Books and other great books, please check out the Rowan Public Library at rowanpubliclibrary.org or by visiting your nearest library location.

September Movie Series: Celebrate Library Card Sign-up month and enjoy film adaptations of classic books from childhood. Headquarters, Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m., “The Indian in the Cupboard,” PG; 9-year-old Omri receives a magical, wooden cupboard for his birthday. When it animates a 19th-century Iroquois warrior named Little Bear, a friendship is born and adventures begin. Sept. 26, 6:30 p.m., “The Neverending Story.”

East branch, 110 Broad St., Rockwell, Sept. 21, 6 p.m., “The Secret of NIMH,” PG, run time, 82 minutes, recounts the adventures of Mrs. Brisby as she fights to save her family from the farmer’s deadly plow. Sept. 24, 11 a.m., “James and the Giant Peach,” James escapes his aunts and makes new friends, all while traveling in a giant peach, is rated PG and has a run time of 79 minutes.

Popcorn and lemonade will be served at both branches for all movies; this event is free and open to the public. All ages are welcome.  

Book Bites Book Club: South (China Grove), Tuesday, Sept. 27, 6-7 p.m. Free, open to the public. We discuss a different book each month and serve refreshments loosely related to the theme.”The Graveyard Book.” Need a copy? Call 704-216-7731.

Back to School De-Stress Fest: School got you down? Come chill out with us and relax for a while. Teens will engage in a variety of activities and learn about healthy behaviors to minimize stress during the school year. All programs, 4:30-6 p.m., Sept. 20, headquarters; Sept 22, South; Sept. 26, East.

Teen Advisory Board: Teens who join provide input on teen programming and book selection, as well as discussing current events and issues. Meets once a month at each library location from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Members can count hours of participation toward school community service requirements. Sept. 27, headquarters.

2016 Book Cover Contest for Teens: This contest is for middle and high school students in grades six through 12. Entries will be accepted at any library location between Sept. 21 and Oct. 10. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place winners in each age group for the best original book cover design for a published book. See the official entry form for detailed instructions. For more information, contact Hope at 704-216-8258 or Hope.Lomax@rowancountync.gov. Sponsored by Friends of Rowan Public Library.

Money Mondays — Changing Your Life Through Better Money Management: Sept. 19, 6-7:30 p.m., headquarters, study room 4, second floor. Will include topics such as understanding your paycheck, stretching your food dollars, designing a spending plan, avoiding high cost financial services, understanding credit and debt and starting a habit of saving money. Space is limited. Call Abigail Hardison at 704-216-8248 or email Abigail.Hardison@rowancountnc.gov Course material provided by the National Endowment for Financial Education, a non-profit organization. These free materials are accessible at nefe.org

Technology Tuesdays — tablet tutorial: Sept. 27, 7-8 p.m., headquarters, study room 4 on second floor. Learn how to read free books and magazines on your tablet. Space is limited. Call 704-216-8248 or email info@rowancountync.gov to register.

Gale lessons class: Sept. 20, 7-8 p.m., headquarters, second floor computer lab. Access your Gale class from the RPL computer lab, where staff are on hand to assist, if needed. Space is limited. Call 704-216-8248 or email info@rowancountync.gov to register.

Displays: Headquarters, Constitution Week and 50th anniversary of Star Trek; East, Chiari Malformation Awareness; South, jewelry by Myrtis 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.

Weekly events for children through Nov. 18

Baby Time: A loosely interactive program of simple stories and songs for infants up to 23 months with parent or guardian. 30 minutes. Headquarters, Char’s Little Stars, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; East, Tiny Sprouts, Mondays, 10 a.m.; South, Miss Pat’s Tiny Tots, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.

Toddler Time: Sharing books, singing songs and encouraging listening skills for children 18-35 months with parent or caregiver. 30 minutes. Headquarters, Reading Rumpus, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Tammie’s Tot Time, Mondays at 11; South, Miss Pat’s Wee Readers, Tuesdays, 10:30.

Preschool Time: Encourages the exploration of books and builds reading readiness skills for children 3- to 5-years-old with parent or caregiver. 30 minutes. Headquarters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Noodle Head Story Times: Children of all ages can listen to silly books and tales together. 30 minutes. Headquarters, Thursdays at 4 p.m.; East, Mondays, 4 p.m.

Art programs: Activities and instruction based on various themes and media vary by branch. Pre-kindergarten through fifth grade; 30-45 minutes. Headquarters, Art in the Afternoon, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.; East, Bethany’s Brushes, Thursdays, 4 p.m.; South, Emma’s Easel, Wednesdays, 4:30.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors: Children 7-9 can practice their reading skills in a relaxed, dog-friendly atmosphere. Reading therapy dogs registered through Therapy Dogs International are available for beginning and struggling readers to read aloud to them. Reservations recommended, not required. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m., call 704-216-8234 for details; East, selected Mondays, 3:30 p.m., Sept. 26, Oct. 10 and 24, call 704-216-7842 for details; South, selected Saturdays, 10 a.m., call 704-216-7728 for details.

Chapter Chats Book Club: A weekly club for teens 14-17, primarily for participants with developmental or intellectual disabilities, but all are welcome. Meets at East branch meeting room, Tuesdays, 5 p.m., Sept. 13-May 2017.

Lego Saturdays:  Sept. 24, South, 10 a.m. Legos have been cited for developing creativity, imagination, systematic reasoning and problem solving The library’s collection will be available for free play, or bring your own.

Adventure Club: Saturday, Sept. 24, 11 a.m.-noon, Headquarters. Hands-on science based activities and crafts. Program is for second- to fifth-graders. One hour.