Storytime Issue 138 – Unlock New Experiences!
Let’s face it, it’s boring to do the same thing over and over! Variety is the spice of life, and that’s why we do our best to bring you something fresh and new with each issue of Storytime!
That’s certainly true in the case of the latest magazine, which is about seeking out novel experiences that can change our lives for the better…
Our spectacular cover star is ‘The Blue Parrot’… or is he? You’ll find out when you read this wonderful story about a king who undergoes a magical transformation and discovers what life is like as a bird. Abel KR is the artist who rendered the vivid illustrations…
We contacted Ari Gonzales to illustrate the charming bedtime story ‘Pond Life’. It features the princess from the classic tale ‘The Princess and the Frog’. When her beloved boyfriend misses his froggy life in the pond, she agrees to transform into an amphibian and go on an underwater holiday with him. Would you like to spend the summer in a nice cool pond too?
Things get a bit spooky with ‘The Ghost Ship’a story about a legendary vessel that is rumoured to haunt the wild seas off Chile in South America. Gaspar and Sofia are shipwrecked in a storm… but are rescued by a ghostly galleon. What will they find when they step aboard? Guille Rancel brings the perfect atmosphere to this story about siblings who take a trip into the spirit world…
Sometimes, discoveries can be life-changing! That’s what happens to young Galileo when he sees objects fall from a ladder. His grumpy tutor insists that heavy objects fall faster than lighter ones, but Galileo and his donkey friend Pippo decide to try an experiment to test this. ‘Gravity Game’ is a fun-filled tale of mischief and discovery, and it’s backed up by pages that introduce the concept of gravity without getting too ‘heavy’ (if you’ll pardon the pun!) Michelangelo Stassi was the ideal illustrator to bring Renaissance Italy to life for this story.
Sometimes, stories themselves can be life-changing – and that’s certainly the case for the main character in ‘Jenny’s Tale’. When she is given some books by a friend of the family, she is thrilled and inspired to start writing her own stories! As you might have guessed, this tale is based on the life of the young Jane Austen, one of the most acclaimed authors in the English language! Anna Rizzi’s art is a treat for the eyes – it flow and dances across the pages in a unique way!
Going on a journey can be a brilliant and transformational experience, though the young gnomes in ‘The Gully of Stench’ certainly could have picked a better-smelling destination. Will Bugleberry, Niblet and find what’s causing that awful smell? A special thank-you to illustrator Maria Bu, whose art has the perfect mix of atmosphere and whimsy!
Sometimes we think we’ve changed… but then find out that we haven’t! That’s the theme of ‘The Wolf’s Shadow’which is illustrated by the talented Felipe Calv. When the main character notices that his shadow is growing bigger and longer, he believes that he is getting bigger too and thinks that he can take on a lion! By the end, he learns something about himself… which can be a new and positive experience in its own way.
Finally, we have a creation myth all the way from Central America. ‘The Three Peoples’ is a tale about the creation of the world and how the gods of the Mayans made people or mud, wood and corn. Stories of this kind can make us think about where we come from and what it means to be human! Junis Laureano complements the tale perfectly with appropriately legendary art. We’re sure you will love it!
Can you think of a particular story which gave you new perspectives and opened you up to new experiences? Tell us about it! And until the next adventure, readers!