December 31, 2013

2013: A Look Back


I’m starting off 2014 with a look back at 2013:


January:
My first public storytelling appearance of 2013 was at one of my favorite places to share stories & fun: the Sunnyvale Library!  Every visit is a pleasure, and this time was no exception.
Sharing my stories & nonsense with everyone at the Sunnyvale Library

I began a new year of storytimes for toddlers, preschoolers & families at the Livermore Public Library; and I found a NEW library home in Menlo Park!  I'd been filling in for the occasional storytime at the Menlo Park Library since the previous summer, but in January they made it official, with a Library Assistant position, and a wonderful array of duties. Things started off with a pair of regular storytimes, plus early planning for both the Youth and Adult Summer Reading Programs.
The Menlo Park Library.  I love being here.
In mid-January, as I have the last few years, I spent a weekend of professional development at the Asilomar Reading Conference in Monterey County.  Back in the Bay Area later in the month, I did some school storytelling in Alamo, and performed for the first time at the Palo Alto Children's Library's Annual Storytelling Festival.  THAT was a very fun day!



February-March:
A full slate of storytimes in Menlo Park & Livermore, plus school storytelling in Menlo Park & Fremont, and giving teacher workshops in read-aloud techniques at schools in Redwood City & Palo Alto. 

I also paid my first visit of the year to Children's Fairyland, one of my very favorite storytelling homes!  When I spend a weekend there, it's two performances each afternoon--and families who attend both get different stories each time. 

On stage at Children's Fairyland


April:
I returned to the Sunnyvale Library this month, as just one of many participants in the library's annual Storytelling Festival.  I also paid visits to Fairfield & Berkeley, as libraries in each of those cities hosted my storytelling program.

There was more school storytelling this month (in Redwood City & Palo Alto), plus all of my storytimes in both Menlo Park & Livermore.

May:
With the end of the school year coming--and libraries' Summer Reading Programs starting--last-minute activity keeps EVERYONE in schools & libraries busy!  My silly "come to the library, read, and win" messages were filmed and played online for the libraries in both Livermore & Menlo Park (we even had a special visitor for the MP shoot).
THAT dude.

I spent a week at Encinal Elementary in Atherton, storytelling & talking up the summer games about 25 classes visiting the school library, one at a time.  A fun, invigorating change of pace!

Also in May, I brought some cool, interactive storytelling fun to schools & churches in Hayward, San Mateo, San Jose & San Ramon.

June:
I say it all the time: 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, Mondays kept me SO busy, with 3 storytimes.  I'd begin with my "Dream Weaver Story Club" (stories, book-sharing, science & games with grade schoolers), then run inside for an Infant Storytime (those guys love me--it's my round head, I think), and finally return several hours later to finish out the day with a 7pm Family Storytime.  I also had a school-age storytime Fridays at Livermore's Rincon Library, plus hosting all of the special programs I'd booked: music, animal education, puppetry and more.

In Menlo Park, I'd also booked summer programs--including a couple I'd put together as the person in charge of the Adult Summer Reading Program.  I hosted a Plant Exchange, and also a dumpling-cooking program featuring chef & cookbook author Andrea Nguyen.  Both events were huge hits, as were all of the ones I'd arranged for the family programs.  Planning, publicizing, shopping, decorating and all the other details for the summer reading in Menlo Park--as well as learning from & collaborating with the wonderful, wise, dedicated & hard-working staff--kept me very happy, indeed.  It was a very extensive, wildly-successful program.

June was not just "storytiming" and other library-staff-type stuff for me: I was also out & about, storytelling!  I spun my tales at Children's Fairyland, the Campbell Library, and schools in Cupertino & Concord.


July:
A little road trip to San Luis Obispo County!  I enjoyed returning to the libraries in SLO, Atascadero, and Paso Robles (as well as the Paso Robles Library's Study Center) for some summer storytelling.
The San Luis Obispo Library, and some of its creative furniture.

More storytelling closer to home, at libraries (Cupertino & Fairfield), schools (Fremont, Belmont, San Ramon & Morgan Hill), and (a sleepover event at) Children's Fairyland.

My busy season continued at the libraries in Livermore & Menlo Park--and July marked a year since there very first time I'd set foot in the Menlo Park Library for the one-time assignment of filling in for its Toddler & Bilingual Storytimes.  I sure am glad that first visit was a success!


