Bringing Stories To Life

Nancy O’Connell

Children’s Librarian

Schaumburg Township District Library

Everyone who tells a story adds to it his or her own flavor and

personality. The power of storytelling not only fosters a sense of

community, sharing stories establish a literacy-rich environment and

fosters good behavior.

Fearsome Beast, A Folktale From Kenya, Judy Sierra, The Flannel Board

Storytelling Book. Second Edition, H.W. Wilson, 1997.

The Turnip, A Russian Folktale, Judy Sierra, The Flannel Board

Storytelling Book, Second Edition, H.W. Wilson, 1997.

The Three Billy Goats Gruff, A Norwegian Folktale, Judy Sierra, The

Flannel Board Storytelling Book, Second Edition, H.W. Wilson, 1997.

A-Hunting We Will Go (Nursery Rhyme) Mother Goose’s

Playhouse,Toddler Tales and Nursery Rhymes With Patterns for

Puppets and Feltboards, Judy Sierra, Bob Kaminski, Media Arts,

1994.Expand characters by using book: Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go by

John Langstaff, illustrated by Nancy Parker, 1991.

Anna Mariah (Anglo-American) Multicultural Folktales: Stories To Tell

Young Children, Judy Sierra & Robert Kaminski, Oryx Press, 1991.

The Turtle, Caroline Feller Bauer, Leading Kids To Books Through

Puppets, 1997. (Folkmanis turtle puppet plus puppets of your

choosing.) Adapt the script to the puppets you choose. As a one-

person show, simply pick each puppet up in turn and give one scientific

fact about where each animal lives.

Prepare the audience to chant with you in a low slow voice, “Don’t

worry about me, I’ll be home in time.”

Turtle was slowly making his way through the forest when out from

behind a bush jumped Frog.

“Hurry, Turtle. There is going to be a terrible storm; you better get

home as fast as possible.”

“Don’t worry about me,” said Turtle. “I’ll be home in time.”

Turtle plodded slowly, walking through the forest.

“O.K.” said Frog. “I better get back to my pond where I can hide deep

down in the mud.”

All of a sudden Snake slithered in front of Turtle. “Turtle, Turtle. There

is a terrible storm brewing. I see lightning flashing across the sky.”

“You better get home as fast as possible.”

“Don’t worry about me,” said Turtle. “I’ll be home in time.”

“O.K.” said Snake. “I better slither back to my hole in the ground where

I will be safe and sound.”

At this point, you may embellish the impending storm and add as many

different animals as you want. Each animal warns Turtle of the

approaching storm. This is a fantasy, so you don’t have to worry if an

elephant or giraffe puppet lives in the forest where we find Turtle.

After the last character appears and you are ready to end your story,

finish in the following ways:

Turtle stretched his neck to the sky. Little drops of rain fell onto his

Turtle head. Lightning flashed across the sky and thunder was booming

so loudly. His friends and neighbors were right. The storm had arrived.

“It Is time to go home.” And he did, just like that. He pulled his head

into his shell and said, “I’m home!”

You can either hide your head under the turtle-neck of your sweater or

have the Turtle puppet’s head go into his shell.

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Mushroom In the Rain, adapted from the Russian of V. Suteyev, by

Mirra Ginsburg, illustrated by Jose Aruego & Ariane Dewey.

With props: Small to large plastic bowls painted beige, in order to look

like “portabella” mushrooms, attach toilet paper roll to the inside of

bowl. (bowls from small to large)

Folkmanis finger puppets (ant, butterfly, porcupine, rabbit, fox)

Once upon a time, a little ant felt raindrops dropping on top of his

head. “I need to find a place to hide.” “Aha!” “I will crawl under this

mushroom.”

Butterfly: “Ant, ant please let me come in under your mushroom. My

wings are so wet!”

Mouse: “Please let me in. I am drenched to the bone!”

Porcupine: “Please let me in. My quills are soaking wet!”

Rabbit: “Please ant let me in. There is a fox chasing me!”

