December 29, 2012

2012: A Look Back





I’m starting off 2013 with a look back at 2012:

January:
The year started for me with a weekend of storytelling at one of my favorite places to perform: Children’s Fairyland!  I also began a new year of storytimes for toddlers, preschoolers & families at the Livermore Public Library; spent a weekend of professional development at the Asilomar Reading Conference in Monterey County; and did some classroom storytelling in Sunnyvale & Pleasanton.

January at Children's Fairyland


February-March:
More storytime fun in Livermore, plus school storytelling in Fremont, Hayward, Livermore & Brentwood.  I also got to pay a storytelling visit to the Sunnyvale Library—an opportunity I always welcome!

Storytelling at the Sunnyvale Library


April:
I got to return to the Sunnyvale Library, this time as one of the tellers in its annual Storytelling Festival!  I also shared stories with the patients & their families at Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, and visited schools in Palo Alto, Fremont, Newark & Alamo to share some storytelling fun.  And of course: my ongoing storytimes in Livermore!

May:
In May, I had a very unique experience: I was the stage announcer for the Augmented Reality Event in Santa Clara, California, “the first global conference dedicated to advancing the business of augmented reality.” It was fun to put those announcer skills to work!  I also returned to the Emerald City Stage at Children’s Fairyland, and shared stories at schools in Burlingame & Pleasanton.  In Livermore Library news, in addition to finishing up the spring storytime season, I visited local schools to promote the library’s annual Summer Reading Program.

June:
Summer is always my favorite time of the year—and not just because I thrive on the warm weather & long days—it’s Summer Reading season!  At the Livermore Public Library, I get to shake up my regular routine by presenting School-Age Storytimes—newly-rebranded (by the new Children’s Librarian) as “The Dream Weaver Story Club.”  In addition to storytelling & book reading, we also had games, prizes, and super-cool science experiments!  The evening Family Storytimes I love continued, with the summer swell of people we tend to only see this time of year.), AND I book & present a season of very special family programs: guest storytellers, puppetry, animals and cultural presentations.  
I get to be reptile handler during an animal program at the Livermore Library.

June was a VERY busy month, with a nice variety of storytelling appearances: San Francisco’s Stonestown Galleria;  the Alameda and San Leandro Libraries; a school in San Ramon; a church in San Mateo; and a gym daycare in Pleasanton!  And yes, I was even able to fit in a weekend at my beloved Children’s Fairyland.

July:
My busy weeks at the Livermore Public Library continued, with even more on my storytelling plate!  I started a weekly trek after dark to the Oakland Zoo, where I performed for the lucky families spending the night as a part of the zoo’s “Family Sundown Safari” series of events.  I had run-ins with the local wildlife—non-resident “residents” of the zoo: turkeys, deer, and SKUNKS! 
A scary little up-close encounter one evening at the Oakland Zoo

Another notable event in July was my first trip to the Menlo Park Library, as a storytime substitute (both English & English/Spanish bilingual events).  This was such a success that I’ve spent a lot of time there since!  I was at other libraries this month for storytelling performances: Daly City, Milpitas and Fremont.  As if that weren’t enough, I also shared stories at a school in Morgan Hill, a church in Concord, and a “park day” event in Pleasanton.

August:
Two more sleepover events for the Oakland Zoo, one for Children’s Fairyland (plus a weekend of daytime storytelling there), more storytimes at the Menlo Park library, AND school storytelling in Santa Clara & Danville.  Along with all that, there were the final summer storytimes & special events at the Livermore Library.

September:
The end of the Summer Reading Program is always a huge letdown for me, but I kept busy in September with what I called my “September of Storytimes” at the Menlo Park Library: I was there every Tuesday, sharing storytelling, book-reading & singing for English & Bilingual storytimes!  So much fun.  In addition to that: my regular toddler, preschool & family storytimes resumed at the Livermore Libraries; I performed for the youth at a Berkeley synagogue, and I spent another fun weekend at Children’s Fairyland.

