Rewriting the classics: Jumpstart your child’s storytelling skills

Imitation, so they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. It’s also a great way to start developing your child’s storytelling muscles.  Young children often memorize the words to their favorite books. It’s a short step from that to changing the words slightly to make your own version. Here are five popular picture books that you may have in your house that are a great jumping-off point for writing your own stories with your preschool-age child.  This is a great activity for a lazy summer afternoon.

1)     Goodnight Moon (by Margaret Wise Brown).  Create your own goodnight story featuring the stuff in your child’s bedroom.  You can illustrate it with cutout photos of the actual objects, and make the book out of folded construction paper stapled together at the side. This is also great to bring along when you are travelling as a way to remember home and make bedtime more familiar.

2)     If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond). This is an easy structure to work with and allows you to explore cause and effect, and the humor of unintended consequences.  Can your child imagine what happens if you give a bear a banana or give an ape an apple?  Play out the scenario and see where it takes you.

3)     Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (by Mo Willems). What else should we not let the pigeon do? Don’t let the pigeon make your lunch? Get you dressed? Clean your room? Imagine the excuses the pigeon comes up with. You can illustrate your version with pencil, and older children may be able to create their own versions of the pigeon. (PS, did you know the pigeon has his own twitter account? Follow him @the_pigeon.)

4)     From Head to Toe (by Eric Carle). Imitating this simple structure by imagining what different animals can do and repeating it is a great imagination exercise for active preschoolers. Write down their ideas, illustrate with photos or drawings of the animals, or just act it out together.

5)   Harold and the Purple Crayon (by Crockett Johnson). For older kids who may be able to draw, this book is a great device: Have your child imagine she is in a sticky situation – how can she use the purple crayon to get out of it? What would be the equivalent dream picnic for your child of Harold’s nine kinds of pies?  How does she get back home to her bed?

Once your child is comfortable with the basic idea of creating new stories, you can start from scratch. You can always go back to the well and look for inspiration from other books. Happy writing!

-Anna Barber
Co-founder and CEO

This post was originally published in 2010. 

Let your kids write on the walls

Want to create a space that will heighten your child’s creativity?

Sometimes, it really is about space. Not the size so much. Just a nook where you can read your favorite book, a favorite chair that slides up to the tabletop just right so you can write with ease, a special lamp that casts light just the right way on the page. The same way we like our “stuff” the way we like it, so too do kids need their space. Especially their creative space.

While having the luxury to gift your child a writer’s lounge or art studio in the home is unlikely, there are some simple things that parents can do create “space” for their young authors and artists.

First things first. You will likely need to embrace the concept of creative chaos – which means this space may not be neat to your typical standards. That does not mean there is no organization. Figure out the tools your child needs and then work together to place these things in an accessible way. Paint some coffee cans to hold the pencils. Put up a shelf or two for the various kinds of paper or art supplies. And then, get your child a tabletop or desk space that is his own. I would argue that a postage stamp-sized surface is better than half of the dining room table – which, let’s face it, either is piled with your own tower of unfinished projects or is cleaned regularly by someone who can’t stand piles at all. This is your child’s space. Let ‘em have it.

Then, let ‘em write on the walls.

Huh?!

Seriously. Get a white board or a large piece of poster-sized paper and put it on the wall. Encourage your child to outline and story bubble and sketch out ideas before sitting down to the creative task at hand. Give him a bulletin board to collect notes and ideas and funny pictures of things that may inspire.

There are so very many reasons to do this. First and foremost, it makes your child’s thinking visible. Even better, it introduces your child to the process of developing and reflecting on ideas before barreling ahead. Regardless of whether your child is a visual or verbal learner, the process helps creative minds purge the clutter. Okay, yes, that means they are purging onto your wall. Take a deep breath. It’s going to be okay. White boards can eventually be erased.

In time, if you pay attention, you might even start to notice some things—like how ideas in your child’s head are best sorted out. Does he use more pictures, shapes, charts, words? Or it a smorgasbord of all of them? When the time comes to help junior get organized with homework and writing assignments, knowing “how” his mind works things out and the tools that work for him will be invaluable.

