The Essex Year of Reading’s ‘Tell me a Story’ series continues with new filmed story time sessions to help families discover a lifelong love of reading together.
Families are being encouraged to get together and watch the latest ‘Tell me a Story’ film as part of the Essex Year of Reading.
Famed author and former children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, is the next storyteller. A new recording of his 1989 children’s classic ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’, has been timed to coincide with National Storytelling Week, which runs from Monday 30 January to Sunday 5 February.
Michael brings all his trade-mark humour and storytelling techniques to life to lead viewers on a bear hunt that encounters long grass, mud, a snowstorm and more. ‘You can’t go over it, round, over or under it, you’ll have to go through it’, all to find a bear.
Rosen’s ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ film will be available on Essex County Council’s YouTube channel, along with the previous films in the ‘Tell me a Story’ series.
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “We’re really pleased to have Michael Rosen reading for us to help celebrate National Storytelling Week. His book ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ is wonderfully funny; seeing and hearing Michael doing all the actions and sounds also really brings the story to life. We hope our ‘Tell Me A Story’ films will inspire families to continue sharing stories together and enjoy making reading part of their daily routine.”
Michael is delighted to support the Essex Year of Reading and is excited to be the next storyteller, he said: “Tell me a Story is a great way for children and adults to get into the habit of reading a story before bedtime. My parents read books to me when I was a child and those stories have stayed with me all my life.”
The ‘Tell me a Story’ films are led by well-known faces, published authors and local heroes. Aimed at children 8-years-old and younger, a new story is launched every two weeks. The stories aim to help families get together and discover new stories, as well as hear old favourites read aloud.
Previous storytellers have included TV presenter and author Dermot O’Leary and the Mercury Theatre’s panto Dame. Future sessions will include readings from children’s author Jeremy Strong, as well as an Essex firefighter.
The Essex Year of Reading campaign was created by the Essex Education Taskforce to support children and young people whose education has been affected by the pandemic. It is funded by Essex County Council.
