Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sail Away to the Land of Stories

A Castle was in Sight, Built Close
 by the Sea
by Thomas Mackenzie, 1920

"A folktale is the poetic text that carries some of its cultural contexts within it; it is also a traveling metaphor that finds a new meaning with every telling." ~ A.K. Ramanujan


Since 2008 I have offered the newlsetter Catch the Storybug, filled with story, craft, curriculum sites and more. If you are not a subscriber you may still access previous issues here
 and of course sign up for upcoming issues. There is always room for one more!

While the newsletter site offers a Google search bar to find specific links I have also compiled and categorized the story sites here for you. 
And if you need additional resources, please visit my Storytelling Links page on my website at http://www.storybug.net/links.html . Whether for your storytelling performances, classrooms or libraries I hope you find something useful.






AFRICA

African Folktales - Folktales, have an important place in the history of Black Americans. Here are eight unique folktales from the Dark Continent. The home page offers an array of elementary resources as well. http://tinyurl.com/6znapo

ANANSI

Jamaican Anansi Stories - Tricksters are universal figures in folkore and Anansi is one of our most beloved. This site offers a wide variety of Anansi tales as well as trickster folklore from various cultures. The text also includes transcriptions of folk music, and a large collection of riddles, all cross-referenced with folklore studies from other cultures. There are also musical notations in some of the texts for the musical among us! http://tinyurl.com/6huzob

ANIMALS

APPLES
ARAB AND PALESTINIAN 

Speak Bird, Speak Again – Palestinian Arab Folktales by Ibrahim Muhawi and Sharif Kanaana http://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft4s2005r4 

ARMENIA

Armenian Fairy Tales - Sixteen interesting folktale. http://tinyurl.com/2uqerz  

AUSTRALIA 
  • Australian Storytelling - January 26 is Australia Day and we can celebrate along with them with just a few clicks of the keys! Stories, articles, interviews, guild events, festivals and more. http://www.australianstorytelling.org.au/
  • Indigenous Australia - Explore Indigenous Australia. The site offers audio and video clips of stories through storytelling, cultures and histories, teacher resources and more. http://tinyurl.com/cm7j56
BIRDS


CANADA 

CAMBODIA

Cambodian Folktales - Four folktales retold; the main site also offers information on the history, people and culture of Cambodia. http://tinyurl.com/57m3s9


Princess Badoura - Edmund Dulac, 1913

CHINA  
  • Catch the Storybug - You can find the legend of the Chinese calendar along with additional information on the Chinese New Year at my 2008 blog post at http://tinyurl.com/yfqejbk  
  • Chinese Fable Stories - http://tinyurl.com/64rr46
  • Chinese Legends or The Porcelain Tower - There are many wonderful myths, folktales and legends from China in this 1848 book now in the public domain. You can even download a copy for free for your own files. http://tinyurl.com/preview.php?num=83p8nd
  • Chinese Moon Festival - I have put together some stories, crafts and more about this wonderful Mid-Autumn Chinese festival at my blog post for you to enjoy. http://tinyurl.com/36wqoz8



CHRISTMAS



  
EARTH DAY 

Earth Cakes, Sky Cakes - Folktale from Cambodia - http://tinyurl.com/dy6dsv

The Thrifty Tailor - A wonderful tale to share the idea and fun of recycling with your students. http://tinyurl.com/lchoun

When the Earth and Sky Were Married
- Folktale from India http://tinyurl.com/cw34y8

Earth Care – World Folktales to Talk About - A limited preview of this excellent book by Margaret Read MacDonald. You can read some of the folktales online but I bet you will want a copy of your own. http://tinyurl.com/aap7ug

EASTERN INDIA
Pitara for Kids - Many fables from the Panchatantra and Aesop, Jataka stories and tales from India's tribal people. - http://www.pitara.com/

EGYPT 

FLOWERS 

FRANCE

The Princess Rosette - The French fairytale collected by Andrew Lang.
http://tinyurl.com/77tfuct


From The Violet Fairy Book by Andrew Lang
FROGS
GRANDPARENT’S DAY 



HALLOWEEN 

    The Witch's Meeting by Arthur Rackham
  • Can Such Things Be? Short stories, published in 1910, from the talented Ambrose Bierce, courtesy of Gutenberg.org. I am sure you will find some spine tingling tales to add to your storytelling repertoire. http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/4366
  • Catch the Storybug - Stop by my website for an array of tales to fright and delight your audiences. http://tinyurl.com/lnx7fp  
  • Crabtree Books – Well, this book doesn’t fall into the category of terrifying but it is full of fun for Halloween, offering stories, rhymes, costume ideas, recipes and more. It is a free pdf file and downloads quickly. http://tinyurl.com/2wt5l7l
  • Russian Folk-tales by William R. S. Ralston - Just in time for All Hallow’s Eve. Download this book from 1880, full of myths, legends, and folktales of demons, witches, vampires and ghouls if you dare! http://tinyurl.com/28t449c 
  • Story-Lovers.com - Halloween Bare Bones for Storytellers with 100 years of story skeletons from around the world! http://www.story-lovers.com/barebonesstories.html  
  • Victorian Ghost Stories -Twenty-two ghost stories from such spectral luminaries as Bram Stoker, Arthur Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens. http://tinyurl.com/nb6f7t

HANUKKAH 


HOLLAND 
JAPAN  


The Fish Market
Patrick Street, Dublin by

Walter Osborne, 1894
IRELAND 

KWANZAA

Folktales.net - Some folktales that highlight the seven principles of Kwanzaa. http://www.folktales.net/Kwanza1.html

Lancelot Bears Off Guenevere 
The Book of Romance, Andrew Lang, 1902

LOVE STORIES
 


Fionn mac Cumhail (Finn Mac Cool)
MISCELLANEOUS

4 TO 40
- The name of this interesting site is based on their goal to cover age groups from 4 to 40. Offering folktales and stories from around the world, including Jakarta, Estonian and Ukrainian folktales, as well as the Panchatantra and more, I would say this site is ageless! http://www.4to40.com/contents.htm

Aesop's Fables Online - Thousands of Aesop’s Fables in five languages from the likes of Joseph Jacobs and William Caton, among others. You won’t have to cry wolf to find what you need! http://tinyurl.com/msxkjj

