Peace At Last makes a great sensory story and is brilliant for children who are intrigued by unusual sounds. It works well for themes of family, night time, nocturnal animals and as a sensory story for Father’s Day. (The dad is really very patient!)
You may well have a copy of this classic already – but if not you can buy it from our bookshop.
Tips for telling Peace at Last as sensory story
Start the story with some nice big noisy yawns. (If you are telling the story in a classroom you could record these onto voice recorder switches so that everyone can join in.) Shake out some rugs or blankets as the bears go to bed. Then continue with some even noisier snores! (There are some great snore sound effects online that can be downloaded for free.)
A toy aeroplane like Baby Bear’s would be great to include and if you use one with wheels you could run it up and down the arm of the person you are sharing the story with as well as ‘flying’ it around while you make aeroplane noises.
For the ticking clock a ‘football rattle’ works really well if you turn it very very slowly. You might want to invest in an Acme cuckoo whistle (also very useful for springtime stories). You can buy one here.
The dripping tap can be a drum beaten softly and rhythmically. And then you need to hum like a fridge!
Loud snuffling and meowing are needed for the hedgehog and cats. (Make these noises yourself and encourage everyone to join in. Or download some more sound effects.)
For tactile interest you could include a pastry brush for the whiskers of the cat, and a scrubbing brush for the prickles of the hedgehog. Then for the birds (including the owl) you could try some of the bird toys that make real bird noises when squeezed. These are widely available online – search for ‘Wild Republic bird soft toys with authentic bird sound’.
The page where Mr Bear tries to get to sleep in the car is the high point of the story. It is great if the sensory experiences reflect this. So, if possible, have LOTS of birds tweeting all at once. (You could also add a recording of birdsong.) Try adding in a large yellow silk scarf for the sunshine. This can be wafted around and even over the child you are reading to.
The ‘Brrrring’ of the alarm clock needs to be a bit of a surprise! You could try using a real old-fashioned alarm clock – but this can be a bit too startling. If you use buzzers or a switch with a ringing noise then the children can be in charge of the noise – much more fun!
Finish the story with the gentle rattle of a teaspoon in a tea cup. You could use some loose leaf tea as well for the smell. (Choose one with a stronger smell like Earl Grey .)
Remember – not all of my props recommendations are toys! The props I suggest should not be used by children unsupervised.