LAFLIN — As Christmas rapidly approaches, that could mean only one thing — it’s time to make gingerbread houses at the Laflin Library.
The idea came to librarian Nancy Coassolo six years ago and, ever since, the event has been a hit with children who visit the library.
This year, Coassolo signed up the largest class to date with 35 children participating.
“It’s a graham cracker gingerbread house that we make and the kids come and go crazy designing their house,” Coassolo said. “They decorate them any way they want to. We have snow cones for trees and all kinds of candies from M&Ms to Hershey kisses to pretzels to gumdrops to help them create their gingerbread house. It’s a fun day and the kids really enjoy it.”
Coassolo constructs the frame of the houses from graham crackers and “glues” them together using icing. She includes a board covered in aluminum foil as a base for the house. When the children arrive, they are handed a house and board to begin their construction project.
“This is our second year bringing the children to create gingerbread houses,” said Kelle Kroski, a mother of three. “They love it and were looking forward to coming this year.”
Kroski admitted the gingerbread houses don’t last very long once they get home.
“They are in the house for maybe about a week and then my littlest one starts to eat everybody’s; that’s what happened last year. I found her up in the middle of the night and she started with hers and then went on to siblings,” said Kroski.
Olivia Corcoran, 12, has attended the event the last four years.
“I try to be creative. I don’t know if it turns out that way, but I try,” said Olivia, who was accompanied by her brother. “I’ll probably put it on display for a little bit, then eat it.” She admitted it’s usually two to three days before she digs in.
Coassolo said she does not do the project alone as volunteers from members of Luzerne County Reading Council gave her a helping hand the night of the event..
Laflin Library provided all materials and the event was free to attend.
