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Ina The Sunshine Storyteller

 

Show Themes / Program Descriptions

For over 20 years Ina Buckner-Barnette has been providing educational, fun, and entertaining elementary school assemblies, library shows, preschool programs, and shows for city and community events throughout Southern California.  Bring rich engaging storytelling to your event with The Sunshine Storyteller. Ina offers a variety of international story programs, as well as, Black History Month, Kwanzaa and Winter Holidays Around the World themed concerts. She offers storytelling student enrichment workshops available for 1 to 10+ weeks and after school storytelling workshops.  She has added prerecorded shows,  live virtual shows and elementary school assemblies to her collection of presentations.

Pick your show content from this list of existing concert themes or let’s create something new for your event!  All programs are filled with movement games, sing-along songs and international tales to increase the love of literacy, problem solving skills, multicultural awareness and acceptance.

Especially For Younger Audiences:

    • “Animal Crackers” – weaves funny animal folktales, movement games and songs from around the globe for preschool audiences.
    • “Shake Your Tale Feathers” – Rhythm and movement songs and stories to help preschoolers practice reading readiness skills.
    • Makers and Shakers” – An interactive storytelling concert for preschoolers, celebrating trailblazing Black inventors, artists, and leaders. Engage young minds with inspiring tales of change and creativity. Perfect for curious little ones eager to learn and dream big!
    • For Families:
    • “Kaleidoscope” – funny animal folktales, songs and news stories from around the world.
    • “Her Traveling Shoes” – True stories of courageous Black women who spoke up and travelled for love, adventure, fame and fortune.
    • “Winter Wonderland” – shares wintery stories and songs from around the world. 
    • “Sunshine Drum Circle Duet Show”- blends a 26-person audience drum circle with world stories and songs. Performed with Master Percussionist, Chazz Ross.
    • “Talking Drums”- Afro-centric folktales and songs.
    • “Out of the Dust” – My family history story about being pioneers who helped build the oldest living Black–owned town west of the Mississippi, Nicodemus, KS.
    • “Martin’s Words” – A tribute to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. for younger audiences.
    • “Hero Kids Will Rock You” – Stories from the news and folktales about kids who are changing the world and helping others.
    • “Curiosities” – A program of wild and wacky, mysterious and slightly scary stories.
    • “Sunshine Hugs & Kisses” – True stories of all kinds of love from across the globe.
    •  “We’re Better Together” – Stories and songs of unity and hope from around the world.
    • “Know Your Stories!” – You’ll laugh, sing and spread your wings with our interactive storytelling concert and game show program focusing on animal stories from around the world!
    • “The Man Behind the Cat in the Hat”- Learn about Dr. Seuss and celebrate reading fun!
    • “It’s Kwanza Time”- Participatory stories and songs for the whole family to celebrate Kwanza.
    • “Hello Earth” – A story and song celebration of the earth, nature’s life cycles and our environment.
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For Adults: 

“Reading Together is Twice the Fun” – a 75 min. parent and child interactive workshop of fun, low-cost and low-tech activities to help parents, caregivers and teachers share early literacy skills and a love of reading with children under 8.

“Out of the Dust” – My family history story about being pioneers who helped build the oldest living Black–owned town west of the Mississippi, Nicodemus, KS.

“Senior Rhythm Nation” – Seniors and their families will sing, clap and stomp their feet to celebrate the adventures of Ina’s wacky folktale and crazy in-the-news story characters.  Her inspiring and humorous stories will take you around the world without you leaving your seat!  

“Re-ignite the Fire” – Family pressures, health concerns, job or financial insecurity got you down?  Join our nurturing workshop to identify and practice concrete tools for better self-care to bolster your ego, restore your sense of inner peace and re-focus your energies, so you can be your best self.  This 1.25 – 3.5-hour workshop of self-discovery, self-repair & self-care will include: imagination activities, guided visualization meditation, breath work, relaxation/movement exercise and journaling. All activities are designed to help renew and refresh you