Monthly Challenges - Simona's Stories by Simona Stambazzi

How does it work?

simonasstories — 2023-01-02 07:55:01 UTC

Every month I will share on my Facebook page a new prompt we can all work on, and we have a whole month to think about our story and share it. But don’t worry, there’s no fixed deadline, and you might want to revisit an older challenge later on!

This is our Padlet, where we can share our stories. You can choose if you want to record a video of yourself telling the story, record an audio, or maybe you would like to write your story – everything is more than welcome, make this challenge yours. Any language is welcome, but, since this challenge is international, if you tell your story in a language other than English, please give a short overview of what the story is about in English, so that everyone can appreciate it! Let’s listen to and read each other’s stories, and let’s be supportive in our comments – remember that this is just for fun! But, if there’s something in particular you would like to ask other people to give you feedback on, please do – I would like this to be a place to experiment, challenge oneself, learn and grow.

Why?

simonasstories — 2023-01-02 07:55:50 UTC

‘Why?’, you may ask:

because it gives us the chance to focus on a different theme every month and we can grow as storytellers;
because it may give us an idea to experiment on something we hadn’t thought about before;
because we may receive supportive and constructive feedback in a safe environment;
because… why not? It’s fun!

January Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-01-02 07:57:29 UTC

As for January, the focus is on personal storytelling, but with a twist; the theme of the challenge is: Tell a personal story, but put a magical element into it.

What about telling the story of that time you went hiking and you got lost, but you found your way again thanks to a kind gnome that appeared out of nowhere? Or maybe the story of that time you were invited to dinner by a friend of yours who didn’t know how to cook, but fortunately a magical potion saved you from sure death… Let your imagination be the only limit!

2023-01-07 05:14:19 UTC

The Magical Maths Lesson

2023-01-17 17:03:33 UTC

Here is my personal tale with a twist. Love the idea of a monthly challenge Simona. :) I hope the audio file has attached - I can't quite see.

Blue Sunrise

DavidHeathfield — 2023-01-27 10:11:38 UTC

DavidHeathfield — 2023-01-27 10:24:43 UTC

DavidHeathfield — 2023-01-27 10:25:03 UTC

Magical voices

simonasstories — 2023-01-27 18:03:23 UTC

Where did those voices come from?

2023-01-31 14:38:58 UTC

February Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-02-01 13:07:24 UTC

Has it already been a month since the beginning of the year? Has it only been a month since the beginning of the year? Time flew by, but so many things happened in the last month and it feels like much longer at the same time!

Here we are, at the beginning of February, with the second edition of the Monthly Challenges! This month, the focus is on well-known tales… but told from the point of view of an inanimate object. Who’s up for it?

I’m looking forward to all your lovely contributions!

rendered useless

DavidHeathfield — 2023-02-01 16:34:01 UTC

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2023-02-20 16:32:46 UTC

Here's Cathy's wonderful contribution to the challenge, enjoy! 🤩

amnaburki16 — 2023-02-26 17:58:15 UTC

The perfect fruit

simonasstories — 2023-02-27 14:39:46 UTC

Here's my story! Can you guess the famous story I'm telling?

A quickie before the month runs out!

2023-02-28 13:07:45 UTC

Oops I just reread the challenge - I promise I don't think the donkey is an inanimate object. But my brain might be!!!

2023-02-28 13:10:00 UTC

March Challenges

simonasstories — 2023-03-01 14:38:41 UTC

The March challenge is here! Or should I say… challenges?

Yes, you read well – this month on our fantastic Padlet you will find two challenges connected to ‘Together we can’, the theme of this year’s World Storytelling Day on March 20.

The two challenges:

1. Tell a story. You can choose a story on the theme, or maybe you could invite a fellow storyteller to tell a story together.

2. Collective writing. I’ll write the first part of a story on a Padlet post, and the idea is that, bit by bit, each of us can add a part (or more) to the story by commenting below, so as to create a new story by the end of the month. How lovely would it be to tell a story we created together? Shall we try?

I’m looking forward to your contributions!

Collective writing

simonasstories — 2023-03-01 14:52:53 UTC

Long long ago, in a small house in the middle of the woods, there lived two sisters whose names were Tin and Tan.

Hi Simona,

amnaburki16 — 2023-03-09 01:38:37 UTC

Here is collaborative storytelling entry and the theme is about female leadership which is relevant as it's International Women's Day

The three sisters

simonasstories — 2023-03-16 21:29:07 UTC

Here's a story for World Storytelling Day - I created this story for a workshop I had to do at school by putting together three well-known stories. I hope you enjoy it and the message

April Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-04-01 08:43:03 UTC

Springtime! Everywhere I look, nature is in full bloom here in Italy. Spring is my favourite moment of the year, and I’ve always loved and marvelled at the colourful flowers on the trees and in the grass. It feels like nature is shouting: ‘Hey, look at me – I’m wonderful!’.

So, this month’s theme couldn’t but be related to springtime, and in particular: FLOWERS!

Tell a story about a flower, a story in which a flower plays an important role, or maybe a creation story of how a flower came to be. As always, the challenge is free for you to experiment with and you can do what feels good and resonates best with you!

The Faithful Cloud learned from Zaina

DavidHeathfield — 2023-04-23 17:44:41 UTC

The Faithful Cloud is a beautiful story I learned from Zaina, a young learner of English in Gaza, Palestine. It's about the close friendship between a thirsty flower and a small cloud. Here I am retelling it two years after I first learned it from Zaina as part of the Hands Up Project series Teach Us A Tale. Zaina's storytelling begins 7 minutes into this recording https://fb.watch/k4G7WGjrlD/ and after that I immediately try to retell it. I love this story because Zaina seems so closely connected to it. I will do my best to share any of your comments here about Zaina's story and/or her telling of the story with her through her former teacher and our CrEST storytelling teacher friend Sahar Salha in Gaza.

The children's flower

simonasstories — 2023-04-24 17:51:01 UTC

Here's one of my favourite flower stories... about one of my absolute favourite flowers - the dandelion!
And what about you? What's your favourite flower?

I learnt this story from storyteller Danny English, who told it for We Be Kids a couple of years back

Dandelions

amnaburki16 — 2023-04-25 09:27:55 UTC

A Flowering Tree - by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2023-04-29 20:03:42 UTC

May Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-05-01 06:06:24 UTC

What is this month’s theme? It’s to tell a story from the point of view of an old character who remembers past events. The idea is to possibly create a frame in which the character is either telling the story to someone else or remembering and reflecting on the story. I thought it would be interesting and fun to see what we can come up with: what will our favourite characters think about their youthful adventure in hindsight?

I’m so looking forward to listening to (or reading – if you prefer to write!) all your wonderful stories!

Fiaba

2023-05-01 07:18:40 UTC

il Natale più bello della mia vita...

