On my bookshelf
Roverandom, by JRR Tolkien
“Once upon a time there was a little dog and his name was Rover” – as a small child this sentence was a gateway to my favourite adventure. Roverandom by JRR Tolkien is the story of a dog who is turned into a toy and kidnapped by a wizard, and the marvellous adventures he has making his way home.
Tolkien wrote Roverandom to comfort his son when he lost his favourite toy dog. This speaks beautifully to how we imbue objects with feeling. It had a huge impact on how I viewed objects and their power in relationships, as well as the magic of storytelling in making ordinary things extraordinary, providing comfort and showing love.
I believe museum educators can wield this power as artfully as authors. No matter what the stresses are on the sector, we must never forget that museums are magic. Keep being amazed, keep imagining and never say something is just ordinary – we might miss out on an adventure.
The story was always precious to me – if an ordinary puppy could find the fantastical on his doorstep, so could I. It was the chance to pull others into the fantastical with me that drew me into museum work.
As education and communications manager for GEM, I have the privilege of supporting the wonderful work of heritage learning. From pop-up theatres and sensory trails to code-breaking, I am inspired every day by the way museum educators can take a cramped lunch room or quiet gallery and conjure up another world.
Tolkien wrote Roverandom to comfort his son when he lost his favourite toy dog. This speaks beautifully to how we imbue objects with feeling. It had a huge impact on how I viewed objects and their power in relationships, as well as the magic of storytelling in making ordinary things extraordinary, providing comfort and showing love.
I believe museum educators can wield this power as artfully as authors. No matter what the stresses are on the sector, we must never forget that museums are magic. Keep being amazed, keep imagining and never say something is just ordinary – we might miss out on an adventure.
Holly Bee is the education and communications manager at the Group for Education in Museums (GEM)