The Essex Year of Reading online ‘Tell me a Story’ sessions continue to help families discover a lifelong love of reading together, with hip hop poet Christian Foley.
Launching on Thursday 25 May 2023, the latest Essex Year of Reading ‘Tell me a Story’ film will feature Hip Hop poet and educator Christian Foley.
Christian, who was trained in his word skills by Michael Rosen and was brought to prominence by Benjamin Zephaniah, will read an extract from his latest book, ‘The Odd Socktopus’. In the story Christian dives deep with an octopus with eight new socks and who wants to be the first octopus wearing odd socks and to fry broccoli in a wok!
Christian says of the story: “The story involves the sounds and rhymes of words, it’s all about an octopus who wants to be different but ends up appreciating its surroundings and realises that it is perfect just being itself.”
Listening to stories, particularly from a young age, helps children to develop their speech, language and reading skills, as well as expand their vocabulary.
Councillor Tony Ball, Essex County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability, said: “We’re really pleased to have had so many great story tellers taking part in our ‘Tell Me A Story’ films. From Dermot O’Leary and Michael Rosen to a Zookeeper and a Fire Fighter, the stories have engaged and delighted children, and I know Christian’s will do the same.
“For adults simply taking time to sit and read with your child is incredibly rewarding and can help to improve children’s reading and language skills. Our ‘Tell Me A Story’ films give parents and children the chance to come together, listen to a story and get into that habit of sharing stories”.
The ‘Tell Me A Story’ sessions are led by well-known faces, published authors and local heroes. Aimed at children eight-years-old and younger, a new story is launched every two weeks on Essex County Council’s YouTube channel. The stories are aimed at bringing families together to discover new stories, as well as hear old favourites read aloud.
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.
Previous storytellers have included TV presenter and author Dermot O’Leary, a zookeeper from Colchester Zoo and former children’s laureate Michael Rosen.
