Seven stories
The National Centre for Children’s Books, Newcastle upon Tyne
Mary Stones and her three-year-old son Harry join in the celebrations for the museum’s 10th birthday – and discover three engaging multi-sensory exhibitions
Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle upon Tyne, has celebrated its 10th birthday in style by opening a newly refurbished visitor centre this year. The focus of the £750,000 project was to invest in the fabric of the building and make the experience “even more magical and enjoyable for visitors”.
The centre aims to use children’s books to inspire children and grown-ups to be curious, imaginative and creative together. What better way to review the museum than visiting with my three-year- old son Harry?
Over the past 10 years Seven Stories has built up a rich archive of material dating from the 1930s to the present day. The collection represents the various stages that go into creating children’s books, from first scribbles, roughs and correspondence to final artwork and finished manuscripts.
Three new exhibitions – Painting with Rainbows: A Michael Foreman Exhibition, Rhyme Around the World, and A Bear Called Paddington – draw on these stages, particularly the illustration process, to create vibrant and engaging displays.
In his book, The Engaging Museum, museum engagement expert Malcolm Black advises encouraging “young children and accompanying adults to engage and interact together” to build their confidence as learners and develop good relationships with the adults in their lives. Encouraging this interaction is Seven Stories’ raison d’être.
The Rhyme Around the World exhibition has been specially designed with younger children and families in mind. Original artwork from two publications of nursery rhymes – Harold Jones’ Lavender’s Blue (1954) and the 2014 publication commissioned by Seven Stories, Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes from Around the World, provide visual delight.
The latter includes work from many well-loved names such as Shirley Hughes, Eric Carle, Nick Sharratt and Axel Scheffler.
Some illustrations are framed and neatly displayed while others burst from the pages to adorn the walls as enlarged reproductions, surrounding visitors in a world of imagination and colour.
Panels exploring the tradition of nursery rhymes and their effects on the young, with concisely written labels, provide solid, well-layered content. This is complemented by an impressive selection of low-tech activities and interactives, including dressing- up, drawing, interactive props, filmed performances of rhymes and songs, and a mouse hunt.
This is by far the most densely activity-packed, toddler-friendly exhibition space that I have ever experienced. With my three-year-old reviewer happily engaged, I felt free to read the text – a luxury as rare as a delicious cup of coffee – although I was persistently distracted by the abundant opportunities for play and shared experiences with my son.
We had great fun. Other highlights, from my perspective as a parent of a pre-schooler, include the Story Station on the fourth floor, which is packed with props and play equipment to encourage self-led fun, with stories for babies, toddlers and their adults.
Also, similar to Rhyme Around the World, the exhibition A Bear Called Paddington beautifully combines items from the collection – rich decorative illustrations, concisely written panels and labels, and enjoyable play and craft-based activities.
Thanks to the 2014 movie, the Paddington exhibition also appeals to older children. Indeed there is plenty for older children to enjoy at Seven Stories, including an impressive events programme and the Studio and Word Lab on the first floor where visitors of all ages are encouraged to create their own masterpiece, inspired by the work of children’s authors and illustrators.
Many of the interactive displays are aimed at older children, particularly those in the Painting with Rainbows exhibition, such as the hands-on recreation of Michael Foreman’s studio, where the Tree of Hope invites visitors to share messages for the future, linked to the themes of conflict, peace, friendship and the environment. These are all sensitively explored subjects in the exhibition.
Painting with Rainbows is targeted towards older children and accompanying adults, but younger children are catered for too, with activities that include an interactive rock pool and a box of dinosaurs to link with Foreman’s Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish. All three multi- sensory exhibitions genuinely cater for all ages.
Decked with fairy lights and a good collection of books to enjoy at leisure, the Attic on the seventh floor is an inspiring space.
As part of the refurbishment, it has been given a new injection of magic with the installation of a replica Diagon Alley from Jim Kay’s illustrations for the new edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Ingeniously tucked away behind the facade
of Mulligrubs is a pretend shop with fake food – a massive hit with my mini-reviewer.
This atmospheric space provides a venue for regular sessions of storytelling and song.
Our storyteller – who told us she was dressed in her pyjamas because she “loves bedtime stories” – skilfully engaged everyone present, from babies to older children dressed in their Hogwarts robes, and the families all listened and sang together.
At Seven Stories, my son and I read and listened to stories, played, sang nursery rhymes and songs – discussing our favourites – dressed-up, took selfies, drew pictures and let our imaginations run wild.
As we left, I produced a couple of chocolate biscuits and asked Harry what the best thing was about the day. Without hesitation he answered: “The Kit Kat.” Then, after a pause he added, “and the stories... and the dressing-up...and the little food shop...”, and so the monologue continued as we walked to the bus stop. Finally, he asked: “Can we go there again sometime, Mummy?”
