Neighbors | Zack Shively.Jennifer Kuczek made eight stations related to the Nutcracker story and ballet. Pictured, Paige, Sofia and Nathan Becker play with "Sugar Plum Fairy dough" that Kuczek made for the event.
Neighbors | Zack Shively.The Austintown library had a couple crafts for the children to participate in at their Nutcracker party on Dec. 9. Pictured is Collin and Norah Chasko cutting out and making “Princess Pirlipat’s Paper Dolls.“
Neighbors | Zack Shively.The "Nutcracker Sweets" party was a celebration of all things Nutcracker-related. The Austintown library had a number of stations set up, including the "Color the Nutcracker." Pictured is Annabella Miner coloring.
Neighbors | Zack Shively.Fittingly, Jennifer Kuczek had a table of sweets for the "Nutcracker Sweets" party at the Austintown library. The station, named "The Land of Sweets," had mints, chocolate and other candies as well as lemonade.
Neighbors | Zack Shively.Librarian Jennifer Kuczek read "“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King“ by E.T.A. Hoffmann as a part of the "Nutcracker Sweets" program at the Austintown library on Dec. 9.
By ZACK SHIVELY
The Austintown library transformed their meeting room into a The Land of Sweets for their Nutcracker Sweets event on Dec. 9.
Librarian Jennifer Kuczek, an fan of the Nutcracker story, organized the event. She set out eight different stations for the children to move between at the event.
She always wanted to do an event with a theme around the Nutcracker, and she said she was excited to get the opportunity this year. She moves between the library branches and will be able to get to host the event four times throughout the PLYMC.
She began the event with a reading of “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King“ by E.T.A. Hoffmann to give the children an understanding of the story and the stations around the room. In addition to Hoffmann’s story, she put out a number of Nutcracker related books for families to check out. After the story, the children moved between the eight stations at their leisure.
The children had three activities to do. Near the doors into the library, they played a game called “Ring the Mouse King,“ based on the plot of the book. They also could play with “sugar plum fairy dough,“ which Kuczek made with conditioner and corn starch.
She also set up table where the children could practice ballet. The idea originated from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker“ ballet. Kuczek placed a series of place mats in front of a table detailing the common foot placements in ballet. The table by the place mats had books for learning ballet.
The children participated in arts and crafts as well. One station asked them to make a nutcracker using paper rolls. Another station was “Princess Pirlipat’s Paper Dolls,“ where the children cut out paper dolls. They could also color in the Nutcracker on a sheet of paper.
Kuczek brought sweets to the event and placed them on a table, creating the “Land of Sweets“ station. She also made an area for parents to take pictures of their children next to a large depiction of the Nutcracker.