Aloha!

In motion at the Waikiki Aquarium

Celebrating the Hawaii Children's Discover Center's 12th "birthday"

Storytelling in Honolulu for the Waikiki Aquarium and the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center was a lot of fun!  I've posted a couple of albums of photos of the experience over at my Facebook page, please go and check them out!

Want to hear a story?

From NPR's Weekend Edition, Daniel Pinkwater & Scott Simon read the book Chicken Big, by Keith Graves.

Listen to the story...

Reading at the Library is Fun

Read Up! A Little Family Time

Fall & Winter are the cold & “celebrate-y” parts of the year, with warm thoughts often turned toward family.  There are so many wonderful picture books available on the topic—and my short list here (just eleven, I don’t want to overwhelm), doesn’t even scratch the surface.  What are some of your favorite books that feature family members having fun together?  Here are just a few of mine.

The Big Honey Hunt, by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Back before the the Berenstain Bears became a ubiquitous franchise, there was just small bear and his mom & dad.  This simpler, funnier era was my favorite, and The Big Honey Hunt is a great example.  Small Bear follows his dad on a stinging adventure, while Mother just waits for the moment they finally get back with the safer, store-bought stuff.

The Family Book, by Todd Parr

We Belong Together: A Book About Adoption and Families, by Todd Parr

“There are lots of different ways to be a family,” writes Todd Parr in The Family Book, and in his typically bright, colorful & simple style, he shows fanciful yet relatable families of all stripes—even skunk stripes!  Parr has individual books to cover mommies, daddies, grandmas & grandpas, and even one on adoption: We Belong Together.  The entire collection shares funny images that are sure to get kids giggling & talking.

Let’s Go, Froggy, by Jonathan London & Frank Remkiewicz

Froggy & his daddy are planning a bike trip & a picnic, but will they manage to get out of the house in time?  The story certainly reinforces the adage, “it’s always the last place you look.”  It’s always fun to imitate Froggy’s voice as he replies to his parents’ calls with a stretched-out, “wha-a-a-a-at?”

Oh, Daddy!  By Bob Shea

This book is worth picking up for the cool, bold art alone, but the story isn’t lagging either!  Little Hippo loves his daddy—and loves showing him how to do things.  In fact, Daddy wouldn’t be able to get dressed, get in the car, or even eat lunch without Little Hippo!  Great big fun.

Our Grandparents: A Global Album, by Maya Ajmera, Sheila Kinkade, & Cynthia Pon

Beautiful photos from around the world celebrate the joys shared by grandparents and grandchildren.  The book ends with “five things to do with your grandparents.”   A treasure of a book about treasured family.

Our Granny, by Margaret Wild & Julie Vivas

With gentle wit and lots of love, a pair of children talks about the fact that there are all kinds of grandmothers in the world—and the fact that the most special one to them is their own.  Grandmas at storytime always get a giggle out of the idea of a wobbly-bottomed granny who “marches in demonstrations!”

Lola at the Library, by Anna Mcquinn and Rosalind Beardshaw

Lola Loves Stories by Anna Mcquinn and Rosalind Beardshaw

What a great imagination Lola has!  She & her daddy load up on library books once a week, and Lola’s parents read or tell her stories every evening.  The next day, Lola’s play echoes the previous evening’s stories!  This is a family who really knows how to love & play together.  For more Lola & family, check out Lola at the Library.

Uncle Bobby’s Wedding, by Sarah S. Brannen

Chloe is scared that when her favorite uncle gets married, she’ll lose him forever.  Over the course of this sweet and reaffirming book, she is assured that her family is actually growing to include another favorite relative.

What!  Cried Granny: An Almost Bedtime Story, by Kate Lum & Adrian Johnson

Patrick has arrived at his Granny’s for his very first sleepover there—but he seems to be missing a pillow, a teddy bear—and a few other things!  Granny will do whatever it takes to make sure Patrick has all of the bedtime essentials he needs, even if it takes all night!  Johnson’s bold, colorful art carries the weight of the story, and will have adults & kids smiling at this eager-to-please grandmother.

I hope you check these out, and maybe find some new favorites. If you’ve got some great books in mind—whether they fit in with this list or not—please share them with me!

Happy Halloween!

