Children help to bring story to life

Author’s sack secrets are full of character

The story of an angry goose was brought to life at Waterstones, Ashford, on Friday when author Karen Stanley paid a visit.

The writer visited the bookshop in the County Square shopping centre for an interactive storytime event based on her new children’s poem, A Wild Goose Chase, and new book My Great Granny Moo.

Children made finger puppets and pulled characters from the poem out of a “story sack”.

Mrs Stanley said: “You fill the sack with little bits from the story, like characters. Children pull things out from the sack.”

The 47-year-old author, from Whitstable, said she was nervous about the event but it exceeded her expectations.

She said: “At least 15 kids were there in a little corner. It was absolutely brilliant. They loved making the puppets. I was really quite chuffed.”

Mrs Stanley hopes to build on the Ashford success and visit other bookstores soon.

Waterstones is hosting another event on Saturday, May 13, when Philippa W. Joyner, author of the Anouka Chronicles, will be visiting from 11am.

FM4734159 Poppy Bond, three, selects something from the story bag Pictures: Matt Bristow

FM4734155/FM4734158/FM4734167/FM4734154 Ruby Davis, four, helps author Karen Stanley tell the story during her visit to Waterstones