Ogni anno, nel periodo precedente il Natale, si ripete nei miei pensieri con rinnovato piacere, il ricordo del più bel Natale della mia vita. Io sono vecchio ormai, e di feste natalizie ne ho vissute tante!...
Tutte ricche di ogni cosa, e la tavola sempre piene di ogni ben di Dio.
Ma la storia che fece quel Natale, il più lieto di tutti i miei Natali, è una storia molto vecchia...
Bisogna dunque sapere che quando mio nonno era ancora giovane, mio padre un ragazzo ed io un soldo di cacio, abitavamo in un piccolo paese siciliano; immerso nella campagna.
nel podere accanto a quello di mio nonno, viveva un giovane falegname... così bravo, che la gente per farsi fare panche, sedie, tavoli e mobilio vario, veniva anche da molto lontano.
La vita scorreva serena... niente di molesto turbava il quieto vivere, un bel giorno però la pace fu scossa all'improvviso, i rapporti di buon vicinato cessarono d'incanto quando il falegname tagliò un ramo dal vecchio albero d'ulivo del nonno, che sporgeva però nel suo campicello. Da quel giorno, mio nonno non volle più avere a che fare con il vicino, reo di avergli tagliato quel ramo.
Gli anni passarono freddi... così come tutte le feste di Natale.
Noi durante le ricorrenze natalizie ci riunivamo intorno al caminetto acceso per cantare le canzoni della Santa Festa, poi si mangiava rallegrandoci di poter festeggiare ancora insieme.
Ma mentre la nostra casa era piena d'allegria, al contrario quella di "Mastro Ulivo"... nomignolo che gli venne attribuito dopo la disputa col nonno... era vuota, perché lui viveva solo... la sua casetta era illuminata solo da una luce tremula di una candela.
Ma quello che la gente non sapeva, era che "Mastro Ulivo", anche se solo, era felice lo stesso, perché nei pezzi di legno rimasti, dopo aver fatto i mobili, intagliava con tanta maestria, le figure del Presepe che ogni anno diventavano sempre più numerose.
Poi tutte le Sante Feste di Natale le disponeva per benino attorno alla Sacra Famiglia e così parlando un po a questo un po a quello,
trascorreva in letizia il suo Natale.
Quell'inverno era particolarmente freddo, stavamo tornando tutti infreddoliti dalla chiesa, dopo aver assistito alla funzione di mezzanotte, mentre la neve cadendo copiosa aveva coperto il sentiero da un manto di candida ovatta... dove io correndo, affondavo i piedi mentre cercavo di prendere i fiocchi che si cullavano nell'aria.
Ad un certo momento, passando accanto la casa di "Mastro Ulivo", fui attratto dalla luce che usciva dalla finestrella del bravo falegname... ma non era la solita luce debole e fioca, era una luce intensa dai lunghi raggi dorati che facevano scintillare la neve che si era posata sul prato.
Piano piano, incuriosito, mi avvicinai per vedere cos'era la causa di tanta luminosità... ogni cosa era come se fosse in un mondo passato... rimasi preso da una calda atmosfera, vedevo o avevo l'impressione di vedere, come se le figure così piccole com'erano, avessero sembianze umane, e si muovevano come se fossero vere.
Ogni cosa era come se vivesse irrealmente... preso com'ero da tanta magia, non mi ero accorto che tutta la mia famiglia si era radunata dietro di me, e tutti,... compreso il nonno,... estasiati come me,... guardavano stentando a credere ciò che vedevano.
Il buon falegname si accorse di noi, e amorevolmente ci fece entrare, a noi bambini offrì quel poco che aveva.. nocciole e castagne... poi, dalla mangiatoia, prese il Bambino Gesù... e lo porse al nonno dicendo...
*lo intagliai per te in quel ramo d'ulivo*
Furono poche parole, ma ebbero un effetto così conciliante, che al nonno spuntarono le lacrime agli occhi, di slancio prese il ritrovato amico e se lo strinse per lungo tempo al petto.
Quello fu il Natale più bello della mia vita.
D`allora in poi, tutti i Natali si festeggiarono in casa di "Mastro Ulivo"... e sulla tavola sempre bene imbandita, non mancarono mai... le noci e le castagne...
gianni.farruggio@sunrise.ch

Stone soup

simonasstories — 2023-05-27 14:14:45 UTC

I was at the park while recording this story and you can probably hear my steps on the gravel! Do you ever walk when you're rehearsing? And when you're telling a story to yourself?

Lost Time Can Never Be Found

2023-05-29 14:13:40 UTC

By Cathy Walters

Can you guess the story?

DavidHeathfield — 2023-05-30 21:22:01 UTC

June Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-06-01 08:45:30 UTC

Did somebody say Nasreddin? Yes, I did – because this month’s challenge is all about this absolutely funny and wise character, who is always ready to teach us important life lessons in a fun way! Nasreddin is one of my favourite folktales characters, and in this month’s challenge, we are going to share Nasreddin / Joha / Giuffà / … stories and learn from this wise but hilarious character. To make it more engaging, let’s try to tell lesser-known stories and have fun with them!

I’m so looking forward to your contributions!

Nasruddin in the marketplace

2023-06-01 12:11:37 UTC

The Mullah Nasruddin was sitting in the marketplace in the shadow of the mosque, chatting with the people who passed by, politely averting his eyes from the woman who stopped to talk with him, and giving out sweetmeats and stories to the children. Suddenly all those present saw a dust cloud approaching the marketplace at an incredible speed. The dust cloud stopped in front of Nasruddin and when it calmed down, there stood Nasruddin's neighbour, Ahmed.
"Nasruddin! Nasruddin! I've just been to your house looking for you," the neighbour said between deep breaths.
"Well, go back. Maybe I'm still there," he responded.

Nasreddin's advice to his employer

mindymarieneo — 2023-06-02 07:03:53 UTC

Thank you for hosting this lovely platform and letting me share this lovely story of Nasreddin, Simona. I love his wit and wisdom to life. - Mindy

Shilpa Mehta, a storyteller from India , telling 'Sharing the load''

simonasstories — 2023-06-05 08:14:10 UTC

Nasreddin and his deaf wife - by Shilpa Mehta

simonasstories — 2023-06-05 08:15:35 UTC

Nasseradeen's Nail

2023-06-05 22:08:35 UTC

Joha and the Bread learned from Kenza Omayr

DavidHeathfield — 2023-06-07 13:02:30 UTC

Hitting the target

user_728ef1d386ca406e904e716890a66907_759_113105_1 — 2023-06-11 09:42:52 UTC

Eat Coat Eat

2023-06-12 08:33:55 UTC

Told by Cathy Walters

For Fathers Day

DavidHeathfield — 2023-06-18 11:41:19 UTC

Nesradin's Lost donkey

2023-06-27 10:14:00 UTC

My story is told in Doric (my mother language). I think 'tint' means lost. I think the rest is easy enough for seasoned storytellers like you all to figure out. Hope you enjoy.

Nasrudin and the tiger repellent

simonasstories — 2023-06-27 20:11:22 UTC

A new Nasrudin story for me - short, sweet and always fun!

July Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-07-01 07:45:07 UTC

After the big success of the June challenge, where we focussed on lesser-known Nasrudin tales, I thought we could continue on the same theme of the ‘trickster’ – after all, who doesn’t like a trickster tale? But this time it’s going to be about… [drumrolls – or better, djemberolls] Anansi!

Anansi the Spider, the trickster God of West Africa, whose stories spread all over the world… what’s your favourite? Tell it and give everyone the chance to listen to or read a good Anansi story!

I hope to see many wonderful stories on the Padlet soon! Thank you so much to everyone who has taken part in the challenges so far, it’s always a pleasure to share this space with you all, exchange and experiment together! And, if you have comments, questions, or maybe a suggestion for a future theme to explore all together, don’t hesitate to contact me.