August-September:
My final storytimes & events of the summer in Livermore & Menlo Park, and a lot of anticipation of "what comes next" (a lot of what comes next is usually immediate forethought to the following summer).  I spent another couple of weekends at Children's Fairyland; shared stories at schools in Alameda, San Ramon, Los Gatos & Pleasanton; gave a Family Reading Seminar in Redwood City, and did some campfire storytelling for a special needs family camp at Camp Arroyo in Livermore.  


October-November:
In October, I told Halloween stories--inside a Christmas tree showroom!  I spent three Wednesdays at Balsam Hill--seller of upscale artificial trees in Burlingame--sharing stories among a well-lit forest.  An interesting change of pace!

Something else new & exciting that started in October was my Thursday Afternoon Storytelling series at the Menlo Park Library.  The Children's Librarian, ever thinking of how she could use a storyteller on her staff (having previously assigned me to storytelling at local schools & for class visits to the library, and a staff training in adding elements of storytelling to their storytime reading), suggested this new event just for school-agers & their adults.  It's "something cool after school" for the big kids, and it's gotten off to a really great start.  I enjoy exposing everyone to storytelling and folklore, and getting those "398s"--the library's folktale collection--moving off of the shelves!  


The new Thursday Afternoon Storytelling series was covered by the local news site, InMenlo.
http://inmenlo.com/2013/10/30/menlo-park-librarys-john-weaver-spins-tales-for-school-age-kids-every-thursday-afternoon/
October & November brought my regular storytimes at my two libraries, of course, plus I returned to Livermore's Camp Arroyo, shared stories with some scouts in Hillsborough, and spent another weekend at Children's Fairyland. 


December:

In December, all story events in Menlo Park have taken a little winter break, giving me the chance to jump ahead in my planning.  Livermore storytimes also came to a stop mid-month.  Children's Fairyland, however, kept me very busy!  I spent three weekends at the park, with new stories at each visit, including Fairyland's annual "Winter Fairyland" event.  I love being a part of it!

My final school visit of the year was at a huge Book Fair event at a school in Hillsborough.  Such a large crowd, such a variety of ages--and I loved hearing afterward that kids wouldn't allow their adults to drag them away before the stories ran out!  I could tell there were also some adults who would not allow their kids to drag them away before the stories' end.

So what’s ahead for 2014?  January kicks off with another round of professional development in Asilomar--and this time I'll also be presenting!  I'll give the teachers my tips on refreshing their reading presentation for their kids' benefit & their own sanity.  Storytimes & storytelling will resume in Livermore & Menlo Park, and I'll be returning with my storytelling to libraries in Sunnyvale & Palo Alto.  Beyond that, I've got school visits on the books, a little storytelling in Hawaii, and...beyond that?  Stay with me and we will find out together!

Looking forward to the 2014 Asilomar Reading Conference!

Happy New Year!  Wishing you much health & happiness in 2014.






December 04, 2013

Catch the Story this December at CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND!



I'll be sharing stories & silliness at Children's Fairyland on five different days this month, over the course of three separate weekends.  Planning on visiting the park on more than one weekend?  You'll hear a different set of stories each time!  Hope to see you there.


Storyteller John Weaver

Connect with me on Facebook!

Check out the book: How to be a Storyteller: Essays and Advice on the Art of Storytelling!

November 17, 2013

Catch the Story! November 21



The brand-new Thursday Afternoon Storytelling for school-agers & their grown-ups at the Menlo Park Library has been going REALLY well! I've been surprised at how many people are coming down into the program room, and leaving with smiles, positive statements, and folktale books I've laid out. What's more, kids are still talking about stories they've heard two weeks before! 

This coming Thursday, it's the fourth session--and also the last of the year (the Menlo Park Library is giving all of its ongoing story programs a break during the month of December). I hope to see lots of people there this week, and I'm crossing my fingers that we are remembered after the break. C'mon out this week and enjoy some stories!



Storyteller John Weaver

Visit me on Facebook!



November 09, 2013

See some storytelling this week!

(For further dates, check most recent "Upcoming Events" post)















Wednesday, November 13
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
5:30pm
A special evening storytelling event--free & open to the public--at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.


Thursday, November 14
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!

November 06, 2013

Wonderful Words

"Thank you so much for reading stories to me.  You are one of the best story readers I have met in my entire life of 2 1/2 yrs.  I always look forward to your story time.  Thank you!"