Upcoming Events

Preschool & Family Storytimes
Livermore Public Library
Join John for the fun each week:
Mondays: 7pm Family Storytime, Civic Center (through December 13)
Fridays: 10:30 & 11:00 Toddler & Preschooler Storytimes, Rincon (through December 17)

Saturday, November 27

Sunday, November 28

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day

Saturday, December 18

WAIKIKI AQUARIUM

Honolulu
Storytelling 10am-12 noon

Sunday, December 19

HAWAII CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTER

Honolulu
Storytelling at 11am, to celebrate the center's 12th birthday

Wednesday, December 22

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 5:30pm, part of the Fairy Winterland Celebration

Livermore Library storytimes resume
Monday, January 10, 2011



January 14-16, 2011
Attending Asilomar Reading Conference

Saturday, January 29

Sunday, January 30

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND

Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day



Saturday, May 21
San Leandro Library
Manor Branch
Storytelling at 10:30am


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling for Rainbow of Knowledge in Los Gatos, ILM Tree in Lafayette, Bright Horizons Family Solutions in SF, and San José Public Library.  For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

John's Mailbag

I opened my mailbox recently to discover a thick envelope from an elementary school I'd visited about a week before. It was filled with notes from students of various ages, thanking me for my storytelling performance. What a pleasant surprise! Here are a few quick excerpts--some funny stuff in here!


"Dear John Weaver, Thank you for coming to our school and telling us stories again. I liked all of your stories... I also liked the voices and impressions. When you told us all of the stories, you made us laugh and everybody liked it. I thought when you told us the stories, you did it way better than last year. Anyways, thank you again for coming."


"Thank you Mr. Weaver for coming to our school and telling real cool story's. I like all of the stories because they were all funny."


"...that was really cool how do you do those voices those where funny voices to me and those princess stories i loved those."


"Dear John: I really liked your stories but the one I liked the most is the one with all the talking animals and my favorite animal in it was the fish because I really REALLY! liked his voice."


"I want to say thank you for comming to our school and telling us stories. They were really funny... I hope you can come again so other kids will laugh as much as we did."


"You mister, are 1 funny story teller. You should try my mom's fudge, it's so yummy."

Read Up! Use Your Mind

Have you got your library card & book bag ready? This time out, I’d like to share a few books that should get your imagination running. Plenty of newer entries on this list—and one oldie that I consider an all-time classic!

Harold and the Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson
I hope you’ve already been long-acquainted with this one! Harold’s been spun off many times into further adventures in animation & in print—but it’s the Crockett Johnson original that deserves your fullest attention. I suppose some kids might’ve been inspired to take crayon to wall after meeting Harold—but I was never one of them.

Something to Do, by David Lucas
This is very much in the tradition of the Harold series, and it will also appeal to parents who have a little one who has been known to whine, “I’m booored!” The little bear claims to have nothing to do, but a solution is at hand. Before long, big bear and little are walking and drawing, with their pictures becoming real.

The Squiggle, by Carole Lexa Schaefer
Another book about lines coming to life (well, at least within a child’s fertile mind). Rather than a drawn line, this is a red string. A few pages in, and you’ll be ready to fight the cat for the last bit of yarn in the house!

Not a Box, by Antoinette Portis
Not a Stick, by Antoinette Portis
If you read these books aloud, you’ll have the honor of getting corrected by cute little animals that get increasingly frustrated with having to tell you that things are not always as they seem to serious adult eyes. Ask the children present what the box or stick have transformed into, and they’ll be glad to help you out!

Higher! Higher! by Leslie Patricelli
Whenever I went too high on a swing as a child, I was afraid I might end up doing a full loop. The girl in this book doesn’t seem to believe in “too high”—in fact, it would seem the moon is not far enough! Not much text here, just a far-reaching imagination.

In My New Yellow Shirt, by Eileen Spinelli & Hideko Takahashi
I wish I’d known as a little boy that getting clothes for your birthday could actually be FUN! In his new yellow shirt, this boy can be a lion, a fish, pirate treasure, and a submarine! His shirt keeps him entertained all day. I’d love to see a sequel starring gift socks!

I hope you check these out, and maybe find some new favorites. If you’ve got some great books in mind—whether they fit in with this list or not—please share them with me!

Read a Banned Book!

September 25 - October 2 marks Banned Books Week, the American Library Association's annual celebration of the freedom to read.  It's a great time to read some books that have been challenged or banned, to think about why people might have a problem with certain material, and to be grateful that we are able to make up our minds for ourselves and within our families-- without others trampling our liberty.

