Workshop Notes
Vermont Children’s Librarians
Thursday, Oct 25, 2007
Kellogg-Hubbard Library, Montpelier, VT
Literature, Storytelling and Music in the Library:
Bringing Picture Books & Storytelling Alive with Music
and Movement
Dear Dance Workshop Participants,
We had a wonderful time with you at our workshop in Montpelier last Thursday; thank you for your enthusiastic participation.
Here is a list of what we did in the workshop, with a few notes and addendums:
Fox p. 2 on the handout
on the Amidons Faerie’s
Gift CD
This traditional classic has great language for children. I created
a storytelling introduction that, like our other storytelling song introductions
was gleaned from the details of the song itself. Try creating your
own.
Aunt Rhody traditional American
Go tell Aunt Rhody, go tell Aunt Rhody.
Go tell Aunt Rhody
That the old grey goose is dead.
The one she's been saving,
The one she's been saving,
The one she's been saving to make a feather bed.
The goslin's are weeping...
...because their mother's dead.
The gander is weeping...
...because his wife is dead.
She died on the millpond...
...standing on her head.
Picture Books
The picture book bibliography is on pages 6-8.
I am sorry that Mary Alice is out of town: I will try to get an update on
exactly which books she used in the workshop and add them to this later,
but I want to get this page up soon, so, for the moment, I will leave off
exactly which books she did.
Tree Song p. 2 on the handout
by Lorraine Hammond
in NEDM’s Down in the Valley CD/book collection
Roger is Dead p. 4 on the handout
traditional American
in NEDM’s Down in the Valley CD/book collection
I have met Vermonters who played this singing game when they were children.
Busy Monday Morning p. 1 in the handout
traditional Polish
on the Amidons’ All I Really Need CD
We had you make up your own storytelling introductions to this song. A
couple of different groups came up with a multi-generational “story
within a story” introduction.
Faerie’s Gift
Faerie’sGift.pdf
on the Amidons’ Faerie’s
Gift CD
Mary Alice told this, and afterwards did a “shower” where everyone
just said words and images that came to mind after the story.
Silver Rain p. 3 in the handout
from the Bruderhof
on the Amidons’ This
Pretty Planet CD (temporarily out of stock) and the Amidons’ Beatitudes
- Amidon Choral Arrangements CD. We facilitated your creating
hand motions to this song.
Owl and the Pussycat p. 5 in the handout
Peter’s setting of the Edward Lear poem.
on the Amidons’ Faerie’s
Gift CD
I set this to music in 1973: the first time I ever set a poem to music.
Three Bears Group Storytelling Exercise
StorytellingAdjectives.pdf
I have never done this exercise with children, although it might work. We
did this with you to help YOU with your storytelling skills and confidence.
Nyangara the Python traditional from Zimbabwe
Nyangara.pdf
You did a great job acting this out!
Thorn Rosa p. 4 in the handout
in NEDM’s Jump Jim Joe CD/book collection
Mary Alice led this as a singing game, and I also did a little my telling
this as a story punctuated by the verses of the song.
Chiney Doll p. 1 in the handout
on Mary Alice’s Songs for a Singing Family CD
I told the storytelling introduction to this song, and then played our son
Sam, age 2 1/2, retelling this story.
Check in later for an update on which picture books Mary Alice did.
Thanks again for your wonderful presence; we had a great time!
Best,
Peter and Mary Alice Amidon