Local branches of the Stanislaus County Library have a number special story times, book clubs, science-themed activities and crafting opportunities to keep all ages busy as summer vacation begins.
Turlock
The Turlock Library will start out June events with the Teens Talk Books club, which will meet at 3 p.m. June 3. At this group, teens can discuss their favorite reads.
Learn about the free eResources the library has to offer at the next Tech Connect class being held noon to 2 p.m. June 5. Attendees will receive help with downloading library apps to their devices and get started using these free programs:
· Mango - Learn a new language from the comfort of your own home, or on the go;
· Hoopla - Download audiobooks, movies, TV shows, music, eBooks, and comics to your device;
· Cloud Library- Download free eBooks to your device, and enjoy reading on the go.
Attendees need to bring their library card, device and any user names and passwords they may need.
After a reading of the book “Ada Twist, Scientist” by Andrea Beaty, participants at the next STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Works class will have an opportunity to put their sense of smell to the test by guessing the different scents in jars. STEAM Works is designed for children in kindergarten and older; children 4 and under must be supervised by a parent or guardian to participate. The class will be held at 4 p.m. June 6.
June's selection for the next meeting of the Turlock Library Book Club at 10:30 a.m. June 7 is “The Passion of Artemisia” by Susan Vreeland.
“The Passion of Artemisia” chronicles the extraordinary life of Artemisia Gentileschi, the first woman to make a significant contribution to art history. At age 18, Artemisia Gentileschi finds herself humiliated in papal court for publicly accusing the man who raped her — Agostino Tassi, her painting teacher. When even her father does not stand up for her, she knows she cannot stay in Rome and begs to have a marriage arranged for her. Her new husband, an artist named Pietro Stiatessi, takes her to his native Florence, where her talent for painting blossoms and she becomes the first woman elected to the Accademia dell'Arte. But marriage clashes with Artemisia's newfound fame as a painter, and she begins a lifelong search to reconcile painting and motherhood, passion and genius.
Set against the glorious backdrops of Rome, Florence, and Genoa, people with historical characters such as Cosimo de'Medici and Galileo and filled with details of the life of a Renaissance painter, “The Passion of Artemisia” is the story of Gentileschi's struggle to find love, forgiveness and wholeness through her art. At once a dramatic tale of love and a moving father-daughter story, it is the portrait of an astonishing woman that will captivate lovers of Gentileschi's paintings and anyone interested in the life of a woman who ignored the conventions of her day and dared to follow her heart.
A limited number of copies are available at the Turlock Library. For more information, contact the Turlock Library Reference Desk at (209) 664-8100.
Children can design their own unique catapults using various materials at 4 p.m. June 7 at the library. Once their catapults are complete, they will have an opportunity to put them to the test. All ages welcome. Children under 4 must have direct parental supervision.
Community members are invited to attend the Friends of the Turlock Public Library monthly board meeting at 6:30 p.m. June 7. Come by and support your local library.
The Mystery Lovers Book Club will next meet at 10:30 a.m. June 9. June's selection is “The Quiet Game” by Greg Iles.
When recently widowed Penn Cage leaves Houston with his young daughter and returns to his hometown seeking peace, he finds something very different. Natchez, Mississippi, is the jewel of the antebellum South, a city of old secrets and older money. Upon learning that his father is being blackmailed, Penn finds himself reopening the most highly charged murder case in the town's history, searching for the evidence that could bring down the judge who nearly destroyed his father years ago.
For more information, contact the Turlock Library Reference Desk at (209) 664-8100.
Kids can show off their Minecraft skills through crafts and quizzes at 4 p.m. June 13. All ages welcome. Children under 4 must have parental supervision.
The Turlock Teen Advisory Board will meet at 4 p.m. June 14. Teens can share their ideas and earn community service credit.
Children can use colorful plastic beads to create individual designs at 4 p.m. June 14. This program promotes creativity and individual expression. All ages welcome. Children under 4 must have parental supervision.
Families are invited to wear their pajamas and come to the library at 6:30 p.m. June 19 for a special unicorn-themed Story Time with special guest Turlock Mayor Gary Soiseth. Following Story Time, there will be a special craft. This program is ideal for kids ages 4 to 8, however, all ages are welcome.
