Published by Hodder Children's Books
and written by Mick Inkpen

Available from 18th January 2005.

A half hour session to include stories about that loveable children's book character, Kipper the dog.  I use toys to enhance the experience and songs loosely based on the theme. 
Aimed at 5's and under. Cost on application.

Please enquire if you have any questions:
louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk 


Animals Real and Imaginary Session

I am now doing a session featuring the Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler, published by Macmillan Children's books and Dear Zoo written by Rod Campbell and published by Campbell Books. This session focuses on Animals Real and Imaginary and includes the two above mentioned books plus songs about real animals such as Baa Baa Black Sheep, Two Little Dicky Birds, 12345 once I caught a fish alive and Cows in the Kitchen. I tell these stories using loads of toy animals and for Dear Zoo they are hidden in boxes and the kids have to guess what they are from clues I have stuck to the outside of the boxes.

Please enquire if you have any questions:
louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk 

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Food Glorious Food

Have you ever had trouble getting your little ones to eat?

No-one can be as bad as the little girl in Eat Your Peas by Kes Gray and Nick Sharratt (published by Red Fox). Her mom ends up promising her the earth but she still won't eat them. And there is a nice surprise at the end. Do YOU like sprouts? I will be telling this story using play peas and sprouts.

Following this we will have a chat about which kind of food we like and which kinds we don't. There will also be songs to sing such as Five Currant Buns, Ten Fat Sausages, One potato, two potato, Five Crispy Pancakes and Jelly on a Plate. I will then tell some more food related stories so everyone should go home ready to eat their dinner!

Please enquire if you have any questions:
louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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The Animals Went in Two By Two

Having been specifically asked by one of my groups to do the Noah’s Arks story I will be concentrating on this theme for June 2005.

The whole session will be based on this classic bible story using Noah’s Ark written by Lucy Cousins. I will be using a toy Noah’s Ark fully equipped with animals that will enhance the story for the children.

I will also incorporate other animal stories such as Commotion in the Ocean. Once again props will be used to tell these lovely stories which consist of loads of short rhymes about each creature.

As usual the stories will be broken up by songs; all about animals this time of course. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you are interested in this session.

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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Year 4 Session at Cooper and Jordan May 2005

This was a new experience for me, storytelling to older children.

I started with a story that I had learnt called the Brook in the King’s Garden which was a traditional kind of fairy tale.

This was followed by the first page or so of a Goosebumps book chosen by a boy in the class and then the children added a sentence each as we went round the class inventing the story for ourselves; we made it so scary in the end I wasn’t sure any of us would sleep that night!

After that I read a picture book for older children called Power and Glory by Emily Rodda which went down amazingly well. We certainly made plenty of noise and I think this was the best part of the session ( I am awaiting evaluation forms; watch this space!)

Thank you to Mrs Edmond’s class for letting me practice on you!!!

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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Everybody Loves Elmer!

As the title suggests Elmer never fails to delight young children.
This loveable patchwork elephant is brought to life through various stories such as Elmer’s Friends, Elmer’s Colours, Elmer’s Weather and the original Elmer storybook all written by David McKee and published by Andersen Press.
I will read the stories using a range of props and then we will discuss what we have learnt about Elmer in the stories.
And of course we will have the usual songs and a nice poem about the zoo where our favourite animal is, of course, the elephant!

Cost: on application.
Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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All the Colours of the Rainbow
This is a lovely session focussing on colours which toddlers will love to share in.  We use the storysack of Mrs Rainbow whose lovely colourful cottage just wasn't in keeping with the rest of the village so had to be painted grey...
We play some games to see how well the children know their colours and of course sing plenty of songs throughout.

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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Winnie the Pooh
This is an old favourite who always delights the children.  Using all the famous Winnie the Pooh soft toy characters we act out certain little stories which the children take part in.  There is the story of a Blustery Day, Rabbit's Garden and The Strange Flower.  The children really enjoy watering the flower for Eeyore and working out what the strange flower really is!

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk
 
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Easter 2006
I will be presenting a story and song session with the Easter story at the beginning. If you would prefer not to include the Christian viewpoint then please let me know. 

I am then doing stories and songs on the theme of the Easter Bunny and children enjoying Easter using toys to enhance the experience

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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People Who Help Us

This session begins with a little chat about who the children can think help us. Then we focus on Fireman Fergus (a finger puppet) with a story and a song. After that we look at doctors and nurses, having great fun with life size (well almost) puppets. We do a story about going to see the doctor and we act out the story on a child who volunteers to be ill!

After that the old favourite Miss Polly song goes down well. Time allowing we also look at stories and songs with hair dressers, teachers and postmen! Have been asked to do vicars and am still researching! This is a fun session, with an unusual emphasis on a non fiction subject.

I will also do stories about Jesus the Healer (if required). The 2 stories I have chosen are where he heals a deaf person and the other is when he makes a blind man see.

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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FERGUS THE FARMYARD DOG
This session will be based on all the animals of the farmyard, using Fergus as a focus. I will use 2 Fergus stories; the original one by Tony Maddox and also Fergus Goes Quackers. Both of the stories will have the usual toys to bring them to life. I will also be using props to sing Old Macdonald had a Farm and plenty of other favourite farm animal songs. I have plenty of other farm animal stories to tell at this session such as Curly Pig, Woolly Lamb and Scruffy Teddy Goes to the Farm.

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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DAISY and other DUCKS.
For this story and song session I will mainly use the well known Daisy stories by Jane Simmons; namely Come on Daisy, Shout Daisy Shout and Daisy and the Moon. For all these stories I have plenty of ducks and other props to bring the action to life. There will be plenty of songs to sing and also a chance to listen to the story of the little known Dillon the Duck.

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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THE SEASONS
For this session we are having a cold winter story about penguins, a lovely hot story set in Africa for the summer and a wonderful Kipper April showers story for spring. Autumn will be represented as well.There are some appropriate songs in between the stories and
of course props will be used to bring the stories to life.

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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A Fruity/Foodie Story Session

We are all talking about food at the moment; whether it be healthy or not. So, this session includes an old favourite of mine called The Shopping Basket by John Burningham. I will also use Handa's Surprise by Eileen Browne and Oliver's Fruit Salad which is a lovely book talking about home grown fruit by Vivian French. Eat Your Peas by Kes Gray will give a lighthearted approach to the childish dislike of vegetables. As usual, these stories will be enhanced by props and songs.

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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TREES AND FLOWERS

Children are always fascinated by the natural world of trees and flowers and this session explores that interest for the under 5's . Using plenty of props as usual I will tell Jasper's Beanstalk by Nick Butterworth and Fran's Flower by Lisa Bruce. These stories will be interspersed with songs and shorter stories. The subject of plants and flowers growing from seed will be explored. If you are interested in this session please email louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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PIRATES!!!!!!!!
Well we all love a good story about pirates.  This session introduces
Captain Shiver Me Timbers who will tell you stories, rhymes and songs all about the dastardly deeds of various pirates...some nice and some not so nice.  One half hour session will set you back a few gold coins but I guarantee it will be worth it!


Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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Christmas Story Session

Suitable for ages 2-7.
As well as the traditional nativity told using finger puppets and a few songs (some new and some traditional) I also do the story of the bad tempered snowman using a song the children can join in with after each section. What will happen to this grumpy character when the schoolteacher invites him in to her house for a lovely warm by the fire?

Email: louise.storyteller@blueyonder.co.uk

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