Wendy Berner

Readings

Wendy Berner has an extensive repertoire of stories – folktales, fairytales, myths, urban legends, ghost stories, adaptations – from many cultures and genres. Wendy designs each storytelling presentation to suit the size, age range, and requested focus of the audience. Her multi-cultural repertoire covers a number of themes. String stories and story songs (in various languages) are often integrated into storytelling performances. Questions are welcome at the end of each session.

Some areas of focus include: Earth, Sea & Sky, A Mixtrum & Gatherum, World Tales, Urban Legends & other Tales for Teens, Celtic Journeys, Fairy Tales from Many Lands, others. For a complete list and description of possible storytelling presentations and topics, please contact Wendy Berner directly.

1 – 2 stories can be presented Gaelic (Irish) as well.

Book Sales:

Copies of Wendy’s recording will be available for sale and signing at all events.

Workshops

A versatile facilitator, Wendy Berner gives workshops in a variety of areas around story, whole literacy, poetry and spoken word work. Workshops are active, participatory sessions, often including drama and creative movement. The focus is on the pleasure and diversity of language and connections between literacy-communication skills, spoken word and narrative. Creative writing and art can be an integral component of workshops. Wendy has given hundred of workshops and done numerous artist residencies for young people 5 – 21 years across Canada and overseas. Sessions with curriculum links are possible. Workshops are usually 60 – 80 minutes long.

Topics frequently requested include: Storytelling Skills, Storydrama, Reader’s Theatre & other Spoken Word Work, Story cross Curriculum, Bringing Poetry to Life, Tales that Grab Teens, others. Please contact Wendy Berner directly for more information and full list of workshops/topics.

Book Sales:

Copies of Wendy’s recording will be available for sale and signing at all events.

Biography

Wendy Berner earns her living as a storyteller telling stories from many cultures to people of all ages, keeping the art and oral tradition of storytelling alive. Wendy’s been featured at international storytelling festivals/events in New Zealand, Northern Ireland, the Yukon, British Isles and Australia, where she also storytold in libraries, schools and other venues. She’s appeared at international children’s literature conferences in Fiji and France. Her recording, ‘Just(?) Desserts’ was a CCBC Our Choice selection.

In Canada, Wendy has toured in many provinces appearing in hundreds of schools and libraries, and at conferences, festivals and community/cultural celebrations. She’s been heard on CBC Radio programmes and toured with the Canada Council for the Arts Literary Readings Programme. Literary Festivals include young authors conferences, Festival of Words, Word on the Street, Wordfest and Beyond Words.

Wendy has storytold in an iron-age Celtic roundhouse, at Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology and on a boat on the Seine. Other venues include libraries, schools, theatres, camps, museums, historic sites, senior’s events, dinners. Called a “master storyteller” by Northern Ireland’s Derry Times, South Australia’s Sunday Mail refers to her as a “lifebuoy to the imagination,” while the Calgary Herald wrote: “You name it, Berner can tell it!”

Wendy Berner advocates the importance of the art and oral tradition of storytelling in the 21st century, promoting this art form for all ages through her performances, teaching, mentoring, and public speaking.

A respected presenter at conferences and professional development days, Wendy also does artist residencies. Berner taught storytelling, drama, education and children’s-young adult literature in Canadian universities.

OTHER PRESENTATIONS:
A frequent presenter at conferences and PD Days, Wendy Berner gives keynotes, luncheon/dinner talks and PD sessions to librarians, educators, recreation and museum staff, others.