CENTERBURG — Members of the Ohio Organization for the Preservation of Storytelling, or “O.O.P.S.!” as they bill themselves, are in town for their annual conference. In advance of today’s workshops and concert, some of the tale-spinners have come early to share their talents with local schools, in appearances arranged by Beth Hoeffgen, head of Youth Services at the Public Library of Mount Vernon and Knox County.
O.O.P.S.! outgoing president Janelle Reardon spent the day Thursday at Centerburg Elementary School, telling class after class various stories full of fun and wisdom.
“I’ve always been attracted to stories that have a lesson to them of some sort,” Reardon said. “Stories are a way to gently impart character traits to a society without being preachy.” Reardon lives in Fairview Park and works for the Cleveland Metro Parks System. She typically starts her sessions for children with a song or with a story that involves a prop, in order to draw in the listeners. During her talk to the fourth graders, she also had the students discovering some of the typical elements of classic European fairy tales by comparing them to “Star Wars.”
“I think she was really cool,” said fifth-grader Tori Roddy. Tori said that one of Reardon’s stories was similar to one she had in a book, but that Reardon had her own approach to it.
Brandon Mapes agreed.
“I thought it was interesting how some of the stories were like other stories, but she twisted them around so they were different, new,” said Brandon. The world of storytelling wasn’t completely new to him, however. Brandon said that his grandma, Shirley Mapes, who lives in Nebraska, likes telling stories.
Bailee White said that the stories were really interesting and funny and that she’d like to hear a storyteller again some time.
P.J. Long was impressed with how Reardon made a rabbit out of a towel in one of the stories, then showed the students how it was done.
Other storytellers appeared at schools throughout the county on Friday.
The O.O.P.S.! storytelling concert will take place today at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational United Church of Christ, 200 N. Main St., Mount Vernon. Nationally known storyteller Mary Hamilton of Kentucky will be featured. Tickets will be available at the door.
