Eshu Bumpus captivates his audience by telling a variety of African, African-American and World folktales leavened with music, humor and mystery. Eshu is a renowned storyteller, an accomplished jazz vocalist and a master at physical characterization. He has performed on the Exchange Place stage at the National Festival (1998), and performed 36 sold out shows in 13 days at the Smithsonian (1997). After appearing at the 10th Annual Connecticut Storytelling Festival (1991), Eshu was acclaimed as, "...a fresh, responsible and knowledgeable voice... distinct and compelling... the hit of the Festival."

Eshu partners with Asian Storyteller, Motoko, who we were lucky to have at last year's festival. Eshu's creative writing workshop is one that insists on originality and non-violence, helping students to realize their potential to create excellent stories.

Steve Roslonek of SteveSongs has been writing and performing his award-winning music for kids and families for the past ten years. Steve blends participatory songs, clever stories and great melodies to create what the Boston Globe called "not just a musical journey but an entertaining, interactive and educational one."

A rising star on the national kids' music scene, Steve has delighted audiences throughout the country, including at prestigious venues like Symphony Space in New York City, Wolftrap in Vienna VA, the Kennedy Center and the White House in Washington, D.C., and Fenway Park in Boston. Anyone who's attended a SteveSongs concert appreciates Steve's ability to connect with his audience - from the exuberant children flocking towards the stage, to the moms bouncing babies with the beat, to the parents and grandparents singing and grooving along. It's no wonder he's been called a modern day Pied Piper! You can catch Steve on your local PBS TV station on weekday mornings.

Andrea Wright continues to be a favorite at WES and will join WAW again this year with her BOOKS ALIVE! program. She will bring 4 picture books to life with costumes, student participation, and incredible acting talent.

We will let you know when her anticipated titles have been chosen.

Wright will give two performances: one for area preschoolers and Side-by-Side students, and the other for our kindergarten and first grade students. Andrea has been with us since WAW's inception.

Elise Broach comes to us from Connecticut and is an author of picture books, middle grade and young adult novels. Hiding Hoover, Wet Dog, and What the No-Good Baby is Good For were her first published works.

Shakespeare's Secret, Elise's first novel, brought together her fascination of history, her love of Shakespeare, and her sudden immersion in small-town politics. Her subsequent novels, Desert Crossing and 2008 release, Masterpiece, have earned her numerous awards from Publisher's Weekly, the Junior Library Guild and other organizations. Her picture book entitled, When Dinosaurs Came With Everything, earned her Time Magazine's #1 Children's Book Award of 2007.

At WES Elise will complement our school's dedication and commitment to the fourth grade students' annual collaboration with Shakespeare & Company by sharing her unique presentation entitled, "Art of a Mystery: Shakespeare's Secret and Masterpiece." Please join us to encourage students to read these two novels as summer reading choices in anticipation of her visit.

Well known author of over 20 picture books, Helen Lester returns to WES as one of our absolute favorites! Her loveable, humorous characters include Tacky the Penguin, A Porcupine named Fluffy, and award winning Hooway for Wodney Wat, as well as many others. Her spring '09 release is Tacky Goes to Camp, and will be followed by Tacky's Christmas in 2010.

Helen last visited with us in 2001 and is thrilled to be joining us again to share her passion and talent in the world of children's literature. Her presentation will highlight her latest book from the earliest stage to its final product showing that writing is clearly a process.

Crispina ffrench and Storey Publishing join us to celebrate and share Crispina's new book, The Sweater Chop Shop: Sewing One-of-a-Kind Creations from Recycled Sweaters.

Her artistic talent is used in her studio in Pittsfield, MA where she teaches workshops. She'll share her techniques and passion as she introduces our visitors to the beautiful possibilities found in old sweaters: "re-cycle, re-create, re-enjoy!" Crispina is developing The Alchemy Initiative, an urban model of sustainability and community.

The Bennington Children's Chorus was established in 1987 with the purpose of giving children in Vermont's Bennington County and the surrounding areas of New York and Massachusetts the opportunity to study and perform the finest choral literature written for the treble voice. As part of their classical music education, children are exposed to many styles of choral music, including folk music and newly composed works. The chorus is committed to providing quality music instruction which develops each singer's vocal ability, by creating an environment in which children can experience the joy of singing, develop confidence and become a vital part of a musical team.

Erik E. Esckilsen is the author of three novels for young readers, The Outside Groove (2006), Offsides (2004), and The Last Mall Rat (2003). His writing often draws on experiences he enjoyed (or didn't) as a teenager growing up in South Burlington, Vermont - selling shoes at the local mall, playing high school soccer, driving recklessly, and hanging out and doing nothing much by rivers, ponds, and lakes. In his (many) post-teen years, he has driven a cab, played guitar in bands, taught college writing, and worked as a journalist.

His articles on arts and entertainment have appeared in such publications as the Boston Globe, Entertainment Weekly, and Seven Days. He lives, writes, and teaches in Burlington, Vermont.

A professional performance poet since 1997, Roger has appeared three times on Russell Simmons' Def Poetry Jam on HBO, performed and facilitated writing and performance workshops at colleges, universities and high schools around the country, and stirred audiences at festivals and concerts from Germany to South Africa to Alaska.