Wednesday, June 22 at 7 p.m. — CASTLETON — Award-winning storyteller Simon Brooks returns to Castleton Free Library to help celebrate the official start of summer in a free performance, part of the library’s “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!” summer reading program. Brooks was born in Gloucestershire, England, and lived in Worcester, London, Brighton, and Hastings, settings that influenced his storytelling craft, before moving to the U.S. in 1994. His work as a storyteller and voice actor has won honors from Storytelling World and Parent’s Choice, including the latter’s prestigious Gold Award for his CDs. He has performed for all ages at libraries, schools, and festivals, combining his passions for children’s literature and folklore. His repertoire comes mainly from European folk and faerie tales, but Brooks also includes stories from other cultures. He explains, “Stories are like boots and like to travel.”
Karen Chace, organizer of Story Cafe, New Bedford, Mass., said:
“He is so at ease on stage and played with the audience along the way…I loved his version of ‘The Piper’s Revenge’, peppered with just enough historical background to put some more meat on the bones.”
Kim Rzemien, director of special events at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston wrote, “I’ve never seen kids (and adults) so engaged in a storytelling session.”
For info, visit castletonfreelibrary.org.
