Here are some useful, interesting or offbeat links that we have come across. Story lovers – and those who are harder to persuade – might enjoy a browse.
Please note: the Story Museum accepts no responsibility for the content of the websites in this section.
Quirky stuff
- Inanimate Alice: A digital novel telling the story of a girl called Alice – brilliant interactive storytelling for the online generation.
- Going West by Maurice Gee: paper cut-outs bring this graphic story book to life. See it on this youtube clip.
- Little Red Riding Hood, digital style: you’re never too old for a new take on a classic fairy tale.
- We tell Stories: make up your own digital fairy tale.
Getting into stories
- Quick Reads: books for teenagers and adults who have lost the reading habit, struggle with reading or simply want a fast fun read.
- Storynory: free audio stories for children, a mix of classic and original stories
- Playtimes: A century of children’s games and rhymes: explores and celebrates over 100 years of playground culture and street games Many examples draw on stories that children have heard.
- Book Crossing: Find books, share books, and meet fellow book lovers.
- An article offering advice to parents of children who can read, but don’t.
- Bedtime Stories for children – free!
- Springboard Stories is a magazine for teachers that have discovered the benefits of teaching through storytelling. Every issue comes with resources that show where a a story can take you. Free resources also on the website.’Creativity, critical thinking and cross-curricular activities all wrapped around a story.’
- World Stories is a growing collection of stories from around the World. The collection includes retold traditional tales and new short stories in the 21 languages most spoken by UK children.
- Sharkspark is Oxford’s story-telling club, which meets in the Turl St Kitchen on the last Monday of every month.
- The Society for Storytelling is a central place to find out about storytelling events, to ask for advice on using storytelling, and to find storytellers.
- Mazed is a project collecting the tales of South East Cornwall.
Blogs
- An Awfully Big Blog Adventure: about writing for children by the Scattered Authors’ Society.
- Playing By The Book, family activities inspired by books.
- Traditional Storytelling: an e-magazine which brings together links from all over the web.
Places to go
You can find story activities all across the country. Museums sometimes host storytelling events or temporary exhibitions celebrating children’s authors. Many theatres and theatre companies stage adaptations of much-loved books and stories. Festivals provide opportunities to hear and meet inspirational authors, illustrators and storytellers. As well as lending books and DVDs, most libraries also provide internet access, information on what’s on, and host small events. Just scroll down for ideas, or use these quick links: story trails, story centres, story attractions and galleries, children’s theatre, festivals, further afield.
Story trails
- London: Download Book Trust’s The Rough Guide To London By The Book to plan a trip across the capital exploring books written in and inspired by the city.
- Edinburgh is a UNESCO City of Literature. Discover literary maps, tour and more on their website.
- Oxford: home to Lewis Carroll, J R R Tolkien, CS Lewis, Philip Pullman and many more (see city of stories). Visit www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.org for details of tours, attractions and events. Or join the fun on Alice’s Day.
- Dublin: famous for its (adult) authors, poets and playwrights www.dublintourist.com/literary_dublin/ will help you plan your visit to this literary city. Bloomsday takes place on 16th June each year.
Story centres
- Seven Stories Newcastle-upon-Tyne
- Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre
- Discover East London
- MythStories Wem, Shropshire
- Scottish Storytelling Centre Edinburgh
- The Ministry of Stories, London.
Story attractions and galleries
- World of Beatrix Potter Bowness-on-Windermere, Cumbria
- The Stories and Imagination Gallery Museum of Childhood, Sudbury Hall, Derbyshire
- Roald Dahl Children’s Gallery Buckinghamshire County Museum, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
- Temporary exhibitions, V&A Museum of Childhood London
Children’s theatre
- Unicorn Theatre London
- Polka Theatre London
- Little Angel Theatre London
- the egg Bath
- And watch out for touring children’s theatre companies visiting a theatre near you
Festivals
- Bath Festival of Children’s Literature, Avon, March
- Imagine children’s festival, London, February
- The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival Gloucestershire, October
- Latitude Festival Southwold, Suffolk, July
- FT Weekend Oxford Literary Festival Oxfordshire, March
- Wilderness Festival, Oxfordshire, August
- National Storytelling Week, January
Further afield
- Junibacken Stockholm
- Ghibli Museum Mitaka, Japan
- Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Amherst, MA, USA
- Wizarding World of Harry Potter theme park, Universal, Orlando, FLA, US
- Bø Museum, Norway.