Getting Kids Into Great Books

Handing a young child a book by Lewis Carroll or A.A. Milne and walking away is like taking him into a room of fascinating people and leaving him there. In either case, to really get to know these colorful folk, the child needs a friendly introduction.

That’s the purpose of “Let Them Eat Books,” a free-wheeling romp through children’s literature led by members of a national touring company called We Tell Stories. Geared to children ages 5 and up, this audience-participation show offers a comfortable environment in which youngsters can meet and greet some of the greatest names in children’s books. It will be presented twice today at the McKinney Theatre at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo.

We Tell Stories has a repertoire of nearly 50 tales from classic literature, mythology and folklore, according to Carl Weintraub, the group’s founder and director. At each performance, cast members size up the audience’s age and maturity level, and virtually customize a show on the spot. Today’s shows may include Milne’s “The King’s Breakfast,” Carroll’s “The Jabberwocky,” one of the “Rootabaga Stories” by Carl Sandburg or one of Aesop’s fables, each brought to life by five professional actors with the help of audience members.

The end result, Weintraub says, is a mix of entertainment and education designed to stimulate young imaginations and spark children’s interest in books and reading.

“Storytelling is the art form of communication,” Weintraub said. “It requires somebody making the effort to really reach people, and it takes people making an effort to grasp what they’re trying to say. It’s a craft that, for the most part, has died out with television and short interest spans.”

Nonetheless, Weintraub maintains, today’s MTV-weaned youth are surprisingly receptive.

“Kids are the best possible audience,” he said. “They know what they like. They say, ‘Show me,’ and if you can do that, if you can make it accessible and enjoyable, you have no problem.”

To make the works of great authors more “kid-friendly,” the troupe invites audiences to take part in the action on stage whenever possible. Whether they play a frog, a prince or a spoiled brat, the youngster is encouraged and supported by the cast members, who often adjust their own roles to suit the child’s actions.

“As performers, one of our rules is: ‘Always say yes; never say no,’ ” Weintraub explained. “I have a thing about the ‘N’ word. I think there’s always a way to let people choose the right course through direction rather than negativity. If we ask a kid to do something on stage--be a frog, for example--no matter what kind of noise he makes, he’s right. It lets them be safe” and contributes to the child’s sense of self-confidence.

To bolster that homey feeling, the cast uses only simple costumes and props, most of them crafted from “things you might find in your attic,” Weintraub noted. A discarded paint bucket serves as a crown, an old bathrobe trimmed in fake fur becomes a royal cape. “We want kids to walk away from our shows saying, ‘I can do that.’ ”

“Let Them Eat Books” is one of several specialty shows presented by We Tell Stories. Others include “Asian Folktales,” “Latino Folktales” and “Proud to Be Me,” a collection of multicultural stories that encourages children to take pride in their own heritage. About 30 actors make up the group’s seven touring companies which visit schools, theaters and community centers across California through an arrangement with the Los Angeles Music Center’s education department.

A recent arrangement between the Music Center and Theatreworks/USA, a New York-based booking and production agency, has broadened the troupe’s exposure, bringing it into 18 states. This year, Weintraub estimates that it will present as many as 1,500 performances, as well as children’s theater workshops and an Artist-in-Residence series.

The group also has produced two shows for adult audiences, “Shattered Secrets,” a drama about the effects of incest co-presented with the Hispanic Theatre Project, and “Tarantula,” based on works of Bob Dylan.

More growth is ahead, said Weintraub, who has been approached to publish a collection of workbooks to accompany the children’s shows and to produce a series of storytelling videos. “We’ll keep it up as long as people are enjoying it,” he said, “and so far, the response says we’re doing the right thing.”

We Tell Stories presents “Let Them Eat Books” today at 1 and 3 p.m. in the McKinney Theatre at Saddleback College, 28000 Marguerite Parkway, Mission Viejo. All tickets: $5. Information: (714) 582-4656.