Farida Dowler at Third Place Books

I figure it’s a sign of a successful children’s event, when an adult don’t want it to end. This morning, that event was a musical storytelling time at Third Place Books by local librarian and storyteller Farida Dowler. Dowler uses a mix of traditional tales and songs, made-up tales and songs, a guitar and a felt board to create a quietly fun and magical half hour. She demonstrates well how “minimal” works well – at least with this small audience of toddlers and pre-schoolers. She did simple signing and gestures with some of her stories, without it being over the top. She invited each child to choose a felt dress to put on her bear “Jenny Jenkins” for another song story. She told and acted out with her hands a Margaret Read MacDonald tale of two goats. And she sang a Robert Louis Stevenson poem she had set to music. I appreciated how seamlessly she wove in citing her sources and inspirations, and she explained to me afterward that she looks for songs and stories in the public domain. I also really appreciated finding someone whose quiet style was very effective, though I can imagine her emoting and projecting larger for a crowd. 

She will be performing at the Sally-Goldmark Madrona library tomorrow. Her website lists other upcoming dates. I highly recommend seeing her.