• Letters to Santa. Children and families can stop in Spangler Children's Library at ImaginOn and write a letter to Santa. Send him a Wish List or just say hello-ho-ho! Stationary and a special mailbox for rush delivery will be provided! Learn More.

• Letters to Soldiers. Write a post card or letter of appreciation to a soldier. Your letter will be delivered via ImaginOn staff to A Million Thanks (amillionthanks.org). Our military will receive these messages - whether serving abroad, at home, or injured in hospitals. Learn More.

 

Holiday Throwback Thursday Movies at ImaginOn
Thursdays at 3 p.m. in Studio i at ImaginOn. Audience: Teens (12-18) and Preteens (8-11)

• 12/4: Elf | After wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity. Learn More
• 12/11: A Christmas Story | Ralphie has to convince his parents, his teacher, and Santa that a Red Ryder B.B. gun really is the perfect gift for the 1940s. Learn More
• 12/18: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation | The Griswold family's plan for a big family Christmas together turns into a big hilarious disaster. Learn More

Monday Movies: A Madea Christmas
Join us for a movie screening of A Madea Christmas with light refreshments, or bring your lunch and enjoy your food with the film. While you're here, check out a book from one of our displays relating to the movie. Audience: Adults, Seniors, Family/Youth & Caregivers

12/15/2014 at 11:30 AM: Beatties Ford Road  |  Learn More

 

Midwood Holiday Matinee showing Elf
An elf sets out to find his true identity. Holiday snacks will be provided. Audience: Family/Youth & Caregivers

12/22/2014 at 2:00 PM: Plaza Midwood  |  Learn More

 

Charles Dickens

Favorite Books Book Club
In December this group will be discussing A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Please join us! This ongoing club reads books on the top 100 favorite books list from the BBC. (It usually meets on the fourth Friday of each month, but due to December holidays, is meeting a week early.) Audience: Adults

Geoge C. Scott as Scrooge

From Page to Screen: An Afternoon with Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol
Join us for a page-to-screen experience! We will watch a presentation on the life & works of beloved author Charles Dickens, followed by the film adaptation of his book, A Christmas Carol, starring George C. Scott (rated-PG). Door prize and refreshments.  Audience: Adults and teens

12/12/2014 at 1:30 PM: Matthews  |  Learn More

 

12/20/2014 at 2:00 PM: Scaleybark  |  Learn More

 

Also check out Children's Theatre of Charlotte's performance of "Scrooge!" at ImaginOn (see below for more details).

It's Kwanzaa Time Family Workshop

Families will receive information on how to host a successful Kwanzaa celebration in their home and community. Special guest is Terry Tiamd, known affectionately as Mother Kwanzaa. Includes written guidelines and hands-on activities. Audience: Family/Youth & Caregivers, Adults, Seniors

12/6/2014 at 10:00 AM: Beatties Ford Road  |  Learn More | Register Online

 

Kwanzaa Adult Workshop
Adults will learn the origins and principals of Kwanzaa to aid them in understanding the holiday. Makheru Thomas Fess Bradley will be the facilitator. Audience: Adults

12/9/2014 at 6:00 PM: Beatties Ford Road  |  Learn More | Register Online

Holiday Button Making
Create buttons you can share with your family and friends to celebrate the holiday season. Audience: Teens (12-18), Preteen (8-11)

12/15/2014 at 3:00 PM: ImaginOn |  Learn More

 

Greeting Cards with Scratch
Make an awesome card for family or friends using a digital greeting card computer program. Audience: Teens (12-18), Preteen (8-11)

12/16/2014 at 3:00 PM: ImaginOn |  Learn More

 

Creating with Books: Holiday Ornaments
Listen to stories and extend learning through hands-on activities. In this program, we'll share Christmas stories and music, then make a holiday ornament to hang on your tree! Registration is not required, but space is limited to 30 participants. Audience: Elementary (5-11)

12/23/2014 at 2:00 PM: ImaginOn |  Learn More

 

Holiday-themed Storytimes

Some locations are offering holiday-themed storytimes. Engage your little one with new sights and sounds through holiday books, songs, and rhymes. See schedule.

Don't miss these holiday performances presented by our partner at ImaginOn, Children's Theatre of Charlotte. Tickets are available at www.ctcharlotte.org or call 704-973-2828.    

 

Scrooge! Dec. 5-22 | Celebrate the holidays at Children's Theatre with this charming musical extravaganza. Miserly Ebenezer Scrooge's "Bah!, Humbug!" opinion of Christmas grates on everyone around him. But when Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former partner and three Christmas spirits, he learns to change his ways -- just in time for Christmas Day! There's something for everyone in this Yuletide treat. Recommended for ages 7+

 

"The Story of the Little Gentleman" Dec. 13-28 | Get into the spirit of the holidays with this delightful story about the true meaning of friendship. Nobody seems to have time for the little gentleman, which makes him sad. But he soon discovers a wonderful new friend who changes his life forever. This beautiful, funny and moving tale features live musicians and a uniquely intimate style all its own. Recommended for ages 3+

 

Saturday Visits from Actors and Musicians!

• Saturday, December 6: Actors from The Story of the Little Gentleman will visit at the 10:30 a.m. Family Storytime in Spangler Library.
• Saturday, December 13: Musicians and actors from The Story of the Little Gentleman will be performing live music in the lobby in between the 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. performances.
• Saturday, December 20: Harpists will be performing live in the ImaginOn lobby from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Reader's Club is the Library's online guide to enjoyable books. Browse our seasonal book lists, below, or check out our most recent reviews here.  

Holiday Gift Guide Looking for the perfect gift for a voracious reader? Check out these titles!

 

Food Consumes Us We can trace our relationships with food down every aisle of the library. Even if we left out cookbooks, there would still be plenty to read in memoirs and in politics, in health and in fiction. For every title on this list, food is something different. It can be history, escape, addiction, passion, career; sometimes food can even be a weapon. Check out these titles.

 

`Tis the Season The holiday season can be a special time of family, friends, good food, a little stress and great memories. Enjoy this list of books that take place during such a magical time of the year. Some of the stories will make you laugh, some might make you cry, and some might even be a little scary (check out Dean Koontz), but all will touch you with the holiday spirit.

 

 

Great children's books for the season

 

Bookhive is the Library's website that lets you search hundreds of children's book reviews (ages birth - 12 years) by title, author, reading level, interest category, and number of pages. New book reviews are added monthly. Take a peek at these seasonal recommendations.

• Winter Books for Children 
• Books about Christmas 
• Books about Hanukkah 
• Books about Kwanzaa 

 

Also, check out our blog Books for Kids on the Charlotte Parent website. This twice-monthly reading recommendation blog is authored by the talented children's specialists at the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. Here are our latest articles:  

• Friends and Family "What a great time of year to celebrate friends, family, and loved ones." Jesse Isley recommends four great children's books to share with a person you love.
• Being Thankful "Books can let us see there is so much more to holidays than gifts and receiving." Maeve Cunningham offers four wonderful titles to help start a positive conversation with your child about being thankful.

New Year, Same Resolutions
Learn how you can reach your goals. Presented by Johnson C. Smith University. Includes take-home resources. Audience: Adults

12/17/2014 at 6:00 PM: Beatties Ford Road  |  Learn More | Register Online

 

New Year's Resolutions (Teens & Preteens)
Discuss the changes you'd like to make for the upcoming year with staff or write them on the display board for everyone to see! Audience: Teens (12-18) and Preteen (8-11)

12/30/2014 at 3:00 PM: ImaginOn  |  Learn More