Welcome to Minnesota BookPALS! Welcome to Minnesota BookPALS (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools)! If you're visiting our website for the first time, you may be wondering about BookPALS and our program. BookPALS are performing artists who share their talent and contribute their time to read aloud to children in the public schools. Studies show, over and over, that reading aloud to children is the single most important step we take to ensuring literacy. Performing Artists are particularly gifted when it comes to reading aloud to children. We voice the characters in a book, read with clarity and enliven the literature in such a way as to draw our young listeners in, thus encouraging a love for reading for both learning and pleasure. If you are a Performing Artist, please consider becoming a Minnesota BookPAL. You can reach dozens of children with a weekly visit to a classroom, and add to their lives in a wonderful and lasting, positive way! Schools: If you would like to have BookPALS read to your classrooms, please contact Minnesota BookPALS. I look forward to hearing from you! Jump to: Minnesota Supporters Latest News & Updates:

Minnesota StoryLine Celebrates 10 Years Monday, January 11 2010 @ 03:55 PM EST

This past fall, Minnesota StoryLine celebrated its 10th year of recording stories, providing this free service throughout the Twin Cities metro area. With a new story recorded by a BookPALS volunteer every week, that's over 5,000 stories read to over 100,000 children! January & February 2010 will be our last two months with a theme and corresponding list of books. We will be featuring stories about saying goodbye, and have lined up some of our most dedicated readers, including Dan Geiger, Daniel Abdon, Michelle Berg and Adena Brumer. MN BookPALS coordinator Delta Giordano and MN StoryLine coordinator Patty McDonald will also be recording in January & February. You can continue to check the website, www.storylinemn.org, or call 952-352-1350 to hear a story. Many thanks to our technology partners, Black Box & VISI, and to our wonderful volunteers for making this past decade possible!

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2 comments Most Recent Post: 09/05 03:31PM by Anonymous

Welcome New BookPALS! Monday, November 02 2009 @ 06:03 PM EST

We're thrilled to have three new BookPALS reading with us in classrooms this fall: Tami Provencher, at Brimhall in Roseville; Camryn Reynolds, at Mississippi Creative Arts Magnet School in St. Paul; and Mike Mann, also at Mississippi Creative Arts.

As a recent theater graduate from St Olaf College, Camryn is absolutely thrilled to be participating the the BookPALS program. While attending St Olaf, Camryn sang in the Chapel Choir, was president of the Alpha Psi Omega theater honors society, created a theater mentorship program with area youth, and performed in numerous theater productions. Camryn will be spreading the holiday cheer this winter performing in The Guthrie Theater's A Christmas Carol.


Mike is a professional storyteller and winner of the Parents’ Choice, NAPPA Gold, and Storytelling World awards. He has appeared on Channel 9’s "Good Morning Minnesota" and Kare-11 TV. He’s been featured in the Star Tribune and Pioneer Press. Mike is married, has four grown children and three grandchildren. (He'll also be making some special appearances as Santa Claus in December!)

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1 comments Most Recent Post: 10/08 08:13AM by Anonymous

BookPALS Read at the Great Minnesota Get-Together! Friday, September 04 2009 @ 05:43 PM EDT

Minnesota BookPALS were invited once again by Education Minnesota to read at their booth during the State Fair on September 3rd. Our terrific volunteers -- Tom Sherohman, Vickijoan Keck, Janan Terpstra, Mary Kay Bodeen, Betty Rasmussen, Sandi Walker, Rich Reeder, Mary "Em" Burns, Colleen Barrett & Laura Wiebers -- kept the crowds engaged all day. Special thanks to Education MN staffer Denise Specht who took a turn reading, and to WCCO-Radio producer Dan Geiger who scheduled a live interview for us at the Fair, then regaled us with his portrayal of Robert the horse (who loved roses). Thanks also to Education MN staff members Chris Carlin & Doug Stone for doing such a great job in coordinating this event.

Tom Sherohman

Vickijoan Keck

Dan Geiger

Betty Rasmussen

Sandi Walker

Rich Reeder

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1 comments Most Recent Post: 10/22 05:38PM by Anonymous

Minnesota BookPALS Reader Honored for Service Wednesday, May 27 2009 @ 05:10 PM EDT

Michelle Myers Berg (pictured with coordinator Delta Giordano) received a special certificate of appreciation from BookPALS and the SAG Foundation for more than a decade of volunteering. Michelle and fellow BookPALS Adena Brumer, Michelle Cassioppi and Bob Colburn have consistently volunteered since our program started here in 1998. In addition to reading in classrooms, they have all participated in special events and recorded for Minnesota StoryLine. Michelle was honored at the appreciation lunch for classroom readers on May 27 at Common Roots in Minneapolis. Thanks to our 10-year veterans and all of our volunteers for a great year!