The Baldwin Project - The Baldwin Project is a virtual page turner, a comprehensive collection of literature in the public domain. http://tinyurl.com/rhx3p  
    • Edgar Allan Poe - October 11 is the birthday of Edgar Allan Poe. This site offers his short stories, poems, quotes, biography and additional links. http://www.poestories.com/  
    • Fairy Tales From All Nations - July 14 is Bastille Day in France so I went in search of a French folktale to share with you. I found this free, public domain book on Google books, which contains the French tale, Prince Chaffinch and so much more. http://tinyurl.com/msd9oe  
    • Fairy Tale Plays and How to Act Them - From 1910, a wonderful book you can download for your own use. While some of the language is antiquated it can be easily updated. The book also offers suggestions on costumes, props and scenery. http://tinyurl.com/bpccbt 
    • Folk Tales Every Child Should Know -Twenty tales that have survived the centuries; some well-known, others will be a treat to your storytelling senses. “The stories made by the people, and told before evening fires, or in public places and at the gates of inns in the Orient, belong to the ages when books were few and knowledge limited, or to people whose fancy was not hampered by familiarity with or care for facts…” http://tinyurl.com/ntq22d
    • The Golden Rod Fairy Book - Stories from England, France, Poland, Bohemia, Russia, India, China, Italy, Denmark, Ireland and Spain are contained between these cyber covers. http://tinyurl.com/5n6r6a 
    The Sea-lady allures Maurice into the Sea
    The Lilac Fairy Book by Andrew Lang, 1910
H-NILAS: Stories for the Seasons - An excellent array of seasonal stories. From forest to frogs, moons to maidens, storyteller Cathy Mosley offers us her folktale adaptations from around the world. http://www.h-net.org/~nilas/seasons/

Holiday and Winter Tales - Warm up your winter with folktales of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, and other stories of the season. http://tinyurl.com/5u63wb

Myths and Ancient Stories
- From China to France,
Lapland to Peru and beyond, tales featuring the fun and fanciful fox! http://tinyurl.com/6zcswdo
  • Myths From Around the World - Explore myths from distant countries from India, Egypt, Japan, and more. http://tinyurl.com/n9mre 
  • The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci - Edited by John Paul Richter in 1880 this website offers da Vinci’s perceptions on a variety of topics. Click on the link “Humorous Writings” to discover fables on plants, animals and objects. All of these works are in the public domain. http://tinyurl.com/yzh72ma
  • Nursery Rhymes Online - Like Alice in Wonderland you can fall down this hole and find a world of wonder! Rhymes, riddles, proverbs, fairy tales, crafts, activities and more! http://www.nurseryrhymesonline.com/  
  • Peace Corp World Wise Schools - From Africa to the Pacific Islands, stories collected by Peace Corp volunteers around the world. http://tinyurl.com/ye5u3wf  
  • The Real Mother Goose - May 1 is Mother Goose Day! Here is the original 1916 edition, now available online. http://trmg.designwest.com/
  • Story Lovers World - Storyteller Jackie Baldwin is host of this superb radio program, offering tales from tellers around the world. Listen via your own home computer. Turn up the volume and let your imagination take you away! http://tinyurl.com/7vtz9z
  • Tales of Laughter - A collection of familiar and not so familiar tales from Russia, Ireland, Spain, France and many more countries from around the globe. They are sure to have you smiling with delight! http://tinyurl.com/dh86jf
  • TomsDomain.com – Interesting sight that offers the text of Aesop’s Fables combined with 1692 translations by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Also, the fables are organized by primary characters along with their specific morals. http://tomsdomain.com/aesop/aesopmain.htm  
  • World Folklore Online - An index of stories listed by culture, country, book title and story page number. It will make story research a breeze! http://tinyurl.com/3se6sy

 NATIVE AMERICAN 

  • Native Languages of the Americas: Wampanoag Indian Legends - Meet Moshup the Giant, read about Squant the Sea Monster and more. There are also additional links and resources to help you learn more about this Indian nation. http://tinyurl.com/l5tx8x   
  • The Circle of Life and the Clambake - A lovely story from the Wampanoag culture that encompasses the spirit of thanksgiving, the circle of life and caring for the earth. http://tinyurl.com/kpdyaq
     
NATURE

PHILLIPINES

  
Phikul Thong - A Philippine folktale for spring. It is a Cinderella variant, which is also another version of the French folktale, Toads and Diamonds. http://tinyurl.com/ck8y2j

RAMADAN

The Sweetest Sound – A Story for Ramadan 
http://herbnites.tripod.com/waldorfinspiredschool/id16.html


 SCANDINAVIA 


SCOTLAND AND WALES 

  • Orkneyjar ~ The Heritage of the Orkney Islands - Pronounced "orc-nee-yahr", the name is generally taken to mean Seal Islands. This is a well crafted site. The information is astounding; tradition, folklore and more. Enjoy the beauty and history of the Orkney Islands. http://tinyurl.com/8hqc2f
  • Scottish Fairy and Folk Tales - A lovely collection of Scottish fairy and folk tales. Printed in 1901, the work is now in the public domain. http://tinyurl.com/5curxx
  • The Welsh Fairy Book - Eighty-four stories published in 1907 by Jenkyn Thomas, along with a page of pronunciation notes. http://tinyurl.com/6gfuhm

The Little Mermaid -
Fairy Tales and Fables by
 Hans Christian
Anderson
 SEA SERPENTS AND MERMAIDS

  • The Little Mermaid by Hans Christian Andersen http://tinyurl.com/lv4efg  
  • Sea, Lake Monsters - From About.com lots of information on a variety of serpents and monsters from around the globe. You will be seeing scales in no time at all! http://tinyurl.com/ltdert  
  • Mermaids on the Web - Listen to their call; this site offers you more than 1,720 resources about mermaids, selkies and sirens. http://tinyurl.com/nbjlqy 




SLAVIC
 
    The Firebird by Edmund Dulac
  • Cossack Fairy Tales and Folktales by Robert Nisbet Bain, 1902 – Bain collected these folktales from Ruthenian, the language of the Cossacks, a language intermediate between Russian and Polish. http://tinyurl.com/2uklns8
  • Myths and Folk-Tales of the Russians, ‘Western Slavs, and Magyars by Jermiah Curtin 1903 http://tinyurl.com/yzdmjkd


