Taffy's Coat Tales - new paperback collection

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TAFFY'S COAT TALESis A unique collection of tales from the nation’s first Laureate for Storytelling - Taffy Thomas, MBE.

The Tale Coat is a unique piece of textile art – a story jukebox, from which audiences of any age can select an embroidered scene to hear one of many extraordinary tales. In this magical, 96-page collection, suitable for both children and adults, the newly-appointed Laureate for Storytelling, Taffy Thomas, tells 19 of his favourite tales from the Tale Coat, many of which have never before been written down. From Inuit creation tales and African animal stories, to myths and legends rooted in the valleys and fells of the English Lake District, TAFFY’S COAT TALES presents a collection of tales to treasure and, most importantly, to share.

These fascinating tales are illustrated with detailed photographs of the relevant embroidered scenes from the Tale Coat, and each begins with a short note, revealing ‘the journey’ of each story to the storyteller.

TAFFY’S COAT TALES is being published in time for the first of three special appearances by Taffy Thomas as part of National Storytelling Week (30th January to 6th February). From 2pm on Saturday 30th January 2010, at The British Library in London, Taffy will be joined by former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, to celebrate his two-year post as Laureate for Storytelling. As well as telling a tale or two, Taffy will be signing copies of Taffy's Coat Tales hot off the presses.

Taffy’s Coat Tales (£7.99 pbk, ISBN 978-0-9564716-0-4) can be ordered through http://www.theliteracyclub.com and will be available to buy at various Laureate for Storytelling events, as well as at events organised by the Northern Centre for Storytelling. For more information contact The Literacy Club Editor, Helen Watts, email TLC@theliteracyclub.com, tel 0845 519 2918, or visit http://www.theliteracyclub.com.

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Poet and former Children’s Laureate, Michael Rosen, was on stage at the British Library Conference Centre on Saturday to introduce the first of three special National Storytelling Week events, celebrating the appointment of Taffy Thomas, MBE, as the nation’s first Laureate for Storytelling. The celebration also saw the launch of Taffy Thomas’ brand new book, Taffy’s Coat Tales, published by The Literacy Club – a 96-page collection of 19 of the storyteller’s best tales. All of the stories are inspired by the embroidered images on the Tale Coat – a unique piece of textile art, covered in detailed pictures which enable the audience to interact with the storyteller and choose the stories they would like to hear.

Guests and audience members present at the British Library event were treated to some performance poetry and storytelling from Michael Rosen, one of the Laureateship’s ‘Guardians of the Story’. In introducing Taffy, Michael said: “I am honoured and delighted to be able to introduce our very first, and very wonderful, storytelling Laureate. We now have someone who is both a spokesperson for the storytelling medium and also an acting practitioner for it… someone people can go to – whether they want a TV or a radio interview or anything to do with stories – and they have someone whose name is very easy to remember, because it’s alliterative – Taffy Thomas! What a fantastic thing!”

It was then time for Taffy to take to the stage for his first major official performance since taking up the two-year honorary position as Laureate for Storytelling. As well as telling some of the tales from the Tale Coat, Taffy told stories inspired by some of his heroes and mentors, including West Country folklorist, Ruth Tongue, and Irish piper, singer and folk song collector, Seamus Ennis. He also paid tribute to textile artist, Paddy Killer, who designed and made the exquisite Tale Coat which has become sTLC@theliteruch a central part of many of his performances and workshops. In explaining why he believes storytelling is important, Taffy commented, “Storytelling is as natural as breathing and as precious as breath.”

During the two years in which Taffy will represent his craft as storytelling Laureate, he will be taking part in a wide range of events all over the country, performing to audiences young and old.
Two more Laureateship celebrations are planned for National Storytelling Week, including an afternoon event at Birmingham’s City Museum and Art Gallery on Tuesday 2 February and an afternoon of storytelling at the Seven Stories centre in Newcastle on Saturday 6 February. For details contact ‘kindandgenerous productions’ on 07929291589 or email adrian.johnson@dsl.pipex.com.
Taffy’s Coat Tales by Taffy Thomas (£7.99, The Literacy Club ISBN 978-0-9564716-0-4) is available to order online from http://www.theliteracyclub.com. The Literacy Club is the UK’s only publisher of printed magazines dedicated to primary literacy and offering read-to-use resources for use both in school and at home. Their magazines, TLC Teacher and TLC Kids are published bimonthly and are available on annual subscription. Visit http://www.theliteracyclub.com, email tlc@theliteracyclub.com or call 0845 519 2918 for details.

[mem]

I think there is also something in Manchester on 4 Feb.