ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Storyteller Len Cabral performs for students at Hadley Elementary School.
By LEAH DEARBORN
SWAMPSCOTT — Don’t ever go into the woods.
That’s how storyteller Len Cabral began his tale on Wednesday at Hadley Elementary School about a young girl and her capture by a creature called a Gunniwolf.
Cabral specializes in verbal storytelling, using sounds and theatrical gestures to communicate events to his young audience.
Students were eager participants in the narrative, singing when prompted and making slapping noises to imitate running.
When Cabral said, “The door had three old, rusty hinges on it. They sounded like —” The crowd of students responded with a unanimous “SCREEECH!”
Debi Ardon, a literacy specialist at the school, said Cabral’s performance was timed to coincide with Read Across America Day today, an annual nationwide initiative.
“One of the important things about Len is that he’s so multicultural,” said Ardon. “He opens up the world to the kids.”
Cabral is the great-grandson of a Cape Verdean whaler whose grandparents immigrated to America from the islands off the coast of West Africa, according to his website.
The retelling of African, Cape Verdean and Caribbean folktales as well as original stories from around the world are part of his routine.
Cabral said that growing up, he was heavily influenced by teachers who read aloud to him. He started telling stories of his own while working at a daycare center in the early 1970s.
“The teachers we remember best are always the ones who tell stories,” he said.
Amanda White’s kindergarten class gave Cabral’s show a thumbs up.
“You use your imagination,” said student Siena Postizzi.
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Ardon said the school has plans to continue celebrating Read Across America Day today by inviting parents into classrooms to read.
Since March 2 is also the birthday of Dr. Seuss, students will show up to school dressed as their favorite characters from his books.
A few years ago, Gov. Charlie Baker participated by reading from “Green Eggs and Ham” at Hadley. They’ve also had visits from firefighters and police officers in the past.
“You’d think the fourth-graders are too grown up, but they love rereading their old favorites,” said Ardon.
Leah Dearborn can be reached at [email protected].
