There was plenty of choice for kids this year with many events being free of charge and no need to get a ticket. This is great for parents with young kids who have no idea how their kids will be feeling on the day or even awake at the scheduled time. My biggest challenge was how to fit in activities for my children when there were so many events I wanted to go to for me!
Story Walk in the Woods
The first event we attended was at the Grove, out local woodlands. The event was run by Elly Crichton Stuart who led the children (or get them to lead us) through the forest and hunt out spots for story telling. During our walk she shared a total of ten stories. She was animated in her story telling which appealed to the children and often got them involved.
Sitting on a log, the first story she shared was the Grufflao that she recalled from memory. The children were all familiar with this one. Later, sitting by a large oak tree, she shared a Scottish tale about a White Stag and a girls trip to fairyland. Next, the children sat on a tree stump whilst she shared with them a fable about a pigeon and an ant. Finally, on the field she told a story about the Loneliest Giant and how the salt water shrank him. She encouraged the children to not forget the stories she shared with them and to tell them to others.
You can find out more about Elly by clicking here.
Bread Babies
I had not planned to go to this event, but whilst at an event of my own, I was told about it and when I asked my son if he would like to go, he did.
This event was run by author Richard O’Neil and took place at The Bakery which was a very fitting venue considering the story being shared. The children all sat beautifully at the back of the bakery, listening to a very imaginative tale of a Baker that decided to make bread babies for their customers but there was enough dough left over to make a life size baby. Once baked the big baby vanished only to turn up in the home of a couple that desperately wanted a baby of their own but never had such luch. Now the bread baby is alive and they adopt it.
It was a very entertaining story and Richard shared it in a way that engaged the children. I was very impressed with how Noah paid attention and even whispered “Our baby isn’t made of bread?”
At the end, the owner of the bakery kindly shared some bread babies that she had baked for all the children – there were even some little redhead (jam) ones. My compliments to the Baker – they were so delicious and didn’t make it home.
To learn more about Richard O’Neill and his books, you can follow him on Twitter or visit his website.
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