This lady’s got a story to tell

Danette Goulet

Shrieks of delight rang out as small bodies hurled themselves at Myra

Feigelman, known only to students as the “Storybook Lady.”

Each week, Feigelman captivates the children of Adams Elementary School

in Costa Mesa, reading them story after story.

“I started in a second-grade classroom the first year,” she said. “The

next September, I did first and second. It just escalated. Now I read at

every classroom in the school for half an hour -- it takes me four days.”

Feigelman, a retired teacher from Long Island, N.Y., moved to California

five years ago to be near her mother and son.

Wanting to keep busy, Feigelman decided to share her love of reading with

the children at her neighborhood school.

Toting one bag stuffed with books and another with a well-loved teddy

bear, Feigelman travels from classroom to classroom, sharing her stories.

For the younger students, favorites include “Clifford” by Norman Bridwell

and the “Arthur” series by Marc Tolon Brown.

“She reads funny books,” said 7-year-old Jose Garcia, who cited Arthur as

his first choice. “He’s a dog -- he’s funny.”

With the older students, she reads chapter books, including the popular

“Wayside School” series by Louis Sachar.

“They have bought the books and will read with me,” Feigelman said. “That

shows that there is an interest in reading and that this is what we need

to do.”

The value of her contribution does not escape the notice Principal

Barbara Harrington or the teachers whose classrooms she visits.

“They get very excited about it and if she is going to miss a week, they

get very upset,” said Tiffany Poulsen, a third-grade teacher. “They start

choosing their books from the library based on this.”

Feigelman and her stories are beloved and appreciated by the students.

“I think she’s nice because nobody pays her in the school and that’s a

very nice thing,” said 8-year-old Amy Martinez.

This is Amy’s third year of anticipating weekly visits from the Storybook

Lady. Her favorite book so far is “Lafcadio: The Lion who Shot Back” by

Shel Silverstein, a story about a lion who learns to act like a man.

“It’s funny because he likes marshmallows,” she said.

Some students, like 7-year-old Zach Firth, have the simplest reasons for

loving the Storybook Lady.

“I like her because she reads really good,” he said.