Big and small - shared by Joan Leotta

simonasstories — 2023-07-05 17:25:51 UTC

One afternoon in late summer, Hodja as working in his garden. He smiled as he noticed the cucumbers just ready to pick..and the other vines..his melons…he would pick the big melon that very afternoon, just before the noon meal. Mmmm, he imagines the sweet flesh of the melon on his tongue and it’s juice dripping down his chin. Wonderful!
he walked over to his nut trees and smiled again . The nuts were not yet ready to harvest but his almond and walnut trees would give him a good crop this year.
Hodja loved working in his garden. But as the sun was growing hotter, he decided to rest, he sat down on the ground and rested his back against the walnut tree. Ahh, the shade. He looked up. Often when he rested he prayed, but today he had a question , well, more of a comment, for God. Oh great Allah, might I be permitted a comment? Not to crtisize, oh Allah, but why would you allow heavy melons to be supported only by thin vines and tiny nuts grow on a big tree?
The breeze rustled the leaves above him. Hodja thought perhaps Allah did not have an answer. Hodja closed his eyes. The wind blew again , a little harder, and plop!a walnut fell from the tree onto Hodja head. Hodja stood up! Oh my, oh great Allah forgive me! I see now that I am not wiser than you…indeed , your wisdom, even when I do not understand it, your wisdom is great and protects me..for if that tree had been holding watermelons, the falling one would have crushed my head..better the walnuts should rest on high. Then he went to the watermelon vine and pulled off the heavy melon to take inside. As he walked he spoke again to Allah..and better the heavy melon on the ground where it is easier to pick, thank you, Allah.
And he went in to have rhino on meal with his wife and shared with her the wisdom of Allah to grow nuts in trees and melons on the ground

Anansi and the hat shaking dance

2023-07-09 10:45:51 UTC

By Cathy Walters

Anansi tries to steal the wisdom

2023-07-16 09:41:59 UTC

Hi, I'm Shilpa Mehta ,a storyteller from India.
I am sharing one of my favourite Anansi Story. Hope you will enjoy listening to it...

How it happens that the bright Sun illuminates the Moon and all the Stars - an Anansi story retold by David Heathfield

DavidHeathfield — 2023-07-21 08:50:13 UTC

Thank you for this month's challenge, Simona. It was time for me to add a new Anansi story to my repertoire🌕

Anansi and the box of stories

rgra1967ra — 2023-07-24 03:58:27 UTC

Hello from Mexico, this is Rebeca. I like the idea of a box full of stories to tell.

Anansi's death

simonasstories — 2023-07-29 20:47:20 UTC

Hello everyone!
Here's my story for this month's challenge - it's one of my favourite Anansi stories, but it's a new one for me to tell and for the video and the challenge I purposefully decided not to rehearse much and go with the flow (you'll probably notice it because I'm very slow and I make a couple of mistakes in the telling) because I wasn't sure about some choices and I wanted to ask for your opinion. I feel that my telling of this story is pretty flat like this... is there something that you think is missing from it? Is there something you think I should change or implement? Let me know!
I will probably post an updated version of the story on my page in a few weeks' time 🥰

Anansi and the Pot of Beans

2023-07-29 22:11:11 UTC

Hello everyone!
Here is my version of "Anansi and the Pot of Beans". I discovered it some months ago as I was looking for a story for my fifth graders. They loved it and I loved it too!
I should say that I haven't told any stories in a couple of months, so I'm a bit rusty and probably could have told the last part better, but I hope you like it! :)

Anansi and the moss-covered rock

user_728ef1d386ca406e904e716890a66907_759_113105_1 — 2023-07-30 15:04:53 UTC

So,you thought you were clever!

2023-07-31 12:27:11 UTC

An Anansi tale retold by Joan Leotta
I adapted this from a recent find about Anansi and Turtle.
Anansi was very proud of his cleverness and how it always helped him win arguments, treasure. I am the smartest creature of all, bragged Anansi , every morning when he looked in the mirror.
Now in addition to thinking himself very very smart, Anansi was a greedy creature. He disliked sharing anything..especially his food.
One afternoon as he was sitting down to a big lunch of roasted sweet potatoes covered in butter, he heard a knocking at his door. He did not want to open the door because then he would have to invite that person to eat with him! He tried just being quiet, but the person, turtle, on the other side of the door kept knocking. Please let me in Anansi, I have been walking a long time and need a drink of water. I know you are there . You never go out in the heat of the day.
Anansi grumbled but opened the door.
Come in turtle, won’t you join me for lunch?
Oh,thank you said turtle. The walk has made me hungry as well as thirsty
Turtle sat down
Anansi pretended to start to serve turtle and the said, oh turtle your paws are dirty..it is the custom in this house to sit and eat only if clean.. you will need to clean your paws in the stream behind the house
Now turtlewas a slow mover so by the time he walked to the stream and came back Anansi had eaten half of the dinner!
Anansi said
Hold up your paws.
Turtle did.
They are dirty .still dirty
Turtle looked. His paws had gotten dirty again walking back.
He returned to the stream, washed, and this time covered his paws with leaves do when he got back to the table he was still clean
But he had taken so long that Anansi had eaten all but one bite.
Turtle was unhappy. He knew this had been a trick,but instead of showing his anger, he invited Anansi to his house to have lunch the following day. After turtle left Anansi said.Silly turtle.ni will eat all of his foods d he did got only one smallaste of mine.Ahh, I am clever!
Now turtle lived in a little cave reached by swimming under the big river.

When Anansi jumped in to swim, he found he was too light to go under or stay under long enough to reach turtles cave. The second time he jumped in, he saw turtle sitting at a table full of delicious melon snacks..sweet and delicious. But Anansi floated back to the top!
H enough a while and then put pebbles in his jacket pocket. Sure enough,that worked.in a few months he was at titles cave. Come in, sit down said turtle. Anansi did .Anansi was just about to take some me.on when turtle said, oh, my friend, please remove your jacket. In my house we do not wear jackets at the lunch table. Anansi did!
Just that moment a cool breeze blew in and carried Anansi back out into the water and because he was so light he floated back to the top
Anansi looked back and saw turtle standing at the door of te cave, smiling, waving, and eating a piece of melon.
Anansi frowned and went home. He poked in his mirror the next morning..you are clever Anansi, it beware. Some others are clever too.

August Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-08-01 14:41:32 UTC

Anansi stories were great fun to share, listen to and read! Thank you so much to everyone who took part and remember that you’re always on time to share something if you haven’t had the time yet.

When I started sharing challenges at the beginning of the year, I would never have imagined what an amazing community they would create - I love going back to the Padlet and remembering all the wonderful stories that were shared throughout the months and all the great storytellers that decided to share, grow and experiment together. A huge thank you!

And now... on to the August challenge! In my mind, August is the month of holidays, and many of us nowadays match holiday-making with travelling. This month’s theme is a rather free one, more like a guideline, because I’d really appreciate all of us to connect this theme with our experiences, for example, we could:

- tell a folktale in which the character goes on a journey;

- tell a personal story of something strange/unexpected/funny/... that happened to us when we were travelling;

- tell a story we learnt while travelling, for example a legend connected to a place we visited.

Choose one (or more) of the ideas, or add yours, and make this challenge unique for you!

Travel Story

shilpastoryrack — 2023-08-03 09:43:54 UTC

I am Shilpa Mehta, a storyteller from India. I am sharing a folktale from Rajasthan, a state in India.

rgra1967ra — 2023-08-14 05:04:19 UTC

Hello!! This is Rebeca from Mexico. This challenge is giving me the opportunity to share with all of you a story I wrote the last time I went on holidays to the beach. The story is called Peace in the Great Mayan Reef.
And although it is based on a real personal experience, there is also something which is not true. I wonder if you can spot the lie!

The Stars in the Sky

DavidHeathfield — 2023-08-14 10:42:36 UTC

The Stars in the Sky, a Scottish folk tale collected and published by Joseph Jacobs, was the opening to my Storytelling under the Shooting Stars performance at the Norman Lockyer Observatory, Devon, UK as darkness fell and the Perseid meteor shower enchanted us on Saturday night. It's my latest version of this celestial 'travel story' which I've been telling for as long as I've been a storyteller.
Thanks to Swee Yean Wong for the heavenly video recording, to Simona for your cosmic challenges and to Tammy Heathfield for being my guiding star✨

The Storyteller’s Challenge told by Cathy Walters

2023-08-29 20:22:59 UTC

Les Penitents

simonasstories — 2023-08-31 21:51:43 UTC

Right before the end of August comes my story! I've been so taken with the preparations for our first online conference, that I almost forgot!
Here is my story for the month's challenge - I learnt it in July as I was travelling in the South of France... can you believe my words? I'll also post a picture of the place this legend originates from!

simonasstories — 2023-08-31 21:54:38 UTC

Just a small glimpse at Les Penitents

September Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-09-02 06:22:31 UTC

Be honest, you thought that with all this talk about the upcoming conference I would forget about the September challenge... but no! 🤭

This month we are going to focus on telling stories about geographic features of the places where we live. The challenge was suggested by David Heathfield - Storyteller and I think it's a wonderful way to research and get to know the area where we live more in depth! Tell a legend that explains a geographic feature of the place where you live and of course... post a photo or a video to show the place to us!

