December 31, 2014

2014: A Look Back

I’m starting off 2015 with a look back at 2014:


Speaking Engagements:
It was a pleasure this year to speak at conferences of the Santa Clara County Reading Council & the American Library Association's Association of Library Service to Children.  At the Asilomar Reading Conference, I shared a few tips to help teachers refresh their reading presentation for their kids' benefit & their own sanity. At my ALSC Institute talk--held this year at Oakland's Children's Fairyland--I spoke with librarians about some ideas for incorporating the art & benefits of storytelling into their programming.  It was an honor to be included in both events!



I enjoyed being back in Pacific Grove for the 2014 Asilomar Reading Conference!

Festival Storytelling:
I love library Storytelling Festivals; they bring the art into peoples' communities, perhaps introducing them to storytelling for the very first time--and all for free!  This year, I shared tales at the Palo Alto Children's Library's Annual Storytelling Festival, and at the Sunnyvale Library's 25th Annual Storytelling Festival.


Sharing my stories & nonsense with everyone at the Sunnyvale Library


Library Storytelling:
I also visited the Sunnyvale Library and the Palo Alto Children's Library this year for individual storytelling appearances.  Other libraries I visited included the Campbell Library, the Los Osos Library, and the Menlo Park Library. In Menlo Park--one of my two home libraries--I hosted both weekly and monthly storytelling events at different times of the year.  It's wonderful to have ongoing programs like these, which have given me the opportunity to build on stories, and on audience knowledge, to really enrich the experience.

Storytelling in other public venues:
I got to bring my stories to some wonderful places this year! I made several visits to Children's Fairyland, a long-time storytelling home of mine, with regular weekend visits, as well as special-event storytelling for their Sleepover and Fairy Winterland events. I also returned to two of my favorite children's museums, the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center in Honolulu, and the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose.
Aloha from the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center

On stage at Children's Fairyland

Schools, Summer Camps & More:
Preschools, Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, day camps, family campouts, book fairs, assemblies, a monthly "Storyteller-in-Residence" program...so many different opportunities!  This year, they brought me to cities including Alameda, Atherton, Foster City, Fremont, Moraga, Morgan Hill, Menlo Park, Novato, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Mateo, San Ramon, Sunnyvale, and Walnut Creek.

Storytimes, programming & more at my library homes:
The Menlo Park Library and the Livermore Public Library have kept me busy this year with a multitude of duties. My regular storytimes have included Baby Storytime, Toddler Storytime, Preschool Storytime, School-age Storytime, Family Storytime, and Bilingual English/Spanish Storytime.  Hundreds of books shared!
Summer Reading Program planning once again allowed me to bring fun and valuable events to the libraries, and my new role in adult programming in Menlo Park has brought decades of my various experiences together, as I plan, promote, and host a regular series of events, including author appearances, informational presentations, cooking demonstration & instruction, poetry, and performance.  A big highlight of the year in Menlo Park was getting to host the Montclair Women's Big Band, an amazingly-talented group!  Over 300 people crowded the library to take in the after-hours holiday concert.
The programming job also lets me bring in a variety of professional storytellers for both adult & youth programs; this year, that group included Olga Loya, Eth-Noh-Tec, Ruth Halpern and Leona Hoegsberg.  I've already got more such events planned for 2015!

The Menlo Park Library.  I love being here.


So what’s ahead for 2015?
More storytimes!  More library programming!  More special library storytelling visits! More Children's Fairyland!  More festival storytelling!  More school Storyteller-in-Residence! Visit my Upcoming Events listing for dates of my upcoming storytelling visits in Campbell, Menlo Park, Oakland, Sunnyvale and beyond. What is beyond?  Stay with me and we will find out together! And if you know of a place you'd like to see me perform, please let the people in charge know about me!


Happy New Year!  Wishing you much health & happiness in 2015.







December 04, 2014

Read Up! Shh! We Have a Plan, by Chris Haughton

I love this new book.  It's gotten a lot of laughs every time I've shared it at storytime, and I think you may like it a lot, too!


Chris Haughton's whimsical, collage-style illustrations (actually rendered digitally) are what drew me into this book about four little friends who I think may be up way past their bedtimes. When they see a beautiful bird, the littlest one of them all seems to want to make friends with it--but judging by the nets, I think the others have something different in mind.  They have a plan.  Check this out, and have fun reading aloud in whatever silly little voice comes into your head!  



Check this book out! Have fun with it, & let me know what you think. Do you have any favorite books about friends, or birds, or the night--or whatever? Please let me know! 


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



November 29, 2014

Upcoming Events


Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon)  Through December 19
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

FRIDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center) Through  December 19
10:00 Baby Storytime (yes, REAL babies--pre-walkers!)
11:30 Preschool Storytime (age 3-5)
___________________________________


Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Thursday, December 4
Storytelling at 4pm

Sunday, December 13
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30 p.m., weather-dependent. A part of the park’s annual Fairy Winterland, a season of special performances, parades, crafts—and Santa!

Sunday, December 21
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 5:30 p.m., weather-dependent. A part of the park’s annual Fairy Winterland, a season of special performances, parades, crafts—and Santa!

Saturday, January 17
Sunday, January 18
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day, included with park admission.

Thursday, February 5
Storytelling at 4pm

Wednesday, February 18
665 W. Olive Ave.
Storytelling at 4 p.m.

