Christopher Nibble

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Draw a map of Dandeville, showing Christopher’s house, the library, Daisy Chain Hill and other places mentioned in the story. Could you use a key to show the different places?

Look at the book titles in the illustration of the library. Can you write a story based on one of these titles? At one point in the story, ‘the worst thing imaginable happened?’. Could you use this sentence as the starting point for a brand new story about a different animal (or a person)? Christopher Nibble loves munching dandelion leaves. And he's not alone. All the guinea pigs in Dandeville eat dandelion leaves for breakfast, lunch and dinner. But no-one seems to do anything when the dandelions begin to dwindle. They just carry on munching. In fact the guinea pigs of Dandeville are heading for eco-disaster . . . But that's where Christopher Nibble steps in. He discovers the last dandelion growing outside his bedroom window and, rather than eat it, he does his horticultural research in the library and then nurtures the dandelion patiently until it has produced a perfect head of tiny seeds. Then he blows the seeds from a hill high over Dandeville so that each dandelion seedling takes root and grows into a new plant. high energy storytelling, bringing fun meaningful theatrical experiences to children aged 2-7 and their families too!So what for the next tale of Christopher Nibble? So far Christopher’s world has been about the natural cycle of life. His home town Dandeville is a very green and harmonious world and Christopher likes to help keep it that way. From the company who brought you The Lost Present…A Christmas Adventure! comes a new wintery tale for the whole family to share.

The performers] had good boundless energy, jolly and quizzical facial expressions throughout, and a clear sense of timing and choreography” – Jonathan Brown Fringe Review, Fringe Recommended. Can you find any dandelions in parks and gardens near to you? What other plants grow in these areas? Unfortunately, rampant consumerism leads to the once plentiful crop disappearing and the worse thing imaginable happens; they are left with only chewy cabbages to eat. Yuk! That is until Christopher comes to the rescue. Outside his bedroom window grows the last ever dandelion and the rest of the book follows his quest to restore the town’s favorite food and with it the balance of nature.Look at the repeating patterns on the guinea pigs’ clothing. Can you design your own repeating patterns? Using a poem as a model is a super way to scaffold children’s own writing and, of course, Roger McGough’s Sound Collector would be a perfect poem to enjoy and use to create your own class poem together. Christopher’s Christmas is written especially for children aged 2-7 and their families and is a Makaton Friendly performance. Told using beautiful puppets and stunning scenery, Christopher’s Christmas is a collaboration between the creator of Christopher Nibble, Charlotte Middleton, and Claire Alizon Hills of Topsy Turvy Theatre.

The guinea pigs of Dandeville love munching dandelion leaves so much that slowly but surely dandelions are disappearing from all over town. Use natural objects to create your own artwork. Look at the work of Andy Goldsworthy for some inspiration. Christopher Nibble and his best friend Posie have been busy growing plants and food in their garden whilst taking care of their six hairy pet caterpillars.Katie and all of the other children around the world have just received the news that every child fears…Christmas is…CANCELLED! Some budding Jamie Olivers may want to create and concoct interesting meals with dandelions, which of course will require shopping lists of ingredients to be written along with recipes. Charlotte Middleton’s illustrations are superb and have such a sense of humor which makes them so engaging for children. I love the snapshot of what happens in the town when the dandelions run out, as the local restaurant menus need to be changed, with sold out signs everywhere and new varieties of products being introduced in their place; what appears to be beetroot jam and carrot juice!

The guinea pigs like to ‘munch’ and ‘nibble’ the dandelions. How many words can you think of to describe how we can eat? Written especially for children aged 2-7 (and their big people too) and told with Topsy Turvy Theatre’s own blend of energetic storytelling, handmade puppets, original music and stunning scenery, Christopher Nibble is an uplifting story of one guinea pig’s selfless undertaking to help halt the disappearance of the delicious dandelion forever! It all boiled down in the end to the word ‘cycle’. Christopher’s world is all about sustainability so ‘ recycling’ seemed to be the way forward and what better way to propel this guinea pig into the next story book, than with a recycled bicycle! and off you head into a super list poem of all those sounds you have collected together. 2. Role-play and ‘real writing’In the next story, then, Christopher would surely be encouraging the residents of Dandeville to help him in his next environmentally-friendly quest, whatever that might be… Written and illustrated by Charlotte Middleton and adapted for the stage by Claire Alizon Hills, Topsy Turvy Theatre, the company who brought you Ruby Flew Too! and Isabel’s Well, proudly present the charming Christopher Nibble in a tale of dandelion daring-do!