The Parson and the Clerk, a Devon legend told by David Heathfield

DavidHeathfield — 2023-09-06 11:23:31 UTC

The Parson and the Clerk

DavidHeathfield — 2023-09-06 12:31:28 UTC

The Travellers and the Bear

user_728ef1d386ca406e904e716890a66907_759_113105_1 — 2023-09-17 11:50:26 UTC

rgra1967ra — 2023-09-20 00:57:33 UTC

rgra1967ra — 2023-09-20 01:21:32 UTC

Hello! The Iztaccihuatl and the Popocatepetl are two volcanoes located in the state of Puebla which is very close to Mexico City. Sometimes, when the levels of pollution are very low, the two volcanoes can be seen from here.
The Ixtaccihuatl hasn't been active for a very long time. However, The Popocatépetl, after not having had any activity in more than 70 years, started showing fumaroles a few years ago.

The Moonrakers told by Cathy Walters

2023-09-22 10:49:49 UTC

One of The Moonrakers white horses

2023-09-22 10:51:43 UTC

Laghi Gemelli

simonasstories — 2023-09-30 08:47:03 UTC

A picture of the Laghi Gemelli, in Val Brembana, Italy!

The legend of the Laghi Gemelli (Twin Lakes)

simonasstories — 2023-09-30 08:52:58 UTC

This is a legend from Val Brembana, in Italy, close to where I live. A sad story that explains the birth and peculiarity of Laghi Gemelli (called this way because sometimes they are two lakes, and sometimes they touch and there is only one lake).

October Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-10-01 06:34:51 UTC

The beginning of autumn to me has always looked like a period of change and transition – all things in nature start preparing for the cold weather: leaves turn red, orange, yellow and brown and start falling down leaving the branches naked; days start getting shorter and shorter; animals look for provisions for the long winter in front of them… And for us, it’s a great moment to observe nature, but also to observe inside ourselves and reflect.

I was reflecting about the concept of autumn and found myself thinking of the word ‘Metamorphosis’, so I checked on the dictionary and found this lovely definition: ‘change of physical form, structure, or substance especially by supernatural means’.

For our October challenge, I invite you all to reflect on the concept of metamorphosis in stories: there are of course plenty of stories about metamorphosis (Greek mythology is full of them!), so you could choose to work on one of such stories, or you may want to tell a story that includes a character who can transform into something else, or even, you may want to tell a story where the metamorphosis is not in the exterior, but within one of the characters. As always, you choose! Make the challenge yours!

The Selkie Bride told by Cathy Walters

2023-10-09 13:07:31 UTC

rgra1967ra — 2023-10-23 03:41:57 UTC

This is the legend of Biguidibela, the Naked Butterfly from Oaxaca in the South of Mexico. One of the native languages spoken in this state is Zapoteco.

Pico and Canente

simonasstories — 2023-10-24 16:00:49 UTC

After Rebeca's Mexican story, this time it's my turn to share a myth from before Rome was founded! This challenge inspired me to do some research into Roman mythology, as I wanted to share a story from Italy with you - I realised that, even though I'm familiar with many myths and stories from the ancient world, there are so many stories that I had never heard about... like this one!

The Serpent Wife

DavidHeathfield — 2023-10-31 09:48:27 UTC

The Hunter the Snake and the Bowl of Milk Palestinian story learned from Bahjat Nsasra

DavidHeathfield — 2023-10-31 10:46:13 UTC

Egle, Queen of the Snakes - a Lithuanian foundation story I learned from Agne Kocnewaite

DavidHeathfield — 2023-10-31 11:06:16 UTC

Egle, Queen of the Snakes - a Lithuanian foundation story I learned from Agne Kocnewaite

November Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-11-01 07:25:16 UTC

Halloween is just behind us, but we’re still in the spookiest season of all – and what better way to celebrate it than to tell some spooky stories? Cosying up under a blanket, with the sound of the rain outside and a warm drink in one’s hand… let’s exchange our favourite spooky stories!

Maybe you’ve learnt a new story this Halloween, or maybe you have a favourite spooky story that you’d like to share… whatever the case – you are very welcome to experiment on the Padlet in our cosy and warm community, where sharing a story won’t feel scary at all!

Looking forward to sharing and experimenting with you!

The Seven Sisters the Little Dog and the Monstrous Ghoul learned from Iman Alharsha - she's a Libyan doctoral student I taught English to.

DavidHeathfield — 2023-11-02 09:07:18 UTC

Iman and her sisters were told this story huddled together in the darkness by their aunt Aisha who raised them. Later Iman's family escaped Libya and gained refugee status in Germany. This story was accompanied by tears as Iman remembered Aisha.

This is a recording of me telling the story at Exeter Story Club on Wed 1 November 2023.

The Warlock o Glen Dye - a Scottish Tale

2023-11-02 14:34:16 UTC

This is a story of the head of the coven at Craiglash - a renowned meeting place for witches near where I live. It is told in Scots - hope you enjoy.

Jack O' Lantern told by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2023-11-25 17:45:34 UTC

The woods

simonasstories — 2023-11-30 21:44:00 UTC

This telling is inspired by a story I wrote some time ago, it was challenging to adapt as while I was writing it I used many features of written language that wouldn't work with oral telling, but I wanted to try. I'm happy to share the written version of the story if someone wants to give me some feedback 😊

The story came to me as I was walking in the woods, as a 'what if...?' moment. Spooky/scary stories are not something I usually tell, so ideas and feedback are more than welcome! Also, I was a bit hesitant because I wasn't sure of my choices but, hope you enjoy it!

December Challenge

simonasstories — 2023-12-01 09:20:35 UTC

Something new is coming our way this December – a different challenge to the ones we have been doing for the past 11 months (11! Is this really the last monthly challenge of 2023! I can’t believe it – it somehow feels like yesterday that I was posting about the first one!).

This month the challenge is all about the ‘Words of Kindness – Storytelling Advent Calendar’ project: listen to the stories and choose one to respond to – you can tell a story with the same theme as the one you’re responding to, or maybe a different version of the same story, or even, you could tell a story that includes one of the elements of the calendar story (eg. If the story talks about a flower, you can tell your favourite story about a flower!). To make it short: tell the story that one of the tales in the advent calendar inspires you to tell!

As always, I’m really looking forward to listening to all your wonderful stories and I’d like to send out a big thank you to the people who have been taking part – you make this special and unique! Please invite everyone who might be interested to take part, let’s experiment and share together!

DavidHeathfield — 2023-12-28 13:29:56 UTC

https://youtu.be/Lw2cOq44Tsw

Hope and The Faithful Cloud. This personal story is an encouragement to be like The Little Grey Parrot in the story Jean Hale told on 1 December and The Faithful Cloud in the story I told on behalf of Zaina and all Palestinian children on 3 December. Here is Zaina telling The Faithful Cloud which she herself created https://www.youtube.com/live/By6s8CmREXQ?si=soSDuQGTomSYlqRa&t=1416. Please share🕯

The elephant with no friends

simonasstories — 2023-12-30 14:24:06 UTC

Hello everyone!
I'm happy to share this story with you - not really in response to a single story in the calendar, but to many stories that were shared and reminded me of it. I hope you enjoy!

January Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-01-01 09:38:16 UTC

New year, new design for our challenges, but same old lovely format! I’m looking forward to welcoming you to a new year of challenges to experiment, have fun, learn new stories and work on our storytelling skills together!

