The Ceres and Hughson library branches are hosting special events in May designed to foster interest in reading but also offer persons of all ages fun activities aimed at community connection.
Beehive Bubble Wrap Painting
Participants are welcome to attend a class on Beehive Bubble Wrap Painting at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. Have you noticed the grid-like pattern of a beehive? For this craft, participants will paint beehives by dipping bubble wrap sheets in paint and pressing them on our canvases.
‘Read to a Dog’
Independent readers up to age 12 are invited to practice their reading skills with the “Read to a Dog” program at 12 noon to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 at the Ceres Library. This program is designed to help children gain confidence in their reading skills by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Register in-person at the Ceres Library or call 209-537-8938 as space is limited.
Culinary Herbs for Beginners
UCCE Master Gardeners of Stanislaus County will present a class on “Culinary Herbs for Beginners” at 1 p.m. on Monday, May 11. Students will learn how to grow and dry fresh herbs and spices, brew herbal tea, and use plants to make cooking more flavorful. They will take home free seed packets to start a herb garden.
Dungeons & Dragons for Teens
Teens, are you seeking adventure? Want to slay a dragon or maybe save a town from a horde of goblins? Come play Dungeons & Dragons at the Ceres Library at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 11.
Players will learn team-building and problem-solving skills while engaging their imaginations in a safe, collaborative environment. Participants aged 13 to 18 need not provide anything but an open mind and a quest for fun.
Story times
The Ceres Library will offer Story Times at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, May 12, May 19 and May 26. Story Time features books, stories, songs, finger plays, rhymes, and more. It is designed for children under 5 to participate with their caregivers, but all ages are welcome. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Immediately following the four events will be the 11 a.m. Wee Move & Play for a half hour of music, movement, and play. Children can enjoy unstructured play while socializing.
LEGO Day
The library will host Ceres LEGO Days at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 14. Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO creations using the library’s LEGO and Duplo blocks. This program helps young ones develop critical thinking skills, and teaches basic engineering concepts. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.
Shrink Plastic Keychains
A craft activity sponsored by the Friends of the Ceres Library will take place at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 18 where participants draw and color on special plastic sheets that shrink and harden when heated in an oven. The outcome is a creation that can be used as a personalized keychain or charm.
Hatching Chicks
Which came first: the chicken or the egg? Join the Ceres Library at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 21 for a hands-on activity in which children will use paper plates and felt to create “hatching” chicks while learning about the life cycle of a chicken.
Beginning Gardening for Kids
The Ceres Library and master gardener Manjeet Dosanjh will host a talk for kids at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 28 about the health benefits of cucumbers and tomatoes, along with everything needed to successfully grow their own plants.
The Ceres Library is located at 2250 Magnolia Street. Hours are 12 noon to 8 p.m. Mondays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays; and closed Fridays and Sundays. For more information, visit https://www.stanislauslibrary.org/ or call 209-537-8938.
HUGHSON LIBRARY EVENTS
Story times
The Hughson Library will offer Story Times at 10 a.m. on Tuesdays, May 6, May 13 and May 20. Story Time features books, stories, songs, finger plays, rhymes, and more. It is designed for children under 5 to participate with their caregivers, but all ages are welcome. Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Immediately following the four events will be the 10:30 a.m. Wee Move & Play for a half hour of music, movement, and play. Children can enjoy unstructured play while socializing.
LEGO Day
The library will host Hughson LEGO Day: Space Edition at 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 7. Children will have the opportunity to build LEGO design spaceships, droids, rockets, or whatever creation imagined. This program helps young ones develop critical thinking skills, and teaches basic engineering concepts. Children under 4 are welcome, but must have direct parental supervision.
Water Color
At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 12, participants will learn how to express themselves with a water color paint creation.
Friends of Library meet
The Friends of the Hughson Library invite all to attend their bimonthly meeting, held at the library on the second Thursday of each odd-numbered month. Come by and support your local library at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 14.
Culinary Herbs for Beginners
UCCE Master Gardeners of Stanislaus County will present a class on “Culinary Herbs for Beginners” at the Hughson Library 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 16. Students will learn how to grow and dry fresh herbs and spices, brew herbal tea, and use plants to make cooking more flavorful. They will take home free seed packets to start a herb garden.
Following the Master Gardener’s workshop on herbs and spices, stay to fill a sachet with a variety of aromatic dried herbs to take home at 3 p.m.
May Flowers
At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 19 at the Hughson Library, participants may bloom into spring by creating a special bouquet of paper flowers.
STEAM Kits
At 4 p.m. on Tuesday, May 26, participants can engage with Project STEAM Kits, a fun way for all ages to explore STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) concepts through digital and screen-free activities.
The Hughson library branch is located at 2412-A Third Street in Hughson and is open Tuesdays through Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed Mondays and Sundays).