    Russian Folk-tales by William Ralston Shedden Ralston - Just in time for All Hallow’s Eve. Download this book from 1880, full of myths, legends, and folktales of demons, witches, vampires and ghouls if you dare! http://tinyurl.com/28t449c
  • Russian Sunbirds -While this site is home to Russian lacquer art, it also offers a stunning array of Russian folktales, fairytales, songs, literature and poetry. http://tinyurl.com/9o8fl3
  • Russian Wonder Tales by Post Wheeler, 1921 http://tinyurl.com/yesflsv
  • Sixty Folktales from Slavonic Sources - A delightful mix of tales from Bohemia, Moravia, Serbia, Hungary and more. http://tinyurl.com/26w5v35  
  • Story-Lovers.com - Jackie Baldwin shares a compilation of books, resources and stories on winter and the winter solstice. http://tinyurl.com/yjwq354
  • The Twelve Month Brothers - Ukrainian folktale to complement the lesson plan in the Curriculum Connections section. http://tinyurl.com/5grqn2

SPRING
SUN

THANKSGIVING

TURKEY  
  • Nasreddin Hodja - Information and stories about the beloved character of Turkish tales, including reading comprehension exercises. This website is also a portal to many other Hodja sites. http://tinyurl.com/62gzxx
  • Forty-Four Turkish Fairy Tales - Be whisked away to the magical land of Turkey, courtesy of the amazing Sacred-Texts site. http://tinyurl.com/8vtcwx


    VETERAN’S DAY 


WINTER
  • The Baker's Dozen - A charming folktale of generosity that harkens back to a story published in 1836 and perhaps further, retold by storyteller and author Aaron Shepherd. http://tinyurl.com/5swf25 
  • Folklore and Legends: Scandinavian - Translated by C.J.T. circa 1890. Download this public domain book for free. http://tinyurl.com/yzbz7kv 
  • Beneath the Snow Encumbered Branches
    by Joseph Farquharson, 1901
  • Holiday and Winter Tales - Warm up your winter with folktales of Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, and other stories of the season. http://tinyurl.com/5u63wb
     
  • The Heroes of Asgard: tales from Scandinavian Mythology by A & E Keary 1900 http://tinyurl.com/ybpwyhj
  • Myths and Folk-Tales of the Russians, ‘Western Slavs, and Magyars by Jermiah Curtin 1903 http://tinyurl.com/yzdmjkd
  • Russian Wonder Tales by Post Wheeler, 1921 http://tinyurl.com/yesflsv
  • The Snow Queen by Hans Christian Anderson http://tinyurl.com/yelmtnm
  • Story-Lovers.com - Jackie Baldwin shares a compilation of books, resources and stories on winter and the winter solstice. http://tinyurl.com/yjwq354

UNITED STATES  
  • American Folklore - Celebrate America’s birthday and take an armchair journey with folktales, myths, legends, Tall Tales and ghost stories from the 50 United States. Tales are clearly indexed so you won’t even need to ask for directions. http://www.americanfolklore.net/ 
  • Legends of America - Straddle your saddle and get ready for a rollicking ride across the wide open spaces of the American West. Here are just a few of the topics covered:
Heritage of the American West
Legends, Myths and Folktales of the American West
Native American Legends
Outlaw Legends
Women of the American West
Treasure Tales
“This is a site for the nostalgic and historic minded” with everything you need to know about the people who lived in the towns and on the plains in a time gone by. http://tinyurl.com/5m4mg5
  • Davy Crockett and the Frozen Dawn - http://tinyurl.com/n22wrf
  • Hawaiian Legends of Old Honolulu - From 1915 and Sacred Texts 25 legends from beautiful Hawaii. http://tinyurl.com/3nmcc8
  • Louisiana Folk-tales - A downloadable book of public domain folktales by Alcée Fortier shared in both French Dialect and English Translation. http://tinyurl.com/yjydcue
  • Paul Bunyan: American Folklore - Read the story of Paul Bunyan’s birth, watch him dig Lake Michigan and follow him down to the Whistling River. Six stories that will make him step right off of the page! http://tinyurl.com/35htdo
  • Traditions of O’ahu - In honor of our President-Elect, I offer you stories of the island's ancient history and ancestors. The site also offers an extensive bibliography. http://tinyurl.com/5zbnwn  
  • Women in American Folklore - Heroines, strong women, witches, ghosts and curious girls are ready to welcome you. http://tinyurl.com/cvur4k  

VIETNAM

The Tree Angel a Vietnam Legend - A lovely story for Arbor Day about how the banana tree was created. http://www.vietnamwebsite.net/myth/myth17.htm



Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Crayons, Crafts and Coloring Oh My!



"Every child is an artist; the problem is how to remain an artist once they grow up."
 
                                       ~ Pablo Picasso



If you subscribe to my bi-monthly newsletter you know that along with the stories, curriculum, etc., I also highlight various craft and activities links. While there is a google search tool on the newsletter site I have categorized and compiled them here as another way for you to access them easily.

So get out the paper, paint, crayons and glue and help your students make something beautiful!


AIRPLANES

Airplane Coloring Page - http://tinyurl.com/2w32bvk
High Flying Airplane Bookmark - http://tinyurl.com/2dschv
10 Paper Airplanes – Ten easy to fold airplanes with video instructions. http://www.10paperairplanes.com/


ANIMALS

Jungle Tiger Activities - http://tinyurl.com/y97eyce
Tiger Mask to Cut and Color - http://tinyurl.com/ya4vvdg
Aesop’s Fables coloring book pages. Bats, birds, fox, hare and more are just waiting to be brought to colorful life! http://tinyurl.com/ng7elr
Dalmation Cookie Bank – http://tinyurl.com/2f5j8bg  
CD Dog - http://familycrafts.about.com/od/cdcrafts/ss/cdanimals_4.htm
Puppy Coloring Page - http://familycrafts.about.com/library/color/blcoldogbowlbug.htm

AUTUMN

Apple Activities & Crafts for Kids - http://tinyurl.com/no6xhl
Autumn Tree Craft - http://tinyurl.com/lwwsxa
Paper Bag Trees - http://tinyurl.com/6pyoz3
Scarecrow Craft - http://tinyurl.com/kp2cgg
Word Jumble - http://tinyurl.com/ycfsfj6
Fall Word Search - http://tinyurl.com/ya3cux8
Autumn Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/6jvvwm
Build A Tree Leaf by Leaf - http://tinyurl.com/68y23p
Paper Bag Trees - http://tinyurl.com/6pyoz3

APRIL FOOLS

Bestkidsbooksite.com - Strut your stuff on April Fool’s Day with this Jolly Jester’s Hat at http://tinyurl.com/cvdew8 and tons of Easter coloring pages to keep you coloring in or out of the lines! http://tinyurl.com/cwqyfo

