Upcoming Events

Here's the latest listing  of what I've got coming up, in both storytelling and "storytiming!"  Storytiming first:


Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library) THROUGH 5/27
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
10:45 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
4:00 p.m.  Big Kids Wonder Workshop (Storytelling, STEAM, & other activities for students 1st grade & above) (Civic Center) 


THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library) 
10:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytimes 

___________________________________

Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Thursday, April 7

MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, April 9

SUNNYVALE LIBRARY

Participating in the 27th Annual Sunnyvale Library Storytelling Festival

2:00-4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 5
MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Tuesday, May 17

DANVILLE LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4:00 p.m.

Thursday, May 19

CASTRO VALLEY LIBRARY

Storytelling at 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday June 22

PASO ROBLES LIBRARY
1:30 Study Center
3:00 Library

Wednesday, June 29
CAMPBELL LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:30 p.m.

Wednesday, July 6
LOS ALTOS LIBRARY

Storytelling at 3:00 p.m.

Friday, July 8
BELLE HAVEN BRANCH LIBRARY, MENLO PARK

Storytelling at 2:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 13
SARATOGA LIBRARY

http://www.sccl.org/Locations/Saratoga

Storytelling at 2:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 19
FAIRFIELD CORDELIA LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:30

Thursday, July 21
MILPITAS LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:00

Tuesday, July 26
ARROYO GRANDE LIBRARY
Storytelling at 2:00

Wednesday, July 27
NIPOMO LIBRARY
Storytelling at 1:00

Thursday, July 28
ATASCADERO LIBRARY
Storytelling at 10:30

Thursday, July 28
OCEANO LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:00

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education programs for Heads Up CDC, Live Oak Elementary, and Prestige Preschool Academy. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

Storyteller John Weaver

Read Up! 3 Nonfiction Picture Books for Animal Lovers

I've got three here to share either on the lap or in a storytime; see what you think!

Every Day Birds
Amy Ludwig VanDerwater & Dylan Metrano
Metrano's large, bold cut-paper illustrations really catch the eye, and VanDerwater's sparse, lightly-rhyming text leaves plenty of room for the listener & reader to discuss whether they've seen each bird.  At the end of the book, for those with a more advanced attention span, all of the illustrations reappear in thumbnail form, along with a full paragraph of detail about each bird.

Fabulous Frogs
Martin Jenkins & Tim Hopgood
Hopgood's mixed-media illustrations are attention-grabbers for sure, starting out with the Goliath frog, which is 2-pages huge!  We get to see an amazing (okay, "fabulous") variety of frogs from around the world, with simple text printed large & bold, and more detailed information in a smaller font down below.  I love books that can work at multiple levels like this.  At the end of the book, the creators provide a simple index, recommended resources for further information--and even more wonderful frog pictures!

Giant Pop-Out Ocean
(Chronicle Books, no author/photographer information provided)
Kids in preschool & above will love knowing the answers to the guessing-game questions in this book ("I have a hard shell, and you'll find me in tide ppols.  My pincers help protect me.  What am I?"), and everyone will love the big, colorful photographs that unfurl as the answers.  I'm not sure what "I can even balance a ball on my nose" is doing on a spread that is supposed to be about wild dolphins, though!

Check out these books, and let me know what you think!  Do you have any favorite nonfiction picture books about wildlife, or favorite books of any kind about anything else?  Let me know!  See more of my suggestions at Read Up!

Storyteller John Weaver



.

Upcoming Events

Here's the latest listing  of what I've got coming up, in both storytelling and "storytiming!"  Storytiming first:


Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library) THROUGH 5/27
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
10:45 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
4:00 p.m.  Big Kids Wonder Workshop (Storytelling, STEAM, & other activities for students 1st grade & above) (Civic Center) 


THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library) 
10:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. Toddler Storytimes 

___________________________________

Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Saturday, February 27
CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE
Storytelling throughout free Family Lunada/Lunada Familiar event
5:30 - 8:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 3
MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, April 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, April 9

SUNNYVALE LIBRARY

Participating in the 27th Annual Sunnyvale Library Storytelling Festival
2:00-4:30 p.m.

