Magic and mischief in Melbourne!

Melbourne Library

Tuesday 3rd September

Druk the Dragon was watching!

Our last event and before the storytelling even started we had a magical start when a unicorn arrived and the whole workshop took place under the watchful stare of Druk the Chinese dragon, suspended from the ceiling.

but was the unicorn helpful or did it just gets
its hooves and horn in the paint?

The stories that grew here had a strong fairy flavour... 

there was a tough fairy, 

fairies who lived in a fairy house, 

a troll bridge where you could only cross if you got a code from Steve and then you could cross and get 10 wishes

that unicorn is still there!

There was Turtola who could do wizard magic, 

and a King and Queen of Fairyland where if you entered their enchanted rainbow castle as a boy or a girl you would stroll out a grown-up Prince or Princess 

with many thanks to our Melbourne storytellers, artists and storymakers - 

and the Unicorn and Druk the Dragon!

Medusa's Cave at Clowne

Clowne Library

Thursday 28th August

The woods and hills and streets of Clowne are the home of many strange creatures and even stranger people, but the children of Clowne are there to keep an eye on things...

Through a wood of friendly oak trees,

Through a cave where a cold, knee-deep lake

Reflected the cave-roof and crystals,

Through a tunnel and a giant's cave,

Two children went hunting for the dragon who only eats villains.

(On the roof of Spy HQ,

The spies were watching)

Picking up a bone in the Giant's Toilet,

Hera put it in her pocket and the

Grey Lady Ghost went with them,

Escaping at last from the toilet

She had haunted for 100 years

(On the roof of Spy HQ,

The spies were watching,

And the guard checked his machine gun)

In an Ancient Wood, an Ancient Man

With 1000 years of beard,

Reached out ancient fingers to catch them

Snapped ancient teeth toe at them

And Jason and Hera ran.

But the ghost scared the old man so that

He fell over his beard

The three friends ran

(On the roof of Spy HQ,

The spies were watching,

And the guard checked his machine gun)

They ran down the old lane

Into the field of golden grass,

Storm clouds gather

And the children take shelter in Medusa's cave...

Just what else should happen in this adventure, we'll leave up to you...

a girl and her dog meet a Cyclops

2 girls in a wood

riding a dragon to safety!

storymakers, puppeteers, investigators...

with many thanks to all our storymakers, artists, and puppeteers at Clowne

A Thunder-grave in Creswell

Creswell Library

Thursday 28th August

a thunder grave

don't trust the Burned Girl!

“Walking with an umbrella during a tornado is not a god idea”*

But the girl went walking with her beautiful blue umbrella, anyway

She is buried in a thunder-grave,

Deep in the woods.

A lonely grave,

A single grave,

And there she brings

Thunder, lightning and storms inside the wood

But the edges of the wood are peaceful

And guard the world from her anger.

But one wild tornado escapes

And collects a bus full of panicking school children,

Spinning them round,

Ready to do them to death.

But the bus sprouts wings and 

As an aerobus with rocket boosters

Sails through the storm

To safety.

forest animals fled the storm

But the lightning strikes

A goblin house in the Old Widow’s Tree

And the goblin and the two fairies who live in a hole flee

The storm chases them,

Winds to blow them, rain to beat them,

Even their strongest spell doesn’t help,

And they run and run,

Too wet to fly, too scared to hide.

Down to the lake

Where a girl sails her boat through the storm,

Over a lake horrible with giant waves.

She carries them through the wind and the waves and the rain to...

Who lives in the old cottage behind the gray fence?

There is a bridge there, too,

Over a river behind the house,

A bridge to an island where a rock hides caves.

And might offer a new home to the lost goblin and his fairy friends

“Beware of the person who lives in the house behind the grey fence.”*

* “The things my Mum used to tell me”, numbers 25 and 32

the girl who could sail a boat!

forest animals watched the Burned Girl

goblin

the bus and its brave driver

an eagle caught in the storm

By the end of the story, everyone finds shelter in Creswell Library where they live to this day....

book shelf goblin

shy horse

children and eagles enjoy reading

with many thanks to the storymakers, puppeteers and artists of Creswell!

the dragons of Wirksworth

Wirksworth Library

Tuesday 26th August

mapping a landscape, a world, a story

mapping from the middle is always effective!

Past a watchful Fairy,

And a sea full of fish,

Across a broken, ancient bridge,

Over a deadly Ice Mountain,

Beyond the Golden River,

A dragon sleeps

Comments from our storymakers

It was awesome  (Ruth aged 11)

I really enjoyed the drawing and the last story (India aged 8)

I enjoyed the session very much, but I’m afraid I have nothing to say because it was so good (Ella aged 9 3/4)

with many thanks to all our storytellers, storymakers and artists at Wirksworth

The Beasts of Whaley Bridge

Whaley Bridge Library

Thursday 21st August

the world around Whaley is full of wonders

a cheetah taking shape

Over in Whaley Bridge,

A Golden Dragon flies,

Fast as the wind,

Over the edge of the hills,

Over in Whaley Bridge,

A slim cheetah runs,

Like a flicker of yellow flame,

Through the trees and the books.

Over in Whaley Bridge,

A Rainbow Dragon watches

From the edge of the bookcase,

Seeing every word you read,

Over in Whaley Bridge,

A Blue-winged Dragon slides,

As silent as smoke,

In and out of your dreams.

Over in Whaley Bridge,

Dangerous Basilisks dance,

Twisting round each other,

Like fast, green rivers.

With teeth.

Waiting Basilisks

Dancing Basilisks

with many thanks to the storymakers, puppeteers and audience of Whaley Bridge!