Everytime each animal asks to come under the mushroom,

The ant responds, “It’s really too crowded under the mushroom,

but we will try to squish together.”

Fox: “Hey, ant!” “I’m looking for a rabbit.” “ Have you seen a rabbit go

by?” “No.” “ I haven’t seen a rabbit.”

As you all sing, “Its raining, its pouring, the old man is snoring,”

move the next bowl in place covering the animals, as another animal

finger puppet tries to get out of the rain. The last bowl/mushroom will

be the biggest. Sun comes out and all of the animals are happy to be

dry.

Ask the important scientific question: “Do you know what happens to a

mushroom in the rain?”

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The Wide-Mouthed Frog, a pop-up book by Keith Faulkner, illustrated

by Jonathan Lambert, Dial Books For Young Readers, 1999.

(Frog puppet plus any animal puppets of your choosing)

As the frog meets each animal/friend, everyone sings along with the

frog, “I’m a wide-mouthed frog and I eat flies.” “What do you

eat_____?” Each animal has a particular food he eats.

Toucan: “My favorite fruit is banana passion fruit.” “While I take the

piece of fruit, I throw it up in the air and catch it with my bill.”

“Once I swallow the fruit I regurgitate the seeds.” “Spitting out seeds

helps the ecosystem.”

Mouse: “I’m a wild mouse and I eat seeds, tree bark, bulbs, corn, oats.”

Raccoon: “I eat almost anything.” “I love acorns, walnuts, worms,

insects, fruit, fish, mice and human trash.” “Sometimes I “wash” my

food by dunking it in water before I eat it.”

Beaver: “I am a herbivore.” “That means I eat only plant materials.”

“I love sap from trees, leaves, nectar, seeds, bark, wood, fruits, and

Flowers”

Turtle: “I eat plants, small insects, snails, worms, and fish.

Crocodile: Slowly says: I LOVE wide-mouthed frogs!”

Frog: “You don’t see any of them around, do you?”

Frog dives back into the pond and goes to the muddy bottom to hide.

Crocodile didn’t have lunch that day.

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The Lion and the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney, Little, Brown Books For

Young Readers, 2009, or Mouse & Lion, Aesop, retold by Rand Burkert,

Illustrated by Nancy Ekholm Burkert, 2011. (Lion & Mouse puppet,

piece of yarn or net)

Script: The Lion and the Mouse, adapted from Aesop’s Fable.

A little mouse ran out of his house—a hole under a tree in the forest.

He rubbed his eyes and WOKE UP! He wanted to have some fun. He

went down the path, looking, looking -----then he stopped dead in his

tracks. He saw lying in the middle of the path, a beautiful lion sleeping.

“Aha!” “I’m finally going to have some fun.” He jumped up the lion

and down the lion----checked the lion’s mane and 000000h tickled the

Lion’s toes and tail. “Stop!” yelled the lion. “Are you the one who

woke me up from a sound sleep?”

“Yes, dear lion---King of the Beasts.” “I’m so sorry. “I’m so sorry.”

“Your play time is over, mouse.” “Now I will eat you.” The mouse

replied, “Let me go!” “Please!” “Please let me go good lion.” “I will

help you one day---you will see!”

“You tiny little thing help a powerful lion like me?” “What could a tiny

mouse like you do for me ?”

The mouse replied, “Just let me go, please.” “Then you will find out,

Mr. Lion.”

“I will have to think about this.” “The lion thought and thought. . . . . . .”

“O.K.” “I have made my decision.” “You can go this time.”

The next day, mouse woke up and wanted to have more fun! Mouse

scampered down the path & he heard in the distance (soft sounding

Rrrrrrrrrroar) He walked further and heard a little bit louder

Rrrrrrrrrroar! He ran closer and closer to the sound-----now it was

really, really LOUD! “Rrrrrrrrrrrrroar!”

“Oh my goodness!” “ The lion is down deep in a hole and caught in a

net!” The lion could not get out!

“Help!” “Help!” yelled the lion. The little mouse ran down into the hole

and nibbled and nibbled the net. The net came down. The lion jumped

out of the hole. Lion shouted, “Were you the one who set me free?”

