Reviewed by Laura Murcer, a student at Ohio Dominican University. She is currently studying to become an Intervention Specialist/Special Needs Education teacher.

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• Product Reviewed: Katie's Girls 
  

  The richness of the Appalachian Mountains cannot be contained in the sparse pages of our history books we use in school. Sometimes in reading history, we forget that people lived it.   People who struggled to keep their family alive.   The mountains are alive with real and vibrant sometimes unpredictable mountain people.   Children (and adults) need to hear their voices.  This is why I recommend Suzi “Mama” Whaples’ CD, “Katie’s Girls” for every school and family.   Contained in this CD is a rich tapestry of mountain living in what some would call troubled times.  However, with the innocence of a child, we hear stories of loss from the coal mines, the value of a ring, and the newness of childbirth. We experience a rich language where children sleep four to a bed, riding in the surrey to Aunt Mame’s, berry picking and creek wading.
    In these stories, instead of a distant voice, we hear Suzi’s as she recounts the voices of her grandmother’s struggles.  Instead of listening to a detached voice reporting loss, we hear stories of who we are, how we got there, and where we are from.  The stories are real, and they are true history lessons for us all. The words are stark and not disguised.  This is a true testament of the Mountains, and Mama listens and celebrates the people who helped shaped the backbone of this country; the Appalachian Mountain people.
  A double bonus to this CD is the music played by her Uncle Brooks Smith. Smith was a highly-respected, award winning banjo player, frequently featured in WV’s Vandalia Festival.
  

  To order this CD, contact Suzi “Mama” Whaples at 306 17 Street, Dunbar, WV 25064.  Home phone:  304-768-5558.   Cell phone:  304-543-2987.  Email:  swhaples@suddenlink.net and her blog is Mama Suzi's Mountains of Stories.

  Recommended ages: all ages

          Reviewed by Kevin Cordi

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• Product Reviewed - 2 Books: Storytime Yoga & The Treasure in Your Heart
  

  

I have had the privilege of teaching Yoga for twelve years. When I was approached to teach a pre-school group (ages 2-6) I had reservations about relating the Yoga experience to ones so young.  Years ago I had taught a  class at a local school to Kindergarten through 8th grade and the children and teachers positively responded to my instruction.  .  So I jumped in to teaching yoga at this level.  I found the  kids to  be enthusiastic, I  looked  forward to our special time together.  Small children do not know "left" from "right" and some of my little ones do not speak English.    I needed to be creative.  A friend gave me a copy of each of Sydney Solis' books and as I read them, her words gave me the confidence to continue at a pace that would be comfortable for them, as well as myself.  She reassured me that it was OK to allow some of the children wander, if they got distracted.  If they were fidgety they would still be absorbing what was being said. Letting them roam is something I do not have to deal with in teaching adults.

When I first taught them "Lion Pose" (a class favorite!) Syndey encouraged "exaggerated facial expression and hand gestures complemented by simple sentences with a variety of pitch and tone to help keep children focused."  It  worked!  I was willing to have them laugh at my funny lion face as they gladly joined in.  We all ROARED. I asked them what they knew about lions and I melted at their responses: Lions have feet.  Lions eat grass.

Another tip from the book was that sometimes it is helpful to answer a question children if they are unable to answer it themselves.

         
Through the telling of stories you may help a child find her voice.  If you do not teach Yoga professionally, Sydney's honesty and warmth will show you how to take a few minutes every day to breathe, smile, and stretch.  It doesn't have to involve intricate movement or long stories.  Just sharing a little of yourself with a precious child will bring rewards to both of you.

If you love children and are lucky enough to share stories and Yoga with them, you will cherish this book.  It will make you smile.  It has the added advantage of making the teacher/storyteller stop, look, and listen to the morals of these wonderful tales.

This book will pull you in with its gentleness and sweetness.  Sydney will guide you magically through a world that will enhance
your practice and give children a loving and moving Yoga experience. You will be excited to use the techniques, stories, and asanas          with the little ones whether you are a teacher, parent, or casual acquaintance of the practice of Yoga.  Children love it when parents are silly, and using "Rhyme, Rhythm, and Repetition" is easy and fun.                   

So take this adventure with Sydney and your kids.  Connect with them using the breath, movements, and storytelling.
Reviewed by Paula Laciano, Yoga Instructor
I've been teaching adult Yoga classes for twelve years and started teaching children this year.  Best job in the world!

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• Product Reviewed: Pitch: A Story

         What happens when someone that knows the art of storytelling helps to create a board game?

Answer: You play it again and again. This is what happened when I first played the game Pitch-a Story. Richard Stone, Storyteller and author of the book The Healing Art of Storytelling has helped engineer a game that will appeal to anyone who wants to learn about storytelling.

