Audio stories are a great way to introduce kids to the world of books and reading. Some wonderful audio stories are distributed in Singapore and throughout Asia by Seeds of Knowledge Pte Ltd.
These CDs are fascinating, as the stories are not read word for word from the book. Instead, Jim Weiss tells these stories in his own words without veering away from the original.
Kids will have no problem understanding Weiss’s accent as they are quite accustomed to watching programs done in America and Australia, such as the Disney channel and Hi-5.
Benefits of listening to audio stories
- Just like how children listen to their teacher speak in class, listening to these audio stories can improve their auditory skills even though are there no visuals accompanying the story.
- These stories are great for kids to learn the correct pronunciation for certain words, even if they are advanced and independent readers. Some kids know how a word looks in print but struggle with the pronunciation at times.
- Jim Weiss encourages kids to read the books that he reads in the recordings. These audio stories, therefore, are a great way to get kids, even the slightly reluctant ones, interested in reading.
Making the most of Seeds of Knowledge Singapore’s audio stories
Some kids enjoy listening while engaged in other activities. If your child is this type of learner, encourage him to play with Lego or do an arts and crafts project while listening to an audio story.
To make your child’s listening experience count even more, talk to her about the story itself and what she learned from it. This is a great way to have open discussions with your kids about the particular story and life in general.
There are many audio stories for kids of all age groups, from nursery kids to teenagers.
Stories for nursery kids
There are six CDs suitable for kids ages three and above. Each one is short enough to hold the attention of a child but lively enough to entertain.
The “Animal Tales” CD features stories from Grimm’s Fairy Tales and Aesop’s Fables, among others.
Kids will love how Jim Weiss mimics the goats’ voices in “Three Billy Goats Gruff” and will want to listen to the story again and again.
The “Just So Stories” CD features a collection of audio stories by Rudyard Kipling. These stories are witty and hilarious and kids will definitely find a new favourite.
Stories for kindergarten and lower primary kids
There are 17 CDs suitable for this group of kids five years old and above. Some of the stories included are The Three Musketeers, Robin Hood, and Tales From the Old Testament.
Jim Weiss definitely makes these age-old stories come alive for young children in a very simple yet awe-inspiring way.
Stories for older kids
“Older kids” include kids in upper primary, teens and adults as well. This collection of CDs have some wonderful timeless tales such as Sherlock Holmes, A Tale of Two Cities, The Jungle Book and many other audio stories on 22 other CDs.
Listening to the retelling of Sherlock Holmes and A Tale of Two Cities can even inspire kids to read the original books.
On the other hand, if you want to introduce them to Shakespeare, then the CD “Shakespeare For Children,” which includes A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Taming of the Shrew, will serve the purpose. The stories are narrated in such an easy-to-understand manner, all the while preserving the beauty and genius that is Shakespeare.
Three events not to be missed
From March 8 to 15, 2015, master storyteller Jim Weiss will be in Singapore to conduct three events that are sure to be a hit with adults and children of all ages.
Live Storytelling Performances, 8 March 2015
Three live performances will be conducted at The Arts House where both children and adults will be swept into classic tales told by Weiss himself.
The first session from 10 am to 11 am will feature The World’s Greatest Folktales and is recommended for children ages five to eight. The second session from 2 pm to 3.30 pm will feature The World’s Greatest True Adventures, which is recommended for children aged eight to adults.
The third and last session will be an An Evening of Classic Mysteries that will be perfect for adults and kids aged eight and up.
Purchase tickets for this event here.
Workshop on Public Speaking For School-age Children, 11 March 2015
Jim Weiss will teach children the art of public speaking, including how to deliver their message to a live audience with eloquence, integrity and determination.
This engaging session will be comfortably interactive and each child will pick up skills on how to find and use his speaking style, while looking and feeling confident at any podium.
The workshop for children ages nine to 12 will be on March 11 from 3.30 pm to 6.30 pm in the Imagination Room, National Library Building.
Fee is $50 per child. Since there are limited seats for this workshop, pre-registration is required. Email sales@seedsofknowledge.com.sg to enquire on availability.
Public Workshop for Parents and Early Childhood Educators, 15 March 2015
This workshop will teach parents and early childhood educators to make the very most of their precious read-aloud time with their children. Participants will learn some important information from such as:
- Why stories are essential at home and at school
- Why stories should be valued as a significant tool for teaching
- How to improve one’s character voices in reading aloud
- How to build a story and bring the characters to life
- How to encourage children to read and write their own stories
This workshop will be conducted from 10 am to 1 pm at the Blue Room at The Arts House.
Purchase tickets for this event here.