Hair and Back Again

I had a hard time deciding on a story for the "My Story" assignment.

At first I was going to do some anecdotes from my brother's, sister's, and my childhood. However, in order for it to turn out as I had envisioned, I was going to need to find a good illustrator. While my brother has the skills and was willing to do it, he just didn't have the time.

Next, I decided to recount a story from when I was studying abroad in Prague...mostly because of the plethora of pictures I had available to accompany it. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate my letters home to check facts and get some ideas.

While looking through photos, though, I came across one from the night before classes my freshman year of college. I had found my story.

It is uploaded to the left...and called Hair and Back Again: A Blonde Girl's Tale.

I suppose if anyone from class wanted to tell it, they could. But, seeing as how it is fairly specific to my life, I don't think anyone will.

Also, as long as we are discussing the topic of hair...there is a hilarious book called If I Had Long, Long Hair that is similar in theme to my story. I don't think it would make a good flannel board story, but maybe with a wig, or a puppet whose hair could "grow"...At the very least, it is great for a traditional storytime session at a library!

Maid Marian finally Made

I recorded (many moons ago) an online storytelling session that included me telling one of my Robin Hood stories. This was intended to count as one of my stories in front of a live audience. The problem was that I was the last story told in a storytelling/chat session that lasted nearly an hour. Also, if the viewer was not a UW student, I couldn't figure out how to get the story onto my blog.

I have been meaning to rerecord the audio, resync it to the powerpoint, and upload it here to the blog with a link to the original live telling. But I kept putting it off.

Finally, tonight, I had a great idea...why not test out my new video camera's voice recorder? I went to the original live session, recorded the audio while it played on my computer, imported it into Window's movie maker...along with the images from the powerpoint, saved it as a movie, and uploaded it onto Vimeo.

I prefer this method to using pointecast, because I don't have to use up space on my UW account. Also, vimeo will let me embed the video without having to link to it. Yay!

So, the video is posted to the left. It is an oral adaptation of a literary adaptation that I wrote of a historical/traditional Robin Hood ballad for my Honor's Capstone as an undergrad. The only major changes from the written version have to do with point of view and length. Originally I had the story written out as first person narrative.

I have put a link up to a very good resource: The Robin Hood Project. It is an online compendium of almost every extant Robin Hood legend...many in middle english. I also highly recommend the Howard Pyle version of Robin Hood...it is a classic, and a good introduction to the legend.

The Giving Tree

Today I did my fourth Story Time with Megan. Since I had the day off I drove to the Port Orchard branch office, where I used to work. They had wanted to hear a story as well. I did an adaptation in flannel of Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. I have posted the transcript to the right.

I know that this story is used to teach the importance of generosity. It shows kids that true happiness is found by giving, and by making others happy. But does it really? Ever since I was a little kid and first read the book I have thought that the boy was a creep. He takes and takes and never even thanks the tree. I almost feel that they story teaches kids to rip off those who look after them, and not express gratitude or care about what it costs others to help them. Still, it is a good story, and a modern classic. It is worth telling to children, but I would present it with a story that talks about being thankful/grateful for what we receive.

The performance went over well...although it was noted that this story was less of a warm fuzzy than the other stories I told. (Actually...one of my coworkers, Gail, was actually crying at the end. I didn't know whether to be pleased with the fact that I had moved her, or to feel bad because I made her cry...)

I need to thank my cousin Jake who is staying with me this weekend. He was my guinea pig audience several times when I practiced (pointing out mistakes and giving advice on wording), gave honest feedback on the flannel shapes, and then filmed the performance.

Little Bunny Foo foo

Today was the third Story Time at work. Whether due to a more convenient time slot, or the fact that buzz had been building from my previous performances, I had over twice as many attendees today. In fact, they had to relocate me from one of the signing rooms to the HUGE board room. It was also a more "high-ranking" audience...president, vice president...no pressure there!

