Storytellers
Change for Kids on Film
Storytellers
Directed By: Steve Buscemi & Stanley Tucci
Let's bring a book to life! This is one creative method Sarah Thomas, a second grade veteran teacher at P.S. 154 in Harlem, uses to teach her students about books, language and interpretation. This "read aloud" program allows these youngsters to visualize and verbalize their thoughts about books they're learning about in class. She's integrated it into the school's larger summer literacy program, called Camp Read Jr. -- a program aimed at providing struggling students with the support they need to make tremendous academic progress in a short period of time.
Stanley & Steve's segment focused on an award-winning book, Tar Beach, by author Faith Ringgold. Tar Beach is about a young African-American girl whose desire to create a better life for her and her family is revealed through her childhood fantasy of flying over their Harlem rooftop, over the city of New York and owning all that she can see.
The directors, Stanley Tucci & Steve Buscemi, spent a day with these second graders interpreting this story, using their vivid imaginations and then sharing their own stories and dreams, all the while documenting the process. These youngsters served as actors, authors and directors, giving us the opportunity to see this story as only seven-year-olds can, offering up unique and imaginative points of view. This was a day filled with laughter, fun and surprises as we were lead into the hearts and minds of these young kids.