Princesses, Dragons and Helicopter Stories: Storytelling and Story Acting in the Early Years

Storytelling and fantasy play are central to how young children make sense of their world, build relationships, and express themselves.Developed and championed by MakeBelieve Arts, Helicopter Stories is a simple yet powerful way to harness these natural impulses.Rooted in the storytelling and story acting work of Vivian Gussin Paley, and adapted for UK classrooms by theatre director Trisha Lee, this inclusive approach is now used in thousands of early years settings across the country, and increasingly in classrooms around the world. Tried, tested and proven to have a significant impact on children’s literacy, communication, confidence and social-emotional development, Helicopter Stories offers a unique combination of creativity and structure, allowing every child to become a storyteller, an actor, and an engaged member of a collaborative classroom community. This second edition of Princesses, Dragons and Helicopter Stories provides a practical, step-by-step guide to using the approach