Which program would you like?

**Please Bug Me While I’m Reading**

Listeners will get the buzz for reading in this delightful program of bug stories from around the world.  You’ll be bugged to join in the role-playing opportunities and Jo will also bug listeners to catch some special reading bugs.  Exterminate old ways of reading and learn how to relax, re-read, re-write, and research while on a reading adventure. 

**TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME**

B is for Baseball and Bettering oneself in these personal growth and teamwork tales pitched to you by storyteller, Jo Ho.   Fans will be cheering in these true and fictional baseball tales.  We’ll learn baseball terms like bench warmer, bunt, change-up, clean-up, rookie and strike out and how this beloved sport teaches all to have a positive grand slam outlook on life.  Batter up!! 

**THE FANTASTIC FOUR!!**

Who are our children’s heroes?  They cannot fly like a superhero, but they can aspire to ride in a space shuttle like “real” people have done.  In these historical tales of hometown heroes listeners will have the opportunity to engage in learning about some of the great men and women that hailed from Kansas and Missouri.  Storyteller Jo Ho takes the audience into the fascinating worlds of the real-life heroes and heroines that have made positive contributions to humankind.  Whether it’s a tale of Amelia Earhart and her daring adventures in aviation, the entertaining works in literature of Laura Ingalls Wilder and Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain), or the amazing discoveries and inventions of George Washington Carver, the legacies of these close to home heroes will live on  and on as their stories are passed to each generation.  Cartoon hero?  No way.  Real life hero?  Yeah!  Appropriate for the whole family.

ABE, OUR GREATEST PRESIDENT!

Students will be enthralled with Jo's living history storytelling program as she portrays the memorable characters of Nancy Hanks, Sally Lincoln, Sarah Bush Johnston, Mary Todd Lincoln and more. She'll captivate listeners as she tells true stories of Abe, sharing the wit, wisdom, and perseverance of the unlikely man that became our 16th president. (Available from Dec. 2006 on)


CAJUN TALES FROM BAYOU BLACK-A TRIBUTE TO LOUISIANA

The legend of Alligator Annie Miller lives on in Jo Ho's storytelling program "Cajun Tales from Bayou Black." Jo portrays "Miss Annie", a unique American character and gifted naturalist dedicating her life to the preservation of the wetlands and their animal life. Making Louisiana her home for 14 years (1984-1998), Jo is well-versed in Cajun story, song, and dance. Awarded a grant by the Louisiana Arts Commission, Ms. Ho had the distinct opportunity of interviewing and gathering personal stories from Annie before her passing in 2004. Join Jo as she takes you on what was Louisiana's most famous swamp tour for 20 years, telling delightful bayou tales and interesting facts about alligators, snakes, crawdads, and more. Aieee! She'll be turning some of you into "gators", teach the Cajun Two Step, and have you singing a Cajun song before you can say "go put de lawn mo in de cahbin!" Appropriate for the entire family, even the "peeshwanks."


TOURING YOUR LIBRARY WITH TILLIE MOUSE

Listeners will take an interactive tour of their library without leaving their seats. Storyteller Jo Ho portrays a hip-hop highly energetic library mouse with a mission. Tillie Mouse has made the library her home and knows every nook and book. Her mission---to see that all library users FALL IN LOVE WITH THE LIBRARY! This informative and funny library tour leads listeners through bookshelves of amazing discoveries and stories and teaches young and old how to make the most of the library. Ages 3 and up.


INCREDIBLE INVENTORS

Take a trip inside the minds of famous inventors and hear stories about their wild and wacky inventions. Whether your a science fan or not, you'll be astonished by the tales of how certain things were invented by shear accident, inventions that almost failed, and supposedly impossible inventions that remain with us to this very day. Inventors included but not limited to Edward Asselbergs (instant mashed potato flakes), Karl Benz (automobile), Cai Lun (paper), Robert Heinlein (waterbed), Garrett Morgan (traffic signal), Alfred Nobel (dynamite), and Olivia Poole (Jolly Jumper baby harness). You'll be so inspired, you'll start planning an invention of your own. Ages 5 and up.


ROYALTY AROUND THE WORLD

Your imagination reigns supreme as court jester and teller of tales Jo Ho whisks you of to enchanted wonderlands around the world. Hear tales where time and distance know no bounds! Listeners will meet ancient kings and modern-day princesses, frolic countrysides with giants and fairies, and cheer on their favorite knights. Come dressed as a prince, princess, king, queen, knight, wizard, or dragon for some great role-playing opportunities. Ogre's are welcome!

ONCE UPON A TIME WITH THE BROTHERS GRIMM

Being a huge fan of fairytales, storyteller Jo Ho opens a world of magic with the best-loved tales of Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Hear interesting facts about the lives of the "Fairytale Brothers" in addition to Jo's clever adaptations of the Grimm classics. P.S. Did you know "Cinderella's" slipper originally was fur?


