Storyteller Norfolk returns to share African-American tales

Award-winning storyteller Bobby Norfolk is returning to Hawaii to share “Anansi the Spider” and other African-American folktales, legends and true stories as part of the Hawaii State Public Library System’s celebration of Black History Month.

Norfolk, who grew up in St. Louis, Mo., won three regional Emmy awards as the host of children’s television show “Gator Tales,” which aired in the Midwest in the late 1980s and 1990s, and was honored with the National Storytelling Network’s Circle of Excellence Award in 2009.

Public libraries are offering suggested book lists for readers of all ages to learn about African-American history and culture, and can share information on notable African-Americans of Hawaii.

Norfolk’s 45-minute performances are free and recommended for ages 5 and older:

>> Kailua-Kona Public Library, 9:30 a.m. Thursday

>> Hilo Public Library, 3 p.m. Thursday

>> Kahului Public Library, 11 a.m. Friday

>> Kihei Public Library, 3:30 p.m. Friday

>> Hawaii State Library, 10:30 a.m. Saturday

>> Mililani Public Library, 3 p.m. Saturday

>> Pearl City Public Library, 10:30 a.m. Sunday

>> Kaneohe Public Library, 3 p.m., Sunday

The programs are sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i and the University of Hawaii at Manoa Outreach College’s Statewide Cultural Extension Program with additional funding from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and UH.