Rest assured, in time the process will likely come down from the wall and become a bit more mobile (and aesthetically tolerable)—a box of index cards or a notebook to carry around. But for now, let creative chaos spill onto the walls of your child’s creative space. Unlike the art projects that go on the refrigerator door, these musings and pictures are for your child. Judge not. Ideas are supposed to be big and messy. Embrace the chaos.

And if you’re really daring…buy your own white board and see what happens.

Scribble Press Coming to the Upper West Side!

It’s official! In November, we’re opening our third Scribble Press at 84^th St. and Broadway. Zabars, H&H, The Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center….We can’t wait to be part of the neighborhood.

So why the Upper West Side? We already have a studio in Manhattan – First Avenue and 84^th Street. A few reasons: First, the thought of going to a totally different city for our third store seemed really challenging, and there are so many great locations in New York City and Los Angeles that would welcome another Scribble Press. We wanted to stick with a market we already knew and loved.

The Upper West Side is such a busy, vibrant community filled with families that it seemed like the natural next place for us. Also, we can travel from one store to the other by just hopping on the 86^th Street Crosstown bus – kind of like I used to do when I was a seventh grader on my way to Brearley.

We found a terrific space at 84^th and Broadway. It’s catty corner from Five Napkin Burger (YUM) and right across from a Loews Multiplex Cinema and a Victoria’s Secret. (Although, I am not sure what our connection there might be – moms can buy thong underwear while their kids write a first novel?)

We’re going to a be busy for about eight weeks building marker caddies and painting the bathroom pink. Not to mention, setting up all the magical bookbinding equipment, creating an amazing party space and decorating a cool lounge area. This UWS location is going to be a fantastic destination for fun and creativity. Stay tuned for news on our November opening!

Do you have any suggestions for what you’d like to see at the new store? What things do you like about the Upper East Side location that you want us to carry over to the Upper West Side studio? What would you suggest we change or add? We’d love to hear from you!

Rewriting the classics: Jumpstart your child’s storytelling skills

Imitation, so they say, is the sincerest form of flattery. It’s also a great way to start developing your child’s storytelling muscles.  Young children often memorize the words to their favorite books. It’s a short step from that to changing the words slightly to make your own version. Here are five popular picture books that you may have in your house that are a great jumping-off point for writing your own stories with your preschool-age child.  This is a great activity for a lazy summer afternoon.

1)     Goodnight Moon (by Margaret Wise Brown).  Create your own goodnight story featuring the stuff in your child’s bedroom.  You can illustrate it with cutout photos of the actual objects, and make the book out of folded construction paper stapled together at the side. This is also great to bring along when you are travelling as a way to remember home and make bedtime more familiar.

2)     If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond). This is an easy structure to work with and allows you to explore cause and effect, and the humor of unintended consequences.  Can your child imagine what happens if you give a bear a banana or give an ape an apple?  Play out the scenario and see where it takes you.

3)     Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (by Mo Willems). What else should we not let the pigeon do? Don’t let the pigeon make your lunch? Get you dressed? Clean your room? Imagine the excuses the pigeon comes up with. You can illustrate your version with pencil, and older children may be able to create their own versions of the pigeon. (PS, did you know the pigeon has his own twitter account? Follow him @the_pigeon.)

4)     From Head to Toe (by Eric Carle). Imitating this simple structure by imagining what different animals can do and repeating it is a great imagination exercise for active preschoolers. Write down their ideas, illustrate with photos or drawings of the animals, or just act it out together.

5)   Harold and the Purple Crayon (by Crockett Johnson). For older kids who may be able to draw, this book is a great device: Have your child imagine she is in a sticky situation – how can she use the purple crayon to get out of it? What would be the equivalent dream picnic for your child of Harold’s nine kinds of pies?  How does she get back home to her bed?

Once your child is comfortable with the basic idea of creating new stories, you can start from scratch. You can always go back to the well and look for inspiration from other books. Happy writing!

