I recently wrote about a trip Trishna and I took to a local museum. It was part of a special series for visually impaired children (Trishna has a mild visual impairment called nystagmus).
For story time we read Max Found Two Sticks, the tale of a boy who drums out the sounds and rhythms of his neighborhood. To go along with the book, each child received a box of actual items to mimic Max's actions. Some of the toys included were a drum, a marching band hat, two sticks, a train whistle, and a small cleaning bucket (for drumming on). You can imagine this being helpful for visually impaired children - a way to actually experience the book.
But I think pulling together items for a story box would be fun for any child. I can especially see the benefit for toddlers who need extra sensory input and have shorter attention spans. You can make one very simply with items around the house. Another way to make books come alive for young readers - fun.
Max Found Two Sticks was featured on Reading Rainbow, which absolutely was and still is one of my favorite television shows (I can't wait until my little people are old enough to watch it!). That opening sequence always kindled my imagination. And just like Albert Einstein said, "Logic will take you from A to B. But imagination will take you everywhere."