I was aware that we were so busy playing we didn’t hugely interact with the collection. However, I was once again reminded of Black’s words: “If playing alongside collections means that children grow up viewing museums as fun places to go to, places to feel comfortable and welcome in, then this is a worthy aim in itself.”
Seven Stories is not a place that relies on show-stopping technology to entice its young audience. Rather, it stays focused on its aim to encourage creativity and inspiration through stories, play and shared experience. As both a museum professional and a parent, that strategy works.
Rhyme Around the World, one of three new exhibitions at Seven Stories, brings nursery rhymes to life through immersive and interactive environments.
The exhibition explores the importance of poems and songs for young children using original artwork from two significant collections: Lavender’s Blue (1954), compiled by Kathleen Lines and illustrated by Harold Jones; and Over the Hills and Far Away (2014), collected by Elizabeth Hammill, a co-founder of Seven Stories, with illustrations by 77 artists from around the world.
Rhymes and lullabies are sung to and by children all over the world. From the outset of the curatorial process there was a strong desire to involve members of our local, diverse, community in sharing rhymes to help shape the content of the exhibition.
Using verse and illustrations from our two collections, workshops were held in pre-school and family-learning settings. Adults and children alike enjoyed learning new rhymes and sharing their own favourites.
As relationships developed we involved children in creating interpretation, in the form of films inviting visitors to participate.
Some adult volunteers, having grown up in other countries, were keen to share lullabies and songs that reflected their cultural heritage. We used this footage to create an interactive world map to communicate the global nature of nursery rhymes.
Early evaluation shows that the films encourage children and adults to engage with the artwork on display and even sing out loud.
When the show tours in 2017, we hope to support venue staff to carry out similar work and tailor the exhibition to their local community. Gillian Rennie is a senior curator at Seven Stories
Mary Stones is an interpretation project manager with the National Trust for Scotland. Harry Stones would like to be a train driver or work in a shop on the till when he grows up.
Cost £750,000
Main funder Arts Council England Other support Foyle Foundation; Gillian Dickinson Charitable Trust; Idlewild Trust; Hadrian Trust; Ballinger Charitable Trust; Sir James Knott Trust; The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation; the Bernard Sunley Foundation; Garfield Weston Foundation; Equitable Charitable Trust; James Patterson Independent Bookshop Awards.
Architect ADP
Project management Turner and Townsend
Main contractor Northern Bear Lighting Michael Grubb Mechanics and engineering Kyoob
Furniture Ben John
Joinery West End
Seven Stories, The National Centre for Children’s Books in Newcastle upon Tyne, has celebrated its 10th birthday in style by opening a newly refurbished visitor centre this year. The focus of the £750,000 project was to invest in the fabric of the building and make the experience “even more magical and enjoyable for visitors”.
The centre aims to use children’s books to inspire children and grown-ups to be curious, imaginative and creative together. What better way to review the museum than visiting with my three-year- old son Harry?
Over the past 10 years Seven Stories has built up a rich archive of material dating from the 1930s to the present day. The collection represents the various stages that go into creating children’s books, from first scribbles, roughs and correspondence to final artwork and finished manuscripts.
Three new exhibitions – Painting with Rainbows: A Michael Foreman Exhibition, Rhyme Around the World, and A Bear Called Paddington – draw on these stages, particularly the illustration process, to create vibrant and engaging displays.
In his book, The Engaging Museum, museum engagement expert Malcolm Black advises encouraging “young children and accompanying adults to engage and interact together” to build their confidence as learners and develop good relationships with the adults in their lives. Encouraging this interaction is Seven Stories’ raison d’être.
The Rhyme Around the World exhibition has been specially designed with younger children and families in mind. Original artwork from two publications of nursery rhymes – Harold Jones’ Lavender’s Blue (1954) and the 2014 publication commissioned by Seven Stories, Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes from Around the World, provide visual delight.
The latter includes work from many well-loved names such as Shirley Hughes, Eric Carle, Nick Sharratt and Axel Scheffler.
Some illustrations are framed and neatly displayed while others burst from the pages to adorn the walls as enlarged reproductions, surrounding visitors in a world of imagination and colour.
Panels exploring the tradition of nursery rhymes and their effects on the young, with concisely written labels, provide solid, well-layered content. This is complemented by an impressive selection of low-tech activities and interactives, including dressing- up, drawing, interactive props, filmed performances of rhymes and songs, and a mouse hunt.
This is by far the most densely activity-packed, toddler-friendly exhibition space that I have ever experienced. With my three-year-old reviewer happily engaged, I felt free to read the text – a luxury as rare as a delicious cup of coffee – although I was persistently distracted by the abundant opportunities for play and shared experiences with my son.
We had great fun. Other highlights, from my perspective as a parent of a pre-schooler, include the Story Station on the fourth floor, which is packed with props and play equipment to encourage self-led fun, with stories for babies, toddlers and their adults.