Thursday, May 5
MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Tuesday, May 17

DANVILLE LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday June 22
PASO ROBLES LIBRARY
1:30 Study Center
3:00 Library

Wednesday, June 29
CAMPBELL LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, July 19
FAIRFIELD CORDELIA LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:30

Thursday, July 21
MILPITAS LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:00

Tuesday, July 26
ARROYO GRANDE LIBRARY
Storytelling at 2:00

Wednesday, July 27
NIPOMO LIBRARY
Storytelling at 1:00

Thursday, July 28
ATASCADERO LIBRARY
Storytelling at 10:30

Thursday, July 28
OCEANO LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:00

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education programs for Warm Springs Elementary, Hacienda CDC, and Brier Elementary. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!


Storyteller John Weaver

Read Up! Dogs at Bedtime

Have you got your library card ready?  Reserve these books now, and check them out!

Goodnight, Good Dog
Mary Lyn Ray & Rebecca Malone
This is a quiet book, quiet like the night.  Bedtime has come, but the dog isn't sleepy.  He's still thinking about his wonderful day in the sun with his family.  He's not ready for bed; he's ready for a new day to begin.  This seems like a very calming bedtime book, to help the people sharing it reflect upon their day, and think a bit about the next one.

Time for Bed, Fred
Yasmeen Ismail
While the dog in Goodnight, Good Dog quietly roams the house for a bit while his family sleeps, Fred is actively, disruptively, joyfully fighting against bedtime.  He's trying to squeeze in as much remaining action from the day as he can, before he is forced to go to bed.  It is probably those 26 pages of activity that finally tired him out!  I love the funny situations and the beautiful, action-loaded watercolor illustrations.

Have you read these books?  What do you think?  If you have any other favorite books to share, I'd love to hear about them!

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

-- Storyteller John Weaver



.

Upcoming Events

Here's the latest listing  of what I've got coming up, in both storytelling and "storytiming!"  Storytiming first:


Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library) THROUGH 5/27
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
10:45 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
4:00 p.m.  Big Kids Wonder Workshop (Storytelling, STEAM, & other activities for students 1st grade & above) (Civic Center) 


THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library) 
10:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. Toddler Storytimes 

___________________________________

Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Thursday, February 4

MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Wednesday, February 17

SUNNYVALE LIBRARY

Storytelling at 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, March 3
MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, April 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, May 5
MENLO PARK LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4pm

Tuesday, May 17

DANVILLE LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, June 29
CAMPBELL LIBRARY
Storytelling at 3:30 p.m.

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education programs for Warm Springs Elementary, Hacienda CDC, and Brier Elementary. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!


Storyteller John Weaver

Extra, Extra...

An interview published in the Palo Alto Daily News, January 22, 2016.
Read the text at the newspaper's website...

Storyteller John Weaver

Visit John on Facebook



.

READ UP!

Have you got your library card ready?  Reserve these books now, and check them out!

Say Hello!
Linda Davick
This book's official summary puts it very nicely: "...the world would be a lot more fun if hellos were shared." The rhyming text offers a wealth of different ways to give a friendly greeting: "With a hug.  With a shake.  With a Curtsy.  With a Cake."  I love the letter in the mail going to Uncle Wally on Sea Lion Drive in Pacifica!  The huge pictures of smiling faces, the abundance of white space surrounding them, the simple ideas offered one-per-page: all of these things pull in the adult reader & children, inviting them to take time to think & talk about each possibility, and to brainstorm a few other ways to offer hellos, and kindness.

Puddles
Jonathan London & G. Brian Karas
Here, a brother & sister take great joy in exploring the post-rainstorm world of their own yard & neighborhood, filled as it is with frogs, worms, mud, tiny rivers, and (of course) puddles!  Is Mom's order to not get wet one that is even possible to follow?  I love the sense of adventure here, and the opening to discuss that adventure, and the post-rain world, with young co-readers.

