The Runaway Wok by Ying Chang Compestine and Sebastià Serra is a fun lively tale for Chinese New Year. It’s published by Dutton Books and is also available as an e-book. It makes an excellent Chinese New Year sensory story for children with additional needs. The text is slightly complicated – but the story itself is actually quite straightforward. I do quite a radical simplification of the narrative in short sentences concentrating on the main actions of the magic wok (and missing out the more complicated part with the mean characters at the end).
A simple sensory version could start with Ming coming home from market with the magic wok. If the wok you use as a prop is old and battered so much the better!
The children can help you ‘wash and polish’ the wok with dusters, scrubbing brushes etc.
Encourage everyone to join in with the chant as you make the wok fly. These parts of the story where the wok is flying are really fun so take your time with them – you can make the wok fly all around and come right up close to different children, maybe landing on a lap or a wheelchair tray.
If you use a wok with a lid you can keep the props a surprise from the children and encourage interaction by giving different children a chance to guess what is inside, lift off the lid etc. ‘Crashing’ the lid against the wok will also make a good noise as the wok is flying.
You don’t need to tie yourself up in knots by having too many props in the wok – one or two items after each magical trip will be plenty.
The first time the wok comes back it is full of food. Depending on the children you are telling the story to you could use some pretend food (felt strips make good noodles), food in packets or actual cooked noodles.(Great from a sensory point of view!)
The next time the wok comes back it is full of toys and New Year decorations. Cymbals, drums, lanterns and kites are all mentioned…choose whichever will appeal to the children you are telling the story to.
The third time it comes back it is full of money. You could put some coins in a couple of small red drawstring bags and then knot the bags very tightly shut (for safety). These will be interesting from a tactile point of view as well.
I would miss out the section with mean Mr Li and family as it is a little complicated to show with sensory props. I usually finish with the New Year’s feast – use the food, toys and money props and maybe add in cymbals and noise-makers and cheering and even some confetti:
Remember – not all of my props recommendations are toys! The props I suggest should not be used by children unsupervised.