A little light relief and some inspiring quotes this week. There are two things we do in every issue of Storytime magazine: we feature an extract from a brilliant children’s book and we run a competition to win copies of that very same book. To enter, all you have to do is tell us which featured story the quote on our magazine spine comes from.
We’ve had good feedback on this from parents and teachers – kids seem to revel in recognising the quote from the stories in our mag. But sometimes, we can’t fit the quotes we love on the spine or even in the extract, so here are nine special and inspiring quotes from classic books we’ve featured about reading, writing and stories – all the stuff we love. Enjoy!
1. Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversation?”
Lewis Carroll’s Alice – the original picture book fan. We featured an extract in Storytime, Issue 1 along with wonderful art by Mirdinara.
2. The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
“Folklore, legends, myths and fairy tales have followed childhood through the ages, for every healthy youngster has a wholesome and instinctive love for stories fantastic, marvelous and manifestly unreal.”
L Frank Baum’s foreword, written in Chicago, April 1900. Maybe one of my favourite inspiring quotes. This under-rated story was beautifully illustrated by Alex Wilson for Storytime, Issue 2.
3. The Wind in the Willows
“Presently the tactful Mole slipped away and returned with a pencil and a few half-sheets of paper, which he placed on the table at his friend’s elbow.
“It’s quite a long time since you did any poetry,” he remarked. “You might have a try at it this evening, instead of – well, brooding over things so much. I’ve an idea that you’ll feel a lot better when you’ve got something jotted down…””
Writing therapy, issued by Mole. Award-winning illustrator Birgitta Sif brought Kenneth Grahame’s Mole and Ratty to life for us in Storytime, Issue 3.
4. Five Children and It
“It is useless to tell a story unless you do tell it properly.”
E. Nesbit wisdom – agree or disagree? The Psammead was one of our Storytime, Issue 4 stars, with illustrations by super-talented, Ella Bailey.
5. Pinocchio
“Today at school I will learn to read at once; then tomorrow I will begin to write, and the day after tomorrow to figure. Then, with my acquirements, I will earn a great deal of money…”
Pinocchio (by Carlo Collodi) understands the importance of childhood literacy in Storytime, Issue 8, with colourful illustrations by Chiara Nocentini.
6. The Secret Garden
“They had looked at the splendid books and pictures and sometimes Mary had read things to Colin, and sometimes he had read a little to her. When he was amused and interested she thought he scarcely looked like an invalid at all…”
Until Mary gave Colin a secret garden, books were all he had. Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale featured in Storytime, Issue 10, with gorgeous artwork by Felicita Sala.
7. Peter Pan
“You see, I don’t know any stories. None of the lost boys knows any stories.”
“How perfectly awful,” Wendy said.
“Do you know,” Peter asked “why swallows build in the eaves of houses? It is to listen to the stories. O Wendy, your mother was telling you such a lovely story.”
Christine Knopp created a Peter and Wendy to match J.M. Barrie’s magical words in Storytime, Issue 11. Wendy’s response says it all really.
8. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
“Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.”
C.S. Lewis’s dedication to his goddaughter, Lucy, at the beginning of the book. We were lucky enough to feature an extract and original artwork by Pauline Baynes in Storytime, Issue 13). By the way, we are all old enough to read fairy tales.
9. The Water-Babies
Finally, a fine sentiment from Charles Kingsley for fairy believers everywhere from Storytime, Issue 19, imagined beautifully by Adolfo Serra.
Hope you’ve found some motivation for reading or writing with your kids in these inspiring quotes. Do you have any favourite reading-related inspiring quotes? Let me know on Twitter or Facebook. And don’t forget to keep checking our spines and entering our competitions – we have brilliant books for the taking!
See you soon!