One of my new storytime regulars came in early to the session this week, and toddled up to me with this card.  So beautiful and nice!  Her dad says she's always shy & clingy, but from the very first night at my storytime, she "un-clung" and ran right up to sit in front of me!


Storyteller John Weaver

November 05, 2013

Upcoming Events


Storytimes at the Livermore & Menlo Park Libraries are in brownstorytelling events are in red. Keep checking in for updates!

_______________________________

WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:


MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


TUESDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)
10:30am Infant Time

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
11:15 Toddler Storytime


**All Menlo Park storytimes go on hiatus for the month of December**

FRIDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon)
10:30 Toddler Storytime
11am Preschool Storytime

_____________________________________________

SPECIAL STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:


Wednesday, November 6
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
11am
The second of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, November 9
Sunday, November 10
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Wednesday, November 13
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
5:30pm
A special evening storytelling event--free & open to the public--at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.


Thursday, November 14
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Thursday, November 21
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Saturday, December 21
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30pm, weather-dependent. A part of the park’s annual Fairy Winterland, a season of special performances, parades, crafts—and Santa!



Saturday, December 28
Sunday, December 29
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


2014

January 17-19, 2014: Attending Santa Clara County Reading Council's Asilomar Reading Conference



Saturday, January 25
SUNNYVALE LIBRARY
665 W. Olive Ave
Storytelling at 3pm


Sunday, January 26
PALO ALTO CHILDREN'S LIBRARY
1276 Harriet Street
Taking part in the library's annual Storytelling Festival, set to take place between 1:15 and 4pm.

Saturday, February 8
Sunday, February 9
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.



Sunday, April 6
HAWAII CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTER
111 Ohe Street, Honolulu
Performing at 11am, included in Discovery Center admission.
I get into the aloha spirit at the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center, an awesome children's museum.


Saturday, April 12
Sunday, April 13
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Saturday, April 26
SUNNYVALE LIBRARY
665 W. Olive Ave
Participating in the library's Annual Storytelling Festival, which begins at 2pm


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Brier Elementary, The Nueva School & Exceptional Needs Network. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

Storyteller John Weaver


Check out the book: How to be a Storyteller: Essays and Advice on the Art of Storytelling!

November 04, 2013

Special Storytelling Appearances This Week!



Wednesday, November 6
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
11am
The second of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, November 9
Sunday, November 10
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.

October 22, 2013

Read Up!

Time for another small handful of books for you to check out.  The only connecting thread here is that I happen to like them all!

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas
Tony Wilson & Sue deGennaro
Princesses aren't all they're cracked up to be, but real girls--and frozen peas--sure are cool!  That's the premise of this twist on a "once upon a time" classic, and I sure agree!  The prince in this story: his brother married the "pea princess."  His sister-in-law helped him decide something very important: "...he didn't want to marry a real princess...he wanted to marry the exact opposite.  She didn't have to be beautiful or sensitive.  She just had to like hockey and camping and have a nice smile."  So, do you love this book yet?


Why?
Lila Prap
This is a nonfiction book about animals, and what I really like about it is the fact it can be read at two levels.  The first is the silly joke book that asks questions like, "Why do snakes have legs," and then responds to itself with silly answers like, "because they'd hate cutting their toenails."  The second level of this book is the more detailed, true, explanations to all of the questions.  They're more suited to one-on-one reading, or classroom sharing, than the large preschool storytime groups I often face during my book sharing--but this book is up to satisfy whatever group it can!




Not Me!
Nicola Killen
We're not talking about movies here, but whenever I hear anyone talking about a movie, and they call it "cute," I know that means it is not GOOD.  Well, here we have a very cute book--that I think also happens to be good.  My own rule of thumb has me questioning my judgement, though--so maybe you'd better have a look for yourself!  What I like is all of the clues that children can take in to decide whether the characters of the book are as innocent as they proclaim to be; also, the surprise ending wins me over.  Like I say, see for yourself & tell me what you think.  Maybe it's good, but not at all cute...


Check these books out! Have fun with them, & let me know what you think. Do you have any favorite books about princesses, or animals, or too-cute kids--or whatever? Please let me know! 

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



October 21, 2013

Read Up! A pair of silly animal tales

Have you got your library card handy?  Hop over to your local branch's website & reserve these fun books today!


