Many of these are keyed to Standards of Learning - check all of them!

Odyssey to Valhalla with Yrag the Skald: Every Viking chief had his bard or skald to sing his story. Yrag, complete with Viking helmet, sword and shield, recounts the Norse creation myth, stories about mighty Thor and the trickster god, Loki, then relates how Vikings lived compared to life today. Copy of Runic alphabet for each student.

A Day in the Pentium Millenium: Fast forward to the present for an hilarious look at technology gone awry. Electronic gadgetry from computers to video games to microwaves are presented in original poetry similar in style to Jack Prelutsky or Shel Silverstein. With titles like "The Upside Download," "The Kid Who Surfed a Microwave," "The Beeper That Wouldn't Stop Beeping," and about 25 others, I will have you and the students laughing till it megahertz! (great for National Poetry Month)(best for K-3rd).

Amazing Escapes: True or False?: I simulate the recent television show Beyond Belief:  Fact or Fiction by telling six stories of incredible courage and survival, then allowing the students to vote at the end of each story as to whether it was true or false. (these nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat stories have done the seemingly impossible, kept middle schoolers mesmerized for an hour!). Everyone from first grade to senior citizens has been captivated to find out at the end which stories were true; (most appropriate for school-age and adult audiences). This is a great program for Teen Read Week or as a reward for "graduating" 6th graders. It is often paired with Grrreat Animal Tales for the younger kids to cover a school. So popular I have had to develop two more versions - 12 extra tales so I could come back next year.

Grrreat Animal Tales: A proven winner for all ages, but particularly for K-2. Children select the order of 5 stories by drawing animals from my story bag. Clever props, lots of movement, and some interesting facts about the animals catch and hold audience attention. This is a great program to kick off a unit on folklore and storytelling!

Didgeridoos & Kangaroos: Gidday mates, here offering a bit o' Aussie culture and folklore. Your students select story stones from my dreambag and in-between tales of snakes (crikee!), dingoes, crocs, and kangaroos, we blows a few notes on a true didgeridoo. I even learn em a few words of proper Austrine and of course we sing, "Tie Me Kangaroo Down."

Come Into My Parlor, Please: This program is chock full of facts about spiders and features three stories from around the world honoring the arachnid family. At one point, I even dress as Anansi, complete with 8 eyes and legs! Good for all ages, best for k-3rd.

There's Gold In Them Thar Stories: Amazing tales from the California Gold Rush of 1849, an unprecedented time of expansion for America. Hear what it meant to drop everything and head West by clipper ship around Cape Horn, through the steamy jungle of Panama, and across the prairie by covered wagon; the danger, the excitement, the trials, the daily life, the failures and real winners. Find the basis for the legend of Zorro!

Pumpkin Tales For The Young: Stories carefully selected to be more funny than scary as a Halloween treat to K-1st graders. We do the Monster Mash and all sorts of audience generated sound effects guaranteed to keep that all important attention span riveted.

Leprechauns and Giants: We're all a wee bit Irish, don't you know! Inspired after making the pilgrimage and kissing the Blarney Stone, I've assembled a few clever props and even cleverer stories about big and little people from the Emerald Isle. Treat the kids to a Saint Patrick's Day they'll not soon forget!

Tipi Tales: Native American facts and folklore retold with respect for the culture and a desire to pass along tradition. Although not in any way a Native American, I represent a reasonable and exciting way to start the unit on tribal life in America.

Johnny Reb & Billy Yank : True stories from both sides of the Civil War, I mean the War of Yankee Aggression! Kick start your unit with tales that will fire the students up to hit the library for more.

Ancient Tales From Ancient Civilizations : From the last tale of Gilgamesh, through the Egyptians, Greeks, and up to the Vikings, take a romp through time with classic tales.

Teenage American (S)Heroes : It seems like most written history favors adults – but here are true tales of courage and daring deeds by teens from Colonial Virginia to the present! A good reward for Teen Read Week.

Around the World in Tales : From Australia to Africa , Japan to Portugal, and Ireland to Mexico, the world loves a good story well told!

Once Upon a Dragon:  A huge brass gong announces each of four dragon tales with lots of audience participation - best for K-2 or a family setting.

By the way, you could give the kids a treat next Valentine’s Day with my Chocolate-Covered Fairytales – classic tales retold with a chocolate twist; Like Goldy Locks and the Three Bars! Melts in your ears, not your mouth! Includes tons of facts about chocolate. Great for all ages, book fair!

Tall Tales From America's Trails: follow the path with mighty Paul Bunyan, tornado-ridin' Pecos Bill, and Ol' Stormalong, the greatest sailor ever along with hammer-swinging John Henry and Davy Crockett.

Sorry, no fries served with these whoppers!