BACK TO SCHOOL

Back to School bookmarks your students can print out and color - http://tinyurl.com/ls287p
September Bulletin Board Project - Welcome your students back to school in style! http://tinyurl.com/m6z2sp
Teacher’s Survival Kit – School is in session and the teachers in your child’s life will love you for thinking of them. Put together this easy and charming “survival kit” and add a smile to their year! http://tinyurl.com/2frdeng
KinderArt - A Bulletin Board of Spring Flowers - Ages K - 6 http://tinyurl.com/b9w58r
Bug Jars - Children will learn to look at the details of bugs and plants as they learn about symmetry and asymmetry. This is a craft and lesson plan all in one! http://tinyurl.com/dlooot
How to Plan a Scarecrow Storytime - http://tinyurl.com/yckv2ge
KinderArt - A Bulletin Board of Spring Flowers - Ages K - 6 http://tinyurl.com/b9w58r


BASTILLE DAY

O la la…some crafts to help you celebrate. Build an Eiffel Tower http://tinyurl.com/mzspa7  
or Arc de Triomphe - http://tinyurl.com/npueoq

BIRDS AND BUGS

Happy Feather’s Day - http://tinyurl.com/cyuybg
Easy Bird Feeder - http://tinyurl.com/cf43t8
Paper Bag Crow Puppet - http://tinyurl.com/n4kojy
Bug Jars - Children will learn to look at the details of bugs and plants as they learn about symmetry and asymmetry. This is a craft and lesson plan all in one! http://tinyurl.com/dlooot


BLACK HISTORY MONTH
B
lack History Month Activities - http://tinyurl.com/23ekb2y
Diversity Banner - http://tinyurl.com/djfymu

BOOKMARKS

Arthur Character Bookmark - http://tinyurl.com/llurp9
Bookworm Bookmark – http://tinyurl.com/2f26sl4
Beaded Bookmark for the older students - http://tinyurl.com/nn7qf7
Curious George - http://tinyurl.com/nx7gxn
Scarecrow “If I Only Had A Book” - http://tinyurl.com/lntj54
Back to School bookmarks - http://tinyurl.com/ls287p


CHINESE MOON FESTIVAL

Chinese Moon Festival Coloring Pages – From the Moon Goddess to moon cakes, many choices to choose from. http://tinyurl.com/3yyorka
Follow up with a lesson plan and activity on painting watercolor Chinese Dragons. http://tinyurl.com/8jutqw  


CHRISTMAS

Origami Star - http://www.planetpals.com/ppcraft2.html
Christmas Tree - http://www.tammyyee.com/origamitree.html
Christmas Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/yk5uu4a
Paper Bag Reindeer Puppet – http://tinyurl.com/39yppmg
Paper Plate Poinsettia - http://tinyurl.com/39jmkws
Christmas Crafts and Printables - http://tinyurl.com/yxwong
Gingerbread Man Ornaments - Preschool http://tinyurl.com/5g6pon  
Holiday Origami - Spice up your holiday stories with two easy to do origami folds; a star and a Christmas tree:
http://www.planetpals.com/ppcraft2.html
http://www.tammyyee.com/origamitree.html
World of Christmas – This link will lead you to a wide variety of games to entertain the children through the holiday. http://tinyurl.com/ykcoxud


CINCO DE MAYO

Kaboose.com - Say “Ole!” with these crafts and activities to help you say celebrate Cinco de Mayo. http://holidays.kaboose.com/cinco-de-mayo/
Mexican Bird Craft - http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/mexico/mbirdrattle.htm


DIWALI

Diwali Diya Mobile - http://tinyurl.com/ya64rf5
Diwali Door Hanging - Traditional embroidered door hanging to welcome visitors and hopefully the Goddess of Fortune Lakshmi. http://tinyurl.com/ydr5pch
Diwali Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/ykwu7dt%20


EARTH DAY - RECYCLED CRAFTS

Cutlery Wind Chimes - The summer cookout season is over. Here’s a clever craft to recycle all of the leftover plastic utensils. http://tinyurl.com/mt76o7
Brown Paper Kites - For grades K – 6. http://www.kinderart.com/crafts/bagkite.shtml
Milk Carton Pen Pot - For grades 2 an up. http://tinyurl.com/mxn6sg
Puzzle Piece Picture Frame - For grades K– 2 http://tinyurl.com/n96pxw
Earth Day Crafts - Dig around; there are plenty of crafts here to help you celebrate. http://tinyurl.com/ba67fb
Earth Day Litterbug - Using recycled items help your students make their Earth Day litterbug. http://tinyurl.com/d6mpxq
Ladybug Rocks - Of course, my favorite! http://crafts.kaboose.com/earth-ladybug-rocks.html

FATHER’S DAY

DLTK.COM - Lots of things to make that special man smile on Father’s Day: Crafts, poems, printables, recipes and songs! http://tinyurl.com/nrssk

FLOWERS

Giant Tissue Paper Flowers – Decorate with this lovely flowers. No watering required. http://tinyurl.com/3438nvo
Handprint Lilies – Cute and easy craft for ages 5+. http://www.dltk-holidays.com/mom/mlilies.htm
Flower Coloring Pages – A garden of choices. http://flowercoloringpages.org/


FOURTH OF JULY

Enchanted Learning - Crafts and Activities for Flag Day. http://tinyurl.com/ce59vx
For some extra fun, a word search and maze to celebrate our country's anniversary:
Maze: http://tinyurl.com/n7curj 
Word Search: http://tinyurl.com/lss2pe
Kaboose.com - Lots of fun Fourth of July crafts to make your holiday sparkle! http://tinyurl.com/nymrap
USHistory.org - It was said that Betsy Ross could cut a five pointed star in one snip of the scissors. Learn how to make your own star the same way. http://tinyurl.com/ywoo8r

GRANDPARENT’S DAY

Activity Village - A wonderful page full of activities, printables and information on Grandparent’s Day, sure to put a smile on your face no matter what age! http://tinyurl.com/lbu8t2
Coloring pages and crafts for Grandparents Day - http://tinyurl.com/l88g79
Grandma or Grandpa Apron - http://tinyurl.com/njaamh

HALLOWEEN

Halloween Crafts - Bats, and pumpkins and vampires oh my! Lots of fun, spooky crafts to make your Halloween craft time as easy as saying, trick or treat! http://tinyurl.com/lbffm7%20
FamilyFun.com - Lots of spooktacular ideas for Halloween fun; activities, recipes, games, costumes, crafts and more. http://tinyurl.com/583jd
Kinderart.com - Ghosts in the Graveyard – Using recycled egg cartons you can create your own ghostly setting. Suitable for all ages. http://www.familycorner.com/family/kids/crafts/ghosts_in_the_graveyard.shtml
How to Plan a Scarecrow Story Time - http://tinyurl.com/yckv2ge


