Simon began spinning yarns and telling tales in 1991 when he would perform for school groups and families at Youth Hostels in the United Kingdom before moving to the States. In 2003 Simon became a Children's Librarian and professional storyteller. He has performed for libraries, schools, and private functions and festivals telling to young children and adults. Combining his passion for children's literature and folklore, Simon creates fun programs for all ages. His repertoire comes mainly from European folk and faery tales, but Simon also includes stories from South America, Africa, China and Japan amongst other countries and cultures.

Simon Brooks performs tales with energy and wit. Telling folktales, myths and legends from all over the world, he brings characters like Ananzi the Spider, the trickster Raven, Wayland Smith, Merlin and Dionysus vividly to life. From this world of stories Simon captivates his audience with unique voices to animate characters, and with expressive body language he truly brings the stories to life.

Simon can provide a program which will suit your needs, whatever you are looking for. Please go to Rates and Programs for more information for particulars.

My love of folklore and faerie tales brought me to storytelling. I find tales that are not often told, or when they are I put my own stamp on them. I only tell tales that I love, whose voice comes to me, becoming alive in my mind and that helps bring the story to life in the minds of those who listen. Finding as many different versions of a tale as possible, I will create a version that will intrigue and delight with my own style of performance. Using my voice for sound effects, the stories become alive in the minds of my audience. It is the best job I have had. There is something about seeing rows of faces, young and old, transfixed in the story I am telling. When school children sometimes send me pictures of what they saw in their heads, it is a great privilege. When adults send me notes or emails about the fun they had, I know I am doing the best thing I could - storytelling.

Simon made his first CD over the winter of 2005/6 which was released to great applause in June 2006. "Second-hand Tales" To find a copy of his CD, please visit www.cdbaby.com. Simon is currently working on CD number two: "More Second-hand Tales" which should be out in spring of 2008. For a sample from "More Second-hand Tales", click HERE.

Simon has performed at private functions, libraries and schools in New Hampshire and Vermont and has performed at the 2005 Connecticut River Festival Big Splash Event, Wilder, VT and appeared as part of the Outdoor Series at the Upper Valley Events Center, Norwich, VT in 2005. He was on the Vermont Libraries Summer Reading Performers list for 2006 and 2008, and on the New Hampshire Libraries Summer Reading Roster, 2006 and 2007. Simon performed at the Hopkins Center, Dartmouth College for the Hopstop Family Series; at StoryHome in Rochester, NH, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Open-Fields Medieval Fair during 2007 along with numerous school, library and private performances.

To see photos of Simon acting out his stories click HERE or above on "Images"
To hear Simon telling part of "The Dragon and Monkey's Heart" click HERE