{"id":8255,"date":"2015-12-10T08:25:17","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T13:25:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huntsville.dopperonline.ca\/?p=8255"},"modified":"2018-10-01T13:22:48","modified_gmt":"2018-10-01T17:22:48","slug":"creating-magic-with-a-little-bit-of-story-time","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/creating-magic-with-a-little-bit-of-story-time\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating magic with a little bit of story time"},"content":{"rendered":"

Every week, I will be profiling an extraordinary human being who lives in our community. If you know someone who is doing something interesting with their life, I want to hear about it. Send me an email at <\/strong><\/em>laura.maclean@doppleronline.ca<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

As a young girl, Sandy Inkster always wanted to have a sleepover in a library.<\/p>\n

Even when she was in high school she\u2019d marvel at the opportunity to be the only one in the mobile book library. That way, she could have all the books to herself.<\/p>\n

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Several decades later, she still gets giddy when she comes across the perfect book, whether it\u2019s one for her to cozy up with on the couch by herself or a new one she can share and delight in with children. Yes, Inkster is definitely a bookworm. And that\u2019s a wonderful thing. After all, it was Dr. Seuss, one of Inkster\u2019s favourite children\u2019s authors of all time, who pointed out so eloquently, \u201cThe more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve seen her in action before, but it\u2019s been some time since I\u2019ve been to an Early Years program or to a local storytelling feast. This past Tuesday, I got the chance to watch her at the Montessori School, operated by Muskoka Family Focus, out of the Sabrina Park apartment building. Let me tell you, I was as equally enthralled with her story time as the group of kids were. She is the perfect storyteller and she lights up when she reads. She\u2019s engaging and animated and sure to get the group involved. You won\u2019t want to take your eyes off of her. She\u2019s like a motivational speaker for reading.<\/p>\n

While she reads it instantly becomes apparent she truly enjoys what she does. The kids all sit close to her. Most of them are eager to listen. They want to hear what happens next. They can\u2019t wait for her to turn the page. I think they feed off her energy. While she read a new children\u2019s book to the small wide-eyed group, I started to wonder if she vibrates at a different frequency than most humans. I would really like to harness her energy and have the same pizazz when I read stories to my kids.<\/p>\n

For 14 years, Inkster has been an early literacy specialist with Hands (TheFamilyHelpNetwork.ca<\/a>), a not-for-profit bilingual charitable organization, which is the lead agency for the Parry-Sound\/Muskoka Ontario Early Years System. She knows, first-hand, how important it is to read to your child, whether they are still resting in the womb, a bouncing toddler or an inquisitive four-year-old.<\/p>\n\n\t\t