Pasadena Public Library will explore the global, religious and ethnic origins of storytelling including folk and fairy tales, legends, and stories as part of ORIGINS: Art & Ideas 2009.   

Storytelling is an outgrowth of the oral tradition that existed before the advent of writing,

books and computers.  Stories conveyed events in word, image and sound.  Every culture and 

land developed their own unique stories as a means of entertainment, education, preservation of culture and to instill moral values.  

Travelers carried their stories and shared them with others as they journeyed to distant lands.  When they returned home they brought back exciting tales of exotic places and people.  

These evolved into folk and fairy tales, legends, myths, oral histories and stories that were passed from generation to generation.

The oral tradition continues to speak to all ages.  As a part of ORIGINS: Art & Ideas 2009 Pasadena Public Library will host a series of storytelling programs in November.  

The Storytelling troupe Flights of Fantasy will present “Tales from Around the World” on Wednesday, November 4, at 10:30 a.m. at San Rafael Branch Library, 1240 Nithsdale Rd.  

Barbara Wong will present folktales from China, Asia, Polynesia and Hawaii on Wednesday, November 4, at 3:30 p.m. at Linda Vista Branch Library, 1281 Bryant St.  Michael McCarty will

present African and African American stories on Thursday, November 5 at 1 p.m. at La Pintoresca Branch Library, 1355 N. Raymond Ave. and again at 3:30 p.m. at Santa Catalina Branch Library, 999 E. Washington Blvd.  Karen Golden will present “Jewish Tales From Your Street and Around the World” on Saturday, November 7, at 11 a.m. at Central Library’s Children’s Room, 285 E. Walnut St.  Writer and Stand Up Comic Nat Read will conclude The ORIGINS of Storytelling series with his program “Characters, Legends & Stories” on Thursday, November 5, at 7 p.m. at Central Library’s Donald R. Wright Auditorium, 285 E. Walnut St.

For more information contact:

Christine Reeder, Branch Manager

San Rafael Branch Library

(626) 744-7270

###