Tellers of Tales, Singers of Songs

By a stroke of luck, I received a call in mid-July to see if I could help with Moore County Library's Summer Reading Program on short notice. I was delighted to accept, and was able to do a Wednesday story hour at the main Carthage branch, then a Thursday story hour at the Vass Library.

Beyond storytelling itself, I tried to create an atmosphere of being in another time and another place, where telling tales an singing songs were the main entertainment. This T-shirt was perfect for that message.

I came prepared with an arsenal of my own favorite books, mostly folktales. These were chock full of time-tested and proven favorites from 33 years of teaching plus five years at Camp Cherokee.

I've always had a special place in my heart for Richard Chase's Jack Tales and Grandfather Tales. From them I read "Soap, Soap, Soap." Some of you blog-readers will know that one.

There were 63 children, parents, and caregivers at the Carthage library. Most have been regular attendees at the library's summer story hours, so they were well-mannered and expectant.

Uncle Remus was introduced to me by my mother, who also inspired me to read character voices dramatically. So it was quite natural to share the favorite Br'er Rabbit story of all time, "The Tar Baby."

"Well, Brer Rabbit," say Brer Fox, "I expect de best way is ter skin you. Come on, Brer Bear, let's get started."
"Skin me," say Brer Rabbit, "pull out my ears, snatch off my legs an chop off my
tail, but please, please, PLEASE, Brer Fox an Brer Bear, don't fling me in dat
brier-patch!"

Naturally, my companion Chipper accompanied me both days. Not only does he love to meet new people, but he can't pass up a good tale.

I had never been in the Vass Town Library, but was very impressed with the facilities, which seemed to be either a former department store or lodge meeting hall, judging from the wonderful chandelier and some of the decor.

The crowd was equal in size to that of the first day. There was scarcely room to wiggle, and believe it or not, most children didn't! They've been well-prepared to be polite listeners.

One story that I read both days was from a new favorite book of mine, The Adventures of Molly Whuppie by Anne Shelby. Molly is like a female "Jack," and finds her way OUT of trouble as easily as she finds her way INTO it.

Well, that tickled Molly Whuppie so good, she laughed right out loud. She started laughing, got her tickle box turned over, and could not quit. . . . Finally the giants heard her. Now that's one thing about a giant. They cannot stand to be laughed at. . . . So they went to investigate and found a girl up a tree.

"Are you laughin' at us?" they asked her.

"I reckon I am," Molly said, laughing so hard the tears streamed down her face.

"Are you the one caused us to lose our meat and job our chins with forks and fight?"

"I reckon I am," Molly said, laughing so hard her sides hurt.

"Well, we aim to kill you," said the giants. Molly quit laughing.

That's another thing about a giant. first little thing that goes wrong, they're talking about killing somebody.

Special drawings for free books were held both days. Julie Brown, at the right, does a grand job running the summer program.

This young reader hung around afterward to have his picture taken with Chipper. I told him how much I liked his Cherokee T-shirt.

His brother wanted his picture taken with Chipper, too. I told him I love all the Indiana Jones movies. Which I do.

Julie assured me that she wants me on her regular schedule next summer, and I couldn't be happier. If the same children come just about every time, they should get to know Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, Br'er Bear, Jack, Will, Tom, Molly Whuppie, and a whole host of other characters mighty well!