October:
ROAD TRIP!  A special storytelling tour of San Luis Obispo & Santa Barbara Counties.  I performed silly & spooky stories at libraries in San Luis Obispo, Santa Maria, Morro Bay, Cayucos, Arroyo Grande, Atascadero & Paso Robles.  I also held a storytelling assembly at a school in Solvang, and shared some silly fun at the San Luis Obispo Children’s Museum (a place my son & I spent many fun hours back when he was a “wee little toot”)!  The change of scenery was invigorating, and I met a lot of nice people—including a family who told me they’d seen me perform at one of my Bay Area “homes,” Children’s Fairyland!
On stage, on screen, at the San Luis Obispo Children's Museum

Also in October, I performed for a corporate family party in Palo Alto, and of course was there for my storytimes at the Livermore Library.

November-December:
A BOOK!  I am a contributing author to the freshly-published work, How to be a Storyteller: Essays and Advice on the Artof Storytelling.  I share my personal views of sharing stories with young audiences & their families in my essay, “How to be a Storyteller for Children.”  The book’s editor has spread the word that the electronic edition of the book “hit #1 in Kindle Performing Arts books, and top 20 in ‘Meetings and Presentations’ and ‘Communication.’”  I’ve also received some feedback from the Children’s Librarian at one of my regular storytelling stops: “I read yours first, great job. Lots of good tips for storytellers who would like to tell to a library family audience.
THE BOOK!

Also in the last few weeks of the year, I visited a school in Orinda, did the story portion for very fun art/story program at the Menlo Park Library showcasing Ezra Jack Keats’s “A Snowy Day,” and appeared for the final times (for 2012) at my regular perches at the Livermore Library and Children’s Fairyland.

So what’s ahead for 2013?  January kicks off with another round of professional development in Asilomar, another pair of fill-in storytimes at the Menlo Park Library, more storytelling for the Sunnyvale Library, a visit to an Alamo preschool, and a new year of library storytimes in Livermore.  Beyond that?  Stay with me & find out!
Looking forward to the 2013 Asilomar Reading Conference!

Happy New Year!  Wishing you much health & happiness in 2013.


(Want to revisit 2011?  Click here!)

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December 15, 2012

Upcoming Events



Storytimes at the Livermore Public Library are in brown; storytelling events are in red.  Keep checking in for updates!


Saturday, December 15
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 5:30pm, part of the park's "Winter Wonderland" event.
(weather dependent)

2013

Thursday, January 3
Menlo Park Library
Storytime Fill-in:
11:15am Toddler Storytime
2:15pm Preschool Storytime

Monday, January 7
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Thursday, January 10
Menlo Park Library
Storytime Fill-in:
11:15am Toddler Storytime
2:15pm Preschool Storytime

Friday, January 11
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool


Saturday, January 12

Storytelling at 3pm

Monday, January 14
Livermore Public Library, Civic Center

7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, January 18
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool



January 18-20
Attending Santa Clara County Reading Council's Asilomar Reading Conference

Monday, January 21
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Friday, January 25
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, January 28
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Friday, February 1
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, February 4
Filling in for storytimes:
10:30am Toddler
11:30am Baby

Monday, February 4
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Friday, February 8
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, February 11
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, February 15
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, February 18
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Friday, February 22
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, February 25
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, March 1
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool


Saturday, March 2
Sunday, March 3
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30pm each day
(weather dependent)

Monday, March 4
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Friday, March 8
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, March 11
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, March 15
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, March 18
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Friday, March 22
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, March 25
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, March 29
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool


Monday, April 1
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, April 5
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, April 8
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Friday, April 12
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, April 15
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, April 19
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, April 22
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


Friday, April 26
Livermore Public Library, Rincon
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Newspaper feature from the 2010 Sunnyvale Library Storytelling Festival

Saturday, April 27
Sunnyvale Library
2pm: Annual Sunnyvale Library Storytelling Festival

Monday, April 29
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

Friday, May 3
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool

Monday, May 6
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime
**FINAL PJ Family Storytime of Spring Session**

Friday, May 10
Bilingual Storytimes:
10:30am Baby/Toddler
11am Preschool
**FINAL STORYTIMES OF SPRING SESSION**

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Dorris-Eaton Preschool & Children's Creative Learning Centers.  Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above.  For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!




December 12, 2012

New Book: How to be a Storyteller



This just in!  I am one of the contributing authors to this brand-new book, How to be a Storyteller: Essays and Advice on the Art of Storytelling (Link HERE).  There's a little something for everyone in this book, with each section coming from a storyteller describing his or her own individual craft.   I share my personal views of sharing stories with young audiences & their families in my essay, “How to be a Storyteller for Children.”

