SALISBURY — Rowan Creek Week activities drew participants of all ages during the special week as was evidenced by the number of children attending a storytime and Art in the Afternoon event at the Rowan Public Library’s main branch.
On Sept. 17, children heard about different animals plus the importance of keeping their habitat clean as they gathered in the storytime area at the library to hear Sabrinah Hartsell, library associate for the children’s section, read several books to the group.
The first book, titled “Pond Circle” by Betsy Franco, provided in word and lots of pictures, the story of a little girl, as noted on the book’s website, who watches the circle of life and the food cycle.
Hartsell made the storytime interactive as she had children come to the front and place the picture on a board that matched the things she read about, beginning with algae and those that eat it and in time reading about frogs, snakes, owls, skunks and concluding with coyotes.
When she asked the children what they would do if they saw trash in a stream, their response was to throw it away, which led to a discussion about making sure the water is clean for our animal friends.
Before reading the second book, Hartsell asked the group where alligators live, and they answered Florida and she added that they can also live in North Carolina. She then read the book titled “Over and Under – The Wetlands, which tells about the Everglades and the plant and animal life found there.
The group then moved to the next room which had been transformed to a painting area, where Hartsell and library associate Duane DeBerry gave them paints, brushes and paper.
Hartsell asked them to put their brushes on the paint and then brush it on the paper and see what would happen. The answer was nothing and asked them what was needed. The answer and missing ingredient was water. After getting cups of watch, the children and youth were able to try their hand at painting with the watercolors and create some artwork.
