Catch the Story! November 21

The brand-new Thursday Afternoon Storytelling for school-agers & their grown-ups at the Menlo Park Library has been going REALLY well! I've been surprised at how many people are coming down into the program room, and leaving with smiles, positive statements, and folktale books I've laid out. What's more, kids are still talking about stories they've heard two weeks before! 

This coming Thursday, it's the fourth session--and also the last of the year (the Menlo Park Library is giving all of its ongoing story programs a break during the month of December). I hope to see lots of people there this week, and I'm crossing my fingers that we are remembered after the break. C'mon out this week and enjoy some stories!


Storyteller John Weaver

Visit me on Facebook!

The (Modern) Riddle of the Sphinx

Sounds about right to me!

Storyteller John Weaver

See some storytelling this week!

(For further dates, check most recent "Upcoming Events" post)

Wednesday, November 13
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
5:30pm
A special evening storytelling event--free & open to the public--at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 14
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!

Wonderful Words

"Thank you so much for reading stories to me.  You are one of the best story readers I have met in my entire life of 2 1/2 yrs.  I always look forward to your story time.  Thank you!"

One of my new storytime regulars came in early to the session this week, and toddled up to me with this card.  So beautiful and nice!  Her dad says she's always shy & clingy, but from the very first night at my storytime, she "un-clung" and ran right up to sit in front of me!


Storyteller John Weaver

Upcoming Events

Storytimes at the Livermore & Menlo Park Libraries are in brown; storytelling events are in red. Keep checking in for updates!

_______________________________

WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:


MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


TUESDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)
10:30am Infant Time

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
11:15 Toddler Storytime


**All Menlo Park storytimes go on hiatus for the month of December**

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

_____________________________________________

SPECIAL STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Wednesday, November 6
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
11am
The second of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, November 9
Sunday, November 10
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Wednesday, November 13
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
5:30pm
A special evening storytelling event--free & open to the public--at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 14
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Thursday, November 21
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Saturday, December 21
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30pm, weather-dependent. A part of the park’s annual Fairy Winterland, a season of special performances, parades, crafts—and Santa!



Saturday, December 28
Sunday, December 29
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


2014

January 17-19, 2014: Attending Santa Clara County Reading Council's Asilomar Reading Conference



Saturday, January 25
SUNNYVALE LIBRARY
665 W. Olive Ave
Storytelling at 3pm


Sunday, January 26
PALO ALTO CHILDREN'S LIBRARY
1276 Harriet Street
Taking part in the library's annual Storytelling Festival, set to take place between 1:15 and 4pm.

Saturday, February 8
Sunday, February 9
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.



Sunday, April 6
HAWAII CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY CENTER
111 Ohe Street, Honolulu
Performing at 11am, included in Discovery Center admission.

I get into the aloha spirit at the Hawaii Children's Discovery Center, an awesome children's museum.

Saturday, April 12
Sunday, April 13
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


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


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Brier Elementary, The Nueva School & Exceptional Needs Network. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

Storyteller John Weaver


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

Special Storytelling Appearances This Week!

Wednesday, November 6
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
11am
The second of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, November 9
Sunday, November 10
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.

InMenlo interviews me about storytelling, new Thursday Storytelling in Menlo Park!

Menlo Park Library’s John Weaver spins tales for school-age kids every Thursday afternoon

Read Up!

Time for another small handful of books for you to check out.  The only connecting thread here is that I happen to like them all!

The Princess and the Packet of Frozen Peas
Tony Wilson & Sue deGennaro

Princesses aren't all they're cracked up to be, but real girls--and frozen peas--sure are cool!  That's the premise of this twist on a "once upon a time" classic, and I sure agree!  The prince in this story: his brother married the "pea princess."  His sister-in-law helped him decide something very important: "...he didn't want to marry a real princess...he wanted to marry the exact opposite.  She didn't have to be beautiful or sensitive.  She just had to like hockey and camping and have a nice smile."  So, do you love this book yet?


Why?
Lila Prap

This is a nonfiction book about animals, and what I really like about it is the fact it can be read at two levels.  The first is the silly joke book that asks questions like, "Why do snakes have legs," and then responds to itself with silly answers like, "because they'd hate cutting their toenails."  The second level of this book is the more detailed, true, explanations to all of the questions.  They're more suited to one-on-one reading, or classroom sharing, than the large preschool storytime groups I often face during my book sharing--but this book is up to satisfy whatever group it can!




Not Me!
Nicola Killen

We're not talking about movies here, but whenever I hear anyone talking about a movie, and they call it "cute," I know that means it is not GOOD.  Well, here we have a very cute book--that I think also happens to be good.  My own rule of thumb has me questioning my judgement, though--so maybe you'd better have a look for yourself!  What I like is all of the clues that children can take in to decide whether the characters of the book are as innocent as they proclaim to be; also, the surprise ending wins me over.  Like I say, see for yourself & tell me what you think.  Maybe it's good, but not at all cute...

Check these books out! Have fun with them, & let me know what you think. Do you have any favorite books about princesses, or animals, or too-cute kids--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

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

Read Up! A pair of silly animal tales

Have you got your library card handy?  Hop over to your local branch's website & reserve these fun books today!


Ribbit!
Rodrigo Folgueira & Poly Bernatene

The frogs are quite surprised to find a pig on their lily pad--a pig that says, "ribbit!"  What is it doing there?  Is it making fun of them?  Pretty soon, all of the animals are trying to figure out the pig, and you can sense their disappointment when the object of their attention disappears. I love the ending of this book, wherein all things become clear.



