Storyteller John Weaver is a parent, performer and early childhood professional based in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. In addition to ongoing programs for the Menlo Park Library, John performs at schools, recreation centers, libraries, bookstores, museums, festivals, family attractions, conferences, parent education seminars, camp-outs, & “read-ins.” Visit John's website at www.storytellerjohnweaver.com, & e-mail John at storytellerjohnweaver(at)yahoo(dot)com
Read Across America Day is coming! Sure, it's happening on March 2nd--about a month & a half away as I write this--but it's never too early to start planning, or to start reading!
The Read Across America initiative was created by the National Education Association to celebrate Dr. Seuss (whose birthday was on March 2), and also something that author celebrated in every one of his books for young people: the joy of reading. Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel was no fan of the beginning reader books of his day, which featured thrilling text along the lines of, "See Mark. See Janet. See Mark sit. See Janet sit. Sit, Mark. Sit Janet. See Mark and Janet sit." These are the memories of my bored inner five-year-old; my school had apparently not yet adopted Seuss (though my parents had), and in class I had to read about the "adventures" of Janet, Mark, and their equally-thrilling dog Tip ("See Tip. Here, Tip. Come, Tip. Tip-Tip."). Ugh.
Thank goodness for Dr. Seuss, who came along and gave beginning reader books what they needed: FUN. The Foot Book, for instance, combines its simple vocabulary with rhyme, silliness, bright & inventive illustrations--AND also manages to cover the subject of opposites! Hooray for Dr. Seuss, on his birthday and every day.
So, how to celebrate Read Across America Day? Schools & libraries do it by hosting special events with guest readers or storytellers, or just by doing a little extra reading on that day. Seuss-related crafts are very popular, as are campus parades and dramatizations from the works of Dr. Seuss. Does the whole day have to focus on Seuss works, though? NO! It's about celebrating the joy of reading! Is Read Across America just for schools & libraries? No, please don't leave it there; any person or organization can have an event, no matter big or small. Parents? You can read, too! It would be a nice birthday present for Dr. Seuss, and an even bigger gift for your children--today, March 2, and every day.
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!
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!
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)
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!
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."
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!
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!**
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!
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.
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!
