"StoryWatchers Club: Keys to Imagination" DVD Review

Story Watchers Club series DVDs contain a collection of talented storytellers who each impart a tale to a group of children. The actual club is a multi-cultural group of puppets who come together to hear the wonderful stories and provide a lead-in to each new storyteller. The following storytellers can be found in “Keys to Imagination”:

• Kevin Cordi, Voices Across America Youth Storytelling, animatedly explores the question, “Where Did Polar Bears Learn to Dance?”
• Christine Petrell Kallevig, Origami Fold-Along Stories, teaches the simple logic and problem-solving through the clever art of origami in the tales “Penny’s Paper Pocket” and “The Fox and the Crane.”
• Charlotte A. Battin, Battin Productions, introduces the point-of-view of Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother, and she engages the audience with sing-a-long songs and inspirational lessons.
• Barbara Schutzgruber, Storyteller and Weaver, uses a lone piece of string to weave the tale of “The Mysterious Visitor.”
• Bob & Kathie Myers, The Story Peddlers, playfully spin the tales of “Peanut Butter” and “The Wide Mouth Frog.”

The creators and producers of the DVDs emphasize that “With these fun filled imaginative performances, young storytellers will learn that they don’t need hi-tech products, hyped-up graphics or highly-licensed characters to foster their own imagination and creativity. They’ll ‘see’ each facet of the story in their own minds and create the visuals and comprehend the morals for themselves.”

Story Watchers Club is a fantastic idea to help children realize the magic of hearing wonderful tales and imagining all of the scenery, characters and events that go with them. The storytellers are very talented, and children will be amazed by those stories which include origami or string to help tell the story. Kids will have fun learning these arts themselves after receiving this fun introduction.

Storytelling, though, cannot be captured on DVD in a way that is as good as being in the room with the teller. Somehow, some of the effect is just lost. Also, the puppets that introduce the storytellers look very home-made, but the club provides a fun setting and a good way to tie in each new story. StoryWatchers Club DVDs do offer a new idea that is positive for kids, even though hearing stories in person will always be better.

• Meet the Storytellers
• StoryWatchers Club Sing-Along Music Video
• Children tell stories, too!
• Behind-the-scenes: The Making of StoryWatchers Club

Expand Upon the "StoryWatchers Club: Keys to Imagination" Curriculum

• Make up stories and encourage your children to make up their own stories to tell. Storytelling is an art, and kids are usually very good at it!
• Help your kids use props to tell stories like the string or paper folding examples in the DVD. Other prop examples include felt boards, sign language, drawings and costumes.
• Learn more about storytelling from the storytelling star of Mustard Pancakes, Courtney Campbell(see bottom of review page for tips).