What People Say About John ...
"Bravo! A tour de force."
- Michael Morpurgo
"John Harris is 'The Urban Storyteller' - quite unlike any other storyteller you`ve ever heard and quite wonderful."
- Malcolm Burgess, Literature Development Officer for Essex
"Spellbinding - there`s no other word to describe it!"
- Alleyn`s Junior School, Dulwich
"The best special event this school has ever had -
you`ll have to come again!"
- St. Clere`s School, Stanford le Hope
"John is a fantastic storyteller. He makes everything he says sound as if it's true, even if it isn't. If you've been dithering over whether to have a visitor or not, then stop right now and invite John Harris!"
- Chafford Hundred Campus
"What a gift you have!"
- Dulwich College Junior School
"They were hanging on your every word - as always!"
- St. Cedd`s School, Bradwell on Sea
"I`ve never seen so many children with their jaws on the floor!"
- Holy Family School, Benfleet
"It`s almost as if there are pictures in the air around you while you`re telling the stories."
- Bickley Park School, Bromley
"Sometimes when people come to the school you know the children have had a good time, but when the dust has settled you wonder what they really got out of it. With you there`s no question - the whole school is buzzing!"
- Kennett County Primary School, Suffolk
"The girls have sung your praises ever since - many thanks."
- The Mount School, Mill Hill
"The best stories we`ve heard for a long, long time!"
- Yerbury Primary School, Islington
"You had them hooked from the start... it`s absolutely inspired them! I cannot imagine a better start to these childrens` secondary education than the inspiration you`ve given them - thank you so much!"
- Gable Hall School, Thurrock
"That they sat for an hour and just listened says everything: they loved it!"
- Colchester Pupil Referral Unit
"This man is a master storyteller!"
- Deb Jacks, Librarian, Deanes School, Benfleet
"You`ll never be as rich as J K Rowling, but when you tell your stories you touch kids` lives in a way she can only dream about."
- New Hall School, Boreham
"Absolutely brilliant! Can you come again next year?"
- Arbury Primary, Cambridge
"I shouldn`t say this `cos you`ll probably double your fees, but you are without doubt the best value for money we`ve ever had from any visitor to this school."
- Streatham Hill and Clapham High School for Girls
"Both your stories and your storytelling have already become legendary and everyone wants to know if you can come again soon."
- Elstree School, Reading
"Fantastic!"
- Hockley Primary School, Essex
"Absolutely fantastic - they have thoroughly enjoyed every minute!"
- Holy Family RC Primary School, Witham
"It`s not just that you tell the stories so brilliantly, you pitch them so perfectly at the age group, and that`s such a rare skill."
- Maldon Court Prep School, Maldon
"The best start to the Book Week we could possibly have had!"
- Petham Primary, Canterbury
"Wonderful stories, perfectly told!"
- James Oglethorpe Primary, Havering.
"They were enraptured!"
- Salcombe Prep School, Southgate
"Brilliant! I Wish I could tell stories like that!"
- Chris Farmer, William De Ferrers Library,
"I have never seen such young children so transfixed for so long!"
- Sheering Primary, Bishop`s Stortford
"I wouldn`t hesitate to recommend you to anyone."
- Cranford House School, Moulsford, Oxford
"We`ve been working on putting detail and atmosphere into stories and the way you tell stories has given us so much to work with!"
- Blackheath Nursery and Prep School
"Absolutely fabulous! It was a delight to listen to you, and it was a delight to see their faces. They were totally enraptured for the whole hour!"
- Holmewood House School, Tunbridge Wells
"That was fantastic!"
- Oundle School, Peterborough
"He is brilliant!"
- Denmeade School, Middlesex
"I`ve never seen the year sixes burst into spontaneous applause before! Wonderful!"
- Bournes Green Junior, Southend
"Fantastic! I hope you realise you`re now an annual feature on our calendar!"
- Eaton House School, Belgravia
"Wonderful - as always!"
- Buxlow Prep School, Wembley
"You tell the Mauri legends I grew up with better than anyone I ever heard in New Zealand."
- St Anthony`s School, Hampstead
"That was absolutely wonderful - a sheer delight!"
- Durston House School, Ealing
"Can you come back tomorrow?"
- Our Lady`s Junior, Abingdon
"I just wanted to say that I could see the children loved that, and so did I - it was absolutely wonderful!"
