Rock County Public Libraries to Celebrate National Picture Book Month

November is National Picture Book Month and all seven Rock County Public Libraries are celebrating with special events, displays, activities and a social media project to raise awareness of the importance of picture books in developing reading and pre-reading skills in young school-aged and preschool children. Brochures are available at all the libraries that list the various activities around the county. Activities include creating your own picture book, voting for your favorite picture book character, picture book crafts and more. Of special note is an educational program for parents, teachers, and childcare providers. “Sound Learning: Read-alongs Enhancing Literacy Development,” will be held on Saturday, Nov. 12 at 10 a.m. at Beloit Public Library. This is a perfect way for parents, teachers and early childhood caregivers to get acquainted with picture book read-alongs and their benefits for young children.

Featured speakers: Rock County author Jamie Swenson, ALS Youth Services Consultant Sharon Grover, and Blackhawk Technical College Early Childhood Instructor Michelle Weirich. For this special event, 100 picture book and CD sets will be given away to participants on a first come, first serve basis. Registration is not required. Libraries are committed to providing early literacy opportunities to parents and their young children through baby lap sits, story times and activities that encourage and promote a love of books and reading. By celebrating National Picture Book Month the libraries hope to remind parents of the joys of reading picture books to their children and that “Children are made readers on the laps of their parents.” (Emilie Buchwald, children’s book Author).

Library staff is always available to help parents find books that are age appropriate and appealing to each child’s interests. All the libraries are encouraging Rock County citizens to take a selfie “bookface.” To do a “book face” photo, find a picture book with part of a face on it.  Hold the book up to your face to complete the image and take your picture.  Upload your “bookface” photo to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook using hashtag:  #picturebookfaceALS. Visit the Arrowhead Library System’s Facebook page (Arrowhead Library System Wisconsin) to see some fun examples!

The Rock County Picture Book Month celebration is sponsored by the Arrowhead Library System. For more information, stop at your local Rock County Public Library in Beloit, Clinton, Edgerton, Evansville, Janesville, Milton or Orfordville; or visit their websites.

MARY ANN INMAN, PHOTO – The Clinton Topper.
Library after school gaming.
From left: Sam Bieber, Abigail Anderson, Addyson Anderson, Itzel Gonzalez, and Molly McIlheran have fun gaming after school at Clinton Public Library.

Picture Book Month is an international literacy initiative that celebrates the print picture book during the month of November.  Find out more about this initiative at http://picturebookmonth.com/.