Story Power (for Kids)
“I have a special story collector inside me. You do too, we all do. It’s in our bones.” – The Munchkin, aged almost 4 years.
Aaaaah – the wisdom of children!
Unlike many adults, who have usually forgotten the power of story-telling, children’s lives are created by stories.
My own munchkin (see above) absolutely loves books. In fact, it is the only way I can get him to keep still. From the earliest days, reading him Pooh while he settled down to sleep in his cot – until now, when he plops in my lap with a pile of books, begging me to read him a story (at home, at the library, while I’m trying to get him out of the door to daycare, while I’m trying to take him home from daycare) – books have been one of the most important and special parts of our lives together. His grandparents couldn’t agree more either.
Now he tells stories of his own.
A typical morning in our house consists of him crawling into bed with me (my eyes still barely open) begging me to tell him a Toosie (Cat, Sylvia and Rose, etc etc) story, where we act out several parts of a story that meanders as he and I build the plot together. Similarly, last thing at night – after a book or two – he begs his dad for a Cheetah story, which does the same thing. It’s exhausting but rewarding work!
However, it is through books that the true magic happens. His knowledge, understanding of others and imagination expands, as the intimacy in our relationship grows. And there is something very special about having your little one tucked up close, as you bring the world to him.
One day, probably very soon, he will be able to read for himself. It would be very easy to leave him to his journey of reading on his own.
What a sad prospect.
I hope to read to him for years to come, and explore together Neverland, Narnia, Middle Earth, Hogwarts and other magical realms.
Here are some of our favourite finds – I hope you enjoy them too.
- Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers – gotta love a story where the hero is a penguin
- The Way Back Home by Oliver Jeffers – or an alien!
- Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs and More Adventures of Harry and Dinosaurs by Ian Whybrow – even Nan has to cool down
- And the Bear Snored On by Karma Wilson – I love reading this, it just flies off the tongue.
- Moonpowder by John Rocco – this one’s a library book, if I find a copy, I’m buying it! The steampunk illustrations are a great hit with daddy.
- Russell the Sheep by Rob Scotten – greatly enhanced by glasses drawn by an enthusiastic auntie to look more like another Russell in munchkin’s life – his daddy.
- The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle – an all-time classic, the board book is ideal for finger-poking
- Paddington by Michael Bond – in about a 100 different versions, from the 30th anniversary edition to daddy’s originals
- Diary of a Wombat by Jackie French – does he get the humour? Who cares? I do!
- Thomas the Tank Engine by Rev. W Awdry – the original books, not those with Sodor references! The boxed set for his 1st birthday was one of the best investments we will ever make.
- Honey and Bear by Ursula Dubosarsky – charming, and a good excuse to make seedy cake
- The Nuns go to Penguin Island and The Nuns go to Africa by Jonathon Routh – good luck finding these, they were my bro’s and went out of print a long time ago.
This post was inspired by Leaf’s Little Tackers Story Starter cards as part of my Story Starter Challenge. The Weekly Story Starters chosen at random were: My favourite time… Books.
If you enjoyed this post, or you would like to tell us your story, please send your feedback and stories to contact[at]leafjournals.com. You could win a pack of Story Starter cards of your choice as part of our Monthly Story Telling Competition.
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life in a pink fibro says:
June 18, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Great post! So many books here to read. I’ve found that Mr7 has been inspired by other books to create even more stories – we’ve just had to have a word or two about copyright. Other people’s!
Thanks for Rewinding at the Fibro.
Jackie Katsianas says:
June 19, 2011 at 3:04 am
What a lovely post! I found this via the Fibro Weekend Rewind.
I so clearly remember the wonder of stories and imagination from my childhood and have enjoyed revisiting it all with my own girls, aged five now. They are now learning to read at school and it is very exciting to see them actually start to grasp the act of reading and how wonderful it is. The school reader books of course are not lovely imaginative stories, but it is very cool to watch them relish being able to read simple stories by themselves, and it has re-awakened their interest in some of the story books I used to read them more often when they were younger; we are now reading together again more often as well.
Stories, poetry and imagination – the magic of childhood (and beyond!)
Amanda Kendle says:
June 19, 2011 at 7:20 pm
Oh, I love Diary of a Wombat (my little one, not so much, he just wants the Green Sheep over and OVER again), will have to look up a few more from your list. Thanks for sharing that! (visiting from the Fibro!)