Learning Commons -Makerspaces

Storytelling Resources: How to Tell A Story

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Storytelling Resources 6: Tools

 

Tools of Storytelling

1. Costumes

You can dress up like a character, such as if you are Olivia you can wear a red dress and a pair of pig ears. Or you can be simpler. If you are telling a story about cowboys, wear a cowboy hat or if you are a fairy, put on fairy wings. Even these small things can help immerse the audience in the story. Look at Pinterest or google images for some easy to make costume ideas. Kindergarten Kiosk has some simple ideas that might help as well. Check their site: https://www.kindergartenkiosk.com/kindergartenkiosk/3/23/halloween-costume-ideas-for-teachers

 

2. Props

As with costumes, the can be simple. If you are telling Jack and the Beanstalk, you can have a handful of beans and a golden egg. If a character in your story has a wand, you can make or buy one to flourish at appropriate times when casing a spell. These possibilities can be endless. The trick is to make sure they are easy to wield and store. You might need a bag or box for your beans. Whatever it is you choose, make sure it is easy to use. For Dear Zoo, I used a manila folder with the front cut out while keeping the door in place. Inside were large postcards that could be taken out to reveal what new animal the zoo had sent the reader. The kids love guessing the animals.

 

3. Puppets

Puppets can serve many functions in a storytelling program. One of the biggest advantages is that kids tend to focus on them. They treat the puppet like it’s another person regardless if you are a ventriloquist or not. They have faces and features and expressions. They can be simple or complex, but they will help add another character to your story even if you are the only performer.

 

4. Felt Boards

Making decorative panels, characters, and props offers another visual element to draw the audiences attention. These can be simple, food, or they can be complex monkeys climbing a tree and the crocodile that lingers beneath them. They may not be as individual as puppets, not becoming characters on their own, but it does keep he attention of the audience and enhances the story,

5. Instruments

Music is a wonderful element to add to storytelling performances. Jingle bells, ukuleles, drums, or even just the performers voice layers the story. Using songs and chants encourages the audience to participate and join in with the storyteller. The instruments just make the songs even better.

6. Songs

These can be familiar songs, like Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Sar,  or they can be something the performer creates to add to their story. It doesn’t have to be just songs. Animal noises and sound effects draw the audience deeper, and how many kids are not happy to throw their head back and howl? Make the songs and sounds enhance the story.

7. Chants

Like with songs, chants can be simple and familiar, or they can be fresh and have to be taught to the audience as the performer gest to them in their tale. Think if the Three Little Pigs. Most kids know the wolf’s huff and puff exchange and the pigs hairy chins. Layer this into the story and get the audience to join you. They will pay attention so they know when to use the chant.

 

8. Audience Participation

The trend of “audience participation” can be found in many of the tools above. If an audience can chant, sing, dance, or make sound effects, they are going to stay focused on the story. Kids and adults familiar with the stories are enthusiastic with a little difference and they learn very quickly when encouraged to join in. Making them part of the story enhances the event for them and for the storyteller as well.

9. Crafts

Having a craft after the event related to the stories is a pleasure, but what if you can make it part of the story> Use newspaper, roll it up, cut, and boom, you can have a beanstalk for Jack to interact. (Okay, maybe not me, but I have seen it done). Drawing stories on a large pad as the story is told can add wonder and magic to the story. Draw a flower and use each petal as part of the story’s journey.

10. Setting

Some stories can be enchanted with a little bit of setting. It can be simple, a puppet box that looks like a dragon cave or something far more complex. If you a re telling a story on the sea, build a pirate ship to stand in or next to during the story, The audience will be riveted and want to know what your doing with the ship next,

Use the tools that work for you. I’m not very crafty, to be honest, but I can sing and play a few instruments. I can add those with simple props, like a candle as my story creeps through the dark, or layer on a cowboy hat and a bet if that character would wear it. Find what works the best for you. Play to your strengths and have fun with the tools and the stories you share.

Sources

Brotherbae. “Image – Bus on Shelf:. Accessed 30 April 2018.  https://pixabay.com/en/toy-bus-school-bus-props-2113528/

Evecolor. “Image – Boy in Costume”. Accessed 30 April 2018. https://pixabay.com/en/portrait-one-people-sunglasses-3293849/

Haven, Kendall and Ducey, Mary Gay. “Crash Course in Storytelling. Libraries Unlimited. 2007.

