Storytelling

Barnes & Noble Easter Event – Saturday, April 16, 2011

by Dianne on April 20, 2011

4-16-11 Dianne performs Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach as Marita draws the story

Friends:

This past Saturday, Marita Gentry and I had a big event at Barnes & Noble Citiplace in Baton Rouge. It was an Easter event sponsored by Louisiana Public Broadcasting. There was an amazing Cupcake Decoration Station. The cupcakes were decorated to look like Easter baskets. Too cute!

4-16-11 The Easter basket cupcake decoration station

Marita and I had two shows. For our first show, we performed The Cajun Cornbread Boy. She drew as I told the story. Love that creative dynamic between us!

4-16-11 Dianne performs The Cajun Cornbread Boy as Marita draws the story

We signed books after the show and then performed again a little while later. This time, we did Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, a favorite amongst our young fans. The kids had such a great time dancing on stage!

4-26-11 Marita draws Monsieur Roach and his partying friends as Dianne sings and dances with her roaches

Marita is an amazing artist. I am always astounded by how fast and accurately she draws! Just look at this… and it looks just like our book!

4-16-11 Marita Gentry with her roach illustrations. What an amazing talent!

My daughter, Kid Chef Eliana, also signed her cookbook, Eliana Cooks! Recipes for Creative Kids. She sold so many books that Barnes & Noble is now down to only three copies! Way to go, Eliana!

4-16-11 Kid Chef Eliana signs books at Barnes & Noble Citiplace for the big LPB Easter Event

A special thank you to LPB and to Abby Hannie at Barnes & Noble for organizing such a fun and busy event! That was A LOT kids and we loved it! Hoppy Easter!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Barnes & Noble There’s A Dragon in the Library Book Event – Saturday, April 9, 2011

by Dianne on April 19, 2011

4-9-11 Fans hold Dianne de Las Casas' books

Friends:

On Saturday, April 9, 2011, right after my book signing for French Quarter Fest, I headed to Barnes & Noble in Harvey, Louisiana. I had a special event for National Library Week, sharing my story, There’s a Dragon in the Library. We had a nice crowd, and the kids designed dragons and received crowns. What a blast!

4-9-11 Dianne tells the story, There's A Dragon in the Library, at Barnes & Noble in Harvey, LA

A special thank you to Stacey Hensley for organizing the event!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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National Library Week Book Event at Barnes & Noble Perkins Rowe – Friday, April 8, 2011

by Dianne on April 19, 2011

4-8-11 Dianne with the winner of the Design a Dragon contest

Friends:

On Friday, April 8, 2011, I had a big book event at Barnes & Noble Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge. To celebrate the start of National Library Week, Barnes & Noble and Denham Springs Junior High had an art exhibit. The art teacher in charge, Sharon Loyd, a good friend of mine, had the students create mythological creatures inspired by Marita Gentry’s dragon art in our book, There’s A Dragon in the Library.

4-8-11 The wall of dragon art at Barnes & Noble Perkins Rowe in Baton Rouge

The students did such an amazing job!! I was asked to be the judge of the contest. Here is the winning illustration. It is done by Sarah Fontenot, in the 6th grade. I love the paisley pattern on the dragon and how she cleverly incorporated all of my books into the picture! Way to go, Sarah!

4-8-11 The Winning Entry by Sarah Fontenot for the Mythological Creatures Art Contest using my book, There's A Dragon in the Library, as inspiration

I told the story of There’s a Dragon in the Library with lots of great helpers.

4-8-11 Telling the story of There's a Dragon in the Library

It was a fun event and I was so honored!! Thank you Barnes & Noble, Sharon Loyd, Sarah Fontenot, and Denham Springs Junior High. You rock!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Hammond Eastside Elementary Author Visit – Friday, April 1, 2011

by Dianne on April 19, 2011

4-1-11 Dianne takes a picture with a first grade class

Friends:

On Friday, April 1, 2011, I visited Hammond Eastside Elementary, courtesy of my friend and first grade teacher, Michelle Cardaronella. Here I am performing The Gigantic Sweet Potato with students from my first show.

