Printer-friendly versionSend to friend

Stories That Soar! is back for its second annual collaboration with MAKE, the Bisbee youth arts festival at Central School. Stories that Soar! programs offer children an open invitation to write about anything they choose. The Stories That Soar! Magic Box is currently at the Bisbee Public Library and is “hungry” for children’s stories and wants to magically bring them to life. Children can come to the library and “feed” their stories to the Magic Box until Feb. 23, or Bisbee and Naco students can give their stories to their teachers. The stories can be true, made up, poems or fantasy. The Magic Box is not concerned with spelling or grammar, only that the stories are original and written by children. There are no limits to the amount of stories anyone can submit, the more the better. Be sure to include the author’s name, school or home address, teacher or home number when submitting stories to the Magic Box.  

The first story writing event for children will be held at the Bisbee Public Library on Feb. 15 from 4 to 4:45 p.m. Children can come add their stories to the Magic Box. 

Some stories will be selected to be acted on March 31 at 3 p.m. at MAKE. Through the talent and artistry of the Stories That Soar! ensemble of professional adult actors, these stories will be transformed into a unique, innovative theatrical production that celebrates literacy, inspires creativity, entertains and positively impacts the entire community as they see their own stories come to life on stage. 

Kyla Giltner from Greenway School had her Snowman story selected to be performed at MAKE last year. She said, “They did it exactly how I would have wanted. It was really good. I was proud.”

Children, ages 6 through high school, can sign up to do a story writing/theater workshop at The Boys and Girls Club. This workshop starts March 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. each day and ends on March 30 with a morning session from 9 a.m. until noon. The curriculum for this workshop is modeled on the collaborative process used by the professional Stories that Soar! artist ensemble. Students will become playwrights, actors, directors and designers. A teaching artist will create a unique opportunity for student-centered learning that fulfills Arizona state standards in the arts, language arts, and workplace skills. On March 31 at noon these children will celebrate their hard work by performing at MAKE.  

Kyla Giltner also participated in the story writing/theater workshop last year. She reported, “It was really, really fun. I got nervous when when I was up in front of so many people but I would do it again a thousand times.”

Stories that Soar! Children’s Books is an extension of Stories that Soar! providing another venue to celebrate children’s words and ideas. Stories written for the Magic Box are transformed through the visual arts into uniquely illustrated picture books. Through the guidance of a bookmaker/teaching artist, students and adults learn the process of bookmaking, printing, and publishing, while making valuable human connections by working with elementary school students and their stories. This workshop will be at Central School on March 12 through 16.

Jasmine Apel from Lowell Middle School had her story selected to be made into a book last year. She thought it was “fun getting a chance to show off my story and the things I can think of.”

About Stories That Soar!

Stories That Soar! recently joined Literacy Connects, a Tucson based nonprofit, to promote literacy through the arts. Transforming words and ideas into high quality artistic expression, Stories That Soar! taps into the wellspring of children’s imagination, inspiring creativity, promoting active literacy, and building engaged communities. When children realize their words and ideas have meaning and power beyond themselves, they seize the opportunity to engage in the collaborative process of bringing their original stories to life.   

Contact Marilyn Day, the Bisbee Liason for Stories That Soar!, at (520) 559-4483 or marilynsue2@yahoo.com to sign up for the writing/theater workshop or book making project. Read more about us at www.literacyconnects.org/stories-that-soar/.