Knoxville County Public Library Gears Up for Winter Saturday Stories and Songs for families

KNOXVILLE -- If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands! Saturday Stories and Songs is gearing up for a winter full of weekend offerings designed specifically for moms, dads, and caretakers who are not able to attend the Library's popular weekday storytimes.

Knox County Public Library is offering family programs at 10:30 a.m. every Saturday at Lawson McGhee Library, Cedar Bluff Branch Library, Fountain City Branch Library, and Powell Branch Library. Saturday Stories and Songs helps families develop literacy and pre-literacy skills in a fun environment. Stories, music, rhyming, finger play and engaging the imagination are all part of developing a love of reading and learning.

As a family activity, Saturday programs can help structure the week around educational themes.

January 5 at 10:30 a.m.
Cedar Bluff - Charlene Ellis, The Baby Whisperer
Fountain City - Laurie Fisher, Storytime
Children's Room at Lawson McGhee - Miss Lynn Hinkernell, Storyteller and Musician
Powell - Georgi Schmitt, Storyteller and Musician

January 12 at 10:30 a.m.
Cedar Bluff - Georgi Schmitt, Storyteller and Musician
Fountain City - Miss Lynn Hinkernell, Storyteller and Musician
Children's Room at Lawson McGhee - One World Circus
Powell - David Claunch, Storyteller

January 19 at 10:30 a.m.
Cedar Bluff - Kindermusik
Fountain City - Becca Tedesco, Storytime
Children's Room at Lawson McGhee - Charlene Ellis, The Baby Whisperer
Powell - Laurie Fisher, Storytime

January 26 at 10:30 a.m.
Cedar Bluff - Emagene Reagan, Storyteller
Fountain City - Georgi Schmitt, Storyteller and Musician
Children's Room at Lawson McGhee - Becca Tedesco, Storytime
Powell - One World Circus

Meet the Performers: Charlene Ellis: Baby guru Charlene Ellis blends songs, rhymes, fingerplays, books, and more to create fun-filled and educational programs for babies and their caregivers. Charlene will have you giggling, singing, and bouncing with your baby as you share the joy of together time in the library.

• Laurie Fisher: Miss Laurie's storytimes take a snowy turn this winter.
• Miss Lynn Hinkernell: Known for singing outside the lines, Miss Lynn's programs are funny, poignant and energizing all at once.
• Becca Tedesco: Former Children's Room employee Becca Tedesco is back to share some of her favorite stories and songs with a storytime that's sure to be lots of fun.
• Emagene Reagan is a retired school librarian who tells stories from folk and fairy tales and nursery rhymes, to popular storybooks and original stories you might like to tell to others.
• One World Circus: Drawing on cross cultural traditions of community carnivals and celebrations, One World Circus engages audiences in everything from giggles to a potential walk across the tight rope.
• Georgi Schmitt: A storyteller who has traveled the globe, Georgi brings together songs, stories and movement for audiences of all ages.

Saturday programming is made possible through the generous support of the Jane L. Pettway Foundation and the Knox County Public Library Foundation's Margaret Dickinson Fund.

Published January 7, 2013