Hear Ms. Hall, the Callison Elementary School librarian, who loved Reading & Rhyming with Mother Goose in March 2009!

Reading and Rhyming with the Original Mother Goose

For many people, Mother Goose is an early exposure to literature, encouraging children to develop a love of books - especially nursery rhymes. In the modern age, Mother Goose visits schools and libraries all over the metroplex to inspire kids once again. She teaches the rhymes to the children and has them act out the various rhymes utilizing props. She has a hilarious show with lots of puppets and ventriloquism. Kids love the puppets Lambie, Mary, Goosie, Itsy Bitsy, and the other friends who arrive with Mother Goose. For Pre-K to 2nd grade.
You may click here for promotional photos for e-mail or print.

Learning Points

1. Engage children in rhyming and rhyming games to deepen interest in language.
2. Involve children in creating their own rhymes, and encourage this creativity.
3. With rhyming, develop sensitivity to word patterns.
4. Excite children to seek books of Mother Goose or other rhymes, and read them.

Ready to have Mother Goose at your school?
Click her online calendar to check for availability.
If the date is open; click here for a school reservation form;
or, click for your school Pricing Zone.
Read the 2017 Learning Partners Quality Survey for this show

"It was a fabulous presentation. I will definitely be back in touch! Thank you"
— Stacy Joseph, Forney ISD

"It was an absolute pleasure having you at our school! The students and teachers are still talking about your visit! Attached is a copy of a card they made for you. I look forward to having you at our school again soon!" — Kristi Schleier, Post Elementary, Houston, TX

Weather Wonders with Meteorologist Maggie

Meteorologist Maggie with Cloudia the cumulonimbus cloud

Water and the water cycle is what drives the weather on Earth. In this program children will not only learn in a fun and engaging way how the water cycle works, they will learn about all kinds of weather phenomena including rain, snow, hail, and tornadoes! Water is the only natural substance on earth that can take the form of a liquid, a solid, and a gas. This will all be demonstrated with the help of meteorological magic! Cloudia the cloud puppet will help the children learn about the cumulonimbus cloud with the help of Meteorologist Maggie’s excellent ventriloquism skills. They’ll also see a drawing of Frosty the Snowman come to life and review the states of matter with examples of precipitation.

Learning Points

1. Children will learn the process of the water cycle.
2. Terms such as evaporation, condensation, and transpiration will be defined.
3. Various weather phenomena will be demonstrated including tornadoes.

Want to have Meteorologst Maggie at your school?
Click her online calendar to check availability. Date open?
click here for a school reservation form; or,
click for your Pricing Zone.
Read the 2018 Learning Partners Quality Survey for this show

"Margaret, Thank you again for visiting our campus today. I've heard so much positive feedback from teachers and students alike. Students were engaged and learning. What more can we ask for? I look forward to scheduling you to come see us again next school year."
— Darla Cowan, Testing, Federal Programs, and Activities Coordinator, Harmony Science Academy-Fort Worth

"Just wanted to let you know every teacher who attended just loved the show. I myself couldn't stop talking about it. We will definitely be booking again!"
— I. Morales, Callejo Elementary

Reach for the Stars with Astronomer Annie

Astronomer Annie with the Moon and Mother Earth

Astronomer Annie with the Sun

This astronomy program ties in closely with science TEKS for 2nd - 4th grade and highlights "women in science" from the 1700's. Students will learn the order of the planets, the phases of the moon, and all about the first paid female scientist, Caroline Hershel. The program features unique puppets such as the Sun, Mother Earth, the Moon, and Caroline Hershel. These puppets will help to teach children important science concepts such as such as revolve, orbit, and rotate. A true story, "Caroline's Comets" about the first PAID female astronomer in the world will be told using a beautiful, large puppet. Using her brilliant ventriloquism, Margaret (Astronomer Annie) will bring Caroline's true story to life so that children can appreciate her struggle as a woman in the late 1700's in England as she and her brother William mapped the stars using their own homemade telescopes. This program is not only a wonderful science program, but will also help to encourage girls to pursue science as a career choice!

Children will

1. Learn the phases of the moon and the difference between waxing and waning. An original mnemonic will help children learn these.
2. Learn the names and the order of the major planets. A mnemonic will be taught to help learn the order along with an original magic trick to reinforce the learning.
3. Learn and understand concepts such as rotate, spin, revolve, and orbit.