The Traveling Lantern Theatre Company will present "The Ribbles Build a Residence!" at 4 p.m. June 20.
Children can help the Ribbles build a new residence by playing interactive games and discovering basic building techniques. The audience will help draw a ground plan while Thia Tweet, the bird architect, and Gerry the Ant, Contractor from Brooklyn, assist the Ribbles in building a new home for a better world. This program is best for ages 5 and up, but all ages are welcome.
Children can decorate individual porcelain tiles with ink to create unique designs at 4 p.m. June 21. All ages welcome. Children under 4 must have parental supervision.
Families are invited to brings their cameras and join the Turlock Fire Department and the Turlock Police Department as they discuss safety, answer questions and show off their vehicles at 3 p.m. June 22. This will be an outside event. All ages welcome; children must have direct supervision from a parent or adult guardian.
Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library using the library’s LEGO and DUPLO blocks at 4 p.m. June 27. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.
Kids can craft bookmarks out of paper to create sharks that will save their pages at 4 p.m. June 28.
All ages welcome. Children under 4 must have parental supervision. Adults can use their crafting skills at 6 p.m. June 28 to give old books new life through folding.
The Turlock Library is located at 550 N. Minaret Ave. in Turlock. For more information, call 664-8100.
Keyes
The Keyes Library is starting out June with a full day of coloring fun. Kids are welcome to come and color at the library on June 8.
Adults can create a beautiful beach inspired candleholder with seashells and clothespins all day at the library on June 9.
The Traveling Lantern Theatre Company will present "The Ribbles Build a Residence!" at 3 p.m. June 14.
Children can help the Ribbles build a new residence by playing interactive games and discovering basic building techniques. This program is best for ages 5 and up, but all ages are welcome.
The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. in Keyes. For more information, call 664-8006.
Denair
Visitors to the Denair Library can enjoy a number of free crafts and design-themed activities this June.
The library will offer three teen craft programs this month, beginning with the Galaxy in a Jar program at 12:30 p.m. June 1. Crafters will use glitter and miniature glass jars to create their own galaxies. Teens can create Boho chic wall hangings using a variety of yarn at 12:30 p.m. June 15. A Perler bead craft will be held at 12:30 p.m. June 29. Participants will have the opportunity to create colorful designs using the small plastic Perler beads. When heat is applied, the Perler beads fuse together, preserving each crafter’s design.
Ages 8 and up can enjoy three STEAM Challenges this month, beginning with the “I Survived” challenge at 12:30 p.m. June 2. This challenge is inspired by the “I Survived” book series, and will give participants the opportunity to test, on a small scale, survival scenarios. Children will test to see whether their buildings will survive an earthquake, if their boats will sink like the Titanic or if their volcanoes will erupt like Mt. Vesuvius. Children can learn about Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation by making UV-ray-detecting bracelets and UV art prints at 12:30 p.m. June 16. Participants are invited to make Minion slime out of glue and liquid starch at 12:30 p.m. June 30. Advance registration is required for the UV Radiation and Minion slime STEAM Challenges; call 209-634-1283 to sign up.
Children ages 4 and up are invited to take part in a picture book club at 12:30 p.m. June 7. Following a reading of Andrea Beaty’s “Rosie Revere, Engineer,” children can build structures out of everyday items.
Ages 16 and up can enjoy a bad art afternoon at 1 p.m. June 10. Participants are invited to use provided materials to make bad art. The worst piece of art will win a trophy.
Children and their families can enjoy an interactive show presented by the Traveling Lantern Theatre Company at 2 p.m. June 20. This show, entitled “The Ribbles Build a Residence,” will focus on the building of a new, environmentally friendly dream home for the Ribbles, with help from the bird architect Thia Tweet and Brooklyn contractor Gerry the Ant. The audience will also have an opportunity to help the Ribbles by playing interactive games and discovering basic building techniques. This program is best for ages 5 and up, but all ages are welcome.
The library will host a craft buffet at 12:30 p.m. June 21. Children can select from a variety of provided craft items to design their own unique crafts. Examples of crafts will be available to help inspire crafters.
The Denair Library is located at 4801 Kersey Rd. in Denair. For more information about programs at the Denair Library, call (209) 634-1283.