HANUKKAH

Menorah - http://tinyurl.com/yl82unf
Star of David - http://tinyurl.com/yg9gvvs
Window Sparklers, Star of David and more. http://tinyurl.com/yjqn5ce
Milk Carton Dreidel - http://tinyurl.com/2dknzg9  
Easy Cut and Fold Star of David - http://www.dltk-kids.com/world/jewish/starofdavid.htm

KWANZAA

Kwanzaa Crafts for Children - http://tinyurl.com/yb9fy9m
Kaboose.com Kwanzaa Crafts - http://tinyurl.com/yht48lk
Kwanzaa Coloring Pages- http://tinyurl.com/yffaodm
More Kwanzaa Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/3aceesk
Kwanzaa Placement – http://tinyurl.com/256u4nv  


LA POSADA

Pinata - “One piñata tradition says: You go around life with your eyes covered, trying to find the good things and working hard to get them.” The original, traditional shape of the piñata is the six pointed star although today countless forms are used. http://tinyurl.com/y9uhmlw


MARDI GRAS

Celebrate Fat Tuesday - http://tinyurl.com/yfxxg55
Mardi Gras Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/cusd89  
Mardi Gras Masks - http://www.dltk-kids.com/crafts/mardig


MISCELLANEOUS

Origami Peace Crane - http://www.planetpals.com/IKC/peacecrane.html
Peace Lantern - http://www.planetpals.com/IKC/peacelantern.html
Peace on Earth - http://tinyurl.com/yknakrv 
Sea Serpent Games and Activities - Lots of creativity swimming around these pages! http://tinyurl.com/mkubfj
Mermaid Paper Doll - Children can color her pretty with your own paints and crayons! http://tinyurl.com/mvkgn5
DLTK 'S Holiday Crafts - "Crafts to help you decorate, games to help you celebrate, worksheets to challenge your mind and songs to sing together!" http://www.dltk-holidays.com/ 
KidsStuffCanada.com - Creative, downloadable coloring pages to complement the stories of Grimm and Andersen. Also, interactive pages for Thanksgiving, Christmas, Halloween, etc. Enough activities to keep you coloring outside the lines until the New Year! www.kidstuffcanada.com/en 


MOTHER’S DAY

Bath Salts for Mom – http://www.kinderart.com/seasons/mother7.shtml
Flower Doorstop for Mom – Just in time for Mother’s Day! http://tinyurl.com/32mrspl
Kinderart.com - Crafts and gifts to make for Mom including Mother's Day, May, Arts and Crafts Activities, Lessons, Coloring Pages, Ideas, Recipes and Treats. http://tinyurl.com/cagxwy


MULTICULTURAL

Activity Village - Make your own carp kite or origami to celebrate Kodomo no hi (Children’s Day). There are many other crafts, activities and printables to make this Japanese national holiday shine! http://tinyurl.com/cxwwv3
Children of the World Necklace - http://tinyurl.com/l6cqsu
Egyptian Crafts– A great selection of Egyptian crafts for all ages. http://tinyurl.com/344bmh8  
Hieroglyphics Bookmarks – Two choices, one with hieroglyphics and another with a maze on the back. Mazes have been in existence since ancient Egypt, when Amenembet III built a funerary temple consisting of 3000 chambers. http://tinyurl.com/38hxvnj  
Japanese Kokeshi Doll - http://tinyurl.com/cscr76
King Tut Mask – Definitely for older children but this would be a wonderful art project to complement an Egyptian unit. http://tinyurl.com/3xenscl
Hawaiian Lei Flower Necklace - http://tinyurl.com/ysydbf
New Zealand Koru Art - “The koru is the Maori name given to the new unfurling fern frond and symbolizes new life, growth, strength and peace. It is an integral symbol in Maori carving and tattoos.” http://kinderart.com/multic/koruart.shtml
Origami Doll - http://tinyurl.com/ddo8w2
Peace Dove - http://tinyurl.com/n4wfwh
World Neighbors: Handprint Craft and Poem - http://tinyurl.com/l45smb


RAMADAN

Children’s Activities for the Month of Ramadan - http://www.submission.org/YES/child2.html
Make a Ramandan Collage - http://www.theholidayspot.com/ramadan/crafts.htm


SAINT PATRICK’S DAY
Leprechaun Crafts - http://tinyurl.com/yl3rmq9
St. Patrick’s Day Wreaths – http://tinyurl.com/yz4bw29
St. Patrick’s Day Word Jumble - http://tinyurl.com/ykjhtf8
St. Patrick’s Day Word Search - http://tinyurl.com/ylx8537
St. Patrick’s Day Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/yz7guar
St. Patrick’s Day Crafts and Printables -http://tinyurl.com/cxfe9a
St. Patrick's Day Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/cy9pwd

SPRING CRAFTS

Frog Pouch Craft – Ages 3 and up http://tinyurl.com/ykjkko5
Frog Paper Bag Puppet – Ages 2 and up http://tinyurl.com/yjc9cbd
Frog Paper Crafts – Ages 2 and up http://tinyurl.com/yjb5tok
Spring Crafts - http://tinyurl.com/adaz63  
Flowered Hat - http://tinyurl.com/b36hnx
KinderArt - A Bulletin Board of Spring Flowers - Ages K - 6 http://tinyurl.com/b9w58r

STORYTELLING

Fables Theme: Preschool Activities and Crafts - “Visit a theme to find activities that include easy instructions and a list of materials needed related to Aesop's and other fables. You will find crafts, printable activities, and related resources.” http://www.first-school.ws/theme/fables.htm 
Story Sack - ‘This is a fun way for parents and children to read stories together. Grandparents, teachers, childcare providers, babysitters and anyone else who spends time with children will also find these useful!” http://tinyurl.com/27pwh8j
Fairy Tale Crafts - From dragons, to princes, knights and wizards, lots of crafts to keep everyone busy. http://tinyurl.com/an3lay