The story I did was "Little Bunny Foo Foo,"' which was my own adaptation of a traditional camp/scout song. I expanded the verses to include reasons why Foo Foo bops the field mice, got rid of what I thought was a cheesy ending (Hare today, Goon tomorrow), and added my own ending. I have not yet written out a transcript for this story. I have told it before, and since I was very familiar with the storyline from the song,never took the time to write it down. I will do so soon though, and post it with the other transcripts.

I REALLY LIKE TELLING THIS STORY! And, I think and hope, people enjoy hearing it. I like that it can incorporate blatant moral lessons with twisted dark humor. Also, the repeated lines and hand motions can be used with younger audiences to bolster participation. My favorite thing about this particular video recording is that you can hear the audience reacting the way I want them to. It is reinforcing to me as a teller when they laugh or gasp in the right places.

(On an even more positive note...the president was so excited by the story that she demanded an encore and command performance of a second story...luckily, I still had my purple dry erase marker with me...I grabbed the white board from the sales room and did a rendition of Harold and the Purple Crayon. She even suggested that we do something like this once a week to break up the stress...I am all for that!)

Thank you to my supervisor, Kim, who filmed this one. She was so shocked at the end that she almost forgot to stop the camera!

Harold and the Purple Crayon

Today I did the second Story Time at work. This time I did an adaptation of Crockett Johnson's Harold and the Purple Crayon. I eliminated a few elements (such as the policeman that Harold meets), and adjusted the wording to be more formulaic...and thus easier to remember. I posted the transcript to the right. (The only change from the transcript is that instead of 9 pies I only drew 4...time and space issues.) I recommend that you try to find a classroom or conference room with a full size white board if you want to recreate this. It would have been a lot easier/better if I had had more space to draw. Harold wouldn't have had to wander around in such an odd manner, and it would have been less squished.

Regardless of difficulties, it seems this story was a big hit. Our VP, Harold, was unable to attend at the scheduled time, so I gave him a private performance later in the afternoon. However, one of my co-workers has a husband named Hal (Harold), who she told about it. He took time out of his day to drive all the way to the office and hear the story! I was very touched.

Thank you to Andy for filming the story. It was very nice of him. He even stood the whole time to avoid the dreaded up-angle!

I hope you enjoy the story!

The Mitten

Today was the first "Storytime with Megan" at my work. I told my adaptation of Jan Brett's adaptation of The Mitten. The basic transcript is posted to the left. I followed her storyline, but the repetitive refrains that each animal uses are original to me.

I was very excited...I had knit two different sized mittens and cut all of the animals out of felt. It was a lot of prep work for an 8 minute story, but now I have the tools should I ever tell the tale again. (Although my sister, who just got her elementary ed degree seems to think she needs them...)

The work was worth it, because my coworkers were truly delighted. (And I like to think it was my storytelling, not the juice boxes and animal crackers that they loved.) They said that they had not expected me to do voices, and you can hear them chuckling in the background of the video. Afterwards several asked to look at the book, they wanted to get copies for their kids/grandkids.

Things I learned: Up-angles are not flattering! Grape is the most popular juice flavor! Wear a belt when telling this story, so that you have someplace to tuck the mittens!

Also, I need to thank Bill who filmed it for me. He was worried it would be shaky, but used a chair to prop the camera...maybe tomorrow I will take a tripod...

The video of the story is posted to the left!

Change in Plans

Originally I was going to hold an inspirational, business related, storytelling session for the sales and management teams at my company.

Now, due to a high volume of stress in the workplace, and a desire for whimsy and decompression, I am holding 3 escapist children's storytelling sessions at work...for all of the employees.

The idea is for me to tell a different story everyday. I chose The Mitten, Harold and the Purple Crayon, and (by popular request) Little Bunny FooFoo. The sessions are scheduled at slightly different times so that my co-workers can come to the session that best fits their lunch or break schedule...or they can come to all three! Granted, the stories are aimed at a much younger audience, but that is what is so hilarious about the whole thing! My coworkers can pretend to be kids again!

