Storytime narrative

On Holy Week, I shared a poster of a free event called “Toddler Storytime” which happens at the library at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. today (April 14).

The poster was uploaded on the Facebook page of my blog (Reading Ruffolos) and I expected it to receive minimal response from netizens based on previous experiences. I have been blogging for almost five years now writing about motherhood, womanhood, book reviews, travel and product/service reviews.

I did not expect to get an overwhelming response from parents, mothers mostly, and individuals who tagged and encouraged their friends to attend the event.

Meant for toddlers, the storytime today is a product of almost five years of being a mother of three mutants, more than 20 years of being a volunteer storyteller and the eternal dream of being a teacher (and eventually opening a preschool where we will do a lot of storytelling, dancing, singing and playing).

Basadours Inc., the non-profit organization in which I am a co-founder and trustee, specializes in living storytelling and enrichment sessions between the ages of six to 12 years old. These are mostly school-aged children.

For Toddler Storytime, a personal project of the Reading Ruffolos, I am focusing on babies and toddlers and the parents/guardians, who will be joining the sessions.

This is going to be noisy but that is how most things are with children. I am happy that the public library under the leadership of Chief librarian Rosario “Ruth” Chua, has been always accommodating in my requests to hold sessions and invite children and parents.

I was only expecting less than 10 parents with their children to join me today but the list has tripled so I am both nervous and excited how this would turn out. Each session will last for 30 minutes and it will not involve cartwheels and somersaults. There will be reading of books, singing and dancing in the English and Binisayang Sugbuanon languages. I cannot promise it to be a silent event because we will be invaded by children. I am bringing along my four-year-old twins and my 2.5-year-old cutie pie so it is going to be crazy and fun.

I am at the library all Thursdays of May for two 30-minute sessions: one at 2 p.m. and another at 3 p.m. Please feel free to bring your babies and toddlers. We will be sitting on the floor so wear comfortable clothes but no sando, slippers and shorts please.

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The Cebu City Public Library will also launch today its flagship project, Basa Kabataan, which aims to continue the narrative of encouraging and inspiring the youth to read.

This is also in celebration of the 99th founding anniversary of the library and a countdown to its centennial celebration happening next year (2019).

I worked with Ma’am Ruth in developing this project, which will also bring together government offices and other organizations such as the Zonta Club of Cebu II, which made the Children’s Corner possible. These organizations are the Friends of the Cebu City Public Library.

Several activities are lined up for the months of April and May including the Basadours’ Summer Saturday Storytime on April 21 and 28 and all Saturdays of May.

After the yearlong Basa Kabataan project, the library will launch the “Basa Sugbo” initiative where the library staff and friends will reach out to other public libraries in the province to assist them in their literacy-related activities.

These are exciting times to be a volunteer at the library. Let me just note that there are public libraries in Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue, Toledo, Bogo and Naga. Ma’am Ruth told me that these libraries can really use the help. If you reside or work near these cities and towns, do find time to drop by and check what goes on in these libraries.

I await your stories.