Children learning about the order of the planets in our solar system.

Children catching the "falling stars" at the end of the program

"Thank you so much for your wonderful show at the Rowlett Recreation Center on Tuesday, July 23 for the Summer Reading Club, A Universe of Stories! There were 35 kids and 20 adults at the program you did for Rowlett Public Library. I have attached a few photos."

Ready to have Astronomer Annie at your school?
Click her online calendar to check for availability. If the date is open;
click here for a school Show Reservation form; or,
click for your school Pricing Zone.

The Bookworm shows just how big you can grow if you read! This show is tied to books, and even has a book puppet. This is an excellent show for libraries or literacy grant programs. (Click photo for larger image)

Let's Read with THE Bookworm

THE Bookworm doesn't just read - she devours books, and grows to be a really big bookworm by reading! She tells wonderful stories, bringing characters to life for the audience with puppets, magic, or unusual props. Bookworm stories include: Sylvester and the Magic Pebble, a Caldecott award winner, Kat Kong, a feline parody of the horror classic, and Mean Soup, a creative way for children to manage anger. THE Bookworm's book puppet (Webster the Dictionary) teaches children to take proper care of their books. In addition, she demonstrates a magic card trick that shows the most valuable card to have is not an Ace, but a library card! For K - 4th grade.
You may click here for promotional photos for e-mail or print.

Learning Points

1. Children see a talking book puppet, Webster the Dictionary, who helps teach children the proper care of books.
2. Children will hear 3 stories come to life as told by a masterful storyteller, and be encouraged to check out other titles by the same authors.
3. Children will learn that all books are magical. To let the magic out, all you have to do is READ them.
4. Children will learn books are free on loan from their public libraries (as well as their own school.)
5. Children will learn about the summer reading club.

Ready to have THE Bookworm at your school?
Click her online calendar to check for availability. If the date is open;
click here for a school Show Reservation form; or,
click for your school Pricing Zone.
Read the 2018 Learning Partners Quality Survey for this show

"Thank you so much for your virtual programs they were great." — Walda Marsh

"Thank you so much for letting us participate in Target Tellebration this year. Our guest was Margaret Clauder, THE Bookworm. She was awesome. The 351 students that had the privilege of listening and seeing her presentation were fully engaged. They enjoyed her enthusiasm and energy. It was a positive, educational experience."
— Monica Dubiski, Library Media Specialist , LBJ Elementary

"We had the best time watching your Bookworm show yesterday. Everyone has been praising your show! We can’t wait to see you next year."
— Sheila Carter, Joshua School & Public Library

Click here for THE Bookworm press release you can use to announce the show!

Wild About Reading with Masai Maggie

Masai Maggie - back from Africa with a swarm of fun animals and stories to share!

As a Safari clad storyteller, Margaret brings crazy animal magic with Rocky the Baby Racoon (a critter who appears, disappears, and then reappears in the zaniest place imaginable!) There are stories, lots of audience engagement, and a grand finale as Margaret performs the children's classic Stand Back Said the Elephant I'm Going to Sneeze! How good is it? She has "brilliant puppetry and ventriloquism skills". When you see her perform, you will agree!

For Pre-K - 3rd grade.

Learning Points

1. Excite children about a story by bringing actual text to life with several types of puppets.
2. Illustrate with the performance that stories in books are engaging.
3. Expose children to the art of puppetry and ventriloquism.
4. Teach the children many interesting facts about a variety of animals from all around the world. Concepts of endangered species and conservation will be covered.

Ready for Masai Maggie to be at your school?
Click her online calendar to check availability. Date open?
Then click here for a school reservation form; or,
click for your school Pricing Zone.
Read the 2018 Learning Partners Quality Survey for this show

"Dear Margaret,
Thank you for being a part of Kids Fair Safari 2008! We had a great time and enjoyed your performances. We look forward to seeing you at future events!"
— Jennifer and Joan, Post Oak Mall College Station Texas

"Margaret,
Just wanted to email you and say thank you once again for a truly wonderful performance today at Porter. We LOVED having you and always look forward to your visits each year. The teachers and students could not stop talking about you today; they enjoyed your presentation very much. I hope you have a wonderful weekend, and again thank you!"
— Anne Goodner, Porter Elementary Library

You may click here for promotional photos for e-mail or print.