“Yes dear lion.” “Didn’t I tell you that one day I would help you?”

“Thank you Mouse.” “You will be my friend forever.”

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A Ghost Called Matt

(can substitute other animals in place of ghost)

Dinosaurs, bears, cats, etc. . . . .

Once there was a little blue ghost. (Place blue ghost on board)

His name was Matthew but everyone called him Matt. Matt was short

and fat and he lived with the other ghosts in the Old Ghost Hotel.

One dark Halloween night, Matt decided that he didn’t like being a blue

ghost, so he set out to find himself a new color.

Matt looked up and saw the crescent yellow moon. (add moon)

“That’s the color for me,” he thought. And he said,

I’m a ghost called Matt,

I’m short and fat,

I can change my color

Just like that.

(Clap your hands and substitute the yellow ghost. Encourage children

to participate by clapping hands and repeating chant.)

Matt flew back to the Old Ghost Hotel to show the other ghosts his new

color. (Remove moon)

They looked at Matt and said,

Ho, ho, ho.

Hee, hee, hee.

You’re the funniest---looking ghost

We ever did see.

Matt flew out the window and went looking for a new color. He saw a

witch flying through the sky. She was wearing a black dress. (Add

witch)

“There’s the color for me,” he thought. And then he said,

I’m a ghost called Matt,

I’m short and fat,

I can change my color

Just like that.

(Clap your hands and substitute the black ghost.)

Matt flew back to the Old Ghost Hotel to show the other ghosts his new

color. (remove witch)

They looked at Matt and said,

Ho, ho, ho

Hee, hee, hee.

You’re the funniest ghost

We ever did see.

Matt flew out the window and went looking for a new color. He saw an

orange jack-o-lantern sitting on the fence.

(add jack-o-lantern)

“That’s the color for me,” he thought.

And then he said,

“I’m a ghost called Matt,

I’m short and fat,

I can change my color

Just like that.

(clap your hands and substitute the orange ghost.)

Matt flew back to the Old Ghost Hotel to show the other ghosts his new

color.

(Remove jack-o-lantern)

They looked at Matt and said,

Ho, ho, ho.

Hee, hee, hee.

You’re the funniest ghost

We ever did see.

Matt flew out the window and went looking for a new color. He saw a

brown owl sitting in a tree.

(add owl)

“That’s the color for me,” he thought. And then he said,

I’m a ghost called Matt,

I’m short and fat,

I can change my color

Just like that.

(Clap your hands and substitute the brown ghost)

Matt flew off to the Old Ghost Hotel to show the other ghosts his new

color.

(remove owl)

They looked at him and said,

Ho, ho, ho.

Hee, hee, hee.

You’re the funniest ghost

We ever did see.

Matt flew out the window and went looking for a new color. He flew

around and around.

(place ghosts or animals across top of flannel board as you mention

each color.)

“I don’t want to be a yellow ghost. I don’t want to be a black ghost. I

don’t want to be an orange ghost or a brown ghost. I just want to be

me------- I want to be a blue ghost.”

I’m a ghost called Matt,

I’m short and fat,

I can change my color

Just like that.

(Clap your hands and remove the yellow, black, orange, and brown

ghosts.) Place Matt on flannel board.

Matt flew back to the Old Ghost Hotel to show the other ghosts his

original blue color. This time the ghosts did not laugh. All of the ghosts

were very happy and they said, “We love you just the way you are!”

BLUE! Source unknown

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The Princess and the Pea

By Hans Christian Andersen

(an adaptation)

There was once a prince, and he wanted to marry a princess, but she

must be a REAL princess. He travelled around the world to find a REAL

princess but he was having great difficulty finding a REAL princess.

