Local branches of the Stanislaus County Library offer a host of activities in July, both literary and creative, for all ages.
Turlock
July events at the Turlock Library will begin with a STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) Works session all about ice cream. Activities will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday with a reading of “Ice Cream Summer” by Peter Sis. Afterward, children will have an opportunity to make their own vanilla ice cream, while supplies last. This event will be held outdoors. STEAM Works is designed for children in kindergarten and older; children 4 and under must be supervised by an adult.
A meeting of the Turlock Teens Talk Books will be held at 3 p.m. July 7. Teens are invited to join bibliophiles to discuss their most recent reads.
Children of all ages can come by the library at 4 p.m. July 10 to play with slime. Play clothes are encouraged for this event. Children under 4 must have adult supervision.
The Turlock Library Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. July 11. This month’s selection is “The Red Tent” by Anita Diamant. Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her life is only hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the more familiar chapters of the Book of Genesis that are about her father, Jacob, and his dozen sons. Told in Dinah's voice, this novel reveals the traditions and turmoil of ancient womanhood-the world of the red tent. It begins with the story of her mothers — Leah, Rachel, Zilpah, and Bilhah — the four wives of Jacob. They love Dinah and give her gifts that are to sustain her through a damaged youth, a calling to midwifery, and a new home in a foreign land. Dinah's story reaches out from a remarkable period of early history and creates an intimate, immediate connection. A limited number of copies are available at the Turlock Library. For more information, call the library at 209-664-8100.
Children ages 8 and older can come to the library at 4 p.m. July 11 to make their own orange, hairy highland cow from Scotland. Yarn, cardboard and other materials will be used to make replicas of these adorable Scottish animals.
The Teen Advisory Board will meet at 4 p.m. July 11. The Teen Advisory Board offers teens the opportunity to earn community service credit while sharing their ideas on teen library programs and books. For more information, call 664-8100.
A Caregiver College session on “Dealing with Aging and Loss” will be held at noon July 12. This free meeting will offer practical information to help participants become better caregivers and can help prepare for the future. A free lunch will be provided. Advance registration is required; call 209-578-6300 for more information.
The Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. July 13. This month’s selection is “Until Proven Guilty” by J.A. Jance. The little girl was a treasure who should have been cherished, not murdered. She was only five — too young to die — and Homicide Detective J.P. Beaumont of the Seattle Police Department isn't going to rest until her killer pays dearly. But Beaumont's own obsessions and demons could prove dangerous companions in a murky world of blind faith and religious fanaticism. And he is about to find out that he himself is the target of a twisted passion — and a love that can kill.
Set sail with ventriloquist Tony Borders and his crew of puppets at 11 a.m. July 14. Help find the treasure in the library through a fun, imaginative show featuring a talkative drawing, magic with music and cool critters from around the world.
Turlock Trivia Night will be held at 6 p.m. July 16. How well do you know your location trivia? Answer questions about the world, the United States and Turlock. Show off your skills and trivia knowledge with family and friends or take on the challenge solo. Prizes will be awarded to participating teams. Teams are limited to one to four people per team. Each team must have at least one member over the age of 15. The activity uses the free KAHOOT app. All teams must have a smartphone or tablet capable of downloading the app — or have it pre-installed on the device.
The next Turlock Art Lab session will be on string art at 4 p.m. July 17. Children can create art inspired by the artwork of Jackson Pollock using string and tempura paints. Participants will have an opportunity to experiment with mixing colors and creating unique designs. All ages welcome; children 4 and under must have direct parental supervision.
Children ages 8 and up can come to the library at 4 p.m. July 18 to create a shiny fish or turtle to hang in in their rooms using upcycled materials.
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. July 24. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome but must have direct parental supervision.
Children ages 8 and up can get lost in space after building a flying saucer and testing it out at 4 p.m. July 25.
The library will host a Harry Potter party at 4 p.m. July 31. Take the Hogwarts Express to the library and enroll in this summer's magical studies. The library will be offering classes on potions, transfigurations, and more. All ages welcome; children 4 and under must have direct parental supervision.
The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. For more information on Turlock Library programs, call 209-664-8100.
Keyes
July events at the Keyes Library will include craft events, LEGO days and a Harry Potter party.
The library will hold a Day of Coloring from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 5. Coloring sheets, colored pencils and crayons will be provided for everyone.
Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library using the library’s LEGO and LEGO DUPLO blocks from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 10 and July 24. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome but must have direct parental supervision.
Set sail with ventriloquist Tony Borders and his crew of puppets at 1 p.m. July 10. Help find the treasure in the library through a fun, imaginative show featuring a talkative drawing, magic with music and cool critters from around the world.
Children can create a custom aquarium out of a jar using blue water, glitter, colorful rocks, and a tiny toy goldfish from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 12.
Adults and teens can create custom scented candles using essential oils and candle wax. The library will provide a variety of food coloring and decorative ribbon to make candles look as good as it will smell.
Children can combine science and their sweet tooth to make homemade ice-cream from noon to 2 p.m. July 25 during this STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Mathematics) Works session.
The library will host a Harry Potter Day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 26. Children can get sorted into their Hogwarts house, then design and color their own personalized crest! If you receive a special delivery from Hedwig during your sorting, you will win a prize.
The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. in Keyes. For more information about programs at the Keyes Library, call 209-664-8006.
Denair
All ages can take part in free programs at the Denair Library this July, beginning with a free performance from ventriloquist Tony Borders at 3:30 p.m. July 6. This imaginative show will feature a talkative map, animals from around the world, music and more. This show is sponsored by the Stanislaus Library Foundation.
LEGO DUPLO Days at 4 p.m. July 11, 18 and 25 engage children in an hour of creative play with the library’s LEGO DUPLO collection.
The library will host a paper airplane day at 4 p.m. July 12. An instructor will teach children how to make the paper airplanes using provided materials. Library books on the subject will be available for reference and checkout.
Children and teens are invited to color at the library at 4 p.m. July 19. Coloring pages, crayons, markers, and colored pencils will be provided. Participants are welcome to bring their own supplies, however, it is requested that paint not be brought to this event.
The library’s classic literature book club will meet at 3 p.m. July 28 to discuss “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho. Copies of the book will be available for checkout at the library during the month of July.
The Denair Library is located at 4801 Kersey Rd. in Denair. For more information about programs at the Denair Library, call 209-634-1283.
