“Yes!” I thought,
reading Peter Gray’s blog post about the importance of stories for young
children. My mind traveled back to all of the stories I have read, and acted
out with, young children over the course of my career. Dr. Gray focused
specifically on reading to children; how this act has been singled out, with
good reason, to be more important to the future education of children than most
others. His excellent point is that there is more to story reading than cuddles
and close relationships, though these are essential for human growth and development,
not to mention human joy!
“Knowing how to deal with evil as well as love, how to
recognize others’ desires and needs, how to behave towards others so as to
retain their friendship, and how to earn the respect of the larger society
are among the most important skills we all must develop for a life.” These
skills are actually something we learn all through life, but giving children
stories to reflect on gives them a huge advantage, psychologically, as an early
start on braving human relationships, and fostering skillful interactions. Dare
I say, also, that stories help children learn to be wise rather than right, as
in, “right, not wrong”?
One book that, surprisingly, became a favorite with a group
of pre-k students, and demonstrated the difference between wisdom and “might
makes right”, was The Cloud Spinner, by Michael Catchpool and Alison Jay. This
entrancing story starts out, “There was once a boy who could weave cloth from
the clouds”. The boy sings as he works: “Enough is enough and not one stitch more”.
Immediately, Alison Jay’s illustrations captivated our children. The hills and
houses reflect the moods of the characters. Our children noticed this before I
did! Smiles on hills are made of trees, and sheep. Houses smile with windows
and doors. In the beginning, nature is in harmony because the boy with his
magical loom only makes what he needs. One day, the king notices the boy in a
crowd and madly desires clothing, of both himself and his family, made of the
clouds. He commands the boy to weave for him. The boy balks at first: “It would
not be wise to have (so much fabric) made from this cloth. Your majesty does
not need it.” The king is apoplectic, commanding the boy do his bidding. So he
does. He weaves, and the illustrations reflect the sadness of the task with darkening
color and forlorn hills.
The Cloud Spinner does not so much have a cheerful ending as
a wise and uplifting one. The children, absorbed in it, noticing details of the
varying shades of color that reflect the boy’s, and the King’s daughter’s moods
(She helps him to reverse the tragic disappearance of clouds that cause
drought, and discontent among the people). The King and his family are
astounded by the gratitude of the people after the clothing he ordered is
turned back into clouds, causing welcome rain. The boy and princess exult in
the restoration of a wise order in nature and among humans. The children,
sitting before me, sigh in contentment.
Our preschoolers learned about what greed was, some
demonstrating it by acting out the concept—“Mine! Mine!”, with gestures of
raking in loot! A teacher took up the phrase, “Enough is enough and not one
____ more” when children wanted ALL the blocks, or pizza. And, amazingly, this
story was one of the most requested during reading time, rivaling Dragons Love Tacos!
If children have a deep interest in this or any other story,
it is wise to follow their direction and see what they do with it. Our children
drew and painted clouds in an array of colors, and told stories with greedy
characters and children with magical powers. If you teach to standards, these activities
can be used to fulfill them—Language arts, social studies, even math and
science. Arts standards go without saying, and the text of the song can be set
to music. Ask any child! They will have a tune before you know it!
Children do need stories to make sense of feelings and wise
social interaction. They need myth, I dare say, to hold on to the important
values of society. As human interaction and social relationships are varied,
so, too, are the stories we read and tell.
