Mike is a renowned storyteller with the ability to reach multi-age audiences. Whether telling his stories of growing up with his next-door neighbor Denny or relating traditional tales, Mike blends stories and music to make a great show. (All ages) The combination of music, storytelling and humor has made Mike Anderson one of the most sought-after performers from the Atlantic coast to Canada to the Gulf and all points in between.  Under the auspices of the Illinois State Board of Education, Mike has conducted many teacher workshops for developing literacy through the art of storytelling.  The mountain dulcimer, guitar, banjo, jaw harp, and nose flute are a part of his musical storytelling trade.  His workshops on "Promoting Higher Level Thinking Through Classroom Activities" and "Storytelling for Literacy for Early Childhood Teachers and Parents" have been nationally recognized. Mike's summer performance schedule includes the following: July 11 & 12 – Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, Springfield, IL  http://www.alplm.org/ July 13 – Spooky stories around the Campfire, Summer Reading Program, 10:00, Jacksonville Public Library, Jacksonville, IL, August 13-15 - Gateway Dulcimer Festival, Our Lady of the Snows Shrine, Belleville, IL http://www.gatewaydulcimer.org/, August 20-23 – August Dulcimer Daze, West Dover, VT www.augustdulcimerdaze.com  For Mike's complete schedule visit his website www.dulcimerguy.com

Janice Del Negro

 Janice's passion is excavating old tales, tales that have already survived for centuries, for emotional truths that resonate with contemporary listeners. She states, "There is no definitive version of a folktale, no “original”; we can point to the earliest remembered, written, or preserved version, but not to an “original.” Folktales change over time in order to survive, and re-telling folktales for present-day listeners is a contemporary offshoot of what is popularly understood as the oral tradition."  Janice is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Dominican University in River Forest, Illinois, where she teaches Storytelling, Childrens and Young Adult Literature, and Foundations in Library and Information Science. She has been a featured speaker, storyteller, and workshop leader at the National Storytelling Festival, the Allerton Conference (”Stories: From Fireplace to Cyberspace”), the Illinois Library Association, the Bay Area Storytelling Festival, the Illinois Storytelling Festival, the Fox Valley Music and Storytelling Festival, the Champaign Public Library Children’s Literature Festival, and many other celebratory events.

 Mike Lockett

Dr. Michael Lockett is a teller of traditional tales in a non-traditional manner. Mike is a lifelong storyteller.  He has been telling stories for over 38 years in his positions as a storyteller, teacher, principal, central office administrator and educational consultant.  Because he lives in the small town of Normal, Illinois, he enjoys being called "The Normal Storyteller."  But, there is little that is NORMAL about Mike.  He brings high energy and creative uses of audio sound effects to his family friendly stories. 

Mike has given more than 2500 presentations and workshops in 22 states across the United States and as far away as Taiwan.  He is the author of a Book called The Basics of Storytelling (Taiwan, 2008).  He released a DVD of children's stories in Taiwan in August, 2008.  An American version of the DVD, "Tales of Delight," was released in June, 2009 and has received the 2009 DVD of the Year Award by Creative Child Magazine.  Dr. Lockett has produced 4 audio CDs of stories and music.  He has received seven national awards for his storytelling CDs.  For more information go to Mike's website at www.mikelockett.com

Maureen Korte

Maureen Korte is familiar with stories from all over the world, but her favorite tales reflect her Irish-American heritage. She has traveled extensively in Ireland to collect tales and develop an Irish way about her telling. Maureen uses sign language, puppets, paper cutting, paper folding, accent, and audience participation when telling her stories.  Her favorite stories are those with a value or moral.  Always seeking to promote the art of storytelling, Korte has served as a leader in the Northlands Storytelling Network and the National Storytelling Association.  The kids and those who are kids at heart will enjoy her stories.