I love hearing back that the kiddos hearing my tales really enjoyed them! I say this all the time, this is a very lonely job – as much as I love it – it’s still a very lonely job. Hearing back from people about how much the children love the shows really means a lot.

Thank you, Suzanne, for the thank you!

I had the honor of returning to the Elementary School that I attended to tell stories to the Kindergarten and 1st grade classes.  I had a ton of fun and the crowd there was just awesome!

I also recieved an email from the teachers after the show which I thought was such a nice thing to see!  Thank you for the thank you!

Dear
Big Ryan,

Thank
you so much for coming to tell us stories at West today! We loved the super funny stories and interactive activities you did with us! Learning all about how to juggle was wonderful! You are one of the best storytellers we have ever heard!

Thank
you!

West
Kindergarten and 1st Grade Teams

Mrs Routhier, Mrs Dubois, Ms Keegan, Mrs Hickey, and Mrs Walsh

A woman saw me in the store yesterday and she stopped me to tell me that she used to bring her daughters to my shows. Her daughters are all grown now but she told me that she still remembers my stories and one in particular because of how her and her daughters would say good night.

You see, I have a story with my dog puppets where everytime the black lab pup, Edgar, would settle down to go to sleep he would add a new rhyme to the “Good Night, Sleep Tight” saying.  He would continue the rhyme with “Don’t let the bed bugs bite!” and then “Hope your dreams are alright!” and even “See you in the morning light!”.

Apparently her daughters would mimic that bit when it was time to go to sleep well into their teenage years.  The woman warmed my heart hearing how they used a piece of my show to create a fun tradition at night.  I love hearing from young adults who used to listen to my stories as children telling me how much they’ve enjoyed the shows but this moment was particularly sweet as it made a lasting memory for a family.

Leaving the Norwell Library a woman walking towards the building was looking my way.  It was the kind of look that someone gives you when they recognize you but are not sure if they should say something.  Well, I gave a nod and said “How are you?”

After I said that the woman beamed and said “I miss coming to see you!  My son is 20 now!” It’s always nice to hear that people like and remember enjoying my stories.  It’s always interesting to hear that the kids are now all grown up.  I guess that happens after almost 20 years in business.

After the Hingham Early Childhood Event I was surprised to learn that one of the little boys Wes went home and his momma helped him create a mini Edgar and Uncle Charlie for him to use at home!  Thanks for sending me the picture – it was so exciting to see!

This was too good not to share it with everyone.  I have been visiting a school in Middleboro – presenting my Building Stories Workshop to the wonderful fourth graders there.  I am fortunate enough to be able to visit each classroom twice and today was the second trip to Mrs. Penney’s class.  There, one of the students asked if he could show me something after I was finished with the workshop that day.  I told him, “Of course, Bud!”

After we finished the young man presented some work/stories he had been working on about some of his favorite sports stars.  He said that he was inspired to do so after my first visit to thier class – after showing everyone how much fun writing can be.  I can’t tell you how amazing of a feeling it was to hear someone express their fondness for writing due to what you’ve said to them during class.  This is exactly WHY I started Building Stories and why I love the children who are able to take part in it.

Normally these posts are about funny, little incidents that happen, mostly about what I hear the children in the audience say but this one is a little different.  November is a slower month for me and I am not usually busy everyday – but last week was quite busy.  I met with a representative to Raising A Reader, a fantastic movement that started back in 1999 to help children and families have greater success in school through literacy practices at home.  If you’d like to read more about the program click here.

Anyways, the representative and I met to discuss my Building Stories Workshops that I present to the surrounding South Shore town libraries and she was very impressed with just how similar our programs are.  She even told me that was would love to bring her daughter to the workshop because it sounds so fun.  She used a lot of words like “awesome”, “super” and “fantastic” to describe what we’ve been doing my 4-week workshops.  It was a highlight of the week last week as I strive to make the Preschool Building Stories Workshops as informative but also as fun and enjoyable as possible!

Also, I finished the week off with a show at the Norwell Library where the librarian told me that it was the best show she has ever seen of mine.  She told me that I was “certainly at the top of my game” which is always a flattering and special thing to hear.  Thanks to Miss Nancy for making my week end right!

I don’t usually share two of these so close – but this story really made my day.

I was finishing up a show and the teachers asked if they could get a picture with me and all the kids.  I said “Of course!” and all the children crowded around me.  One little boy, standing next to me, smiled at me and said

“You smell good Big Ryan, you should smell yourself!”

It made me laugh.

This one came from my sister in law who told me that, while at work, she was riding the elevator and a man began talking about a birthday party he attended over the weekend.  The man said that the party was crazy with all the children running around like maniacs.  He then said “…and then this storyteller guy came in and there wasn’t a sound out of those kids.  They were mesmerized!”

My sister in law asked “Was the storyteller Big Ryan’s Tall Tales?”

He acknowleged that it was and said “Do you know him?”

“He’s my brother in law.”

“How does he do that?”

“It’s a mystery to all of us.” She said back.

One of the children in my Building Stories Workshops just said “This is just like school – but fun!”  Best. Compliment. Ever!