Here's the description from the online store:

Communicate with passion and skill when you learn how to be an effective storyteller. We've gathered some great storytellers from around the world to share with you their knowledge and experience. 

In this book, you will find 15 original (only in this book!) essays and articles teaching you how to be a storyteller: 
*With Basic Techniques 
*With Young Children 
*At Family Gatherings 
*In the K-8 Classroom 
*While Telling Historical Tales 
*Around a Campfire 
*In a Library Setting 
*With Adults 
*With Senior Citizens 
*With Adolescents and Teens 
*In a Courtroom 
*At a Story Slam 
*Across Language Barriers 
*Creating Great Characters 
*Using Advanced Techniques 

If you are communicating with others, oral storytelling will always be the foundation with which you must begin. Just to be clear, this book is about the art and methods of oral storytelling. If you are looking for advice solely on writing stories or presenting them through digital or other non-verbal means, this book will not teach you any of that specifically. 

However, everyone, in any art form, school, business or non-profit organization benefits by upgrading their talent in oral storytelling. Pick up this book today and be on your way to new skills. 

Contributors to this book are experienced storytellers and communicators. You'll find articles by Dr. Margaret Read MacDonald, Sean Buvala, Glenda Bonin, Karol Brown, John Weaver, Leeny Del Seamonds, Jen and Nat Whitman, Elly Reidy, Carol Esterreicher, Tim Ereneta, Chris King, Leslie Slape, Mark Goldman, Kathy Jessup and Dr. Wajuppa Tossa. 

Your new book on oral storytelling is edited by K. Sean Buvala, the founder and director of Storyteller.net. As part of our 15th Anniversary year, we've brought you this unique collection of works. Use this book to grow your own abilities or make it the "book of the month" for your storytelling guild or public-speaking discussion groups. The diversity of opinions in the book will give you lots to think about and lots to discuss with your peers. The Kindle version includes the cover, a working Table of Contents and links to the authors' websites. 

Start with the first article from the editor: "Diversity." Then, jump about between the articles and essays as you like. When you are done with the book and want to learn even more, you'll find more information on our website, linked inside the book.

I'm very excited to be sharing this "big news."  If you get the chance to read it, let me know what you think!


Storyteller John Weaver

December 05, 2012

Author Spotlight: Ezra Jack Keats




Here's what I want you to do: go to your local library, make your way to the picture book area (the "K" row, to be exact), and check out a copy of every single Ezra Jack Keats title they have in stock.  Take those books home, sit down, and read up!  
  

 I'm sure you know Keats for his much-loved book "The Snowy Day," which I've gone back to continually since I was a small child myself--but there's so much more where that came from!  I recently picked up a huge stack of picture books Ezra Jack Keats both wrote & illustrated; the size of my haul was so large, one of my storytime dads did a double-take when he saw me checking out so many books at once!  I've just picked a few to share here, but please do go beyond what I talk about below.  I find Keats's work to be both simple and complex, perfectly real & higly-imaginative, touching and inspiring.  To read several of his books purposefully is to undergo an art lesson.

Enough of my fawning--let's talk about some BOOKS!


The Snowy Day
The most famous one of all!  Such a simple tale: a boy gets up, goes out to play in the snow, and comes back home to bed--that's about it!  The simplicity of the words & shapes, though, allow the reader to insert themselves into the action.  I remember my favorite part has always been when Peter sticks a snowball into his pocket for later!  
Look at the art: Peter's bedding (is that actual fabric attached to the image?); the cut-out shapes of the tree, the snow drifts, the buildings & the big boys; and the stamped snow flurry that ends the story.


Whistle for Willie
Peter's back--and he's got a dog!  Peter wants to whistle to call Willie, but it's not easy.  He keeps at it though!  Like "The Snowy Day," this features Peter engaging in simple play outside: this time, he's spinning in circles, playing with his shadow, jumping, and drawing with chalk.  Also like that book, the text here is brief, and the art simultaneously simple & very, very complex.  I see line drawings, painting, collage, and stamping.  I love how when Peter gets dizzy, the red-yellow-green of the traffic signals bounce like balls in the air.


