There will be plenty of pumpkins, ghosts and monsters at local branches of the Stanislaus County Library in October, in the form of special story times, activities and craft activities. Other October highlights include visits from the Modesto Symphony Orchestra and "Python Ron" McGee to the Turlock Library.
Turlock
Turlock Teens Talk Books will start out the October events at the Turlock Library at 3 p.m. today. Teens are invited to discuss their most recent reads with fellow bibliophiles.
The next STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering Art and Math) Works session will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 4 and feature the book "How Many Seeds in a Pumpkin?" by Margaret McNamara. The event will include discussing estimation and counting, and conclude with a mosaic art project using pumpkin seeds. STEAM Works is designed for children in Kindergarten and older; children 4 and under must be supervised by a parent.
The Turlock Library and the Modesto Symphony Orchestra will host a special Musical Story Time at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 4. A library storyteller will read "Duck on a Bike" by David Shannon and "Wow! Said the Owl" by Tim Hopgood. A brass quartet from the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra will help to enhance this Story Time experience. After Story Time, participants are invited to try a variety of instruments in the Instrument Petting Zoo.
The Turlock Library Book Club will next meet at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 5. The October selection for the book club is "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" by Kim Edwards. The novel begins on a winter night in 1964 in Lexington, Kentucky, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins. His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down syndrome. Rationalizing it as a need to protect Norah, his wife, he makes a split second decision that will alter all of their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby away to an institution and never to reveal the secret. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child herself. So begins this beautifully told story that unfolds over a quarter of a century — in which these two families, ignorant of each other, are yet bound by the fateful decision made that winter night long ago.
A family drama, "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" explores every mother's silent fear: What would happen if you lost your child and she grew up without you? It is also an astonishing tale of love and how the mysterious ties that hold a family together help us survive the heartache that occurs when long-buried secrets are finally uncovered.
A limited number of copies are available at the Turlock Library. For more information, contact the Turlock Library Reference Desk at (209) 664-8100.
Turlock Teen Crafternoons will be held from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Wednesday in October. The crafts for the month are: paper circuits (Oct. 5), transforming books into art (Oct. 12), personalizing mugs with unique artwork (Oct. 19) and juggling eyeballs (Oct. 26). All materials will be provided. The Crafternoons are sponsored by Friends of the Turlock Public Library and the Turlock Teen Advisory Board.
Celebrate Star Wars Reads Day at the Turlock Library at 4 p.m. Oct. 11. Activities include making Yoda ears and Leia buns, coloring themed Star Wars pages, and more.
The Mystery Lover's Book Club will meet at 10:30 a.m. Oct. 14. This month the group will discuss the first selection, Dashiel Hammett's "Maltese Falcon." Each member will need to obtain his/her own copy, from the library or another source. Next up will be Cynthia Riggs' "Deadly Nightshade" on Nov. 18.
“Python Ron” McGee will bring his favorite lizards and snakes to the library for a creepy crawly good time at 4 p.m. Oct. 18. This educational, hands-on show-and-tell is open to all ages and is perfect for grade school children.
A special Halloween-themed Preschool Story Time will be held at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m. Oct. 27. Kids are encouraged to dress in a non-scary costume and participate in the Friends of the Turlock Library's Trick-or-Treat Parade. A special craft will follow Story Time.
The Turlock Library is located at 550 Minaret Ave. For more information, call 209-664-8100.
Keyes
October events at the Keyes Library will start with a Monster Craft at 1 p.m. Oct. 5. Kids of all ages can make friendly yarn monster just in time for Halloween.
Teens and adults are invited to create pumpkins out of books at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Oct. 7. The completed craft is perfect to place around house as a fall decoration.
A Perler Bead Craft time will be held at 1 p.m. Oct. 12. Children can make spooky ghosts using lollipops at 1 p.m. Oct. 19.
Celebrate Halloween at the library at 3:15 p.m. Oct. 31. Participants can make a Halloween craft, play games and Trick-or-Treat.
The Keyes Library is located at 4420 Maud Ave. For more information, call 209-664-8006.
Denair
The Denair Library will offer programs for children and teens this October, beginning with the Six Word Book Reviews program. From Oct. 1 through 29, teens are invited to submit book reviews using only six words. A prize will be given out for every completed review.
Children can take part in two seasonal crafts this month, beginning with the Watercolor Spiderwebs Painting program at 3 p.m. Oct. 5. Participants will draw and paint spiderwebs using provided craft materials. On Oct. 26, children can make a cute craft version of Frankenstein’s monster at 3 p.m. Children 4 and under are welcome to participate in these crafts, however they must have direct parental supervision.
Teens can take part in a bookmark craft at 3 p.m. Oct. 25. The completed bookmarks will be made out of felt.
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 (209) 634-1283.
