A Saturday with Sparkle at Seven Stories!

On Saturday 5th December, children from five Doncaster schools enjoyed a fabulous visit to the marvellous Seven Stories, the centre for children’s books in Newcastle. We had visited around the same time last year, and had such a great time we wanted to do so again. If anything, this year’s trip was even more fun! You just know it’s not going to be your typical wet winter Saturday when you are met at the entrance desk by an elf and a gentleman in a red velvet coat and high blue wig, with cheeks covered in sparkling silver stars! All the staff were dressed in fantastical costumes, which added to the festive atmosphere, and throughout the day they worked really hard to ensure a good time was had by all.

We certainly had a packed programme. We split into two groups on arrival, and, as well as having the opportunity to look at the excellent interactive exhibitions in the galleries, and browse in the lovely bookshop, each group had a chance to take part in craft-based activities in the Creation Station, enjoy a white-glove experience with the archivists in the Story Lab, and watch a truly unique theatrical performance of ‘Time Trouble’ in the Artist’s Attic’. All of these activities, I should add, were included in the admission cost at no extra charge, and really enhanced an already enjoyable visit.

The gallery exhibitions this year had been changed since our last visit. One major exhibition focus was the life and work of the wonderful Judith Kerr. (The Tiger Who came to Tea, the wonderful Mog series and When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit) Many of our students remembered the Tiger story, so of course they (and all of the adults present!) absolutely loved the chance to sit at the table in Sophie’s kitchen with a life-sized tiger!! You could also curl up on a cushion and read a book in a giant version of Mog’s basket, but I (just) resisted the temptation! The exhibition also contained original artwork, notes and sketches, and gave us a chance to explore Judith’s extraordinary life, fleeing Germany as a child fugitive from Hitler, living in France and Switzerland and finally setting in London just before the outbreak of World War Two. The other exhibition was entitled ‘All Aboard, Away We Go’ and had material from lots of famous children’s stories featuring travel and transport, including ‘Maisie’s Bus’ and a life-size model of an airplane cockpit from the book Flight by Robert Crowther. Again this had lots of interactive elements that take the visitors right to the heart of the stories.

In the Creation Station, the students could design gross menus with inspiration gleaned from Terry Deary’s Horrible Christmas, draw pictures, make puppets, or make Christmas decorations. Or they could chill out on the floor cushions and read one of the many books from the well-stocked bookcase, itself designed to look like a huge open book. Both Lesley and I just had to try out the lovely, multi-coloured ‘throne’ in the corner, while reacquainting ourselves with some festive favourites like The Jolly Christmas Postman.

The white-glove experience gave us the chance to look at original manuscripts by Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, who, as we discovered, likes to write his ideas down immediately on the nearest paper to hand, such as the back of an envelope of even on a ‘thank you’ card. We also saw some beautiful original watercolours and a sketchbook of ideas and drawings that were eventually used to illustrate a gorgeous edition of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Snow Queen, as well as draft drawings for a poetry anthology and Nick Sharratt’s original cover drawings and illustrations for ‘Tracy Beaker’.

For my group, the final activity of the day was the ‘Time Trouble’ performance where we saw the Vikings, the Romans and even good queen Bess as they have never been portrayed before! If I told you that the show also involved eccentric Victorian scientists, a levitating tiger and an imaginary war-horse called Dobbin, you might just begin to get a faint impression of the sheer lunacy involved. The setting, with its quirky, oversized purple sofas and dressing-up box added to the intimacy of the occasion and was a wonderful way to finish the day.

The time at Seven Stories absolutely flew by, and everyone on the trip had a wonderful time. If you haven’t visited it yet, get up to Newcastle and go there as soon as you can – you definitely won’t regret it!

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