Peter's Chair
Peter's bigger than he used to be; in fact, he's got a new baby sister!  The bad news is, he's having a hard time giving up the things that are being taken away to give to the new baby.  Read this one to your big kids when they have a new baby brother or sister in the house.  Things to look out for here: the wallpaper!  Did Keats take some wallpaper samples from your parents' or grandparents' house?  Also, look under Dad's feet as he paints sister's high chair--he is actually standing on newspaper!


Hi, Cat!
What I love about this book is the imagination displayed by its protagonist, Archie, and the way the other children in the neighborhood (Peter included) enjoy and support the play.  The only thing getting in Archie's way is that cat he meets, but that'll turn out alright, too.  You may find yourself wanting to touch the walls & curtains in this book--they've got that much texture.



Louie
What an amazing book this is: the title character is not known by any of the other children to speak, but when they put on a puppet show, something vibrant is awakened within him.  I love the dream sequence in this book, as well as the creativity & kindness it portrays.





The Trip
Louie is back, just as imaginative and introspective (but yet tentatively outgoing) as before.  The art is colorful & stunning, a mix of drawing, painting, and paper & photo collage: look for Keats himself smiling from an open window!  An added bonus: Louie shows us how to create a city inside a shoebox.





Kitten for a Day
This one is more simple than the rest of Keats's work I am sharing with you here: there are very few words, and the images are a much more basic, painted illustration style.  When a puppy encounters a group of kittens, they welcome him, and they all do "kitten" things together.  Any child who has ever pretended to be a cat or a dog will love this story of friendship.





This list of books, as I've said, is just a start into exploring the works of Ezra Jack Keats.  Take your time sharing these with your child (or reading them to yourself).  Explore the images, talk about the action.  I think it's great the way most of these books don't take a lot of time ramping up, starting a story: we just join the action, already in progress!  Furthermore, the endings often give us a chance to think about--and talk about--what might be happening next.  There's a lot going on here!

For more on Ezra Jack Keats and his books, including curriculum guides, projects & online games, check out the website of the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation

Do YOU have any favorite books by Ezra Jack Keats--or anyone else, for that matter?  Please tell me about them!  Also, please spread the word about these great books, check them out, and read up!

Click on this link & READ UP!  I have many more great books to share with you!


November 27, 2012

Read Up

Ready for some more fun books to check out from your library?  Here are four I like:


The Sea Serpent and Me
Dashka Slater & Catia Chien
This tale of a little girl and a tiny (but rapidly-growing) sea serpent features spare but descriptive wording, but is really made by Chien's gorgeous watercolor artwork.  The story is a gentle adventure that aquarium- and ocean-lovers will enjoy, and it can stimulate fun conversations about real & fantastical animals.






Dragons Love Tacos
Adam Rubin & Daniel Salmieri
"Hey, kid!  Did you know that dragons love tacos?"  The "kid" and his dog look skeptical.  It turns out dragons don't like the delicious tacos you might find at your local taco truck or taqueria; they like the crisp-shell-tomato-lettuce-and-cheese kind you might get from that famous drive-through.  AND THEY HATE   SPICY SALSA--you wouldn't like dragons when they've eaten spicy salsa!  Nothing here but silly fun, as the author describes how you can throw a taco party for dragons.





My Dad!
Steve Smallman & Sean Julian
Simple, rhyming text is only part of what makes this a fun read for toddlers & preschoolers (and a book early readers will be able to read with a little help).  A cuddly-looking father-and-young'n bear pair get into many adventures real-life kids & parents might enjoy: biking, camping, playing ball & reading, and there are plenty of other cute animals around to keep you on each page, exploring together.  The real hook for some children, though, will be the brief episodes of burping and tooting.






Split!  Splat!
Amy Gibson & Steve Björkman 
Super-simple, mostly onomatopoeic, text and bright, large illustrations convey the joyful adventure of a little girl & her dog as the two enjoy a splashy adventure in the rain--and mud!  The book is very easy to read, and gives you and the little one a little something to talk about regarding bringing mud into the home, I'd say!








Check these books out!  Have fun with them, & let me know what you think   Do you have any favorite stories of serpents, or tacos, or bears, dads, rain--or whatever?  Let me know!

Click on this link & READ UP!  I have many more great books to share with you!




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