3 days...3 different stories...Juice Boxes...Cookies...

This is going to be fun!

The advertising flyer being circulated at my office is posted to the left. It gives the nitty gritty...what story, what day, what time, etc.

Fell off the Couch

I went to the library yesterday on my way home from work and picked up a TON of picture books. I had placed a bunch on hold, and then literally went through the children's section grabbing anything with a slightly interesting title. I didn't even open most of them, and didn't get a chance to read any of them before bed last night.

I got off work early today, so decided to be productive. This involved sitting on my couch with some hot chocolate and a 2'4" stack of picture books on the floor next to me. (Yes, I actually measured.)

Most of the books ended up being a little bland. They just did not jump out and scream: "Use me for storytelling!"

A few did, quite literally, beg to be retold with flannel or felt...

One, however, actually made me laugh to the point of falling off the couch. (I don't know if it is really this funny, or if I am just sleep deprived and over-caffeinated.) It reminded me very much of Ugly Fish. I guess I just like off-beat, slightly vicious, grumpy story lines.

Anyway, the book is Grumblebunny by Bob Hartman. Everyone should go out and buy it...immediately...or at least get it at their local library!

Storyteller's Critique

For our second assignment in class, we were required to watch and critique 3 professional storytellers. One of the performances had to be live, while the other two could be online or video. I attended, as previously stated, "Koto Tales" at the Key Center Library. I also watched Cowboy Poet Dennis Gaines online via YouTube, and the DVD of S,Kallam storyteller Elaine Grinnell. I enjoyed all three. I was also amazed at how different all three were, even though they utilized a lot of the same methods.

My thoughts and critiques can be found in the link to the left.

Cultural Appropriation

We have been discussing in class whether or not it is okay for someone to tell stories from another culture. I fall on the side of yes, if it is done respectfully, since often times it is hard to pin a tale down to just one culture. All tales are influenced by multiple sources, and often have parallels around the world. Once someone tells a tale, it is changed, adapted to the teller...regardless of their heritage.

While viewing some storytelling videos I came across an interesting example of one group appropriating another culture's tale for its own purposes. The DVD is called "Run to High Ground," and features storyteller Viola Riebe of the Hoh tribe telling the traditional tale of Obi and the tsunami. What was interesting to me is that at the end of the film there was a PSA. It turns out the 15 minute DVD had not been an attempt to preserve traditional Native American culture, but rather had been sponsored by the Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division. Its sole purpose was to educate children, grades K-6, as to proper safety procedures when on the coast during and following an earthquake.

Interesting.

Koto Tales

I went to go see Elizabeth Falconer, a Koto Master, perform at the Key Center Library. traditional Japanese Folk Tales, and performed traditional and contemporary Koto music. She toldOne of the legends, the Tanabata, is geared towards a slightly older audience. Another from Okinawa, about a dragon, centipede, and a rooster, was definitely a children's tale.

I really enjoyed watching how she incorporated music and instrumental sound effects into her tales. I was also very impressed with how she used the instrument and its components as a prop. With the dragon tale, she also used hand puppets, at one point using the dragons tail on the Koto to exemplify him stirring up the waves.

There were only two kids in the audience, which is why she also included the Tanabata legend. Still, it was very interesting. She also took time to explain the history of the Koto and Japanese storytelling. (And I got to play the Koto after the performance was over...FUN!!!)

The Library that hosted the session had put up a display of children's picture books based on Japanese folktales, featuring Japanese characters, or set in Japan. They did not, however, include my favorite Japanese tale...that of Sadako and the 1000 Paper Cranes. This is a true story, available as both a picture book and early reader chapter book. I think it would adapt well as a story telling tale, especially if one were to incorporate origami into the story (perhaps folding a paper crane as one spoke).