Hippospotamus
Jeanne Willis & Tony Ross

"Hippopotamus had a spotamus... on her bottomus."  Oh, my--do we really want to read this?  We DO!  So many diagnoses: is it hippopox, or hippolumps, or potomumps--or something else entirely?  When the answer finally comes, you may not be sure whether you are relieved or about to retch. Better re-read the book until you finally figure it out!  I was kind of sick of all of the cutesy rhyming, but the ending makes it very much worth multiple readings.

Check these books out! Have fun with them, & let me know what you think. Do you have any favorite books about frogs, or pigs, or hippos, or mysterious red spots--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

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

Halloween Storytelling

Spread the word!  Plan on attending with a group of friends to share the fun!

SPECIAL STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Wednesday, October 30
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
Not-Too-Scary Halloween Storytelling
11am
The first of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, October 31
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Not-Too-Scary Halloween Storytelling
4pm
Don’t miss this kick-off event to a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!

A Wonderful, Happy Obligation

"We have an obligation to read aloud to our children. To read them things they enjoy. To read to them stories we are already tired of. To do the voices, to make it interesting, and not to stop reading to them just because they learn to read to themselves. Use reading-aloud time as bonding time, as time when no phones are being checked, when the distractions of the world are put aside."

--Author Neil GaimanFrom Neil Gaiman: Why our future depends on libraries, reading and daydreamingA lecture explaining why using our imaginations, and providing for others to use theirs, is an obligation for all citizens
The Guardian

More excerpts from the same piece (please click on the source link above & read the whole thing!):

"The simplest way to make sure that we raise literate children is to teach them to read, and to show them that reading is a pleasurable activity. And that means, at its simplest, finding books that they enjoy, giving them access to those books, and letting them read them.

"Well-meaning adults can easily destroy a child's love of reading: stop them reading what they enjoy, or give them worthy-but-dull books that you like... You'll wind up with a generation convinced that reading is uncool and worse, unpleasant.

"We need our children to get onto the reading ladder: anything that they enjoy reading will move them up, rung by rung, into literacy. "

Upcoming Events

Storytimes at the Livermore & Menlo Park Libraries are in brown; storytelling events are in red. Keep checking in for updates!

_______________________________


WEEKLY LIBRARY STORYTIME EVENTS:



MONDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)
7pm Pajamatime Family Storytime


TUESDAYS (Livermore Public Library, Civic Center)
10:30am Infant Time

THURSDAYS (Menlo Park Library)
11:15 Toddler Storytime
2:15 Preschool Storytime (FINAL PRESCHOOL SESSION October 24)

**All Menlo Park storytimes go on hiatus for the month of December**

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

_____________________________________________

SPECIAL STORYTELLING APPEARANCES:

Wednesday, October 30
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
Not-Too-Scary Halloween Storytelling
11am
The first of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, October 31
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
Not-Too-Scary Halloween Storytelling
4pm
Don’t miss this kick-off event to a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!

Wednesday, November 6
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
11am
The second of 3 open-to-the public storytelling events at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 7
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, November 9
Sunday, November 10
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Wednesday, November 13
BALSAM HILL SHOWROOM
1561 Adrian Rd., Burlingame
5:30pm
A special evening storytelling event--free & open to the public--at this new physical site for realistic artificial Christmas trees.

Thursday, November 14
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Thursday, November 21
MENLO PARK LIBRARY
School-Age Storytelling
4pm
It’s a brand-new weekly storytelling series (this is NOT a storytime) for school-agers and their grown-ups!


Saturday, December 7
Sunday, December 8
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Saturday, December 21
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 2:30pm, weather-dependent. A part of the park’s annual Fairy Winterland, a season of special performances, parades, crafts—and Santa!



Saturday, December 28
Sunday, December 29
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


2014

January 17-19, 2014: Attending Santa Clara County Reading Council's Asilomar Reading Conference



Saturday, January 25
SUNNYVALE LIBRARY
665 W. Olive Ave
Storytelling at 3pm


Saturday, February 8
Sunday, February 9
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


Saturday, April 12
Sunday, April 13
CHILDREN'S FAIRYLAND
Lake Merritt, Oakland
Storytelling at 1:30pm & 2:30pm (different stories each time), weather-dependent.


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


Other recent or upcoming events include storytelling & education for Bright Horizons, La Petite Academy, Children's Creative Learning Centers, Donlon Elementary, Rainbow of Knowledge, Hillborough Cub Scout Pack 58, The Nueva School & Exceptional Needs Network. Private events (for schools, etc.) do not show up in listings above. For regular updates, connect with me on Facebook!

Storyteller John Weaver


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

Halloween Storytelling

A special event coming to the Menlo Park Library--and the start of a fun new series!  Spread the word about STORY TELLING (vs. Story TIME) at the library!

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)!

The reading bond

--and the same goes for reading to your children, even well after they are perfectly able to read on their own!  Start early, and never stop!

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)!

A beautiful sight, a joyful noise

I heard the most joyful noise coming from a cozy corner of the Menlo Park Library's children's room:

A grandpa reading to his grandchild with such wonderful, lively expression! I am far too accustomed to seeing adults drag their children to the library, and then play with their cell phone apps while the kids are supposed to be dutifully reading. Adults like this grandpa are demonstrating the value & joy to be found in reading, AND they are building memories that will be treasured for 2 lifetimes. 

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)!