As a storyteller and educator for over 14 years I have had trouble finding board games that would help to enrich the activities taught in the classroom. I have tried standard board games like Scrabble and Trivia Pursuit to teach about words and facts, but since I really wanted to emphasize communication skills, especially that of listening, I often kept these games on the back shelf.

I did come across games like FiborNot! And “Once Upon a Time where students “stretched the truth” to move ahead or a game using player cards to place themselves in fairy tales. These games were less about moving game pieces and instead helped students construct scenarios that they could share with other students. I recently was sent a board game that I will keep close because the teaching applications with this game grows each time I, or students, play it.

Pitch -a Story is not like your standard Monopoly or Checkers, but instead helps kids create an interactive place where they learn in a safe yet fun way that about storytelling. They learn the value of not only constructing a story but listening and reviewing it. This is especially important because kids are listening less and less often. .

The game has the standard player pieces, cards and a plastic person with an open mouth in a choice of color to be designated as a player piece. However students draw cards that state “character” and “challenges.” They spin and land on spaces, including “Pitch Places.”

This is where the story creation begins. This is where the students “pitch-a-story” and collect points for their story. The game highly emphasizes working with teams to create the story. During the turns of the game you land on spots designating opportunities to pick up other cards like “settings” or “props.” When your team tells the story they mention something on each card that they have in their hands. After the story is completed the other players will rate the story and explain their ratings. The team gains additional points for effective storytelling skills. The game gives guidelines and suggestions for appreciating stories. The game comes equipped with a “Story Invention Guide” which instructs and suggests activities that can help students build their listening skills and literacy skills.

Even though the game has a degree of competition it is offset by the genuine spirit of the game. Each person is compelled to help you tell stories. I especially like that there are additional ways besides telling stories that you can gain points if your story is not always well received. Basically, everyone stays in the game and feels comfortable to move on.

I decided to test this game using the ultimate test, my extended family. This consisted of over 18 people, many who have sworn against board games.

I must admit it took some persuasion but I was aided heavily by my nine year old niece Jessica who insisted that she wanted to play with everyone. How can you turn a nine year old down? At first we had some nervous twitches as we took 10 minutes to explain the rules and some even wanted to go, but Jessica and my teenage niece Laura chimed in they wanted us all to play. After dividing up in teams, I must admit I had some reservations about some of my family member’s willingness to tell a story. I decided to be the score keeper and stay neutral. (I was eventually coaxed to share some stories.) My sister Pam is usually the quiet one that waits for everyone to talk before she does. In no time she was stomping on the floor as a giraffe and her husband as a mad pirate. My other sister Sherry shared a story about finding a lost treasure in a sunken mine and quickly moved to Aliens who ate M and Ms. My mother sang in character as she talked about taking orders at a restaurant on Mars and even my Uncle Homer who said he was just watching, chimed in as an angry alien and scared both Jessica and I to the floor. Suffice it to say everyone had fun creating and reviewing our stories and learning how to laugh and cry all over again.

Transfer this type of creating in the classroom. At a time when students are allowing fast paced X-boxes think for them, at a time when they listen less often to each other, when watching The Simpson’s is more popular than reading a book, we need games like Pitch-A-Story. It serves as a healthy reminder to help kids remember that they can create their story, they can actually have fun listening to each other, and sometimes a sitcom can’t replace their voice. Besides all this, a child learns every time he or she plays it.

Contact for Pitch-A-Story:

Imagine This Company, Inc

7512 Dr. Phillips Blvd.

Suite 50-111

Orlando, FL 32819

407-355-7750

Reviewed by Kevin Cordi

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• Product Reviewed - Fairy Tales, Fantasy and Storytelling Fun!  

          Mary Jo Huff, Storytellin’ Time, ©2006
          ISBN 0-9722213-5-2 www.StoryTellin.com
          Hold fast to your storytelling seats because you won’t be in them for long. Storyteller Mary Jo Huff models how storytelling keeps   kids moving. Aimed for younger audiences, Mary Jo Huff and a wonderful assembly of children join in an array of delightful stories     dances, rhymes, puppets and more.  We revisit the 3 Billy Goats Gruff told from the Troll Perspective. We find out who took the honey from the honey jar? Mary Jo Huff shares in a pleasing delightful way tales that appeal to kids of this wonderful age. She is a wonder to watch and kids (and adults) will want to dance away as the “Little Gingerbread Girl” from the little old lady. Their fingers won’t linger as they encounter “Mr. Wiggle & Mr. Waggle.” She teaches as she tells with her clever wording and timing.  In addition to the live tales, she includes extras such as songs and how to make your own puppets. We meet her friends who only echo the vibrancy of her stories.

Be sure to catch this moving DVD. However, be sure to be in for a ride of adventure, laughter, and most important, stories that                appeal to the young.

         Reviewed by Kevin Cordi