Children in kindergarten to third grade came out Monday evening for a Christmas party at the Palmerton Area Library.

Library employee Christine DeSousa said there were twice as many children registered for the party over last year. As the leader of the library's Teen Group, she and the teens organized the party and led the activities. This was the fifth year for the party."I really like to see the kids come out," said Ann Waibel, president of the Friends of the Library Association. "It's always a lot of fun."The event started in the Children's Library section where Betty Stout read a book that asked, "What type of tree would you be?"She stood up and put on a necklace of Christmas lights, then added big Christmas ball earrings and a tinsel-filled Christmas tree hat. Then she brought out her puppet Ho Ho Homer the cat and read a book about how to catch Santa Claus.Sometimes the group of about 30 children laughed and giggled and clapped, and sometimes they sat quietly listening."They were very, very good," Stout said.Afterward, the party moved upstairs to the gallery where the children circulated from one craft activity and game to another. At some of the tables they decorated Christmas balls with glitter, at others it was pine cones or yarn star ornaments. They also pinned the nose on Rudolph and poked a snowman.As she worked on wrapping colorful yarn on a cardboard ornament shape, Sofia DeAntelis, 8, said her favorite activity was poking the snowman. In that game, white paper cups were glued together to make a big snowman. Hidden inside each cup was a prize. The children poked the paper seal to reveal what they won.Julius DeMicco, 8, said, "I heard there's going to be food. Probably, that part," when asked about his favorite activity.To his answer came a swift reply from Sofia, "Seriously?" she said.Brothers Joey Shumaker, 4, and Elijah Shumaker, 6, said they enjoyed everything at the party. This was their first time attending the party, but they come to the library often.Their mom Kim Shumaker said, "We love to come out and support the library. They love to read," She said about her sons.Valerie Solt, 13, a member of the Teen Group, said she volunteered to help because she loves kids. "They're so adorable," she said. "They cause trouble at times, but it's normal."She also likes the teen group."It's really fun. We do crafts, parties and fun stuff like this," she said.