My work is about sharing stories, and my desire for people of all ages to enjoy stories & reading together; since most of what I tend to do is within my field of Early Childhood Education, though, I decided to search for the banned books that fall within the scope of children's literature.  You may be surprised to find some of your own favorite books & authors within the ALA's lists of banned or challenged kids' books! There's Dr. Seuss & Maurice Sendak, the hilarious series of books about Junie B. Jones & Captain Underpants, and the perennial favorites by Roald Dahl and Shel Silverstein.  Objectionable fantasy series?  There's Harry Potter, of course-- but he was preceded by Philip Pullman's "His Dark Material" series (which includes The Golden Compass); The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and even The Wonderful World of Oz!  And my meager list doesn't even scratch the surface of challenged titles.

The right to decide what media your family consumes is your own.  I celebrate the freedom to think about & ultimately choose what books can be read within my own home, and that is why I am celebrating Banned Books Week.

**Join me on my Facebook page, where I am posting some of my favorite video celebrations of Banned Books week!**

Read Up! A Few Favorites to Share

I’d love to hear that you’re already familiar with at least some of these books—they’ve all been around a while, and offer fun stories & beautiful, colorful illustrations.  Got your library card ready?  Okay, here we go:

 

Yoko 
Rosemary Wells
As an adult, it can be annoying when someone says “YUCK” at your favorite food—but for a child, it can be painful! Yoko is a sad little kitten, until her teacher comes up with a delicious idea.




The Big Orange Splot 
Daniel Pinkwater
You’ve seen neighborhoods like Mr. Plumbean’s before—all the houses look nearly identical, and you’ve got to wonder how people find their own home at night! Then something happens that gets Plumbean—and his neighbors—dreaming.




The Araboolies of Liberty Street 
Sam Swope & Barry Root
Definitely a family that would have the homeowners’ association working overtime pumping out cranky letters! Things escalate, until a sweet little girl saves the day.






It’s Okay to be Different 
Todd Parr
Is it REALLY okay to eat macaroni & cheese in the bathtub? That’s up to you (though it seems the cleanup would be a cinch)! Simple, colorful illustrations and wild flights of fancy are a hallmark of Parr’s work—and the image of a kangaroo with a puppy in her pouch is a real smile-inducer!


We’re Different, We’re the Same 
Bobbi Kates & Joe Matthieu
“We’re different. Our noses are different.
“We’re the same. Our noses are the same. They breathe and sniff and sneeze and whiff.”
Rhyme, layers of attractive illustrations, and even Sesame Street characters draw the reader into this topic which preschoolers will be very excited to discuss!



The Paper Bag Princess 
Robert Munsch & Michael Martchenko
Her kingdom has just been destroyed by a dragon, but Princess Elizabeth is no damsel in distress! She has got the situation handled, and she won’t let anything get in her way. Princesses & dragons with a twist, told with typical Munsch humor.





  Check these books out! Have fun with them, & let me know what you think. Do you have any favorite books about princess, or neighbors, or lunch, or being an individual--or whatever? Please let me know!


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

Storyteller John Weaver

Upcoming Events

A selection of what's up ahead. Connect with me for regular updates: Storyteller John Weaver on Facebook.




Coming in NOVEMBER!  Date TBA

Children's Fairyland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day. 



Preschool & Family Storytimes
Livermore Public Library
Join John for the fun each week:
Mondays: 7pm Family Storytime, Civic Center
Thursdays: 10:30 & 11:00 Toddler & Preschooler Storytimes, Springtown
Fridays: 10:30 & 11:00 Toddler & Preschooler Storytimes, Rincon



More events to be added as dates get closer.  No private events, or school visits appear on this list.
Connect with me for regular updates: Storyteller John Weaver on Facebook.

Read Up! Summer Fun

Summer: a great time of year to bask in the glow of some great books!  Here are a few suggestions you can enjoy whether you spend the season at the shore, or by the pool, or wishing for a special garden, or dreaming of winter!

I’m the Biggest Thing in the Ocean! By Kevin Sherry

A fun game of under-the-sea one-upmanship featuring eye-catching art and quite a surprise ending.  Great silly fun!

A Beach Tail by Karen Lynn Williams and Flloyd Cooper
This sweet new book chronicles an adventurous day on the beach with a boy and his dad.  It's also a tale about a tale--the tail of a lion young Gregory draws-- and draws, and draws, and draws...

Froggy Learns to Swim by Jonathan London and Frank Remkiewicz

“Bubble bubble, toot-toot!  Chicken airplane soldier!” That’s the fun refrain your little ones will be wanting to call out both in and out of water after seeing the always-funny Froggy struggle to learn to do what most would think would come naturally.