Also, similar to Rhyme Around the World, the exhibition A Bear Called Paddington beautifully combines items from the collection – rich decorative illustrations, concisely written panels and labels, and enjoyable play and craft-based activities.
Thanks to the 2014 movie, the Paddington exhibition also appeals to older children. Indeed there is plenty for older children to enjoy at Seven Stories, including an impressive events programme and the Studio and Word Lab on the first floor where visitors of all ages are encouraged to create their own masterpiece, inspired by the work of children’s authors and illustrators.
Many of the interactive displays are aimed at older children, particularly those in the Painting with Rainbows exhibition, such as the hands-on recreation of Michael Foreman’s studio, where the Tree of Hope invites visitors to share messages for the future, linked to the themes of conflict, peace, friendship and the environment. These are all sensitively explored subjects in the exhibition.
Painting with Rainbows is targeted towards older children and accompanying adults, but younger children are catered for too, with activities that include an interactive rock pool and a box of dinosaurs to link with Foreman’s Dinosaurs and All That Rubbish. All three multi- sensory exhibitions genuinely cater for all ages.
Decked with fairy lights and a good collection of books to enjoy at leisure, the Attic on the seventh floor is an inspiring space.
As part of the refurbishment, it has been given a new injection of magic with the installation of a replica Diagon Alley from Jim Kay’s illustrations for the new edition of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Ingeniously tucked away behind the facade
of Mulligrubs is a pretend shop with fake food – a massive hit with my mini-reviewer.
This atmospheric space provides a venue for regular sessions of storytelling and song.
Our storyteller – who told us she was dressed in her pyjamas because she “loves bedtime stories” – skilfully engaged everyone present, from babies to older children dressed in their Hogwarts robes, and the families all listened and sang together.
At Seven Stories, my son and I read and listened to stories, played, sang nursery rhymes and songs – discussing our favourites – dressed-up, took selfies, drew pictures and let our imaginations run wild.
As we left, I produced a couple of chocolate biscuits and asked Harry what the best thing was about the day. Without hesitation he answered: “The Kit Kat.” Then, after a pause he added, “and the stories... and the dressing-up...and the little food shop...”, and so the monologue continued as we walked to the bus stop. Finally, he asked: “Can we go there again sometime, Mummy?”
I was aware that we were so busy playing we didn’t hugely interact with the collection. However, I was once again reminded of Black’s words: “If playing alongside collections means that children grow up viewing museums as fun places to go to, places to feel comfortable and welcome in, then this is a worthy aim in itself.”
Seven Stories is not a place that relies on show-stopping technology to entice its young audience. Rather, it stays focused on its aim to encourage creativity and inspiration through stories, play and shared experience. As both a museum professional and a parent, that strategy works.
Focus on community
Rhyme Around the World, one of three new exhibitions at Seven Stories, brings nursery rhymes to life through immersive and interactive environments.
The exhibition explores the importance of poems and songs for young children using original artwork from two significant collections: Lavender’s Blue (1954), compiled by Kathleen Lines and illustrated by Harold Jones; and Over the Hills and Far Away (2014), collected by Elizabeth Hammill, a co-founder of Seven Stories, with illustrations by 77 artists from around the world.
Rhymes and lullabies are sung to and by children all over the world. From the outset of the curatorial process there was a strong desire to involve members of our local, diverse, community in sharing rhymes to help shape the content of the exhibition.
Using verse and illustrations from our two collections, workshops were held in pre-school and family-learning settings. Adults and children alike enjoyed learning new rhymes and sharing their own favourites.
As relationships developed we involved children in creating interpretation, in the form of films inviting visitors to participate.
Some adult volunteers, having grown up in other countries, were keen to share lullabies and songs that reflected their cultural heritage. We used this footage to create an interactive world map to communicate the global nature of nursery rhymes.
Early evaluation shows that the films encourage children and adults to engage with the artwork on display and even sing out loud.
When the show tours in 2017, we hope to support venue staff to carry out similar work and tailor the exhibition to their local community. Gillian Rennie is a senior curator at Seven Stories
Mary Stones is an interpretation project manager with the National Trust for Scotland. Harry Stones would like to be a train driver or work in a shop on the till when he grows up.
Project data
Cost £750,000
Main funder Arts Council England Other support Foyle Foundation; Gillian Dickinson Charitable Trust; Idlewild Trust; Hadrian Trust; Ballinger Charitable Trust; Sir James Knott Trust; The Trusthouse Charitable Foundation; the Bernard Sunley Foundation; Garfield Weston Foundation; Equitable Charitable Trust; James Patterson Independent Bookshop Awards.
Architect ADP
Project management Turner and Townsend
Main contractor Northern Bear Lighting Michael Grubb Mechanics and engineering Kyoob
Furniture Ben John
Joinery West End