Creativity on the tale end

Kids can sample storytelling flavors on Saturday at the California African American Museum -- from swashbuckling aviators, to a lesson on how chocolate is made, to the similarities between hip-hop and swing music.

The annual “Ears Are Burning, Children Are Learning” program features presentations from children’s book authors, illustrators and performers who seek to stimulate creativity in kids of all ages.

“When I’m telling a story, I want kids to create their own pictures in their minds,” says author/performer Georgette Baker. Using a guitar and a cuatro (Venezuelan stringed instrument), Baker will perform a story about the origins of chocolate, using dance and music as well as the spoken word.

“It’s sad that children don’t have many opportunities to use their imagination anymore,” Baker says. “Books and stories are the perfect place to get them back to a creative space.”

Brenda C. Roberts will read from her new book, “Jazzy Miz Mozetta.” “It’s an intergenerational story about how young hip-hoppers learn to enjoy the old swing and jitterbug music and vice versa,” says the author.

Telling stories about the early adventures of black aviators will be Philip S. Hart, author of “Up in the Air: The Story of Bessie Coleman.” “I became interested in black aviators because of hearing my family’s stories,” says Hart, who was inspired to write the book “to make sure that their stories didn’t die out.”

After hearing from these and other authors, kids may be fired up to create their own books. They can participate in workshops with artist Elliott Pinkney or illustrator Kadir Nelson or try their hand at poetry with Joyce Clark.

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“Ears Are Burning, Children Are Learning,” California African American Museum, 600 State Drive, Exposition Park. 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Free. (213) 744-7432.