4-1-11 Performing The Gigantic Sweet Potato at Hammond Eastside Elementary

I saw two groups of students in different grade level seatings. I love performing Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with the students and they had so much fun!

4-1-11 Performing Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach at Hammond Eastside Elementary

I love seeing them on the ground with their little roach legs sticking up at the end of the story. It’s hilarious!

4-1-11 Roaches on the ground in Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach story

I performed Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with both groups and I love the expression of this third grade student, who played the part of Monsieur Roach!

4-1-11 Madame Poulet has words with Monsieur Roach

After my shows, it was time to sign books for the students. There were long lines of students waiting to have their books signed. It’s always a treat for me to interact with the students one on one during a book signing!

4-1-11 Students line up for book autographs

I made sure that all the students received bookmarks and that all the teachers received reading posters. Thank you, Michelle, for such an enjoyable visit!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Kansas Summer Reading Workshop SCKLS – Friday, March 25, 2011

by Dianne on March 25, 2011

3-25-11 Love these STAR librarians!

Friends:

Today was the final day of my Kansas Summer Reading Workshop tour. South Central Kansas Library (SCKLS) was my 7th library system in Kansas!

We started the day with a creativity exercise. Workshop participants had to create a self-portrait using items from their purse, wallet or pockets. There were lots of creative librarians!

3-25-11 Dana creates a self-portrait out of items from her purse with a Reeses peanut butter cup nose and Twix eyes! My kind of girl!

I opened Handmade Tales with a draw and tell story called “The Emperor’s Dragon.” I love this story because it’s fun to see the dragon come to life with lines. Kids adore this story!

3-25-11 The Emperor's Dragon, a draw and tell tale to represent China

Next, I taught them the draw and tell tale of “Catching a Pest in 7 Steps.” This story creates a mouse using numbers!

3-25-11 Catching a Pest in 7 steps, a draw and tell tale that uses numbers to create the picture

We did the cut and tell story of “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat,” a cute story with audience participation, humor, and transformations.

3-25-11 Librarians do the cut and tell story of Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

I showed them a scroll story from Japan, Russian nesting dolls made of paper, and “The Ugly Duckling,” made out of towels.

3-25-11 The Ugly Duckling is made out of a hand towel

It’s so much fun to do the story of “Papa’s Teepee” and see the coffee filters transform into snowflakes. I love having everyone create a blizzard.

3-25-11 Librarians create a blizzard of coffee filter snowflakes from the story, Papa's Teepee

After the morning break, it was time for “Bandana Man,” my popular adaptation of “The Gingerbread Man.” Look at these cute old women! Thanks, Chris, Brandon, Eric and Steve!

3-25-11 SCKLS men as little old women in the story, Bandana Man

This bandana man is so cute!

3-25-11 Look at this cute Bandana Man with colorful leopard spots!

I taught the librarians the string story of “The Stubborn Turnip,” an adaptation of the Russian story, “The Enormous Turnip.” Then I taught them a star string figure. So cool to see all of these librarians with their stars!

3-25-11 These librarians reach for the stars... with string!

After lunch, we worked on Tangram Tales and I showed the librarians how to create a Tangram set without a pattern. Then we had an “Invent-a-Tangram” contest. The winner, Diane, won one of my giant There’s a Dragon in the Library posters. I love this person sitting down reading a book Tangram.

3-25-11 Diane is the winner of the Invent-A-Tangram contest with her person sitting and reading a book

The group performed a Tangram story theater of the story, “Tiger’s Tale, Anansi’s Stories.” It is a tale from the West Indies and their story chorus was fun and rhythmic. I love seeing their collective creativity and how it comes together so quickly!

3-25-11 The SCKLS Librarians perform Tiger's Tale, Anansi's Stories, a Tangram story theater

I finished the workshop with “Picture Book Make and Takes,” showing them different activities from my picture books: The Cajun Cornbread Boy, Mama’s Bayou, and The Gigantic Sweet Potato. Then I performed Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with the help of Steve and his roach buddies.

3-25-11 Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach are the best of friends...

It was so much fun to see these roaches getting down and having a good time partying!

3-25-11 Monsieur and friends party while Madame Poulet is a away!

