'I have really enjoyed playing the string game, just like everyone has at my school... There are almost 800 students in our elementary school, and everyone from first grde through fifth has at least a couple of strings. It has really be a "craze" at our school.'
Chris von Allmen, San Antonio, Texas. Aged 11.

'Michael Taylor kept 47 children - boys and girls aged from 4 to 12 - totally absorbed for nearly three hours. Within a week our village school was full of children playing string games as well.'
Sue Messenger, Fletching Scouts

Cat's Cradle crazes have been regular events in recent years, especially in Forest Row, Ashurstwood, East Grinstead and parts of Sussex and London. This is as a result of the activities of Michael Taylor, author of Pull the other one! and Now you see it… string games and story books. Michael has made numerous visits to schools and scout groups to tell string stories, give out strings and teach tricks.

Children are fascinated by string games! They love to see the five-pointed star turn into a man; the sun thrown high into the air; the lightning suddenly flash; the two fish swim away, and the camel walk slowly from one hand to another.

And they love it even more when they can make some figures themselves and when they can invent, practise and show off, and when they can play tricks on each other.

Following each of Michael's visits a craze has started. And if older siblings and relatives were present, or if there were some real enthusiasts among the children, the craze would continue - sometimes for weeks! One letter from a scout leader in Sussex told how, within a week of Michael's visit, the village school was full of children playing string games!

And these games are not confined to the UK. One inspiring letter Michael received was from a school boy in the USA. He told how the games teachers in his school had decided to introduce string games to help hand-eye co-ordination, how everyone "loved the string game" and how all 800 children had at least a couple of strings each!

This young boy included in his letter his own made up string story, involving a man and woman getting into a car, putting on their seat-belts and zooming away.

Michael's repertoire of favourite figures now includes many children's inventions, some of which have been published in his series of string books, available online at this website. (Book 1 - Pull the other one! and Book 2 - Now you see it… ).