Stories in Song

About Don

Meet the musician behind Story Songs for engaging, library-friendly family performances.

A close-up, photographic view of an acoustic guitar resting horizontally across a stack of well-worn children’s storybooks on a smooth wooden library table. The guitar’s honey-colored wood has a soft satin finish, with light reflecting off its curved body and polished tuning pegs. Around it lie colorful felt puppets, a small hand drum, and a harmonica, hinting at playful musical storytelling. In the softly blurred background, bookshelves and a wall map subtly suggest a small-town Midwest setting. Warm, diffused overhead lighting creates gentle highlights and soft shadows, giving the scene a friendly, playful atmosphere. Shot from a slightly elevated angle with shallow depth of field, focusing attention on the mix of instruments and story materials ready for a family library program.
A wide, panoramic photographic scene of a library meeting room transformed into a whimsical storytelling stage. At the center, a sturdy wooden chair faces a semicircle of low stools and beanbags, each topped with a colorful cushion patterned with musical notes and storybook icons. Beside the chair, a guitar stand holds a well-used acoustic guitar, and a portable speaker rests on the floor. Paper cut-out silhouettes of trees, castles, and animals decorate a backdrop along with stylized shapes suggesting the town of Gladwin, Michigan. Soft, warm ceiling lights cast an even glow, while a spotlight gently highlights the “stage” area. Captured at eye level with sharp focus throughout, the mood feels playful, welcoming, and ready for Don’s story songs to come alive.

About Don and Story Songs

Hi! I’m Don Masselli, a musical storyteller from Gladwin, Michigan. I blend guitar, voice, and playful narration to turn songs into adventures, helping libraries spark curiosity, laughter, and connection for families and school-age listeners.

Book Don
A warmly lit library performance space with rows of empty, curved-back wooden chairs facing a small raised platform where a single vintage-style microphone stands beside an acoustic guitar on a stand. At the edge of the platform, a colorful open storybook lies on a low table, its pages filled with whimsical illustrations of adventure. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the walls, their spines forming a rich tapestry of colors. Soft golden-hour light filters through large windows, catching tiny dust motes in the air and creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Photographic realism, eye-level composition with gentle depth of field, emphasizing the intimate mood of a musical storytelling program about to begin in a midwestern town library.
A close-up, photographic view of an acoustic guitar resting horizontally across a stack of well-worn children’s storybooks on a smooth wooden library table. The guitar’s honey-colored wood has a soft satin finish, with light reflecting off its curved body and polished tuning pegs. Around it lie colorful felt puppets, a small hand drum, and a harmonica, hinting at playful musical storytelling. In the softly blurred background, bookshelves and a wall map subtly suggest a small-town Midwest setting. Warm, diffused overhead lighting creates gentle highlights and soft shadows, giving the scene a friendly, playful atmosphere. Shot from a slightly elevated angle with shallow depth of field, focusing attention on the mix of instruments and story materials ready for a family library program.
A wide, panoramic photographic scene of a library meeting room transformed into a whimsical storytelling stage. At the center, a sturdy wooden chair faces a semicircle of low stools and beanbags, each topped with a colorful cushion patterned with musical notes and storybook icons. Beside the chair, a guitar stand holds a well-used acoustic guitar, and a portable speaker rests on the floor. Paper cut-out silhouettes of trees, castles, and animals decorate a backdrop along with stylized shapes suggesting the town of Gladwin, Michigan. Soft, warm ceiling lights cast an even glow, while a spotlight gently highlights the “stage” area. Captured at eye level with sharp focus throughout, the mood feels playful, welcoming, and ready for Don’s story songs to come alive.

Reviews

A warmly lit library performance space with rows of empty, curved-back wooden chairs facing a small raised platform where a single vintage-style microphone stands beside an acoustic guitar on a stand. At the edge of the platform, a colorful open storybook lies on a low table, its pages filled with whimsical illustrations of adventure. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves line the walls, their spines forming a rich tapestry of colors. Soft golden-hour light filters through large windows, catching tiny dust motes in the air and creating a cozy, inviting atmosphere. Photographic realism, eye-level composition with gentle depth of field, emphasizing the intimate mood of a musical storytelling program about to begin in a midwestern town library.

Aya Nakamura

Our kids were singing the stories for days—Don’s program was the highlight of our summer reading lineup.

A close-up, photographic view of an acoustic guitar resting horizontally across a stack of well-worn children’s storybooks on a smooth wooden library table. The guitar’s honey-colored wood has a soft satin finish, with light reflecting off its curved body and polished tuning pegs. Around it lie colorful felt puppets, a small hand drum, and a harmonica, hinting at playful musical storytelling. In the softly blurred background, bookshelves and a wall map subtly suggest a small-town Midwest setting. Warm, diffused overhead lighting creates gentle highlights and soft shadows, giving the scene a friendly, playful atmosphere. Shot from a slightly elevated angle with shallow depth of field, focusing attention on the mix of instruments and story materials ready for a family library program.

Mateo García

Don effortlessly engaged preschoolers through grandparents; his story songs fit our literacy goals and filled the room with smiles.