Storyteller Harlynne Geisler
www.swiftsite.com/storyteller
858-569-9399 storybag[a]juno.com
Storytelling in San Diego, Southern California, and the World
Especially Storytelling School Assemblies in San Diego County

Storyteller Harlynne Geisler has told multicultural folktales for hundreds of thousands of students in elementary schools in California, Illinois, Idaho, Texas, New Mexico, Washington, and Oregon. Every visit includes a packet of handouts to encourage the teachers to conduct creative writing exercises and student storytelling in the classroom.

Harlynne is also well known for her evening family shows at schools for PTA, PTO, and other parent/student/teacher groups.

A List of Some of Harlynne's Assemblies

Multicultural Tales from Around the World
These tales from as far away as Korea, East Africa and the Philippines and as close as right here in America celebrate the oral tradition that has kept literature alive and lively. If you have particular countries or cultures that you wish to be included in the show, just ask Harlynne.

A Bit o' the British Isles: Irish, Scottish, and English Tales
You can tell by Harlynne's silver tongue that she has a wee bit of the Irish in her. She also belongs to the Highland clan MacLachlan. Her Scottish and Irish grandparents passed on to her the gift of blarney which she will share in tales and riddles of princesses, giants, and fools.

Riddle Me This: Asian Tales
What has one head but bunches of "tales"? If you guessed Harlynne, you'd be right! She will challenge the students with riddles and surprise them with riddling stories from the Union of Myanmar [Burma] and Japan.

From Story to Shining Story: American Tales
This is a big country full of stories. Harlynne will tell a riddle written by Abraham Lincoln and present tales (African-American, Hispanic American, Native American, and European American) that originate in the cultures that make this the wonderful "tossed salad" that we call America.

A Fiesta of Folktales: Hispanic Stories from Spain, New Mexico, Mexico, and Central America
Harlynne was born and raised in Illinois, but in the twenty years that she has been living in California, she's learned to appreciate both the spicy food of her Mexican-American grandmother-in-law and the funny, fabulous stories from south of the border. By the end of her show, you will know that to season a Hispanic story just right, all you need to add is a little storyteller's tongue! (This program is not bilingual, although there are some Spanish words.)

Oceans Full of Stories
Sail the seven seas of your imagination as Harlynne sings, draws, and tells of mermaids, whales, sharks, and pirates. (For ages 3-9.)

Delicious Shivers: Spooky Stories
In her travels as a storyteller around the U.S. Harlynne has collected hauntingly "true" ghost tales from teachers and librarians. In her travels around the world through books, she has found everything from African-American hags to Mexican ghosts to Scottish monsters. [Not Too Spooky show for younger students]

The Light Within: Stories of the Season
Harlynne grew up in a family that plugged in the lights on the Christmas tree and kindled the candles on the Hanukkah menorah. She will pass the joy of the season on to her listeners as she tells stories that are red and green and blue and white! [Harlynne is always happy to tell an African tale to light a candle for Kwanzaa too.]

The Story Behind Star Wars
George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars movie is a very smart man. He knows that you cannot make up a new story. Every story in the world has already been told. Harlynne believes that he took an old tale from Russia, Germany, and America and added aliens and spaceships. She'd be happy to tell your family or children's audience the story behind Star Wars. If your library's Summer Reading Club theme is "Take Me to Your Reader," here's the perfect program.

A Funny Fiesta of Fantasy
No one get sillier than storyteller Harlynne Geisler. Whether she's wiggling her tail in a dragon's dance or proudly holding out an imaginary cockroach or singing in a squirrel's voice, she cracks her audience up. She celebrates her 20th year as a practically perfect performer in 2000, and she invites you to the party of your imagination and her tales of wacky wonder. Put on a comical hat. Then join the festivities by hiring her for your children's audience. Great for April, when it's called "April Fools: Tales of Funny Fellows."

Leaping Lizards! Dragon Stories Around the World
Dragons can be dimwitted, dance-loving, diabolical, or diminutive. Storyteller Harlynne Geisler's tales and riddles about them are from Ghana, China, and Spain.

If you have stories of particular countries or cultures that you wish to be included in her shows, just ask Harlynne.

A full day visit to a school includes storytelling and creative writing workshops. Ask Harlynne for details.

For more shows suitable for other ages from preschool to adults, click here.

