The Grinch visits Carnegie Library for story hour

By TOM STANKARD

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Ironwood - Rather than plotting how to steal Christmas, the Grinch visited children at Ironwood Carnegie Library on Saturday for a holiday story hour.

With cold weather outside, approximately 10 children came to the public library to watch Lynne Wiercinski, read the popular Christmas book "How the Grinch Stole Christmas."

Before she started reading, the Grinch, Jake Suzik, of Bessemer, stopped by to hand out candy canes for the boys and girls.

With the children's book in hand, Wiercinski started reading.

"Every Who down in Who-ville liked Christmas a lot... but the Grinch, who lived just north of Who-ville, did not," Wiercinski said, while looking at the Grinch sitting amongst the children.

Authored by Dr. Seuss, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" is a "classic" Christmas tale about the Grinch, a grouchy, solitary creature, who attempts to put an end to Christmas by stealing Christmas-themed items from the homes of the nearby town Whoville on Christmas Eve. Despite his efforts, Whoville's inhabitants still celebrate the holiday, so the Grinch returns everything that he stole and is the guest of honor at the Whos' Christmas dinner.

When she finished reading, Wiercinski asked the children questions about the book.

Wiercinski asked why the Grinch changed?

"His heart grew three sizes," a child responded.

Feeling the holiday spirit, Wiercinski asked the children what the meaning of Christmas is.

"Friends and family," another child said.

After story time, the children made crafts. First the kids made Grinch dust out of lovely, joyful and sweet ingredients.

On the bag, there was a poem for the children with instructions.

"Don't let the Grinch steal your Christmas...pour the Grinch dust in your yard...protect your home and your family to keep Christmas joy in the air," the poem said.

Then the children assembled Grinch-themed bookmarks to leave the children with presents for Christmas.