Mary Ellen Hill ~ Storyteller & Teacher

Storytelling

Preschools ~ School ~ Assemblies
Museums ~ Libraries
Birthday/Holiday Parties ~ Clubs
Day Care Centers ~ Harry Potter Themed Parties

The stories I tell
engage imaginations,
evoke hope and compassion,
are meaningful for all people of any age, faith and culture.

Storytelling

I tell a wide variety of fairy tales, folktales and creation myths from around the world. You can choose traditional tales, such as "Thumbelina", "Snow White", "Three Billy Goats Gruff" and "Rumpelstiltskin", or choose lesser-known tales, such as, "Why Sun and Moon Live in the Sky", "The Silver River", "The Magic Lake at the End of the World" and "The Hunter and the Tiger". I have over 80 stories to choose from.

"The Paper Plate Angel", is an original story, I created because I needed a modern day story of a child who celebrates Winter Solstice, Hanukkah and Christmas. This story includes an art project of an actual paper plate angel.

I also found that when I tell stories at birthday parties some children have favorite animals or things that are not in any of my stories. So I created an original, interactive story, "The Magical Birthday (train, dragon, submarine, whale...)", in which the children help me tell the story by adding other characters and places as they travel on their birthday ride.

Harry Potter Themed Birthday Parties:
This Birthday party will be a way to make the Harry Potter books come alive for your child and guests! We will make it tailor made for your child. This can take place in your home OR at the FAD PAD! I will be in costume as Headmistress ME and get all to gather round for an opening circle- introductions, pass out magical fairy dust and a magical sweet. Then we can begin the activities.


Here are some ideas about the activities your child could lead with or without me:

Act out any scenes such as, Sorcerer's Stone Quest, Chamber of Secrets Quest, Tri-wizard Tournament
Care of Magical Creatures Class or Magical Menagerie Shop
Hogwarts' Express
Daigon Ally
Potion Quest/ scavenger hunt
Potions Class
Divination Class
Charms Class
Quidditch

Optional ~ My Secret Recipe of:
Homemade Pumpkin Juice (64 oz.) with a hand labeled container for the birthday child to keep. $25
Homemade Butter Beer (64 oz.) with a hand labeled container for the birthday child to keep. $25


Other Types of Birthday Parties:
This can take place to your home or the FAD PAD

Themes:
Herb Lore, Flower and Plant Explorations
Cooking and Gardening Celebration
Fairy Fun and Play
Traditional Storytelling and Acting out stories
Sewing Fun and Embroidery


"We enjoyed her animated style, appreciated the multicultural stories and her her heartwarming ways." Kim Laehle, MA

"I am so glad my daughter gets to be around such a creative person who is helping her imagine and enjoy stories. As her parents, we are such linear thinkers- it is great she gets to spend time with you!" Mom of 3 year old

"It is our son's favorite day when you come and tell stories." Dad of 2 year old

"The students were so engaged- all of them! You are a great storyteller." Teacher of 5th graders

"When can you come back? Please, please come back tomorrow." Elementary students

"Thank you for making our daughter's birthday so magical! The parents loved listening to you as well. It was so much fun acting out the stories, too. I highly recommend you." Mom & dad of a 6 year old

"We cannot wait for you to come back next year for more of your magical stories. Thank you so much for incorporating spanish words in your stories." Director of a Bilingual Preschool

"Always great to see you and have our students exposed to your amazing folk-tales and a wonderful woman." Director of a Preschool

"I feel motivated to become a great storyteller!"

My Specialty

My Specialty as a Professional Storyteller is

We Are The Stars That Sing: The Story of The Universe

This evocative and engaging storytelling performance weaves together a scientific explanation and a mythic interpretation of the 13.7 billion year old evolution of the Universe. It is an educational and magical blending of cosmology and indigenous creation stories that tells how all life, including you, is made of star stuff. This approach engages the left and right brain as well as captivates the deeply embedded memory of humans gathered together to hear their creation story.

Read on to hear more...........OR,
Click Here for the 4 versions of My Specialty, "We Are The Stars That Sing..."
Click Here to learn about the Algonquian poem that inspired me to call my specialty "We Are The Stars That Sing..."

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Since 1987 I have been inspired by Brian Swimme, Thomas Berry and Miriam MacGillis.

When I heard Brian say, "We are the fireball becoming aware... we need to remember how to listen, ... we must awaken the deep dream of the Universe",
this engaged my whole being so intensely, I wanted to know more!

The words of Thomas echoed in my mind, "We need to know the sacred creation story of the emergent Universe, for if we don’t know this story we don't know ourselves."

I was so inspired and amazed when I experienced " The Cosmic Spiral Walk", created by Miriam.

These experiences ignited my desire to articulate the story in my own unique way. While I was at a storytelling swap I realized that the ancient art of the oral tradition would be a perfect mode of expression. I have been telling creation myths and folktales since 1990. In 1995, my love affair with and study of cosmology and storytelling evolved into my performance specialty, "We Are The Stars That Sing: The Story of The Universe".

I have performed "We Are The Stars That Sing..." at a variety of events and each telling is unique, created especially for the particular theme and audience.

At the Morrison Planetarium the story was enhanced by stunning visuals.

At the Lawrence Hall of Science I geared it towards 5-8 year olds and used a more hands-on approach.

At St. Matthew's Church retreat I focused on the origin of the Easter Lily.

While telling at birthday parties I weave the life story of the birthday person into the cosmological story.

At the EarthSpirit Rising Conference I did an eight minute version and wore my cosmic costume for a dramatic sparkly visual effect.

At a Sunday morning talk for Unity Church, Kim Farmer, M.Ed. and I collaborated in combining the story with spiritual teachings.

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