READ ACROSS AMERICA

It's a "Let's Get Reading" Celebration as storyteller, Jo Ho shares some delightful works of Dr. Seuss and some inside scoop on where Seuss got his ideas for many of his books. Audience will get a chance to add additional text to a "Seuss story" creating some rhyme of their own! Funny characters and clever voices presented by Jo make for a great program even for the not-yet-reading kiddo's.


SHOW ME THE BOOKS

Many wonderful stories have found their way into beautifully illustrated and well-written picture books. Storyteller Jo Ho presents a collection of her favorite picture books told in her unique dramatic style. Audience members are invited to jump into the stories and role-play some memorable characters.


POETRY IN MOTION

Engage a student's imagination in this rhythmic and rhyming program celebrating National Poetry Month (April). Jo presents a very fresh and funny approach to poetry as she invites listeners to chime in and move to the beat of words with pizzazz!


AMERICAN TALL TALES

Capture the spirit of American pioneers who helped tame the frontier in this TALL TALE storytelling program. Storyteller Jo Ho tells the tales of robust, resourceful, courageous and sharp witted memorable characters. Discover gold in California with Sweet Betsey from Pike County, MO, pound some steel with John Henry, rope some cows with Pecos Bill, and meet as Jo takes you on a romp through America's early day.


AESOP'S FABLES

Teller Jo Ho chooses Aesop's best tales that reflect experiences within a child's world in this enduring program for the younger child. Short, direct tales with perfect structure make this program an experience in GREAT literature for the little ones. Children will delight in role-playing with Jo as they discover a gently emphasized moral in each tale.


PLEASE DON'T PICK YOUR NOSE....AND OTHER GOOD MANNERS!

Storyteller Jo Ho has her hands full (literally), with an ill-mannered, loud-mouthed, nose pickin' puppet as he heads off to school with his shocking behavior and lack of social etiquette. Through stories and songs, Jo invites listeners to role-play and help teach "Ornery Al" some good manners. This very funny and educational program reminds us all of the power of politeness. Perfect for the month of September, recognized as Children's Good Manners Month.


TALES FROM THE TRAILS

Storyteller Jo Ho, will be your "Wagon Master" as you hit the dusty trail in some fun songs and stories of America's early days. Audience will help load up a "Prairie Schooner" and then it's down the road for some funny tales along the Santa Fe, Oregon, Lewis and Clark, Chisholm, and California Trails.


BULLY, DON'T YOU PUSH ME AROUND

Professional storytellers Jo Ho and Milton Gray bring to your audience an educational and informative storytelling program all about "bullying"...a program for youth and their families. Through real-life stories Ho and Gray open up to audiences the topic of "being bullied" and how to deal with a bully in healthy and preventive ways. Participating in the stories as a way of identifying interventive methods in dealing with harassment, is a performance that kids and adults will embrace.


LISTEN MY CHILDREN

The Revolutionary War gave birth to a new nation--the United States of America. The stories that spread during this time told of heroic men and women. These tales are to be remembered, recorded in our history books and recorded in our hearts. Journey with storyteller Jo Ho, in a 60 minute re-enactment of events of this war that won for us our independence. Meet King George III, dance a minute with Mistress Murray and General Howe, ride with Paul Revere, join the Boston Tea Party, stand in the battlefield with Molly Pitcher, and cross the Delaware with George Washington. Will you wear the Redcoat or the Patriotic blue? Have fun role-playing in this active history program suitable for classrooms or home school groups. Ages 9 and up. Informative handouts for teachers.


SMIRKS, GIGGLES, AND BELLY LAUGHS

Laughter is the best medicine and storyteller Jo Ho guarantee's a belly full of it in this hilarious storytelling program. With unique character voices and zany movement, Jo spins her favorite funny tales from around the world and some from the USA.
There's lots of participation and role-playing opportunities for the audience and giggles for the entire family.


JUMP THE WORLD

Leap around the world with storyteller Jo Ho, in a multi-cultural storytelling caper. Tales are told in dialect and share unique customs and winning messages. Audience is invited to join in song, chant, and role-playing. Experience how universal themes join communities of diversity together through story.


IT'S A MYSTERY TO ME!!?

How did the tiger get her stripes? Why do birds fly south for the winter? Why is an elephant's trunk so long and who is that man in the moon? These mysterious questions and more will be answered by storyteller Jo Ho, as she tells tales of how things came to be. Folklore from different cultures and original child-authored stories make up this mystery-solving storytelling program.


FOLKTALES FROM AROUND THE USA

Cross the USA in story as storyteller Jo Ho spins folktales from every region of our great country. With stops in the Northeast, Southeast, Gulf States, Midwest, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Coast, Jo shares stories that represent each region at its best! Funny and interesting tales depicting a colorful portrait of our nation's character that the entire family will enjoy hearing.