Lehman, Kim. “Entertaining and Educational Programs.” Accessed 30 April 2018. https://www.kimlehman.com/

Storytelling Resources 5: Book Trailers

Storytelling can be used for many occasions, Marketing is one of those, As we’re talking about stories, let’s look at book trailers. Publishers and authors will hire professionals to create teaser trailers for upcoming books. Authors will make their own and fans will honor books and authors they love by creating their own. These trailers are video blurs, offering information like what might be found on the back of a book, complete with all the teasing. Below re several book trailers across ages, genres, and skills used to make them. Some are professional and others are made by fans.

Book Trailers:

1. Shadow House by Dan Poblocki

Shadow House invites children in and traps them with ghosts. They can’t get out and many go missing. (Horror – Middle Grade)

 

2. The Missing Found by Margaret Peterson Haddix

A plane appeared with no pilot, no adult, only babies on board. Some children receive letters claiming they were one of those babies (Time Travel – Middle Grade)

 

 

3. Wonder by R. J. Palacio

August was born different and his parents protected him as much as they could. Now, he must enter a normal school with normal people and discover how to find his place. (Contemporary – Middle Grade)

 

4. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Regan Barnhill

Luna was given to a witch as a sacrifice when she was a baby, but she was special. Now, she may be the only person that can save the witch, Xan, with her own magic. (Fantasy – Middle Grade)

 

 

 

5. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

\Starr is a young woman trapped by impossible choices – living in a poverty-stricken neighborhood and attending an elite private school. What is she supposed to do when Khalil, a childhood friend, is shot unjustly by a cop in front of her?  (Young Adult – Contemporary)

 

6. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Cinder is a retelling of Cinderella that brings in space, aliens, and genetic mutations. Cinder herself is a cyborg and a talented mechanical engineer. Can she survive her evil stepmother and a society that sees cyborgs as non-citizens? (Young Adult – Science Fiction)

 

7. Scythe by Neal Shusterman

People no longer die. Thunderhead, the AI, has made sure of it so Scythes are chosen an only they can end a human’s life. Two teams must compete to become Scythes, but will they survive the training? (Young Adult – Science Fiction)

 

8. Warcross by Marie Lu

A bounty hunter only finds escape in the virtual reality game, Warcross. Though popular and the creator seen as a technological hero, things are not what they seem. Can she delve into the virtual world and find the truth? (Young Adult – Science Fiction)

 

9. Raven Boys by Maggie Steifvater

Clairvoyant Blue helps her mother herald the dead where they belong until Gansey crosses the wrong way – toward them. Can Blue help Gansey fond out what happened to the rest of the Raven Boys? (Young Adult – Fantasy *Trailer illustrated and created by author*)

 

10. A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab

Four London’s exist in four different worlds, and only an antari, like Kell, can breach the walls between them. Not all the cities or worlds are as harmonious and filled with magic as his own. Can Kell stop a threat from another London against his own? (Adult – Fantasy)

Videos

Booktrailersforteens. “Video – Wonder”. Accessed 30 Aprl 2018. https://youtu.be/vyvyGFjLiZY

CBS. “Video – The Missing Found”. Accessed 30 April 2018. https://youtu.be/swRTZpnsXgY

Ingalls, Kathleen. “Video – The Girl Who Drank the Moon”, Accessed 39 April 2018. https://youtu.be/SzTNIECAX5w

Luongsoupham, Kayla. “Video – Cinder”. Accessed 30 April 2018. https://youtu.be/bRmxQxfIaGc

Luongsouphom. Kayla. “Video – The Hate U Give”. Accessed 30 April 2918. https://youtu.be/h7RcHAsR2R0

Penguin Teen. “Video – Warcross”, Accessed 30 April 2018. https://youtu.be/Zj_Q44ruIuA

Scholastic. “Video – Shadow House”. Accessed 30 April 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFt5eQ7eS0w

Steifvater, Maggie. “Video – Raven Boys”. Accessed 30 April 2018. https://youtu.be/nWzaJrJUP-w

Tina. “Video – A Darker Shade of Magic”. Accessed 30 April 2018. https://youtu.be/AIt_2DaGFzU

Walker Books. “Video – Scythe”. Accessed 30 April 2018. https://youtu.be/HPZPY8UWhSk

 

 

 

Storytelling Resources 4: Storytellng Themes

When planning a storytelling performance, having a theme for your stories might help the elements flow together. This will help you choose songs, crafts, audience participation opportunities, and more. Below is a list of theme ideas, but there are far more themes that can be used. Dinosaurs, environments, urban legends, even ninjas and monsters can be used if you do your research and find the right stories. There is a version of the Three Little Pigs that has a ninja theme, Three Ninja Pigs (9780399255144) that could be modified for an oral storytelling with fun props and costumes. Take the suggestions below and modify and change them to fit you, your storytelling preferences, and what fits your community.

