Kamishibai

I've hit on a new method of storytelling that really works for me. Somewhat similar to Kamishibai, a Japanese form of storytelling with story cards.

I wanted to tell Little Red Riding Hood in my preschool story time today, but there weren't any book versions I particularly like and I didn't have any flannel pieces (nor time to make any). So I went online and found some simple pictures (one of Red Riding Hood, one of her and the wolf, one of grandma, one of just the wolf, and one of the woodcutter).

I began by holding up the picture of Little Red Riding Hood (from the back) and asking the kids what they thought it was. I got a few bizarre answers, as per usual, but the third or fourth guess was Little Red Riding Hood. (I was lucky!) Then I preceded to ask if the children knew the story. They answered in the affirmative. This is key, and why I think the story worked so well. Had they been unfamiliar with the story I don't think it would have been as successful.

I told the story, softly and quietly, taking prompts from the children. After asking them who Little Red Riding Hood met in the forest I then displayed the picture of her with the wolf. They listened and helped with rapt attention and spontaneously applauded at the end. :D

This is by no means a new form of storytelling, but it is new to me and I can't wait to try it out again.

2nd Grade Class Visit

We've been having a lot of school visits throughout the year. We do a tour half the time and storytime the other half, with a chance for them to select and check out a book. I had one of the best audiences I've ever had this morning. I was lucky and got to do the storytime section twice, because I was splitting the duty with a librarian who likes to do the tour part. Win-win.

I like to start off with Shel Silverstein's poem "Sick". Today I had a large stack of books with me, because I couldn't decide where to stop. (Unfortunately the stack did not include Who Is Melvin Bubble?, my newest favorite read aloud.) I shared Hot City because I love the language, and to escape the bitter cold we're finally experiencing. I also shared Wolves, The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs, "I Dream a World" by Langston Hughes, and The Paper Bag Princess. I also told Stephanie's Ponytail, which has yet to fail me.

The first group ate everything up. An administrator passing by (and waiting for the nearby elevator) got sucked in and stopped to listen. (YAY!) I was on cloud nine.

I could tell right away the second group of students was different. They were much less engaged and vocal. Turns out it was a special ed classroom. But by the end I had them talking with me and really participating. FTW.

Many of the kids came and told me afterward that they liked my stories, mentioning their favorite bits. This is why I love my job.

PTO Storytelling

I had an outreach to a PTO group tonight. Now, since I don't often have the opportunity to speak to a group of adults I was rather nervous. The fact that I left my notes and one stack of materials behind at the library didn't help a whole lot.

I'd intended to start with a very short fable about truth and story. However, it wasn't something I'd practiced a lot and ended up using my old stand by, Stephanie's Ponytail by Robert Munsch. Now, I was somewhat nervous about telling to adults, even more so about telling a children's story to them. It was just something I felt I needed to do, so I wasn't just up there talking at them.

It went so much better than I would ever have expected. I made them laugh! I even got a few of them to whisper the repeated parts along with me. And they almost all had the glazed listeners look. If you tell stories, you know the one I'm talking about. I'm still feeling great about it.

I rushed through the rest of my presentation and probably bungled it a bit, but I can tell a story. I'm hoping to plan a program this spring just for storytelling and continuing to develop my craft of storytelling.