Testimonials

Storycard Theater author David Battino performs The Cat with No Name, an interactive kamishibai story. Each card ends with a  riddle. The next card reveals the answer.

Comments from storytellers and audiences

“Storycard Theater is a delightful way to introduce multicultural stories to audiences of all ages. They add variety and interest to any storytelling situation, be it the classroom, the library, or at home. I have used them with very young children, adolescents, and graduate students. I have used them to demonstrate the technique in college storytelling classes and to help children develop their own storytelling skills. Storycard Theater brings new life to an ancient tradition. Stories are the lifeblood of us all; Storycard Theater presents a unique way to share them.”

Beverly Vaughn Hock, Ed.D
Director, Reading the World
School of Education
International and Multicultural Program
University of San Francisco

“My students in summer camp at the Bay Area Discovery Museum loved Storycard Theater! When I asked them which books they wanted me to read aloud, their number-one choices were Momotaro or Jack and the Beanstalk. They loved the brilliant illustrations and the way I was able to make eye contact with them as I read. When’s the next set coming out? I’d love to have more storycards!”

Margaret Speaker Yuan
Author/Performer/Teacher
Regional Advisor
Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators

“WE LOVED THE BOOK! As a teacher I am used to holding books sideways in order for the children to see the pictures while I try to read the words. It’s not an efficient method. Your method WORKS! I love the fact that the children can see the picture while I read the story. They are continuously looking at the picture while envisioning what is happening in the story. I loved the illustrations and the story itself.

“I had a thought to expand the story: Divide the children up into groups and have them each select a page of the book and either draw an expansion of the page, expand the story with writing, or draw their own illustration.”

Tara McFarland
Kindergarten Teacher
The Harker School
San Jose, CA

“I shared Momotaro with my students, ages 4–8. They were mesmerized; they loved it. The illustrations are superb! Momotaro will be the starting point for our end-of-the-year school play. Thanks!”

Axel Serrant
Actor/Performer/Teacher
Puerto Rico

“I perform with a variety of kamishibai story cards every week at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. It’s a very engaging medium — the audience is completely involved in the story. Leaf Moon Arts’ Storycard Theater series is excellent! The size is easy to handle, the colors are vibrant, and the most important thing is that the style of the art is reminiscent of traditional Japanese comics. So the viewers get a taste of another kind of Japanese art from the ones exhibited in the museum.”

Emily Papert
Storyteller
San Francisco Asian Art Museum

“I have been a kindergarten teacher for over 20 years. During each literature unit, I share many versions of the same story, noting similarities and differences in characters, settings, problems, and problem solving. Both Peach Boy and Jack & the Beanstalk have been wonderful additions to my program. Each picture card is so nicely detailed with many colors which are attractive for the children to look at while each story is being read. Kinders love to see the picture the whole time a story is being shared, so this series is ideal for oral reading in kindergarten.”

Linda Mooers
Kindergarten Teacher
Los Altos, CA

“I was impressed by the appeal of the storycards and the story itself (Jack & the Beanstalk) to a wide age range. Even the youngest children were fascinated and paid close attention to the entire program.”

Julie Finklang
Children’s Library Assistant
San Mateo Public Library

“Thanks so much. We have been reading Momotaro almost every night. [Our 3-year-old] prefers to sit with the storyteller rather than in the ‘audience.’”

Surgeon and father of four
Michigan

“Our kids enjoyed Jack & the Beanstalk and wanted it retold many times. The pictures are wonderful, and the kids were spellbound by the story. This was a good version for young children — scary, but not too scary. There was no moral problem with Jack stealing the Giant’s property. The harp and hen begged Jack to take them with him when he ran for his life, which made Jack a rescuer and not a thief.

“Because our class is 3 and 4-year olds and mostly ESL [English as a Second Language], I cut some of the words to simplify the telling. The cards made that easy, and the large pictures are perfect for this age group. The children can look at the story cards on their own to picture-read the story, an important step in learning to read. The cards are durable enough to be used by children. I have no suggestions for improvement, other than having more stories available.”

Karen Muir
Snohomish County Head Start
Everett, WA

“What a wonderful tool for students learning English. The illustrations are attractive and intriguing.”

Architect and father of two
Tokyo, Japan

“During circle time, the children [ages 4–5] seemed to follow very well, and they asked questions — they were very interested. (One said, ‘It’s awesome!’) When I asked what they liked, they said, ‘Now we can really see the pictures when you’re telling the story!’”

Keti Delija
Lead Teacher
Shoreline Community College Parent-Child Center
Shoreline, WA

“Wonderful illustrations! The kids love the bright colors.”

Daycare teacher
California

“The story cards are so nice — [it’s] really neat how the numbers allow you to know if you are matched up with the right picture.”

Special education teacher
California

“Beautifully written — actually the best version [of Jack & the Beanstalk] I’ve ever read.”

Judy Guitton
EAP Instructor
Edmonds Community College
Edmonds, WA

“It was more fun than TV!”

Second Grader
De Vargas Elementary School
Cupertino, CA