Classics, illustrated

If Mama is as angry as she looks, Juan Bobo is in big trouble!

A VERY GOOD day in the life of a storyteller: a fifth-grade regular at my afternoon storytelling sessions drew her rendition of a scene from one of my tales that captured her imagination. This story had stuck with her an entire week, coming out in illustrated form after the subsequent Thursday session. Big smile on my face! 

I encourage my listeners to share their favorite stories with others, to tell them their own way, to write down a version or draw a picture.  I loved seeing this very famous Juan Bobo tale brought to life--and so beautifully.

Do you know about Juan Bobo?  Visit your library and read a version of his story!

Storyteller John Weaver
storytellerjohnweaver.com

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Going Coastal II: SLO County July 2013

I'm back from another storytelling trip to San Luis Obispo County! 

I was last in the area in October, with a week-long trip sharing stories all over the place (mostly seasonal, spooky tales, as requested by the libraries). It was so great to be back for a two-day, four-event jaunt, on familiar & friendly territory, renewing acquaintances and bringing a new set of tales--this time a bunch of silliness from the famous Juan Bobo--along for some nice, big Summer Reading audiences. Here it all is, in a nutshell:


Day 1: San Luis Obispo Library

The San Luis Obispo Library sure is a bright, sunshiny place first thing in the morning!
BTW, they've added a gorgeous new mural inside since I last visited.

When I performed in this library back in October, it was after dark, and tucked in the stacks of the Children's Section, AND the library was undergoing a construction project--so this experience was quite a bit different! As soon as the library opened at 10, people were starting to hover for my 10:30 program, which was in a nice, big program room in the front of the building. The large crowd was ready for me and my silliness, and the participation level during my storytelling was high--just the way I love it.

Day 2: Atascadero & Paso Robles

Colony Park Community Center, the Atascadero Library's summer performance venue. 

 
I was back at the Atascadero Library, and yet, I was NOT back at the Atascadero Library! Summer Reading season is a big deal here, and their current facility can't accommodate their huge program audiences, so the library takes over the local community center on performance days. So many grown-ups & kids of all ages, all looking for a good time--and I do think we had one! Adults after the fact were walking up & thanking me for a performance they could love, too.


I left Atascadero & headed directly up 101 to Paso Robles for my final pair of events.

Paso Robles City Library on the left, and the Library Study Center on the right. 

What an interesting experience I had this time at the Paso Robles City Library! Usually, it's the adults sitting in the back whom I have to drag into the interactive experience of my storytelling, but this time, it was the kids sitting up front on the floor who needed a little waking up! Fortunately for us all, the crowd in back carried the weight to start, and the whole group did get into the spirit of things! Some engines, some days, do take longer to start than others--take MINE, for instance! ;) 


After the performance, a woman came up with her daughter & said, "I think we saw you a long time ago!" I was thinking she must have meant back in October, when I performed at this library last. And then she said, "did you tell stories at the Livermore Library?" Why, yes, I did and DO!


My final performance of this SLO County visit was at the Paso Robles Library Study Center, with mostly older kids & a few grownups, with a lot of the eye-rolling, head-slapping, don't-stop,-tell-us-more-ing I love from this age group! After THIS session, at which the librarian had introduced me as being from San Francisco, one boy had a very important question for me: "do you like the Giants?" I was confused. Being a storyteller, I thought he was talking about, you know, GIANTS!

It was an honest mistake! 

Right after I finished, it was home again to the SF Bay Area, where of course I had to set an early alarm to get back to my regular library duties in Livermore & Menlo Park, plus all of the local school & library storytelling events I've got coming up. 


Well, that was a really fun trip. I enjoyed getting reacquainted with librarian friends in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero & Paso Robles, and sharing stories & silliness with some nice, big summer reading audiences. Will I be back to share more stories? I certainly hope so, and I'll look forward to the opportunity! I'll say what I said last time around: if you know of any places in the area you think should host an appearance--whether schools, libraries, museums, zoos or whatever--please let them know about me, let me know about them, and when it happens, let your friends know there is something slightly ridiculous happening on the Central Coast!

Storyteller John Weaver

For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

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

Returning to the Central Coast July 10-11!

I'm excited to be returning to SLO County in July to share some all-ages (that means it's for adults, too!) silliness at libraries in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero & Paso Robles.  If you know anyone in the area, please pass it on!

SF Bay Area Storyteller Brings All-Ages Laughter

San Francisco Bay Area Storyteller John Weaver returns to local libraries July 10-11, with tale-spinning stops in San Luis Obispo, Atascadero and Paso Robles.

Storyteller John Weaver, usually known for spreading silliness during his all-ages performances throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and well beyond, will be sharing bilingual tales of Juan Bobo, the Puerto Rican folktale character who never gets things quite right.

Storyteller John Weaver is a parent, performer and Early Childhood Educator who shares his traditional oral storytelling at schools, libraries, zoos and other family attractions.  Weaver’s energetic, humor-filled performances aim to capture the attention of all ages, and encourage families to continue the adventure at home by reading together.  Weaver’s last storytelling visit to the Central Coast took place in October.

All of the library programs are free.  Families are encouraged to check in with the event locations for information.

Wednesday, July 10

10:30am San Luis Obispo Library, 995 Palm Street

Thursday, July 11

11am Atascadero Library at Colony Park Community Center, 5599 Traffic Way

1pm  Paso Robles City Library, 1000 Spring Street

3pm Paso Robles Library Study Center, 3600 Oak Street #101

Storyteller John Weaver

For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

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