Have you read these books?  What do you think?  If you have any other favorite books to share, I'd love to hear about them!

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

-- Storyteller John Weaver

2015: A Look Back

I’m starting off 2016 with a look back at 2015:


In the beginning of the year, I vacationed in Thailand. I did pop into the National Library in Bangkok.


On the way back home, I found TWO libraries inside Taiwan's Taoyuan airport!


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 Sunnyvale Library Storytelling Festival, and the Los Altos Library Storytelling Festival.


Library Storytelling:
I was happy in 2015 to share more stories at the Campbell Library

In 2015, I made my first storytelling trip to Mendocino County! I shared my tales at libraries in Fort Bragg, Point Arena, Ukiah, and Willits. Another first-time storytelling road trip was one to Yolo County, where I did my thing at the libraries in Esparto & Winters. I ventured to beautiful San Luis Obispo County once again, for storytelling at the libraries in Arroyo Grande & SLO. Closer to my home in the San Francisco Bay Area, I also shared stories at libraries in Campbell, Castro Valley, Los Altos, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, Saratoga, and Sunnyvale.

They were expecting me in San Luis Obispo...


...and in Willits!


In Menlo Park--one of my two home libraries--I hosted monthly storytelling events, especially for elementary-schoolers. It's wonderful to have these ongoing events, which have given me the opportunity to build on stories, and on audience knowledge, to really enrich the experience.


Children's Fairyland

I made several visits to Children's Fairyland, a long-time storytelling home of mine, with 2-day (and 2 performances each day) weekend visits, as well as special-event storytelling for their Sleepover and Fairy Winterland events. I love being a part of the fun!

At home on the Emerald City Stage at Children's Fairyland


Schools, Summer Camps & More:Preschools, Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, day camps, family campouts, book fairs, assemblies...so many different opportunities! This year, they brought me to cities including Alameda, Belmont, Burlingame, Foster City, Fremont, Moraga, Morgan Hill, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, San Jose, and Sunnyvale.


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!


The school-age event in Livermore--over the years, just a summer event--expanded into the school year in 2015, with mushrooming attendance, to even my surprise. I tell stories, but there are many other rotating elements, including science experiments, reading, art, quiz shows, magic, games, and all kinds of STEAM-y surprises!

A round of "Pin the Han on the Donkey"


A little Halloween-time science & fun



Striking a Bigfoot pose behind a cola geyser

Summer Reading Program planning once again allowed me to bring fun and valuable events to the libraries, and my increasing role in adult programming in Menlo Park has brought decades of my various experiences together, as I plan, program, promote, and host a regular series of events, and many special events, including author appearances, informational presentations, cooking demonstration & instruction, art, poetry, and performance. A big highlight of the year in Menlo Park was getting to once again host an after-hours concert by the Montclair Women's Big Band, an amazingly-talented group!


The programming jobs also lets me bring in a variety of professional storytellers for both adult & youth programs; this year, that group included Tom & Sandy Farley (AKA Spontaneous Combustion) and Ruth Halpern.


So what’s ahead for 2016?More storytelling. More "storytiming!" More library programming! More special library storytelling visits! More Children's Fairyland! More festival storytelling! Visit my Upcoming Events listing regularly for dates of my upcoming storytelling visits to Menlo Park, Oakland, Sunnyvale, Danville, 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! Spread the word!


Happy New Year! Wishing you much health & happiness in 2016.


Storyteller John Weaver
storytellerjohnweaver.com


Keep up with me on Facebook!

