Getting 'Malled'

Story Time Adventures is growing by leaps and bounds as of late.

Last year in December I appeared as Mrs. Claus at Anubee Children's Boutique in Santana Row, an up-scale shopping center located in San Jose, California. It was such fun, and the children were delightful. At first I wasn't sure how well it would go, because this was a much younger crowd than I was used to, but it worked out well and the majority of them sat and listened to the books I read, and participated in the Christmas songs. It warmed my heart to see these little ones and how much they believe in the Christmas spirit.

But onward and upward. I received an email from the Marketing Director and she wants me to do story programs for the rest of the year at Santana Row, and at their sister property, Westgate. This is so exciting for me. But more excitement--I was contacted by another mall called The Great Mall in the city of Milpitas to do an Easter/Spring program. For this I'll be dressing as Miss Bunny! It's a very respectable costume.. with my "Easter Bunnet" (a floppy hat that has rabbit ears, flowers, colored eggs, birds, and butterflies on it), and a beautiful apron designed and sewn by local seamstress Sharon Johnson. I can't wait to see it.

I am hoping that I will get noticed and that other marketing directors from malls will want to utilize me this summer for story time programs and activities.

I will be at the Great Mall on April 23 from 1-3. If you're in the area I hope you'll 'hop on by' and say hello!

Happy Reading.

Julie Engelhardt
Story Time Adventures
www.storytimeadventures.wetpaint.com

Happy (Chinese) New Year

Coming up with ideas for my Story Time Adventure Programs has been challenging, but it also forces me to think and create. Of course, with books, there are hundreds of themes I can choose from for my presentations. January was kind of slow, but after having a great run during December as Mrs. Claus, it was kind of nice to be able to sit back and take a breather. But, this is something I still love to do, and I am still determined to make it bigger and better, and to make the phones ring, ring, ring all the time!

February is a very interesting month, because there are several themes I can choose from. The Chinese Lunar New Year begins today (Feb 3) and runs for fifteen days. I am performing at a YMCA after school program on the 4th, reading stories about the Chinese New Year. I even stopped by the store and picked up some fortune cookies to hand out to the children. I'm very excited about this program. Although I am not of Chinese descent, I still think it's important to teach children about different cultures, for a variety of reasons. I've picked up some books to read to them. One is Dragon Parade by Steven A. Chin; another is Chinese New Year by Alice K. Flanagan, and another is D is for Dancing Dragon by Carol Crane. I think that one is my favorite. It goes through the alphabet and talks about different things that you will find in China. For example, A is for Acrobats, B is for Beijing, C is for chopsticks, etc. The book is pictured above.

I have also purchased Asian-looking clothing to wear. That's what's fun about doing this, too. I love dressing up, and will do so whenever I can.

There are also other themes for February: Valentine's Day; the Presidents' birthdays, and I believe it's even Dental Health Month!

I'm still available for assemblies and other programs. Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Julie Engelhardt