African folktale is centerpiece of 2007 'We Share a Story'

Toymaker Rick Hartman is proud to announce his involvement in this year's international art and literacy celebration, We Share A Story.

On November 13, Hartman performs "Wonderglobe: Toys and Tales to Spin the Imagination," at Pioneer Valley Elementary School in Spanaway, WA, beginning at 7 p.m..

The program includes a re-telling of the magical folktale, "Head, Body, Legs: A Story from Liberia," the featured book in this year's We Share a Story campaign.

"I'm honored to be part of this incredible, international effort in celebration of a fantastic book," Hartman says. "We Share a Story is an amazing project, and 'Head, Body, Legs' is an amazing tale."

Written by Won-Ldy Paye and Margaret Lippert and illustrated by Julie Paschkis, "Head, Body, Legs" is a story of cultural diversity and cooperation that captured the toymaker's imagination from the beginning.

"It's about many parts of a system coming together to work as a whole," Hartman says. "Kind of like a good toy or an ingenious invention."

In Hartman's reenactment of the tale, giant, mechanical puppet parts bounce and strut across the stage, trying--with varying degrees of success--to work together as a team.

The result is a delightful mixture of storytelling and visual comedy for audiences of all ages.

Children from twenty-three countries around the world are participating in this year's We Share a Story program. Participating countries include Venezuela, Denmark, England, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, United States (Washington state), Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Morocco, Zambia, Cambodia, Brazil, Hong Kong, Chile, Japan, Nepal, Russia and Australia (New South Wales).

After hearing or reading "Head, Body, Legs," students in grades K-6 in each country will have the opportunity to participate in an international art project.

We Share A Story is sponsored by the Pierce County Library Youth Services Department in cooperation with the Bellingham Public Library.
Henry Holt Publishing, the authors and illustrator of "Head, Body, Legs" have given permission to use the book and illustrations to promote We Share A Story 2007.

Rick Hartman's performance of "Wonderglobe: Toys and Tales to Spin the Imagination" takes place Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at Pioneer Valley Elementary School, 7315 Eustis Hunt Road Spanaway, WA, beginning at 7 p.m. The program is free and open to the public.

For more information about We Share a Story, visit Pierce County Library System or Bellingham Library System.