The Great White Man-Eating Shark: A Cautionary Tale by Margaret Mahy & Jonathan Allen

It’s not safe to go back to the beach when little Norvin is around—but he’ll soon learn his lesson.  A story with a good moral and enough laughs to keep the big kids turning the pages, it’s worth biting into again and again.

Rhinos Who Surf by Julie Mammano

Want to have some radical fun with the tale of rhinos in beach jams?  Pull out your gnarliest surfer accent and shred on through!  At storytime, this one always presents ridiculous fun for the grownups, and ridiculous new vocabulary for the kids.  Tubular!

My Garden by Kevin Henkes

When I was little, I buried a fortune cookie—and boy, was I upset when nothing grew!  The little girl in this book fantasizes about a garden with jellybean bushes and chocolate bunnies, opening the door for fun conversations at home about what you & your kids would like to grow—real or imagined.

The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats

Yes, a “snowy” book on a summer list—because there’s always someone out there (certainly not me) dreaming of winter!  Peter does just about everything he can think of in the snow—even collects some snowballs in his pocket to perhaps pull out in the summer.  I’d sure like to find a way to keep summer with me all year!

Read Up! Some tasty tales

 

     Here’s a small serving of books, each with something extra—a recipe!  The stories stand on their own, of course, but the opportunity to bring the book into the kitchen with your family enriches the experience of the story, and demonstrates how reading is useful in many ways.  Additionally, it might even be an incentive for the little ones to try a new food!  As you read your way through the library, you’ll discover many more great stories with a recipe tucked in.

Bee-bim Bop! By Linda Sue Park & Ho Baek Lee

This rhyming book with a catchy repeated line is one of my favorites.  It’s beautifully-illustrated, and features a child who loves to help her family get ready for a meal.  Better yet, it just sounds fun--children at storytime always end up jumping in to chant along with the text!

The Giant Carrot, by Jan Peck & Barry Root

Another fun picture book with plenty of repeated phrases, this story finds a whole family dreaming of how they’ll eat this huge carrot—if only they can manage to get it out of the ground!  I still haven’t tried that recipe for carrot pudding.

The Ugly Vegetables, by Grace Lin

A little girl wishes her mom would plant beautiful flowers like their neighbors. When the ugly vegetables become soup, though, it's the neighbors who want to trade!

Cook-a-Doodle-Doo! by Janet Stevens & Susan Stevens Crummel

Fans of the Little Red Hen will be interested to learn that great-grandson is a baker, as well.  Rooster has a lot of help—but it is not necessarily helpful help.  The story is funny, there are a lot of lessons about kitchens & cooking along the way, and there’s a tasty recipe at the end.

Pizza at Sally’s, by Monica Wellington

Your little pizza lover will learn how the pies are made, as Sally (and her cat) prepare to open her pizza to a very appreciative & hungry neighborhood of children.

Eight Animals Bake a Cake, by Susan Middleton Elya & Lee Chapman

Animal lovers will love this story, which even throws in a bit of Spanish as it depicts eight good friends cooperating for a very sweet result.

And finally, a whole storybook full of classic tales:

Fairy Tale Feasts: A Literacy Cookbook for Young Readers & Eaters, by Jane Yolen, Heidi E.Y. Stemple, & Philippe Béha
Read Jack & the Beanstalk—and then make “Jack’s Magic Party Beans!” The story of Snow White includes Snow’s recipe for baked apples, and there’s a whole picnic basket of recipes to accompany Little Red Riding Hood!

 

21st Annual Sunnyvale Library Storytelling Festival

Such a fun event, I loved being there!  The photographer from the San Jose Mercury News caught me in one of my classic poses:

Drop Everything and READ!

Have you got 30 minutes to set aside for reading?  Today (April 12) is a great day to try: it's Drop Everything and Read Day -- but any day (and every day) is a great day to celebrate!

 

D.E.A.R.'s April 12 date is to celebrate the birthday of Beverly Cleary, who wrote the great Ramona books, but since reading is for everyone (this means you), you can read whatever you like: favorite picture books, mysteries, stories that have been turned into movies, ghost stories, comics-- even the New York Times!  The goal of the occasion is for families to find regular time for reading-- reading together, and reading individually (or reading individually, together).

Why not visit your library & load up on a selection to take home for everyone to pick through & discover new favorites?  For more info on Drop Everything & Read, and lots of games plus downloads for parents, teachers & librarians, visit the D.E.A.R. website.