A special place just for you
For My Readers
Dear reader, I wanted to create a special page just for YOU. First, thank you sincerely for reading my work. Of all the books in the world that you could read, you chose mine, and I am very, very grateful! Sending you lots of virtual hugs. Below, I'll share a little about myself, followed by some storytelling activities for you to try!
Some of My Favorite Things
Visiting the beach is one of my favorite activities.
I love birds. The Western Meadowlark is one of my favorites.
Love it!
I made these cupcakes with family after reading Charlotte's Web.
This is my favorite beverage. I enjoy peach tea, green tea, orange tea, mint, rooibos, and Earl Grey.
This is my favorite holiday. I love seeing the decorations, the interesting costumes, enjoying the treats, and feeling the hint of spookiness in the air.
I enjoy watching live performances, including theater plays, Broadway shows, and music concerts. Here is a picture of a band (Baba Commandant and the Mandingo Band) from Burkina Faso I saw at the Kennedy Center.
Zadie Smith is one of my favorite authors, and a few years ago, I met her in person. She's amazing!
This is one of my favorite cities to visit.
This is one of my favorite books. I love the interesting plot, the characters, and the theme of light versus darkness, among other things. Kate DiCamillo is a wonderful storyteller.
I love spending time in nature and enjoy taking pictures of trees. Here is a picture of a wonderful tree I once spotted.
This is where I currently live and is one of my favorite places in the whole entire world.
Storytelling Activities
Story Jar
- 1
Gather friends or family.
- 2
Collect a jar, some acrylic paint, and one smooth rock per friend.
- 3
Paint an object of your choice (e.g., a dog, a hairbrush, a volcano, an iguana, or the equator) onto your rock.
- 4
Allow the rocks to dry, then place them all inside the jar.
- 5
Have each friend pick a rock from the jar and make up a short story about the painted image. (Optional: Use a timer to give each storyteller a 5-minute limit, or leave it open-ended!)
Musical Story
- 1
Listen to a song in a language other than your own (e.g., French, Arabic, Spanish, or Japanese).
- 2
Pay close attention to the instruments, tempo, tone of voice, and overall mood of the song.
- 3
Write a story inspired by what you believe the song is about. (Alternative: Draw or paint a picture first, then write a story to accompany your artwork.)
- 4
If possible, find someone in your community who speaks the language of the song and ask them about its lyrics. Compare your imagined story with the song's actual meaning.
Flip the Story
- 1
Pick a familiar story.
- 2
Pick one of the supporting characters and invent a brand-new story centered on them.
- 3
Turn the original main character into a side character in your new version.
- 4
Consider the following as you write your story: How does the story change now that the supporting character is leading it? What choices might this new main character make differently? How does the main character behave in a supporting role? How does the plot shift with the roles flipped?
- 5
Share your new story with friends or family!
Shell Story
- 1
Collect three different kinds of seashells (or swap shells for leaves, twigs, or stones).
- 2
Give each item a fun or interesting name.
- 3
Tell a short story explaining how each item earned its unique name.
Backward Story
- 1
Gather friends or family for storytelling time.
- 2
Choose one person to start. That person begins by sharing the ending of their made-up story. Example: "And after Aziza and Lauren finished eating the basket of cherries, they raced back home on their bikes, giggling and grinning, for it had been the best day of their lives."
- 3
The next person adds to the story by sharing what happened before that moment.
- 4
Continue working backward until the group reaches the very beginning of the story!
Thank you for reading my stories.
With love, Mayonn