What if you were blowing a bubble and…well, things just started getting out of hand? That’s exactly what happens in poet Marilyn Helmer’s comedic saga “Bubble Trouble.” Anna Lee Webb’s story, “Good-bye, June Bug,” paints a picture of warm summer evenings, childhood reminiscences, charming eccentricity, and pet insects. Other stories include Treva Jenkins’ “Why Dragons Don’t Like to Eat Their Dinner in the Dark,” and a new fable by Mercedes Lawry entitled “The Princess Who Loved Baths.” This issue also offers more of Gene Fehler’s “All Kinds of Weather” quatrains, and includes four original songs from the very talented singer/songwriter Katherine Dines.

Edited and produced by Arlene Furman and Jack Nestor

1997 Shoofly, Inc.

The Shoofly Players: Christopher Baker, Crissie Cabrera, Tricia Carter, Julie Fishell, Sarah Froeber, Heather Grayson, Louise Kessel, Ben Peyser, Kevin Poole, Andrea Powell, Sudie Rakusin, Shannon Roberts, Harvey Sage, C. Delton Streeter, Josh Tower, and Virginia Watkins

Shoofly Theme: T. Sherman Tate (lead vocal); Tommy Hartley (guitar & vocal)

Cover Concept & Design: Kathleen Nestor

Cover Art: Alicia Best (age 8, Durham, NC)

Recorded by: Randy Friel, SoundWave Audio, Chapel Hill
Incidental music composed and arranged by Randy Friel

Special Guest: Meet Katherine Dines
Katherine Dines' rich music is filled with both puns and poignancy, and we are very happy to be able to include four of her wonderful songs here. Katherine performs concerts, workshops and In-Service Trainings throughout the U.S. With four Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta recordings to date, some of her songs are recorded on projects that have received awards from the American Library Association, Parents' Choice, National Parenting Publications, and have been nominated for a Grammy. The songs featured in this issue of Shoofly are from Katherine's recordings Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Gnu! and Hunk-Ta-Bunk-Ta Boo 2! (The song Let's PPPPPP-Punctuate! was co-written with Rachel Sumner.) Katherine serves on the board of directors for two organizations committed to quality entertainment for children: The Children's Entertainment Association and the Children's Music Network.  As an Artist-In-Residence, she is also involved with various state and city Arts Commissions, Young Audiences, and the acclaimed Wolf Trap (VA) Program.           

Parents’ Choice Silver Honor Winner, 1996
EdPress Distinquished Achievement Award Winner, 1996
Parents’ Choice Approved, 1995