- Ofsted Inspector, Milton Hall School, Westcliffe on Sea
"Absolutely fantastic - I love the way your stories can go off in different directions and the children just follow wherever the story takes them, it`s marvellous to see!"
- Duncombe School, Bengeo, Herts
"They`ve been galvanized all week by the ideas you gave them - it`s been thrilling to see their response!"
- Great Bradfords Infants school, Braintree
"You are, quite literally, magic. You have cast a spell over these children and enriched their lives."
- Chairman of Governors, Boxted Primary School, Colchester
"Fantastic!..... Amazing!"
- The Vale School, Kensington
"I was talking about you with my class afterwards and they were buzzing! They couldn`t get over how one person on their own, with no props, costumes, make-up or special effects, could hold their attention so completely for a whole hour. They were amazed and so was I!"
- Canvey Junior School, Canvey Island
"The children loved your stories - and so did the grown ups!"
- Katherine Semar Junior, Saffron Walden
"We thought we knew the story of Icarus, but your version brought it so much more alive than any other version we`ve come across."
- Chrishall Junior School, Royston
"Absolutely wonderful and very very funny!"
- Pinewood School, Bourton, Wilts
"The feedback has been fantastic!"
- Frances Mason, Youth Services Librarian, London Borough of Bexley
"I don`t have to ask if they enjoyed it - I could see their faces!"
- Northwood Prep School, Rickmansworth
"I laughed so much I thought I was going to be sick!"
- Year 2 Pupil, Summercroft Infants School, Bishops Stortford
"I have never in my life seen children so engrossed and spellbound - it was utterly wonderful!"
- Sheering Primary School
"Every child in this school is rushing around swapping stories and talking about who they`re going to tell them to when they get home. Thank you for such a wonderful day!"
- Thaxted Primary
"The Best Storyteller in the world!"
- West Leigh Junior School, Southend
"Amazing - they were enraptured!"
- Down House School, Berkshire
"Thanks for a wonderful day!"
- Feering Primary School, Essex
"Wonderful!"
- Cottenham Primary, Cambridge
"Absolutely Wonderful - everyone has been raving about you, children and staff. Can you come again?"
- St Mary`s Hare Park, Romford
"I can`t believe how even the reception class sat in complete silence, listening to every word!"
- Leigh Beck Infants School, Canvey Island
"Your visits are a vital part of our school`s life."
- Duncombe School, Bengeo
"Everyone`s been raving about you - don`t leave until we`ve booked you to come back!"
- MillHouse Junior, Basildon
"I`ve not heard a Storyteller before, and I found it engrossing and utterly enchanting."
- Ashton House, Isleworth, Middlesex
"That was just what we needed- the fact that my son`s just gone and taken two books out says everything!"
- Parent - Sidcup Library, Kent
"Absolutely amazing! You came to us highly recommended, but you exceeded our wildest expectations!"
- Thorpe Greenways Junior School, Southend
"I spent the whole time watching their faces - I have never seen children so entranced!"
- The Study Prep School, Wimbledon
"Absolutely magical!"
- Russell House School, Ottford, Sevenoaks
"Every time you visit us I`m torn between watching you and watching the children. You have every single child utterly engrossed. When you take a breath, they do. When your expression changes, so do theirs. I have never in my life seen a performer who holds his entire audience the way you do, and you do it every time!"
- Clifton College Prep school, Bristol
"Wow! I`ve never known an hour go so quickly!"
- Mildmay Junior School, Chelmsford
"I was so entranced I actually forgot I had these children with me - and they were so silent they must have been as entranced as I was!"
- Queen Edith`s Primary School, Cambridge
"I thoroughly enjoyed that, and I don`t have to ask the children if they did because I can see sheer delight on their faces!"
- Farnborough Primary School, Kent
"Many thanks for a wonderful morning! We were particularly impressed by your ability to reach all age groups equally effectively."
- Notting Hill Prep School
"Thank you for a wonderful day - the children keep telling me about your stories and how much they have enjoyed them."
- Lyonsdown School Barnet
"Absolutely b****y brilliant!"
- Nicky Horn - Planet Rock / Capital Gold
"The looks of amazement, laughter and - sometimes - shock on the faces of our pupils testifies to the power of the stories and the talent and energy that goes into your performance. Many, many thanks for making this such an outstanding and entertaining experience for us."