HARLYNNE GEISLER HAS CONDUCTED THE FOLLOWING STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND STUDENTS:

Get Kids Involved: Participation Stories for Children California Reading Association conference
Select, Learn and Tell: The Basics of Storytelling Imperial County Office of Education
Storytelling Carlsbad Unified School District Professional Growth Day
Storytelling Stimulating, Motivating, Innovative Learning for Educators conference, Arizona
Storytelling in the Classroom Audubon Adventures
Storytelling's Link with Creative Writing San Diego City School's Staff Development & Training
Tell a Tale; Telling Stories in the Classroom Kindergarten Teachers Group of San Diego County
Family Reading Rally, California State University San Bernardino 1996 and 1997
Consultant, Gifted Student Program, San Diego City Schools, 1982-current
Keynote Speaker Orange County Reading Association conference, Fountain Valley

TEACHERS, PRINCIPALS, PTA, PARENTS, AND STUDENTS HAVE SAID:

1) Harlynne Geisler communicated with gestures, facial expressions, and voice inflection-all worked to keep rapt attention of students. Great regional accents! Good flow to her stories--she was being, not just doing. She had a very natural demeanor and was able to create a sense of suspense and wonder with her voice and body language. A good variety of stories and characters.
2) Very warm--good at connecting to kids and getting them to participate. Genuine. Harlynne was "with" the children, not performing "at" or "for" them. She easily maintained control in the entire room.
3) Loved mention of books stories are in. Story selection really met the level of the group. She brought them into the story and communicated strong value lessons. Excellent hand-out left for teachers to extend the experience into language arts including writing. Teaching techniques were evident in student participation, reaction, direction. Children's involvement allowed for recall of pertinent points of story--opportunities allowed for integration into other curriculum areas.
4) Good mix of folklore and cultures. I really liked that these were folktales. It helps to reinforce knowledge about and respect for our traditional stories.
5) "You tell great stories," remarked a child leaving the program. What better recommendation?
Members of the Evaluation Committee, Orange County Performing Arts Center

Harlynne Geisler appeared at Gateway Elementary School in Ridgecrest. She was here all day and did storytelling workshops and assemblies. Our students, parents, and staff were very impressed with her professionalism. Here are a few of the comments:
She's more than an entertainer. She is a TRUE STORYTELLER. Third Grade Teacher
Let's snag her every chance we get. PTA Parent
The activities she does with primary students are incredible--How she can create a story from characters the students give her is amazing. First Grade Teacher
Her stories are universal for students and adults. Her story from Japan brought tears to my husband's eyes. Fourth Grade Teacher
Very creative and stimulating. Adaptable! Sixth Grade Teacher
The students all thought she was TERRIFIC! S. C., Principal

Thank you for your exciting visit to our school. The children were so interested in what you had to present, even the fifth and sixth graders. My class really enjoyed the sign language you used in the story. It really held their attention and provided them with a chance to participate in the delivery of your story. We also enjoyed the yarn tricks you used to introduce yourself and the art of storytelling to the students. We will highly recommend you to other schools in our district. D. Y., Principal, Clover Flats Elementary School

To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this letter to those educators that are looking for a special "spark" to ignite children's interest in Language Arts. I would recommend Harlynne Geisler for any event that needs laughter, excitement, colorful characters, suspense, surprises, and enchantment. A. W., Director, Special Projects

The children returned to class excited and eager to tell their favorite parts of the stories. The retention, kindergarten through sixth grade, was very high. Even children who have yet to develop a better attention span were participating readily, with more verbal interaction than the teachers have ever seen. J. S., Assembly Coordinator, Teacher for 14 Years

Note: March has been designated as "Arts Education Month." In 2000, the Senate approved a resolution, marking for the first time, Congressional recognition of the annual celebration of music, art, dance and theatre programs in American schools. [That includes storytelling!] Senator Cochran said, "There is growing awareness that arts education can help America's students enhance their math and language skills, improve test scores, and provide increased opportunities for higher education and better jobs in the future."

Storyteller Harlynne Geisler
858-569-9399.
Tales from the Story Bag
5361 Javier Street
San Diego, CA 92117-3215
Fax: 858-569-0205
E-mail: storybag[a]juno.com

Back to Index to Storyteller Harlynne Geisler's pages