Live storytelling - this summer

Storytelling for 3-8 year olds at nearly 50 sites across the City of Boston. As I have for the past 18 summers I will be a storyteller with ReadBoston.org's Storymobile. Here is an excerpt from a blog about the Storymobile experience contributed by OWD summer intern Nick Zaffiro: 

Storymobile events aren’t simply about gathering and entertaining children; instead, the program aims to inspire kids to be creative and imagine. That mindset is the bridge to literacy, which the program promotes by giving books to every child who attends.
“[The Storymobile] provides high quality literacy programming to low-income children throughout Boston in the summer, when children are most at risk,” says Katie Sullivan, who oversees ReadBoston’s Storymobile program..."

This wonderful work takes me all over the great city of Boston. The program features free storytelling every weekday for 4 weeks in day care centers, summer camps, libraries and parks. READ BOSTON Storymobile: Professional storytellers perform and each child gets a new, high quality, picture book.

LIVE STORYTELLING IN BOSTON 

Late July and early August 2017 

JULY 13th BOSTON
Tadpole Playground/Boston Common
Thursdays at 10:00

Tuesday JULY 25th DORCHESTER

College Bound Dorchester 

18 Samoset Street 10 am

Codman Square Library 

690 Washington Street 11:15am

Lower Mills Library 

27 Richmond Street Tuesdays at 1:15pm

Wednesday JULY 26th SOUTH BOSTON

Laboure Early Childhood Center 

275 West Broadway Wednesdays at 10:00

South Boston Neighborhood House 

1187 Columbia Road Wednesdays at 11:15

South Boston Boys & Girls Club 

230 West 6th Street Wednesdays at 1:15

Thursday JULY 27th ALLSTON/BRIGHTON 

Rivendell Day Care Center 

406 Cambridge Street Thursdays at 10:00 

Jackson Mann Community Center 

500 Cambridge Street Thursdays at 11:15
Honan Allston Library 

200 North Harvard Street Thursdays at 1:15


Friday JULY 28th ROXBURY

Egleston Square Library 

2044 Columbus Avenue Fridays at 10:00

Madison Park Community Center 

55 Malcolm X Boulevard at 11:15
Gertrude Howes Park

70 Moreland Street  at 1:15pm

Wednesday AUGUST 2nd ROXBURY

Yawkey Konbit Kreyol Center for Early Education and Care
185 Columbia Road Wednesdays at 10:00
Grove Hall Library 
41 Geneva Avenue at 11:15
St. Katharine Drexel Parish Center 
175 Ruggles Street at 1:15pm

Friday AUGUST 4th DORCHESTER and MATTAPAN
Gertrude Townsend Head Start
198 Geneva Avenue at 10:00
Mildred Ave Community Center 
5 Mildred Avenue at 11:15
Mattapan Library 
1350 Blue Hill Avenue at 1:15

The magic and power of storytelling strike again!

After listening to stories, some kids try my drum while others choose books at ReadBoston's StoryMobile.

The magic and power of storytelling strike again! Thanks so much to a mom who took the time to write to me.  This is from the ReadBoston site at Marcella Park this week, July 30th 2014: "My daughter and I came to Marcella Park today to see your wonderful storytelling. My daughter has autism and has a lot of trouble following a spoken narrative. But your telling was so clear and engaging that she was actually able to pick out some characters and plot points, which for her is HUGE (especially with no visuals, in such a distracting setting). She's 4 and a half and she's always struggled hugely with receptive language, and she was sitting far enough away from me that I couldn't coach her through the stories, so like I said, I'm super impressed that she was able to relay any of it back. So I wanted to thank you so much for being there today and for the gift of your stories." And thanks to all at Read Boston and Samantha Sadd at Marcella park who make this work possible.

At the Boston Nature Center, August 1, 0214

This summer I mark my 16th year with the Read Boston Storymobile program. We will tell stories all over the city from July -August 16, 2015. Storytellers provide the stories and the Storymobile program provides the books, logistics and oganization, plus? They bring a brand new and free book for every child in attendance. All sites are open to the public. Here is what a day on the road with Read Boston looks like... Typically we are scheduled in three sites in one of the many Boston Neighborhoods and the sites are accessible to one another by public transport. The van will have dropped off books for the expected audience and when I arrive someone at the facility or venue will have boxes of books ready. Sometimes everyone knows where I will perform and which way the audience will be seated. The outdoor venues can be super challenging with rain, traffic noise, other camp groups and many environmental challenges as well. Back in the day, the Storymobile was an actual huge RV with bookshelves. Soon they may have a pedi-powered version. But that is just a rumor.  As you read in the quote above, while the challenges are great,  the rewards are greater. 