SUMMER

ChildFun.com - Summer brings a bounty of fresh fruit so why not have some fruity fun! http://tinyurl.com/m99dj4
DLTK Crafts – Lots of flavorful ice cream crafts to keep you cool through the summer months. http://www.dltk-holidays.com/summer/national_ice_cream_month.htm
Danielle’s Place - A great site full of very creative, easy and inexpensive paper plate and paper cup crafts for kids. http://tinyurl.com/lyd6cy
Kids Summer Crafts and Summer Printables - http://tinyurl.com/njew6g  
Kinderart - Summer is tine to take the children to the zoo. Download some cute animal printables to keep your students and children roaring with delight long after the field trip! http://tinyurl.com/mfoajz


THANKSGIVING

Blessing Boxes - http://tinyurl.com/5zuk4x
Thanksgiving and Fall Crafts for Children - http://tinyurl.com/ylfuhze
Thanksgiving Coloring Pages - http://tinyurl.com/yauxtpy


VALENTINE’S DAY

Educational Valentine’s Day Crafts - http://tinyurl.com/yawdrqt
Valentine’s Day Word Search - http://tinyurl.com/c6lldr
Kaboose.com - Valentine’s Day word searches, math puzzles, and more. http://tinyurl.com/bfrrnt
Kaboose.com - Lots of easy crafts to make your heart flutter for Valentine’s Day.
http://tinyurl.com/ackzdb


VETERAN’S DAY

Veteran’s Day Activities - Coloring pages, crafts for kids, word searches and more. http://tinyurl.com/kslkv7


WINTER

Family Fun.com - Tons of winter fun; crafts, games, activities, printables and more! http://tinyurl.com/9n2gyt
Kaboose - Winter clip art, games, activities and crafts to help warm your spirit. http://holidays.kaboose.com/winter/
Kinderart - Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow…Decorate your classroom or library with an array of beautiful paper cut creations. http://tinyurl.com/94n9gj
Penguin Fun! Coloring pages, mazes, worksheets, songs, riddles and more! http://tinyurl.com/5g6pon
Polish Gwiazdy – Beautiful paper cuttings that look like snowflakes but they have eight sides not six. http://tinyurl.com/22jo2gd

Monday, November 1, 2010

Hitting the Business Bullseye!


The Archer's Arrowadapted by Karen Chace  © 2010

Long, long ago, in a certain realm, in a certain land there lived a king who spent many seasons practicing the skill of archery.  But no matter how many hours or days he practiced he always fell short of the mark; he was unable to hit the bull's-eye on the target.

One brisk autumn day he gathered his retinue, mounted his favorite steed, and set out on a hunt. After many hours riding through the colorful countryside they found a clearing and stopped to rest. The king dismounted and the servants began to lay the afternoon meal out on a  woven cloth of white.

Wh
ile the king waited for the food to be arranged he walked through the meadow and noticed a weathered gray farmhouse and barn standing in the distance. As the king moved closer he saw that the entire side of the barn was covered from the roof to the ground with red and white circles. In the middle of each circle an arrow was firmly lodged in the center. He was astonished by the sight that lay before him for he knew the skill required to accomplish such a task. Turning to his servant he commanded, "Find the marksman responsible and bring him to me!"

Th
e servant didn’t have to travel far for the marksman was none other than Diana, the young daughter of the farmer on whose land they stood. She was brought to the king, and curtsying low she softly asked, “Sire, how may I serve you?”

F
or a moment the king was startled and surprised! A young woman, how could this be? The king asked, “Tell me your secret. How has one so gentle become so skilled in the art of archery? Each one of your targets boasts a bull's-eye, no small feat for my greatest archer and surely not for one so young and fair!”Diana smiled and answered, "Sire, truly it takes no skill at all. I simply shoot the arrow and then I draw the bull's-eye around it!”

Wouldn't it be grand if we could hit a bull's-eye every time in business with very little effort? Storytellers sometimes shy away from the marketing aspects of our work because in this era of burgeoning social media it can seem overwhelming. But if we are to move our ancient art into the modern age we must learn to embrace the diverse tools we have at our disposal.

Yesterday I posted the final Catch the Storybug newsletter for 2010. To make it easier for you to access all of the business articles highlighted during the year I have assembled them below. Each one offers bits of wisdom to help you hit your target royally each and every time!

5 Free Tools That Make You Look More Professional by Brad Egeland - “…Limited budget, smaller customer base, an operating budget that gets tugged in 100 different directions. Anything that you can do for free… and not affect your bottom line is a good thing.” http://tinyurl.com/yaspdtr

5 Top Tips for Using Social Media to Help Launch Your New Business
by Rick Mathieson  “Social media can be one of your best tools for building a new business - if you use it correctly.” http://tinyurl.com/33696ul  

5 Ways to Work Smarter and Be More Productive by Stacy Karacostas -“…it’s not how hard they work. It’s how smart they work.”  http://tinyurl.com/2u6ej6o  

7 Tips for Money-Making Postcards by Ivan Levison - “There are times when it makes sense to spend a lot of money on a direct mail package….However, there are times when going with a humble postcard makes a lot of sense.” http://tinyurl.com/yhoxq9w

10 Dead or Dying PR Tactics by Steve Mullen - http://tinyurl.com/cg23j6    

10 Newborn PR Tactics by Steve Mullen-  http://tinyurl.com/cjsbsk  

Blogging, Tweeting and Fan Pages Oh My! Does Social Media Really Benefit SMBs? by Shannon Suetos “…"The hype right now exceeds the reality." But recent statistics are showing despite the hype, business owners are in fact implementing some sort of social media efforts.” http://tinyurl.com/375ssux  

Building Lessons Learned in 2009: What Highly-Successful Small Business Owners Are Doing that You Can Do Too by Stacy Karacostas “…what are successful entrepreneurs doing differently?” http://tinyurl.com/yjj4obv

Calm Customers in Six Quick Steps – “You’ll work nine times harder attracting new business than you will retaining your current client list. That means you can’t afford to anger even one customer.” http://tinyurl.com/36txmy8

Color Yourself Successful by Ken Peters – “Color communicates. When language fails color can offer valuable associations with people, places and things…Because color's impact is so profound, its role in branding your business is critical. When applied effectively, color can achieve extraordinary results”. http://tinyurl.com/252m8px

Download Free Pictures.com - Looking to spice up your storytelling, classroom or library information? Little Red Riding Hood, our old friend Jack, and other famous fairytale folks can be found here ready to play! To the right you will also find links to other free clip art photos in a number of categories, including holiday, animal and nature photos. http://tinyurl.com/35o8qj

