Wilburton and McAlester

This week we were in Wilburton and McAlester. On Monday - Alva!

The Wilburton library proudly features many metalic prehistoric creatures!

The program room in Wilburton with its "Wild About Books" carpet!

"Spring your sharpened claws!"

"Freeze! - See if you can keep completely still..."

My first audience at McAlester included many very young ones, so did some "just for fun" songs I haven't performed yet this summer, including "Belly Like a Bongo," and "Silly Song."

"I'm gonna play my nose like a kazoo!"

"Electricity!"

"Roundy Round"

"Triceratops Bop"

Get this - while I was singing "The Cat Came Back," a stray yellow cat wandered into the library. Anita picked her up and brought her to the front of the room to show her off!

Talking with some fans from Stillwater after the show.

It's the reading bug!

The second show was even more fun than the first, only - the cat didn't come back. :(  This photo shows "Roundy Round" with partners!

Andover and Andale, KS

(Repairing original post from 6/22/14) Here are photos from our trip to Andover and Andale, Kansas last week. Thanks to Evalyn for taking photos during the shows! My reminder to take out the trash popped up over the slideshow in the middle of the Andover program! Thank you Apple IOS for syncing reminders to all my devices without me even having to ask. Other than that we had two great shows!

Coming up next - Wilburton and McAlester.

Andover Children's Area

Kicking off the show in Andover, KS

Ready to be dinosaurs in Andover, KS

Outside the Andale Library

Bat Man at Andale, KS

Wind Energy at Andale, KS

That's Lisa in front, operating the slide show.

Derby, KS

(Repairing original post from 6/18/14) Great day yesterday in Derby, KS!

We saw this driving through town! A TARDIS mailbox in somebody's front yard. I'll bet they get the most interesting mail.

My first audience - it was a packed house!

"Bat Man"

"Roundy Round" during the second show. We had a great group of kids and parents and I was able to do a lot more interacting with the kids!

"Roundy Round" with a partner.

In the afternoon I did a songwriting workshop with teens.

A quick example to show how to take an idea and turn it into "song language" while avoiding the dreaded rhyme trap.

Ada

I performed in Ada Thursday. We've lost count of how many summers in a row I've been part of Ada's program. At least 15! I so appreciate having places like this where we feel right at home!

Evalyn and Lisa came with me. This is one of the libraries Evalyn looks forward to visiting each year. Lisa was busy advancing slides during the show, and running the sales table after, so Evalyn came over and took some pics of me with the kids afterward. 

Then we went over to check out the Blue Moon Cafe for lunch, and had some delicious fried green tomatoes! 

This week - three libraries in Kansas: Derby, Andover, and Andale. 

Fried Green Tomatoes at the Blue Moon Cafe

Mustang, Duncan, Perkins, Meeker

Our first four programs of the summer have already come and gone! The rest of my summer schedule is here: http://www.montyharper.com/Schedule.html

I went to Mustang on my own last Thursday the 29th and helped kick their summer program off with the Sugar Free All-Stars! Lisa and Evalyn travelled with me to Duncan on the 5th for a jam-packed performance and a songwriting workshop that afternoon with the teens. Today Lisa and I visited Perkins and Meeker for two more jam-packed shows!

The theme this summer is science! I'm pleased to be able to present my "Songs From the Science Frontier" program at the libraries! The songs were inspired by conversations with scientists about their research, and I present them along with a slideshow that allows me to introduce the kids to the scientists and their work and lets the audience follow along with lyrics on screen. So far I've had a great response. It's going to be a fun summer!!

Lisa has been advancing the slides when she can be with me, so her photo-taking opportunities are limited. Still she's done a fantastic job grabbing some memorable moments with the camera. Enjoy!

Great crowd at Duncan!

An audience member at Duncan helps demonstrate the moves for "Bat Man." 

"Roundy Round" in Duncan.

Posing after the workshop in Duncan. The pirate costume was from a recent trip to Disney!

Snap those toothy jaws in Perkins!

Roundy Round in Perkins

Doing the Stegasaur Swing, Perkins.

"Let me hear you roar!" Perkins.

Seizmosaur Stomp, Perkins.

"Spring those sharpened claws" in Meeker