"The Wampanoag and NipMuc, Abenake and Narragansett..."

 This year to help with what I feel is a  lack of basic knowledge about who is an immigrant and who the Native Americans are, I have, in fine folk tradition, added some local names to the chorus of a song by the right-on folk singer, Nancy Schimmel. Appropriately, the tune Nancy Schimmel uses sounds like a tarantella. Below is a screen shot of my resources for teachers and camp counselors. http://www.sisterschoice.com/1492.mp3 

Background: After Schools in Boston are invited to apply for ReadBoston's After School Reading Initiative. Created in 2000, ReadBoston's After School Reading Initiative has worked with over 90 after school programs throughout the city of Boston promoting reading, literature, and literacy. To accomplish this ReadBoston works closely with after school directors and staff, coaching staff to lead engaging literacy activities. These activities include reading aloud with groups of students, creating independent reading times, and promoting book-related activities. ReadBoston also purchases and develops diverse book collections in after school programs, creating inviting spaces for reading. Both school-based and community-based programs are invited to apply. Organizations may choose to apply for more than one site, but must submit separate applications for each site.

ReadBoston 2013 - storytelling all over the city

by Norah Dooley

This summer I mark my 15th year with the Read Boston Storymobile program. We will tell stories all over the city from July 8-August 16, 2013. Storytellers provide the stories and the Storymobile program provides the books, logistics and oganization, plus? They bring a brand new and free book for every child in attendance. All sites are open to the public.  Here is what a day on the road with Read Boston looks like... Typically we are scheduled in three sites in one of the many Boston Neighborhoods and the sites are accessible to one another by public transport. The van will have dropped off books for the expected audience and when I arrive someone at the facility or venue will have boxes of books ready. Sometimes everyone knows where I will perform and which way the audience will be seated. The outdoor venues can be super challenging with rain, traffic noise, other camp groups and many environmental challenges as well. I wrote the following in 2007 about a day in the Summer of 2000  -

My work sends me to some funky venues. This one was a park along side a highway where the planes are low overhead in their approach to Logan. It was about 90º F. It was also before lunch and maybe after nap. About 20 kids about 3 years old each, walking like somnambulists, holding on to clothesline were brought out to me and we were all led to a huge tree. How primal - how essential ! Me, a tree and a group of children. This is storytelling. This is what it is all about! The disaffected teen staff were sullen and glum. Who could blame them? It was so damn hot, humid and smelly. But when I pointed out that the broken glass mixed in the wet with dew*grass as unsuitable for tender toddler bottoms of my audience they became even unhappier. We moved around the tree and finally to another tree.And I started at last. 

A plane roared overhead. I pushed on. Traffic flowed and growled in the background. I engaged and cavorted. Then a bright and perspicacious little boy noticed a huge dog turd about 18" inches away from my foot. God I wished I had seen that first. "Wow. Look Dog POOP!" 20 little heads were snapped around and riveted in attention on the brown, perfectly formed canine offering by my foot. The teen counselors perked up. This became a moment of intense interest. My audience could not get enough - Then it evolved into group participation... more here

Theresa Lynn and Mayor Menino at the Tadpole Pond

But this not all Read Boston does... At their Facebook page I found:  (6 photos) of

ReadBoston's Anna Adler has been working with parents at Boston Public Schools' Newcomers Assessment and Counseling Center in the Madison Park Education Complex. Participants in this nine hour training have been working hard and having fun. With only one session remaining, they are well on their way to becoming "Early Literacy Parent Leaders".

In February they set up this deal. Throw on your jammies and tuck into a good tale during the Hotel Commonwealth’s pajama party and storytelling event Feb. 22-23. The Bedtime Stories package features professional storytellers and performers from ReadBoston. Meet and get your photo taken with George, and make your own hot chocolate. Pay $20 to attend the event each night, 7-8:30 p.m. Or book the Hotel for Kids package for Feb. 22 or 23 at a starting rate of $229, based on availability, which includes a four-person suite, a kids’ backpack with L.L. Bean slippers, free valet parking, and a morning pancake-making class for kids. Stay the second night for $169. 866-784-4000,Parent Training at BPS Newcomers Assessment and Counseling Center or    www.hotelcommonwealth.com

After Schools in Boston are invited to apply for ReadBoston's After School Reading Initiative. Created in 2000, ReadBoston's After School Reading Initiative has worked with over 90 after school programs throughout the city of Boston promoting reading, literature, and literacy. To accomplish this, ReadBoston works closely with after school directors and staff, coaching staff to lead engaging

Back in the day, the Storymobile was a huge RV with bookshelves

literacy activities. These activities include reading aloud with groups of students, creating independent reading times, and promoting book-related activities. ReadBoston also purchases and develops diverse book collections in after school programs, creating inviting spaces for reading. Both school-based and community-based programs are invited to apply. Organizations may choose to apply for more than one site, but must submit separate applications for each site.