 

Themes

1. Holidays:

Holiday events draw people to libraries. If a storytime or storytelling event falls near or on a holiday, put together a storytelling event to entertain families that have come to the library for other events, such as crafts or Hogwarts Holidays. The themes for this can be endless. Consider myths and legends from other countries and cultures that might enrich the storytelling.

Halloween: witches, monsters, zombies, vampires, Halloween parties

Christmas: Hanukah, Kwanza, Santa Clause, Polar Express, Jesus’s birth

Thanksgiving: Giving, sharing, families, history, feasts

Mother/Father’s Day: Celebrate parents and families

Easter: Easter Bunny, egg hunts, spring

Fourth of July: celebration, fireworks, picnics, families, independence

 

2. Seasons: Look at cultural myths on how the seasons started. Choose stories that might help teach about the way the world changes in each season.

Summer: beaches, vacations, heat, fun

Spring: rebirth, flowers, awakening

Autumn: color, leaves, holidays, fall festivals

Winter: snow, Jack Frost, snowmen, sledding, ice, cold

 

3. Mythologies across nations: Take the opportunity to introduce audiences to stories from other cultures. Use mythologies from several that are similar such as Coyote and Anansi, both tricksters from different cultures. Resources for ideas can be found in this post:

Native American: animals, the four directions, White Buffalo Woman

American: Northern Lights, Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, Rosie the Rivoter

African: Anansi, Circle of Life, gods, ancestors, heroes

Aztec/Mayan creation myths, nature, animals, religion

Irish: Tuatha de Dannan, wee folk, fairies, gods, spirits

German: Nix, mermaids, giants, gods, spirits

 

4. Creatures: Monsters are fascinating to kids. Whether it is vampires or trolls or aliens, kids are drawn to these stories. Make them funny, fun, and creepy and the audience will be riveted.

Dragons:          fire, gold, princes or knights, princesses, St. George

Unicorns:         innocence, beauty, young girls, magic, hope

Griffons:         flight, freedom, eagle and lion, Harry Potter

Mermaids:       sea, ocean, sailors, beaches, songs

Loch Ness Monster:    Nessie, kelpie, rives, lochs, Scotland

Aliens: space, technology, planets, asteroids, space ships

 

5. Fairy Tales/Folk Tales/Fables

Children and adults enjoy fairy and folk tales and fables. Using modern versions can put a new spin on them or using the classics that many have heard before can reintroduce them to favorite stories.

Cinderella: The Egyptian Cinderella, The Rough-Face Girl, Ashpet, Angkat

Beauty and the Beast: The Pig King, Scarlet Flower,

Rumpelstiltskin: Tom Tit Tot, Whoopity Stoorie, Penelope, Mistress Beautiful

Rapunzel: The Canary Prince, Prunella, The White Cat

Pecos Bill: Dust Devil

Three Little Pigs: Three Ninja Pigs, Three Little Cajun Pigs, Three Little Javelinas, The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

Tortoise and the Hare: Hip! Hop! Don’t Stop, The Groovy True Story of the Tortoise and the Hare

 

 

Images

Cocoparisienne . “Image – Witch”. Accessed 29 April 2018. https://pixabay.com/en/witch-s-house-the-witch-moonlight-1635770/

 

Dutchpirates. “Image – Rapunzel Towers”.  Accessed 29 April 2018, https://pixabay.com/en/rapunzel-prince-horse-fairy-tale-2928820/

 

Kellepics. “Image – Frost Giant”. Accessed 29 April  2018 https://pixabay.com/en/fantasy-landscape-mountains-human-2925250/

Parker_West/61. “Image – Centaurs”. Accessed 29 April 2018. https://pixabay.com/en/centaur-centaurs-sagittarius-chiron-3189763/

 

Suju. “Image: Snowman”. Accessed 29 April 2018, https://pixabay.com/en/snow-man-snow-winter-cold-wintry-3008179/

 

 

Storytelling Rescources 3 – Books

 

Websites and other digital sources are great places to locate resources and ideas for storytelling performances, but some details can best be gleaned from books. Below, I have listed several books to help find stories and others that help with storytelling tools, arts, crafts, and most Together, these resources can help make a storytelling performance an event where kids and adults connect with the stories. They remember them, remember the songs, and remember the tools used to help bring the stories to life. I hope these books can help.

