Two and a half thousand year old story found at library!

It's true!
Not many children know about Aesop's Fables these days, at least, not under that title but tell them about
"The Hare and the Tortoise" and the nods of recognition and "Ah yes!" goes round the audience. There's been a good book around for quite a few years now "Aesop's Funky Fables" stories retold by Vivian French and illustrated by Korky Paul.
You'll find "The Hare and the Tortoise" in the collection but my own favourite is "The Fox and the Crow" I like to tell it with puppets as it is a very visual story, especially the punchline where Crow opens his beak to sing and the cheese falls to the ground for Fox to eat - OH NO!- I've given away the ending! The picture shows Charlie Chough (he's the one with the cheese in his beak, mmmm! Looks like a nice piece of Gruyere!) and Basil in their favourite roles.

Bag Books

Here's Suzi and me with "Kofi" at Smallbridge Library. I've been to Sandbrook with "Sea Rescue" this week and will go again with "Kofi and the Magic Shaker" and "Uninvited Guests" these holidays.
During the last term Redwood School and St. Peter's school have enjoyed me sharing Bag Books with them - especially the water pistol from "Uninvited Guests" on a very hot day! (yes, we do get very hot days in Rochdale)

Afrocats at Rochdale Libraries

Afrocats held workshops at Heywood, Alkrington and The Wheatsheaf Library at the end of half term.
The original ensemble was to be two dancers, a narrator and a drummer who would first perform African and Caribbean dance and drum music and then invite the audience to join in a workshop.
As it happened flu struck and the ensemble was reduced to a drummer and a dancer but Fage and Dahlia gave us some memorable sessions. I was part of The Wheatsheaf workshop and, like the rest of the audience, really enjoyed taking part. Everyone left with a smile on their face and one young boy had to come back to give Dahlia a big hug