Collections were the inspiration for a project at Thomas Tallis School, which formed part of the Imagine Children's Literature Festival last autumn.
Collections
were
the
inspiration
for
a
project
at
Thomas
Tallis
School
,
which
formed
part
of
the
Imagine
Children
's
Literature
Festival
last
autumn
.
Each child (aged 12-13) beatified a box and wrote a story on the subject of collections to throw inside it.
Each
child
(
aged
12-13
)
beatified
a
box
and
wrote
a
story
on
the
subject
of
collections
to
throw
inside
it
.
The boxes were spread within the Royal Festival Hall's Ballroom.
The
boxes
were
spread
within
the
Royal
Festival
Hall
's
Ballroom
.
Some were left empty to encourage
Some
were
left
empty
to
encourage
The subject chosen by Luren was an imaginative one.
The
subject
chosen
by
Luren
was
an
imaginative
one
.
"It's a sort o f Cinderella story," she told me, inspired by a collection of letters from her cousin, ha the story these become love letters, burned by a creel stepmother.
``
It
's
a
sort
o
f
Cinderella
story
,
''
she
told
me
,
inspired
by
a
collection
of
letters
from
her
cousin
,
ha
the
story
these
become
love
letters
,
burned
by
a
creel
stepmother
.
Lauren's best friend Charlotte is the stepmother.
Lauren
's
best
friend
Charlotte
is
the
stepmother
.
"I'm in Charlotte's story too," says Lauren, "and I get run over."
``
I
'm
in
Charlotte
's
story
too
,
''
says
Lauren
,
``
and
I
get
run
over
.
''
Charlotte's tale was inspired by the girls' coin collection.
Charlotte
's
tale
was
inspired
by
the
girls
'
coin
collection
.
"We've collected foreign coins for years - since our families went on holiday to Tenerife."
``
We
've
collected
foreign
coins
for
years
-
since
our
families
went
on
holiday
to
Tenerife
.
''
she explains.
she
explains
.
"That was before the Euro, so we put pesetas in."
``
That
was
before
the
Euro
,
so
we
put
pesetas
in
.
''
Lauren continues: "I fred a coin in the road, go to get it and get run over.
Lauren
continues
:
``
I
fred
a
coin
in
the
road
,
go
to
get
it
and
get
run
over
.
I'm in hospital and then I die."
I
'm
in
hospital
and
then
I
die
.
''
Charlotte adds: "Or she might not die.
Charlotte
adds
:
``
Or
she
might
not
die
.
I haven't decided yet."
I
have
n't
decided
yet
.
''
Millie Murray, who is a tea-novel author, thinks that setting the subject of collections was a useful inspiration to their creativity rather than a restriction.
Millie
Murray
,
who
is
a
tea-novel
author
,
thinks
that
setting
the
subject
of
collections
was
a
useful
inspiration
to
their
creativity
rather
than
a
restriction
.
"In the beginning I thought, 'Will the children be able to do it?"'
``
In
the
beginning
I
thought
,
'Will
the
children
be
able
to
do
it
?
'
''
she says.
she
says
.
"But it's been fruitful.
``
But
it
's
been
fruitful
.
Some have their own collection, some have parents who do, and some have wlstten complete stories.
Some
have
their
own
collection
,
some
have
parents
who
do
,
and
some
have
wlstten
complete
stories
.
It's made them think about something they wouldn't have otherwise, winch can only be a good thing."
It
's
made
them
think
about
something
they
would
n't
have
otherwise
,
winch
can
only
be
a
good
thing
.
''
Collections were the inspiration for a project at Thomas Tallis School, which formed part of the Imagine Children's Literature Festival last autumn. Each child (aged 12-13) beatified a box and wrote a story on the subject of collections to throw inside it. The boxes were spread within the Royal Festival Hall's Ballroom. Some were left empty to encourage  The subject chosen by Luren was an imaginative one. "It's a sort o f Cinderella story," she told me, inspired by a collection of letters from her cousin, ha the story these become love letters, burned by a creel stepmother. Lauren's best friend Charlotte is the stepmother. "I'm in Charlotte's story too," says Lauren, "and I get run over." Charlotte's tale was inspired by the girls' coin collection. "We've collected foreign coins for years - since our families went on holiday to Tenerife." she explains. "That was before the Euro, so we put pesetas in." Lauren continues: "I fred a coin in the road, go to get it and get run over. I'm in hospital and then I die." Charlotte adds: "Or she might not die. I haven't decided yet."  Millie Murray, who is a tea-novel author, thinks that setting the subject of collections was a useful inspiration to their creativity rather than a restriction. "In the beginning I thought, 'Will the children be able to do it?"' she says. "But it's been fruitful. Some have their own collection, some have parents who do, and some have wlstten complete stories. It's made them think about something they wouldn't have otherwise, winch can only be a good thing."