Butler library enchants children in snowman-themed event
Children received a Frosty reception Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Butler Area Public Library, where they were greeted by snowman Candy Numb Toes.
Numb Toes, who works as library director Lori Hinderliter during regular business hours, said 275 children signed up for Frosty’s Winter Wonderland, the library’s 10th annual holiday program.
Upon their arrival in the library’s vestibule, children were guided to a poster on the wall where they could get their snowman name by comparing the first letter in their first name to a list of 26 festive names. Their last names coincided with a different name for each of the 12 months, like “Numb Toes.”
Groups of children and their parents entered the library every 15 minutes, where they first heard Tiffany Harkleroad, the library’s youth services manager, read the story of “Frosty the Snowman.”
The next stop was a game area, where children could engage in snowman bowling, Frosty plinko, snowball toss and more.
On Imagination Island, children made snow slime and crafts, and they watched an experiment in which an event volunteer blew up a snowman.
Outside, children could have their picture taken with painted wooden cutouts of the cartoon children that appeared in the 1969 Rankin/Bass television special “Frosty the Snowman.”
Hinderliter said the cutouts, which were used in last year’s Butler Spirit of Christmas Parade, were donated by People’s Gas and artist Sue Burtner.
Beckett Murphy, 8, couldn’t stop smiling as he and his family made their way through Frosty’s Winter Wonderland.
His favorite part of the event was Harkleroad’s reading of “Frosty the Snowman,” and his favorite game was snowman bowling, he said.
“I think it’s fun,” Beckett said, “and it makes me excited for Christmas.”
Allison Reagan, of Clinton Township, said her family attends a program once a month or more at the South Butler Community Library or Butler Area Public Library.
“We love library programs,” Reagan said. “We try to go to as many as we can.”
She said public libraries are a great resource for free programs, including checking out books.
“We are very thankful for our libraries,” Reagan said.
The children who visited Frosty’s Winter Wonderland also got a bag of snowman snack mix before they left the library.
“It’s very festive,” said Sarah McKinney, of Butler, who brought her young son, Benjamin, to the event on Saturday. “They did a fabulous job.”
McKinney also appreciates the library, its personnel and all the programs for children and adults alike.
“It’s a great safe space, and the staff is just so friendly,” she said.
Benjamin summed up the thoughts of all the children who enjoyed Frosty’s Winter Wonderland on Saturday at the Butler library.
“It made me very happy,” he said.
