Maine Humanities Council

When the Born to Read program selected books for its anti-bias initiative, Many Eyes, Many Voices, there was a distressing gap in the field of contenders: a suitable children’s book about Maine Native Americans. The few titles available were either too stereotypical or too distant—tales populated by warriors with headresses, or set amidst Plains buffalo or Southwest deserts. That changed in 2005, when Tilbury House publishers in Gardiner, Maine, published Thanks to the Animals by Passamaquoddy storyteller Allen Sockabasin. Born to Read Program Officer Brita Zitin sat down with Sockabasin and his editor, Audrey Maynard, to talk about the story behind this important book. To learn more about Sockabasin, see this newsletter article.

We welcome your feedback on this book conversation.

Thanks to the Animals [ 31:38 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3486)

Born and raised in New York City, Ashley Bryan is another author “from away” who has found a home in Maine. Folklorist, writer, illustrator and performer, Bryan draws on African myths and tales, his own and others’ experience, and his literary, artistic and thespian talents to create children’s books (enjoyed by adults, too) and storytellings in schools and other venues, sometimes under the auspices of the Maine Humanities Council. (Read about his appearance at the 2005 Born to Read conference here). Bryan’s newest book is Let it Shine: Three Favorite Spirituals (Simon and Schuster, 2007).

This interview with Ashley Bryan by Charlotte Albright was included in the Council’s 30th Anniversary ‘Maine Writers Speak’ project. To hear more from Bryan, see the Children’s Book Council.

Interview with Ashley Bryan [ 10:02 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2546)

Storyteller Jody Fein visited the East End Community School in Portland on May 15, 2008, to tell stories to the Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade. She selected the stories “Abiyoyo,” “Stone Soup,” and “The Wind and the Sun,” all of which tie into the Born to Read initiative Peaceable Stories. This event was part of the Maine Festival of the Book. Audio recordings of other Festival events are on the MPBN website.

We welcome your feedback on this storytelling performance.

Peaceable Stories with Jody Fein [ 23:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3234)

Storyteller Pamella Beliveau has performed for children of all ages at libraries, schools, festivals and other children’s events throughout Maine and New England. She has created early childhood literacy programs at public libraries, done residency work at schools throughout the state, and been recognized by the Maine Arts Commission for her quality storytelling programs. Here, she shares stories with a group of toddlers and preschoolers, then talks with their parents and caregivers about the strategies she has used.

This storytelling performance took place at a Born to Read family literacy event in September 2006. During the program, Beliveau reads Buz, copyright 1995 by Richard Egieslki, published by HarperCollins Children’s Books, used with permission of Sheldon Fogelman Agency, Inc. She also reads from The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Paul Galdone, copyright 1973 by Paul Galdone, used by permission of Clarion Books, an imprint of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved. We welcome your feedback on this Pamella Beliveau podcast.

Sharing Stories with Pamella Beliveau [ 30:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (3339)