Tell Me A Story

 

   Tell Me A Story: Making Connections and Finding Support through
   Literature is an initiative that was created to empower our military children by
   using literature and their own stories in a way that fosters skills for resilience,
   strong peer and parent connections, a sense of pride and accomplishment,
   and a caring community.

Program Mission

Empowering our military children by using literature and their own stories in a way that fosters:

  • skills for resilience
  • strong peer and parent connections
  • a sense of pride and accomplishment
  • a caring community

Why Tell Me A Story

Stories have the capacity to open discussion on potentially difficult topics such as:

  • Family separation or deployment
  • Homecoming
  • Fear of moving to a new location
  • Grief
  • Crisis
  • Fitting-in or being different

The Tell Me A Story Event

The Event

Each Tell Me A Story event features a selected book.  Parents and children sit together to hear the story, then break into small groups for a discussion with a trained facilitator.  Every family receives a copy of the featured book.

Book Selection

Each book selected for the project will allow for discussion on one or more topics.

Example titles include:

  • Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot by Margot Theis Raven
  • Night Catch by Brenda Ehrmantraut
  • How to Bake an American Pie by Karma Wilson
  • More Than Anything Else by Marie Bradby
  • While You Are Away Eileen Spinelli
  • Click, Clack, Moo Cows that Type Doreen Cronin
  • Verdi by Janell Cannon
  • The Remarkable Farkle McBride John Lithgow
  • The Three Questions by Jon Muth

The current book selection will be given to all families who attend the program.

MCEC hopes to encourage discussions among military children and their parents on potentially difficult subjects and hear and learn from the perspectives of others.

Supporting Projects

These supporting projects will help kids and parents continue the Tell Me A Story connection through other outlets such as:

  • Programs for Family Readiness Groups and other groups 
  • Parallel story
  • Journals for Kids
  • MCEC supplemental publications

FAQ

How much does Tell Me A Story Cost?

The cost to put on a Tell Me A Story event averages about $14.00 per family.  The cost includes one book per family, supplemental materials for the children, activity supplies, and snacks.

Who pays for the Tell Me A Story event?

The Tell Me A Story event is free to the families.  Tell Me A Story committees have received funding for the books and supplemental materials from a variety of local community sources to include Spouse clubs, community service organizations, banks and credit unions, and generous individuals.  MCEC assists with marketing materials, training, and some of the supplemental materials.

How do I get this started in my community?

The first step to getting started is to contact the Tell Me A Story Project Specialist at the MCEC office.

Additional information

For more information about Tell Me A Story, please contact TMAS@MilitaryChild.org or phone the MCEC world headquarters office at 254-953-1923.