We ended the workshop with activities from my new picture book, There’s a Dragon in the Library. I LOVE these accordion dragons!

3-25-11 Librarians model their accordion dragons from There's a Dragon in the Library

I had such a great time with these wonderful librarians! Thank you to Marquita Boenke, Gail Santy, Shelly, Kathy and Abby for doing such a great job with the workshop. They took such good care of me! I LOVE the gorgeous framed, signed art of Kansas sunflowers, a photograph taken by a local photographer that was given to me as a gift from SCKLS! WOW! Thank you so much!

Gail Santy drove me to Wichita but on the way, we stopped in the town of Newton for dinner at the Bread Basket, a Mennonite German buffet. I had German sausage made by Yoder Meats, sauerkraut, home-baked bread, German potato salad, verenika (dumplings stuffed with dry curd cheese) and chicken borscht (soup). It was such different fare for me — I don’t often get to eat German food, and it was delicious! I loved it!

3-25-11 Dinner at the Bread Basket, a Mennonite German Buffet in Newton, Kansas

I really enjoyed my visits across the vast, open state of Kansas. Everyone was so sweet and hospitable. Thank you so much, Kansas librarians! I <3 U!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Kansas Summer Reading Workshop for SWKLS – Thursday, March 24, 2011

by Dianne on March 24, 2011

3-24-11 Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach are BFFs...

Friends:

Today was my fifth library system in Kansas for my summer reading workshop tour. Today I went to Southwest Kansas Library System in Dodge City. We began the workshop with a fun creativity exercise in which the workshop participants had to create a self portrait out of items from their purses, pockets and wallets.

3-24-11 A creative self-portrait by a SWKLS Librarian made out of items from her purse

Then it was time for some draw and tell tales to open the workshop. First, we began with a story I created to represent China, “The Emperor’s Dragon,” which is in my Handmade Tales book.

3-24-11 The Emperor's Dragon, a story to represent China

I taught the librarians another draw and tell story, “Catching a Pest in 7 Steps,” which utilizes the numbers 1 through 7 to create the picture of a mouse. So cute!

3-24-11 The mouse from the story, Catching a Pest in 7 Steps from Handmade Tales

After showing the librarians a Japanese scroll story, Russian nesting dolls made of out paper, and “The Ugly Duckling,” we did the story of “Papa’s Teepee,” which turns into cool snowflakes made out of coffee filters!

3-24-11 Southwest Kansas Librarians create a blizzard from coffee filter snowflakes

Then it was time for “Bandana Man,” a fun version of “The Gingerbread Man.” First, they had to use their bandanas to make themselves into old women.

3-24-11 Look at the cute little old women from the story, Bandana Man

Then, they turned their bandanas into babies.

3-24-11 Librariaas crack up as they burp their babies

Finally, they folded their bandanas into Bandana Man! “Run, run, run as fast as you can. You can’t catch me, I’m Bandana Man!”

3-24-11 Librarians made Bandana Man, an adaptation of The Gingerbread Man

Then it was time for string figure stories. I taught them “The Stubborn Turnip” and how to make a string star. It’s so adorable!

3-24-11 Stephanie is a star! Woo hoo!

I also showed them how to make the “One Snip Star,” creating a five pointed star with just one snip of the scissors. Very cool!

3-24-11 The One-Snip Star! Too cool!

After lunch, we switched gears and did Tangram Tales. After demonstrating Tangrams and teaching the librarians how to create a set out of Fun Foam, I challenged them to an “Invent-A-Tangram” Contest. Look at the winning Tangram! I love it!!

3-24-11 The winning Invent-A-Tangram - A woman in the tub reading a book

When it was time for the Tangram Story Theater, these librarians got revved up! They performed “Tigers Tales, Anansi’s Stories” and had a fantastically fun story chorus singing, “Feel the story beat, feel the story beat, shake-a-shake-a-shake, shake-a-shake-a-shake. Feel the story beat, feel the story beat, shake-a-shake-a-shake, shake-a-shake-a-shake. UH!!” The storytellers involved the audience with participation and sound effects and the Tangram artists made every Tangram perfect! It was AWESOME!!

