ESCONDIDO - Rock music and reading may not seem to have a lot in common, but Escondido Public Library officials say they have found that one can be a great reward for doing the other.

The library's teen summer reading program ends Friday with a free concert at 4 p.m. in the Turrentine Room at the library, 239 S. Kalmia St.

The High Strung, a Detroit rock band that has received high praise from "Rolling Stone" magazine and other entertainment media, will perform. The three-man group has been touring the country this summer giving free concerts at libraries.

Donna Feddern, a senior librarian who runs the teen reading program, said the band doesn't only play music but interacts with the audience.

"They make their programs for a library audience and teens, so they're good for us," Feddern said. "They help the kids do songwriting and they tell them what it's like to be in a band. … It's nice that they can answer questions and give some insight into what that world is like."

Three other events also are taking place this week to mark the end of the library's children's reading program. Today at 11 a.m., guitarist Dave Winstone will perform songs from Australia in the Turrentine Room.

On Saturday, a "Mad Science" educational program will be presented at 10:30 a.m. at the library's East Valley Branch Library, 2245 E. Valley Parkway. Also on Saturday, at both the main library and the East Valley branch, children can create treasure box craft projects to take home, beginning at 1 p.m.

About 1,600 children from preschool to fifth grade participated in the children's reading program this summer, library officials said. More than 200 teenagers in ninth through 12th grade participated in the teen reading program, Feddern said.

The library encouraged the children and teenagers to participate in the reading programs by offering prizes that included 2-for-1 admission coupons to Legoland for the children and Barnes & Noble bookstore $20 gift cards for teenagers, officials said.

Throughout the summer, teen participants earned raffle tickets for volunteering at the library, attending special events or reading books. The raffle will take place during Friday's concert, when a few lucky students will win an iPod, a digital camera or a flash drive.

The promise of potential prizes encouraged the teenagers to read but also allowed them to read something they enjoyed rather than books assigned for school, Feddern said.

"When they get to be teenagers, a lot of other things start taking their attention away," she said.

Jasmine Ward, a 15-year-old Escondido Charter High School student, has been one of the most avid readers in the teen program, Feddern said.

Jasmine said she has read 15 books since the program started June 18. She got involved while volunteering for the children's reading program and realized she could win prizes by doing something she already loves, Jasmine said.

She said the program is a great way to get teenagers to read.

"If they (teenagers) didn't do anything all summer, they'd just sit there, go back to school," Jasmine said. "This at least activates their mind."

And Friday's concert is a great way to finish off the summer, she said.

"Music bring kids together, basically," Ward said.

- Contact staff writer Paul Eakins at (760) 740-5420 or peakins@nctimes.com.

Escondido library events

Here are the events for teens and children taking place this week at the Escondido Public Library, 239 S. Kalmia St.

• Today: Guitarist Dave Winstone performs songs from Australia, 11 a.m. in the Turrentine Room.

• Friday: Free concert with Detroit rock band The High Strung, 4 p.m. in the Turrentine Room.

• Saturday: "Mad Science" children's educational program, 10:30 a.m. at the East Valley Branch Library, 2245 E. Valley Parkway.

• Saturday: Children create treasure-box craft projects at the main library and the East Valley branch, 1 p.m.