There was always something which was not quite right about them. So

at last he came home to his castle again, and he was very sad because

he wanted a real princess so badly. One evening there was a terrible

storm; it thundered and lightning went across the sky. The rain came

down in torrents; it was a dark and fearful night. In the middle of the

storm someone knocked at the large door of the castle, and the King

himself went to open it. It was a beautiful young woman who stood

outside. “I am terribly wet, from the tip of my nose to the tip of my

toes.” “I was wondering if I could stay the night in your beautiful

castle?” “Oh, and by the way I am a REAL princess!”

“Queen, queen, please wake up!” “There is someone at the door and

she would like to stay the night out of the rain and she is a REAL

princess.”

“We shall see if that is true,” said the Queen. The Queen placed a

green pea on the bed where the “so-called princess” would sleep the

night.

“Servants, servants! Please bring mattresses into the room. The

servants piled the mattresses on top of the pea. (audience will count

the mattresses as you place them on the bed.)

“So-called Princess”, “I would like you to sleep on this bed tonight, and

in the morning I will knock on your door.” “You will tell me how you

slept the night.”

The next morning the Queen knocked on the “so-called princess’s”

door.

“How did you sleep my dear?”

“Oh, I had a terrible night sleeping.” “I felt as if there was a huge

boulder under my mattresses.” “I am all black and blue!”

“You must be a REAL princess to have felt a pea that I left under all of

the thirteen mattresses!” “Nobody but a REAL princess could have such

delicate skin.” (Queen speaking)

“My son the Prince.” “Please come quickly!” “ I would like to introduce

you to a REAL princess.”

(Son the Prince speaking) “Will you marry me?”

(Princess speaking) “Yes.”

They kissed, got married and lived happily ever after.

The End.

Grandfather Bear Is Hungry

An Even Folktale from Siberia, Teaching With Story, Classroom

Connections to Storytelling, Margaret Read MacDonald, August House,

2013. (Adapted by Nancy O’Connell)

Grandfather Bear woke up one beautiful Spring morning. He came out

of his dark dank cave. You see he had been sleeping all winter long

which is called hibernation.

“I’m so hungry, I’m so hungry!”

“I’m looking for blackberries to go in my tummy tum tummy!”

“Looking, looking, looking and I think it must be too early for

blackberries to be ripe.”

Grandfather Bear went to the stream to look for salmon.

“I’m so hungry, I’m so hungry!”

“I’m looking for some salmon to go in my tummy tum tummy!”

“Looking, looking, looking and I think it must be too early in the Spring

for the salmon to be “running.”

“I am sooooo hungry!” “I am sooooo hungry!”

“I think I will go looking for---------------wow!” “What an interesting

rotten tree stump.” “I can find bugs and grubs.” Grandfather Bear

began to shake and shake at that rotten tree stump. What Grandfather

Bear did not know was that it was the home of Chipmunk.

“Grandfather Bear! Grandfather! What are you DOING? Please don’t

tear my house down.”

“I’m so hungry!” “I’m so hungry!” “I’m so hungry, hungry, hungry!”

“Grandfather Bear, I have nuts and dried berries that I have saved for

the winter. I will SHARE with you.”

Chipmunk ran down his rotten stump and filled his cheeks with nuts

and berries. “Here, Grandfather Bear!”

“Thank you Chipmunk. But I am STILL HUNGRY!”

“Wait, Grandfather Bear. I will give you more.”

Chipmunk ran down to the bottom of the stump again.

“Here Grandfather Bear!”

“Thank you Chipmunk. But I am STILL hungry!”

“O.K., Grandfather Bear.” All day Chipmunk ran up and down, up and

down, filling his cheeks with nuts and dried berries.

At last Grandfather Bear was FULL.

“Thank you Chipmunk! I want to give you a reward. Stand very still. Do

not move.”

Grandfather Bear stroked his heavy claw SO gently. . . right down

Chipmunk’s back. He left five black stripes!

“Now when anyone sees your stripes they will remember how kind you

were to share with Grandfather Bear.”

PEACOCKS ARE VERY SPECIAL

Peacocks Are Very Special by Sue Alexander, illustrated by Victoria

Chess. 1976. ( May be purchased on Amazon)

SOME WEB RESOURCES

Puppeteers of America

http://www.puppeteers.org

A non-profit national organization that puts on festivals and shares

resources. Not a great deal of practical content but an introduction to

the puppetry community.

