A 'wonderland' of activities coming for 2003

Libraries have been taking some program breaks during the holidays but will offer a lot of special events again starting in early January.

A "Winter Wonderland Show" will highlight Salt Lake County Library activities with a premiere at the Sandy Library, 10100 S. Petunia Way on Tuesday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m. This event presents comedy and entertainment by Jim Williams. It is geared for children ages 4 and up and their families. It is designed to promote outdoor winter fun.

The event will move to the Magna Library, 8339 W. 3500 South, Saturday, Jan. 11, at 11 a.m.; the East Millcreek Library, 2266 Evergreen Ave., on Monday, Jan. 13, at 7 p.m.; the Riverton Library, 12850 S. Redwood Road, on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 11 a.m.; the West Valley Library, 2880 W. 3650 South, on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 7 p.m.; and the Hunter Library, 4740 W. 4100 South, on Wednesday, Jan. 22, at 7 p.m.

"Winter Wonderland" will also continue through February at other area libraries.

Highlight for January in the Salt Lake City Library System will be the continuing "Dog Day Afternoon" program on Saturdays where therapy animals are available to help make an extra-fun reading experience for kids. This will be held every Saturday from 1-3 p.m. at the Anderson-Foothill Branch, 1135 S. 2100 East, and the Day-Riverside Branch, 1575 W. 1000 North. The Main Library, 209 E. 500 South, will have dogs on Jan. 4 and Jan. 11 but will then be closed in preparation for the move to the new library.

Here's a list of some children's books available for a second-grade reading level, courtesy of the Salt Lake County Library System:

• " 'C' is for Clown," by Stan and Jan Berenstain. Describes a circus balancing act using only words that begin with the letter C.

• "Peach Boy," by Williams Hooks. Found floating on the river inside a peach by an old couple, Momotaro grows up and fights terrible demons who have terrorized the village for years.

• "Buck-Buck the Chicken," by Amy Ehrlich. Nancy's pet chicken, Buck-Buck, has trouble learning to act like a regular chicken.

• "Sarah's Unicorn," by Bruce and Katherine Coville. Although she tries to keep her friendship with Oakhorn a secret, Sarah's wicked aunt finds out and is determined to rob the unicorn of its magic.