World of Stories! March 19, 2026, 4 p.m. Stroud Public Library

 

Other Planned Programs (times may be subject to adjustment - so call ahead):

“Route 66 Family Adventure Hub” Made Possible by  a Route 66 Grant” 

• March 19, 4 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub, Stroud Public Library. “World of Stories!” A Celebration of storytelling [World Storytelling Day March 20; Introduces “Cool Cat”; a symbol of the wandering adventure spirit of Route 66]

• April 16, 6 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Public Library. “Moon and Stars Stories” [16th is National Astronomy Day; Artemis scheduled for launch too this month]

• May 21, 6 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Public Library, “Playing with Words -Getting Creative!” Creativity Day May 30th / Focus on books, poems, stories where words are important and knowing how to use them valuable; touches of drama, theater, and other arts included]

 

STROUD PUBLIC LIBRARY - ODL ANNUAL SUMMER READING PROGRAM

• May 28, 2 p.m., Stroud Public Library, “Summer Reading Program”: Unearth a Story:  Dinosaurs/Archaeology/Paleontology  #1

• June 4, 2 p.m., Stroud Public Library, “Summer Reading Program”: Unearth a Story: Dinosaurs/Archaeology/Paleontology. ” #2

• June 11, 2 p.m., Stroud Library, “Summer Reading Program”: Unearth a Story: Dinosaurs/Archaeology/Paleontology #3

• June 18, 2 p.m. , Stroud Library, “Summer Reading Program”: Unearth a Story: Dinosaurs/Archaeology/Paleontology” #4

“Route 66 Family Adventure Hub” Made Possible by  a Route 66 Grant” 

• June 25th, 4 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. “Amazing Stories: Voices from the Past.” Ever wonder how people entertained themselves before TV or the Internet! Come find out! [Fun tales of adventures, misadventures, and life along Oklahoma Route 66 from before 1926 to the present]

• July 2, 2 p.m. Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Library, “Happy 250th Birthday USA!” It will only happen ONCE! Come celebrate the USA with stories and more!

• July 16, 6 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Library, “UFO’S Over Oklahoma”. All ages. Hear author and investigator/researcher Marilyn A. Hudson talk about the history of strange things over the skies of Oklahoma and along Route 66. [July 2nd is World UFO Day]

• August 8, 2 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Library, “Animal Tales.” Hear stories and more about animals local and from around the world.

“ROUTE 66 SPIRIT OF AMERICAN MUSEUM/ Stroud Public Library Collaborative Programs”

Programs Held at the Stroud Public Library

• May 23, 2p.m., R66AM/SPL Partnership. Stroud Library, “Visions of the Future.” Create a “vision board”. [The longest journey always starts with a single step. Create a personal “vision board” using magazines, stickers, etc. on small poster boards or construction paper.]

• June 27, 2 p.m., R66AM/SPL Partnership. Stroud Library, “Three Little Pigs: Innovation.” [Problem solving illustrated through the children’s story; fun coloring/craft option]

• July 18, 2 p.m., R66AM/SPL Partnership. Stroud Library, “Hello Humans! Hope, Care and Love.”  [Focuses on stories and activities that make us human through hope, care, and love. Participants will make “cards of Caring” to be sent to people they know, or to be delivered to people in the local Nursing home/Prairie Point]

• August 20, 6 p.m. R66AM/SPL Partnership. Stroud Public Library.  “Imagination.”   [Imagine living on Mars. How to get there? How to live? All great ideas need imagination! ]

• Sept. 24, 6.p.m., Route 66 Spirit of America Museum, “Come Tour the Museum!”. Get a guided tour of the museum. Main Street, Stroud.

“Route 66 Family Adventure Hub” Made Possible by  a Route 66 Grant” 

• Sept. 8, 6 p.m. , Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Public Library. “Exploring Space Travel, Oklahoma Astronauts” (Artemis Mission scheduled to launch in April )

• Sept. 17, 6 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Library, “Cool Cat: World Peace Day”  [Using a Jazz theme, “Cool Cat”, will guide through stories of unity and harmony]

• Oct. 15, 6 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Library, “Literary Landmarks: Oklahoma.” Come learn about the literary landmarks, join in creating a one-of-a-kind Stroud Poem, and more!

• Oct. 29, 6 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Public Library, “Spooky Route 66”.  Family Friendly Seasonal Tales.  Suitable for families with Kindergarten and up.

• Nov. 14, 2 p.m., Route 66 Family Adventure Hub. Stroud Public Library, “Tellabration! (TM): A Celebration of Storytelling”.  “Kindness” is the theme. Come listen – come share a tale! We will be collecting items suitable to be placed in the Main Street Kindness Pantry (ready to eat snacks, canned items, dry grains, etc.).