BookPALS Rich Reeder & Diane Philbin both read at Lyndale School.

BookPALS Patti Shomion, Sally Blecha & Gail Fraser read at Riverview, Mississippi Creative Arts Magnet & Seward.

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1 comments Most Recent Post: 05/28 11:10PM by Anonymous

Patti Shomion Named Library Volunteer of the Year Thursday, May 21 2009 @ 06:40 PM EDT

Congratulations to BookPALS reader Patti Shomion -- she was honored as the St. Paul Public Library Volunteer of the Year this spring. Patti volunteers more than 40 hours per month to help prepare puppets and props, rehearse, and perform in many puppet shows as a member of the Loki Players. Patti reads at Riverview School in West St. Paul every week. As a special treat, she invited some classes to see her puppetry performance of "The Three Little Pigs" at the Central Library in downtown St. Paul.

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1 comments Most Recent Post: 01/09 05:24PM by Anonymous

Braham BookPALS Reader Wears & Reads Kiki's Hats Wednesday, March 04 2009 @ 03:00 PM EST

Mary Kay Bodeen is one of our busiest BookPALS in Minnesota! She retired from teaching a few years ago, but that didn't keep her out of the classroom. This winter, Mary Kay has been reading at Braham Area, Coldspring and Cambridge-Isanti schools during I Love to Read Month in February and Read Across America in March. She embellished her reading of Kiki's Hats by wearing wonderful hats knitted by her friend Ione Hurt. In this book by Warren Hanson, Kiki loves to knit hats and give them away, leading many other people to be generous. As Mary Kay says, "Thanks to Ione for the hats. She's a REAL Kiki to me!"
Mary Kay wearing one of Ione's hats with students from Braham Area Elementary School.

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Thanks to Our Volunteers & Supporters in 2008! Wednesday, December 31 2008 @ 02:32 PM EST

This year ended on a particularly happy note when we received a special donation in December from The Richter Family Foundation in honor of Martha R. Richter. Minnesota BookPALS was chosen to honor Martha "as it embraces her desire to connect with people in meaningful and transforming ways."

And that's exactly what our dedicated volunteers do by sharing their love of reading and inspiring children throughout the Twin Cities and beyond. Thanks to all of you who read in classrooms and at special events this past year.

I'd also like to thank our school partners and other supporters, including Patty McDonald, Black Box and VISI for StoryLine; Red Balloon and Wild Rumpus children's bookstores; the Anderson Center; Education Minnesota and First Book. Here's to our continued collaboration in 2009!

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Pajama Story Time at Fillebrown House for the Holidays Friday, December 12 2008 @ 04:24 PM EST

Minnesota BookPALS Adena Brumer and Michelle Berg read children's stories and poems on Dec. 11 at the historic Fillebrown House in White Bear Lake. Children arrived in their pajamas and were treated to cider and cookies in addition to the wonderful talents of Adena and Michelle. Thanks to the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society for inviting us to participate in this holiday event!


Adena reads Strega Nona in the glow of a Christmas tree at Fillebrown House. (Photo: Paul Dols, PressPubs.com)

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Annual Celebration of Minnesota Authors & Illustrators Wednesday, September 10 2008 @ 04:27 PM EDT

Children and their families gathered on Sept. 6, 2008 for the annual Celebration of Minnesota Authors & Illustrators event in Red Wing. BookPALS were pleased to return as the featured readers at the top of the Tower on the Anderson Center campus. Thanks to StoryLine Coordinator Patty McDonald and to all the BookPALS volunteers who made the climb up the stairs and the drive down to Red Wing!

BookPALS Gail Fraser, Paul Mockovak, Patti Shomion, and Mary Burns-Klinger charmed the children in the Tower.

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BookPALS Join the Great Minnesota Get-Together Sunday, August 31 2008 @ 04:58 PM EDT

Education Minnesota invited our BookPALS to join them again at their booth at the State Fair on August 30th. Our intrepid readers carried on through the corndogs, cotton candy and crowds on a very hot day -- which turned out to be the highest attendance during the run of the Fair this year!







(Pictured above: Tad Simons, arts & entertainment editor of Mpls/StPaul Magazine; Joy Donley, Clark Cruikshank, & Laura Wiebers.)

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