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Kids treated to library puppet show
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .During a re-imagining of the tale of the three billy goats Gruff during a July 26 storytime, librarian John Yingling (right), acting as the story's ogre, finally met his match as he faced off with the largest billy goat.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .Story time guest Emily Gorup (center) showed off her finished castle craft, complete with a brave princess peeking out over the castle walls.
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Neighbors | Sarah Foor .While librarian John Yingling read Leah Wilcox's tale "Falling for Rapunzel," Cheryl Bellanca played the part of a witless Rapunzel who consistently mishears what her prince is asking for. although the prince asks for her "silky tresses," Rapunzel throws down her silky dresses.
By SARAH FOOR
During every story time hosted at the Boardman library, the facility’s librarians teach young readers important tools for literacy. Although most storytimes simply include a librarian, a book and a bit of imagination, on July 26, the librarians wowed their crowds with puppets during an exploration of “fractured fairytales.”
Librarians Cheryl Bellanca and John Yingling hosted the event, telling their fractured fairy tales while also doing a bit of puppeteering.
“Fractured fairy tales are a simple idea, but a lot of fun,” explained Bellanca before the show began. “Simply take a familiar story, and put a unique twist on it.”
First, the librarians explored the story of the three billy goats Gruff, with Yingling acting as a troll guarding his bridge before he was booted off by the biggest billy goat.
Next, Yingling read “Falling for Rapunzel” by Leah Wilcox, with Bellanca hidden in a castle controlling the puppet of Rapunzel. Wilcox’s fractured fairy tale told the story of a witless Rapunzel who the prince has great difficulty saving from her tower.
The last story was a twist on the tale of the three little pigs, which instead explored the three little fishes and the big bad shark. The younger fishes find homes in seaweed and shells, which are easily destroyed by the big bad shark. The oldest fish puts in hard work and makes a rock house, which lasts in a faceoff with the enemy and protects his brothers as well.
After a bow from the puppeteers and cheers from the crowd, the group enjoyed popsicles and created a castle craft that included a fierce dragon and brave princess.
As guests prepared to head home, Yingling left the group with a worthwhile suggestion.
“We hope you’ll try and change around your own fairy tales and make them as fun or as different as you please. Using your imagination that way will make you wonderful storytellers,” he explained.