They must have heard the story a hundred times or more in their short lives, but this time they're not listening to Mom and Dad. They're listening to Mark Binder, a profesional storyteller who speaks with animation and excitement. When Goldielocks eats Baby Bear's porriage, Mom and Dad would say "... so she ate it ALLLL UP!" When Mark tells the story, he grips the imaginary bowl in greedy girl hands and scoops the invisible porriage into his mouth with "yum-yum-yum-yum-yum-yum-yum" noises, finally squeegie-ing the last of the porriage out of the bowl with two fingers and licking the fingers clean.

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And at the end, after Baby Bear whispers conspiritorially to his parents that someone had been sleeping in his bed, "and there she is", the story doesn't end with Goldielocks escaping back into the forest. Instead, the Bears discuss eating the girl before eventualy deciding to make her work off her transgressions; fixing a new meal for the bears, making the beds, and repairing the chairs.

Mark's additions and animation make the tried-and-true story more than a bedtime story, he makes it an event for his audience of a dozen children.

Mark tells familiar stories like The Three Pigs, and some not quite familar. The story of a not-so-smart man who buys a dozen donkeys, but can't seem to keep track of them on the way home is a classic story from the Near East. Other stories are completely original, like his stories of idential twins, the brothers Sclemiel, or his story, "The Tale of Bad Breath Bill".

He even has a set of stories about Rhode Island. If you're lucky, you might catch him on the day he tells his stories about quahogger "Diggah Dan" and "Cyril the Seagull", explains about clam cakes and "chowdah", and spins a yarn about how Roger Williams defeated the Big Blue Bugs.

No matter what story he tells, the kids love listening, even when he tells the story of Mister Boring whose biggest problem is that his paper didn't get delivered one morning. Mister Boring's problems might not be exciting, but Mark Binder's stories are not in the least bit boring.

Mark is the author of four books, including The Everything Bedtime Story Book, a collection of 100 stories for kids of all ages. He has also released three audio recordings, Classic Stories for Boys and Girls, Tall Tales Whoppers and Lies, and The Brothers Schlemiel -- From Birth to Bar Mitzvah. He tells stories throughout Rhode Island, both in private functions like birthday parties and in public venues like Brite Nite Providence and in libraries and bookstores. You can visit Mark Binder online at www.markbinder.com where there is a schedule of his appearances and a lot more samples of his storytelling. You can also call him at 401-272-8707 if you'd like to schedule an appearance.

About the author, Paul Pence: Not a life-long Rhode Islander, Paul got to Rhode Island as fast as he could. He has 25 years of writing experience and numerous publication credits including the Providence Journal, the East Greenwich Magazine, Weissmann Travel Reports, Travel Lady Magazine, Jackhammer, Your Skin and Sun, TravelNotes, TexWoman, and many others.

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