Clowning Around with JMan at Rowan Public Library

Circus Program at Rowan Public Library © Katrena

Rowan Public Library in North Carolina offered a program sure to entertain and captivate the kids. They teamed up with Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey Circus to offer free circus tickets for children who read five books. My kids were all about that offer and read their books immediately!

Ringling Bros. Clown at Salisbury Library © Katrena

Kids who cannot read need not worry because the program also applies for having books read to them. For the price of one adult ticket, I also got three children's tickets to the Blue Tour Dragons show in Charlotte, NC. Not a bad deal!

JMan the Clown © Katrena

In addition to the free circus tickets, JMan the Clown came to entertain and teach the kids at the library one evening. JMan brought bunches of props, music, and, of course, lots of energy!

Kids Learn About Juggling and the Circus © Katrena

Hats off to JMan for putting an educational spin on the program! People were learning and having fun at the same time. As he played music before the program, he also taught us the name of the song and gave a little circus history.

Free Barnum and Bailey Circus Tickets for Reading Books © Katrena

We learned about how the circus travels and different types of juggling. JMan also encouraged audience participation as he had everyone to stand up and dance and picked children and even an adult to help him with some of his show.

Circus Clown Entertains Kids at the Library © Katrena

It was a packed house that night and a few kids started inching closer and closer...a little too close for someone who was trying to juggle bowling pins. No problem! JMan was ready with a funny directive for the kids while remembering to put safety first.

Learn About Circus and Have Fun Reading © Katrena

What is a library program without a spin on reading? An entire table full of circus books greeted the kids at the side, and JMan mentioned that he began to learning about juggling by reading a book. He also sat down and read a book about the circus. Of course, he read it in such a way that had everyone laughing and on the edge of their seats!

Interactive Ways to Teach Kids © Katrena

At the end of the program, kids received their very own clown nose. How cool! My kids are hoping to see JMan again when we head to Charlotte to see Time Warner Cable Arena transformed into the Big Top.

JMan the Clown Entertains Kids at Rowan Public Library in Salisbury © Katrena

Kudos to Rowan Public Library for seeking out original ways to encourage kids to read while bringing the fun and educational side of the circus to the library.

Laughing While Learning at Library Program © Katrena

Find other family-friendly articles by Katrena at Travel NC With Kids and Love 2 Travel With Kids.