How do you keep children enthralled when storytelling?

First of all, you need to choose the right story- right for the age, interests and experiences of the audience.

Choose the story because you like it too. (Apart from those “old favourites” you may know by heart, but your child absolutely loves!)It’s then time to have fun together sharing the story.

 

At the end of a long day..

At the end of a long day..

All these elements were in abundance at the storytelling of “Whale in the Bath” by Kylie Westaway, illustrated by Tom Jellett , Allen and Unwin  publishers, at The Children’s Bookshop recently.

We talked about what whales eat (‘krill’- the little boy in the story ends up smelling like krill!!).

How BIG a whale was….and  how many elephants are as big as a whale ???

Is a Whale as big as a Dinosaur?

Is a Whale as big as a Dinosaur?

What sounds do they make?Tom size of an elephant

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lots of wonderful  questions, language and thinking even before we started.

Whale in the Bath.

Whale in the Bath.

And then we launched into it…There was a whale in the bath using Bruno’s bubble bath!

But Bruno has been telling his family about other unusual animals ….they just don’t believe him.

This whale has personality, and what’s more he’s scrubbing his back with Dad’s back scrubber.

There’s a big problem to be solved ….

Tom and Kylie shared reading the book and developing the conversation.

At the end, we tried to work out other animals that might fit in the bath and even ended up with Grandma in there .

Tom sharing whale in the bath .

Tom sharing “Whale in the bath” .

Highly recommended for 3+ and we’re ready to read it again!

Thanks Kylie,Tom and The Children’s Bookshop for one of the best storytime launches 100 Stories Before School has been to lately.

Kylie reading book.

Kylie reading Whale In The Bath.”Ally stop telling tales ” Mum said.”Bruno,get in the bath.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Playgroup and early education activities.

Sadly, you don’t have Tom to do more illustrations as you read, but you can make a felt board set to go with the story.

Try these ideas:

Whale – free printable  http://www.firstpalette.com/tool_box/printables/whale.html

Walrus

Bear

Bath

Rubber ducky

Bubbles

Little Boy -why not use a photo of your child, or a child in your  group

Tom’s family- Mum, Dad, brother, sister- try using junk mail images.

Krill- check out the internet.

Shower

Wet little boy-just draw over another little boy image again with blue crayon or texta.

Kylie has a website and Pinterest page with activities linked to the book.  Whale in the Bath is her first book.

http://kyliewestaway.com.au/fun-stuff/activities/

http://www.pinterest.com/kyliewestaway/whale-in-the-bath/

(Make a whale, pin the tail on the whale.)

Tom has a website, with some other books he has illustrated- some of our favourites are:

  • My Dad Thinks He’s Funny,
  • My Dad Still Thinks He’s Funny,
  • My Mum Says The Strangest Things (shortlisted Speech Pathology Book of the Year 2014) all by Katrina Germein, Walker Books.
  • Seadog (winner, young children, Speech Pathology Book of the Year 2013)  Claire Saxby, Random House.

http://tomjellett.com/?page_id=51

Whale in the bath author and illustrator 2

Here’s the team for Whale in the Bath.

 

Teacher notes

Allen and Unwin have a website with PDF teacher notes- mainly geared to primary classes but with some early education comments.

http://www.allenandunwin.com/default.aspx?page=511&book=9781743318584

Teacher PDF comments:

http://www.allenandunwin.com/_uploads/BookPdf/TeachersReview/9781743318584.pdf

 

Other imaginative animal and people stories.

From the 100 Stories Before School booklist

  • Click Clack Moo, Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin, illustrated Betsy Lewin. Simon and Schuster.
  • Good Dog Carl by Alexandra Day (first book in a series- You’re a good dog Carl) Aladdin paperbacks.

Other favourites.

  • A Lion In The Meadow by Margaret Mahy, illustrated Jenny Williams. Picture Puffin.The little boy runs in to tell his mother there is a lion at the bottom of the meadow- she says ” nonsense little boy!”
  • Animals Should Definitely Not Wear Clothing by Judi and Ron Barrett.Atheneum Books for Young Readers. Imagine an opossum wearing his shirt upside down, a snake losing his clothes ,and a  billy goat eating his pants.
  • The Boy Who Was Followed Home by Margaret Mahy, illustrated by Steven Kellogg. Puffin books. Robert is followed home first by first one, then many, hippopotami, who love the fish pond and his home.
  • The Unexpected Crocodile by Kirsty Murray,illustrated by Sara Acton, Allen and Unwin-coming soon late 2014 in paperback.

Find these books at your local library, local bookshop or online.

Check out our next post for more whale books, rhymes and activities to use with Whale In The Bath.

Do let us know any more stories that you know of.Let’s add to the list!