Welcome to mi casa!
My friendship with Storytelling began early on in life.
Here are some anecdotes for you to enjoy!
Chapter 1
Lost and Found
At three, I disappeared from my mom's sight. Feverishly she looked for me in the supermarket. After all exit doors had been closed, my mother found me behind a clothing rack full of dresses. I had found a pleasant hiding spot where I could read aloud a book. What can I say? I have always enjoyed a good book! Even though it was upside down!
Reading and telling stories are great ways to foster imagination. In the "Read Aloud and Disperse the Clouds" workshop, I share storytelling tips to sharpen your skills and motivate the kids to enjoy listening and reading. Check it out!
Chapter 2
The Library's Corner!
In third grade, my language teacher noticed my avid interest in stories. Every time I finished an assignment, she asked me if I wanted to spend the remaining time in the classroom's library corner. There I devoured countless books. One of my biggest interests was learning how things and beings came to be. I discovered that every culture explains the world differently in accounts today called Myths and Legends. Since then, my collection of Latin American Folktales has grown quite a bit. Check my library here.
An excellent way to encourage reading is to explore the child's interests. In the storytelling shows "Clever and Naughty Fellows" and "Fish Tales of Fins and Whales," the little ones learn how the elephants got their trunks, why the whales live in the ocean, and much more! Find out here.
Are your kiddos more interested in giants, heroes, old myths, and ghosts? Here are my programs for 3rd to 5th graders, where they get to participate and act!
Chapter 3
My first Storytelling
One day, in middle school, we were given an assignment: learn about the Vikings! I loved it so much that I dove into their history. On the test day, I was confident in what I had learned. But soon, I realized that some of my classmates needed help. They gathered, and I recounted to them Viking stories. I'm pleased to say that we all passed the test!
When we listen to stories, we exercise our imagination. Still, when we retell them, we develop confidence, improve our vocabulary, and practice summarization. In the workshop "Retelling the Old Tales," the students explore retelling old myths with a twist. Take a look!
Learning about other cultures expands our horizons and perspectives. The shows "From Xibalba to the Moon" and "The Hungry Goddess and the Last King" teach the fascinating lore of the great Maya and the Aztecs. Learn more here.
Are your students interested in intrepid teen heroes? Or is it time for a ghost tale? Explore the shows I can bring to your school!
Chapter 4
Capturing an audience
We were given a group assignment in our literature class in high school. Every group had to read and retell a book to the classroom. We were assigned: "Pedro Páramo" by the Mexican Juan Rulfo. The book has a unique narrative style that most experts recommend reading twice. ​My group agreed to split the storytelling. Each would be telling one section. On the day of the presentation, I was ready! After I shared my part, the classroom asked me to continue. That day I tasted the magic of capturing an audience!
Would you like to spice up your storytelling time? Join me in the workshop "Tame the Lion, Enchant the Snake," where we explore breaking out a story and finding moments for active engagement and participation. Learn more.
Are you intrigued by Latin American literature? My bilingual podcast Tres Cuentos explores Latin America's narratives and histories. Listen to it here.
Chapter 5
Tall but True Tales
Most Colombians grew up watching a Mexican comedy called "El Chavo del Ocho," about a kid who would get in all sorts of funny situations due to his naivety or imagination. Later, when something almost unbelievable happened to me, I heard my friends saying, "Carolina, that would only happen to you and El Chavo del Ocho."
Did you know that one of my biggest childhood fear was that a shark could land in my shower? And while growing up, I watched cartoons so much that they became a central part of my childhood. These and other stories of ghosts infesting a school and a band of flies founding the first cowboy-fly town in Texas are part of the shows I offer to family and adult audiences. Read more.
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Chapter 6
The Day of the Dead
Little I knew about the Mexican celebration of the dead when I came to the U.S. Although we also dedicate a day to the departed ones in Colombia and other Latin American countries, it still does not compare to El Día de los Muertos. Learn more about the history, traditions, and stories the living tell about the dead. Check my show here!
One Mexican tradition practiced during Día de los Muertos is writing Calaveras. The living dedicates these funny verses to the memory of those "who have not yet" reached the other side. Join me in the "Calaveras Literarias" workshop, where we learn to write inspiring and joyful verses! Find out more here.
