When my children were very little, we came home one spring night to find a beautiful, young katydid perched on the light by our front door. Our bedtime story that night had to be about — what else? — a katydid.    Read More »

To my good friends in South Africa, here’s a story especially for you. Download The Plant Eaters Fight Back!    Read More »

This August, my family and I attended Medomak Family Camp near Washington, Maine, to present a series of workshops on family storytelling. Kids of all ages, including parents, attended our workshops, where we created stories together drawing on our experiences that day in camp.

I especially had fun creating stories with the younger children. Their imaginations are boundless, and they’re always ready for a good story. This month, I’ll be posting some of the stories the kids and I made up.

Here’s a tale we created after my fellow storytellers, ages 4, 5, and 6, said they wanted a story about a moose, a bear, a beaver, a deer, a fox, a loon, a chipmunk, and a skunk. What better way to celebrate the animals of Maine than with a party!

click here to download “The Animal Party”    Read More »

There once was a little chipmunk named Samantha. Her friends just called her “Sammie.” Now all chipmunks are cute. But Sammie was especially cute. When she filled her cheeks with nuts, or looked at you with her big doe eyes, you couldn’t help but comment, “My, Sammie, you are so-o-o-o cute.”    Read More »

Most children’s first stories are about animals. Animals and nature hold a special place in children’s imagination and affections, and often continue to do so long after they’ve grown up. Animals amaze, comfort, delight, inspire, amuse, and best of all, offer countless ideas for stories.

Here is one of the very first animal stories that I made up for my own sons when they were very young.

Once there was a little beetle walking through a field. There were two things about this beetle that made him quite extraordinary…    Read More »