Families can sign up to pick up a Hug-A-Book: Play kit this week filled with at-home activities to support preschool learning through play. The event kit is available at Rock Island Public Library locations. To sign up for the at-home Hug-A-Book kit, visit the library event calendar at www.rockislandlibrary.org, or call 309-732-7360.  Registered participants may pick up the kit anytime during library hours through September 26. Pick up is available inside the Rock Island Downtown and Southwest Libraries from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday-Friday, or via Library Curbside pickup Monday-Saturday, by... Read More

Families can sign up to pick up a Hug-A-Book: Play kit next week filled with at-home activities to support preschool learning through play. The event kit is available at Rock Island Public Library locations. To sign up for the at-home Hug-A-Book kit, visit the library event calendar at www.rockislandlibrary.org, or call 309-732-7360.  Registered participants may pick up the kit anytime during library hours between September 21 to 26. Pick up is available inside the Rock Island Downtown and Southwest Libraries from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday-Friday, or via Library Curbside pickup Monday-Saturday,... Read More

Dance your way to early learning with free fun for children five and under and their families at the Rock Island Public Library! Experience the Hug-A-Book Dance Party at the Rock Island Downtown Library (401 19th Street Rock Island) on Wednesday Jan 22 from 6 – 7 p.m. Learn as you jump, move, and twirl and stomp, to the soundtrack of favorite children’s performers. It’s a rocking good time! Each child receives a free book to take home, thanks to funding from the Merrill Harris Hug-A-Book fund of the Rock Island Public Library Foundation. No registration required. Don’t miss out... Read More

Parents and caregivers can create some memories while they build a reader at Hug-A-Book: Create, a free event for two-to-five-year-olds and their families on Tuesday, August 27 at the Rock Island Public Library. The event is part of the library’s ongoing Hug-A-Book early learning programming. Families may drop in to try a variety of creatively messy art projects from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm on August 27 at the Downtown Library, 401 19th Street. Each child receives a Hug-A-Book art apron and a free book to take home. There is no charge to attend and no registration is required. Future events... Read More

The Rock Island Library’s Hug-A-Book early learning program and the Quad City Botanical Center’s KinderNature program have teamed up this spring help grow young readers with a Garden Starters event. The Hug-A-Book Garden Starters event is Tuesday, April 9, from 10:30 am to 11:30 am in the tropical sun garden of the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Avenue, Rock Island. The event features stories and songs from the library’s Hug-a-Book program and nature fun and crafts from the botanical center’s KinderNature series. Preschoolers will plant a seed to take home their... Read More

So, what are some of the cool and positive things happening in and around the area? Glad you sorta asked! There’s always plenty of good news happening around the Quad-Cities, and here in What’s The Good News?, our cooperative effort with the good folks at KWQC-TV6’s “Paula Sands Live,” we highlight some of the awesome things happening around our area! Have something you want included next time around? Email Sean Leary at Sean@QuadCities.com. We’re happy to help! Now let’s get started in taking a look around the local spots for some positive and upbeat news…   Tripmaster Monkey... Read More

The Rock Island Public Library’s Hug A Book program series will offer a special early learning art event  this Thursday for ages five and under. Hug-A-Book, Make Some Art offers a story and several related art projects designed for children ages to five. The free event is at 6:00 pm on Thursday, Aug. 31 at Rock Island Downtown Library, 401 19th Street, in the second-floor Community Room. Each child receives a free book and an art apron, courtesy of the Merrill Harris Fund of the Rock Island Public Library Foundation. The Hug-A-Book event  serves as the preview for a new art monthly program... Read More