Creating a Storyteller's "Set"

I do a lot of storytelling with my grandchildren, via FaceTime. Over the years, I have used a lot of different setups.

Here is the most recent version of the Storyteller's Set.

In the next few steps, I will explain what to look when creating your first set.

Natural light is probably the best for most photography.... but I got tired of moving all my supplies from room to room, depending on the time of day of a FaceTIME call.

So find the best light and the best spot for YOUR iPad or phone or camera. Experiment a little.

I am using this "Natural Full Spectrum Sunlight Reading Floor Lamp by Windsor Home" that I bought on Overstock.com in 2019. I'd like to experiment with LED light strips, and if I find something that works I will update this page.

THIS. IS. IMPORTANT.

What stand you choose depends a lot on HOW you plan to do stories and HOW your audience reacts.

My granddaughter likes to PICK which character is going to join the story, so that means that when I used the stand shown above, I had to remove the iPad from the pinchy-grip thing, focus on the character box, then return the iPad to the stand in order to continue the story.

It was a pain.

This one was a LITTLE better....

I could sort of slide the iPad out the side....

But it was still a pain.

An adjustable stand that stands on the same table-top is what finally worked best for me.

(Believe me, I tried so many different stands and tables... it was CRAZY!)

For now, I am just using a piece of white cardboard. It has too many bends in it, but it doesn't seem to bother the kids at all.

Again, when I find something better I will update the page.

Eventually.... I hope to get a nice rolling storage unit with shallow drawers.

But for now, all I really need is space underneath the table to store the boxes of stuff!

Once you are finished telling stories via FaceTime or Zoom or whatever....

take some photographs and make a little storybook.

If you have a Mac computer, I have made a template for a single-page, folded, 8-page zine-style booklet.

Here's the URL:

https://www.instructables.com/Zine-Template-for-a-...

With a little experience, you can take eight photos, insert them onto the template, add text, and get a little storybook into the mail in less than an hour. It's a wonderful gift for a far-away grandchild!

I have two grandchildren in Scotland and three grandchildren here in Kansas. Yesterday, we did FaceTime stories and my nine-year-old grandson made this story book to send to his cousins.

Simon took all of the photographs and I helped him insert the photos onto the template.

I typed in the text. (That upside down part of the template is a little confusing!)