 

Books for Stoytelling:

1. Treasury of Greek Mythology – Napoli, Donna Jo – ISBN: 9781426308444

This book gathers the gods, goddesses, creatures, and heroes of Greek mythology together in once book. Culture, history, geography, and constellations teach history to the readers about the stories.

2. Norse Mythology – Gaiman, Neil – ISBN: 9780393609097

With the skills honed by his bestselling books, Neil Gaiman presents the history of the Norse gods from their inception to Ragnarock. Using a novel format, the stories unfold with giants, beasts, and more.

3. Native American Mythology – Olhoff, Jim – ISBN: 9781617147173

The author tells stories from many Native American tribes. He notes their similarities and their differences to showcase the different tribes.

4. African Mythology by Olhoff, Jim – ISBNL 9781617147166

Delve into Africa with tales of their gods, goddess, creation tales, and tricksters. Olhoff presents the information with care and great skill that is great for beginners to grasp.

5. Great Irish Legends for Children –Carroll, Yvonne and Lawrie, Robin – ISBN: 9781589803459

Irish tales and legends that have been told for hundreds of years find a home in this six-volume set. The wide variety of topics and the pronunciation guides will help make these stories a vivid part of storytelling.

 

6. The Storytelling Handbook– Pellowski, Anne – ISBN: 9781416975984

Though geared toward younger audiences, this complete book on storytelling contains many tools that will help a new performer. It comes with funny, uplifting, and fun stories to tell.

7. Transmedia Storytelling: A Librarian’s Guide – by Hovious, Amanda S. ISBN: 9781440838484

A complete guide that teaches librarians how to aid digital storytelling to their programming. The focus is on K – 12.

8. Engaging Community Through Storytelling by Norfolk, Sherry – ISBN: 9781440850691

This book covers the impact of storytelling on communities through libraries. There are guidelines, help, and resources to create long-reaching events with resonance.

9. Storytelling: Art and Technique by Greene, Ellin – ISBN: 9781591586005

This book covers everything need for a great story session. Not only are there books and resources, but the book  discusses promotion, seating arrangements, and effective cue cards.

10. Improving Your Storytelling by Lipman, Doug – ISBN: 9780874835304

This book delves more deeply into storytelling, moving beyond the basics.  Using stories for events, work, and play are covered with teaching a performer to think on their feet.

 

 

Images

 

Boboshow. “Image – Athena”. Accessed 29 April 2018.  https://pixabay.com/en/goodness-athena-europe-athens-2258249/

Creative Commons. “Image – Njordr”. Accessed 28 April 2018.  https://pixabay.com/en/statue-figure-bronze-nj%C3%B6r%C3%B0r-514829/

Pixaby. “Image – Magic Book”. Accessed 27 April 2018.  https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-reading-a-book-256546/

 

 

Storytelling Resources 2: Folk Tales

 

To continue our look into resources to help with storytelling, we’re going to look at websites that feature folk tales. This goes beyond common stories but pulls folk tales from all over the world before you attention. Folk tales like Pecos Bill and Paul Bunyan have good company from across the world and can make a storytelling performance more entertaining, nuanced, and educational.

Check out the sites listed below. Keep in mind this is only a very small sampling. The internet has thousands of sites that include stories that can be used in a storytelling environment. If nothing resonates with you, if it doesn’t fit what you want to tell, did deeper and see what you can find.

Exploring, learning, and growing are some of the best ways to hone skills.

 

Folk Tales

1. Storytelling in the Classroom: http://www.storyarts.org/classroom/retelling/findingtales.html

This site has a focus on the library section, 398.2, where fairy tales and folk tales are housed. There are resources, stories, and links to other resources that might help.

2. Aaron’s World of Stories: http://www.aaronshep.com/stories/folk.html

This site is hosted by a storyteller who has gathered resources for stories and tales from all over the world and genres for others to use. There is a section for shorter stories if you need something fast and stories written by Aaron himself.

3. American Folktales and Stores: http://www.americanfolklore.net/sindex.html

Stories from America, Mexico, and Canada can be found on this searchable website. There are folk and tall tales, myths and legends, and even riddles and tongue twisters that can add fun to a performance.

