The Little Toymaker

Every child is a storyteller and an artist. - Karen Sperling

Read or Listen to the Story. Create Your Own Character. Complete the Pictures. Write or Tell Your Own Story.

This is the story of the Little Toy Maker who loved to make wonderful toys for the children. He could pretend to be a puppet on strings, a choo-choo train, or a wooden soldier. Though he made the children happy he was very sad. One day he dreamt he was a toy, a little toy maker. That was all he dreamt. He wished he could back to his dream. Because he made all the children happy, his wish was granted. The Little Toy Maker became a toy to be held and loved in the arms of a child. While this distinctive book can simply be read and enjoyed as an adventurous and entertaining story, it is designed so that readers are also invited to participate and contribute by using their own creative imagination

Settings and Drawing Instructions are provided so that children will be able to complete the illustrations in the book. At the close of the book, a Writing Page is offered to encourage children to write their own version of the story. There is also a Portrait Page provided for them to draw their own Little Toy Maker.

Invitational Books offers a unique concept.

The interactive format of these books challenge and enhance the interaction required between the child/artist and the information provided in the context of the story. The format provides for developmental work and discussions between the parent/educator and the child on a wide variety of levels. The child/artist is provided with context clues and minimal environmental clues as a backdrop for the development of the main character as they move through the enchanted and transformational story together. In the end, the child/artist has the opportunity to reinvent the story using their own words and imagination.

The applications for this format are virtually limitless. There are three primary markets for this program:
Educational Settings
After-School Arts Programs
At-Home Schooling and Valuable Gifts.

Karen Sperling is an author and filmmaker who has written published novels and numerous screenplays. While living and working in New York City, shewas the first woman to write, produce and direct feature length films that were shown and received awards at the Atlanta, Cannes, Venice and London Film Festivals. Her second feature film was the first to hire an entire crew of women. She has also adapted and written original screenplays for feature films, as well as an original musical about the life and times of a Spiritualist who ran for President of the United States and fought for equal rights at the turn of the Century.

Karen co-wrote two educational novels about the medical profession, published by Doubleday. She was the designer and coordinator of The Story Project for RKO Pictures, a literacy program, mentoring story telling and writing for inner city youth at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and a board member of New Visions Foundation, New Roads Schools for diversity in Los Angeles Schools. She continues to participate in outreach programs to encourage young people to be actively involved in education, the arts, ecological issues and raising conscious awareness for those in need.

Due to an ongoing interest in metaphysics and psychology, with a deep love for children and their individual creative process, Karen has written this collection of tales of enchantment that take young readers on adventures through the magical world of dreams and transformation. While wanting to offer children her stories, she also wished to invite young people to participate in using their own imaginations. She has conceived Invitational Books to encourage children to use their own images and words by helping to illustrate these delightful books and to write their own stories.