
Children's Story: Adventures with Duende in the Ocean
ADVENTURES WITH DUENDE IN THE OCEAN is a story of an elf who takes a boy on a journey into the ocean. It’s the 1st in a new series of adventures that are about honoring and caring for our Mother Earth, and includes letters from animals in the ocean that children will be asked to write back to (or, if younger, they can draw). This story is made up of 13 beautifully illustrated story cards presented in the Japanese Kamishibai format that was used to tell Japanese Folk Tales inside small box stages in the parks in the 1930s. This format offers children 5 years and up a chance to become theatrical storytellers; provides parents and teachers an interactive approach to storytelling; teaches children about the earth (with letters from animals included); and it invites our youngsters to become earth stewards (through future Duende Clubs). It may even inspire your child to create their own story and cards! For more info. on purchasing your own story or on storytelling events, contact the Author at writeaway@hotmail.com.
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"Nico was certain that the little man was real. He was as real and bright as the stars in the sky when he arrived in the boy’s dreams smelling of salt and sand."
--Adventures with Duende in the Ocean

The Children's Hour Radio Program
Adventures with Duende in the Ocean was recorded live with Katie Stone on The Children's Hour, an international radio program for children, on Saturday, December 18, 2021. Credit to: The Children’s Hour Inc producers Katie Stone & Christina Stella.
Here's a link to its airing on the Children's Hour:
https://www.childrenshour.org/tell-me-a-story/. My story begins at 25:38 and finishes as 37:40.

2022 NM, Storytelling Events:
April 23, 9-12 a.m.:
Neighborhood Nature Festival,
Open Space Event, Phil Chacon Park, 7600 Southern Ave SE, ALBQ.
May 21, 9-12 a.m.:
Neighborhood Nature Festival,
Open Space Event, Alamosa Park,
1100 Bataan Dr. SW, ALBQ.
June 18, 9-12 a.m.:
Neighborhood Nature Festival,
Open Space Event, Phil Chacon Park, 7600 Southern Ave SE, ALBQ.
June 25, TIME to be determined:
Bachechi Open Space
9521 Rio Grande Blvd. NE ALBQ.
July 16, 9-12 a.m.:
Neighborhood Nature Festival,
Open Space Event, Alamosa Park,
1100 Bataan Dr. SW, ALBQ.
July 9, 11:30 a.m.:
Santa Fe Library, Southside, Santa Fe
August 27, 9-12 a.m.:
Neighborhood Nature Festival,
Open Space Event, Phil Chacon Park,
7600 Southern Ave SE, ALBQ.
Sept. 24, 9-12 a.m.:
Neighborhood Nature Festival, Alamosa Park
*If you are interested in scheduling a storytelling event, please contact me at:
505 923 0649 OR writeaway@hotmail.com OR duendeadventures@gmail.com.
2022 WORKSHOPS
Storytelling from the Earth
June 22-July 27th, 2022:
(6 online classes, 2 hours each Wed.)
4p.m. PST, 7p.m. EST
with OMEC (Olympic Mountain Earthwisdom Circle)
During 2 hr. classes for six weeks, join me on a special storytelling adventure! The objective of this class is to expand our imagination in relationship to nature and discover how to create and tell stories that serve as teaching tools for children and our playful soul. Whether you’re a parent, grandparent, teacher, a soulful wanderer or you want to create children’s stories centered on nature, this class is designed to be a dynamic journey that serves our earth and children.
For more information or to sign up, visit OMEC's website: https://www.eomec.org/storytelling_workshop.html
INSTITUTO CERVANTES SUMMER CAMP w/ storytelling
July 9th-29th, Alb., New Mexico
See the Instituto Cervante's website for more details:
https://albuquerque.cervantes.es/en/cervanteskids_spanish/spanish_summer_camp_children.htm
TESTIMONIALS:
Michelle Adam captivates kids with her unique storytelling artistry. In our work together for The Children’s Hour radio show and podcast, she was able to pivot her performance to audio only, and the results were masterful (https://www.childrenshour.org/tell-me-a-story/).
During our broadcast recording, Michelle engaged with our "Kids Crew" of intrepid journalists aged 5 to 18. She was able to explain the puppetry style and rich cultural history of this art form, as well as the meaning of the story and its own place in our compendium of ancient folktales. I can only imagine how much more our Kids Crew would have gotten from the experience, if not for the pandemic keeping us on Zoom. I highly recommend Michelle Adam for any program that would provide lucky students the opportunity to work side by side with such a creative and groundbreaking artist.
Katie Stone
Executive Producer
The Children’s Hour
505-850-3751
@TCHradio
"Michelle took us on a unique story adventure captivating us with her elf puppet, Duende and the beautiful storybook set up in a little mobile theater from the Japanese Kamishibai tradition. I had never seen this type of theater set up and loved seeing the children's delight as they followed the story. Being outside in the Railyard park made it even more magical."
Juliet Staveley
Early Childhood Educator
Railyard Park Conservancy
Santa Fe, NM
2021 NM, Storytelling Events:
June 15, 3:30-4:30:
Children's Adventure Company, Santa Fe
June 21, 10:30-12 p.m.
Mountain View Community Center, ALBQ
June 23, 2:00-4:45 p.m.
Mesa Verde Community Center, ALBQ
June 26, 10:00-12:00 p.m.
Santa Fe Railyard Market, Santa Fe
June 29, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Vista Grande Community Center, East Mtn.
July 3, 10:00-12:00 p.m.
Santa Fe Railyard Market, Santa Fe
July 6, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., 1:00-3:00 p.m. Las Padillas Community Center, ALBQ
Westside Community Center, ALBQ
July 14, 5:30-6:30 p.m.
River Talks Event, Santa Fe
July 17, 9:00 a.m.-10:15 p.m.
Bachechi Open Space, ALBQ
July 18, 9:45-11:00 a.m.
Albuquerque Open Space, ALBQ.
July 31, 9:45-11:00 a.m.
Albuquerque Open Space, ALBQ.
August 7, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Santa Fe Railyard Market, Santa Fe
August 14, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Rio Grande Nature Center, ALBQ, NM
October 9, 12:30 p.m, ALBQ, NM
Albuquerque Folk Festival, Bosque School
October 24, 1:00 p.m, ALBQ, NM
Elena Gallegos Open Space Amphitheatre
Nov. 20, 11:30 a.m, ALBQ, NM
Oralidad Festival, Cervantes Institute, National Hispanic Cultural Center (in Spanish)
Dec. 18, 9-10 a.m, KUNM, NM
My children's story, Adventures with Duende in the Ocean, will air on The Children's Hour radio program on Sat. from 9-10 on KUNM in NM, and on nationwide radio programs. Check it out! https://www.childrenshour.org/tell-me-a-story/
*If you are interested in scheduling a storytelling event, please contact me at:
505 923 0649 OR writeaway@hotmail.com OR duendeadventures@gmail.com.
Duende Letters:
Check out these amazing letters written by children to the animals of the ocean! Click here to see more letters from different children:





