Library events for December

Children Decorate Cookie Houses at Garland Library

Children ages 6 through 12 are invited to decorate their own cookie houses at the Nicholson Memorial Library System’s Build a Sweet House program. The event takes place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 12 at the Central Library.

Participants at the event can practice the STEAM concept of engineering while constructing “cookie” houses out of graham crackers, candies, and frosting. Attendees may take their creations home at the end of the night.

Registration is required to attend this program and is limited to 20 participants. Registration may be completed by phone or in person at the Central Library beginning Nov. 28. The library will provide all the supplies.

The Central Library is located at 625 Austin St., in Downtown Garland. Please be aware that photographs and video may be taken at Library programs for use in print and/or electronic media at the Library’s discretion. For more information on this program or to register, please call 972-205-2516.

Youth Can Catch Pokémon and Earn Badges at Garland Libraries

Pokémon is still going strong, and kids, tweens, and teens can earn Pokémon gym badges at two Garland Library locations this December.

On Tuesday, Dec. 18, youth ages eighteen and younger may visit the Central Library between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. and participate in a Pokémon-themed scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt will consist of eight activities that will help kids learn about their library. Participants will earn one badge from the Unova region for each activity completed. Scavenger hunt task lists can be picked up at the Children’s Desk.

On Thursday, Dec. 27, the South Garland Branch Library will host the Pokémon scavenger hunt challenge from 1 to 8 p.m. The rules and amount of activities will be the same as those at the first program. However, the activities will be different and the badges earned will be from the Kalos region, so dedicated Pokémon fans are encouraged to attend both events and earn the maximum number of badges.

Kids Discover Abstract Painting at Garland Library

Children can learn a quick and easy method for creating abstract paintings at this month’s Art Explorers event. Art Explorers is a monthly program for children ages 6 through 12 presented by the Nicholson Memorial Library System. The next event takes place at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 1, at the Walnut Creek Branch Library.

Children attending Art Explorers learn about different types of art, then develop their STEAM art skills by creating their own masterpieces. Attendees at the December event will place small blobs of different colored paint on art paper. As they spread the paint, they will be shown how to blend the colors, creating an abstract look.

Registration is required to attend each Art Explorer program and is limited to 24 participants. Registration may be completed by phone or in person at the Walnut Creek Branch Library beginning Saturday, Nov. 17. The Walnut Creek Branch Library is located at 3319 Edgewood Drive, in Garland. All supplies are provided by the library. Due to ongoing construction, event locations are subject to change. Please visit our website, www.library.garlandtx.gov, for the latest information. Please be aware that photographs and video may be taken at Library programs for use in print and/or electronic media at the Library’s discretion. For more information on this program, please call 972-205-2585.

Carolers Sing Holiday Favorites at Senior Social Hour

Celebrate the festive season at Senior Social Hour with a performance by holiday caroling group Holiday Cheer. Holiday Cheer will appear at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 13, at the Central Library, 625 Austin St., in Downtown Garland.

Holiday Cheer is a trio of carolers who have been performing in DFW since 1984. The group will present a selection of a capella tunes from their repertoire of approximately 70 holiday favorites.

Sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Senior Social Hour programs are free and open to anyone 55 years of age and older. Donations of gently-used books and media for the Friends of the Library book sale will be accepted at the program. No registration is required to attend the event, but seats do fill up quickly. Doors open 30 minutes prior to performance. Due to ongoing construction, event locations are subject to change. Please visit our website, www.library.garlandtx.gov, for the latest information. Please be aware that photographs and video may be taken at Library programs for use in print and/or electronic media at the Library’s discretion. Call 972-205-2502 for more information.