Alan Irvine's Storytelling Programs

   For 2026 Summer Reading Club

Each year Alan designs programs around the theme of the year’s Summer Reading Club – usually versions for younger audiences, older listeners, even teens and adults

For Summer Reading Club’s Unearth a Story:

Unearth a Story: Stories are everywhere and even the most ordinary of people can do the most extraordinary things. Stories from all around the world of everyday people solving riddles, outwitting monsters, rescuing the innocent, discovering treasure and creating the most marvelous of tales.

Dragons: the Original Dinosaurs: When ancient peoples discovered the bones of the great beasts we call dinosaurs, they thought of them as the remains of mighty dragons – fire-breathing, storm-bringing, greedy and powerful. Around the world, people have told tales of battles and struggles with these fearsome beasts. Enter into the world of Dragons with a program of classic dragon tales.

For America’s 250th:

American Folktales: Folk Tales and Legends from across America and across our history. Tall tale heroes like John Henry and Pecos Bill, strange creatures like hoop snakes and whickles, engaging characters like gentlemen bandits, crazy inventors, and more!

Pennsylvania’s Forgotten History: Tales of the ordinary people and events that created our state. Tales of canal boats and railroads, of the frontier and the oil patch, of spies, opera stars, duelists and villains. Explore the rich tapestry of Pennsylvania’s history.

Western Pennsylvania in the Revolutionary Era: Stories of life in the late 1700s out on the frontier. Tales of the French and Indian War and Pontiac’s War, of raids in the night and the struggle to survive, of Virginia’s Invasion of Pittsburgh, of the dramatic uprising of the Whiskey Rebellion, and Pittsburgh’s rise as the Gateway to the West.

American Ghost Stories: Chilling tales from the colonial era up to today, from the Outer Banks to the deserts of Nevada. Ghosts seeking revenge, swamp monsters hunting a meal, the newly deceased just trying to find some rest. Explore America’s supernatural side.

 Folktales and Legends of the World

Including folktales from 

United States

Western Europe

Eastern Europe

Central Asia

East Asia

Middle East

Africa

Latin America

Good for Diversity programs

Irish and Celtic

Folktales, legends, Celtic myths from Ireland, Scotland, Wales

Ghost Stories

Of various levels of scariness- from mildly scary and humorous for young listeners– to appropriate for all ages- to very scary-adults only

Stories of King Arthur

And other medieval era tales

Pennsylvania History Stories

Non-fiction tales of
The French and Indian War
The Whiskey Rebellion
The Keelboat era on the Ohio
The Civil War
The Homestead Strike
Pennsylvania’s Forgotten History

Shakespeare

Adaptations of many of Shakespeare’s plays including
Romeo and Juliet
Macbeth
A Midsummer Night’s Dream

And comic Quick Versions of many plays

Greek Myths

Holiday Stories

Alan is always happy to work with you to develop the program and theme that works for you. With a repertoire of several hundred stories, Alan can come up with what you need.

All programs are live. Questions and interaction are encouraged.

updated 2/15/2026