3-24-11 The Queen Bee Tangram in Tiger's Tale, Anansi's Stories Tangram story theater

The last part of the workshop focused on “Picture Book Make and Takes.” I showed them activities for The Cajun Cornbread Boy, Mama’s Bayou, and The Gigantic Sweet Potato. Then I performed Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with Johnny and his roach friends…

3-24-11 Monsieur Roach and friends party like it's 1999!

It was so much fun seeing all the “roaches” on the ground, legs up! Hahahahaha!

3-24-11 Madame Poulet's aftermath - no more roaches partying in her house!

I ended with show them my new book, There’s a Dragon in the Library and all the activities that go with it. Look at this accordion dragon made by Millie Dearden!

3-24-11 Millie is a cutie with her accordion dragon puppet!

I worked with such a phenomenal group of librarians! Thank you so much for your energy and hospitality. Sara McFarland, I hope you feel better… here’s a hug! Then it was time to get the heck out of Dodge (I have always wanted to say that! LOL) and head to Salina, Kansas, a three hour drive from Dodge City. On the way, I caught this cool picture near a wind farm. It looks sort of like a tornado funnel forming but it was just rain…

3-24-11 It looks like a funnel is forming in the Kansas plains but it's just rain...

But on the way to Salina, there was hail! Lots of it! Kansas weather is always an adventure! Thank you to Charlene and her hubby, Ed, for transporting me from Dodge City to Salina. We stopped to eat at Woody’s Smokehouse in Great Bend. Look at all these barbecue sauces!

3-24-11 The many barbecue sauces of Woody's Smokehouse in Great Bend, Kansas

Another great day in the fair state of Kansas! Tomorrow is my last summer reading workshop in Kansas. I’m looking forward to meeting another cool group of librarians!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Kansas Summer Reading Workshop, NWKLS – Wednesday, March 23, 2011

by Dianne on March 23, 2011

3-23-11 Kansas' vast plains and green winter wheat

Friends:

Today began the second half of my Summer Reading Workshop Tour in Kansas. I flew into Wichita on Tuesday, March 22, and, after a long drive, arrived at my bed and breakfast in Norton, Kansas very late. Thank you to Gail Santy and George Seamon for being my chauffer. Thank you, Gail, for your excellent tour guide skills. I learned so much about Kansas!

3-23-11 The Rose of Sharon Bed and Breakfast

I stayed at The Rose of Sharon Bed and Breakfast, a pretty house in town. Sharon’s house is like a museum, filled with so many interesting items! I met Sharon’s 9 year old granddaughter, Genesis, who was so sweet.

3-23-11 The Rose of Sharon house full of dolls and porcelain figurines

The Northwest Kansas Library System (“NWKLS”) summer reading workshop began with a draw and tell story called “The Emperor’s Dragon,” a story I created to represent China.

3-23-11 Amy draws The Emperor's Dragon, a Chinese Tale

Next, I showed them the draw and tell tale of “Catching a Pest in 7 Steps.” It’s a fun story in which the numbers create an illustration. Isn’t it cute? Great job, Mary!

3-23-11 Mary Allen draws the mouse from the story, Catching a Pest in 7 Steps

We did the story of “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat,” a cut and tell story from my book, Handmade Tales.

3-23-11 NWKLS Librarians do Joseph Had a Little Overcoat

I showed them how to create the Ugly Duckling and the Beautiful Swan from towels.

3-23-11 The Ugly Duckling and the Beautiful Swan

After showing them a Japanese scroll story and paper Russian nesting dolls, we did the cut and tell story, “Papa’s Teepee,” which turns into a snowflake. Then we created a blizzard! Brrrr!

3-23-11 Creating a blizzard from coffee filter snowflakes

Then it was on to “Bandana Man!” It’s such a popular story and kids love watching the bandana transform.

3-23-11 Old women from the story of Bandana Man

And the bandana men came out sooo cute!

3-23-11 Run, run, run as fast as you can; you can't catch me, I'm Bandana Man!

We did some string stories and I love it when librarians get excited about mastering a new skill! Woo hoo, Sharon!