4. Stories for Children Around the World: https://www.worldoftales.com/

Folk tales for children from across the world are gathered in one site that makes it easy to search. There are books A to Z and useful links that will help expand a storytellers collection.

5. Folklore and Mythology: https://www.pitt.edu/~dash/folktexts.html

Hosted by the University of Pittsburg, this site has a large collection of folk tales arranged in alphabetical order.

Images

Susannp4. “Image – Old Woman’s Shoe”. Accessed 28 April 2018. https://pixabay.com/en/shoe-boots-home-boots-house-1519804/

 

Storytelling Reources: Fairy Tales

Oral storytelling can be a rewarding experience for both the performer and the audience. There can be issues that night keep a person from trying to incorporate storytelling into their classrooms, their storytimes, and large events. Over a series of posts, I’m going to try and offer some resources that might help a new storyteller find what works best for them.

We’re going to start by looking at resources that can help spur inspiration, creativity, stories, crafts, and music. There are just simple overview to get someone started as I’m still learning to craft my own storytelling performances. We can learn together.

Our first look is going to talk about fairy tales and websites that can help you locate them. This is a brief overview as there are endless resources to help locate fairy tales from all countries and cultures across the world.

Fairy Tales Resources:

1. Fairy Takes Around the World: http://fairytalesoftheworld.com/all-stories/

Fairy tales and fables gathered from all over the world. Can be searched by location and author.

2. Folk Tales and Fairy Tales for Storyelling: http://www.thestorytelling-resource-centre.com/Folktales.html

A gathering of fairy and folk tales that are favorite stories of modern storytelling.  Resources for events and parties for kids are also included.

3. Fairy Tales for Children: http://www.kidsgen.com/fables_and_fairytales/

Collections of stories for kids grouped by subject such as: fairy and folk tales, moral stories, and fables.

4. World’s Largest Collection of Fairy Tales: https://fairytalez.com/

This site has more than 2500 stories to look through. They can be sorted with location and author or collections. They also include an option to upload what you’ve written.

5. Sur La Lune Fairy Tales: http://www.surlalunefairytales.com/

This site includes fairytales along with their histories and modern interpretations. They also list similar fairy tales from different regions,

6. Story Nory Fairy Tales: https://www.storynory.com/category/fairy-tales/

Not only does this story include fairy tales, but it also has classic authors, music and poems, and myths from around the world. All these can be used to enhance a performance.

Images

Emerly, James. “Image – Fairy Tale Window”.  Accessed 28 April, 2018 https://www.flickr.com/photos/emeryjl/1156283325/in/photolist-2LbfKp-5j1z6d-4hyDo1-UU7doY-bZGb31-bWymjH-8s29QL-9hRghX-wQzCxr-YfyFQa-qeBFfh-McwGG1-McwGGG-o1kGdu-23LQpmU-22sKUqn-onf51b-8NSsCR-bZGeqN-7cGri8-5xboQd-bF9q5r-axMWow-g4Pm7-7emYhk-bZD1x9-7eruUc-7emfCr-6MKiQz-q7frfL-4UBF4A-hraPaw-7eq9mQ-7FG1MP-bZCZZJ-4VYrDD-6WuCkc-pQUvp7-mGWnw4-rbxb5j-YUiV3G-nfPbMK-Ve2B1m-cZ6Pc5-4VUp29-75KRd4-Z7b7xU-my5mUD-9Er728-227DK8o

 

Lassaffa. “Image – Little Red Riding Hood”. Accessed 28 April 2018  https://pixabay.com/en/fairy-tales-rotk%C3%A4ppchen-wolf-weird-3355276/

Dust Devil by Anne Isaccs and Paul O. Zelinsky

Tall tales are a distinctly American traditional tale. These stories include Pecos Bill and his lassoing a tornado. Paul Bunyun and his blue ox, Babe. Dust Devil by Anne Issacs fits this genre with a series of very tall tales from Swamp Angel’s giant size to her taming the giant horse, Dust Devil, to her besting Backward Bart and his band of bank robbers in a big way.