-Anna Barber
Co-founder and CEO

FEB-MARCH EVENTS AT SCRIBBLE PRESS

FEB 13-14 BRING A DATE FOR VALENTINES DAY – we’ll have the snacks and the festive decor!

FEB 21 – FAMOUS ARTISTS WORKSHOP – learn about Matisse and Picasso with our renowned teacher Adam Davis. Discuss their styles and try your hand at creating something similar. Ages 7 and up. Cost is $60 and includes a book of your finished artwork.

SCRIBBLE KIDS BOOK CLUB is reading THE WESTING GAME for March 1! Cost is $20 and includes a copy of the book. For kids 8-12, 2-3:30pm. Come in to sign up and get your copy of the book.

MARCH 6 – ME AND MY DAD – 20% off any project when you come in with your dad. 3pm-6pm.

MARCH 13 GRANDPARENTS PLAYDATE – 4-6pm. Create a narrative art project with teacher Julie, working together to have fun and be creative. $40 for each grandparent-child pair, includes all materials

MARCH 15 – SONGWRITING WORKSHOP WITH CATHY HELLER 1-4pm Join songwriter Cathy Heller to create and record your own song, and make a book with the music and lyrics! $95 per child – filling up so reserve your spot now!

FEBRUARY NEWS FROM SCRIBBLE PRESS

1)      Playdate Pack – 2 in-store books, plus two author photos – $40

Make mini_valentines at Scribble Press

DEALS

 

 

 

2)      Valentines Playdate Pack – 2 sets of 30 mini-valentines each – $40

 SPECIALS AND NEW PRODUCTS

 

1)      BE MY VALENTINE – our new 5×7 adorable boardbook – complete as in-store project with author photo for $25 or grab one to write and illustrate at home for only $9.95

2)      CARD BAR – on February 1, we will launch our new Card Bar – decorate cards with glitter, collage materials and other colorful adornments once your cards are printed!  The Card Bar will include candies you can add to your card and starts at $5

 

WORKSHOPS AND SPECIAL EVENTS

 

THE ART OF MANNERS on February 7 is sold out.  The next ART OF MANNERS class will be held May 2.   This is a 3-hour class taught by Lisa Gache of Beverly Hills Manners. 

 

HANDMADE BOOK WORKSHOP for kids 6 and up.  Friday, February 6 4pm-6pm.  In our FIRST workshop teaching the craft of handmade books, students will make a special Valentines accordion book and learn about other bookmaking techniques. 

 

BRING A DATE FOR VALENTINES DAY!  On Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14, bring a date to Scribble Press to make a special book or card for each other.  Mom, Grandma, brother, sister, girlfriend – bring anyone!  We’ll set the mood with Valentine’s snacks and our special Card Bar.  Make matching BE MY VALENTINE books, or choose a different project. 

 

NEW – daily storytime EVERY DAY at  10am starts Wednesday, Feb 4.  Join teacher Julia every day for a fun new story written by a kid plus a new or classic children’s book.  FREE.

 

NEW – SCRIBBLE KIDS Book Club!   Scribble Press has a great new book club that will meet every month on the 4^th Sunday of the month at 4pm.  The first book is The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin.  The cost for the club is $20 per session, which includes a copy of the book.  You can pick up your copy of the book when you come in to sign up for the club. We’ll be writing book reviews and every 3 months, binding the reviews into a book for you to take home.  Kerry Williams will be our book club leader. 

 

STILL ENROLLING: Scribble Fun and Scribble Storytellers classes for kids 2-5, and Scribble Workshops for kids 5-10 still have spaces available.  Scribble Fun is for children 2-3 and meets on either Tuesday or Friday mornings.  Scribble Storytellers is designed for kids 3-5 and meets on Tuesday morning or Thursday afternoon.  The Comics and Graphic Novels workshop meets on Tuesday afternoons and the Famous Artists workshop is on Saturday afternoons.  Call or stop by for more information. 

Scribble Press at Geffen Playhouse

Scribble Press had fun last weekend making placemats with kids at Saturday Scene at the Geffen Playhouse. We look forward to visiting the Geffen again and seeing the Saturday Scenesters at Scribble Press!