Summer Reading

July 2008….Summer Reading and Stories to Travel With

For storytellers, Library Summer Reading time is often one of our busiest times of the year. Every year, state libraries have the chance to choose theme for libraries to use for the summer. This year the state of California chose "Catch the Reading Bug". Performers then pitch what they would do within that theme.

This summer we decided NOT to tell stories about bugs, but rather find stories about people who BUG US. We called this program "Don't Bug Me: Brothers, Sisters and Other Annoying Creatures." We have had this show on the road at libraries over the past five weeks going as far south as San Ysidro (from which we could see Mexico) and as far north as Palmdale (about 60 miles north of Los Angeles.) We also ran all around Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego Counties.

We have been in teeny tiny old libraries where they had to close down the computers and push the tables and shelves out of the way in order to create a performing space, to brand spanking new libraries with amazing beautiful community rooms and professional theatres inside. One of the most interesting places we visited was in Palmdale where they have a separate Youth library, one of only two in the state of California. The main library is a couple of blocks away, so this is a whole building and library devoted just to children. Very cool, and you can be really loud inside with no one complaining!

We also had the chance to tell some scary urban legends, and engage in some really interesting discussion with teenagers about the process by which urban legends get formed. Will Bill Gates really send you $100 for passing along this email? Can a cell phone really cause popcorn to pop? Find out the answer to these and more at www.snopes.com.

We especially want to give a shout out and thanks to all of the Friends of the Library groups who make so many of the special shows even possible in such difficult times. We always stop by their bookstores and the libraries. We sure HATE to have to haul more books home, but, sometimes you have to.

Besides all of the library shows, we also had the chance to be in support of some other activities and groups that we love. One is the American Cancer Society's Camp Reach fro the Sky, which is a day camp for kids with cancer. This was started over 20 years ago by a doctor who felt that these kids needed to have the chance to go to camp, too. We love being in support with all of the fabulous staff and volunteers that make this camp happen, and were happy to add in our stories to friends old and new.

We also spent an afternoon at the Ocean Festival in San Clemente. www.oceanfestival.org The San Clemente Ocean Festival is a non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to the promotion and support of ocean safety, the environment and the community by providing a quality athletic, cultural and enjoyable family event. They raise money for lots of cool local groups. We enjoyed telling stories to an enthusiastic audience. The kids really enjoyed the chance to be sneaky monkeys in the classic tale "Caps for Sale."

And we also got a chance to see and tell stories with some of our favorite local storytellers form The South Coast Storytellers Guild at Heritage Hill in Lake Forest California. What fun to hang out, listen and tell tales with Guild members. We especially always love the way that Linda King-Pruitt and Bob Pruitt combine music with storytelling fun! A great time was had by all, even WITH the order of horses wafting through the performance space. James also had fun playing MC-a role he always enjoys! Hey, come and join the Guild at a meeting in Costa Mesa some month on the Third Thursday. The meetings are open to the public and FREE. www.storyguild.com

All of the places that we have been have included one thing: children and adults who enjoy stories! We are always glad to hear the laughter and applause, but even happier when someone stays after a performance to tell us one of THEIR own stories that they go reminded of during the show. THAT is enough to help our summer move into "happily ever after."