🔍 2027 CSLP Theme: "Mysteries Await at Your Library" · Now booking 2027 & 2028 · See 2027 programs →
Summer Reading Program
A mystery comes to life right before your eyes — drawn live on stage while kids draw along and try to crack the case.
Program overview
For 2027, an eccentric artiste draws a mystery live — kids draw along as suspects appear and clues pile up, trying to crack the case before the final picture is finished. Children are invited to draw along as the tale unfolds, creating their own illustrations to match the story. This one-of-a-kind performance encourages creativity, storytelling, and artistic expression.
Story Doodles is a natural fit for summer reading programs because it makes the connection between literacy and creativity tangible — kids aren't just watching a story, they're illustrating it.
What happens
As kids arrive, they each get a sheet of paper and crayons or markers. Joe introduces himself and the story — and right away gives everyone their first drawing prompt. The energy is immediate: kids are engaged before they even realize the show has started.
The story begins. Joe draws on a large pad or easel at the front of the room while narrating, building the world one image at a time. Unexpected plot turns arrive along with new prompts — a new character, a surprising setting, a moment that could go any direction.
At key moments, Joe holds up kids' drawings and incorporates them into the story — reacting with delight, surprise, or mock horror at what the audience has created. By the end, every child holds up their finished illustration as the story reaches its resolution. The room is full of art that didn't exist an hour ago.
Educational connections
Mysteries are told in clues, and Story Doodles turns every clue into a picture. Kids have to listen closely, notice details, and put the pieces together — the same skills that make strong mystery readers.
For 2027: For "Mysteries Await," Story Doodles becomes a live mystery — kids draw the crime scene, the suspects, and the final reveal as the detective story unfolds in real time. See 2027 programming →
Show details
Setup note: Story Doodles works best when kids can be seated at tables or on the floor with a hard surface to draw on. Joe brings paper and supplies — just have the seating arranged.
What librarians say
"Story Doodles was unlike anything we've offered before. Half of our kids checked out drawing books afterward. It was the best literacy program we ran all summer."— Children's Librarian, Oklahoma
Photo gallery
Also available
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Thank you! We'll review your request and reach out within 24 hours to confirm availability and discuss your dates. We look forward to bringing the magic to your library!