Parents looking for free seasonal activities to do with their children should visit one of the local branches of the Stanislaus County Library in October.
Turlock
The Turlock Library Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. This month's selection is “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury. Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book. Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred. But then he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn't live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television.
The Friends of the Turlock Library will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday; all are invited.
The Turlock Library is celebrating 50 years at its location at 550 Minaret Ave. In celebration of the library's 50th anniversary, adults are invited to step back into time with a series of “Retro Craft” events:
· Participants can enjoy a thoroughly groovy afternoon while reducing stress and turning ordinary rocks into personal works of art from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday. All materials provided;
· - There will be at tie-dye craft from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 11. Each participant must bring their own white shirt, or other article of clothing, to dye.
· - Shrinky Dinks will be the craft from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 18. All materials provided;
· - The final retro craft session will be held from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 25 and feature macramé bracelets. All materials provided.
The retro craft events are for ages 18 and up, however, younger ages may participate with one-on-one direct supervision from parents or adult guardians.
The next meeting of Turlock Teens Talk Books is 3 p.m. Saturday. Teens are invited to join fellow bibliophiles for a book discussion at the Turlock Library.
The Turlock Teen Advisory Board will meet at 4 p.m. Oct. 10. This board provides input on what kinds of programs and activities teens would like the library to provide. During the hour-long meeting, participants brainstorm and discuss ideas for library activities and services for teens in Turlock. Community service hours are earned by attending meetings and helping with projects.
The Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 12. This month's selection is “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” by Agatha Christie. Considered to be one of Agatha Christie's most controversial mysteries, “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd” breaks all the rules of traditional mystery writing. A widow's suicide has stirred rumors of blackmail, and of a secret lover named Roger Ackroyd, who was found stabbed to death in his study. The case is so unconventional that not even crack detective Hercule Poirot has a clue as to how to solve it.
The next Turlock Art Lab session will be on leaf prints at 4 p.m. Oct. 16. Participants will make a variety of leaf prints using colored pencils, crayons and other materials. All ages welcome; children 4 and under must have direct supervision from parents or adult guardians.
"Python Ron" McGee will bring his favorite lizards and snakes to the Turlock Library for a creepy, crawly good time at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Oct. 20. This educational, hands-on show-and-tell is open to all ages.
Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library using the library’s LEGO and LEGO DUPLO blocks at 4 p.m. Oct. 23. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.
The library will host a special Halloween-themed Preschool Story Time, followed by a special craft and the Friends of the Turlock Library's Trick-or-Treat Parade, at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Oct. 25. Kids are encouraged to dress in non-scary costumes. The parade and craft will follow both Story Times. Designed for preschoolers ages 3-5 and their adult caregivers.
Everyone is invited to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Friends of the Turlock Public Library from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 27. Drop by the library to enjoy light refreshments, poetry readings, music from a teen choral group and good company.
The library will host a Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at 4 p.m. Oct. 30. The event includes the reading of a few books, painting on 3D printed skulls, and creating marigold or cempasúchil flowers to honor and remember those who have passed.
The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. For more information on Turlock Library programs, call 209-664-8100.
Denair
Programs at the Denair Library include autumn and Halloween-themed crafts, as well as a special scavenger hunt at the end of the month.
Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library using the library’s LEGO and LEGO DUPLO blocks from noon to 6 p.m. every Wednesday in October. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.
Children can craft baby monsters at 4 p.m. Thursday. The furry friends will be made using pipe cleaners, yarn, and assorted craft materials.
"Python Ron" McGee will bring his favorite lizards and snakes to the Denair Library for a creepy, crawly good time at 4 p.m. Oct. 11. This educational, hands-on show-and-tell is open to all ages.
To celebrate the leaves changing colors, children can make all seasons trees at 4 p.m. Oct. 18. The trees will be crafted from paper bags and paper leaves.
Children can make an edible Halloween craft at 4 p.m. Oct. 25. Participants will use lollipops and fabric to create lollipop ghosts.
Children and teens can take part in a Halloween Scavenger Hunt from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 31. Participants who find all the Halloween clues in the library will receive candy and toy prizes.
The Denair Library is located at 4801 Kersey Rd. For more information on Denair Library programs, call 209-634-1283.
Keyes
The Keyes Library will feature three craft events in October and a visit from a few slithering guests.
Children can create and color a fall tree scene from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday. Then, learn how to turn the drawing into an interactive art project featuring tiny paper leaves that will fall from the trees in the autumnal scene.
"Python Ron" McGee will bring his favorite lizards and snakes to the Keyes Library for a creepy, crawly good time at 2 p.m. Oct. 17. This educational, hands-on show-and-tell is open to all ages.
Children can spin their own spooky spider web using craft sticks and yarn, then receive a spider ring with which to decorate it from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 18.
Adults and teens can bring to life old beloved T-shirts by learning how to cut and tie them into cute, reusable tote bags from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 19.
The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. in Keyes. For more information about programs at the Keyes Library, call 209-664-8006.
