Ten-Word Tiny Tales

This unique and intriguing beautiful book contains 20 ten-word minute but carefully-formed tales, each with a stunning double page illustration. Over twenty talented, imaginative illustrators (including Alex .T. Smith, Shaun Tan and Dapo Adeola, to name just a few) have collaborated with Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho to create this wonderfully powerful and thought-provoking book.

Each ten word tale whisks the reader into a different reality; every evocative, fantastical illustration adds the visuals to spin a story and create a world within the reader's mind. Ten-Word Tiny Tales encourages and celebrates interactive reading and readers as active parts of the process of storytelling.

Some partnerships of words and illustrations are delightfully ready and waiting for the reader to fall into - Reggie Brown's elderly teacher leading her pupils towards an doorway 'portal' from which giant tentacles slither is the perfect image from which the reader could imagine an alien-filled alternate reality, perhaps? A world of 'stranger things', maybe? Adventure, fun and peril surely await.

Other duets of author and illustrator challenge the reader's interpretation more fiercely; the oversized decorated skull of Shaun Tan's illustration as a family, "honoured their son" is a darker, more macabre creation. A unique twist to a Day of the Dead story perhaps?

The tiny tales and enticing illustrations raise questions and fuel the imagination, inviting the reader to take the story further. There are creative prompts at the end of the book to inspire and excite the reader into creating their own tiny tales and letting their own words flow. A beautiful book to read, explore and imagine new worlds.

56 pages / Reviewed by Jennifer Caddick, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 7+

Can you tell a tale in ten words? In this unique and magnificent compendium designed to spark the imagination, Children's Laureate Joseph Coelho brings us stories of underwater worlds, demon hamsters, bears in outer space, and portals to places unknown!  The tales in this book are tiny, they are only ten words long! But in your imagination they will settle and, like seeds they will grow… Can you picture how these tales might unravel? Can you pen a ten word tale of your own?

Each tale in Ten-Word Tiny Tales has been paired with one of the finest illustrators working today, when placed together, the words and pictures will create a space for creativity as young readers imagine how the story might unravel. This book has been carefully considered from the preface at the front, explaining the how and why this book came about, to the two creative writing challenges at the back. It is the perfect gift for all those ready to unleash their imaginations.

In the classroom, this would be an amazing tool to help pupils unlock their creative writing skills. The blank page is often the enemy of the writer however given a ten word tale and the amazing illustration which accompanies it, a young writer would be able to add their imagination by expanding the story. They would be thinking about the character development, what happened before, after, scene description and so much more.

There is a story for every interest and would be able to be used with any age group. As an adult I would love to use this book at story time or for bed time stories with my children and expand the story verbally with them. Creating stories together/ telling stories, rather than reading them, is a skill which is sadly disappearing. This book empowers the reader to bring this back and gives you all the tools required to do it. This unique book is a must have for all Primary teachers and homes where story telling is embraced.

56 pages / Reviewed by Amanda Shipton, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 5+