STORYTELLING BY AMBASSADOR HERBOLD
May 23, 2007

Ambassador Patricia Herbold held a storytelling session at Jurong Regional Library with fifty children from the National Library Board’s kidsREAD program and the Jamiyah Children’s Home on Wednesday, May 23, 2007. Ambassador Herbold treated the children, aged 5 to 8, to three of her grandchildren’s favorite stories: Curious George Flies a Kite, Koala Lou, and Angelina Ballerina. Ambassador Herbold emphasized the importance of school and of reading to the children and answered their questions, then joined the children in an enthusiastic rendition of "the itsy bitsy spider" to close the lively morning.

The Ambassador’s storytelling event highlights the strong connection between the U.S. Embassy and the National Library Board (NLB). Jurong Regional Library hosts one of three "American Connections" located in NLB libraries. The American Connection sites provide Singaporeans with American books and other resources not available elsewhere in Singapore, and regularly host American speakers and performers. The kidsREAD program, a joint initiative by the NLB and the People’s Association, fosters a love of learning and good reading habits among low-income children. The embassy’s Office of Public Affairs has provided a collection of picture books on America’s history and culture for each of fifty kidsREAD Reading Clubs located throughout Singapore. The Jamiyah Children’s Home, another programming partner for the embassy, provides a holistic residential program for orphans and disadvantaged Singaporean children, regardless of race or religion.