Storytelling
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Bio for Dr. Mike Lockett - THE NORMAL STORYTELLER Dr. Michael Lockett is a teller of traditional tales in a non-traditional manner. Mike is a lifelong storyteller and had added writing children's books to his bio . Lockett has been telling stories for over 38 years in his positions as a storyteller, teacher, principal, central office administrator and educational consultant. Because he lives in the small town of Normal, Illinois, he enjoys being called "The Normal Storyteller." But, there is little that is NORMAL about Mike. He brings high energy and creative uses of audio sound effects to his family friendly stories. Mike has given more than 3000 presentations and workshops in 27 states across the United States and as far away as eastern Asia. He is the author of The Basics of Storytelling (Taiwan, 2008). Lockett hopes to soon release a revised version of the book for the American market. He released a DVD of children's stories in Taiwan in August, 2008. An American version of the DVD, "Tales of Delight," was released in June, 2009 and received the 2009 DVD of the Year Award from Creative Child Magazine. Dr. Lockett has produced 5 audio CDs of stories and music. The most recent audio CD is Christmas from the Heart. The album has a 2012 copyright, however copies of the album will be available starting December 2011. Dr. Lockett has received a total of nineteen awards for his books and audio storytelling products. Dr. Lockett has published six children's bilingual picture books (Chinese and English). The first four books were released by Brilliant International Group to the Asia market during Dr. Lockett's tour of Korea, Taiwan, Shanghai and Hong Kong in July/August, 2009. Two new books were released in January, 2010 during Dr. Lockett's sixth tour of eastern Asia. All six books have been rated as "Family Approved" by the Dove Foundation. The books can be seen on the products page of this website. The six books are available for purchase on this site. American book stores can go to Small Press United to order the books. Three brand new books are scheduled to be released by a new company, Santa Publishing, in conjunction with Dr. Lockett's seventh tour of Taiwan in November, 2011. Dr. Lockett has written a tenth book with 20 stories for young children that will be released by Korean publisher JY Books sometime in 2012.
Mike Lockett is a regular presenter at schools, libraries, churches, festivals and conferences. He has served as a storyteller and keynote speaker more than a dozen times at the Illinois Young Author's Conference. He gives frequent reading and writing talks and assemblies at public and parochial schools. The following list shows notable organizations for whom Dr. Lockett has given presentations:
Dr. Lockett is known today for being a motivational speaker, for his talks on helping at-risk students and for his performances as "The Normal Storyteller," and for his children's books. Dr. Lockett is an award winning children's author. Dr. Lockett is a teller of traditional tales. He has the ability to use audience participation as he tells his tales and actively engage the listeners in the telling of his stories. In addition to his children's books (see above), he has produced four award winning audio CD's and an award winning DVD. Mike recently completed his first Christmas album. It is expected to be available by Novelber, 2011. He is also working to complete his first album of religious stories, Tales of Faith. Seven stories are done on the album, but Mike wants a full 70 minutes of listening before he calls the album done. "Tales from the Hills" features Appalachian tales along with music performed by Lockett and his youngest son. "Tales from Around the World" (2006) features ten folktales from different regions of the world - each told in a different dialect. Folk music, appropriate to each story sets the mood for the telling. "Tales for the Young at Heart" (2007) was released during a special trip sponsored by Bookman's Publishers and the Taipei Bookfair in Taiwan. The album has eight stories, including retellings of traditional fairy tales, and four friendly musical selections. The album received the Preferred Choice Award from Creative Child Magazine in July,2007 and was be featured in their holiday publications during November and December of 2007. "Tales and Fables: East Meets West" (2008) was a joint effort between East - West Publishing Company in Taiwan and and Lockett's own company (Heritage Schoolhouse Press) in the USA. That album received the 2008 CD of the year from Creative Child Magazine. Lockett returned to Taiwan in 2008 and worked with Caves Educational Training Company LTD to publish The Basics of Storytelling, a "how to" book for Taiwanese teachers to use to learn to tell stories. The book is in Chinese. During the trip, Lockett recorded a DVD for children - "Grandpa Mike's Stories." The album has 12 internationak folktales - all told in English and each with Chinese subtitles. The Asian version of the DVD was released in 2008. The American version ("Tales of Delight") was be released in July, 2009. During 2011, Mike and his wife, Becky, wrote a series of twelve stories based on holidays around the world. The articles are in Chang Tang Magazine in Taiwan. The stories can be seen in the January through December issues of the magazine. The stories were written in a dialog format to help Taiwanese readers in their efforts to learn English as a foreign language. Recordings of the stories are available on Chang Tang's on-line version of their magazine. Lockett's professional resume is available upon request. Write to mike@mikelockett.com |
Illinois Reading Conference
Dr. Michael Lockett taught elementary school, middle school and high school students. He worked with all levels of students from the low achievers through the gifted and talented. He served more than a dozen years as a central office administrator (Director of Title I and Summer Programs) and as a middle school/high school principal. Dr. Lockett received the Ilinois "Those Who Excel Award for School Administrators" in 2002. He has taught undergraduate and graduate classes at Bradley University, Aurora University, and Western Illinois University. He has served multiple school districts, regional offices of education and the Illinois State Board of Education as an educational consultant. He served as a reading council officer for over 25 years working with the MID-State Reading Council, the Illinois Reading Council and served on committees for the International Reading Association.