Storytelling fascinates children

Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

"We are wicked pirates, as wicked as we can be," 10 angelic- looking children all under the age of five shouted merrily during an English storytelling event at the Kinokuniya bookstore inside Sogo at Plaza Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Saturday.

The three storytellers -- who introduced themselves as Daniel, Sisca and Ida -- told the children to imitate a pirate's growl.

"Arrgh!" the storytellers growled, and the children followed suit with an "Arrgh!" of their own.

The event did not only involve books, storytellers and English words, but also music, dance and role playing.

Later, the storytellers moved on to stories about clouds and fish. Daniel showed large books with colorful illustrations to help him tell the story.

He also played music on a keyboard, while Sisca and Ida, followed by the children, danced along. Some of the children threw themselves into the dance, while others were a bit shier, all under the watchful gazes of their parents and nannies.

The storytelling was organized by the enrichment center Julia Gabriel and the Chiltern House preschool. A similar event will be held at the bookstore on Sept. 11 at 1:30 p.m. and again at 4 p.m.

Elly, a staff member at Julia Gabriel, said the enrichment center focused on children's language development.

"It is more effective to learn a language through fun and interactive programs, like storytelling, rather than sitting in a classroom struggling with grammar," she said.