One World, Many Stories and River's Edge

One World Many Stories is the national theme for library summer reading programs for children and it fits perfectly with storytelling. I've been reading and planning for weeks on this theme, trying to find the best possible program to offer to libraries. For most storytellers, summer reading is the summertime bread and butter. While I have always done some library programs in the summer, this year I hope to do more because I'll have more time.

With a theme like this to work with, the possibilities are endless. Do I focus on one country, one continent, one culture? Or do a wide-reaching program to encompass the entire world? Or both? If I focus on one country, which one should it be? Do I offer a craft with the program--some libraries with few staff and little time like that. What songs do I know to go with a multicultural theme? Can I do something with rhythm instruments? puppets?

Those are the kinds of questions I have been mulling over. The program has taken shape--actually, there are two programs I can offer. The first is Around the World with Granny Sue. I'll have flags from different countries, maps, globes and other items on display. We can spin the globe and select a continent to tell a story, or we can reach into my storybag and pull out one of the objects in it and tell the story that goes with the object. We'll have songs and movement, puppets and participation. For those wanting a craft, we'll make a blue dragon from a Korean festival. Or a rainstick from South America. Or...endless possibilities.

Second possibility: libraries can select a country and I will focus my stories and activities on that country or culture. This could get interesting. Festivals, fables,traditions, mythic creatures like fairies, ogres, and dragons --all  possibilities to explore in stories and music. The promotional postcard is mailed and now I'm making telephone calls. So far the response has been very good, so I'm encouraged.



The other project occupying these winter evenings is the Stories at the River's Edge grant. I've been working on this off and on for the past few weeks, and now it's crunch time. More calls to find matching funds, more calls to line up storytellers, more calls to get the necessary letters of support, more planning, more writing and figuring. It is coming together, just a few more pieces to put together, copies to make, calls to make and it will be done. It's exciting to see this coming together and to be able to add new venues and new partners to the project. Will we get funded? That depends on how much money is available to the funding agency and how many other people are asking for it. We can only do our best and then see what happens.