Talented teen pens series of children’s books

Storytelling has impacted cultures all over the Earth for centuries, ranging from dinner-table conversation to public speaking forums.

Collierville resident Joisinga Noble began storytelling in the traditional way, sharing stories with her family when she was 4 years old. Now at 15, Noble has written a series of books, leads storytime for area children and has plans to share stories for many years to come.

Her series, “A Small Mouse with a Diary,” chronicles the lives of a family of mice who live in Noble’s home. There are currently four books in the series, which she began writing when she was 10 years old. “The Diary of Martha Mouse,” her first book, was a 5,000-word story created for the Young Writers Program with the National Novel Writing Month in 2010.

“My other books are better, since I was only 10 when I wrote the first one,” said Noble.

She even converted a couple of her mouse diary books into children’s books with her own illustrations. She has led five story times at the Morton Museum this year and one at the Collierville Library, as well. Not only does Noble read her stories, she brings along her guitar.

“I typically sing a song written to a tune that the children already know,” Noble said. “The songs go along with the theme of that storytime.”

Along with guitar, she plays the piano and the bagpipes.

“This is a great chance to promote my band,” she said. “Wolf River Pipe and Drums. We’re made up of all ages and play at lots of different venues and participate in parades.”

When asked what she likes to do for fun, Noble enjoys it all. She sews, cooks, crafts (she’s been scrapbooking since 3) and even has a blue belt in karate. Not to mention, writing and music is in the fun category, as well.

“We are very happy to have Noble involved in the story times,” commented Morton Museum director, Ashley Carver. “She is extremely talented and we appreciate Joisinga and her family’s support of the Museum.”

Noble will be back at the Morton Museum, 196 Main St., on Sept. 25, from 10:30-11 a.m. She said her theme will most likely be “Animal Habitats” and plans on reading one of her children’s books titled “Amelia Pied Piper.” Her books are also available at the Collierville Library.