Last Updated on 13 February 2020 by Colette
As soon as I saw the promotional video for Story Box I was excited. Both as a teacher and a parent I could see that this simple box was packed full of potential for developing story telling skills, inspiring creative and imaginative thinking and the use of story language.
The basic premise of the product is that the 20 double sided puzzle pieces are interchangeable allowing for you to create your own 8-foot long fairy tale! Â The pieces are sturdy and well made allowing for them to be used over and over again as you create your own stories.Â
At first I gave the Story Box to Ben to explore by himself, asking him to put the pieces together and come up with a story to go along with it. Â You can see how he got on in this video:Â
I then realised that we could take it in turns, (a little like that game you played as a kid where you folded the paper over so the next person could write a sentence?) which makes for great fun!Â
What we love about Story Box:Â
* The potential for developing story telling skills is huge
* The pieces are all stored neatly in a tidy box
* The pieces are double sided allowing for maximum freedom to create your own tale
* The illustrations feature familiar elements from known fairy tales as well as some more unusual scenes
* The jigsaw pieces are high quality and allow for being use and reused over and over again.
What we’re not so keen on:Â
* Nothing, the kids love them and I think they’d be great in the classroom too.
*Disclaimer – We were sent the Story Box free of charge for the purposes of review however all thoughts and opinions remain our own*
My favourite fairy tale as a kid was Snow White. The whole thing is so vivid–from the mother's almost dreaming her into being with the sewing and blood on the snow; the whole business with the hunter; the three other attempts at killing her; to the fact that it wasn't a kiss but the jolt that saves her as the prince (rather creepily) takes the coffin home and the apple piece falls out of her mouth. My mom got me a copy of the Grimms' original fairy tales when I was 7-8 and I caught the fairy tale bug. The originals are chilling, and bloody, and amazing. I've been reading retellings ever since (Angela Carter's, Neil Gaiman's, and Philip Pullman's are my favourite ones), and teaching them, too, back when I used to teach. I'm hoping my kids catch the bug, too.
Hansel and Gretal – I want to see the house with lots of sweets!
Ashleigh
My favourite to read to my boys is the three little pigs. We love huffing & puffing together to blow the houses down!
Cinderella classic rags to riches story and who wouldn't want a fairy godmother
Jack and the Beanstalk, like the ever growing beanstalk
What's your favourite fairytale and why? . . . . . The Emperor's New Clothes . . . . l loved it when l was a child, still makes me chuckle and l find it educational
Rapunzal as it reminds me of my hair.
My favourite fairy tale is 3 little pigs my 2 little boys love to do the huffing and puffing we have some real fun at bed times 🙂
Snow White and the Seven Dwarves – loved reciting the names of the dwarves and imagining what their characters would be like x
Cinderella – love how it all works out for her in the end.
@rachiegr
Little red riding hood because my nan always read the story to me xxx
Cinderella because the story made every little girl who read it including me feel like a princess and made us day dream about it all the time
Little Red Riding Hood, as a cautionary tale :- people are not always what they initially seem, or as you first expected. Be careful.
Like all fairy tales the good person survives to live another day.
Rachel Craig
Cinderella, a wonderful story
Snow whites, love the seven dwarves.
Little red riding hood, because it shows that things are not always what they seem 🙂
The magic porridge pot because it's so mischievous.
Little Red Riding Hood was my favourite because Dad used to do such a great Big Bad Wolf impression 😉
My little girl the big bad Wolf and the three little pigs just laughs all the way through lovely to watch her
I love Snow White, love the dwarfs
I always loved Rumplestiltskin as I thought he was funny and it was good that the girl could trick him as he had an evil plan!
Snow White because I love the dwarfs
I love the Snow Queen I always found it chilling and scary as a child
I love Snow White because she is always fighting for her own freedom and safety. She was a wonderful role model for fighting to be yourself.
Rupunzel and her long flowing hair
101 dalmatians (if it counts) and they all lived happily ever after
The Snow Queen as it really sparked my imagination as a child.
Red Riding Hood – Good to see the wold defeated!
sleeping beauty was always my fave since a little girl, just loved the idea of true loves kiss saving the day
James and the Giant Beanstalk because we love Giants!
i have always loved the princess and the pea x
Jack & the Beanstalk – I loved the idea of a hen that could lay golden eggs
Princess and the Pea, oh that spoiled little madam, that's why I love it
The Three Little Pigs was a particular favourite because my parents used to tickle my toes as they read it to me.
Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs (@PeanutHog)
Beauty and the beast!
Little Mermaid. My favourite since I was little 🙂
Cinderella, every girls dream ending x