"World of Stories" Storytelling Program Launches Stroud Library Route 66 Celebrations

The first library program of the GRANT FUNDED "Route 66 Family Adventure Hub"  (Stroud, Oklahoma) will be March 19 at 4pm. Storyteller Marilyn A. Hudson, Stroud library's artist-in-residence will present a “World of Stories!” A celebration of storytelling in honor of World Storytelling Day (March 20) , the program will introduce the “Cool Cat,” a symbol of the wandering adventure spirit of Route 66. Bring the whole family to this first in a year-long series of storytelling fun!

More information can be found on the Library catalog at stroud.booksys.net/opac/spl/ or contact the Library staff by calling 918-968-2567 or e-mailing library@cityofstroud.org. Stroud Public Library is at 301 W. 7th Street and is currently open Mon.-Tues. 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm, Wed.-Thur.-Fri. 9am-1pm and 2pm-5pm and Saturday 9am-noon.

Hudson to Work with Stroud Library During Route 66 Centennial

Storyteller and author, Marilyn A. Hudson, will be partnering with the Stroud Public Library as they celebrate the 100 years of the famous Route 66 highway.  

The Stroud Public Library was recently awarded two grants due to the national focus on the celebration.  

One grant will add a new neon sign to raise public awareness of the historic art deco building now housing the library. It was a 1930's telephone exchange building and is unique in the art deco architecture and the fact it houses the only elevator in Stroud!

The other grant makes the library the only library in Oklahoma along Route 66 to receive a programming grant. "The Route 66 Adventure Hub Program" will allow families traveling the famous road to stop and take part in fun activities and programs designed for them.

Hudson will be assisting in providing fun oral storytelling and book-based programs suitable for families.  Hudson is a retired educator and library professional with two decades of experience working with youth and children and in sharing stories professionally.

The grant will also provide for 2026, some additional staff and added hours to raise the levels of access and activity for the centennial.

"There is no better time," said Hudson, " to explore and discover the local library!"

Oklahoma Winter Storytelling Retreat: Jan 23-24, 2026, Ada, Oklahoma

 Here is a great opportunity to learn more about storytelling and hear some great talent (some known nationally!).  

The Oklahoma Territory Tellers are partnering with the Chickasaw Nation's arts and humanities program to bring these workshops and concerts!

Share the news!!  Learn more at https://territorytellers.com

Check out Elizabeth Ellis in action! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74-1qys13_E

Ghosts of the Road With Marilyn A. Hudson

Had a wonderful afternoon at the ROUTE 66 SPIRIT OF AMERICA Museum in Stroud, Oklahoma on Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025.  Part of the museum's speaker series, I was able to share some spooky and strange tales focused in and around Route 66 in "GHOSTS OF THE ROAD."  A lot of them were drawn from events in or near Stroud.  Spooky ghosts, strange objects in the skies, and haunting creatures seen in the woods; a lot of fun with some great listeners! Best all the museum received many donations.

Author, researcher, and storyteller, Marilyn A. Hudson, as A Ghost of Route 66 in front of a display of some of her books and program. 

Some wonder women in the Wonder Woman Theater Space of the museum.

Marilyn A. Hudson is an author, historian, and storyteller who has been traveling the twists and turns of the "Story Road" for nearly 20 years.   She presents original tales, as well as historical and folklore tales, with her own little twists. She is also "The Ghost Teller" specializing in haunted tales of literature, history, and folklore. For four years she added her spooky touch to the Overholser Mansion's annual benefit event, "Scary Tales and Twilight Tours."  

The ROUTE 66 SPIRIT OF AMERICA MUSEUM, Stroud, Oklahoma, "... explores the dreams America has achieved, what made achieving them possible, and those dreams America can achieve in the future!" Coming in 2026 is a special emphasis celebrating the centennial of Route 66 and the 250th birthday of the United States of America. "The Year of the American Moonshot Project: A Bold Journey to Inner Space."  That space is a world "transformed by the knowledge of what cooperation and love can give us...literally the world of our dreams."  Contact: Steve Brant (Cell-646-221-1933) or email steve@route66spiritofamericamuseum.org.  Web: American Moonshot Project | Route 66 | Spirit of America Museum

Had Fun at Stroud's Summer Fest for Children and Families

 After Covid left many community networks, events and activities were sidelined. Now, however, in Stroud, Oklahoma the local "STROUD ARTS" is gearing back up with theatrics, workshops, performances, and community art-based events. 

At end of July Marilyn A. Hudson was telling stories designed to delight, thrill, and engage audiences. 

Looking toward the Fall, in October she will be telling stories to raise a chill at the local museum, on Saturday October 11,2025 at the Route 66 Spirit of America Museum on Main Street/Route 66 in Stroud, Oklahoma. 

Marilyn is also a published author and her most recent works are for children, Annie Oklahoma: A Tall Tale and The Bottomless Well. 

In addition, she has put together a guidebook for informed sky watching called "What's That?: A Guide for UAP Spotting" where she seeks to raise awareness of the diversity of natural and manmade objects in our night and day skies, introduces astronomical activities/events, and weather activities that can be observed and identified, as well provide some guidelines for knowing when something is truly strange. 

Summer Arts Fun