We are an independent bookstore specializing in programs for schools and adult groups. Schools like visits by our authors, illustrators, storytellers, musicians, and puppeteers. Adult groups usually prefer our storytellers or workshops on writing as a family legacy.
Symbols: An owl for wisdom; a tree for knowledge and shelter.
The Matriarch: Owl's Tree's founder and president is Virginia Meldrum, a.k.a. "Miss Virginia." Rumored to be "older than God," she founded The Owl's Tree Bookstore in 1984. The business shares space in the historic Cooper-Lindley House with a poltergeist who plays with the doors and occasionally throws books. Virginia has edited and co-authored books, written newspaper and magazine columns, organized community storytelling events, created outreach programs including Authors in School, Storytellers in School, and Books Brigade, told stories, conducted workshops, and provided programs for almost a million students in eleven states. She is a bit outrageous, so take a deep breath, relax, and smile while visiting us and learning about our programs and services.
Products: Books and programs with authors, illustrators, storytellers, musicians, and puppeteers plus supporting materials including books signed by the presenters and instructions on how to make your program fit your situation.
Personal service: a priority – not a slogan. We listen when parents, teachers and students say, "I wish ..." When you contact us, you work with a real person, not an automated electronic frustrator! Calls and emails not answered immediately will be returned within 24 hours if you provide contact information.
Reality check: Our programs fit the needs, goals and budgets of real schools and real students. An entertaining storytelling format artfully disguises strong educational values and supports state educational standards. Educators help to design and modify programs for appeal and effectiveness. Bringing us into your school is cost effective, convenient, inclusive, and safe. Do the math - field trips are often four to six times more expensive than in-school presentations, require transportation, need more adult supervision, add risks, and may exclude some students.
Pledge: We can help you:
1. enrich lives and curricula (pre-k through high school.)
2. keep cost per student affordable (average is $1.00 to $3.00)
3. reduce time and labor for faculty and parent volunteers.
4. modify programs to meet your school's needs and goals.
Reassurance: Since 1990, we've worked with hundreds of schools in eleven states. It's still a thrill to watch students and teachers go from "Ho-hum" to "Wow!" One awed teacher gasped, "With all the technology and sophisticated teaching tools we use to try to get their attention, she kept all of them enthralled for forty minutes just telling them stories! No props; no nothing - just herself and stories."
The core concern: "Is there anybody we can trust to provide effective affordable programs to meet our specific needs and goals?" Yes! We answer your questions, work out details, adapt presentations to special needs students, and provide a written agreement, a guide book, and samples of the presenter's books. You know what you are getting, what you need to do, and what your costs are prior to the program.
An Owl's Tree staff member facilitates each presentation. Our facilitators have done all sorts of things including fetching glasses of water, aiding presenters, helping teachers hand out drawing materials, comforting crying children, and telling stories to a small class of students with behavior problems who couldn't participate in the regular program!
Best of all, we can arrange for you to visit one of our programs and see for yourself why and how our unique approach works.