Storytelling has always been one of the ways communities preserve memory, share values, and pass traditions from one generation to the next. At the Yosemite Celtic Festival, Guardians of the Grove StoryTime brings that tradition to our youngest festival guests through the Guardians of the Grove children’s book series.

Created in the Sierra Nevada region, the Guardians of the Grove stories introduce children to memorable characters, the natural world, family heritage, courage, kindness, and the importance of becoming keepers of the stories that came before them. Through characters such as Yose the Dragon, Miranda the Forest Fairy, Mari the Monarch, and Keltie the Highland Coo, children are invited to explore the connections between place, culture, family, and imagination.

During StoryTime, families can gather together for an engaging reading experience that gives children a quieter moment within the excitement of the festival while still connecting directly to the weekend’s larger storytelling theme. The experience celebrates the idea that history and heritage do not live only in books or museums — they live in the stories families tell, the traditions communities continue, and the stories children choose to carry forward.

Every child has a story worth knowing, and every generation has stories worth protecting. Guardians of the Grove encourages young readers to become the next generation of storytellers and Guardians of the Grove.