Three reading events this October from Rock Island Public Library will help children jump into reading, whether they’re just starting a love of books or are growing into reading more on their own.
Hug-A-Book: Pets at Play, 5:30 to 7:00 pm, Thursday, October 3, also at the Downtown Library. The free event features drop-in learning through play activities about pets for preschoolers and their families. It's presented in partnership with the learning through play programs of the AOK (All Our Kids) Early Childhood Network, the Child Abuse Council, Rock Island Regional Office of Education, WQPT Quad Cities PBS, University of Illinois Extension, and other library partners. Activities include animal habitat matching games, take-home activities, Reading with a Beanie Friend, Block Play, Dog Bone math, Vet clinic game, scavenger hunt, and a pet house art. Each child gets a free book and bag to take home.
Rocket into Reading is the next stage of Hug-A-Book, offering special activities and resources to encourage new and growing readers in the 5 to 8 year-old-age ranges. Rocket into Reading is offered on Saturday, October 5 from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm at the Downtown Library, and again on Tuesday, October 15 from 6:00 to 7:00 pm at the Rock Island Southwest Library, 9010 Ridgewood Road. The Southwest Library event features time to read to a friendly therapy dog from QC CAN, the Quad City Canine Assistance Network. Children get a free string bag (just right for holding library books!) No registration is required.
Hug-A-Book and Rocket into Reading events are funded through the Merrill Harris memorial fund with the Rock Island Public Library Foundation.