Storytime Issue 129 Out Now
Our Imaginations Have No Limits!
We humans are incredible creatures, and imagination is our superpower. There are no limits to our creativity!
Here at Storytime Towers, we realised this when judging the Create a Cover Star! contest. We got so many amazing and original entries, and no two were alike.
We had to pick one winner to appear on the cover of this month’s issue, and that was the monstrously cute Octosaurus! It was created by 8-year-old Nuala Hosp Ní Mhóráin from Ireland, and we’ll sure you’ll love the story about how the Octosaurus hatched and made its first friend. The art for ‘The Octosaurus from the Deep!’ was crafted by the talented Bruno Leite, based on Nuala’s drawings.
We hope that you are as inspired by Nuala’s creation as we were. With stories, we have a chance to explore new places, characters and possibilities. When you next read a tale, why not imagine what could happen next, or what the heroes or villains could get up to next? Reading is a great opportunity to let our creativity run wild.
‘Whose Home Is It?’ is a fun fable set in India. It features a lapwing (a kind of bird) and a rabbit who are arguing about who a cosy nest belongs to. They seek a wise animal to decide for them… but unfortunately choose a cunning cat who pretends to be peaceful and holy! What other creature do you think they could have chosen, and how might the story have ended then? Susan Box was one of several talented artists who submitted art for this story, and we’re sure you will agree that her style is truly special!
‘The Wild Piper’ is an Irish story about a wild girl with a special gift for music. Izzy Robe captures the enchantment of this story and brings the characters to life in a special way. At the end of the story, the fairy folk reveal a big secret… but can you imagine what is it?
There are many stories about strange beings that lurk in the wilderness – but none is quite like ‘The Baccoo’! This Caribbean creature is said to be half covered in bark and half in fur, and he will do jobs for you in return for bananas and milk. However, if you can’t pay him, that means trouble! Dante Guerino did an amazing job rendering this fantastical creature, too. What would you ask him to do if you found one in a bottle? Let your imagination go as wild as the Baccoo!
With ‘Free-Range Fun’, we imagined what might happen after Jack (of ‘…and the Beanstalk’ fame) took the magical golden-egg-laying hen home. The answer: he discovers that healthy, happy hens need good homes and decides to build his new pet one. You’ll love the lively art provided by Wira Klino, too.
Stories can take us to lands that never existed – and that’s what the fairy tale of ‘Princess of the Seven Cities’ does. With help from Emanuela di Donna’s enchanting art, this story transports us back in time to the mythical island of Atlantis, and tells us about why it supposedly slid beneath the waves many ages ago. Can you imagine any other magical places that might once have existed? What happened to them? These thoughts could lead to the creation of an amazing tale, so why not explore them?
When it comes to inspiring tales, few come close to the legends of King Arthur and his knights. ‘The Lady of the Fountain’ is one of these stories, and it contains all the ingredients we’ve come to expect: quests, heroism, monsters and acts of derring-do! Natalie Leah’s illustrations suit the mood perfectly, and we’re sure they will stir your imagination. What do you think the hero of the tale will do next?
Stories don’t need to be fictional to stir our imaginations, either! ‘The Maria Way’ is about a girl who wanted schools to be more inspiring and creative and she was a real girl who created her own schools! Davide Abbati provided lovely fairytale-worthy art for this story, and we hope it inspires you to imagine ways you could change the world for the better. After all, the future is built by the boldest dreamers!
We hope that reading these stories has planted some creative seeds in your minds. Why not write down some of them and see what they grow into?