Ribbit!
Rodrigo Folgueira & Poly Bernatene
The frogs are quite surprised to find a pig on their lily pad--a pig that says, "ribbit!"  What is it doing there?  Is it making fun of them?  Pretty soon, all of the animals are trying to figure out the pig, and you can sense their disappointment when the object of their attention disappears. I love the ending of this book, wherein all things become clear.



Hippospotamus
Jeanne Willis & Tony Ross
"Hippopotamus had a spotamus... on her bottomus."  Oh, my--do we really want to read this?  We DO!  So many diagnoses: is it hippopox, or hippolumps, or potomumps--or something else entirely?  When the answer finally comes, you may not be sure whether you are relieved or about to retch. Better re-read the book until you finally figure it out!  I was kind of sick of all of the cutesy rhyming, but the ending makes it very much worth multiple readings.


Check these books out! Have fun with them, & let me know what you think. Do you have any favorite books about frogs, or pigs, or hippos, or mysterious red spots--or whatever? Please let me know! 

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






October 18, 2013

Halloween Storytelling

Spread the word!  Plan on attending with a group of friends to share the fun!



















SPECIAL STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Wednesday, October 30
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
Not-Too-Scary Halloween Storytelling
11am
The first of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, October 31
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Not-Too-Scary Halloween Storytelling
4pm
Don’t miss this kick-off event to a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!

October 17, 2013

A Wonderful, Happy Obligation

"We have an obligation to read aloud to our children. To read them things they enjoy. To read to them stories we are already tired of. To do the voices, to make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read to themselves. Use reading-aloud time as bonding time, as time when no phones are being checked, when the distractions of the world are put aside."



--Author Neil GaimanFrom Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreamingA lecture explaining why using our imaginations, and providing for others to use theirs, is an obligation for all citizens
The Guardian

More excerpts from the same piece (please click on the source link above & read the whole thing!):


"The simplest way to make sure that we raise literate children is to teach them to read, and to show them that reading is a pleasurable activity. And that means, at its simplest, finding books that they enjoy, giving them access to those books, and letting them read them.


"Well-meaning adults can easily destroy a child's love of reading: stop them reading what they enjoy, or give them worthy-but-dull books that you like... You'll wind up with a generation convinced that reading is uncool and worse, unpleasant.


"We need our children to get onto the reading ladder: anything that they enjoy reading will move them up, rung by rung, into literacy. "

September 30, 2013

Upcoming Events


Storytimes at the Livermore & Menlo Park Libraries are in brown; storytelling events are in red. Keep checking in for updates!

_______________________________


WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:



MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


TUESDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)
10:30am Infant Time

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
11:15 Toddler Storytime
2:15 Preschool Storytime (FINAL PRESCHOOL SESSION October 24)

**All Menlo Park storytimes go on hiatus for the month of December**

FRIDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon)
10:30 Toddler Storytime
11am Preschool Storytime

_____________________________________________

SPECIAL STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Wednesday, October 30
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
Not-Too-Scary Halloween Storytelling
11am
The first of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, October 31
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Not-Too-Scary Halloween Storytelling
4pm
Don’t miss this kick-off event to a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!

Wednesday, November 6
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
11am
The second of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, November 9
Sunday, November 10
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Wednesday, November 13
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
5:30pm
A special evening storytelling event--free & open to the public--at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.


Thursday, November 14
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Thursday, November 21
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Saturday, December 21
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30pm, weather-dependent. A part of the park’s annual Fairy Winterland, a season of special performances, parades, crafts—and Santa!



Saturday, December 28
Sunday, December 29
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


2014

January 17-19, 2014: Attending Santa Clara County Reading Council's Asilomar Reading Conference



Saturday, January 25
SUNNYVALE LIBRARY
665 W. Olive Ave
Storytelling at 3pm


Saturday, February 8
Sunday, February 9
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Saturday, April 12
Sunday, April 13
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Saturday, April 26
SUNNYVALE LIBRARY
665 W. Olive Ave
Participating in the library's Annual Storytelling Festival, which begins at 2pm


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Bright Horizons, La Petite Academy, Children's Creative Learning Centers, Donlon Elementary, Rainbow of Knowledge, Hillborough Cub Scout Pack 58, The Nueva School & Exceptional Needs Network. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

Storyteller John Weaver


Check out the book: How to be a Storyteller: Essays and Advice on the Art of Storytelling!


September 26, 2013