Watch a Storigami Video | Bio | Performance Reviews  | Author Visits | FAQ | Books | Calendar | Special Offers 

Storyteller Christine Kallevig flies in a paper airplane

Imaginations Soar With
Christine Petrell Kallevig

Storytelling and Origami
Together as one,
Two arts combined,
Doubles the fun!

Kids holding origami with Storigami author Christine Kallevig
Author, Novelist, and Professional Storyteller Christine Petrell Kallevig has been captivating audiences since 1991 with the special storytelling technique she calls STORIGAMI.

Storytelling + Origami = Storigami

WHAT? Christine Petrell Kallevig folds giant-sized paper as she tells stories. Each fold illustrates an action or character from the story, so by the time the story is over, a surprise origami figure is magically created. Audiences are delighted and amazed as they experience the seamless blending of these dynamic folk arts.

Originally intended as a fun addition to her children’s novels, Storigami instead evolved into an enticing experience that captivates audiences, sending them hurtling back and forth across an enchanted bridge that connects language with art, a bridge where you definitely want to let your fingers do the walking.


HOW? Christine relies heavily on her background as a former classroom teacher and music therapist when she selects material that targets Common Core Standards for students in grades K-8. Teaching creative writing and simple origami techniques are featured in every Storigami session, but she also likes to donate more elaborate origami models to the schools and libraries she visits.

Origami sculpture folded by Christine Petrell Kallevig Origami deer folded by Christine Petrell Kallevig Origami lion, elephant, and giraffe folded by Christine Petrell Kallevig

The Origami Dog Sled Team pictured here is a sculpture Christine designed specially for a school in Alaska during a visit in April 2004. She's also folded origami safari animals like this lion, giraffe, and African elephant.

Origami cardinal sculpture folded by Christine Petrell Kallevig Origami bald eagle folded out of wallpaper by Christine Petrell Kallevig Origami black panther and cube folded by Christine Petrell Kallevig

Other recent gifts to schools included falcons, wolves, bulldogs, cardinals, dragons, bears, eagles, black panthers, tigers, elk, and bison. Most were special origami mascots in school colors for school media centers, principal desks, or lobby showcases.

The most unusual origami sculpture Christine Kallevig made was a Ceramic for Crooksville K-8 School (Crooksville, Ohio).
Their mascot is a man at a potter's wheel. Origami dragon sculpture folded by Christine Petrell Kallevig

Another interesting origami challenge was designing an origami Railroader for a school in Garrett, Indiana. Redford, Michigan needed a Volt, so she created a spinning three-dimensional flash of blue and white lightning. Christine visited schools in Washington DC and gave them each an origami bald eagle folded out of wallpaper, one of her favorite folding media.

The creative possibilities for the educational use of origami are endless!


Christine Petrell Kallevig holding an origami paper crane and origami fox WHY? Kids love origami, but they need stories:

  • Stories touch hearts and feed minds.

  • Stories peel away layers of resistance and false sophistication.

  • Stories reveal roots of intelligence and creativity.

What are some other educational benefits resulting from the combination of origami and language? Storigami is good for our brains! When a story is illustrated by progressive origami folds, recalling the events of the story is the same as recalling the steps necessary to create the origami figure. Short-term memory is greatly enhanced, the whole brain is activated, and everyone has fun while learning exciting, new paper folding skills. Click here to download more information about the educational, developmental, and emotional benefits of combining origami and stories.


WHO? Christine Petrell Kallevig works primarily with grades preK - 8 during school author visits. She also presents literary programs and storytelling workshops at schools, libraries, museums, churches, festivals, and conferences throughout the world. Although her audiences are usually young authors themselves, she loves to speak to "young at heart" adults as well, especially at holiday banquets, art festivals, storytelling events, or association meetings.

Common Core Standards and creative writing techniques, such as how to research, edit, and develop characters are included in every school program and author visit.

Read news articles and see photos of Christine Petrell Kallevig in action:Origami bulldog sculpture folded by Christine Petrell KallevigAs Featured On EzineArticles


Kids folding origami during a Storigami Author Visit

Christine Kallevig is presenting programs in:

  • Eastern Penn. during the week of April 29, 2013.
  • Southern Ohio during the week of May 14, 2013.
  • Minnesota libraries during the month of June 2013.
  • Philadelphia Metro Area during the week of Oct. 21, 2013
  • New Jersey during the week of Feb. 24, 2014.
  • If you would like a discounted author visit or Storigami presentation near any of these locations, call 440-838-4881 immediately to add your school or library to her schedule while she's touring through your area.


    WHERE? Kids folding origami during a Storigami Author Visit Save travel fees by booking Christine Petrell Kallevig when she's already traveling through your area. She appeared in several regions throughout the world during the last few years and is currently accepting bookings for visits internationally and nationwide for 2013 and 2014.

    Is your group suffering from budget woes? UNITE!

