My Storytelling Saga & "Brother Acorn"

Our story this week is Brother Acorn from A Donsy of Gnomes, my new favorite book!  As I've said before storytelling is not something I'm comfortable with.  It just isn't anything I've ever done before. It feels foreign.  I've always admired those witty wordsmiths that can spin a tale at the drop of a hat. As a child I was very shy and I've gradually grown out of that as an adult. Storytelling or acting is never anything I've been interested in doing.  I love reading, I love to write, I love doing art projects but the whole idea of storytelling has in the past given me a knot in the pit of my stomach. I get stressed about it even with my own kids!

All that said, I find this ridiculous! What a load of baggage and bull! I think how life used to be before television and radio and all the electronic gadgets we have to keep us occupied.  In our "Little House" books storytelling is just a natural part of their lives. Story is apart of us, our ancestral roots, I know it's hidden within me somewhere.  I will become comfortable with storytelling, first with my own kids and then someday I hope with other children too. So here I begin!

This is my story set up for Brother Acorn.  Here are my cheat cards.  First I read a story 2 or 3 times and then I write down the first line and the major points of the story as well as any particular phrases that I want to remember.  I go over the cards after I've written them once.  Most of the time I don't look at my cards at all but they are there for reference if needed.  They are my security blanket!

I begin our story time by ringing a little bell to call them. Then I light a candle on the mantle and sing this verse, "Fairies of the story time, come and share your stories with me.  I am listening with my ears and I'm sitting quietly". 

In the "Brother Acorn" story there is beautiful imagery of the changing morning sky.  It begins with "...,when the sky was purple, all was still."  So in my story I layered our silks to represent the changing sky.  (You have to use a little imagination with some of the colors.)   

"He walked through the quiet and cold forest until the sky was as pink as a rose." I take off the blue/violet silk to reveal the orange silk. 

"... until the sky was the color of a peach."  I take off the orange to reveal the yellow silk. 

"...until the sky was filled with apricot light."  Until finally he sees the sun.

There is also such beautiful repetition in the story.  A sound, "tap, tap, tap", the song of Brother Acorn asking for a nut, "...have you got a nut for me, so that I may plant a tree.", and the squirrel's song of response to Brother Acorn all repeats in such a beautiful way.

Michael and I got a kick out of being able to "plant" the acorns in our ground.  These wool acorns fit right into the holes on our wire chair.

It's fun and confidence building to see how the boys are responding to storytime.  Even when I mess up and make "mistakes"  they don't really care, they're too captivated by the story.

Michael likes to set up stories now and tell his brother and I.  I love how everything is thrown into his stories.  A priority mail box, stuffed animals, silks, homemade toys and his plastic toys all thrown in together.  A weaving of his life.  He's a natural storyteller as most children are.  As we all are I think.

Some of us just need a little reminding.

Until next time...