HIGH POINT – Donna Washington, a noted North Carolina storyteller, riveted children and parents alike with her animated storytelling Thursday at the High Point Neal F. Austin Public Library.

Washington had an audience of toddlers, elementary schoolers, preteens and parents and involved every single person in the storyroom with her tales. She told three stories: “The Tiger, the Man and the Mouse,” “Epaminondas” and a not-so-scary story called “Red, Red Lips.”

“Storytelling is the only job I’ve ever had,” Washington said. “I’ve been doing it for 22 years.”

The story of the “Tiger, the Man and the Mouse” told a tale of a Brahman who let a tiger out of its cage and a mouse who tricks the tiger back into its cage. “Epaminondas” tells the tale of a young boy who gets sent to his grandmother’s house when he drives his mother crazy. Washington asked the audience to recite the refrain “Epaminondas, you ain’t got the sense you was born with!” every time she put her hands on her hips. “Red, Red Lips” was a story about how a child’s imagination can be the scariest thing in the dark.

Washington is a children’s author and recording artist. She won a 2002 Parent’s Choice Award for her first independent recording, “Live and Learn: The Exploding Frog and Other Stories.” Her latest CD, “Angels’ Laughter,” was released in May 2006 and is a winner of the 2007 Media Best Product Award. She has released seven CDs and three children’s books. All of her CDs have won 2005 Children’s Music Web Awards, and many have won the Parent’s Choice Award in 2004 and 2005.

Jim Zola, head of children’s services at the library, praised Washington’s performance.

“She has been here before, and she did such a wonderful job and a lot of kids and their parents came out to hear her,” Zola said. “We enjoyed her so much that she’s always welcome to come back.”

jhowse@hpe.com | 888-3534