B’RER RABBIT AND OTHER TRICKSTER TALES This 40-minute digital assembly inspires self-reliance and creative problem solving on a humorous and magical journey with wily creatures who teach us folk wisdom, and life lessons in this collection of trickster tales from around the world. Stories include: Brer Rabbit, Brer Alligator and Trouble (Southern U.S.) features B’rer Rabbit and B’rer Alligator. In the story, B’rer Alligator says he has never known any trouble in his life and he is curious as to what it is. B’rer Rabbit brings trouble to him, and B’rer Alligator not only gets a new coat, but learns a valuable lesson: “Never trouble trouble unless trouble troubles you.” Tio Conejo (Venezuela, bilingual) is the story of B’rer Rabbit’s Mexican cousin, Tio Conejo “Uncle Rabbit.” Although Tio Conejo is smarter than all the other animals, he also is smaller and often picked on by the other, larger animals. He does not like being smaller so appeals to the great maker in the sky to make him bigger. The great maker in the sky agrees to make Tio Conejo bigger if he can pass a test; he is to capture three ferocious animals in one day. Tio Conejo accomplishes the task and …

LEYENDAS DE DUENDE This bilingual digital assembly explores the rich Hispanic folklore and mythology of Latin America. The stories include La Calavera from Mexico, and Paco and the Witch from Puerto Rico. The program also includes an Afro/Cuban Rhythm and Song that calls to “Alegua – the trickster of the crossroads”, from the Afro-Cuban tradition of Santeria. La Calavera After using up everyone in his small village, an old father ventures out onto the road to find a godparent for his 12th child. He’s approached by Papa Dios and El Diablo, as well as a host of pre-Columbian deities who offer themselves for the job before he chooses Godmother Death (La Calavera), as she seems the most just, not favoring the rich over the poor. Calavera teaches the boy to be a great healer, and he grows up to be rich and famous, but in the end, when the healer tries to cheat death, Calavera shows him no special favor. Paco and the Witch Paco is a good boy who likes to help his mom but when he goes to town to run an errand he has to pass through the dark forest where a bruja, or witch, is waiting …

WATERS OF THE EARTH This 60-minute digtital assembly explores the rich folklore and mythology of seafaring peoples from all over the globe. Waters of the Earth also includes an introduction to the tradition of Sea Chanteys, songs sung by working sailors on all kinds of ships. Songs from Irish, New England, and African American/Afro Caribbean traditions will be taught and sung during the performance. Sealskin Soulskin In this story, a lonely man steals the sealskin of a Selkie (a seal-woman.) When she asks for the skin back the man refuses to return it unless she marries him and lives with him for seven years. She agrees and eventually they grow to love one another and have a child together, a boy. Eventually, the woman becomes ill and crippled and in the eighth year, she demands her skin returned to her. The man becomes angry and refuses for fear she will leave him and return to the sea. After the man storms out, the boy is summoned by a mysterious ocean spirit to where the sealskin is hidden. He returns the skin to his mother and they both plunge into the ocean to meet with the wise old Grandfather Seal. The …

JAMBO WATOTO This digital assembly is a loving homage to the rich and wonderful cultures of Africa.  Featuring stories and traditional rhythms from different regions of Africa including How Ananse Gained a Kingdom of Knowledge from a Kernel of Corn (Ashanti) and The Hunterman and the Crocodile (Donso, West Africa). The Hunterman and the Crocodile Donso the hunter-man, against his better judgment, agrees to carry Bamba the Crocodile back to his home in the river. After carrying Bamba into the water and releasing him, Bamba takes hold of his arm, to make Donso his next meal. As they argue, about right and wrong and how a good deed should be repaid, they float by a cow, a horse, a chicken, and an old mango tree, and Donso begs them all to help. They all refuse and say that he deserves to be eaten by the Bamba. Finally, a clever rabbit approaches and plays a trick on the Bamba to help free Donzo. Once they’re out of the river and Bamba is back up on Donso’s back, the tables are turned and the rabbit suggests that he take Bamba home to his wife “to make a great meal.” On his way …

THE LION’S WHISKERS (Amhara Tribe of Ethiopia, Eastern Africa) Finaye, a woman past childbearing age, longs for a family of her own. When she marries Tesfa and meets his motherless son Abebe, she is overjoyed. Fanaye tries hard to please the boy, but he wants no part of her. Desperate, Fanaye seeks the wisdom of a shaman—a tribal medicine man. He sends her on a mission to gather three whiskers from a fierce lion for a magic potion that will win her Abebe’s love. She collects the whiskers very carefully, by slowly gaining the lion’s trust. Once obtained, the whiskers are no longer needed, as Fanaye has also learned how she must likewise gain Abebe’s trust and love, with patience, respect and discretion.