It's SUPERYULE!

On Monday, December 12, from 6:15--8pm the Chippewa Falls Public Library will present its FIRST ANNUAL LIBRARY SUPERYULE!

Join Santa Claus HIMSELF and the library staff for an evening of stories, crafts, snacks, and prize drawings! Drop in and choose the activities you want to do in the time frame provided. No registration is required. However, craft supplies & snacks will be available until they run out. Here's how the SUPERYULE event breaks down:

-"The Three Bears See Santa" puppet show with a sign language interpreter will take place at 6:30pm in the large meeting room. If your child or a child you know is deaf/hard of hearing or simply curious about American Sign language, tell her or bring her along!

-Santa will be on hand to talk to children...Bring your camera so you can take a picture of your child(ren) with Santa in our Winter Wonderland Castle Scene. All families will receive a bag of goodies.

-Holiday treats and beverages for the adults and children.

-Drawings for holiday treats and kids' books.

-Make & Take holiday crafts. Crafts will be available for youth in the following age ranges:

3-5 Simple paper crafts
6-10 Tree garlands & ornaments...or make a holiday picture.
11 & up teaching card-making techniques with a local artist in the teen area.

December Holiday Events

December 7th--Holiday Storytime & Crafts--10:30 - 11:30 AM

Ages 3--6

Chippewa Falls public Library invites young children to a fun craft and storytime program. Register in the children's section or call 715-723-1146 ext. 109

December 12th--Santa Visit, Holiday Puppet Show & Crafts--6:15 - 8pm

For families with children 2 - 18
Crafts and Treats While Supplies Last

Try some holiday crafts or make gifts, visit with Santa, eat some treats. No registration required. Ask for more information about this event at 715-723-1146 ext. 109.

Holiday Closings

The Chippewa Falls Public Library will be closed for the Christmas holidays on:

>Thursday, December 23rd
>Friday, December 24th
>Saturday, December 25th

We'll be open until 1:30pm on December 31st (New Year's Eve) and closed New Year's Day. We'll also be closed January 3rd.

The staff of Chippewa Falls Public Library wishes everyone in our area the happiest holidays, and I'm sure that sentiment is shared by the Board of Trustees and the Friends of the Library.

December: Safe Toys and Gifts Month

One Christmas morning in the early 1980s, I watched a kid named Kevin try to use a toy called a "Pogo Ball." It was essentially a very firm kickball attached to a platform upon which a child was expected to stand while holding part of the ball tightly between his feet. Then, said child was supposed to hop. This is all true. Picture here.

Anyway, I watched Kevin excitedly run out of his front screen door with it, put it upon the ground, get his feet on it as per the instructions (while leaning against a garbage can), hop once and then immediately land with some force face-first on his driveway. He went back inside far less excitedly than he ran out.

For those of us who have to buy Christmas gifts for children, it's nice to know there are resources out there to help us make decisions that will keep them from doing high speed face-plants on the sidewalk or "shooting their eye out."

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has a veritable library of toy safety publications. Definitely worth a look for parents. Especially "Toy Safety Shopping Tips" and list of toy recalls.

The Federation of Public Interest Research Groups's Toy Safety Report 2010

Kidshealth.org--Choosing Safe Toys

World Against Toys Causing Harm (WATCH)--Their list of ten worst toys would be funny if the toys weren't real. My favorite: "Walkaroo II Aluminum Stilts."

American Academy of Pediatrics toy safety page.

Prevent Blindness America's site tells us more about buying eye-safe toys for children.