Odds Bodkin, award-winning performance storyteller, author, musician and educator, occupies a unique niche in the entertainment--and education--world. A multi-voiced character actor and instrumentalist, he fuses his musical and literary muses into "imagination entertainments" for audiences of all ages. Known as a One-Man Symphony of Story, he performs either on six or twelve-string guitars, electric guitar, Celtic harp, grand piano, pipes, drums or kalimba--as he speaks.
The Odds Bodkin Musical Story Collection--his growing line of audio's--represents a new direction in modern storytelling. Giants, tiny fairies, dinosaurs, heroes and heroines, ghosts, kings, gods, goddesses and no few lumberjacks people his visionary world. It is a vivid world where children and their parents can imagine together, laugh, be moved to tears at times, and experience the timeless truths great stories have to offer.
A graduate of Duke University--where he studied psychology, anthropology and the physical sciences--his bardic storytelling has forged a new direction for the theatrical arts. His performances resemble pieces of musical theater, as much as storytelling. Billboard calls him "a modern-day Orpheus." Parents' Magazine calls him "a storyteller supreme".
Since 1982, when he left his life as a whitewater guide, curriculum designer and naturalist, he has made his full-time living as a professional author, educator and bard, touring internationally and entertaining audiences from pre-kindergarten age through retirees.
Little, Brown, Houghton-Mifflin and Harcourt-Brace have published his children's picture books. Rivertree Productions, Inc., one of the Top 100 Audio Publishers in America, publishes his line of eighteen story audios.
Renowned for his renditions of epic tales--The Odyssey, The Rage of Hercules, Sir Percival and the Fisher King, and his latest work, The Harper and The King: The Story of Young David--he holds spellbound audiences of middle and high schoolers, college men and women, and adults--not to mention prison inmates.
With his sometimes humorous, sometimes scary, sometimes gentle, always meaningful repertory of stories for younger children, he delights and engages hundreds of audiences in schools, theaters and festivals every year.

His critically acclaimed Art of the Tale Off-Broadway series at Lincoln Center in New York earned press reviews from The New York Times ("a consummate storyteller") to TimeOut New York ("the talk of the town…a one-man vocal universe").
Bodkin's music, voices and writing enter the ears of families with blind children, as well. Three specially-designed Odds Bodkin story books and audios sit at the heart of Perkins Panda™--a cuddly toy bear who tells stories and sings. In cooperation with educators at Perkins School for the Blind--Helen Keller's school, makers of the Brailler--Odds' newest character, Perkins the Panda Bear, offers early literacy skills to children born blind.
For eight years, Odds taught at Antioch New England Graduate School, awarding credits for masters and doctoral degree programs in education and environmental sciences. Now he shares those same insights into the creative process with his trademark method, The Door to Imagination: How to Awaken Your Inner Storyteller, opening paths to self-expression and personal art for adult learners, professionals, and young people.
He has won the Parents' Choice Gold, Silver and Honor awards for multiple titles, The Indie Award for Best Children's Storytelling, The Storytelling World Award, The New York Public Library's 100 Best Titles for Reading and Sharing Selection, a Booklist Editor's Choice Award, The Oppenheim Platinum Award for Best Children's Audio, American Bookseller's "Pick of the Lists", Dr. Toy's Best Vacation Product Award, The Family Channel Circle of Excellence Award, The Education Source "Top Ten" Award, and numerous others.
In 1991, with arts manager and wife, M. Miguelina Bodkin, and producer/filmmaker David Batchelder, he co-founded Rivertree Productions, Inc. Odds resides in New Hampshire with his wife of twenty-three years, their three sons, and their dog. For information concerning presentations, school visits and audio recordings, please visit Odds’ website: www.oddsbodkin.com