Families are invited to let their imaginations soar during the annual Jeanne B. Goodwin Storytelling Festival July 11, 10 a.m., at the Rudisill Regional Library, 1520 N. Hartford.  Delta Sigma Theta sorority will provide treats following the program.

   Elizabeth Kahura is the featured storyteller.  Her performance will enlighten children about the untold story of Africa’s people, culture and geographical nature, while fostering an understanding and friendship between our continents.  Kahura will use music, performing arts and her “Folktales from Africa” to engage the audience in learning about the cultural richness of the African lifestyle.

   The annual festival is a tribute to the late Jeanne B. Goodwin, a lifelong educator and literacy champion, who understood how storytelling and the visual experience work to build a vivid imagination.

   Celebrating Jeanne B. Goodwin’s 100th birthday in 2003, Rudisill Regional Library’s storytime room was dedicated in her honor.  Multi-colored fish, shaped with individual pieces of tile, greet children entering the ocean-themed storytime room.  Each wall of the room features colorfully painted starfish, clown fish, sharks, lobsters, turtles and other wonders of the underwater world.  Oftentimes, children will create their own stories using the sea creatures painted on the storytime walls.

   While at the library, families are encouraged to sign up for the 2012 children’s summer reading program “Dream Big – READ!” which continues through July 28.  Children reading eight books and visiting the library four times will receive a medal of achievement and coupons for free entertainment around Tulsa County.

   For more information, call the AskUs Hotline, 918-549-7391, or visit the library’s website, www.tulsalibrary.org.

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