About I Wonder if a Star Will Fall an anthology by Joe Gantz
I Wonder If A Star Will Fall is an anthology of emotional and heartfelt stories by young children. The book was compiled by sending 10,000 letters to elementary schools asking kids to write and send in stories. In our letter to the schools we stressed that, "We want these stories to represent a child's perspective and unique method of storytelling. For this reason, we would ask that no adult tries to "help" a child write his or her story."
Over 15,000 stories were received, and 23 were selected for the book. Those chosen filled the broad spectrum of emotions from wonder to sadness, from joy to anger to confusion. These children's stories are at times humorous, but they are also filled with great poignancy and pathos. In reading all these stories we were continually struck by how amazing children are in their perceptions and feelings for their lives. They have an enviable ability to express the moment-to-moment reality of their lives and create a story rich in sensitivity and emotion.
I Wonder if a Star Will Fall includes sad stories, confused stories, and angry stories. These are not the type of upbeat stories that parents generally give to their kids or read to their kids. However, reading these stories I am reminded that children have the full spectrum of emotions that adults have, even if children are often encouraged not to express certain emotions. Parents are sometimes threatened if their children seem sad or angry or confused, either because they can’t bear to see their children as unhappy, or because they feel bad that they can’t protect their children from many of the difficulties of life. On top of that, children are part of an environment that they can't change, that they can only marginally influence. With little or no ability to change their lives children need to find a forum in which to express their feelings. Reading and writing stories can create that much needed outlet.
Everyone is born with the ability to write wonderfully heartfelt stories. Somewhere along the line, though, because we have trouble with our spelling, because we have bad grades in handwriting, or because we are told our lives are ordinary, we are taught away from trusting our ability to write our stories. I Wonder If A Star Will Fall reveals the range of emotions that children feel, and suggests their pressing need to express these feelings through the stories they read and write. I Wonder If A Star Will Fall is a moving collection of sincere and deeply felt stories, which happens to be written by children. I hope that children will benefit from reading these stories, and that this book will encourage kids to write their own stories.
Over 15,000 stories were received, and 23 were selected for the book. Those chosen filled the broad spectrum of emotions from wonder to sadness, from joy to anger to confusion. These children's stories are at times humorous, but they are also filled with great poignancy and pathos. In reading all these stories we were continually struck by how amazing children are in their perceptions and feelings for their lives. They have an enviable ability to express the moment-to-moment reality of their lives and create a story rich in sensitivity and emotion.
I Wonder if a Star Will Fall includes sad stories, confused stories, and angry stories. These are not the type of upbeat stories that parents generally give to their kids or read to their kids. However, reading these stories I am reminded that children have the full spectrum of emotions that adults have, even if children are often encouraged not to express certain emotions. Parents are sometimes threatened if their children seem sad or angry or confused, either because they can’t bear to see their children as unhappy, or because they feel bad that they can’t protect their children from many of the difficulties of life. On top of that, children are part of an environment that they can't change, that they can only marginally influence. With little or no ability to change their lives children need to find a forum in which to express their feelings. Reading and writing stories can create that much needed outlet.
Everyone is born with the ability to write wonderfully heartfelt stories. Somewhere along the line, though, because we have trouble with our spelling, because we have bad grades in handwriting, or because we are told our lives are ordinary, we are taught away from trusting our ability to write our stories. I Wonder If A Star Will Fall reveals the range of emotions that children feel, and suggests their pressing need to express these feelings through the stories they read and write. I Wonder If A Star Will Fall is a moving collection of sincere and deeply felt stories, which happens to be written by children. I hope that children will benefit from reading these stories, and that this book will encourage kids to write their own stories.
