Off on an adventure trip: Barbara Merten inspires children in Worbis!

Off on an adventure trip: Barbara Merten inspires children in Worbis!

On October 2, 2025, a special event took place in the Worbis City Library, led by the well-known author Barbara Merten. The event was aimed at second grade boys and girls and offered an exciting opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of literature. Merten, whose crime novels and children's books are very popular, brought a kamishibai theater to present the story clearly.

The story revolved around the potato boy Knubbel Karl from the planet Toffel. Knubbel Karl has a clear mission: he wants to save his planet. He is accompanied by Liebe Elle, a Liebellen girl, with whom he travels from planet to planet. The children had the opportunity to learn the Toffel song and sing it with the author. According to library employee Elke Räuber, this is a valuable experience for the children and she hopes for more book presentations from Merten in the future.

The meaning of Kamishibai

The Kamishibai Theater, which Merten used in her reading, has become increasingly popular in children's literature. This form of storytelling has its roots in Japan and allows stories to be presented visually and audibly. The anthology “Beyond media boundaries – cross-media storytelling for children from a didactic and literary perspective,” edited by Jochen Heins and others, contains an article on this topic by A. Huber, which was published in 2023. The anthology is available free of charge on the Königshausen & Neumann publishing website [Forum Kamishibai].

There are also a number of publications that deal with the topic of kamishibai. A chapter on multilingual Kamishibai is included in the textbook and practical book “Performative Approaches to German as a Second Language (DaZ)”, which was edited by Doreen Bryant and Alexandra L. Zepter. Another example is the updated brochure "Kamishibai. Small theater, big impact", which was published by G. Colpron and M. Dörfler as part of the "wortstark" project.

Kamishibai in educational work

The meaning of kamishibai goes beyond mere entertainment. Numerous articles published in various publications highlight the method as an effective tool for supporting multilingualism in early learning centers. In 2019, Colpron, Dörfler and Puster published an article in the Kamishibai newsletter IKAJA, which addresses the importance of Kamishibai for a more peaceful world. Various approaches and brochures are currently being used to support teachers and educators in dealing with this unique form of storytelling.

Overall, the event in the Worbis City Library is not only proof of the commitment of the author Barbara Merten, but also a valuable contribution to promoting the joy of reading and media literacy among children. We can look forward to further creative projects and literary adventures in the future.