    Many private and public schools, art organizations, storytelling associations, and libraries have enjoyed special discounts and saved money by joining together to sponsor literacy workshops, author visits, and Storigami presentations.

    Storyteller Christine Kallevig flies in a paper airplane

    Kids holding an origami dog and cat during a Storigami Author Visit
    Click on the paper airplane to view
    upcoming Storigami performances

    Send your booking request to foldalong@att.net
    Act now to reserve your preferred date!

    SPECIAL NOTE to Great Lakes states: There are almost always last-minute openings for schools within driving distance from Cleveland, Ohio, especially in Western New York, Western Pennsylvania, Southern Michigan, Eastern Indiana, and anywhere in Ohio. Contact Christine Kallevig ASAP and she'll try hard to fit an author visit or spontaneous Storigami performance into her travel calendar.


    Interested in Christine Kallevig's new presentation about Ohio public art? Learn how to get FREE copies for all your students! Our Sculptures Ourselves Student Book

    Christine believes in the educational values inherent in all art forms, so she's written a wonderful student book and teacher guides called OUR SCULPTURES OURSELVES: A New Look at Public Art in Northeast Ohio.

    The book reveals the hidden and often forgotten facts about nine historical Ohio monuments and sculptures, such as the amazing Guardians of Traffic and The Free Stamp in Cleveland, Ohio. It's easy to involve your children or students with this new public art material. Simply order individual workbooks or classroom sets with a credit card at the Storytime Online Store.

    Do you need to be reimbursed by grant, discretionary, or PTA funds? You can also download a purchase order form to submit through your district's official purchasing channels.



    CONTACT: Click HERE for complete descriptions
    of Christine's school visits, conference presentations, and other storytelling programs, including fees, recommended ages, group size limits, and references - or keep reading and then follow the PRESENTATION DETAILS link near the bottom of the page.

    Call (440) 838-4881 or send an E-Mail to foldalong@att.net for references and availability.

    Christine Petrell Kallevig's Fabric origami hat band

    Christine Petrell Kallevig telling her origami man storyChristine's Amazing Fabric Origami Hat Band:
    See close-up photos of the eight fabric origami models on her hat band.

    Christine's Origami Crane Necklace:
    Christine often wears a crane necklace and crane earrings along with her fabric origami frog necklace when she tells Storigami tales during school author visits. The necklace is almost as popular as the origami stories! Christine is always asked where it can be purchased. Well - all you have to do is click on the Amazon.com link above to buy a similar crane necklace of your own.

    All the books in the blue Amazon.com box (above) feature origami as an important part of the plot and are recommended as followup books after Christine's school author visits. Your school or public library probably already has most of them. Plan ahead. Reserve them to enjoy after Christine's visit. You'll be amazed at how much your students learned about origami during her live Storigami presentation.


    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Christine Petrell Kallevig is welcomed warmly and creatively at the schools she visits. Check out some of the origami posters, window displays, and bulletin boards students have created:


    Click for larger view
    Kids folded origami to welcome author Christine Kallevig
    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Christine is honored by such creative students, teachers, and librarians!


    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Click for larger view
    Author Visit Welcome for Christine Petrell Kallevig
    Who knows what surprises await her next visit?




    Nature Fold-Along Stories by Christine Petrell Kallevig TO DO LIST:

    • Order Author Visit Preview Books and Take Advantage of Special Deals for Christine Petrell Kallevig's new title, Nature Fold-Along Stories or her other STORIGAMI BOOKS, NOVELS, and DVD's.
    • Learn how to get FREE BOOKS for all your students!

    • Preview sample pages and read reviews of Christine Kallevig's novels and storytelling books that are available at Amazon.com. You'll also find picture story books and short chapter books that feature origami as an important part of the plot. These are ideal to read before or after a school author visit by Christine Kallevig.
    • Find SCHOOL VISIT or PRESENTATION DETAILS

    • Download an updated ORDER FORM for all of Christine Petrell Kallevig's DVD's and books (Acrobat Reader required).

      Please Pass Grandma's Leg by Christine Kallevig

    • Watch a Storywatchers Club video interview with Christine Petrell Kallevig. She discusses Storigami and school author visits.

    • Read an interview about Christine Petrell Kallevig's school visit bestseller, Please Pass Grandma's Leg

    • Discover the Best Books for Diabetic Kids and Teens

    • Christine is a fanatical fan of pockets!
      Watch a FREE Video of a Pockets Full of Literacy Workshop and get fanatical about POCKET POWER, too!

    affiliate_link

      Christine Petrell KallevigFor further information, references, and availability:
      Call (440) 838-4881
      Fax (270) 573-4913
      Write to Christine Petrell Kallevig at P. O. Box 470505, Cleveland, OH 44147

      E-mail:foldalong@.att.net

    Copyright 2013 by Christine Petrell Kallevig. You are visitor number

    free web site hit counter