Upcoming Events

Here's the latest listing  of what I've got coming up, in both storytelling and "storytiming!"  Storytiming first:


Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library) 1/4 - 5/27
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
10:45 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
4:00 p.m.  Big Kids Wonder Workshop(Storytelling & activities for students 1st grade & above) (Civic Center) 

WEDNESDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon) 1/4 - 5/27
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime
11:00 a.m. Bilingual Baby Storytime (prewalkers)

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library) 
10:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. Toddler Storytimes 

___________________________________

Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Thursday, January 7

MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, January 16

Sunday, January 17
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day, included with park admission.

Sunday, January 24

PALO ALTO CHILDREN'S LIBRARY STORYTELLING FESTIVAL
Festival runs from 1:15 - 4:15; I will be performing at around 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, February 4
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Wednesday, February 17
SUNNYVALE LIBRARY
Storytelling at 2 p.m.

Thursday, March 3
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, April 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, May 5
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Tuesday, May 17

DANVILLE LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4:00 p.m.

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education programs for A Child's Way and Warm Springs Elementary. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!


Storyteller John Weaver

STEAM: Building a Gumdrop Dome

I present a regular program for big kids (Grades 1-5), wherein I combine my storytelling with components of science, word games, magic, and who-knows-what.  The kids would probably be happy with week-after-week of Mentos being dropped into soda bottles--but it's cold outside this time of year, so it's nice to branch out.

Most of my projects come from science books & websites.  This gumdrop dome project, which involved a stretch for some of the children in hand-eye coordination & spatial thinking, came from PBS's ZOOM!  Here's the full PDF of the Gumdrop Dome activity on Zoom.

In the future, my group & I will apply what we learned about building strong structures, and try to see if we can create some gumdrop & toothpick buildings that can bear some real weight!

The biggest issue here is trying to keep the kids from licking the building materials.

Upcoming Events

Here's the latest listing  of what I've got coming up, in both storytelling and "storytiming!"  Storytiming first:


Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library) THROUGH 12/18, then 1/4 - 5/27
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
10:45 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
4:00 p.m.  Big Kids Read (Storytelling & activities for students 1st grade & above) (Civic Center) 

WEDNESDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon) THROUGH 12/18, then 1/4 - 5/27
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime
11:00 a.m. Bilingual Baby Storytime (prewalkers)

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library) 
10:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. Toddler Storytimes (NO STORYTIMES IN DECEMBER)

___________________________________

Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Thursday, December 3
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, December 5

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30, included with park admission.

Sunday, December 13

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30, included with park admission.

Thursday, January 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, January 16

Sunday, January 17
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day, included with park admission.

Thursday, February 4
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, March 3
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, April 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, May 5
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Tuesday, May 17

DANVILLE LIBRARY

Storytelling at 4:00 p.m.

Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education programs for A Child's Way and Warm Springs Elementary. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!


Storyteller John Weaver

Upcoming Events

Here's the latest listing  of what I've got coming up, in both storytelling and "storytiming!"  Storytiming first:


Section 1:
WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:

MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library) THROUGH 12/18
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
10:45 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime (Civic Center)
4:00 p.m.  Big Kids Read (Storytelling & activities for students 1st grade & above) (Civic Center) 

WEDNESDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Rincon) THROUGH 12/18
10:15 a.m. Toddler/Preschool Storytime
11:00 a.m. Bilingual Baby Storytime (prewalkers)

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
10:15 a.m. & 11:15 a.m. Toddler Storytimes


___________________________________

Section 2:
STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Thursday, October 1
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Thursday, October 22

CASTRO VALLEY LIBRARY

3600 Norbridge Ave, Castro Valley, CA

10:00 a.m.

Thursday, November 5
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, November 7
LOS ALTOS LIBRARY STORYTELLING FESTIVAL

1:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Saturday, November 21

Sunday, November 22
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30 & 2:30 each day, included with park admission.

Thursday, December 3
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Storytelling at 4pm

Saturday, December 5

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30, included with park admission.

Sunday, December 13

CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30, included with park admission.

Saturday, January 16

Sunday, January 17
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
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 A Child's Way and Warm Springs Elementary. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!


Storyteller John Weaver