Barbara Effron - Storytime Express
Storytimeexpress@hotmail.com703-323-1783
Introduction
Let your imagination travel to faraway places (or right around the corner) with stories and music. Barbara Effron’s energetic storytelling programs combine folk, traditional, and modern tales with songs and audience participation.
Since 1983, Barbara Effron has delighted children and adults in metropolitan Washington with her enchanting tales and musical stories. She has performed at schools, libraries, synagogues, birthday parties, festivals, the Kennedy Center, the White House, the Smithsonian, and Busch Gardens.
Barbara has an extensive repertoire of holiday and seasonal programs, as well as more than 100 special themes and custom designed programs. With her energetic delivery and enthusiasm, Barbara captures the imagination and takes the audience on journeys to far-flung places and fascinating people. Her passion for storytelling is enhanced with music and audience participation. Her engaging and educational programs reflect her background as a teacher and children’s librarian.
Barbara designs programs for all ages for a wide variety of interests – with themes that include multicultural folk and fairy tales, Jewish folk tales, and new stories from around the world. Her programs, which last from 30 minutes to an hour, feature puppets, storyboards, and a variety of other visuals that embrace the audience. Your class or group can “write your own ticket.”
Barbara also offers workshops for teachers, students, parents, librarians, and others who want to develop storytelling skills. Barbara’s workshops can be specially designed for in-service programs or to meet special needs.
Contact Barbara to book your group on a journey with the magic of storytelling.
Programs Offered
SAMPLE LIST OF PRESCHOOL STORYTIME PROGRAMS 
I have programs for more than 100 themes.
I will custom design programs at your request!
African Beat
Always Room for One More
“B” is for…
Bear Jamboree
Bird-tivities
Cats and Kittens
Clap Your Hands
Circus Fun
Creepy Crawlers
Dinosaurs Beware!
Earth Day
Farmyard Follies
Glad to be Who I Am
Going on a Picnic
Grins and Giggles
Hats Off!
In My Garden
Incredible Appetites
Into the Woods
Kaleidoscope of Colors
Kings, Queens , and Other Things
Magical Tales
Mice are Nice
Monkey Business
Mother Goose Time
Pet Parade
Pocket Tales
Relatively Speaking
Shape Up
Sea and Seashore
Sing Me A Story
Splish, Splash
Soup’s ON!
Stories from Other Lands
Stories from the Treasure Chest
Sun, Moon, and Stars
Take a Walk on the Wild Side
Tales from the Treasure Chest
Teeny Tiny Tales
Tell Me Why Stories
WHOO’S Out There?
Transportation
Tree Tales
Tumble in the Jungle
Windy Day, Rainy Day
Wishes Come True
Wonderful World
Holiday Programs
Chinese New Year
Halloween Fun
Gobble ‘Til You Wobble (Thanksgiving stories)
Happy Hanukkah *
Jingle Time (Christmas stories) *
Love ‘N Kisses (Valentine’s Day)
President’s Day
Happy St. Patrick’s Day
Eggstra Special Stories (Easter)
Mom = Marvelous
Glad for Dad’s
Hurray for the Red, White, and Blue (Four of July stories)
*These programs can be combined for a winter holiday program.
Kwanzaa may also be included.
Seasonal Programs
Programs for Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer
Jewish Content Programs
Jewish Folktales
Shabbat and holiday program
ALL ABOARD FOR STORYTIME EXPRESS WORKSHOPS
Many Ways to Tell a Story
This interactive storytelling workshop models easy storytelling techniques that will transform the written word into the realm of the imagination. Music, props, puppets, creative dramatics, movement, and drawing are just a few tricks that make your story zing and often involve your audience. A brief overview of storytelling basics and resources will also be included in the handouts.
Basics for Beginning Storytelling
Discover the storyteller in you. In this interactive workshop, learn the essentials of choosing, learning, and telling a story. This workshop is for everyone – teachers, parents, students, and seniors.
Enriching the Read-Aloud Experience
This participatory workshop will provide techniques to enhance the read-aloud experience during circle time. The workshop will present easy tips for incorporating music, props, puppets, creative dramatics, and movement.
Selecting Literature for Preschoolers
Are you overwhelmed with the number of books available for selection? Learn how to evaluate quality literature that is age appropriate and meets your curriculum requirements. This workshop will cover book selection, using bibliographic resources available in print and on the internet.
Telling Family Stories
Through participatory exercises, rediscover the wonderful and interesting stories about your family. Learn how to organize, develop, and tell family history and life stories. Create entertaining and memorable stories for future generations.
Children as Storytellers
Children are natural storytellers. In this workshop, they will learn how to craft a basic story. The workshop will feature participatory exercises and games in voice, expression, characterization, gestures, and other performance tips. Each child will learn a story to share with others. This workshop is for children in grades three and up.
A Dynamic Way to Teach Higher Level Thinking Skills
Stories entertain children of all ages, and are a valuable tool in developing higher level critical thinking skills. Primary and elementary school teachers will learn to apply higher level questions and follow-up activities using Bloom’s Taxonomy.
Music in the Preschool
Are you tired of singing the “Eensy, Weensy Spider”? This workshop will teach you new songs to sing with your children. We will explore strategies for incorporating music throughout your preschool day, using finger plays, action rhymes, rhythm instruments, and movement.
Using Music in Stories: As Easy as 1-2-3!
You don’t need to be a professional musician in order to liven up your stories with music. Discover the range of readily available music that you can incorporate into stories. You will learn an easy method for creating original songs and chants. We’ll also explore simple instruments that can enhance your story.
Testimonials
“You have quickly become one of my most favorite storytellers.”
Shoanna Crowell, Program Coordinator, Everybody Wins, Children’s Literacy and Mentoring Program, Washington, D.C.
“Mesmerizing, captivation, interactive and fun!”
Joanie Smeltz, Early Child Director, Ohr Kodesh Synagogue
“We are all children when it is storytime, and your are a master at taking us to those treasured places in our imagination.”
Nickie Myers, Corpus Christi School
“The children had warm memories of you last visit and were eager to hear more.”
Nan Jarashow, Aleph-Bet Jewish Day School
“Thanks for making this year”s event one of the best ever.”
Gerry Procanick, Blumont Civic Association
“Your stories, combined with your wonderful singing and guitar, made it a triple treat.”
Edie Gollomp, Agudas Achim Religious School
“You caught and held the interest of our group, and quickly added our participation as we became the story-tellers! What an entertaining presentation – the time flew by! Thank you again for sharing your talents with us.”
Mickey Lazarus, Event Coordinator, Agudas Achim Seniors
“I like how you really get into your stories.”
Becca Sticha, student
“I wish you could have been here all day.”
Mark Menefee, student