The Internet Public Library Story Hour

Reviewed By: Jody Perkins

REVIEW

http://www.ipl.org/div/kidspace/storyhour/

The "Story Hour" Web page is an extension of the Internet Public Library's children's section entitled KidSpace. The Internet Public Library in a non-profit organization affiliated with the University of Michigan. The information page states "The Internet Public Library is a public service organization and a learning/teaching environment at the University of Michigan School of Information." The copyright date for the site is 2002, and many of the pages were updated in June and July 2002. There is a Web form for online communication with IPL staff at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, as well as a mailing address and telephone and fax number.

The "Story Hour" Web pages are original creations or adaptations by students and staff of the University and appropriate credit is given for each story. These stories were created or adapted specifically for the Internet Public Library Project.

The homepage for "Story Hour" is attractive and "kid friendly." The constant side menu makes it possible to quickly access any of the other KidSpace features at anytime during the use of "Story Hour". KidSpace features include reference, math & science, art & music, fun stuff, Orca search, and many others. The "Story Hour" page has a list of ten stories, with a hover feature that shows an illustration from the story when you run the mouse pointer over the title.

As mentioned earlier, each of the stories is original to this Web site project. "The Lilypad", "Mousie's Adventures", and "The Boy who Drew Cats" are available in text only or illustrated versions. "Molly Whuppie" has a text only and an illustrated audio version (which requires a 15 minute download). "The Tortise and the Hare" and "The Fisherman and His Wife" are illustrated, and "The Fisherman ..." also has an animated version which requires downloading a movie onto your harddrive. "Do Spiders Live on the World Wide Web" is a book of technology teminology with alternate meanings (i.e. mouse the rodent, mouse the computer instrument). "It's Magic" is a collaborative effort of University of Michigan graduate students and elementary school fourth and fifth grade students and their librarian. It was created for National Children's Book Week and is a collection of five stories about time travel illustrated by the elementary students using Kid Pix software. "Mother Goose on the Web" includes the nursery rhymes "Three Little Kittens" and "Old Mother Hubbard" as well as "Little Red Riding Hood." Each is available in either illustrated text with audio or just the illustrated text. The audio versions require Real Player and are narrated by Trudy Bulkley, who does a nice vocalization of a Mother Goose voice. The story "Kate Crackernuts" could not be accessed during my review period (24 July 2002).

This Web site could be of interest to teachers and parents for use with elementary-age children. Older children can self-navigate the stories easily, younger children will probably need assistance.