"Mr. Squirt flipped the two up and up, sending them to the ocean’s surface and then back down."
Adventures with Duende in the Ocean
Purchase your own Story Cards:
This includes:
-13 beautifully illustrated Kamishibai cards (15" x 10.5" each)
- Behind each illustration is the side-by-side bilingual (in English and Spanish) story of Adventures with Duende in the Ocean.

- The writing on the back is big enough to use for storytelling and includes speaking notes for the storyteller.
- Each story card set includes 5 letters written from the ocean animals presented in the story.
- Children are invited to write or draw back to the animals and send letters to them (Duende, the ocean elf, will hand deliver the letters to the animals, and some of the children's select letters will be posted on this website (on the Duende Letters Page).
PRICE: For only $29.50 (shipping to be determined, or, if local, it can be delivered in person to save on shipping. Please email me at writeaway@hotmail.com)
Purchase your Unique Flip Book:
This includes:
-13 beautifully illustrated pages (10" x 7 3/4" each)
with the bilingual story on the back side of the flip part of the book.
-Can be hand-held for bedtime storytelling or stand up on it's own on a table.

-Includes 5 letters written from the ocean animals presented in the story. Children write back and learn about the animals.
PRICE: For only $22.00. Media mail or regular mail prices offered.
TESTIMONIALS:
“Michelle’s Duende stories are a delight for children and adults alike! Through these adventures, listeners are exposed to our oceans and forests, as well as new geographical locations. The Duende stories also weave in science, naturalist knowledge, and lessons of empathy, all delivered in a child-friendly way. And perhaps most importantly, these Duende stories remind us of the sacredness of natural world and offer invitation to reconnect with this world."
Sally Stevens, MA
SOL Forest School Director
ANFT Shinrin Yoku Forest & Nature Guide
Michelle Adam is a dynamic and highly engaging storyteller. When she presented at our outdoor venue last season, she delighted folks of all ages with her unique way of telling a story! The artwork in her Kamishibai box is mesmerizing and she brings the story to life with charisma. Adults and kids alike were smiling ear to ear, participating every chance they could. Her method is not a sit and get passive experience either—you feel like you walk away with a new friend in Duende, the main character, even writing him a letter at the end of the story.”
Marnie Rehn
Bachechi Open Space Caretaker
Cottonwood Gulch Outdoor Educator






































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