Eight Steps to Attracting Clients by Bernadette Doyle – “There’s a logical sequence to building a business, whether it’s online or offline. There are certain things that must be done in order to see your business grow. By committing to follow these eight steps, you can attract more clients and have the kind of income you want.”  http://tinyurl.com/2bn2ha4

Email Newsletter Design Guide
by Hostway – This article will walk you through the process of designing your own newsletter. http://tinyurl.com/ygv7589  

More Ways to Monetize Your Web Site by Hostway – “Once you have a solid ecommerce process like Paypal or a shopping cart, there are some other ways to make your Web site work for you and start making some money.”  http://tinyurl.com/34wn6s5

Pack the 3R’s While on Holiday Travel - Although the busy holiday season has passed, these tips will serve us well throughout 2009. From the U.S. Environmental Agency, information on ways to reduce, reuse and recycle when you are away from home. http://tinyurl.com/75a2ox

Rid Yourself of These 10 Damaging Word-Habits by Stephanie Bickel – “Here are some quick-tips that will elevate your elocution immensely. http://tinyurl.com/yzu6oux

Seven Tax Tips for Businesses and the Self Employed – “Here are Seven Tax Tips that can possibly save you a lot of money on your 2008 taxes.”  *While this article is from 2008 the tips are still valid for small business owners. http://tinyurl.com/b8pvd4

Six Advantages to Virtual Trade Shows by Susan A. Friedmann, CSP – ‘… industry experts expect that by 2015, more than 25% of trade shows will be conducted in virtual environments. That's a market you can't afford to ignore." http://tinyurl.com/c9m2mb

Ten Tips to Ignore When Starting a Business by Cathy Goodwin – “Everyone has advice for you when you're starting a business, but it's not all good advice! Here are ten tips you'd be better off ignoring.”  http://tinyurl.com/3xx2mqp

Three Ways to Take Control and Grow Your Small Business in Any Economy by Stacy Karacostas “Has your business slowed because of the economy? If so, you’ve got two options. Keep doing what you’ve always done and hope it turns around on its own…Or, do something different. “ http://tinyurl.com/32ou24d

Top 7 Common Mistakes Made by Small Business Owners – “Though it is easy to start your own business, it takes a lot more to succeed in business. There are seven common mistakes made by small business owners.” http://tinyurl.com/l4ggh2

Weaving Storytelling and Business with an Authentic Voice - I recently put together a handout for a college class on storytelling and business. I have placed it on my blog for your use. http://tinyurl.com/yhnnpaa

WhoFish.org -  Do you have an event to market? Then this site is just what you are looking for. Publish your events for free and let the cyber world know how to find you! http://www.whofish.org/

Why Do People Write This Way? (And How You Can Avoid Doing the Same) by Ernest Nicastro – “Leverages a proprietary coaching framework...purposeful investments in human capital...aligning people and systems in pursuit of”...why do people write this way? http://tinyurl.com/28z4xgg  

Words. Words. Words. by Nan S. Russell  - “Words create impressions, images and expectations. They build psychological connections. They influence how we think. Since thoughts determine actions, there's a powerful connection between the words we use and the results we get.” www.careerknowhow.com/improvement/words.htm   

Virtual Press Release Faux Pas by Janet Attard – “Using email to send press releases to editors can save you considerable time and money. One click and your release can be on its way to dozens of editor but one click of the mouse is all it takes for each editor or writer on your mailing list to delete the release, often without opening your email at all.” http://tinyurl.com/2etev8u

Storybug.net
– You will find more business resources on my two previous blogs posts:

Grow Your Business in 2010 at http://tinyurl.com/2ep3j42
T
he Business of Storytelling at http://tinyurl.com/37bvamh     



Friday, October 29, 2010

A Season of Gratitude

The Cranberry Harvest, Island of Nantucket
by Eastman Johnson
1879

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them."     ~ John F. Kennedy


Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. There is no sense of urgency, no crush of commercialism surrounding the day, just family, friends and good food! I am blessed to live in Massachusetts, where the celebration  has its roots, although it's beginning was nothing like the huge feasts we enjoy today. Below are a few pieces of  information to help you understand the history of the holiday.

  • Although they did have a three-day feast in celebration of a good harvest, and the local Indians did participate, this "first Thanksgiving" was not a holiday, simply a gathering.
  • The Pilgrims set ground at Plymouth Rock on December 11, 1620. Their first winter was devastating.
  • It is believed that the Pilgrims would not have made it through the year without the help of the natives.
  • The feast was more of a traditional English harvest festival than a true "thanksgiving" observance. It lasted three days.
  • The term "turkey" was used by the Pilgrims to mean any sort of wild fowl."
  • There was no bread or pastries of any kind. However, they did eat boiled pumpkin, and they produced a type of fried bread from their corn crop.
  • There was also no milk, cider, potatoes, or butter. There was no domestic cattle for dairy products.
  • The newly-discovered potato was still considered by many Europeans to be poisonous.
  • The feast did include fish, berries, watercress, lobster, dried fruit, clams, venison, and plums.
  • This "thanksgiving" feast was not repeated the following year.
  • George Washington proclaimed a National Day of Thanksgiving in 1789
  • It was Sarah Josepha Hale, (author of Mary Had a Little Lamb) a magazine editor, whose efforts eventually led to what we recognize as Thanksgiving. After a 40-year campaign of writing editorials and letters to governors and presidents, Hale's obsession became a reality when, in 1863.
  • President Lincoln proclaimed the last Thursday in November as a National Day of Thanksgiving.

STORIES

Story of Wali Dad the Simple Hearted
From the The Brown Fairy Book, collected by Andrew Lang

Once upon a time there lived a poor old man whose name was Wali Dad Gunjay, or Wali Dad the Bald. He had no relations, but lived all by himself in a little mud hut some distance from any town, and made his living by cutting grass in the jungle, and selling it as fodder for horses. He only earned by this five halfpence a day; but he was a simple old man, and needed so little out of it, that he saved up one halfpenny daily, and spent the rest upon such food and clothing as he required.

In this way he lived for many years until, one night, he thought that he would count the money he had hidden away in the great earthen pot under the floor of his hut. So he set to work, and with much trouble he pulled the bag out on to the floor, and sat gazing in astonishment at the heap of coins which tumbled out of it. What should he do with them all? he wondered. But he never thought of spending the money on himself, because he was content to pass the rest of his days as he had been doing for ever so long, and he really had no desire for any greater comfort or luxury.

At last he threw all the money into an old sack, which he pushed under his bead, and then, rolled in his ragged old blanket, he went off to sleep. To read the rest of the story click here.



