Reflections at the half-way point
~ Anne Coppell, Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa (Auckland, New Zealand).
Halfway down the stairs
Is the stair where I sit…
I’m not at the bottom,
I’m not at the top;
so this is the stair
where
I always
stop.
…
And all sorts of funny thoughts
Run round my head.
It isn’t really
Anywhere!
It’s somewhere else
Instead!
~ A. A. Milne.
Storytime Solidarity are halfway through our storytime season with the team at AB Kids, as part of the Augusta Baker Storytelling Experience.
AB Kids is run by USC (University of South Carolina) School of Library and Information Science.
We have been honoured to take part in these sessions, which are named after Augusta Braxton Baker – a luminary in library and literacy and storytelling circles.
Seeing this year’s lineup of presenters brings home the richness of experiences, expertise, and diversity within the Storytime Solidarity team.
I haven’t been able to watch the sessions live – due to our diverse locations. It may be 9am in South Carolina, but the first sessions where at 1am my time – and now 2am, due to the arrival of daylight savings.
At this point, it is a good time to stop and reflect.
To wonder at the relationships Storytime Solidarity has created.
To marvel at each other’s talent.
To ponder what each of us brings to our storytime sessions. And how our experiences are reflected in our choices of songs and stories.
As advertised, our beloved Ms Christina’s session was joyful! And it did celebrate neurodiversity, gender-neutrality, and the power of good food as a bonding ingredient. I want stew for dinner tonight! Ingrid’s warmth shone through the screen.
Miss Rosie’s bilingual storytime was a delight. It was fun and educational. It was perfectly timed to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month (15 September to 15 October). I really want a hot chocolate now.
Like Rosie, I pre-recorded my part. There was very little chance I was going to be coherent or awake enough to do my sessions live. I read books on sadness and grief, which is a specialist area for me. I wanted to celebrate and acknowledge the creative talents found in Aotearoa New Zealand, so the books I read were written, illustrated, and published here. I wouldn’t have missed the experience, but it was definitely out of my comfort zone. Ingrid said it was soothing. That is not something that can be said for my in-person sessions, which have a tendency to become toddler mosh pits.
Still to come...
Tuesday 3 October, 9am (EST): Mychal Threets.
The Man, the Myth, the Legend that is Mychal Threets! Seriously, how GOOD and AWESOME is it, that he is part of our team. If you have never seen one of his videos – you are missing out. I cannot imagine his storytime would be anything other than the advertised book joy! Even better, book joy featuring authors and illustrators of colour!
Yes, he is a legend. When George Takei, Lynda Carter, the Governor of California are sharing his posts – what else can you call him?
Register now at: https://bit.ly/3sHl7hF
Tuesday 10 October, 9am (EST)
Our beloved Director, Ms Kate, The Lavender Librarian, will be putting all her talents to use in her song-heavy storytime featuring books by neurodivergent and autistic authors.
Register now at: https://bit.ly/3qXTQqO
Tuesday 17 October, 9am (EST)
Heidi Rabinowitz, who began as a guest-poster for Storytime Solidarity, and is now part of the team, brings her wealth of experience as a Jewish Kid Lit advocate, in a storytime that will exemplify the mirrors and windows theory of literature.
Register now at: https://bit.ly/3R7zlSX
Tuesday 24 October, 9am (EST)
Rounding off this year’s AB Kids season is a magical storytime, led by Tonya Abari. How perfect, to end the season with a modern day Augusta Baker – a storyteller and author, whose words and works – and life – celebrate black girl magic and joy.
Register now at: https://bit.ly/483eKWi
A Note for Ms. Kate
The AB Kids series is part of the Augusta Baker programming at the University of South Carolina School of Information Science.
On behalf of the entire Storytime Solidarity team I want to thank the USC and their students, faculty, and staff for including us in this amazing program. We are grateful to be involved in this amazing series honouring the legacy of Augusta Braxton Baker.
In Solidarity,
Kate Reynolds, BMus, MA, MLIS
Founder and Director, Storytime Solidarity
