My Kind of Blog
Our blog about books for children with additional needs, and ideas for turning them into sensory stories.
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- Sensory Ideas for Winter
We’ve collected together some sensory stories and activities to help you enjoy these winter days both indoors and out… Our free sensory story download The Little Girl and the Stars is a very simple, gentle story particularly suitable for telling… - Spooky Poems Aloud: sensory suggestions to accompany the book
Spooky Poems Aloud (by Joseph Coelho’s and Daniel Gray-Barnett) is the perfect choice of book if you would like to enjoy some scary sensory fun at Halloween. It works for a wide age range – simple adjust the fright-factor to… - When Autumn Comes: sensory story ideas to accompany the book
When Autumn Comes by Ekaterina Trukhan is perfect for introducing the season to your learners. The simple story and uncluttered illustrations really lend themselves to adapting into an autumn sensory story. Start with a nice colourful bobble hat – or… - All You Need is Love!
Valentine’s day is upon us – time to get those squishy heart cushions out of the cupboard for your Valentine’s Sensory Story… …or is it? Valentine’s Day is here again…queue fluttering hearts or eye rolling – depending on your disposition!… - Christmas Sensory Activity Round-up
We wanted to share some accessible sensory activities for Christmas… The run-up to Christmas is a great time for sensory activities for children with additional needs! Sensory fun is all around us at Christmas time… Here is a wee round-up… - Pick a Pine Tree: sensory story ideas to accompany the book
Pick a Pine Tree by Patricia Toht (Author) and Jarvis (Illustrator) is a lovely picture book to share as you decorate your Christmas tree or classroom and it makes a great sensory story for children with additional needs. There is… - We’re going on an Elf Chase: sensory story ideas to accompany the book
We’re Going on an Elf Chase by Martha Mumford (Author) and Laura Hughes (Illustrator) is a lovely picture book to share in the run up to Christmas. It makes a great festive sensory story that is particularly suitable for children… - Behind the scenes at the Accessible Book & Story Festival: Part 1
(Or…what Ailie has been doing this summer) This summer I’ve been walking in the rain…sometimes with our slow old dog…cat-sitting, holidaying in Fife (and swimming in the tidal pools)… …and telling sensory stories (in libraries, holiday clubs, respite centres and… - The Wonders of Sensory Storytelling Part 3: Telling the Stories
Once upon a time…begins the storyteller and everyone gathers round for a story… As we plan our first Accessible Book and Story Festival we have been thinking about just how rich the world of sensory stories is. So many people… - The Wonders of Sensory Storytelling Part 2: The StoriesOur first Accessible Book and Story Festival (in September) will have a focus on sensory stories. As we plan the festival we have been thinking about the fundamentals of sensory storytelling. In this second of three blog posts we consider…
- The Wonders of Sensory Storytelling Part 1: The PropsHere at My Kind of Book we are busy organising the first ever Accessible Book and Story Festival which will take place in September 2024. The focus of the festival will be sensory stories – and this has sent us…
- Sensory Fun for Burns Night
How about a wee poem for Burns Night! Up in the Morning Early is a short and simple Rabbie Burns poem with a wintery theme that makes it particularly suitable for this time of year. Scroll down for some very… - Halloween Sensory Activity Round-up
We wanted to share some sensory activities for Halloween… Pumpkin carving is a great sensory activity – but remember you can try other vegetables as well. It is hard work turning the traditional Scottish turnip (a swede in England) into… - Book recommendations – and a book giveaway for Down’s Syndrome Awareness Month
October is Down’s Syndrome Awareness Month – below are four lovely books which include images or characters with Down’s Syndrome. And we’re giving some books away! Keep reading to the end of the list to find out how to enter… - Book suggestions with sensory story tips for Black History Month
As Black History Month approaches I wanted to highlight two brilliant picture books: Granny Came Here on the Empire Windrush and Hey You. I created sensory story resources to accompany both of these books for The Edinburgh International Book Festival… - Stories to read on Father’s Day
Something old and something new for Father’s Day! Both these books contain lovely depictions of kind and patient fathers or male role models. My first suggestion is the classic Peace At Last by Jill Murphy. Forty years old but still… - Sensory Story Suggestion for the Platinum Jubilee
The picture book The Queen’s Hat by Steve Antony is a lively London adventure, perfect for sharing as we celebrate the Jubilee. Buy it here in our book shop: https://mykindofbook.org.uk/shop/ And then follow these hints and tips for turning it… - My Top Five Sensory Props for Springtime
Here are my top five list of sensory props for Springtime. Natural objects such as flowers, buds and leaves are great to use in Springtime sensory stories…but here are a few other things to try: 2. These stretchy ‘noodles’ are… - A Sensory Poem for National Poetry Day
National Poetry Day is coming up on the 7th October. Why not mark the occasion by taking a few minutes to read some poetry aloud in your classroom, letting everyone enjoy the sensory language? Look for poems with a strong… - My Top Five Sensory Props for Autumn
Another list of my favourites for you – and hurray for autumn – the sensory season! Autumn provides us with so many sensory props: conkers, leaves, blackberries, apples…but here are a few others to add to the mix: 1) ‘Crinkle’… - My Top Five Props for Seaside Sensory Stories
Here are some fun props to add to your seaside stories along with the buckets and spades, shells and sun lotion! These props would be useful for many sensory stories set at the beach. 1) Squishy seal A nice plump… - My Top Five Intriguing Sounds for Sensory Stories
An unusual sound is great for getting people’s interest in a sensory story. There are some noises that I love to include in my stories. My feeling is that if you know a noise will help a story along shoehorn… - Kite Flying, Grace Lin
It’s been a week of wild March winds here – and this is the perfect book for windy weather! - A Sensory Story for World Book Day
World Book Day is on the 4th of March this year. A perfect day for a sensory story with lots of books in it! - Chinese New Year
The Runaway Wok by Ying Chang Compestine and Sebastià Serra is a fun lively tale for Chinese New Year. - A Squash and a Squeeze, Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
Many of us may be feeling a little bit squashed and squeezed at the moment as we are stuck at home more than normal. - It Was a Cold, Dark Night: sensory story ideas to accompany the book
Autumn is definitely here – time for some nice Autumn sensory stories. - Baby Goes to Market: sensory story ideas to accompany the book
This lovely story about a mother and child visiting a West African market is very simple to follow and has big bright illustrations. - Stanley’s School, William Bee
Stanley’s School is a cheerful story about a school day that will give you a chance to remind your wee ones about their school routine. - The Carrot Seed: sensory story ideas to accompany the book
Here is a sensory story for those of you who are enjoying pottering in the garden. - What a Wonderful World, illustrated by Tim Hopgood
It’s the last week of term here in Scotland so I wanted to write about a feel-good book in the lead up to the holidays. - Peace at Last, Jill Murphy
This picture book is perfect for telling as a sensory story to a child with additional needs. It has a simple narrative with lots of lovely repetition and includes some very engaging noises! - All Join In, Quentin Blake
A joyful book guaranteed to cheer up even the gloomiest of days! All Join In is is made up of a series of rhyming poems. All of these are lovely to read aloud, and all include lots of engaging noises.