Follow the Bouncing Storyteller : Glendale librarian’s animated book sessions are a favorite with toddlers and parents.

At a time when most youths are lured by the high-tech glow of computer games and the sound of explosions at the local multiplex, the art of storytelling is alive and kicking in Glendale.

The remarkable talent of “Mr. B” can be thanked for that.

Mr. B, as he is affectionately known, is actually Edgar Bullington, a 52-year-old librarian whose Friday-morning preschool storytelling sessions are followed closely by toddlers and parents alike.

“My life is not rich in terms of money, but is certainly rich in fun, heartwarming experiences and adventure,” Bullington said recently during a break from the library. “Working with these guys every day is a real adventure.”

Bullington does a brilliant job at designing the storytelling sessions.

He fills them with the magic of the unexpected while at the same time providing the cozy, repetitive patterns that preschoolers love.

The same stories are told time after time, to the youngsters’ delight. Toddlers accompany Mr. B on his introductory song. And the highlight, probably, is a “Follow the Leader” routine in which a serpentine line of children makes its way around the library while rattling percussion instruments.

Miraculously, the toddlers’ attention span remains focused throughout the entire session.

“At first, I tried a more traditional structure,” he said.

“But it wasn’t flowing, it wasn’t me. Little by little, the flannel board went away, the puppets went away. What we were left with was the idea of books as toys, of words as play.”

But words would be less without Mr. B’s commanding presence. In his hands, the storybooks come to life through body language and a flair for comedy.

Not surprisingly, the librarian was once an aspiring actor who spent most of his time dabbling in community theater.

“The body is a vessel of energy,” he said. “It is important to control how that energy comes out.”

He takes a few minutes before each performance to stretch and concentrate. The children shower Mr. B with applause. At the end of each session, they surround him with goodbye hugs. Some ask their mothers or baby-sitters to borrow the books Bullington read that morning.

Mr. B is aware of how such a ritual can affect a child’s development.

“A library represents all of man’s stored culture,” he said. “The important thing here is to get these guys to enjoy being around culture without being stuffy. If they’re around books all the time, maybe they’ll open one on their own.”

BE THERE

Preschool Story Hour at the Grandview Branch of the Glendale Library, 1535 Fifth St., Glendale. Fridays at 10:30 a.m. Doors open at 10:15. Children ages 3-5 and their parents are invited. Call (818) 548-2049.