Catch the Storybug - For more stories visit my Thanksgiving blog post from October 2009.
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2009/10/time-to-be-thankful.html


The Magic of Muskil Gusha - Iranian folktale adapted and shared by Aaron Shephard http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/048.html

Story-Lovers.com - As always, Jackie Baldwin brings a plateful of stories to the feast!http://tinyurl.com/2vzpe56

Lord of the Cranes - A folktale about generosity from China. http://www.learningtogive.org/materials/folktales/LordofCranes.asp


CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

The First Thanksgiving -
Visit web sites about the Pilgrims, the Wampanoag, and the famous harvest feast and learn new facts along the way.
http://tinyurl.com/2ef6xck

General Thanksgiving - Proclamation by President George Washington.
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/firsts/thanksgiving/thankstext.html

Catch the Storybug - For more curriculum connections visit my Thanksgiving blog post from October 2009.
http://karenchace.blogspot.com/2009/10/time-to-be-thankful.html 

The National Day of Mourning - Not everyone has the same view of the national holiday of Thanksgiving. For a Native American view go to: http://www.pilgrimhall.org/daymourn.htm

What Do You Eat? -
A lesson unit on comparing how others eat in developing countries. http://www.planusa.org/docs/smsmw/quest2.pdf


MUSIC

Thanksgiving Songs and Fingerplays
http://www.theholidayzone.com/thanks/songs.html


BOOK SUGGESTION

The Children of the Morning Light: Wampanoag Tales as Told By Manitonquat -A storyteller of the southeastern Massachusetts Wampanoag has retold some of the creation tales of his people -- teaching and ‘pourquoi’ tales that are remarkable for their humor, common sense, and humanity. http://tinyurl.com/ko3637


CRAFTS AND ACTIVITIES

How To Plan a Scarecrow Storytime
http://tinyurl.com/2ullj35

Word Jumble - Fun, fall word jumble for your students to rearrange!
http://tinyurl.com/ycfsfj6

Fall Word Search
http://tinyurl.com/ya3cux8

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Shared Stories and Shared Lives: Reflections of a FAIR Storyteller


“To read a book for the first time is to make an acquaintance with a new friend; to read it for a second time is to meet an old one.” ~Chinese Saying


As a child, books were my friends, my allies. As an adult and professional storyteller I have the good fortune of incorporating my favorite pastime with my work. This March I was delighted to be part of the Massachusetts Humanities FAIR (Family Adventures In Reading) program, which joins both reading and families together to enjoy and discuss important topics.

Books provide moments of exquisite solitude but they are also present fantastic opportunities to connect with others. Some of those opportunities were provided by the FAIR program this year. This March families gathered at the Wilks Branch library in New Bedford, MA to begin a six week program. The books chosen by the Humanities staff were worthwhile and rewarding; they also the catalyst for discussing different cultures, social responsibilities and choices we face every day in a very accessible and social format.

The pre-selected books covered a variety of diverse topics: fairness, greed, courage, determination and dreams. Each week the families would read two picture books together and return the following week to read the books aloud then discuss the story focus and characters. During our first meeting I used some storytelling games to demonstrate how to use voice and expression effectively when reading aloud.

At first, there were some reluctant readers while others eagerly took up the challenge. One young man always stood up to read his part with great enthusiasm, as if he were one of the characters in the book coming to life! Then something magical began to happen as one week flowed into the next, this group of strangers began to connect not only with the books but with each other. They began to share the joys and difficulties they experienced in their own lives.

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman led us to a discussion about positive ways we could encourage our friends and families, and the importance of believing in our personal goals. Lon Po Po by Ed Young guided us into a conversation about courageous people and the heroes’ in their lives; poignantly, one parent offered “My nephew who just enrolled in the Army.”

That same day the discussion about courage took a more circuitous route and transformed into another about peer pressure when one of the older boys bravely revealed that he was the target of a bully at school. One by one, the adults began to share similar experiences from their youth. The boy and his mother left our group that day reassured, empowered and supported.

While we did touch on serious issues there were many lighthearted moments as well. When discussing Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters by John Steptoe I asked the group, “Was there ever a time when you were kind to another as Nyasha was in the story?” One of the youngest children sweetly shared, “Once in school I helped someone who didn’t know what the color purple looked like and then we became friends.”

Another book, Vejigaente/Masquerader by Lulu Delacre gave us a chance to test our bilingual skills. One mother spoke Spanish fluently and it was lovely to watch her daughter’s eyes shine with pride as her mother read each Spanish section so eloquently,

When I asked why Ramon, the main character in the book wanted to be part of the group of older boys our youngest participant excitedly said, “I know, I know! Because he wanted to be part of a team!” I complimented him on using the word correctly (he had just turned six years old) and he said, “I learned it the other day and held it in my head!” At that moment he became everyone’s child in our close knit FAIR community and we all smiled with pride.

Although reading and sharing family time together is the focus of the program, and we definitely met those goals, a new community had formed that would extend far into the future. On our last day together I watched as parents made plans to meet again and I knew that the FAIR program had exceeded its expectations. The families had formed a bond that would benefit them far into the future. I will be working with the FAIR program this fall and in the spring of 2011 and I look forward to watching the magic appear again!

The program is free and the schedule and location for the upcoming program in New Bedford, MA is as follows, Registration required.
Saturdays: 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/6, 11/13, 11/20

Time: 1-2:30 PM
Branch: Howland-Green Library Branch
3 Rodney French Blvd.
(508) 991-6212

These are the books and themes for the upcoming six-week session:


Families Meeting Challenges
Mailing May by Michael O. Tunnell, illustrated by Ted Rand
A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams


Different ways of seeing
Seven Blind Mice by Ed Young
Emma’s Rug by Allen Say

Living through change and loss/ Making a new home
Grandfather’s Journey by Allen Say
Letting Swift River Go by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Barbara Cooney

Bonds between generations
Bintou’s Braids by Sylvianne Diouf, illustrated by Shane W. Evans
Sitti’s Secrets by Naomi Shihab Nye, illustrated by Nancy Carpenter

Friendship and community
Mr. George Baker by Amy Hest, illustrated by Jon J. Muth
Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Paul Yalowitz

Integrity
The Empty Pot by Demi
A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting, illustrated by Ronald Himler

Responsibility
The Day of Ahmed’s Secret Florence Parry Heide and Judith Heide Gilliland, illustrated by Ted Lewin
Frederick by Leo Lionni


Above image courtesy of Amanda Upton