The New Resources

Some questions being asked about OPEN THE BOOK by volunteer storytellers.

Is the new national material very different from the old?
It is very similar, but more user-friendly, informative and greatly improved all round. It includes more of the best ideas from around the country.

Will I have to pay for it?
Yes. The Year 1 Handbook costs £4.50. The Year 2 Handbook plus additional Year 2 Storybook cost £8-50. The Year 3 Handbook and Storybook are due to be published by July 2010. They are your companions to The Lion Storyteller Bible (expanded 2008 edition) which you will also need to buy. Registration (see below) is FREE. Click here to go to the Handbook page.

How do I get hold of the new Handbooks and Storybooks?
By becoming a registered member of OPEN THE BOOK. Once you have submitted your registration form (see below), you will be given a membership number, which you can then use to access the resource sections of this website. You'll be able to buy the Handbooks + Storybooks and other OPEN THE BOOK materials - including the Lion Storyteller Bible at a reduced price - from our supplier, The Christian Book Club. And remember - one member can buy the materials for the whole team - and save on postage costs!

And how do I actually go through the registration process?
Either via this website, or by contacting our National Co-ordinator, Dianne Brookes. Click here to take you to the Registration page.

Are the stories still based on the Lion Storyteller Bible?
Yes - and what's more, the new, expanded Lion Storyteller Bible was published in September 2008, with extra stories which are used in our new Year 2 & 3 material. Discounts will be available for OPEN THE BOOK members through The Christian Book Club.

Is there new material for years 2 and 3?
The Year 2 Handbook + Storybook were published in June 2009, and the Year 3 resources are in preparation. The additional storybooks provide what is needed - in addition to the Lion Storyteller Bible - for a complete 3-year programme of weekly assemblies. They have been specially written by OPEN THE BOOK people from across the country, 'road-tested' and carefully edited.

Can we still use our old material and decide not to register?
We recognise that in certain areas, well-established groups have developed some of their own material. We would want to encourage and affirm groups which are flourishing in this way, whilst remaining true to the original concept and Code of Practice of OPEN THE BOOK.
(If in doubt about this, please get in touch with us at enquiries@openthebook.net). Such groups are founder members of OPEN THE BOOK and very much part of the 'family'.
If you are operating in this way, then PLEASE REGISTER ANYWAY. We want to keep you updated with news and would also want you to have access to the members' area of the website. We also hope that you will buy a copy of the new Handbooks so you know what the 'new look' OPEN THE BOOK is all about. They will also offer you plenty of additional ideas for presenting the stories!

What do we mean by 'the spirit of the original OTB vision?'

Some comments from Sheila Lawless, Patron and founder member of OTB

It began as a project of 30 key Bible stories told chronologically over a school year.
It used using simple story-telling, mainly from Bob Hartman's Lion Storyteller Bible.
Stories were supported by a visual impact through visual aids or simple drama.
We wanted to let the Bible 'speak' for itself; the 'extra' words from us were to be kept to a minimum. No preaching allowed!

The stories for subsequent years in the Bedford project used the same techniques, but we were always aware that they did not allow for continued weekly storytelling. Without Bob Hartman's storytelling skills, a number did not have the same clarity and attraction. Therefore we recognised that many teams developed more stories to 'fill the gaps', but kept to the principles of OPEN THE BOOK.

Is that where you stand? If so then please don't worry about not conforming to the 'new' national OPEN THE BOOK! But please consider registering - you are a very important part of the family!

I would also like to clarify that that the 'new' OPEN THE BOOK is wholeheartedly supported by the originators in Bedford, and I would urge all existing teams to give it their full support also.