The Puppetry Home Page

http://www.puppetry.info

A general puppetry web site, with links to resources for scripts,

techniques, and making puppets.

Storytelling with Puppets

https://www.youtube.com/user/stories13579

The Rolling Pumpkin

A Persian Folktale

Retold by Nancy O’Connell, Marilyn Bolchunos

Once upon a time an older grandmother lived on one edge of the forest

and her daughter lived on the other side of the forest. The

grandmother wanted to visit her daughter one day, but there was one

problem. It was dark in the woods and a bit scary, so when a large wolf

jumped out into the path ahead of her, Grandma was startled.

“Don’t be afraid, Grandma,” said the wolf. “I only want to ask where

you are going.”

“I’m going to visit my daughter on the other side of the woods,” said

Grandma. “I would be very happy if you would let me pass.”

“Of course,” said the wolf, “but first you must promise to bring me back

some candy and cookies from your daughter’s house when you return.

I want lots and lots of candy and cookies.” The wolf licked his chops.

“Oh, I promise!” The wolf let her pass and Grandma scurried on her

way. She walked and walked and suddenly a big bear jumped out in the

path ahead of her.

“Don’t be afraid, Grandma,” said the bear. “I only want to ask where

you are going.”

“I’m going to visit my daughter on the other side of the woods,” said

Grandma. “ I would be very happy if you would let me pass.”

“Of course,” said the bear, “but first you must promise to bring me back

some delicious, scrumptious honey when you return. Lots and lots of

honey.” The bear licked his chops.

“Oh, I promise!” The bear let her pass and Grandma scurried on her

way. She walked and walked and suddenly a ferocious lion jumped out

in the path ahead of her.

“Don’t be afraid, Grandma,” said the lion. “I only want to ask where

you are going.”

“I’m going to visit my daughter on the other side of the woods,” said

Grandma. “I’d be pleased if you would let me pass.”

“Surely,” said the lion, “but first you must promise to bring me some

delicious meat from your daughter’s house. Lots and lots of meat.”

The lion licked his chops.

“Oh, I promise!” The lion let her pass and Grandma scurried on her

way.

Finally, Grandma reached her daughter’s house.

She told her daughter everything that happened.

“What shall I do?” Grandma replied. “There would be no way I could

carry all that those animals wanted!”

They sat down in the kitchen drinking tea, talking and thinking. All of a

sudden the daughter had an idea.

“I have a gigantic pumpkin in my garden,” she said. “I will hollow it out,

put you in it, and roll you down the path through the woods. Since it is

downhill all the way, you can roll right home.”

“What a brilliant idea!” said Grandma.

So her daughter helped Grandma go inside the pumpkin and pushed

her down the path.

As Grandma was rolling, that same lion came out of the forest and he

yelled,

Stop, Pumpkin,

Rolling pumpkin!

Have you seen Grandma?

From inside the pumpkin Grandma called,

I cannot stop,

I must not stay.

I saw no Grandma

Going this way.

And on she rolled.

She hadn’t gone too far when she met that same bear, who called out,

Stop Pumpkin,

Rolling Pumpkin!

Have you seen Grandma?

From inside the pumpkin, Grandma called,

I cannot stop,

I must not stay.

I saw no Grandma

Going this way.

And on she rolled.

She hadn’t gone far when she met that same wolf, who called out,

Stop, Pumpkin,

Rolling Pumpkin!

Have you seen Grandma?

From inside the pumpkin, Grandma called.

I cannot stop,

I must not stay.

I saw no Grandma

Going this way.

But the wolf decided to stop that pumpkin anyway. He gave a mighty

leap, landed on top of it, and broke that pumpkin open.

To the wolf’s surprise, out jumped Grandma. Quick as a wink she ran

home and slammed the door.

Do you know what happened to the wolf and his greedy friends the

bear and the lion? They had to be happy with eating pumpkin.

Lots and lots of pumpkin.