Once More With "The Little Orange House"

Now that October is here, people are looking for easy Halloween stories. I've noticed that searches for the paper and scissors story "The Little Orange House" by Jean Stangl are bringing people to this blog, so here is the link to the story plus my photographs (including a photo of what happens when you hold the fold the wrong way, as I have done a few times):

The Little Orange House

That was good... that was bad... that was good...

Someone called to book me for a birthday party.

That was good!

Unfortunately, I already had a previous commitment.

That was bad!

But then, the program coordinator for the Seattle Children's Museum contacted me to lead an Arts in the Afternoon program on July 3rd at 1 pm.

That was good!

Then... well, it's all good. The point is that when I tell one of many variations on the "That Was Good/That Was Bad" story, I talk about how often a day isn't all good or all bad, but a mixture of the two-- and sometimes deciding whether or not the day was a good one depends on how you look at the overall picture. I don't wish to downplay the real troubles that people have to deal with on a daily basis, but when you're a child, sometimes the immediate event often crowds out memories of the past or expectations of the future.

I plan to use a specifically-tailored version of "That Was Good/That Was Bad" for my Arts in the Afternoon presentation. Here are my props to hold up to prompt the audience responses:



I made the "Good" and "Bad" signs with construction paper and used high-contrast text for those children who might be color-blind or have other sight issues. Here is the outline of my last "Good/Bad" storytime-- the park version. Feel free to expand upon it or make your own version, and if you do on-the-spot improvisation, be sure to have a good idea of how it's going to end.

That Was Good/That Was Bad: Park edition

I got to go to the park today.
THAT WAS GOOD.

When I got to the park, all the swings were filled with other children.
THAT WAS BAD.

A little girl said, “Here, take my swing—I’m all done.”
THAT WAS GOOD.

I forgot to hold onto the handles, and I fell out.
THAT WAS BAD.

My grownup hugged me until I felt better.
THAT WAS GOOD.

But then another child took my swing.
THAT WAS BAD.

I saw some of my friends playing in the sandbox, and they said, “Come play with us!”
THAT WAS GOOD.

When I got to the sandbox, there were no shovels for me to use.
THAT WAS BAD.

I played with a dump-truck instead.
THAT WAS GOOD.

Then, my grownup said, “It’s time to leave the sandbox.”
THAT WAS BAD.

But it was snack-time!
THAT WAS GOOD.

However, my grownup forgot the snacks.
THAT WAS BAD.

Whoops—she didn’t forget them, they were in a different bag, and she had sandwiches, celery sticks and crackers to eat.
THAT WAS GOOD.

However, she forgot the water-bottles, and we were so thirsty.
THAT WAS BAD.

Fortunately, there was a water-fountain nearby.
THAT WAS GOOD.

Unfortunately, there was no water in it.
THAT WAS BAD.

We were so thirsty!
THAT WAS BAD.

However, a friend of ours said, “We’ve got an extra thermos of water. Have some.”
THAT WAS GOOD.

But then it was time to go home.
THAT WAS BAD.

When we got home, I walked through the door and people shouted, “Surprise! It’s your birthday party!”
THAT WAS GOOD.

And that is the end of that story.
THAT WAS GOOD.

Why, thank you!

Enough Scariness Already

Adrienne of WATAT asks, Why is Everything So Scary? and lists some book suggestions for children who are "sick and tired of being scared." Sign me up, too, please. I think the dripping fangs, glow-in-the-dark face makeup and ghastly should be donned in defiance of the scary forces that be (whether they are otherworldly ghouls or all-too-worldly human predators), not to scare our friends. Once, I hid behind the door of one of my housemates with the idea that it would be funny to jump out and scare her. I snickered to myself as she came up the steps. Then, as she began to enter the room, I decided it wasn't that funny anymore. Instead of jumping out and going, "WAARRRRGH!" I giggled. She still screamed with fright. Then and there, I decided that I wanted to make people laugh instead of scream. "The Graveyard Voice" by Betty Lehrman (scroll down to item 50) is a good story for such a storytelling venture.

What'll I Do With the Baby-o?

I just received my copy of What'll I Do With the Baby-o? Nursery Rhymes, Songs, and Stories for Babies, by Jane Cobb, published by Black Sheep Press in Canada. Readers who are children's librarians probably recognize Jane Cobb's name through the perennial staple of program-preparation, I'm a Little Teapot! Presenting Preschool Storytime.

Cobb is currently the Coordinator of Parent-Child Mother Goose Programs for Vancouver Public Library and has worked as a children's librarian for 25 years. Her understanding for what works with both parents and children shines through in this incredible resource for children's librarians, early childhood teachers, parents wishing to learn more songs and rhymes for babies, as well as performers who want to be effective in welcoming the youngest children into the storytelling fold.

Cobb's book comes with a compact disc of 36 songs and rhymes for tunes not easily found through other recordings. Those who have had to hunt down recordings and beg colleagues to sing songs repeatedly so they could learn them (including bribing them with chocolate to sing the songs over voicemail so that the songs could be replayed) will particularly appreciate this resource. I was tickled to find not only simple versions of folktales I like to tell, but a version of a story I learned from my mother through storytimes called "Mr. Wiggle and Mr. Waggle" (who are Miss Cat and Miss Dog in our versions). This is a story told with two thumbs representing the two characters, and the whole audience gets involved with the characters going up the hill and down the hill and up the hill and down the hill etc. to visit each other.

A traditional story chant done with hand and arm actions that I'm eager to learn is called "This is the Key to the Kingdom":

This is the key to the kingdom.
And in the kingdom there is a town,
And in the town there is a hill,
And on the hill there is a street,
And on the street there is a house,
And in the house there is a room.
And in the room there is a bed,
And on the bed there is a basket,
And in the basket there is a blanket,
And under the blanket there is a BABY!

Then, do the whole thing backwards:

Baby under the blanket,
Blanket in the basket,
Basket on the bed,
Bed in the room,
Room in the house,
House on the street,
Street on the hill,
Hill in the town,
Town in the kingdom,
And THIS is the key to the kingdom.

Update: Jane Cobb is right-- this little play is much easier to remember than you might think. It took me three tries before I got it down just right.

What'll I Do With the Baby-o? also has lists of print and audio resources, sample 60 and 30 minute programs, and indexes to songs and rhymes by type (i.e. action rhymes, circle games, rhymes in other languages) and first line, plus the songs recorded on the accompanying compact disc. While the price-tag may be a jolt for some ($39.95 in both Canadian and US dollars, plus shipping), keep in mind that this is a book published by a small press. For me, a storyteller who performs for young children all the time, it's an investment well-spent.

Thanks go to Margaret Read MacDonald, who recommended this book in the last Seattle Storytellers Guild newsletter.

Little Orange House: a Halloween Story

On October 27, I have three storytelling gigs lined up:
11:45 am-- birthday party
2:45 pm-- birthday party
6:45 pm--Halloween party

On October 28, I have one storytelling gig:
2 pm-- Halloween party

One of the stories I'll tell for both Halloween parties is The Little Orange House, by Jean Stangl. This story is particularly appropriate for you folks who work with young children in some capacity, as it is not scary in the slightest. There's a wee witch and a tiny ghost, and all they want is a cozy home for winter.

You'll need orange paper (construction paper is ideal) and a pair of scissors. Rectangular paper is recommended, but you can do just as well with square paper. Here are photos of the process: Alkelda's Little Orange House


You need to hold your paper this way or the final product will be slightly embarrassing. Believe me, I once got it wrong in front of an audience.