What is the first challenge of 2024 going to be? This month is going to be all about History (I LOVE History! It’s not all about dates and names, it’s about stories – so many stories)! Choose a historical event, an anecdote from History – a story about a great battle for freedom, the invention of an object you enjoy using, a heart-warming act of peace between two populations, the story of a person who saved lives during a hard time… anything you might desire to tell and that comes from our History – be it something famous or local history, from near or afar!

I’m looking forward to experimenting with you and listening to all your wonderful stories!

2024-01-01 14:38:49 UTC

It all happened in October of 1880, Portland, Oregon, USA:

Seems there was this upstart new rabbi at the local synagogue who wanted to replace the old Union Prayerbook with a new more easily accessible one he brought from New York City. Well, I tell you there were some members of the synagogue who sided with the older, already established rabbi who opposed this proposition. This split the congregation to the effect of dividing the one synagogue into two.

Oh, there was a lot of going back and forth between the two camps, if you will. Weren't all that pretty, I tell you. It even got to the point where the two rabbis were - shall we say - not all that cordial to each other, to say the least.

I'm not all that certain as to what led to what, 'specially since I don't live in Portland, but my neighbour told me that she heard it down at the feed store that the two rabbis had one of them there "high-noon" gunfights right out there in the middle of the street in front of God and ever'body. Can you believe that?

Anway, as I was saying. The two rabbis held a gunfight at noon on one Sunday morning at noon. So, 'cording to my friend - who you remember got if from someone else - neither rabbi had ever shot a gun before.

The entire town lined the streets to watch. And when the two rabbis fired, well...they missed each other by a mile. However, the old rabbi was declared the winner and, let me tell you, the younger rabbi was run out of town on a rail. Mmm...mmm...mmm...big city folks, ya' know?

NOTE: This actually happened but I wrote the story as though the person telling it was the town gossip.)

Spedale degli Innocenti

manuelakellycalzini — 2024-01-03 17:44:21 UTC

It was a charity institution responsible for the welfare of abandoned children.

http://www.museumsinflorence.com/musei/ospedale_degli_innocenti.html

A tale made of 24 heartwarming voices

rgra1967ra — 2024-01-22 01:26:51 UTC

Hello!

The Storytelling Advent Calendar created a great opportunity to share with the people who listened to the stories, especially two of my siblings who enjoyed all of the stories you shared. This is why I found it difficult to choose only one. Your stories inspired me to write "A tale made of 24 heartwarming voices" I hope you like it.

Six young cades

rgra1967ra — 2024-01-22 04:35:48 UTC

rgra1967ra — 2024-01-22 04:40:36 UTC

The great fire of London

simonasstories — 2024-01-27 12:19:49 UTC

I learnt this story from 'History through Stories', a book by the Storytelling Schools - I love the idea of teaching History through stories!! It's like living History

Cathy's Story!!

simonasstories — 2024-01-29 10:24:51 UTC

Listen to Cathy Walter's beautifully told story!

Florence Nightingale as told by Hala in Gaza

DavidHeathfield — 2024-01-31 12:15:39 UTC

I chose to tell this story because it fits both Simona's challenge and the project Haneen and I are doing Tell a Child in Gaza's Tale.
In tribute to Hala and the many many children from Gaza I've met who, like her, want to be doctors, knowing exactly what that means. 👏

February Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-02-01 08:17:06 UTC

I’m on week 3 of a wonderful course about British Folklore, and this week’s theme inspired our February monthly challenge… because it’s all about witchcraft!

Therefore, this month, I’m inviting you all to experiment together by telling a story about a witch: you can decide the nuance you want to give to your witch – she can make magical potions, transform into animals, or simply be a wise woman… let’s learn about this fascinating subject with stories from all over the world!

As always, thank you so much to all those who decide to take part: I love sharing and experimenting with you!

Bride brings Spring - Jennifer Beattie

simonastambazzi178 — 2024-02-06 18:12:23 UTC

Thank you so much, Jennifer, for sharing this wonderful and beautifully told story with all of us, a truly atmospheric telling!

Baba Yaga the flying witch! A story from Russia.

davraamides — 2024-02-07 06:48:40 UTC

Baba Yaga and Vaselisa The Brave as told by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2024-02-08 08:37:36 UTC

Listen to Cathy's Baba Yaga story!

The old witch

simonasstories — 2024-02-27 17:23:12 UTC

My story for this month is an English (/German/European...) tale with some connections to the story Cathy told about Baba Yaga and Vaselisa :D

rgra1967ra — 2024-02-29 03:51:46 UTC

La Bruja (the witch) a legend from Aculco, Mexico

The little girl and the old witch.

Trinity_College_London_Italy — 2024-02-29 21:49:45 UTC

This is a story about a little girl who did what she wanted. She was stubborn and always ignored what the elders had to say to her. Once she decided to meet an old witch, she went in spite of her parents' warning. What happened to her? Was the old witch good or bad, or very very bad? Listen to the story and find out the fate of the little girl.

March Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-03-01 22:02:02 UTC

Thank you so much for all the wonderful stories about witches you’ve been sharing for the past month – it’s been wonderful to see the enthusiasm for this challenge!

And now… onwards to our next theme! This month we will put our creativity to the test by telling a traditional tale… but adding a modern twist to it! As always, you can make the challenge yours and interpret it as you prefer – some examples of things we could do are: fight stereotypes in fairy tales, set the story in modern times, or even get our characters to send each other instant messages!

I’m looking forward to experimenting with you all!

Vixana - a witch of Dartmoor

DavidHeathfield — 2024-03-06 09:48:13 UTC

Rapunzel - by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2024-03-25 09:47:14 UTC

The Tale of Snow White by Jennifer Beattie

simonasstories — 2024-03-28 13:57:48 UTC

Rumpelstinskin - By Rebeca Robles

rgra1967ra — 2024-03-31 05:50:20 UTC

The emperor's new clothes

simonasstories — 2024-03-31 09:35:17 UTC

Here's a modernised version of one of my favourite fairy tales by Hans Christian Andersen!

A fable about freedom

DavidHeathfield — 2024-03-31 12:00:16 UTC

April Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-04-01 07:54:36 UTC

Doing the March challenge together has been a BLAST – thank you so much to the creative and story-loving friends who took up the challenge and shared some incredible (and suuuper funny, I dare say) stories!

Let’s continue with the April challenge!! How many times have you told yourself “Oh, if only I could change this…”? Now you can! For this challenge, I’m asking you to choose a story you don’t like the ending of and… change it!

As always, I’m so looking forward to experimenting and having fun with you sharing stories :D Share this widely, the more the merrier!

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

DavidHeathfield — 2024-04-11 22:03:57 UTC

Goldilocks and the Three Bears -there's a place for you here🙂

Cathy's story!

simonasstories — 2024-04-12 08:58:11 UTC

Jack and the beanstalk

simonasstories — 2024-04-30 08:53:07 UTC

I chose to change the ending of this simplified version of 'Jack and the beanstalk' (I removed the wife to make it a little bit shorter with the ending as well!). It has always bothered me that, at the end of the story, Jack lived happily because he had stolen the hen and the harp from the giant... and he had killed the giant too!! So, this is a version of the ending that may solve those problems and make everybody happy :)

May Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-05-01 10:18:44 UTC

Jack Jack Jack! For this month's challenge, we are going to share our favourite Jack stories!

As always, we are going to make the challenge our own, so, we can decide for example if we want to share a traditional Jack story (there are plenty of stories out there about Jack, particularly from the British Isles) or maybe a story where the main character is called Jack!

I'm so looking forward to listening to your fantastic stories, so share them on our padlet!!

Milk is for Milk and Water is for Water

DavidHeathfield — 2024-05-01 11:03:12 UTC

Here is 18-year-old Hala Munther Salem's family fundraiser.

