About
Lil' Miss Story Hour
Lil' Miss Story Hour (Vanessa Little) is a long time educator with more than 30 years of experience teaching and working with individuals of all ages. She is passionate about integrating literature into all areas of learning, especially math, science, and the arts. Vanessa lived the first nine years of her life in Germany, then moved the Colorado Springs area, where she grew up specifically in Falcon, Colorado. She received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mathematics and Elementary Education Certification with an emphasis in Reading Instruction from Colorado State University-Pueblo in 2004, and received a Master of Science Degree in Mathematics from George Mason University in 2011. She has taught Preschool through 8th grade in Prince Georges County, Maryland, Northeast Washington DC, and Colorado Springs, CO. She has been a Math instructor at George Mason University, American University, CU Boulder, and Colorado State University. Presently, she is a substitute teacher for Colorado Springs School District 11 and Falcon School District 49, running her piano business Miss Vanessa's Piano Studio, and writing three children's books and her memoirs.
Our Programming
Lil’ Miss Story Hour is a Colorado Springs, Colorado based donation-run literacy program which was founded and directed by Vanessa Little in 2019. We provide monthly public story times and other events (in-person and virtual) that present a diverse range of children's literature to children of all ages. Children’s books that are chosen for program events are carefully selected so as to focus on stories written and illustrated by a variety of authors and illustrators. A specific emphasis in our story time programming is placed on highlighting authors and illustrators from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour) communities.
Our Mission and Philosophy
We believe very strongly that representation matters especially in children’s literature and picture books. We believe that ALL children deserve to see themselves in media. The underrepresentation of BIPOC characters in children’s picture books and children’s literature is significant, and we want to change the narrative of the kind of books selected for children’s events. Our country is a wonderful mix of many beautiful cultures from around the globe, and the children in this country should know that it is possible to access books with characters who look like them.