3-23-11 Sharon is sooo excited to make the string figure star!

Just before lunch, I taught them all how to make a perfect five-pointed paper star with strategic folds and one snip of the scissors.

3-23-11 Yes, these librarians are STARS!

After our taco bar lunch, we got back into the swing of things with Tangrams. I taught them how to create a tangram without a pattern and challenged them to invent a Tangram. Anna was the winner! Way to go, Anna!

3-23-11 Anna is the winner of the Invent-A-Tangram contest with her Rose in Bloom Tangram!

Then it was time for Tangram Story Theater. The group did a great job performing “Tiger’s Tale, Anansi’s Stories,” a tale from the West Indies. “Let’s feel the story beat, let’s feel the story beat. UH!”

3-23-11 Performing Tiger's Tale, Anansi's Stories Tangram story theater

The final part of my workshop focused on “Picture Book Make and Takes.” I showed them the story of The Cajun Cornbread Boy illustrated by Marita Gentry and they made Cajun Cornbread Boy puppets.

3-23-11 Sharon cuts out The Cajun Cornbread Boy puppet after coloring him

I performed an excerpt of The Gigantic Sweet Potato and it was so much fun. Thanks, George and Judy (like the Jetsons? Where’s Jane?!). LOL

3-23-11 George and Judy help Dianne act out The Gigantic Sweet Potato

Then it was time to perform the hilarious Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach. George Seamon, the NWKLS Library Consultant was Monsieur Roach. Sometime during the workshop, George landed the nickname, “Big Daddy Librarian.” All the librarians LOVED it and vowed to call him that from now on. Fortunately, George has a wonderful sense of humor and had fun with it. Look at how tall he is… he’s 6’4″! BIG DADDY LIBRARIAN!

3-23-11 Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach were once the best of friends...

I love the part of the story where all the roaches end up on the floor, dead, with their legs up! Too funny!

3-23-11 Monsieur Roach and all his roach buddies are legs up once Madame Poulet finds out the truth!

I ended the workshop with There’s a Dragon in the Library and the librarians loved the accordion dragon. Judy, you did such a great job! Judy, who had seen me last year at the Kansas Storytelling Festival, said to me, “Dianne, I am lucky that your bright comet flew through my Kansas sky twice!” Awww, Judy… You are sooo sweet!

3-23-11 Judy models her accordion dragon from There's a Dragon in the Library

After my workshop finished, George took me to Nebraska. Yes, I stepped foot in Nebraska and now I can say I’ve been there! LOL

3-23-11 Dianne de Las Casas visits Nebraska!

Then George took me to an adobe house at the local state park. The house, named “Lady of the Prairie,” was built in the 1890s. Since that time, it has been restored.

3-23-11 This adobe house was constructed in the 1890s

My day ended with another long drive to my final destination. I will tell you this. I have never seen so much open space! It’s breathtaking how the land just stretches for miles. I was told that in Kansas, there are more cows per capita than people! Funny little factoid. Here, in the plains, I felt the powerful Kansas winds. There were times I felt like I would be swept away like Dorothy!

The people of Kansas have been so kind and sweet. Thank you, NWKLS, for having me as your summer reading presenter this year. You have swept me off my feet with your hospitality! Here’s to “One World, Many Stories!”

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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South Carolina Association of School Librarians Conference – March 10-11, 2011

by Dianne on March 14, 2011

3-9-11 SCASL 2011 Welcome basket in my room

Friends:

I’ve had some technical difficulties with my photos from my new camera so I only have a few shots on this blog from my iPhone. Last week, on Thursday and Friday, March 10 and 11, 2011, I was a featured author and speaker at the SCASL (South Carolina Association of School Librarians) conference. I was picked up at the airport by Drucie Gullion and Angie Bardin. They were so sweet and so much fun! When I arrived at my room, a welcome basket was waiting. Very classy!

On my first day of the conference, my first workshop was “Story Safari,” a workshop about the basics of storytelling. It was hilariously fun, especially the storytelling exercise in which groups had to act out animals in dire situations such as the one below.

