About
Muriel "Monik" Johnson was born and raised in Salisbury, Maryland, where she lived until the age of 18. She grew up in a home where language and storytelling were celebrated. Her mother—an English teacher, actress, and avid reader—regularly filled their home with stories, songs, and nursery rhymes. As a child, Muriel would sit in awe, absorbing every word. By the age of five, she had already developed an exceptional vocabulary, a vivid imagination, and a natural gift for expression.
It was no surprise that Muriel, in turn, became both a mother and a teacher, instinctively passing on the same gifts of language and wonder that her mother had shared with her. As a young adult, Muriel moved to California, where she built a life, raised three children and taught at a Reggio Emilia–inspired school for over 25 years while also honing her craft as a professional storyteller. Muriel has performed at schools, universities, colleges, churches, theaters, festivals, and countless other venues—from Wyoming to West Africa.
Muriel is an adept and passionate early childhood educator and teaches workshops for students, parents and educators alike; helping them bring out the storyteller within. In 2021, Muriel added “author” to her repertoire with the publication of her first children’s book, We Sing Like This.
Recently, Muriel relocated to New England to be closer to two of her three grandchildren. She continues to share her passion for storytelling and its role in early literacy and language development. Muriel is proud to be a participating artist with Arts for Learning Massachusetts and enjoys telling stories and giving workshops in schools throughout the state when she's not touring internationally.
In 2022, Muriel had the honor of traveling to Brazil for a multi-city tour. In 2023, her storytelling took her to Colombia and Panama. The same year she was a featured teller at the renowned Sierra Storytelling Festival in Nevada City—a festival she had the distinguished honor of emceeing in 2017. In 2024, Muriel toured Peru and is excited to return in 2026 for another unforgettable tour.
In addition to her work as a performing artist, Muriel is also a visual artist. She creates unique portraits using real, ethically sourced butterfly wings. To view her visual art, visit artofnaturebymonik.com.
