Local branches of the Stanislaus County Library have a number of activities for all ages scheduled in September including a new Mystery Lovers Book Club in Turlock and Talk Like A Pirate Day crafts in Turlock, Keyes and Denair.

Turlock

September events at the Turlock Library will kick off with the next meeting of Teens Talk Books at 3 p.m. Sept. 3. Teens are encouraged to attend this monthly book discussion and talk about what they've been reading lately.

The next STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Works event at 4 p.m. Sept. 6 will focus on watercolor art. There will be a reading of the book "Ish" by Peter Reynolds. After the story, children will have an opportunity to create their own art work using crayons and watercolors. STEAM Works is designed for children in kindergarten and older; children 4 and under must be supervised by a parent.

The Turlock Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 7. September's selection is "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" by Lisa See. Lily is haunted by memories-of who she once was, and of a person, long gone, who defined her existence. She has nothing but time now, as she recounts the tale of Snow Flower, and asks the gods for forgiveness.
In nineteenth-century China, when wives and daughters were foot-bound and lived in almost total seclusion, the women in one remote Hunan county developed their own secret code for communication: nu shu ("women's writing").  Some girls were paired with laotongs, "old sames," in emotional matches that lasted throughout their lives. They painted letters on fans, embroidered messages on handkerchiefs, and composed stories, thereby reaching out of their isolation to share their hopes, dreams, and accomplishments.
With the arrival of a silk fan on which Snow Flower has composed for Lily a poem of introduction in nu shu, their friendship is sealed and they become "old sames" at the tender age of seven. As the years pass, through famine and rebellion, they reflect upon their arranged marriages, loneliness, and the joys and tragedies of motherhood. The two find solace, developing a bond that keeps their spirits alive. But when a misunderstanding arises, their lifelong friendship suddenly threatens to tear apart.
"Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" is a brilliantly realistic journey back to an era of Chinese history that is as deeply moving as it is sorrowful. With the period detail and deep resonance of "Memoirs of a Geisha," this lyrical and emotionally charged novel delves into one of the most mysterious of human relationships: female friendship.
A limited number of copies are available at the Turlock Library.  For more information, contact the Turlock Library Reference Desk at 664-8100.

The Turlock Wiggle Worms will meet at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. every Wednesday in September. This program aimed at babies, toddlers and their caregivers, includes storybooks, lap bounces, music, dancing, rhythm activities, fingerplays and more.

Preschool Story Time will be held at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. every Thursday in September. This program, aimed at children ages 3-6 years, includes picture books, flannelboard and puppet stories, fingerplays, music and dancing.

Turlock Teen Crafternoons will be held from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. every Wednesday in September. On Sept. 7, the activity will be decorating notebooks; on Sept. 14, designing bookmarks for the Anime Bookmark Contest; Sept. 21, Pokemon themed origami bookmarks; and  in anticipation of the release of "Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" crafters will be looking at old photographs and try some face swapping on Sept. 28.   All materials will be provided.

Friends of the Turlock Library will hold their monthly board meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 7 at the library. All are welcome to attend.

The Creative Writing Club for Teens will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 12, 19 and 26. Teens 13 to 18 can write and share their ideas on fiction, poetry and more.  This program provides a safe and encouraging space for teens to hone their creative writing skills while learning about different types of literature.

An eResources Class will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 12. This class will go over the free eresources the library has to offer.

The Turlock Teen Advisory Board will meet at 4 p.m. Sept. 14. Teens can come and share their ideas and earn community service credit.

The Mystery Lovers Book Club will meet at 10 a.m. Sept. 16. Those who like to read mysteries are invited to come to this club organizational meeting  and help choose which books to read during the upcoming months.  

An estate planning seminar will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 19. Attorney Julie Richardson will review the basics of estate planning, including a discussion of all of the documents needed, plus other issues to consider.  She will also provide an update on elder laws.  To reserve a seat for the seminar, call 664-8100.

In honor of International Talk Like a Pirate Day, children are invited to come to the library at 4 p.m. Sept. 20 to make their own pirate ships using upcycled materials. All ages welcome. Children under 4 must have direct parental supervision. 

LEGO Day will be held at 4 p.m. Sept. 27. Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct adult supervision.

These programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Turlock Library. The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. and can be reached at 209-664-8100.

Keyes

Events at the Keyes Library will  begin with an elephant craft at 1 p.m. Sept. 14. After a reading of "I Took My Frog to the Library" by Eric Kimmel, children can make an elephant craft.

LEGO Day will be held at 3 p.m. Sept. 15. Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO displays for the library. LEGO play helps children develop fine motor skills. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct adult supervision.

Celebrate Talk Like A Pirate Day at 3 p.m. Sept. 19 with fun activities. Each participant can make a pirate's hook, an eyepatch, and a pirate ship. Individuals can also play Pin the Eyepatch on the Pirate for a chance to win prizes. 

The library’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Works will take place at 3 p.m. Sept. 22. Tweens ages 9 and up can assemble electrical circuits and create electricity utilizing wind power. 

These programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Keyes Library. The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. in Keyes and can be reached at 209-664-8006.

Denair

The Denair Library will host programs for all ages this September, beginning with a Perler Beads craft for teens at 3 p.m. Sept. 6. When heat is applied, these colorful beads fuse together, preserving the crafter's design.

The Friends of the Denair Library will host a Used Book Sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 10. The sale will be held inside the library and will coincide with the Farm and Family Festival. Shoppers will find a number of books at bargain prices.

The library will celebrate Talk Like a Pirate Day this month with two pirate themed programs. Children are invited to find the pirate hiding in the library Sept. 13 through 24 for a chance to win a prize. On Sept. 14, children can take part in a parrot craft at 3 p.m. Crafters will make wearable parrots out of rolls of toilet paper.

The library’s monthly STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) Challenge will take place at 3 p.m. Sept. 22. Tweens ages 9 and up will build boats out of provided supplies.

These programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Denair Library. The Denair Library is located at 4801 Kersey Road in Denair. For more information about programs at the Denair Library, call 634-1283.