3-10-11 Story Safari workshop participants acting out three animals stuck inside a boat adrift at sea

At the SCASL Awards luncheon, I was amazed by the incredibly gorgeous “vases” in the middle of the tables. They were vases made out of books that were handcut to look like vases! WOW!

3-10-11 Gorgeous handmade book vase centerpiece

After taking an amazing workshop on “Handmade Books” by Susan Gaylord, it was time to sign autographs. My friend, the amazing Kitt (“Kee-yit”) Lisenby, was at the head of the line. She is such a wonderful person!

3-10-11 Dianne's autograph line

My second workshop of the day was my “Tangram Tales” workshop. I taught the workshop participants how to create Tangram sets without a pattern, how to manipulate the geometric shapes to create pictures, and how to perform a “Tangram Story Theater.” They even invented new Tangrams!

3-10-11 Gorgeous handmade book vase centerpiece

On Day 2 of the conference, I delivered a talk at the Author’s Award Luncheon on how important libraries have been in my life and ended with the story of “The King’s Advisor,” from Handmade Tales. The talented author and illustrator, Joe Kulka, was awarded the Picture Book of the Year award. What a great guy!

3-11-11 The audience at the SCASL 2011 Author Awards Luncheon

I connected with old friends (Thanks Kitt, Jed & Kristen!), made new friends (Drucie, Angie, Susan, Joe, and so many others), and had a fantastic time. Thank you SCASL for honoring me with a return visit!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Kansas Summer Reading Workshops – Topeka, Kansas, February 22, 2011

by Dianne on February 22, 2011

2-22-11 Dianne's star cheerleaders in the front row!

Friends:

Today was the second day of my summer reading workshop tour in Kansas and today, I was in Topeka! It was a brisk 16 degrees when I was picked up from my hotel. Brrrr! But things quickly heated up once my workshop started. I had some sizzling librarians with warm hearts!

2-22-11 Librarians create a snow blizzard using a coffee filter to make a snowflake in the story, Papa's Teepee from Handmade Tales

I began with a creativity exercise in which the participants had to create a self portrait out of items from their purses, wallets or pockets. There were some very interesting self-portraits! I love this techie self-portrait. A cell phone for the hair, flash drives for the eyes… I soooo relate! Hahahaha!

2-22-11 A self-portait by a workshop participant using items from her purse

The first half of my workshop was dedicated to Handmade Tales. They learned some draw and tell tales and some cut and tell tales such as “Joseph Had an Overcoat.”

2-22-11 Librarians make Joseph's overcoat in the story, Joseph Had an Overcoat

They learned how to make a scroll story, how to create paper Russian nesting dolls, and how to cut magic stars. They learned the string story, “The Stubburn Turnip” and how to make a star string figure. A favorite is always “Bandana Man.” John and Jacob make such adorable little old women!

2-22-11 John and Jacob are old women in the story, Bandana Man, from Handmade Tales

I love how Bandana Man always makes my workshop participants sooo happy! Yes, he’s quite the cutie!

2-22-11 Workshop participants in Topeka, KS make Bandana Man

After an hour lunch, the second half of the workshop was dedicated to Tangram Tales and “Picture Book Makes and Takes.” First, they learned about Tangrams and cut out a Tangram set without a pattern. Then they began manipulating the Tangrams.

2-22-11 Workshop participants create Tangrams

Then I challenged them to a contest, requiring them to invent their own Tangram. This one was the winner – a plant in bloom by Jacob, AKA “Wonder Boy.” After he won the contest, he did a victory lap around the room and everyone did the wave for him. Hilarious!!

2-22-11 The winner of the Invent-a-Tangram contest - a blooming plant

Then it was time for the workshop participants to create their Tangram Story Theater. Everyone in the workshop performed “Tiger’s Tale, Anansi’s Stories.” It came out sooo cute!

2-22-11 Librarians perform a Tangram story theater - Tiger's Tale, Anansi's Stories from Tangram Tales

After finishing Tangram Tales, we moved on to “Picture Book Make and Takes,” where I showed them different book activities to go with all of my picture books. First, they made Cajun Cornbread Boy puppets. Ooh yeah, cher!