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/luciewoodforHala?utm_term=AbpnYW2a5&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0rO7fRzBBasWQ5AvV1nkXrQuwmJkE6FMNmXIx2JObu9q5xr2UP0te3mn8_aem_Abz9asHtkamf1L-c15LukFRZwpQFhEKScpRw3Aim7g38h2YP3cHHKMvh2xYnV9_21chwQaEA14f8g7kJvE2vmVw9

MyLinda Butterworth

2024-05-03 17:04:45 UTC

Jack is a kind boy who always does what his mama tells him to do and is a hard worker. However, sometimes, he leaves his smarts in his pocket, as in my telling of Silly Jack. Here, he spends several days going out to find work. Every day, he comes home without his wages because of some foolish thing he does and tries to correct it using Mama's wisdom. He is persistent, and in the end, he wins.

The Eating Contest by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2024-05-21 16:57:30 UTC

Jack and the empty pot

simonasstories — 2024-05-25 15:38:04 UTC

This is my re-telling of a Jack story I heard once years ago from storyteller Gary Cordingley at the World Storytelling Café. I've spent a lot of time later on trying to find a written version of the story and couldn't find it anywhere! Until recently, telling the story to David, he told me that he knew it not as a Jack story... but as a Chinese folktale! Ha! But I love it in the Jack version, as I first heard it... so here it is!!

June Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-06-01 21:01:34 UTC

Telling Jack stories was super fun last month! Thank you for your stories – it’s always fun to share and experiment together! :D

But now, as always… on to the next challenge!! This month I’d like to… invite you all to Italy! As a storyteller, I tend to tell stories from all over the world, but this month I’d like to invite all of you to research and re-tell some stories from Italy – it will be fun to learn and discover more stories from the country I live in!

I’m looking forward to listening to all your amazing stories!

Agata Smeralda

Trinity_College_London_Italy — 2024-06-03 18:46:07 UTC

February 5th marks an important date for the Istituto degli Innocenti in Florence: the arrival of the first child, welcomed in 1445, or more precisely in 1444 according to the Florentine calendar, which began on March 25th and ended on March 24th. That child was given the name Agata Smeralda, as recorded in the "Libro dei fanciugli" and as the history of the Institute has handed down.

The Istituto degli Innocenti is just a few minutes from my university. Every morning on my way to class, and every evening on my way home, I pass by the historic Spedale degli Innocenti, as it was called back then. The arches and loggia, designed by the great Filippo Brunelleschi, stand as a testament to a time when the Renaissance was just beginning to flourish. Sometimes, when the streets of Florence are quiet, I can almost hear the laughter of little Smeralda echoing through the hallways.

One evening, as the sun was setting and casting long shadows across the Cortile delle Donne, I decided to take a detour through the courtyard. The soft twilight painted everything in shades of purple and gold. As I walked, I felt a gentle breeze and heard a faint giggle, almost like a whisper carried by the wind. Turning around, I thought I saw a pair of bright green eyes twinkling at me from the corner of the courtyard, just for a moment, before they vanished into the dusk.

These moments make me feel connected to a rich tapestry of history and humanity. Agata Smeralda’s spirit seems to linger, reminding me of the countless lives touched by the Institute over the centuries. Her story, and the stories of many other children, continue to inspire and remind us of the enduring legacy of compassion and care that the Istituto degli Innocenti represents. This is her story. Listen and enjoy.

Manuela Kelly Calzini

Chichibio and the Crane - I learned it from Edoardo Gabbai, a student from Italy

DavidHeathfield — 2024-06-10 19:18:48 UTC

https://youtu.be/isXPx5hxRaA?si=-tORmcPgGb8vok69

Cathy's story - The Stone of Invisibility by Giovanni Boccaccio

simonasstories — 2024-06-27 09:29:53 UTC

Listen to Cathy's wonderful story!

July Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-07-01 20:59:07 UTC

I'm off to the UK and visiting some places I've never been to - including... JORVIK! Or, in modern terms... York. York was very famously a Viking town before the Norman conquest - founded by the Romans, the Vikings came, saw it, liked it, and conquered it.

So I thought, why not tell some Norse myths this month? Norse mythology is one of my absolute favourite, and I hope you'll find it interesting as well and will want to take part in the challenge!

I'm looking forward to your wonderful stories!

Cathy's story!

simonasstories — 2024-07-14 09:27:42 UTC

Thor, Loki and Thialfi in Utgard

simonasstories — 2024-07-14 14:49:29 UTC

I always struggle to tell long stories without an audience... it somehow seems easier to do with with someone helping you live! But this is my telling of one of my favourite myths from norse mythology!

The Creation

DavidHeathfield — 2024-07-22 05:28:38 UTC

This recording was made several years ago in a primary school. I wanted to create an atmosphere of wonder.

The Death of Baldur

DavidHeathfield — 2024-07-22 05:33:50 UTC

I love the scale of this myth.

August Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-08-01 14:00:49 UTC

This month we're focussing on... CASTLES! I LOVE CASTLES, don't you? Be it a story about a fairy castle, a castle on the clouds, a medieval one. This month we're going to tell some stories featuring wonderful castles!

I'm looking forward to your wonderful stories!

The Greatest House

DavidHeathfield — 2024-08-24 16:58:00 UTC

Norman Perrin told us this story and this is my current retelling. Let castle walls tumble down so our world can be shared.🍉

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2024-08-25 19:08:56 UTC

Let's listen to Cathy's wonderful story!

Sheronin the Half-Elven

2024-08-27 12:59:41 UTC

Jennifer Beattie

September Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-09-04 06:01:46 UTC

Having first been a student and now a teacher, September has always been a month of new beginnings for me, but also of wanting to keep up the creative work and thoughts of the summer months while nature turns to autumn.

One thing I really like is how riddles seem to be easier to solve once you put your creativity into it and, as always, the best riddles are the ones presented in stories!

So, for this month's challenge, let's tell some stories with riddles in them! I'm looking forward to all of our guesses!

Hi Simona , I am Veena , a storyteller from India. Sending an audio recording of the September story challenge . Hope you like it .Thank you for creating a wonderful platform where we can share stories . Best wishes!

2024-09-05 02:09:50 UTC

I've always loved stories where a child outsmarts a villain. The Fly is a folk tale from Vietnam.

DavidHeathfield — 2024-09-07 19:21:49 UTC

The peasant's riddle

simonasstories — 2024-09-15 09:33:12 UTC

A riddle within a story from Italy I hadn't told for a while, but that I absolutely love!

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2024-09-24 18:49:53 UTC

Listen to Cathy's story for this month's challenge!

October Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-10-02 07:00:17 UTC

Here in Italy autumn has come – it’s getting chillier and the leaves are turning red, brown, yellow… the ground is wet and chestnuts are scattered here and there. There are many seasonal products connected to this wonderful season and one of my favourite is: THE PUMPKIN!!

So, for this month’s challenge, I would like to invite you all to tell some wonderful stories with pumpkins in them!! Looking forward to experimenting and learning new stories about this wonderfully spooky and sweet vegetable

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2024-10-07 11:27:52 UTC

The magical Pumpkin of Willow Creek - by Veena Hasan

simonasstories — 2024-10-22 07:46:57 UTC

Listen to Veena's story!!

The pumpkin lady

simonasstories — 2024-10-29 13:58:09 UTC

This is my version of "The pumpkin lady", a story I learnt from storyteller Jan Blake years ago and never had the courage to tell to an audience before... you can maybe tell from my telling that I was nervous to make it justice!

November Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-11-01 17:37:49 UTC

If I were to choose a season when trees are predominant in our collective imagination, I would say autumn: everywhere you go, you notice the presence of trees – the colours, the leaves on the ground…

I love walking in the woods and looking around at the wonderful trees around me!

