May events at the Turlock Library will kick off with a meeting of the Library Book Club at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday.
This month's book club selection is “The Zookeeper's Wife,” by Diane Ackerman, the true story of how the keepers of the Warsaw Zoo saved hundreds of people from Nazi hands. When Germany invaded Poland, Stuka bombers devastated Warsaw--and the city's zoo along with it. With most of their animals dead, zookeepers Jan and Antonina Z̓abiÔnski began smuggling Jews into empty cages. Another dozen "guests" hid inside the Z̓abiÔnskis' villa, emerging after dark for dinner, socializing, and, during rare moments of calm, piano concerts. Jan, active in the Polish resistance, kept ammunition buried in the elephant enclosure and stashed explosives in the animal hospital. Meanwhile, Antonina kept her unusual household afloat, caring for both its human and its animal inhabitants--otters, a badger, hyena pups, lynxes--and keeping alive an atmosphere of play and innocence even as Europe crumbled around her. A limited number of copies are available at the Turlock Library. Call 209-664-8100 for more information.
All are invited to attend the monthly board meeting of the Friends of the Turlock Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Meetings are held the first Wednesday of the month in the library.
The Rebellion needs your help. Use your intergalactic detective skills to help BB-8 escape! This May the Fourth Escape Room event is designed for ages 9 to 18. Reservations are required and space is limited, so call 209-664-8100 to reserve your place. Event times are 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:45 p.m., 2 p.m., and 3:15 p.m. May 4.
The Turlock Teens Talk Books group will meet at 3 p.m. May 4. 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. May 7 and focus on skeletons. Following a reading of “Dem Bones” by Bob Barner about the human skeleton, participants will create their own skeleton out of various uncooked pasta. STEAM Works is designed for children in kindergarten and older; children 4 and under must be supervised by an adult.
The Turlock Teen Advisory Board will meet at 4 p.m. May 8. 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.
Community Connections, presented by Community Hospice, will be offered at noon on May 9. This class offers a wide variety of practical information for those who are looking to the future, or are caring for a loved one. This month's topic is “Data Protection: How to protect yourself." A free lunch will be provided, however, advance registration is required. Call 209-578-6300 for more information.
The next meeting of the Mystery Lovers Book Club will be 10:30 a.m. May 10. This month's selection is “The Devil She Knows,” by Bill Loehfelm. Life isn't panning out for Maureen Coughlin. At 29, the tough-skinned Staten Island native's only excitement comes from . . . well, not much. A fresh pack of American Spirits, maybe, or a discreet dash of coke before work. If something doesn't change soon, she'll end up a "lifer" at the Narrows, the faux-swank bar where she works one long night after another. But just like the island, the Narrows has its seamy side. The Mystery Lovers Book Club meets at the Turlock Library the second Friday of each month. Call the library at 209-664-8100 for more information.
Children can create unique works of art using tempura paint and bubble solution at 4 p.m. May 14. All ages welcome; children 4 and under must have direct adult supervision.
The library will hold a Read to a Dog event from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 15. Children can stop by the library to read for 15 minutes to a dog certified by Therapy Dogs Alliance. No sign ups necessary. First come, first served. This program gives children a relaxed, non-judgmental atmosphere in which to practice reading aloud. Call 209-664-8100 for more information. For readers up to age 12.
Visitors to the library at 11 a.m. May 18 can learn how to draw anime with former Simpson’s artist Carlos Nieto III. Nieto will teach participants how to create and modify an anime character from scratch, no matter their drawing level. Anime Your Way draws from art, history, reading, geometry and creative writing. All materials are included. All ages are welcome.
The library will hold a Walt Disney Trivia Night from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 20. Participants can show their skills and trivia knowledge with family and friends, or take the challenge solo. Prizes will be awarded to participating teams of up to four people. All teams must have a smart phone or tablet capable of downloading the KAHOOT app – or have it preinstalled on the device.
In celebration of the library’s Summer Reading Program theme “It’s Showtime at Your Library,” families are invited to make a masquerade paper mask using a variety of craft supplies at 4 p.m. May 21. All ages welcome; children 4 and under must have direct adult supervision.
Children are encouraged to wear their play clothes and come celebrate the start of the library’s all-ages Summer Reading Challenge on the lawn with fun and messy activities from 10 a.m. to noon May 25. All ages welcome; children 6 and younger must have direct adult supervision.
Children will have the opportunity to build displays for the library using the library’s LEGO and LEGO DUPLO blocks at 4 p.m. May 28. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but 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.
Denair
The Denair Library will begin its May events with a LEGO Day on Wednesday. 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 May. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.
The library will hold four craft events on Thursdays in May. The first will be held at 4 p.m. May 2 and be on paper quilling. Come find out exactly what quilling is. We'll use a special tool to curl strips of paper in order to create whatever we'd like to. Choose to make a flower, tree, shapes, and anything else you can think of. Supplies for the craft will be provided.
At 4 p.m. May 9, participants can have fun making their own bug using various crafting supplies. The pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and other supplies will be provided.
Visitors to the library at 4 p.m. May 23 can learn how to make happy bees out of cardboard rolls and colorful paper. All materials necessary will be available.
The craft event at 4 p.m. May 30 will see participants create a set of dinosaur claws to wear on their fingers to impress (or scare) family and friends. Different colors of paper will be provided.
The library will host two Crochet for Beginners classes in May — from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. May 4 and 18. Participants can learn basic techniques from a crochet instructor. Bring your own crochet hooks; yarn will be provided.
BYOB, that is, Bring Your Own Board (and pieces, clocks, etc.) to the Denair Library for a nice, friendly game of chess from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 7 and 21. Chess puzzles will also be available to solve. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced player, all are welcome. These will be unranked, fun games of chess. Come by and meet fellow players, and maybe even make a new friend.
Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros (Day of the Chidl/Day of the Book) will be held at 3:30 p.m. May 9. Bilingual Story Time, crafts and free book giveaways to children will be held while supplies last.
The library will hold an Origami Day at 4 p.m. May 16. Learn how to create origami or share with us your origami skills. Paper and instructional books will be provided.
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 hold a Dia de los Ninos/Dia de los Libros (Day of the Child/Day of the Book) event at 3:30 p.m. May 9. Bilingual Story Time, crafts and free book giveaways to children will be held while supplies last.
The library will hold three craft events in May, starting with making glass magnets from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 9.
Participants can learn how to make a wire-wrapped bird’s nest from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 10. Attach beads for the number of “eggs” in your Mother’s nest. Add a feather charm and necklace to complete the thoughtful gift.
Visitors to the library from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. can learn how to make floam.
The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. in Keyes. For more information about programs at the Keyes Library, call 209-664-8000.
