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Reviews

"Your choice of songs, your musicianship and your knowledge of appropriate materials for our audience of young preschoolers was perfect! The pacing was just right for the very little ones, as well as the 4-5 years olds. We especially valued your use of rhyme and repetition – both for the children and their English language learning parents.

Wonderful and lively music, (you are) an engaging and entertaining performer whose breadth and depth of musical knowledge and child development gives (you) the ability to adapt to a varied audience of children and their families – you’ve got it all! And it’s so much fun!!! We look forward to your next performance here."

— Laurie Peck, Children's Librarian, Mountain View Public Library, Mountain View, CA

"Adults and children all loved your happy, upbeat performance, saying, 'When will she be back?!'"

— Linda Herschenfeld, Children's Librarian, Port Jefferson, New York

"Thank you again for the two wonderful shows you did here at the Foster City Library! Your morning program was a huge hit with our toddler crowd! The show included the perfect mixture of music and movement. Parents and caregivers were thrilled with your ability to capture and keep the attention of a room full of 1-3 year olds. The evening performance for older kids was equally successful, with kids dancing and singing along. Parents were delighted with the show and your unique ability to involve the audience (children and parents alike). I am looking forward to having you perform at the Foster City Library again!"

— Amy Hroziencik, Youth Services Librarian, Foster City Library, Foster City, CA

Choose from the following programs!

Summer Reading Program

• Dream Big - Read (Adaptable to all age ranges)
  Join national award-winning, singer/songwriter, and Gentle Wind recording artist, Pam Donkin, in an entertaining and humorous show with the Summer Reading theme, Dream Big! Pam's guitar, colorful scarves and a fascinating collection of percussion instruments make her show distinctive and appealing to children and parents alike. Drawn by Pam's irresistibly warm, friendly voice, charismatic style, humor and over 25 years performing experience, children and parents will joyfully clap, sing and dance along!

Baby Music Show

• Planting Seeds of Love (ages: infant-12 months)
  Learn how to encourage bonding and musical response with baby in this musical workshop for parents/caregivers and baby. Babies are never too young for music! After all, most begin hearing, in utero, around the 4th month. The same way they are learning the language of their culture they can also learn music. When surrounded by music they actually begin reacting and trying to make music with you! Learn how to recognize and encourage that playful exchange. Begin planting seeds of love and music in your baby's life in this informative and loving workshop facilitated by Pam Donkin. Bring a blanket to sit or lay baby down on.

Toddler Activity Songs Show

• A Hop, Skip, and a Jump (toddlers & preschoolers)
  Encourage brain development and literacy in this interactive and fun musical program geared to toddlers and their adults. Join award-winning, singer/songwriter, and A Gentle Wind recording artist, Pam Donkin as she leads songs, chants, fingerplays and movement activities that help with reading-readiness, encouraging bonding and musical response. Participants will also experience the joy of music-making with scarves and active movement. Drawn by Pam's irresistibly warm, friendly voice and charismatic performance style, families will want to sing along, clap along and dance along as this musical wizard works her magic and pulls giggles and tickles out of her hat.

• Grammy and Me (toddlers & preschoolers)
  A special program for Grandparents (Grammy and Gramps) and their baby or toddler grandchildren to sing, move, laugh and connect with each other, musically, through familiar childhood songs and new favorites. Led by award-winning singer/songwriter and Gentle Wind recording artists, Pam Donkin and her irresistibly warm, friendly voice, and knowledge of child music development, participants will experience the pure joy that music-making together can bring and make memories that will last a lifetime.
  

Mixed Ages Music Shows

• Love to Sing (ages: 2-8) Join award-winning, singer/songwriter, and Gentle Wind recording artist, Pam Donkin as she connects movement to language in this interactive and engaging music show for children and their families. Drawn by Pam's irresistibly warm, friendly voice and charismatic performance style, families will experience the joy of music-making with scarves and active movement, singing and dancing to upbeat original and traditional songs the entire family will enjoy!

• Music in a Multi-Cultural World (ages: 5-9)
  Join award-winning, singer/songwriter, and Gentle Wind recording artist, Pam Donkin in a delightful and interactive musical trip around the world. With her guitar and a fascinating variety of global percussion instruments, Pam will help the children learn some words in various languages as they sing! Drawn by Pam's irresistibly warm, friendly voice, charismatic style, and over 20 years performing experience, children will take part in the music-making, singing and dancing to upbeat songs the entire family will enjoy!

• Kitchen Jam (ages: 2-4, or 2-8)
  Get out the spoons, get out the pans, we're going to have a kitchen jam! In this fun and interactive program Pam and participants will sing songs about food and the kitchen! She will bring along a box of kitchen implements that will become "instruments" and audience members will be able to play them or shaker eggs. Elementary age audience members will also learn to play the spoons, using plastic spoons!

• Friendship Stew with a Cup of Character (ages: 5-9)
  This interactive show complements the school's character education program. Character traits are the ingredients in Pam's Friendship Stew, par excellence! With humor and music, this popular program also addresses respect for ourselves, our friendships and the world around us.

Workshops for Librarians

• Singable Storytime Songs This participatory workshop is for Story Time librarians and includes songs from Pam's recent Parents’ Choice Approved CD, "A Hop, Skip, and a Jump, Activity Songs for the Very Young". Of Pam's new CD, School Library Journal says: "Pam Donkin reminds us that play is child's work on her latest recording. Librarians will appreciate adding "Hello My Friends" Time to Say Goodbye", "Little Red Train," "Gotta Get the Beat," "It Rained All Day," "Five Woodpeckers," and other songs to story time. A great choice for libraries and day care facilities."

  "Pam Donkin's songs inspire all kinds of activity. Whether urging listeners to "Clap Your Hands Now," inviting them to join a "Kitchen Jam," or insisting they "Gotta Get the Beat," Donkin both leads and leaves room for creative movement."

  —American Library Association Booklist