2-22-11 Spicy Cajun Cornbread Boy makes a librarian happy!

I told the story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with the help of some great librarians with a good sense of humor!

2-22-11 Workshop participants become dead roaches in the hilarious story of Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach

My last story was There’s a Dragon in the Library. They loved all the activities that went with this story, especially the accordion dragon!

2-22-11 There's a Dragon in the Library large accordion puppet

It was a fantabulous day and I sooo enjoyed my time in Topeka! A very special thank you to my editor from ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited, Sharon Coatney. She lives in Lawrence and made a special trip to attend my workshop. She is amazing and I love her! Thank you also to Mickey Coalwell, Teri, Brenda and all the staff of the Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS) for getting me from A to B and for executing a flawless workshop! You guys rock!

Thank you especially to all the wonderful librarians with whom I had the privilege of sharing my day. Keep doing the amazing work you do!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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Kansas Summer Reading Workshops, Iola – Monday, February 21, 2011

by Dianne on February 21, 2011

2-21-11 All librarians are stars!

Friends:

Today I had the great privilege of doing a summer reading workshop for Kansas children’s librarians in Iola, Kansas. The first part of the morning was dedicated to Handmade Tales. I began the workshop with a creativity activity to warm the participants up. They had to create a self-portrait from the contents of their purses or wallets. Fun!

2-21-11 Participants create a self portrait out of items in their purses or wallets

Then we started with draw and tell tales. First, they learned how to draw “The Emperor’s Dragon” from Handmade Tales.

2-21-11 The Emperor's Dragon from Handmade Tales

After a couple of draw and tell tales, I taught them “Joseph Had a Little Overcoat.” I demonstrated some of my other Handmade Tales such as making nesting dolls out of paper, doing the “Ugly Duckling” out of towels, and showing them a scroll story, “The Boy Who Drew Cats.” We did “Papa’s Teepee,” creating snowflakes and a snow blizzard out of coffee filter. So cool!

2-21-11 Creating a snow blizzard with coffee filters snowflakes from Papa's Teepee story

Then it was on to “Bandana Man,” a fun rendition of “the Gingerbread Man.”

2-21-11 Anita creates Bandana Man from Handmade Tales

I taught them “The Stubborn Turnip” out of string and they loved the string figures! I also taught them how to make stars!

2-21-11 String figure stars!

After lunch, it was time for a fun game. Since the theme is “One World, Many Stories,” I taught them a game that I learned from children in Singapore called “Pluck the Pearl.” Game players face each other and try to “pluck” the pearl from the open oyster. The oyster snaps closed and if the “plucker” gets snapped, she loses. It’s a lot of fun and takes a bit of speed and coordination.

2-21-11 Leah and her partner play Pluck the Pearl, a game from Singapore

Afterward, it was time for Tangram Tales. First, I had them create a Tangram set and work with Tangrams.

2-21-11 Amanda creates a bucking horse Tangram

Then they invented their own Tangrams. I made it a contest and here is the winner!

2-21-11 Wendy invents a humming bird feeder Tangram and wins the contest!

Then it was time for the creation of a Tangram story theater. They practiced and performed “Tiger’s Tale, Anansi’ Stories,” a tale from the West Indies. It came out so cute, especially the story chorus!

2-21-11 Participants perform Tiger's Tale, Anansi's Stories from Tangram Tales

After Tangram Tales, it was time for Picture Book Make and Takes. First, I told an excerpt of The Cajun Cornbread Boy. Then they made Cajun Cornbread Boy stick puppets.

2-21-11 Workshop participants create The Cajun Cornbread Boy puppets

Then I performed Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with the help of the audience members. Rachel, thanks for playing the part of Monsieur Roach!

2-21-11 Dianne de Las Casas performs Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach with Rachel as Monsieur Roach

The roaches in the story were soooo funny! Love them!

2-21-11 Hilarious! Kansas children's librarians play like dead roaches in Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach

It was a spectacular day and I had a ton of fun!! Special thanks to Sandy Wilkerson for coordinating this portion of my Kansas tour. I felt so much love and sunshine from the Sunflower State!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

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