Storytime Issue 140 – Spring into Stories!
It’s spring! That means warm sunshine, cool showers and fresh green leaves on the trees! It’s a time of new beginnings… and that’s a theme running through the tales in the latest issue of Storytime!
The story that really brings the spirit of the season to life is ‘The Plant Kid’the true story of someone who really likes plants… and the springtime, too! Young Carl draws and catalogues every growing thing he sees… is it any wonder that he grows up to become a famous botanist? Iya Voinich strikes a perfect blend of realism and whimsy in her illustrations for this tale.
A new season is also a time for new discoveries! Our cover story, ‘Waffle Wonder’stars a cheetah who loves going fast… but what should he do if his running shoes won’t grip the track? He invents a new kind of sole! Inspired by the creation of an actual running shoe, this STEM Time story is all about the creative process, and there is plenty of extra info about how real trainers are made, too. You’ll love Damian Zain’s art, too – the characters really do look as if they’re moving at top speed!
Spring is also a great time to look at the world around us from another point of view. That’s a theme in ‘The Floating Princess’a fairy tale inspired by a story from George MacDonald. When a witch curses little Princess Nora, the girl finds herself floating all the time. She doesn’t let it get her down (literally!) and even discovers the magic of swimming. You’ll ne enchanted by this original story… and Anastasia Kryzhan’s illustrations!
Going outside and breathing the fresh air also helps us to appreciate the wonderful natural world around us… but what would happen if it didn’t work a it should? This is what happens in ‘The Man Who Drank the Ocean’an Indian legend. Godlike beings called devas ask a wise man to gulp down all the water in the seas… without realising that he can’t bring it back! Luckily, the goddess Ganga is sent down to Earth to refill the ocean and create the river Ganga (Ganges) in the process. Ananda Ferreira did a fantastic job with the images for this tale.
‘Jupiter and the Camel’ is another story with a moral! The animal has a hump, big feet for crossing sand and long ears, but he wants horns as well. Unfortunately, Jupiter, king of the Greek gods, doesn’t like his attitude! Big thanks to Lenka Knoetzewho brings a light-hearted vibe to the story with her art…
What does loving someone mean? For Tom Thumb in our bedtime story, it means accepting their quirks and caring about them just the same! His godmother in ‘Forgetful Fairy’ can be absent-minded, and her magic can cause problems, but her godson is on hand to help her. The gentle spirit of this story is perfectly complemented by Ngoc Bich Nguyen’s elegant pictures.
We all love animals… but is it right to keep them locked up? That’s the question asked in this month’s Worlds of Wonder story, ‘Midnight Zoo Breakout’. When Zara and her brothers discover that her father has a ‘collection’ of enchanted beings, they decide to set them free. Andi Andriansyah depicts the hi-jinks that follow in her illustrations, and you’ll love her designs for the magical creatures!
To round out the magazine, we’ve got a classic tale of love and chivalry from the Middle Ages.The talented Iva Dukic depicts ‘Tristan and Isolde’a knight and a princess who are in love with each other but kept apart by honour and duty. Will they choose to be together in the end? You’ll have to read the story to find out!
What is your favourite thing about spring? Ours is sharing stories with you all.
Enjoy the latest issue, fellow story-lovers!