History came to life at the Pine Bush Elementary Library Media Center on March 21 as acclaimed storyteller Jonathan Kruk visited fourth and fifth grade students and brought his unique approach to history.

Fourth graders were treated to New York Lore, with stories of the Empire State’s unique history, including Native American wisdom, Dutch, British and French influences and the Turning Point of the American Revolution.

Students heard about and saw a performance of quintessential New York stories making our state’s heritage memorable. Students had visits from Henry Hudson, Peter Stuyvesant, Anne Hutchinson, Alexander Hamilton, Robert Fulton, Washington Irving, Sybil Luddington, Sojourner Truth, the Roosevelts, Pete Seeger, Franny Reese and others.

Fifth grade students heard Tales of the Americas, a storytelling program featuring stories from Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

The Rainbow Pony is an adventure fairy tale from Mexico via Spain of a corn farmer who enlists his sons to stop the destruction of his fields. One son tries muscle, the other smarts. 

Davy Crockett and the Frozen Sun is an American tall tale performed by Kruk. Davy must free the frozen sun and move old man winter on.  He takes three exaggerated steps to accomplish his quest. 

The Fiddler of the Northern Lights is a Canadian story of a mysterious man who appears with a midnight violin. His playing moves more than those on the dance floor.

The students were engaged with the storyteller, said PBE librarian Lisa Ruyack.

“The students really loved it.  They were enthralled for an hour during each session,” said Ruyack. ”Kruk really is a master storyteller and keeps the audience in the palm of his hand as he spins stories that ignite your imagination.”