ABSTRACT
The aims of this chapter are to explore how puppets and props:
connect story, mathematics, storyteller and listener in purposeful ways
are mathematical stories themselves
nourish relationships between children, mathematical stories and storytellers.
<inline-graphic content-type="colour" xlink:href="<a href="https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203357392/b3e11d17-62de-457a-9da7-2c138c5740e2/content/speaker_C.jpg" target="_blank">https://s3-euw1-ap-pe-df-pch-content-public-p.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/9780203357392/b3e11d17-62de-457a-9da7-2c138c5740e2/content/speaker_C.jpg</a>" xmlns:xlink="<a href="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" target="_blank">https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink</a>"/> ‘The Elves and the Shoemaker'Retold by Rebecca Belsten
Once upon a time there was a poor shoemaker. There was much competition in the town and he struggled to sell his shoes. He had only one piece of leather left and had no money for more. He set about making his last pair of shoes but left these unfinished overnight. The next morning he found the shoes finished. These sold quickly for a good price. He bought food and more leather. He started on new shoes and once again these were finished overnight and sold for good prices. He and his wife decided to stay up one night and watch to see who helps them. They find that elves have been helping them. They set about making clothes and shoes for the elves, who were delighted to find these wrapped as gifts. The shoemaker’s success continued without the help of the elves.
(adapted from Grimm Brothers 1995)