- Sonia Constantinou, Librarian, Highgate Junior School
"The feedback has been glowing; with many children sharing their stories heard during your sessions with others - I`ve even heard about a number of scary sleepover storytelling sessions from our year 5 and 6 pupils! The children were both delighted with and impressed at the way you made your stories come alive for them and a number of them have been encouraged to be more expressive in their own retellings. It was felt generally that your contribution to our book week encapsulated what book week is all about - the celebration of stories and storytelling."
- Megan Ellis, Librarian, Berkhamsted Collegiate School
"I`ve never laughed so much in one day in my life!"
- Jake, Year 6, Dunmow St. Mary`s Primary School
"All the children were entranced by your stories and talked about them for days afterwards - many many thanks for such a wonderful day"
- Spring Grove Prep School, Kent
"Many thanks for your brilliant sessions this summer. All the children, parents and staff who attended really enjoyed listening to you."
- Janine Whittaker, Greenwich Libraries
""They were all so engrossed they didn't move - he had them all completely in the palm of his hand!""
- Donna Paul, Librarian, Farleigh School, Andover
"Without doubt your visits are the most popular and most successful of all the events we have arranged for the teenage reading group."
- Matthew Imrie, Thamesmead Library
"'Utterly brilliant - the children have been galvanised!'"
- Pickhurst Junior School, Bromley
"Thank you so much for coming on Tuesday. Everyone I've spoken to, girls and teachers, really enjoyed it."
- Linda Raywood, Librarian, Abbey Junior School Reading
"I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful day. The children are still talking about you, from Reception right the way up to Year 8 who felt 'Captivated' by your words. Many of the children are still enjoying your books and I know they would love to see you again - can we book you for next year?"
- Katherine Vacher, Head of English Barfield School Farnham
"Some of us were talking in the staffroom yesterday afternoon, asking each other "How did he do it?" - the 'he' being you and the 'it' being keeping 50 or so kids enthralled without props, DVDs or prozac. I told you that one liked the timbre of your voice so that must have been partly it but I can't quite work out what the rest of it was. Anyway, if you could distil and bottle some of it, send us a crate."
- Nia Davies, SYR Hugh Owen School, Caernarfon
"A huge thank you for coming yesterday and getting our cultural week off to such a wonderful start. As ever, your stories captivated the boys and they thoroughly enjoyed the sessions."
- Penny Horsman, Head of Junior School, Dulwich College
"I wanted to say a big thank you on behalf of the school for your stimulating and exciting visit last week. The children were mesmerised by your story-telling, even the Year 7s and 8s who are not always easy to please. Thanks for a BRILLIANT day!"
- Laura Konviser, Librarian, Orley Farm School, Harrow
"Thank you so much for Friday, as in previous years, it was brilliant and I know that the boys will be talking for days and days about the stories."
- Carol Botteril, Librarian, Elstree School, Woolhampton
"I've had such a wonderful time just sitting at the side watching the faces of every child you've told stories to. Every group you've had have been wide eyed and silent, and the staff have enjoyed it as much as the kids!"
- Pam Dalby, Librarian, Chafford School
"I've been getting glowing reports all day, from Reception right up to Year 8 - they've all had a wonderful time and I'd like to add that you are absolutely top value for money!"
- Simon Weight, Abingdon Prep School
"The week got off to a flying start with a visit from nationally renowned storyteller, John Harris.
John led three storytelling sessions in the theatre and charmed the children with stories from around the world and a spine chilling version of 'Beowulf'. The mesmerised expressions on the children's faces was evidence enough of their enjoyment of the experience: John had them in the palm of his hand. This was a great start to Book Week and to promoting the joy of books and reading."
- Farleigh School, Andover (Website)
"Professional Storyteller John Harris put on an inspiring show at Clifton College Preparatory School on the 7th February, performing his stimulating versions of ancient myths and legends to the captivated Year 5s and 7s.
It was a pleasure to see children so invigorated and touched by John's storytelling without the use of visual imagery or props. There was clear encouragement to find a personal voice and choose words wisely and with patience for their poetic and descriptive quality. The children's consistent attention was given away not only by their silence but by the simultaneous gasping, tutting and laughter in response to John's performance. The underlying messages in the stories of hope and love were strong and valuable ones but it was the overall lesson on listening and communicating that was no doubt taken away by all the children, that highlights the importance of John's visit."
- Clifton College Website
"I've had girls coming up to me in the corridors saying 'Miss, that storyteller was fantastic!' they're all buzzing with excitement."
- Wirral Grammar School for Girls