Just wanted to restate how much we enjoyed the Gwendolyn program at the Stoneham Public Library this afternoon. The ballet dancers were absolutely delightful. Your storytelling was captivating and the music was spot on. It all came together beautifully. The audience loved the whole package. We have been receiving rave reviews. It would be without hesitation I would recommend your program.
Janice Chase
Youth Librarian
Stoneham Public Library,
Stoneham Massachusetts
781-438-1325
chase@noblenet.org
North of Boston Library Exchange
On behalf of all of the patrons who came and enjoyed the performance on Saturday here at the Library (some forty children and their families!), I want to thank you so much for sharing your time and talents with us. The story was inventive and fun, the dancers made it into a work of art, and the kids who participated in the dancing at the end had a blast! A good time was certainly had by all, and I so appreciate all of your efforts. Again, wonderful to work with both of you and I look forward to a future collaboration!
Lorraine Der
Children’s Librarian
Hamilton-Wenham Library
14 Union St. Hamilton, MA 01982
(978) 468-5577
hwkidsroom.blogspot.com
Thank you so much for the wonderful program today! Several of the parents and children were still in the library when I went back to my desk, and they were all glowing with excitement and told me how much fun they had. It was a huge success!! Thank you, again, for your generosity in bringing such a terrific program to the HPL.
Abby Kingsbury
Head Children’s Librarian
Harvard Public Library
Gwendolyn the Graceful Pig was an enormously successful program for the Ipswich Public Library. The author of the story, David Ira Rottenberg, reads the story with great gusto and grabs the attention of his audience. Rottenberg does all the preliminary work of collaborating with a local dance company, in our instance the North Shore Performing Arts Center, and presenting a lovely and inspiring program. Not for girls only, while Gwendolyn is a pig who wants to dance, her friend, Omar, is a pig who would love to play football. The Ipswich performance was the Saturday before Halloween and we invited the audience to wear Halloween costumes. I was concerned that it would make listening a little challenging for our young patrons. Not to worry, they were most engaged in the program. After the program they are invited to learn dance steps, talk to and have their pictures taken with the ballerinas. This program created wonderful Halloween memories for our young patrons and their families. It is a bargain to present! David is terrific to work with providing posters, book marks and press releases.
Laurie Collins
Children’s Librarian
25 North Main Street
Ipswich, MA 01938-2287
978.356.6648
On Wednesday, July 20th, The Tufts Library in Weymouth was pleased to host a “Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig” event. Author, David Ira Rottenberg read his book in a clear and commanding voice while a team of dancers from a local dance school enacted the charming story with ballet and music. The audience, which was filled with children aged 3-8 and their parents, was delighted! Mr. Rottenberg’s reading was perfectly paced to coordinate with the dancers. The children were truly enchanted with the story and the dancers. Mr. Rottenberg planned the entire event for us and even provided us with the publicity such as posters and high quality book marks which included the date and time of the event. This made it very easy for us to get the word out to our patrons. This event was very appealing to our patrons and we had a turnout of 140 people, many of whom came dressed in their own tutu’s and dance costumes! After the reading, the dancers encouraged the children to join them in a short dance/movement exercise. Mr. Rottenberg also had copies of his book for purchase which he graciously signed as he took the time to talk with anyone who had questions individually. The children also were given the opportunity to pose for photos with the dancers which was quite popular. It was a well-run, professional event which received rave reviews from the children and parents alike. I highly recommend the “Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig” event to any library or school that wants to have a fun program guaranteed to draw in all of the little dancers out there!
Amy Perriello
Children’s Services
Weymouth Public Libraries
46 Broad Street
Weymouth, MA 02188
www.weymouth.ma.us/library
I just wanted to send along a big “Thank You” for coming to Wilbraham yesterday to read and show us all about Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig. What a cute story and so wonderful to have it come alive with the dancers! The parents around are still talking about it! It was great to have such a unique show here, and incorporate “real” dancers into it, to make it come alive. Thanks again.
Elaine Wrubel
Head of Childrens Services
Wilbraham Public Library
25 Crane Park Dr. Wilbraham, MA
413-596-6141
Thank you for making our opening week of summer reading so memorable. The idea of having a ballet company dance and mime your story of Gwendolyn as you read was perfect. It held the attention of the large crowd and kept them focused and fascinated: an accomplishment with that age group! The ballerinas from The Dance Workshop of Hanover were lovely, poised and very talented. In addition to being accomplished dancers, they were also very good actresses who did an excellent job in visually transforming your book. I appreciate all the work you did on publicity materials. They made my job much easier and certainly promoted the program in a very eye appealing way. I am so happy that you contacted us with your idea and were able to visit our library. The message of Gwendolyn is an important one and I am glad you could share it with our visitors.
Nancy Denman
Head of Children’s Services
Duxbury Free Library
We loved-the Gwendolyn program! Gwendolyn’s story is great, and the live reading combined with the dancing made the program extra special. The kids loved dancing with the Starline dancers after the story was finished. Thank you for contacting me and offering the program, and for all the materials – posters, bookmarks, coloring sheets … Have an excellent winter and holiday season.
Kitty Schacht
Youth Department
Mansfield Public Library
255 Hope Street
Mansfield, MA 02048
Phone (508) 261-7380