By Jennifer Nicholson

Rowan Public Library

Tulips are blooming and birds are singing. T-ball practice and trips to the parks fill Saturdays. Well, most Saturdays. When rainy days hit, many parents can feel the weather blues. While the kids have spring fever, remember to keep reading and keep learning fever going year-round

When rainy days hit, and one cannot make it to the library, grab your laptop or tablet and check out some really awesome eBooks. Tumble Books is a free program offered by Rowan Public Library which parents can access through their Internet browser, by visiting our website at Rowanpubliclibrary.org. Once there, click on the link for Kids’ Space, then access Tumble Books through the link provided.

Tumble Books is an interactive program that provides Story Books (picture books), Read Alongs (chapter books), non-fiction books, videos and games. Parents and kids can choose to have the narrator read to them or they can read the book themselves.

If the child chooses to have the auto narrator, the child will see the section that is being read highlighted on the screen, building word recognition and sentence structure. The educational videos provided by Tumble Books are part of the National Geographic video library. These videos provide quick educational information to children who love watching movies. If you have a child who loves puzzles and games, don’t forget Tumble Books has those, as well.

If the rainy weather still has you down, try visiting the Kids’ Space on the Rowan Public Library, click on Links, and find more free online resources, such as ABCya.com and Starfall.com. Both ABCya.com and Starfall.com offer reading and math building skills for preschoolers and children up fifth grade. Starfall.com offers access to a mobile app which parents can download for free.

Remember parents, when April showers hit, grab a laptop or tablet and enjoy some rainy day reading and fun interactive games through Rowan Public Library.

Spring Photowalk: April 16, 10:30 a.m.-noon, headquarters. Join us on another adventure capturing the hidden treasures of downtown Salisbury on camera. Register online or by calling Paul at 704-216-8242 to ensure your spot.

Learn.Act.Grow.: April 25, 6-7 p.m., headquarters. Bike trekker, fitness guru and author David Freeze will discuss the psychological and physiological benefits to adding adventure to your life while offering encouragement and planning tips for adventures, local and beyond. Register online or by calling 704-216-7734 to ensure your spot.

Book Bites Book Club: South (China Grove), Tuesday, April 26, 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 Watch that Ends the Night.” by Allan Wolf. Need a copy? Call 704-216-7841.

Friends of Rowan Public Library Annual Meeting: April 26, 7 p.m., headquarters. Free and open to the public. Willie Nelms will presenti America’s Music Down to Its Roots. His presentation looks at the past, present and future of what has become known as Roots Music in the United States. The historical origins of various types of music including blues, folk, country and bluegrass are examined, along with key figures in the development of these genres.

Fancy Nancy Tea Party: April 30, 10:30 a.m.-noon, East branch, Rockwell. Wear a feather boa, tutu, shiny slippers or fairy wings and enjoy an extraordinary time at the library. Light refreshments. Program is intended for girls ages 4-8. Call 704-216-7842 to reserve your spot at the table.

Teen Annual Poetry Slam: Tuesday, April 5, 5:30-7 p.m., headquarters. Each teen may perform three original poems in three rounds, and each round will be judged by a panel of judges and the audience. All middle and high school students are eligible. Visit www.rowanpubliclibrary.org for contest rules.

Teen Advisory Board: Teens who join this board provide input on the library’s teen programming and book selection and discuss current events and issues in Rowan County. TAB meets once a month at each library location from 4:30-5:30 p.m. April 12, East, Rockwell; April 7, South Rowan Regional, China Grove; April 19, headquarters.

Anime Club (for teens): April 12, 4:30-5:30 p.m., headquarters. Celebrate and learn all things Anime. Programs are the second Tuesday of the month.

Chapter Chats Book Club: A weekly book club for teens ages 14-17 primarily for participants with developmental or intellectual disabilities, but all are welcome. Meets at Yosties, 202 N. Main St, Faith, Tuesdays, 4 p.m., through May 24.

Tail Waggin’ Tutors: Children ages 7 to 9 can practice 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 are recommended but not required. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 4:30 p.m. East, Mondays, 3:30 p.m., April 11 and 25. South, Saturday, 10 a.m., April 16.

Explorer Club: Headquarters, April 23, 11 a.m.-noon. Investigate different genres through activities based on books. Programs for children in third-fifth grades. This program’s theme is: Passport Extravaganza.

Lego free play: Legos help children’s reasoning and problem-solving skills. The library’s Lego collection will be available for free play, or you can bring your own, Saturdays at 10 a.m. April 9 at East; April 16 at South and at headquarters.

Adventure Club: Headquarters, April 9, 11 a.m.-noon. Adventurous hands-on science activities and projects.

Displays: Headquarters, Carolina Artists and Rowan Doll Society; South, Golden Bobbins, Marge Harbaugh; East, Community Care Clinic.

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 April 30:

Baby Time — 6-23 month-olds with parent or caregiver. Headquarters, Wednesdays, 10 a.m.; East, Mondays,  10 a.m.

Toddler Time — 18-35 months old with parent or caregiver. Headquarters, Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Mondays, 11 a.m.

Tiny Tumblers — 6-23 months with parent or caregiver. Same program offered twice a week. South, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.

Preschool time — 3-5 years old with parent or caregiver. Headquarters, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.; East, Thursdays, 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Noodle Head storytime — For children of all ages. Headquarters, Thursdays, 4 p.m.; South, Mondays, 4 p.m.

Art programs — Art activities appropriate for preK through fifth grade. Headquarters, Art in the Afternoon, Thursdays, 4:30 p.m.; East, Emma’s Easel, Thursdays, 4 p.m.; South, Art with Char, Wednesdays, 4 p.m