Two years ago I wrote this post on my last day... It is my last day of Read Boston. I will be in Charlestown all day. Yesterday was a great day. I worked in the South End Settlement House in their lovely walled garden, the Tadpole playground on the Boston Common, at a school in Chinatown and then at the zebra gate of Franklin Park Zoo in the evening. Hard to express fully how joyful and satisfying it is to tell stories all day. Biking from place to place, on a gorgeous day, telling stories. My idea of heaven.

Today I wrote this on the way to Charlestown. What I especially enjoy about bicycling to the venues  are the little things I get to see in the city.  A meditation on some black details while riding on the Charles River to work.

black starling bathes in a tiny puddle on asphalt path
what a yellow beak!
kingfisher is a black question mark on top a
round white buoy.
A long shadow behind as I peddle by on a
black bike in early morning sun.

Here is my schedule for  summer  2013:

·         7/15  Roxbury

10:00 AM  HATTIE B. COOPER COMMUNITY CENTER -1891 WASHINGTON STREET

11:15 AM 12TH BAPTIST CHURCH PRESCHOOL
- 160 WARREN STREET  1:15 PM VINE STREET COMMUNITY CENTER- 
339 DUDLEY STREET

·         7/16  South Boston

10:00 AM  LABOURE CENTER
 -275 WEST BROADWAY  11:15 AM TIERNEY LEARNING CENTER
 125 MERCER STREET  * 12:45 PM *  SOUTH BOSTON BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
      -230 WEST 6TH STREET

·         7/17 West Roxbury


10:00 AM  ROCHE CENTER
- 1716 CENTRE STREET

  11:15 AM BILLINGS FIELD
 CENTRE STREET & LAGRANGE STREET

 1:15 PM  OHRENBERGER COMMUNITY CENTER
  175 WEST BOUNDARY ROAD

·         7/23 Dorchester

10:00 AM ROCKWOOD EARLY EDUCATION ACADEMY- 995 BLUE HILL AVENUE
11:15 AM CODMAN SQUARE LIBRARY - 690 WASHINGTON STREET  1:15 PM ELMHURST PARK  31 ELMHURST STREET

·         7/24 Jamaica Plain 

10:00 AM JAMAICA PLAIN HEAD START 315 CENTRE STREET – REAR  11:15 AM HENNIGAN COMMUNITY CENTER - 200 HEATH STREET 1:15 PM  MARCELLA PARK
CORNER OF MARCELLA & HIGHLAND STREET

·         7/25 Boston, South End, Chinatown

10:00 AM TADPOLE PLAYGROUND/ BOSTON COMMON 11:15 AM  ESCUELITA BORIKEN 85 WEST NEWTON STREET 1:15 PM BOSTON CHINATOWN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER 885 WASHINGTON STREET

·         7/26 Roslindale

10:00 AM  FALLON FIELD  ON THE CORNER OF SOUTH WALTER & SOUTH FAIRVIEW ST.    11:15 AM SOUTH SIDE HEAD START 19 CORINTH STREET  1:15 PM ROSLINDALE COMMUNITY CENTER   6 CUMMINGS HIGHWAY

·         7/31 Dorchester

10:00 AM PROJECT HOPE CHILDREN’S CENTER -45 MAGNOLIA STREET 11:15 AM GROVE HALL LIBRARY 41 GENEVA AVENUE  1:15 PM KROC CENTER 650 DUDLEY STREET

·         8/1 Allston

10:00 AM FAIRY TALE CHILDREN’S CENTER 14/20 LINDEN STREET 11:15 AM JACKSON MANN COMMUNITY CENTER 500 CAMBRIDGE STREET 1:15 PM HONAN-ALLSTON LIBRARY  300 NORTH HARVARD STREET

·         8/2  Dorchester

10:00 AM  THE CRISPUS ATTUCKS CHILDREN’S CENTER - 105 CRAWFORD STREET  11:15 AM HOLLAND SCHOOL 85 OLNEY STREET  1:15 PM CLEVELAND COMMUNITY CENTER  11 CHARLES STREET

·         8/14  Dorchester

10:00 AM YAWKEY CENTER 185 COLUMBIA ROAD 11:15 AM GERTRUDE TOWNSEND HEAD START  198 GENEVA AVENUE  1:15 PM BLUE HILL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB
15 TALBOT AVE