Story Time with Reg Down
A month ago we had the great pleasure of visiting Rudolf Steiner College in Fair Oaks to see author Reg Down tell a story from his book The Bee Who Lost His Buzz. Reg is the author of the Tiptoes Lightly books and my kids love them. For the event, Reg had handcrafted story props with needle-felted wool and silk; he made a Tiptoes, Bee, Cactus, Jeremy Mouse, and the Great Oak Tree where Tiptoes lives.
Some kids had dressed up like their favorite characters from the Tiptoes Lightly books. One boy had a fantastic oak-leaf hat! See it on the right?
With simple props such as cloths, story puppets, and a lyre, Reg skillfully created the world of the fairy, Tiptoes, and her forest friends. The children were enraptured (with one exception, a little girl who decided to go for a stroll).
It was neat to have Reg’s permission to take photos. I tried to be unobtrusive while doing so and I have since shared them with him. Reg posted my photos on his Tiptoes Lightly Facebook page.
After the story, which was the first three chapters of Book 1: The Bee Who Lost His Buzz (also be found in The Tales of Tiptoes Lightly collection), the children were allowed to touch the needle-felted puppets. Both Tiptoes, the beautiful fairy in the blue dress, and grumpy Cactus, the spiky fellow who accidentally snagged Bee’s buzz, were popular for touching.
We brought our (much loved and rumpled) books for Reg to sign. I think this is our kids’ first autograph.
What we love about Reg’s stories is that they are gentle and filled with a child’s reverence for the natural world. Chapters are short and perfect for bedtime. While magic and wonder are threaded throughout, nothing is heavy-handed and there is plenty of sweet humor. Events in the stories often pair beautifully with Waldorf festivals, such as Michaelmas, Martinmas, the season of Advent, Christmas and more. If you haven’t seen them before and you have children ages 3 to 9, check them out. You won’t be disappointed. Reg’s newest books are full color and his paintings are amazing. We bought a copy of The Cricket and the Shepherd Boy for next Christmas.
January 12, 2011 at 11:49 am
so. jealous.
January 17, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Hi Rae! It was delightful. I hope you get an opportunity to see him sometime.
September 10, 2013 at 9:46 pm
I’d personally also like to convey that most people that find themselves with no health insurance are generally students, self-employed and people who are out of work. More than half of the uninsured are under the age of Thirty-five. They do not come to feel they are in need of health insurance as they are young and healthy. Their income is normally spent on houses, food, as well as entertainment. A lot of people that do go to work either 100 % or as a hobby are not supplied insurance by way of their work so they move without due to the rising valuation on health insurance in the United States. Thanks for the concepts you write about through this site.
October 15, 2013 at 12:20 am
Perhaps you have necessary to make an essential call, but have already been too afraid to grab the device? Have you ever wanted to accept the steps to improve your daily life, but been held back from your own anxiety? This post is here to aid. Please read on to discover tips that may help you take control of your anxiety and live an improved life.
March 12, 2024 at 4:15 am
металлический завод