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What is
Storytime Lane?
Storytime Lane provides young children and their families with access to high quality picture books and corresponding storytelling videos, along with resources and activities, following the themes found in the Lane’s books, while promoting literacy, art, and STEM learning and development.
Our picture books, written by Emily S. Smith and illustrated by Graham Davidson, use humour, rhyme, and rhythm to explore important concepts for early childhood development, such as feelings, tolerance, and gratitude… all in fun and engaging ways.
The videos are created so children can have independent access to stories and have them told to them in a fun, engaging manner. We hope educators and parents who find storytelling a little scary are able to use these to help develop their own storytelling.
Because we want our videos to be inclusive, our storytelling videos will always feature Auslan signing, so children with hearing impairments are able to enjoy the story as well.
The free resources and activities are designed to enable children, their families, and educators to explore elements of the stories in meaningful ways through hands-on learning.
Best of all, the Storytime Lane site will continue to evolve and grow as we bring more picture books to you, along with more storytelling videos, activities, and resources, with new titles coming several times a year.
We are the Lane's locals, otherwise known as Graham Davidson and Emily S. Smith.
Storytime News
Storytime News
Graham Davidson has nearly forty years’ experience as a creative professional in advertising, film and television. He has extensive experience as an animator (character and effects), illustrator, storyboard artist, script writer, and director.
In 2017, he placed second in the Creative Kids Tales illustration competition, was shortlisted in the Writers Unleashed picture book competition, and had a 10000 word fairy tale re-telling published in the YA anthology “Wish Upon a Southern Star.”
Find out more about Graham at his website
Emily S. Smith is an Early Childhood Educator who has a degree (with Honours) in Teaching and Early Childhood Studies from the University of Newcastle, as well as 12 years’ experience in the Early Childhood industry.
She is an imaginative and fun-loving author, who is passionate about storytelling and all things literacy, and has a keen interest in helping young children to develop a love of reading.
Find out more about Emily at her website
Both Emily and Graham are active members of the Hunter Writer's Centre.
Testimonials:
“I think it’s brilliant. It’s what’s been missing in childhood literacy.”
Amanda Shirley, MacLeans Booksellers
"Hi Aunty Em,
Thank you so much for stopping by our school, the students absolutely loved your visit! Your books don't stay on the library shelves for long before they are snapped up by one of your little fans. The students especially love your story videos and wish they all had a magic pencil like yours. Thank you for inspiring our students to not only read, but write and illustrate too! Looking forward to your next release! Keep up the great work Emily and Graham!"
K. Adams- Wyong Public School
"Emily was great, seriously the best visiting author I have listened to for quite some time. She was totally engaging the entire time. The kids loved her passion and sense of humour. She geared the presentation perfectly for our infants students. Her expressions, gestures and and physical humour was fabulous. Loved both the books and can't wait to see what is to come!"
S. Pass- Wyong Public School
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Storytime Lane has been created in association with the Hunter Writers Centre Inc.
The HWC is a not-for-profit, incorporated organisation devoted to engaging, employing and educating aspiring and established writers in the Hunter region of New South Wales. Emily and Graham feel honoured to be working in association with this organisation.