And so, I thought: why not focus on trees this month? Why not tell the stories that talk about the origins of trees?

So this is my invitation for this month, I hope you enjoy it and join us to tell us a story!

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2024-11-13 09:55:31 UTC

December Challenge

simonasstories — 2024-12-02 09:19:52 UTC

Challenge 24 is coming our way - 24 like the days of the advent calendar!

This month, same as last year in December, the challenge is all about the ‘Words of Kindness – Storytelling Advent Calendar’ project: listen to the stories and choose one to respond to – you can tell a story with the same theme as the one you’re responding to, or maybe a different version of the same story, or even, you could tell a story that includes one of the elements of the calendar story (eg. If the story talks about a flower, you can tell your favourite story about a flower!). To make it short: tell the story that one of the tales in the advent calendar inspires you to tell!

Emily’s Christmas Lantern - by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2024-12-21 11:59:28 UTC

The mitten

simonasstories — 2024-12-23 15:10:52 UTC

This is one of my favourite kindness stories, and a favourite of my students as well - I told it with lots of repetitions, exactly as I do with them, in the hope that you will join in!

Veena's Story!

simonasstories — 2024-12-29 08:04:59 UTC

Dedicated to Simona

DavidHeathfield — 2024-12-31 17:48:35 UTC

Dear Simona

Keep shining your light into 2025 - you're making the world brighter for us all🕯️

January Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-01-01 09:37:24 UTC

Let's kick off this third year of monthly challenges! This is challenge 25 - a quarter of a century - so roll up your sleeves and get ready to take part and have fun!

This month we're focussing on villains! So, I would like to invite all of you to re-tell a well-known tale... but from the point of view of the villain! You can use first or third person narration, but let's put ourselves in their shoes, how would they narrate the story?

The (big bad) wolf

simonasstories — 2025-01-14 10:38:17 UTC

This is my story for the January Challenge! I hope you enjoy it - I really had fun thinking about it and telling it!!

Looking forward to listening to your stories!!

The Two Pickpockets - by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2025-01-18 11:01:49 UTC

Listen to Cathy's story!

DavidHeathfield — 2025-01-28 19:22:18 UTC

I'm retelling this story from the point of view of Ron. I learned the original story from both Tala and Hala in Gaza. Tala tells The Bear and the Two Friends brilliantly at the World Storytelling Cafe Young International Storytellers on 29 December 2020. You can join Tala here - her beautifully expressive story about true friendship begins 33 minutes from the start

https://www.facebook.com/worldstorytellingcafe/videos/389928765439986/

Hala, also from Ga2a and a vibrant Young International Storyteller, tells her lively version of The Bear and the Two Friends at the World Storytelling Cafe on 28 September 2021

https://www.facebook.com/worldstorytellingcafe/videos/576190377142338/?mibextid=zDhOQc

🍉I'm sharing this as part of Tell a Child in Ga2a's Tale

February Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-02-01 09:42:14 UTC

Time to try something new, get the creative juices flowing and put ourselves to the test with our new February challenge!

This month it's time to experiment with poems - ballads, free verse, acrostics... - choose the form you like best and re-tell a famous story in the shape of a poem!! Are you ready??

Soooo looking forward to your contributions, it's always a pleasure to experiment and have fun together!

The Beginning of Childe Roland

DavidHeathfield — 2025-02-06 16:18:41 UTC

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2025-02-11 10:48:46 UTC

Listen to Cathy's story!

rgra1967ra — 2025-02-23 18:47:13 UTC

Hi!! I would like to give you some background of this story. The people who used to live in this part of Mexico were called the Mazahuas. And just like every other culture, they had their own stories. This poem, is based on a story about the Monarch Butterfly which flies from the north of America to different sanctuaries in the centre of Mexico. Otontecuhtli was one of life creators for the Mazahuas and he taught them everything they needed to know about the land.

The ballad of Little Red Riding Hood!

simonasstories — 2025-02-25 09:06:57 UTC

Let me know what you think! I love writing in rhymes, but sometimes they may sound a little strange, particularly to native speakers! I hope it also makes you laugh!

March Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-03-01 08:33:52 UTC

We all tell personal stories – anecdotes of something interesting, fun or meaningful that has happened in our lives. But have we ever tried looking at these stories from the point of view of a secondary character in these stories instead of telling us from our own point of view?

So, the challenge for this month is to do just that! Tell a personal story from the point of view of someone else in the story: it could be another person, it could be an animal, or it can even be an inanimate object! As always, the choice is yours and you can put your creativity to the test and see what you come up with!

Hello my friends! Thanks Simona for sparkling imagination into my every day life. I am quite absent-minded and it's no surprise when I can't find something at home. My story was inspired by one of these very common situations.

rgra1967ra — 2025-03-11 02:27:52 UTC

Cathy's story!!

simonasstories — 2025-03-26 19:36:15 UTC

I'm not going anywhere

DavidHeathfield — 2025-03-29 11:07:43 UTC

The bird and the waffle

simonasstories — 2025-03-31 17:04:04 UTC

Last minute, as always! But what's important is always taking part and trying something new!

I've tried with a story I've told lots of times, but always from my point of view - this was challenging!

April Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-04-01 08:36:06 UTC

Fairytales are – almost by definition – set in an undefined place and time, some far away place, a timeless feeling… but what if we were to bring these stories back to reality? What if we were to choose a definite place and time during which they are set? How would our telling of these stories change? How would the historical setting influence the story?

So, that’s the challenge for the month of April! Choose a fairytale, choose a historical setting… and then let your creativity guide you!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the challenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

DavidHeathfield — 2025-04-20 09:44:35 UTC

Cathy's story!

simonasstories — 2025-04-23 15:34:30 UTC

May Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-05-01 19:20:15 UTC

How many stories can you think of that are set for the most part inside a house?

This month the challenge is to think about them and tell your favourite one!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the challenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

The old house - by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2025-05-15 12:14:58 UTC

The Perfect Wife

DavidHeathfield — 2025-05-23 15:27:34 UTC

Naughtily I'm not adhering strictly to this month's guidelines, but this is the story I want to share. Even though the story contains the story of a quest, in the story itself I imagine Nasrudin and the young man are in Nasrudin's house so it'll have to do. I won't explain further😉

The beekeeper and the hare - by Jennifer Beattie

simonasstories — 2025-05-26 09:04:15 UTC

A little nudge

simonasstories — 2025-05-27 16:28:27 UTC

A heartwarming story I learnt from the wonderful Liz Weir!!

June Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-06-03 07:05:29 UTC

Proverbs, proverbs, proverbs! Let's play with some proverbs this month!

This month, I'm inviting you all to tell a story that explains a proverb, a story inspired by a proverb, a story whose 'life lesson' is the meaning of the proverb. As always, it's up to each of us to make the challenge our own!!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the challenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

Cathy's story - Ninjun

simonasstories — 2025-06-17 08:39:01 UTC

The grocer, the potter and the camel 🐫

simonasstories — 2025-06-24 09:05:40 UTC

Can you guess the proverb?

July Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-07-06 19:01:10 UTC

What if Jack and his mother had eaten the beans instead of throwing them from the window? What if Cinderella had lost an earring instead of a shoe? What if the wolf had managed to blow down the pig's brick house as well?

What would have happened?

This month I would like to challenge you all to think about a 'what if' moment in a famous folktale and tell that story: what would have happened if...? - ask yourself the question and see where your imagination takes you!

The Wise Old Man at the Mosque as told by Raha and Rasha in Gaza. I tell it in your names 🤲

DavidHeathfield — 2025-07-06 20:47:58 UTC

Little Red Riding Hood - by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2025-07-25 15:47:31 UTC

Listen to Cathy's wonderful story!!

August Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-08-02 08:01:41 UTC

I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike, I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride it where I like!

