My Mommy is Magic

Last Friday I resumed story telling at the library after taking a 4 month break to concentrate on my studies and practicum. I prepared 2 interesting stories. When I left 4 months ago my audience consisted a mix of older children 6 and above and younger preschoolers. Used to be when I first started more than a year ago the audience was predominantly primary school children who enjoyed tales with twists and turns and would hold their breath when the story is exciting.

Last Friday only about 9 children turned up (which the librarian thought was due to exam period). What I did not expect was a majority of nursery and kindergarten kids who are Chinese nationals and whose command of English is rather low. The trouble is you can't really tell who your audience is until they walk in. There were however 2 older girls about 8 years old. I had to make my story easier to understand and added a lot of sound props and actions. I lost the attention of 3 younger children completely although I noticed 2 other China National girls who were very well behaved listening intently and trying to grasp the story.

Only the 2 older Spore girls liked the story. When I finished the first story I told the 2 older girls that there being so many smaller kids around I have to read a picture book. So I casually picked one from the books being displayed. It caught my eyes because the cover has a big drawing of a mother and a little girl and the words "My Mommy is Magic".

Little did I expect the magic of such a simple book with only a few words in each page. In the book a little girl speaks about the magic of her mommy because mommy kisses away the pain in her finger, knows what she wants to whisper in her ear, chases away the monster in her nightmare etc etc. Few words but when read with the right intonation and expression sparks the feelings of awe and love everytime we read together the last line in each page "Mommy is Magic". What was more surprising, even the 2 older girls seemed to enjoy doing that.

What I gathered from that session is that to have an enjoyable session for the kids, it does not necessary have to be a story that is content based. Something simple which the children can relate and which can stir the magical feelings of wonder will be equally good if not better. Being philosophical I just keep thinking it is the same with life. We do not need to pack it with interesting events or accomplishment all the time. Sometimes we can allow ourselves to dream and wonder at simple things like feeling the care shown us by our loved ones.

Only later did I realise with a smile, it coincided with MOTHER's DAY WEEKEND :D