Visitors to local branches of the Stanislaus County Library can explore their creative sides with a number of winter-themed craft events scheduled.
Turlock
December events at the Turlock Library will begin with a meeting of the Turlock Teens Talk Books group at 3 p.m. Saturday. Teens are invited to join fellow bibliophiles for a discussion about their newest read.
The next STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Works session will be held at 4 p.m. Dec. 4 and be a “Building Challenge.” After a reading of “Rosie Revere, Engineer” by Andrea Beaty, participants put their building skills to the test by creating structures using a variety of material including marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti. STEAM Works is designed for children in Kindergarten and older; children 4 and under must be supervised by an adult.
The Turlock Library Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 5. This month's selection is “Soldier Girls,” by Helen Thorpe. “Soldier Girls” describes the experiences of three women soldiers deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq to reveal how their military service has affected their friendship, personal lives and families, detailing the realities of their work on bases and in war zones and how their choices and losses shaped their perspectives. A limited number of copies are available at the Turlock Library. Call 664-8100 for more information.
All are invited to attend the next meeting of the Friends of the Turlock Library at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 5.
Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth will host a special Family Story Time at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 10. There will be stories, music, fingerplays and fun. This program is ideal for 4 - 8-year-olds, however all ages are welcome.
All ages are welcome to come to the library at 4 p.m. Dec. 11 to make snowflake ornaments out of craft sticks.
Members of the Turlock Sunshine Strummers will perform a variety of children’s music and winter themed songs on their ukuleles for children and their caregivers at 10 a.m. Dec. 12. All ages welcome; children 4 and under must have adult supervision.
The Turlock Teen Advisory Board will next meet at 4 p.m. Dec. 12. The 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. Dec. 14. This month's selection is “Magpie Murders,” by Anthony Horowitz. Alan Conway is a bestselling crime writer. His editor, Susan Ryeland, has worked with him for years, and she's intimately familiar with his detective, Atticus Pund, who solves mysteries disturbing sleepy English villages. Alan's traditional formula pays homage to queens of classic British crime such as Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers. It's proved hugely successful. So successful that Susan must continue to put up with his troubling behavior if she wants to keep her job. When Susan receives Alan's latest manuscript, in which Atticus Pund investigates a murder at Pye Hall, an English manor house, she has no reason to think it will be any different from the others. There will be dead bodies, a cast of intriguing suspects, and plenty of red herrings and clues. But the more Susan reads, the more she realizes that there's another story hidden in the pages of the manuscript--one of ambition, jealousy, and greed--and that soon it will lead to murder.
The Turlock Art Lab session held at 4 p.m. Dec. 18 will feature Snowman Stamps. In this basic introduction to relief printmaking, children will create a snowman stamp out of foam sheets and cardboard, using tempura paint to make their prints. Materials will be provided while supplies last. All ages welcome; children 4 and under must have direct adult supervision.
The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. For more information on Turlock Library programs, call 209-664-8100.
Denair
A crochet class for beginners will start out December events at the Denair Library. Participants can learn basic techniques from a crochet instructor from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Dec. 29. Those who wish to join should bring their own crochet hooks. Yarn will be provided.
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 December. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.
There will be three Craft Days at the Denair Library in December. Children can make a mouse or two out of a candy cane and crafting foam at 4 p.m. Dec. 6. Every item needed to make a mouse will be provided. Families can make unique paper snowflakes that come out different every time at 4 p.m. Dec. 13. Snowflakes may be taken home or given to decorate the Denair Library this season. Paper and scissors will be provided. Families can come to the library to make a fun decoration out of popsicle sticks and other craft supplies at 4 p.m. Dec. 20. Several ornament examples will be available to replicate. Materials required will be provided.
The Denair Library is located at 4801 Kersey Rd. For more information on Denair Library programs, call 209-634-1283.
Keyes
Families can come to the Keyes Library in December for four different craft events.
Children can create adorable fuzzy ornaments in the shape of a beanie by wrapping and tying colorful strands of yarn around recycled pieces of paper towel rolls from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 7.
Families can assemble and glue together a unique snowflake ornament using an assortment of dry pastas from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 13.
Adults and teens can decorate craft stick sled ornaments with glitter and other embellishments from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 14. Participants can bring in a small picture of a family member to personalize their keepsake or to give as a gift.
Individuals can explore their color palate by using paint sample cards and other materials to create festive holiday cards for friends and loved ones from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 20.
The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. in Keyes. For more information about programs at the Keyes Library, call 209-664-8000.