Thursday, March 5
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, March 14
Sunday, March 15
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day, included with park admission.

Thursday, April 2
Storytelling at 4pm

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

Thursday, May 7
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, May 16
Sunday, May 17
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day, included with park admission.


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education programs for Covenant Preschool. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!




August 11, 2014

Upcoming Events

Storytelling & "storytiming,"
this September & beyond!

___________________________________

Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon)  September 2 - December 19
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
11:15 Toddler Storytime
**MUST BE REGISTERED ONLINE**

FRIDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center) September 2 - December 19
10:00 Baby Storytime (yes, REAL babies--pre-walkers!)
11:30 Prescool Storytime (age 3-5)


___________________________________


Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:


Thursday, September 4
Storytelling at 4pm


___________________________________

Friday, September 19: Speaking at Association for Library Service to Children's ALSC National Institute in Oakland.

___________________________________


Thursday, October 2
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, October 18
Sunday, October 19

Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day, included with park admission.

Thursday, November 6
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, November 15
Sunday, November 16
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLANDLake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day, included with park admission.

Thursday, December 4
Storytelling at 4pm


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Valle Verde Children's Center (Walnut Creek), Prestige Preschool Academy (Morgan Hill), Peninsula Jewish Community Center, and Rolling Hills Club (Novato). Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!





June 29, 2014

Upcoming Events



Storytelling & "storytiming,"
this July & beyond!
___________________________________

Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)  Through August 15
10:30am "Big Kids Read" stories, activities & fun for elementary schoolers (Grade 1 and up)
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
11:15 Toddler Storytime
**MUST BE REGISTERED ONLINE**

FRIDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon) Through 8/15
10:30 School-Age Storytime

___________________________________


Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:


Saturday, July 5
Sunday, July 6
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.

Wednesday, July 16
77 Harrison Ave.
Storytelling at 3:30pm

Saturday, July 19
Lake Merritt, Oakland
**SLEEPOVER EVENT** Check the park's website to see how you can camp out at Fairyland!

Saturday, August 9
San Jose
5:30-8pm: Family Lunada, A FREE event featuring performances, activities, & even free food!  I'll be storytelling throughout.
Banner_Lunada_v1


___________________________________

Friday, September 19: Speaking at Association for Library Service to Children's ALSC National Institute in Oakland.

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Bright Horizons (Alameda), Fremont Unified School District summer schools, Valle Verde Children's Center (Walnut Creek), Prestige Preschool Academy (Morgan Hill), Peninsula Jewish Community Center, and Rolling Hills Club (Novato). Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!





June 02, 2014

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) June 1-August 15
10:30am "Big Kids Read" stories, activities & fun for elementary schoolers
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
11:15 Toddler Storytime
**MUST BE REGISTERED ONLINE**

FRIDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon) Through 8/15
10:30 School-AgeStorytime

_____________________________________________

STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:


Wednesday, June 11
PALO ALTO LIBRARY
Children's Library, 1276 Harriet Street
Storytelling at 3:30pm

Thursday, June 26
2075 Palisades Ave.
Storytelling at 11am



Saturday, July 5
Sunday, July 6
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.

Wednesday, July 16
77 Harrison Ave.
Storytelling at 3:30pm

Saturday, July 19

Lake Merritt, Oakland
**SLEEPOVER EVENT** Check the park's website to see how you can camp out at Fairyland!


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Bright Horizons (Alameda), Fremont Unified School District summer schools,  Sequoia Preschool & Kindergarten (Redwood City), Montevideo Elementary (San Ramon), Live Oak Elementary (San Ramon),Valle Verde Children's Center (Walnut Creek), Prestige Preschool Academy (Morgan Hill), Peninsula Jewish Community Center, and Rolling Hills Club (Novato). Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!



April 17, 2014

Upcoming Events

Catch me story telling or "story timing!"  Here's where to look...



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) Through 5/12
10:30am Toddler Storytime
11:30am Toddler Storytime
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
11:15 Toddler Storytime
**MUST BE REGISTERED ONLINE**

FRIDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon) Through 5/16
10:30 Toddler Storytime
11am Preschool Storytime

_____________________________________________

STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:


Thursday, April 17
School-Age Storytelling
**Must register online**
4pm
It’s a new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!

Thursday, April 24
School-Age Storytelling
**Must register online**
4pm
It’s a new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!
**FINAL EVENT UNTIL SEPTEMBER**

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

Saturday, June 5
Sunday, June 6
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.

Wednesday, June 11
PALO ALTO LIBRARY
Location TBD
Storytelling at 3:30pm

Thursday, June 26
2075 Palisades Ave.
Storytelling at 11am

Wednesday, July 16
77 Harrison Ave.
Storytelling at 3:30pm

Saturday, July 19

Lake Merritt, Oakland
**SLEEPOVER EVENT** Check the park's website to see how you can camp out at Fairyland!


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Highlands Elementary (San Mateo), Brier Elementary(Fremont), Ardenwood Elementary (Fremont), Heads Up (Palo Alto), Bright Horizons (Alameda), Fremont Unified School District summer schools,  Sequoia Preschool & Kindergarten (Redwood City), Montevideo Elementary (San Ramon), Live Oak Elementary (San Ramon),Valle Verde Children's Center (Walnut Creek), and Rolling Hills Club (Novato). Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!