“Our tales” – or a short history about the birth of a story-book...
Giving suitable tasks to our talented pupils has been important for the staff of our school for ages. Searching on the Internet we found a national project about educating young readers called “On the way of tales” which was established by IBBY Hungarian Association of International Council for children’s books. We liked the theme and thought something big. Not only reading tales is good but also writing them and drawing illustrations to them. If there would be many tales and illustrations we could also publish a story-book.
Thoughts were followed by acts. We searched for supporters and financial sources without whose help this book would not have been completed. The application had been won by Maros-Körös Educational and Cultural Public Association supported the publication of our book. After winning the competition NCA-NK-09-F-0075, which supports the integration of European, international and cross boarding contacts of Hungarian civil organizations it was not questionable that the common dream of the children, their parents and teachers who favoured them may come true: the completion of an illustrated, real story-book written by children.
We were collecting tales according to themes such as real folk tale characters and places. We could read about wanderers, princesses, dragons, fairies and lots of other characters and about what happened to them in Fairyland and far, far away!We received tales not only from our school but from many towns in Hungary and abroad: Kisiratos and Klézse, Csangoland.The tale language connected us! It was pleasure to sit at the computer every night and read our blog where all the tales were displayed every night. Have we received another tales or drawings? We gladly read and watched the children’s work and we could make remarks and questions to each other in connection with the tale. Younger and older pupils joined to create the drawings and tales even adults! Parents, teachers and elder brothers and sisters helped with writing.
Thanks to a jury, the best tales could get into the story-book. The writers and illustrators could take part in a happy theatre afternoon as a prize where kindergarteners, our pupils and drama group acted.
The awaited ceremony, the introduction the story-book was on 7 May 2010. The performance of a local legend acted out by class 3.a created a fairy atmosphere. We asked Judith Berg, children tale writer, to introduce and appreciate the book. Then we could get familiar with her world of story-land. Then the book was dedicated by the writers and illustrators.
After the great excitement there was a free game: in Gyopárosfürdő Spa. Young authors and illustrators could attend it free as a prize with their parents, teachers and brothers.
We hope you will join such programmes and not only those who were brave now but more children will write stories and tales when you see a new application on the blog!