How I wonder what you are.
Stars in apple, seed pod, pear.
Stars in berries everywhere.
So you guard me near and far.
Twinkle, twinkle little star."
Looking out the window I see the golden beams of autumn shining on the grass. Autumn celebrations are underway, honoring the season's changing, and the fruits of harvest, like the Tampa Bay Family Festival just several weeks ago! What fun it was to have been invited to share music for the event, along with some of my favorite local bandmates who were onstage with me sharing their gifts!
This summer I was delighted to have the opportunity to share a workshop on glove finger puppetry through the World Association of Puppetry and Storytelling Arts. We all had a wonderful experience, and it was a joy to watch the creativity unfold for each participant. There is something very special in sharing time together developing the magic of story, music, and crafting--even the addition of the simplest ring of a tiny bell can create a mood! There was so much interest that I will be offering a mini-workshop see below for details!
During this time of year, I am reminded of the time I lived near an apple orchard while teaching kindergarten in upstate New York. The children and I, along with parents, would walk together to the orchard, pick a large basket full, then sit and picnic on the grounds, surrounded by trees bursting with red apples!
When growing up, I never knew the secret of what lay in the center of an apple when sliced through its middle--did you?
Below is my version of the story of a child hunting for the mystery of what might be "The Little Red House With No Windows or Doors." Simple enough to tell at story time, or you could assemble some figures for a table top version! Pictured above is a marionette from the story, which is received with delight at libraries and festivals!
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ONLINE 'MINI'-WORKSHOP: GLOVE FINGER PUPPETRY--A PUPPET STORY IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND! SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 19th, from 2-4 pm EST
Explore the delight of the 'mini' puppet story! I remember the first time I came across a magical story of how the birds came to be, in a First Nation legend. Later, I wrote a story inspired by the legend, called "Earth Mother and the Leaves". Many tellings later, this glove finger puppet story was created. Join in to see demonstrations of glove finger puppet stories, receive the story and additional poems. The workshop cost includes patterns needed to create several magical mini worlds (super easy to transport and set up!) which will delight the soul. Tips on how to create the story as well as how to weave a musical touch into your mini-puppet stories will also be covered. The workshop will run for two hours. A recording will be available following the workshop.
The workshop will be held live online, with a recording available for viewing following the event.
Connie Manson, MSEd, BFA: is a lifelong musician, puppeteer and craftswoman, who delights in sharing the magic of puppetry with children of all ages! She began teaching young children while still in high school, and continues to share parent child classes through the Waldorf School of Tampa Bay. Email Connie Manson at starlitepuppets@gmail.com to register. Fee: $25. We'll meet Sunday, November 19th, from 2-4 pm, EST.
THE LITTLE RED HOUSE WITH NO DOORS AND NO WINDOWS AND A STAR INSIDE
As told by Connie MansonOnce upon a time there was a grandmother and granddaughter who lived happily together in a cozy cottage.
One afternoon the little girl was tired of playing with her toys, and tired of her books and puzzles.
"What shall I do?”, she asked her grandmother. And her grandmother, who always knew fun things for children to do, said, "Why not go and find a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside."
This really made the little girl wonder. Usually her grandmother had good ideas, but she thought that this one was very strange.
"Which way shall I go?" She asked her grandmother. "I don't know where to find a little red house with no doors and no windows".
"Go down the lane past the farmer's house and up the hill," said grandmother, "and then hurry back as soon as you can and tell me all about your journey."
“I am looking for a house without a door, with a star, with a star inside.”
So the little girl started out. She jumped into a drift of fallen leaves that lay by her front door, all red and yellow and brown. The leaves made a nice crunching sound under her feet. Then she heard another noise, “Mew, mew.” Who was that? “Oh, kitty,” she asked, "Do you know where I shall find a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside?" Kitty looked up at her and then began rubbing against her legs, saying, “Mew, mew, me-w! I wish I could help you.”
The little girl giggled. "Well, thank you and good day to you!" she said.
So the little girl went on until she saw a friendly puppy. The puppy stopped and wagged his tail, so the child said to him: “Oh, puppy, can you tell me where I shall find a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside?" The puppy kept on wagging his tail and barked: "Bow, wow, wow! If I knew, I would surely tell you now!”
The little girl smiled and said, "Well, thank you and good day to you!" she said.
And close to where the puppy had greeted her there stood a friendly cow, looking over the fence and munching on a mouthful of sweet hay. So the little girl said, “Oh, mooly cow, do you know where I shall find a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside?" Mooly cow rubbed her soft nose against the grandchild and said, “Moo! Moo-oo-oo! Dear child, I cannot help you! But the farmer who takes care of me knows many things. He is just finishing his chores in the barn and will be out in the shake of a cow’s tail. Sit on the fence beside me and wait for him.”
The girl thanked the cow, and climbed up onto the fence to wait for the farmer. It wasn’t long before he came out of the barn, saw the little girl and walked up to her. He smiled and said, "Good afternoon, and how may I help you?” “Mr. Farmer, do you know where I shall find a little red house with no doors and no windows and a star inside?" asked the little girl.
"I should like to find that little house myself," he chuckled. "It would be warm when the frosty nights come and the starlight would be much prettier than a candle. But ask the wind who blows about so much and listens at all the chimneys. Perhaps the wind can tell you."
So the little girl said thank you to the farmer continued walking along the path rather sadly. She wondered if her grandmother, who usually knew almost everything, had perhaps made a mistake. The wind was coming down the hill as the little girl was climbing up. As they met, the wind turned about and went along, singing beside the little girl. It whistled in her ear, pushed her gently along and dropped a pretty leaf into her hands.
"I wonder," thought the little girl, "if the wind could help me find a little red house with no doors, and no windows and a star inside."
The wind cannot speak in our words, but it went singing ahead of the little girl until it came to the top of the hill. There it climbed up in the apple tree and shook the branches. The leaves made gentle tinkling sounds. When the little girl caught up, there, at her feet, lay a big red apple. The little girl picked up the apple. It was as much as her two hands could hold. It was as red as the sun had been able to paint it, and it had no doors and no windows. Was there a star inside?
The little girl called to the wind, "Thank you", and the wind whistled back, "You're welcome." The little girl hurried back down hill, and danced down the lane with the big, red apple in her hands. When she reached her cottage house she called out to her grandmother, “Grandmother, I have found a little red house with no windows and doors!” “I’m in the kitchen, dear one,” called grandmother, “come and let’s see if a star sits inside!” The little girl ran to the kitchen. Grandmother took a knife and cut the apple through the center.
Oh, how wonderful! There inside the apple, lay a star!
"It is too wonderful to eat without looking at the star, isn't it?" the little girl said to her grandmother.
"Yes, indeed," answered grandmother.
“Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are,
Stars in apple, seed pod, pear, Stars in berries everywhere.
So you guard me near and far. Twinkle, twinkle, little star.”