Get Krafty!

Last month, as I walked into Times the Book Shop ,Pavilion, to my utter surprise,I saw MYSELF beaming from cheek to cheek and as gay as the kids zooming around - on a poster.Great stuff ! 'Grandma's ' on the loose !! If only my kids were with me! Gosh! where's my pen to autograph for a few fans?? It will happen, one day...

Weekends see me doing my rounds of storytelling for kids. That keeps me out of mischief and spreading some cheer too. For sure, some parents are delighted to have their kids under my wings for them to recharge their own batteries. After stories, there's always craft time for the little fingers to explore themselves and be creative.


There are kids that just dive in to do , others will watch and then, after the initial uncertainties, they too are immersed in tackling the craft at hand. In a world of their own , their heart and soul work to produce their art.

When I told The Bharunda Bird, a timeless story from the Panchatantra, I made the 2 headed bird. Several children wanted to know how I got the 2 heads to move. I showed them a little gadget, the paper fastener that made the bird move.

There was more colour following the story. The kids dived into making the most colourful Bird of Paradise mask. I had prepared a big box of colourful paper , cut into strips and odd shapes for them to decorate. Really, the next thing they could do was just turn up at a masquerade ball!!!


In July/ August, we swam with the fishes in the warm waters of the coral reef. As the story unravelled, I plonked laminated hand drawn pics of the sea creatures, held faithfully by the blue tac . The background cardboard displayed a coral reef. Just right to set the scene. Among the sea denizens were - a hermit crab, blue sea slug, eel, spotty fish, fiery dragon fish , cuttlefish, puffer fish.

A baby clownfish was just dying for adventure in the story, The Curious ClownFish. Well, he had a gala time but sea life also has its spills and thrills. Baby Clownfish was frightened out of his wits when Eel gnashed and bared his teeth at him. Heart pounding , poor Clownfish spun away and twirled and swam furiously back to the warm arms of the anemone. Home!

Hope you can spot baby Clownfish among the rest. The kids sang a few songs about the fishes and they made a paper plate fish , mouth open wide. It caught a tiny fish too!!





With the younger ones, the classic, The Lion and the Mouse make them want to be the mighty lion and the grateful little mouse all at the same time!! The toilet roll mouse is an effective prop. When all the bits are glued together, the fat, well-fed looking mouse, as craft is always a winner!



Talk about a dull time with kids? No way! Only thing, 'Grandma's' legs got to keep running to keep up with the young 'uns! Go, Grandma, go! Keep telling!

Get CRAFTY !

Yesterday was my weekend storytime with kids. I had 2 sessions, one at the MBPJ Library and the other at Times The Book Shop , Pavilion, KL. That kept me and the kids busy

After a telling of a Slovenian folk tale, 'How The Sun Was Brought Back To The Sky', the kids made a paper plate sun. Cool looking sun - with sunshades too! Who's feeling the heat?



Kids love to make things and it's rather easy to get them going especially when one leaves them room for creativity. So, give them space to create and they are happy souls.



Once their fingers and mind work, it's the child at his best. It's never difficult to find something to praise their artwork. It works wonders too.



I can see the instant sparkle of delight on their faces. The shyness begins to fade. There's a new confidence in their art, whatever the adults may say. And they go off with the proud craft in their hands.

Today, a little boy was so happy with his paper plate sun. He swung round and round, arms outstretched, holding the sun in his hand and singing. Was it the grouchy sun turned happy? He was in a world of his own!

In another session, there were chicks to make, sitting snugly in a nest. For the chick - a body, head and wing put together elicited cheerful 'cheep! cheep!' How did the kids make the nest? It was a nice tangle of crepe paper. Just gluing them on a half size paper plate did the trick. The finishing touch for them were the eggs.

'How many do I put in?' one asked, eyeing the colourful cut outs. My reply, ' As many as you like!' He picked his favourite colours , glued them joyfully and there were at least 4. A happy soul.