Why I Love My Summer Job

Storymobile, ReadBoston and me

  Telling a story in a basketball court for ReadBoston, 2010

During the past 12 summers I have worked for the Storymobile. This is ReadBoston’s most well-known and public program. Each summer about 12 storytellers tell stories at nearly 80 sites throughout the city of Boston for six weeks. These programs are free and open to the public. They are in parks and gyms and libraries. Sometimes there are 20 kids and caretakers. Sometimes hundreds. At the end of every performance every child who attends these storytelling sessions gets to pick out a free paperback book. If a child attends every week, he/she will have six brand new books to add to his/her book collection. And they will have heard 6 different storytellers tell in 6 unique styles and listen to stories. Listening to a story is not a passive act -because actively listening to stories enriches the soil of literacy which is...oral language.

It is often a "tough room", hot venues filled with squirmy and distracted kids.  But it is also amazing, rewarding work. After telling "Little daughter and The Wolf" last year, a six year old came up to me and said, "When are we going to see that movie again?" Which movie, I asked. She said, with some impatience, " The one just now, about the girl and the wolf. "  I said, you made up that movie listening to my words. She looked perplexed and then was yanked out by her teacher along with 9 others, on loops of rope. But I was delighted. She thought her imagination was as 'real' as a movie. Check out the schedule here: Storymobile Schedule. -

A few videos from ReadBoston:

Monday, July 11, 2011


Copley Library 10:00-10:45
66 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02115

Wang YMCA
8 Oak Street West, Boston (Chinatown), MA 02116

Salvation Army 1:15-2:00
1500 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Mosaic School 10:00-10:45
85 Seaverns Avenue, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Bromley Heath TMC Community Service Department 11:15-12:00
30 Bickford Street, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Marcella Park 1:15-2:00
Marcella Street/Highland Street, Roxbury, MA 02119

Monday, July 18, 2011

Ellis Memorial Children’s Center 10:00-10:45
66 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA 02116

Escuelita Boriken 11:15-12:00
85 West Newton Street, Boston, MA 02118

Ark of Cherubs 1:15-2:00
81 Walnut Ave, Roxbury, MA 02119

Friday, July 22, 2011

Crispus Attucks 10:00-10:45
105 Crawford Street, Dorchester, MA 02121

Egleston Square Library 11:15-12:00
2044 Columbus Avenue, Roxbury, MA 02119

Carter Playground 1:15-2:00
Columbus Avenue & Camden Street, Roxbury, MA 02118

Monday, August 1

Billings Field 10:00-10:45
Centre Street and LaGrange Street
2030 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132

Ohrenberger C.C. 11:15-12:00
175 West Boundary Road, West Roxbury, MA 02132

Mattapan Library 1:15-2:00
1350 Blue Hill Avenue, Mattapan, MA 02126

Tuesday, August 9

West End House Boys and Girls Club 10:00-10:45
105 Allston Street, Allston, MA 02134

Honan-Allston Library 11:15-12:00
300 North Harvard Street, Allston, MA 02134

Jackson Mann Community Center 1:15-2:00
500 Cambridge Street, Allston, MA 02134

Thursday, August 11, 2011

United South End Settlements, 10:00-10:45
48 Rutland Street, Boston, MA 02118

TADPole Playground 11:00-11:45
Boston Common, Boston (next to the Frog Pond)

Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center/Josiah Quincy School, 1:15-2:00
885 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111

Friday, August 12, 2011

Children’s Quarters 10:00-10:45
36 First Avenue (Charlestown Navy Yard), Charlestown, MA 02129

John F. Kennedy Family Service Center 11:15-12:00
23 Moulton Street, Charlestown, MA 02129

Charlestown Library 1:15-2:00
179 Main Street, Charlestown, MA 0212