Book review: That's My Story by Adam Power-Annand

I found That's My Story by Adam Power-Annand to be an incredibly informative, interesting and practical book about using drama activities to develop confidence, communication skills and creativity in young children. It promotes a child-centric approach to learning which feels genuine and heartfelt. As a teacher, I found this an inspiring and helpful resource that I will be referring back to frequently to enhance my own practice.

Having said that, it does begin a little slowly, with the author sharing anecdotes from his time teaching ‘Speech Bubbles’ in schools. As I read through these sections, I enjoyed the informal, easy voice of the writing, but wondered when we would really get into the crux of the book. It started to pick up in value and relevance once we reached the next chapter, which focussed on the theoretical aspects of speech and language, and why communication is so important. This chapter included some interactive elements to help the reader to interrogate their own experience and beliefs surrounding communication. This successfully laid a strong foundation of knowledge and research on which the book could build, as well as encouraging self-reflection and active participation from the reader.

In section 5 and 6, Adam provides a wealth of activity ideas and examples, demonstrating how he has taken each story and worked from there to create unique lesson plans based on the themes and interests they present. He also includes blank planning templates for the reader, with a collected story to practise planning a session around. The practical advice is so clear and comprehensive that by the end of the book, I felt empowered and inspired to consider facilitating my own ‘Speech Bubbles’ sessions, equipped with the knowledge and confidence to do so effectively. The book consistently emphasises the importance of following each individual child, allowing children to explore and express themselves freely.

In conclusion, That's My Story by Adam Power-Annand is an invaluable resource for educators interested in using drama activities to enhance children's communication skills. The book not only educates but also inspires readers to create nurturing learning environments where every child's story can be heard and celebrated.