Skiatook, Tulsa

We had quite a tight schedule today, with a program at 1:00 at Skiatook, and another at 3:00 at Schusterman-Benson, in Tulsa. We didn't have time for photos after the Skiatook show, and the second show had a very small audience, so we didn't end up with many photos to share.

Both shows went really really well, though, and were a lot of fun. I got into a big discussion with the kids before the first show about Sponge-Bob Squarepants. (One of the girls had him on her shirt.) The whole room got into it - we were trying to remember the words to the Spongebob song, and then we were trying to figure out whether he actually lives underwater or not. Supposedly he does, but so many things go in in that cartoon that don't make sense underwater, nobody really seems sure. What do you think?

I'm adding a story to this post that I forgot to tell, but this is really wild. At the Schusterman-Benson show I had a pretty young audience, so I decided to do "Big Red Fire Truck." Very visible right outside the large window at the side of the room, there was a maintenance man doing some work on the lawn. Exactly at the part of the song where I sing "See the ladder go up...", the maintenance man lifted a ladder up against the building. Everyone could see him and we all just cracked up. I looked expectantly over on the line "See the people climb down," but nobody climbed down the ladder.

Anyhow, here are a couple of photos from Skiatook, during the show.

Zarrow

Today I performed at the Zarrow branch library in Tulsa, OK. We had a great little group; a lot of fun! We got into a whole discussion about eating bugs (sparked by the song "The Kid Who Ate a Bug.") Did you know some folks are serious about insects as a food source? It's called entomophagy. 

Here Evalyn and I are posing next to the reading bug in the library entrance. She has her dog, Toto, on my head.

Here I am with the librarian and the teen volunteers.

Here's Evalyn communing with the blue buffalo in the front lawn of the library.

I  have a backlog of photos from recent performances that I haven't posted, so I'll try to get those up soon as well. Stay tuned!

TPAC Library Programs

I had two more shows based around the book Tomas and the Library Lady in Tulsa libraries today. For the first program, at the Nathan Hale branch, there were six kids and two adults in the audience. I did a new song inspired by the book, "Reading Lifts Me Up." I improvised the verses based on input from the audience. It's nice with such a small group because each kid got to help make up their own verse, and that was a lot of fun.

At South Broken Arrow, I had no audience! The librarians couldn't leave the checkout desk, so I brought my guitar and concertina out into the main library and sang a few songs for them.

It's really too bad these shows weren't more well attended, because the concept is really cool. About four times a year the Tulsa Performing Arts center brings in a play based on children's literature. They call it the "Imagination Series." Some titles they've done include Pippi Longstocking, Little House on the Prairie, and Junie B. Jones. Coming up are Madeline and the Bad Hat, and Miss Nelson Has a Field Day, plus of course Tomas and the Library Lady, on the 9th of this month.

In conjunction with each of these plays, the TPAC Trust and the Tulsa Library Trust present a series of library programs based around the books, in which the performer reads from the book as part of the show. They also give away a free pair of tickets to see the corresponding play at the TPAC.

It's disappointing that this series isn't wildly popular. I'm afraid if they keep going unattended they'll disappear. Let's hope the library system keeps plugging them, and that they'll catch on!

Immanuel Christian Academy, Martin Regional Library

This morning's Oklahoma CenTUNEial Celebration program was at Immanuel Christian Academy in Broken Arrow. A student took these photos after the show. I was invited to stay for lunch, and enjoyed talking with the kids.



Then it was off to Martin Regional where I did another of the programs centered around the book Tomas and the Library Lady. As you can see they have a very colorful and cozy little story time room. It was fun singing in there.

I have a very early morning drive tomorrow to Eufaula! Then on Saturday, two more Tulsa Library shows. I hope to see you at one of them!

Eliot Elementary, Tulsa OK

I was up rather early, driving through the rain in the dark to an 8:00 AM program at Eliot Elementary School in Tulsa this morning. This was my third visit to Eliot, although it was their first time to see the "Oklahoma CenTUNEial" program. The kids were great (as always), and afterwards I got to meet and greet some students in the library for CD sales (see the photo).

More Tulsa shows are coming up at several library branches. The next is this Thursday at Broken Arrow at 7:00 PM. Check out my schedule for more dates, and I'll see you at the library!

Hardesty Branch, Tulsa

We had a nice evening show at the Hardesty branch library in Tulsa today. As you can see I snuck the camera out and took a couple of rare photos of Lisa and Evalyn together. This is how they pass the time at each library while I'm setting up for the show, and also during the show until it's time for Evalyn to perform - reading together. We also read in the car and at bedtime every night. Evalyn must be the most read-to kid in the world!

Only three days of shows left next week - Tuesday we're in Chanute and Parsons, KS; Wednesday in Muskogee and Okmulgee, and Thursday in Duncan.

Wish me luck tomorrow. I have a meeting with my former ISP to try to regain control of two of my domain names, montyharper.com and kidsmusicplanet.com. Why they still have them is a long story but basically, they want a lot of money out of me or they'll shut down the sites. I just want to get administration of the domains transfered to HostBaby, where the sites actually "live." This has been a thorn in my side for almost two years. Hopefully it'll all get straightened out tomorrow.

Harry Potter on Saturday! We plan to attend one or more release parties tomorrow evening, but we'll play it by ear as to whether we want to hang out until midnight. We've already got a copy of the book coming via Amazon.com on Saturday. We'll be trying to get it read before Tuesday's shows so we don't overhear any spoilers, which is what happened last time!

See you at the library!