About Jo Ho, Storyteller

Jo Ho is an accomplished storyteller, actress, and drama instructor. This year, 2008-09,
marks the 20th anniversary of storytelling for Jo. In 1989, Jo created “Granny Bear
Tales”; a storytelling company to delight all ages with collections of folktales, fairytales,
holiday stories, and curriculum enhancement stories. She has spent the last 20 years
telling stories at preschools, elementary and middle schools, libraries, and festivals, including the Annual Historic Storytelling Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, The Bankoh Talk Story Festival in Honolulu, Louisiana’s Earth Day and Zippity Zoo Day, Kansas City’s Storytelling Celebration, the Kansas Storytelling Festival in Downs, KS, and the Nebraska Storytelling Festival in Omaha.

Awarded a grant from the Louisiana Arts Commission to interview naturalist Annie
Miller, Jo developed and continues to perform the culturally rich storytelling program
entitled “Cajun Tales From Bayou Black” and many more artistically designed tales. Gifted with the ability to flavor her stories with a variety of dialects, Jo was chosen as the Johnson County Libraries Performing Artist of the Summer, telling multi-cultural tales for the branches Summer Reading Programs.

Jo has developed over 100 thematic programs for preschools, elementary schools,
seniors, special needs groups, and educational workshops for students and teachers.
She attributes her unique theatrical style of storytelling and lively workshops to her
background in children’s theatre and musical theatre. She holds a Bachelor of Science
degree in Theatre/Speech from Dickinson University, Dickinson, North Dakota. Jo makes her home with her two children in Overland Park, KS.

KC Parent Magazine Article

"5 Unsung Hereos making a Difference in the Lives of Children"

Jo Ho the Storyteller: Johnson County Library System-wide Presenter 
    Stories are powerful things. Without hopping on a plane or boat, children can travel to places far from home, imagine they are wild animals or embark on historic adventures. In Kansas City, Jo Ho the Storyteller, is one of the most beloved children’s guides into a story’s imaginary world. 
    You can find Jo at the library, local schools, preschools or museums in fun hats with simple props encouraging enthralled children to participate in the stories with her. Together they act out characters, create sounds and imitate animals. 
    Jo’s own storytelling tale began in Baton Rouge, La., in 1989, with a 2-year-old daughter pulling at her skirt. Although Jo loved her career acting in local theater, she missed her daughter greatly. Becoming a storyteller would afford her home time with her daughter and allow her to use her theatrical background to engage children. In the last 20 years, Jo has developed more than 100 thematic programs for preschools, elementary schools, seniors, special needs groups and educational workshops for students and teachers. 
    In the ‘70s, Jo had worked in KC with Theater for Young America and in 2001, she moved back to Kansas City with her two children. “Although I’ve lived many places, there is something special about the Midwest. The people are friendly, it is family-oriented, and you build relationships with community and neighbors,” she says. “Dorothy was right, ‘There’s no place like home.’” 
    She joined the River and Prairie Story Weavers who had worked for 10 years, laying the foundation for a love of storytelling and special programs in libraries and schools. 
    Now, she presents two programs daily--three to four a day in the summer--across Missouri and Kansas, thanks in part to funding from the Kansas Arts Commission. She introduces a new thematic program monthly, ranging from Arctic Animals to the American Revolution. This summer, Jo is the system-wide summer reading program presenter for the Johnson County Library, appearing at each branch with storytelling for children and special dramatic and improv workshops for older kids. One program you don’t want to miss this summer is “Kid Authored Whoppers” featuring stories written by local kids. 
    Jo’s greatest fans, of course, are the children. Ashley, one of Jo’s true fans, writes, “Dear Jo, Thank you for coming to our school and telling us stories. You are funny very, very, very, very, very, very, very, and very funny. I like you.”

by: Kristina Light