Spring is in the Air with Mother Nature

Mother Nature tells 2 stories using audience participation. One story, “A Tree for Me” by Nancy Van Lan, is a repetitive rhyming tale that the children really enjoy participating in. The second, “You Are What You Eat” is an original story by Margaret herself involving a caterpillar named Calvin that is envious of all the butterflies he meets. He wants to grow up to be just like then and is instructed that he must eat the appropriate yellow or red flowers to become either a yellow or red butterfly after he emerges from his chrysalis. Students will learn the difference between nocturnal and diurnal animals with the help of puppet friend Mama Raccoon. They will also learn about an unusual carnivorous plant, the Venus fly trap, through the help of Audrey (puppet) who is on the hunt for hamburgers or tacos. This program is excellent to welcome springtime and encourage learning about metamorphosis to the primary grades.

Learning Points

1. Learn the definition of the word nocturnal and diurnal.
2. Students hear 2 stories told by Mother Nature. A Tree for Me by Nancy Van Lan, and You Are What You Eat by Margaret Clauder. Both involve audience participation.
3. A vegetarian eats only plants.
4. A Venus fly trap is a meat eating plant.

Ages pre-K through 2nd.

Ready to have Mother Nature at your school?
Click her online calendar to check the date. If it is open;
click the booking form to schedule a show for your school; or
click for pricing on this program.
Read the 2018 Learning Partners Quality Survey for this show

I Detect A Tale with Imma Sleuth!

Margaret, a.k.a. detective "Imma Sleuth", will take junior gumshoes on an adventure trying to find a story in the library that Margaret is supposed to tell to the kids. Books will be lined up on the table with various titles. Using their powers of deduction, clues, a fingerprint matching book, and a secret code, the junior detectives will figure out which story Imma will finally tell! 3 stories will be utilized in detective school. The first, Ruth the Sleuth, will be told at the beginning of the show. This is a story about a little girl, Ruth, who likes to play detective. She uses her detective skills to solve the case of the missing pizza. This is an original story written by Margaret's son, John, who hopes to publish this story!

The 2nd story used in detective training, Why A Disguise, is a comical classic which advises on why children would want to wear disguises. For example, if you are wearing a disguise, your parents won't recognize you and ask you to take out the trash,or wash the dishes, or play with your little sister! An audience volunteer will be dressed up in a funny outfit with a trench coat, glasses, hat, and beard as Imma tells this tale as part of detective school.

Finally, clues, a fingerprint matching book, and a secret code are used to eliminate the "suspect books." One-by-one the Jr. detectives will find their list of suspects has dwindled down to just 3 possible choices. By breaking a secret code the name of the culprit book is revealed: Dogzilla by Dav Pilkey. Imma will then tell this story to the children in the final bit of fun.

Ready to have Margaret at your school?
Click her online calendar to check availability. Date open?
click here for a school Show Reservation form;
click here to download the study guide; or,
click here for your school Pricing Zone.

"Our kids loved the program! I've never seen our K - 5th graders sit sooooo quietly for such a long period of time. They were totally enthralled." — Director Kathy Kettle of Children's Safari in Mesquite, TX

Senorita Margarita with her marionette – Mariachi Loco

Celebrate Latin culture with Señorita Margarita. Margaret's family influences include a husband and mother-in-law whose heritage is from Spain, cousins from Puerto Rico, and nieces from Mexico. While not a Latina herself, she has a unique appreciation of the culture and traditions through her own family, friends, and extensive travels. With expert storytelling she tells the Cuban folk tale "Martina the Beautiful Cockroach". She wears a colorful, traditional Jalisco dress. Her show features Maria Rosita the puppet who tries to learn "La Cucaracha" in a hilarious children's rendition of the song. Also featured is La Raspa (the Mexican Hat Dance) and Mariachi Loco, a trumpet playing marionette who will bring the house down when his pants fall off! This is an energetic celebration of Latin culture.

For pre-K - 3rd grade.

Learning Points

1. Expose children to Latin culture through dance, storytelling, puppets, and marionettes.
2. Children will hear words and phrases in Spanish and become familiar with their meanings. They will learn the children's version of a traditional Spanish song, and be taught the words in English and Spanish.
3. Increase cultural tolerance by highlighting some of the many Hispanic elements in our society.
4. Show piñatas and cascarones (confetti eggs) and explain their origins and traditions.

Ready to have Margaret at your school?
Click her online calendar to check availability. Date open?
click here for a school reservation form; or,
click for your school Pricing Zone.