Eight Million Stories


“Eight Million Stories” helps children and their families explore the literary elements through filmmaking and global storytelling forms.  As part of the performance, props, stage set, and filming crews, children and their families experience how literary elements fuse to form a vivid story.  Then, the children and their families construct and film an original tale.  Curriculum training workshops and activity guides show families how to make connections to the New York State English Language Arts Standards using public library books.  At the conclusion, extended family and friends attend a grand film festival.

As a portable and replicable program, Eight Million Stories may be implemented at your site and tailored for your population.  Families may be assembled with children of homogenous or heterogeneous age levels.  All children and parents learn at their level and take-home curriculum guides containing age appropriate activities.  The result is an attractive and welcoming experience with a community of families engaging in a joyous learning environment.

According to Eric Jensen’s Arts with the Brain in Mind, “The neurobiological systems necessary for improved grades include quick thinking, mental model development, task sequencing, memory, self-discipline, problem-solving, and persistence. These and other related skills are developed through dramatic arts.”  Eight Million Stories takes advantage of the relationship between the dramatic arts and communication arts or english language arts to create fun, meaningful experiences for the children and families while promoting the conditions needed for better academic performance.  By participating alongside their children, parents and guardians will gain a better understanding of the concepts as well as of their  children’s learning process and will be more confident about supporting their children academically.

Eight Million Stories at Bedford Library

“What I valued most about “Eight Million Stories” the fact that the stories used were the ones that I can culturally identify with, which also opened a window to let my own kids see that kind of stories that were read to us as kids that we read as kids.  Most importantly though, EMS brought these stories to life through acting, creating a greater impact.  Through EMS I was encourage to tell (my children) one scary story dealing with superstition and about seeing ghosts.”

Orson Springle – father of 12 year old daughter, 11 year old son, and 6 year old son.


“(I most valued) the participation of all the children in group settings, where ideas were expressed and modified.  I also enjoyed seeing the hands-on movie production.”

Anthony Douyon – father of a 12-year old boy that was most actively involved in the storyboarding, directing, and filming.

“My daughters go to public school, but I also home-school.  As a single mom, I’m always looking for ways to help my children.  This experience has broadened my knowledge as the parent and educator.  Likewise, my children were exposed to learning with having fun.”

Shawanna L. McPhaul – mother of 11 and 5 year old daughters.

Red Carpet Film Screening at the Brooklyn Academy of Music

Film Screening at Brooklyn Public Library's Dweck Center