Birmingham Public Library Storytellers Entertaining Hundreds of Children This Summer

Fontaine Alison and Candice Hardy perform in Take Me Out to the Game

Storytellers play a vital role at the Birmingham Public Library (BPL) throughout the year, spreading the joy of reading to thousands of kids at schools, churches, and in many of the 19 libraries across the city. They are very active at many of BPL’s 500-plus summer reading programs this year.

On June 21 at the Wylam Branch Library during a program called Take Me Out to the Game, Five Points West Regional Branch Library storytellers Candice Hardy and Fontaine Alison entertained kids from Faith Chapel Christian Center summer camp as they told the story of an alligator who wanted to join fellow animals in a game of baseball. With Alison holding an "alligator" and campers playing the role of animals such as a skunk and parrot, Hardy recited a tale of a baseball game like no other, soliciting laughs.

At Southside Branch Library on June 3 and June 17 respectively, Avondale storyteller Cassandra Scott (Ms. Cas) generated laughter from toddlers attending a program called On Your Mark, Get Set…Whee, while Eve Parker (Mrs. Eve) shared her version of wacky tales that have made her popular in a presentation called On Your Mark, Get Set…Wacky!

Ms. Cas entertaining children with On Your Mark, Get Set...Whee

BPL Northern region storyteller Myra Gentry entertained kids at the Pratt City Branch Library on Tuesday, June 28, at a program called Ready, Set, Read and Laugh. Meanwhile, Marie Nash, the storyteller for the North Avondale Branch Library, provides storytime for the North Avondale and Kingston communities, reading to kids at area schools, churches, and daycares, said branch manager Saundra Ross.

Hardy, a full-time storyteller and library assistant at the Five Points West Regional Branch Library since 2011, said she gets a joy out of sharing stories with kids in Birmingham. Besides participating in various summer reading programs, Hardy will be busy over the next few weeks entertaining kids at the following activities: Family Movie Night at the Five Points West Library on June 28, and July 12 and 26; a Family Night program on July 19; In the Zone Five Points West on June 28 and July 12, In the Zone Wylam on July 5, In the Zone Smithfield on July 6, and In the Zone West End on July 7.

All programs provided (free of charge) are 30-45 minutes long outside the movie night, and include interactive stories and songs for all ages. “These interactive storytimes were designed to create overall crowd participation and to encourage leisure readers,” Hardy said. “We love what we do here at Five Points West.”

Here is a listing of remaining storytime programs for kids taking place for the remainder of BPL Summer Reading. See the full schedule online at http://www.bplonline.org/calendar/:

Avondale Regional Branch Library
Time for Tales – Thursday mornings through July 14 at 9:30 a.m.; 24-hour advance registration required. Preschool storytime with stories, songs and fun. Groups welcome.

Tot Time with Mrs. Eve – Monday mornings at 10:30 a.m.; 24-hour advance registration required. Storytime designed for 2-4 year olds with a parent or caregiver; no groups. Includes stories, songs, and crafts.

On Your Mark, Get Set…Wacky – June 29 at 2:00 p.m.;  24-hour advance registration required. An action-packed afternoon of wacky stories and fun with Mrs. Eve doing the telling.

On Your Mark, Get Set…Whee! – July 6 at 2:00 p.m.; 24-hour advance registration required. Join Ms. Cas for a delightful, super, spectacular, fantastic, astonishing, awesome-filled afternoon of adventure, stories, and fun.

Family Nights – held every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.; 24-hour advance registration required. July 5 is a talent show, July 12 a final party.

Central Library
Action Storytime – July 11 at 10:00 a.m. Action-packed storytime that exercises minds and bodies for the summer.

East Lake Library
Elephant and Piggy Adventures – June 30, 10:00 a.m. Come see your favorite characters from Mo Willems’ beloved series. Gerald and Piggie are sure to tickle your funny bone with silliness galore.

Five Points West Regional Branch Library
In the Zone – July 12 at 10:00 a.m. Get your head “In the Zone” for these exciting sports stories.

North Birmingham Regional Branch Library
Minions of Reasons to Read – July 7 at 10:30 a.m. The life of a Minion. The North Birmingham storytellers have the scoop on one particular minion that you need to meet. Bananas, stories, bananas, music, bananas, fun? Hoopla!

Powderly Branch Library
In the Zone – July 18 at 10:00 a.m. Get your head “In the Zone” for these exciting sports stories.

Smithfield Branch Library
In the Zone – July 6 at 10:00 a.m. Get your head “In the Zone” for these exciting sports stories.

Springville Road Regional Branch Library
If You ever Want to Bring an Alligator to School, Don’t – June 29 at 10:00 a.m. Never make the mistake of bringing an alligator for show and tell at your school. Join us for an alligator-themed storytime complete with stories, songs, and crafts.

West End Branch Library
In the Zone – July 7 at 11:00 a.m. Get your head “In the Zone” for these exciting sports stories.

Wylam Branch Library
In the Zone – July 5 at 10:00 a.m. Get your head “In the Zone” for these exciting sports stories.