Swamp Angel (Caldecott Honor Book) is actually introduced in a book bearing her name. Dust Devil is her second outing and her tale only got bigger. Moving from Montana to Tennessee, Swamp Angel uplifts mountains and uses them as her shade, forming the famous buttes.  The plants on her farm grew just as big and fast as she did. “Some seedlings shot up and rocketed to the sky, taking the cows along for the ride. They weren’t seen again until fall.  When the stalks withered and lowered the cows back to the earth.” A giant dust storm hit Montana, coating everything in dirt, and Swamp Angel decided to tame the storm. Inside she found a giant horse – just what she was looking for – and her attempts to break him made the Grand Canyon. They settle in to a life together with Swamp Angel handling Dust Devil’s wildness until Backward Bart, a man so ugly his mom made him walk backwards his entire life, and his band of thieves riding giant mosquitos terrorize Montana. Kirkus notes about Bart “He walked, spoke and robbed backward ever since. Bart’s garbled threats remain funny even after several readings. “Cash your gimme!” just doesn’t get old” (Kirkus). Swamp Angel knew she needed to take care of them and after a wild horse chase and battle, Angel gets them into the jail.

When one reads this book aloud, it isn’t hard to fall into a slow drawl speech pattern. The tale rolls slowly off the tongue, taking its time getting where it wants to go. This natural cadence adds a rich texture to the narrative, making it a wonderful story to share for a story or bed time.  The illustrations by Paul O. Zelinsky adds to the rich narrative with illustrations designed to make the “tall tale” seem even bigger. Swamp Angel, Dust Devil, and the plants on her farm tower over everyone. Backward Bart and his cronies are just as silly as they sound, going everywhere backward on flying giant mosquitos. The color pallet is a rich sepia with red highlights, pulling in the colors of the plains and the mountains but paints the sky a brilliant palette of blue, gray, and gold.

 

Issacs, Anne and Zelinsky, Paul O. Dust Devil. New York: Random House Children’s Books, 2010.

Isaacs, Anne, and Paul O. Zelinsky. “DUST DEVIL by Anne Isaacs , Paul O. Zelinsky.” Kirkus Reviews, http://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/anne-isaacs/dust-devil-isaacs/. Accessed 24 Sept. 2017.

They All Saw a Cat – Brendan Wenzel

 

They All Saw a Cat by Brendan Wenzell is a simple, elegantly constructed book of contrasts as shown through the variety of art styles and the various topics covered. Though the repetition and easy flow of a few words might not lead one to see the contrasting, yet complimentary topics at first, on a deeper look, they are easy to pick out. The art on each page helps highlight these differences in a visual manner.

Let’s start with the topics that are so cleverly buried in the simple, repetitive lines; topics such as perception, empathy, the senses. The narrative, and the art, start off with what we might expect to see when looking at a cat. The human child sees the cat as a cute, cuddly creature, but the pictures change subtly as the dog and the fox catch a glimpse of the feline. First, the cat changes to look like easier prey: thin and lanky for the dog, fat and frightened for the fox. But, the size of the bell the cat wears changes as well. It grows much larger than what was seen with the child’s view. This is a beautiful way to show that dogs and foxes have a stronger sense of hearing than sight. Thus, the bell’s importance is greater for them than for the human child.

Brilliant, right? It gets better

Wenzel shows the reader how the cat looks to creature’s who see the world differently than they do. The bee sees a huge creature all made of multi-colored dots. When the fish peers at the cat up through the water, all we see is big eyes staring down at the tiny little goldfish.

 

And the skunk’s world is all rendered in subtle tones of black and gray, like an old black and white photograph. This is an early exploration of the senses with a hint of science thrown in, allowing for that early exposure to the STEM topics that grow more important the older a child grows. It also helps awaken the curiosity of the physical world that a child naturally possesses.

 

But one of the best things in this book, is the view of perception and empathy. The child, as noted sees a friendly companion, a creature to cuddle and hug and pet. However, when the mouse sees the cat, the background is angry red and the cat is all teeth and claws and blazing eyes. For the prey, such as the mouse, the cat is not a pleasant friend, but a threat.

 

 

 

The shifts in the art styles – so many I’m not sure I could name them all – helps show the cat as he walks through the world. These dramatic shifts are made more dynamic by the simple, flowing prose, a narrative style that feels like a cat – simple graceful, and lands on solid feet with each new picture. The opening lines, “The cat walked through the world, with its whiskers, ears, and paws . . .” awakens the sense of a cat stalking through room until it winds its way around the human’s leg on the next page for a pet. It’s effective, interesting, and set so simply and with such impact that kids will enjoy reading this book multiple times. It’s not hard to see why it won the Caldecott Medal in 2017.

 

 

Wenzel, Brendan. They All Saw a Cat. Chronicle Books, LLC, 2016. ISBN 9781452150130

https://brendanwenzel.info/