As a storyteller, I sometimes adapt a story that I’ve read or heard, changing the details but keeping the basic concept. The Honey Hunters,(ISBN 9 780744 531602) written In 1992, is a traditional African story about hunting for honey, published by Walker Books. The story is beautifully illustrated by Francesca Martin. In the beginning the animals are friends but they quarrel instead of sharing the honey they find. I adapted the story to tell using a feltboard with an Aboriginal boy going on a hunt for honeybag. Along the way he meets a kangaroo, a koala, an echidna, a bilby etc. I use soft Australian native animal toys in a game after the story.

This is an excellent story to help children to talk about sharing and helping one another. We talk about

• sharing toys
• sharing books
• special things we don’t have to share
• things we shouldn’t share such as food at school because of allergies
• how to share food when everyone needs a piece
• helping one another
• how the children help at home and at school.

The story is also good for talking about what to do if we feel angry and how to solve problems without hurting one another.

Tags: aboriginal, emotional wellbeing, environment, nature, storytelling