I am sooooo looking forward to riding my bicycle around the South of England later this month, and I was thinking... why not linking this trip of mine with the theme of the August challenge?

So, this month, I would like to invite you all to take part in telling a story in which there's an unusual mean of transport: it could be a bike, or a magic carpet, an eagle, a magic cart, a flying horse... as always, you can choose your favourite!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the chal-lenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2025-08-19 20:39:27 UTC

September Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-09-01 07:27:45 UTC

When someone eats something they shouldn’t… well, that’s always a prelude to a nice story, ain’t it?

From poisonous plants to out-of-date candies, what happens when someone eats something they are not supposed to eat? Share a story about it!

As always, I’m looking forward to experimenting with you this month! Spread the word about the chal-lenges and let’s have fun and experiment together – the more, the merrier!

The Two Cats and the Monkey as told by Gana in Gaza

DavidHeathfield — 2025-09-04 21:42:21 UTC

Listen to Gana here https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1CX6Djhx7R/

Cathy's story - Witches Loaves

simonasstories — 2025-09-19 07:40:23 UTC

Listen to Cathy's entry for this month's challenge!

October Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-10-01 07:59:56 UTC

I don't know why, but I've always been fascinated by pirates... what about you?

So, for our October Challenge, I would like to invite everyone to share a good pirate story!

AHOY!

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2025-10-20 16:47:44 UTC

The fisherman

simonasstories — 2025-10-20 17:04:25 UTC

Here's a story I wrote some time ago, turned into an oral telling - I hope you enjoy!!

November Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-11-01 09:49:54 UTC

Leaves falling, rain, darkness... autumn is in full swing here - so why not tell some tales with an autumnal setting this month?

Voice, video, writing - anything is welcome! Share a story and have fun experimenting with old and new challenges!

Looking forward to it!

"Il riccio"

simonasstories — 2025-11-10 21:10:52 UTC

This is the story behind the Italian name for a chestnut burr... and the animal who inspired it!

Cathy's story - The last leaf

simonasstories — 2025-11-23 16:07:16 UTC

December Challenge

simonasstories — 2025-12-01 14:39:27 UTC

Here we are, it’s the last monthly challenge of 2026 – and as last December and the one before that, this month we will focus on finding and telling stories to respond to the “Words of Kindess – a storytelling advent calendar” project!

You can tell a story with the same theme as the one you’re responding to, or maybe a different version of the same story, or even, you could tell a story that includes one of the elements of the calendar story (eg. If the story talks about a flower, you can tell your favourite story about a flower!). To make it short: tell the story that one of the tales in the advent calendar inspires you to tell!

Mrs Claus

simonasstories — 2025-12-19 11:37:40 UTC

A story of Kindness with a Christmas vibe!

Merry Christmas! 🤶 🎅

Cathy's poem for Christmas

simonasstories — 2025-12-27 19:18:06 UTC

January Challenge

simonasstories — 2026-01-04 17:26:39 UTC

First challenge of 2026 - are you ready??

Tell a story about a new beginning. I’m so looking forward to another year of experimenting, sharing and telling stories… let’s do it together!

Cathy's Story

simonasstories — 2026-01-20 16:40:02 UTC

The king's problem... with a twist!

simonasstories — 2026-01-20 17:06:58 UTC

A funny story I learnt from the wonderful Alastair K Daniel... with an unexpected twist about new beginnings!

Menna's story: We Choose Life

2026-01-29 15:41:54 UTC

Watch Menna here https://youtu.be/jFJyB615J7w?si=oSMXfxzsDdysTnZQ

February Challenge

simonasstories — 2026-02-02 08:37:05 UTC

Brrrr… it’s COLD!! Is it cold where you are? Well, surely it will be cold in the stories that we’re going to share this month, as the prompt for this month invites us all to tell stories set in a cold place or during a cold winter!

I’m looking forward to sharing stories and listening to your brilliant tales! Please invite everyone who might be interested to take part, let’s experiment and share together!

Cathy's story

simonasstories — 2026-02-16 08:27:35 UTC

The Snow Maiden

March Challenge

simonasstories — 2026-03-01 15:52:14 UTC

Be(e) it a bee, an ant, a ladybug... choose a favourite insect of yours and tell a story that features one! When we think about animals, we don't often think about them - but they are all around us and they are incredibly important; so, why not think about them now and tell stories about them this month?

I'm looking forward to sharing stories with you all this month - join us and tell your tale!

Foggiebummer Rescue

2026-03-15 15:40:30 UTC

This is my friend reading his poem about a little girl rescuing a bee who was trapped and exhausted in a garden outhouse. It is based on a real life event - his daughter was the little girl who helped to rescue the bee. He is using our mother language - Doric. I will retell it in English - but as a story, not a poem. I will post it below.

2026-03-15 16:07:57 UTC

Here is my not very literal translation of the poem! I hope you enjoy this true story. From a bee lover. I should tell you that one time when I was retelling the story at a picnic there was a little bee lying on the ground and a girl and her mother went and got a flower for it to sup. We couldn't believe the length of its tongue - amazing. And of course we couldn't believe that we had our own Bee Rescue on the day I was reading the poem! But it's true.

Cathy's Story - The Butterfly

simonasstories — 2026-03-16 20:23:09 UTC

April Challenge

simonasstories — 2026-04-02 19:40:33 UTC

You might have heard of "The Canterbury Tales"... so, why not tell one of these stories as this month's challenge?

As always, how you want to go about the challenge is up to you - you can decide how much you want to stick to the original version or make the story yours, modernising it, changing it, adapting... I'm really looking forward to listening to some wonderful stories this month!

The pardoner's tale

simonasstories — 2026-04-13 19:18:23 UTC

Or at least, my version of it!!

Cathy's story - The wife of Bath's tale

simonasstories — 2026-04-26 14:43:56 UTC

May Challenge

simonasstories — 2026-05-12 09:13:01 UTC

I love stories that keep you on your toes till the very end, when you know something is coming, something unexpected that will explain the whole situation... stories with a punchline!!

If you have such a story to tell or if you'd like to learn to tell one, this challenge is for you! Tell your story and have fun!

Cathy's story - An Alpine Divorce

simonasstories — 2026-05-12 09:14:25 UTC

A little story 🤣

simonasstories — 2026-05-26 20:15:49 UTC

Tommy and the Sunday school - learnt from Cath Edwards

simonasstories — 2026-05-27 20:26:44 UTC

June Challenge

simonasstories — 2026-06-09 10:08:26 UTC

Giants, giants, GIANTS! Let's tell stories featuring giants!

For this month's challenge, the idea is really simple: choosing and telling a story with or about a giant (or more!).

I'm really looking forward to your stories, telling and experimenting together! Please help this little community grow by sharing a story and sharing this invitation with your storytelling friends

The Giant's Causeway

simonasstories — 2026-06-10 17:20:16 UTC

This is the very first story I told when I started telling stories! It was such a pleasure to revisit it and re-tell it for this challenge :D

The selfish giant - by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2026-06-29 20:25:37 UTC

July Challenge

simonasstories — 2026-07-21 09:01:22 UTC

Last month we talked about giants... so it's time to turn the challenge on its head and start telling stories about something (or someone) small!

Small creatures, tiny people, very small objects - as always, the story you choose to tell is up to you. So, magnifying glass at the ready! And let's go looking for stories about something small!

The little tailor - by Cathy Walters

simonasstories — 2026-07-21 09:13:16 UTC

August Challenge

simonasstories — 2026-08-28 14:00:39 UTC

August is always synonym of holidays in my mind, so why not tell stories about holidays this month? It could be something that happened to you or to someone you know on holiday, or maybe a folktale about a character taking a holiday.

As always, feel free to experiment and have fun, because this is what the challenge is about!

Cathy's story - The Holiday

simonasstories — 2026-08-28 14:02:43 UTC